December 2009

A Family Fun Day With The Giddyup Club

14 December 2009 Entertainment Australia

After last weekend’s back breaking gardening, this week it was time to have a little bit of fun. Elizabeth, as a member of the Tiny Turfer’s Club, had received her third letter from Eagle Farm Racecourse explaining they were having another Family Fun Day. They also explained that Elizabeth was no longer a Tiny Turfer, [...]

Australia’s Christmas Post: Oh No! Not Another Strike?

11 December 2009 Australia vs UK

Talking of stamps, I heard from a friend of mine back in England the other week that there was a bit of a post strike going on. When I departed from England’s shores two years ago, the UK’s postal service seemed a complete mess to me. So now I live in Australia, what is Australia [...]

Cost of Living in Australia: Stamp Duty.

10 December 2009 Cost of Living - Australia

The cost of stamp duty in Australia and England compared. We have already looked at the cost comparisons when buying a house in Australia compared with England, but what about the stamp duty? Which country is cheapest? And the winner is………… England! There, that was straight to the point wasn’t it? No big build up, [...]

Good News for Those Scared of Australian Spiders and Creepy Crawlies.

9 December 2009 Australia's Bad Things

We had our third annual pest control service on Monday. I have mentioned these before, but it’s only now that I feel I can accurately assess what I think of the service we have had so far. First, let’s recap: When we moved in to our Australian home back in November 2007, the occupants were [...]

And So This Is Christmas in Australia

8 December 2009 Entertainment Australia

But the weekend wasn’t all back breaking gardening work, I managed to squeeze in some fun too. That’s assuming that you will agree with me in saying the weekend starts at around five o’clock on a Friday afternoon. Because that is when we set off for Brookfield. I have mentioned Brookfield before, because back in [...]

The Australian Art of “Pottering in the Garden”

7 December 2009 Australian Climate

Sun, sea, sand, glorious clear blue skies, beaches, barbecues, beers, beautiful weather, swimming pools, fun, it’s what Australia is all about! But not this weekend. Without wanting to sound like a whingeing Pom, I am about to sound like a whingeing Pom. Living in a subtropical climate has many benefits, a few of which I [...]

Ambulance Fees in Australia – State to State

4 December 2009 Cost of Living - Australia

As promised, here is my post on ambulance charges from state to state in Australia. Between the two of us, me and Google know everything! As my knowledge on ambo fees is restricted to Queensland, I turned to Google for the rest. First, I downloaded a 21 page document from the Victorian Ambulance Service detailing [...]

Are Australians the Friendliest People in the World?

3 December 2009 Australia vs UK

I woke up in a hot sweat the other night. But that’s something you just have to get used to during the summers here in Australia. But while I was lying there, trying to get back to sleep, I had this thought. I didn’t actually address Vivienne’s comment when she said “I do love the [...]