February 2009

Australia’s Bad Things.

27 February 2009 Australia's Bad Things

One of my readers in the UK has requested that I do a post about the bad stuff. He says I’m making Australia look like paradise and it’s making him depressed. He needs cheering up, but he’s read about….

Australia vs England at House Prices

26 February 2009 Australia vs UK

About a month ago the fifth annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey (I must have missed the first four) claimed that Australia has some of the worlds most expensive housing, quoting the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast as being in the top five of the least affordable areas in the world. I don’t get [...]

Is Australia In Recession?

25 February 2009 Australia vs UK

Well I know it’s old news, but as I mentioned them yesterday, I do want to get this one out. Although I am now far, far away, the demise of both Woolworth’s and MFI has still saddened me a great deal. These two stores were British icons. Woolworth’s, the wonder of Woollies, is no more. [...]

The Parking Space Trick and Other Parking Stuff

24 February 2009 Australia vs UK

A very wise man, back in the UK, once told me the secret to finding a parking space. Let’s call it the parking space trick. The Parking Space Trick. Location: England. We have all been in this situation before. You want to pop into your local busy town to do some quick shopping. You are, [...]

House Hunting in Australia

23 February 2009 Life in Australia

If there is anything us British folk love talking about more than the weather, surely it’s house prices. Before we went shopping last Saturday, we did a little house hunting. I don’t know why it is called house hunting, because, after all, houses are rather big, they’re everywhere and pretty easy to find. Houses are [...]

From Kindie to Australian Schoolie

19 February 2009 Life in Australia

After a year in kindie, my little daughter, aged 4 ¾, started school, proper school, (so she is now called a schoolie) just over three weeks ago. Specifically on the 26th January after the long 8 week summer break. Weird huh, summer holidays over Christmas. Takes some getting used to. It’s just like going back [...]

An Australian Story By A. Whacka

18 February 2009 Australian Climate

I recently mentioned the Australians’ penchant for shortening words and ending them with “o”. You probably think this is laziness and slang. Here are some more examples in a short story. Perhaps you and a relo (relative) decide to go to the bottle-o (liquor shop, off license). But when you get there you realise you [...]

A Walk Down Memory Lane

17 February 2009 Australia vs UK

I explained what we’d got up to on Sunday in yesterdays post, but what of Saturday? Saturday was a very grey day, weather wise. All day it was just grey, cloudy and dull. I can’t remember if it rained or not. I don’t think it did. It will come as no surprise to you that [...]