Sunday, May 28, 2006
Saturday, May 27, 2006
BBC NEWS | MARKET DATA
and back down goes the exchange rate - BBC NEWS | MARKET DATA - it was nice whilst it lasted... :-)
Thursday, May 25, 2006
doncaster again
back in Doncaster again - for the next week or so! Joy. (not :-) )
Staying at The Tudor, Box Hill....
Staying at The Tudor, Box Hill....
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Vaucluse House
Sunday saw a trip out to the very nice Vaucluse suburb, and Vaucluse House, followed by a visit to the park at Watson's Bay and a view of the crowds at Doyles :-)
(the view from Watson's Bay)
(the view from Watson's Bay)
Friday, May 19, 2006
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Monday, May 15, 2006
licorice
What is it about licorice here - chewy sweets which have a "black" version don't use blackcurrent/blackberry/purple grape. No - they use licorice!!!
There is a chocolate shop chain - Darrell Lea - half their stock is actually licorice!!!
(I hate the stuff!)
There is a chocolate shop chain - Darrell Lea - half their stock is actually licorice!!!
(I hate the stuff!)
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
nature strips
I think I mentioned nature strips a while back - the big of land that in the UK would be called the verge, and may have a concrete pavement (or in my suburb, more likely not).
As well as being the defacto pavement, they are also the place where you put stuff that you don't want anymore, but others might....
Because recycling is "a good thing" and waste disposal is chargable (if it won't go in one of your 4 wheelie bins - general, glass and plastic, garden and paper) people put stuff like old(er) tvs, tables, chairs, even sofas and cookers out on the strip in front of their house, in the hope that someone else will want it.
(I did see a very nice 50's tumble dryer the otherday....)
As well as being the defacto pavement, they are also the place where you put stuff that you don't want anymore, but others might....
Because recycling is "a good thing" and waste disposal is chargable (if it won't go in one of your 4 wheelie bins - general, glass and plastic, garden and paper) people put stuff like old(er) tvs, tables, chairs, even sofas and cookers out on the strip in front of their house, in the hope that someone else will want it.
(I did see a very nice 50's tumble dryer the otherday....)
school bags
Now that I'm getting the bus to work (which was interesting on the way home yesterday when one of the main roads was closed due to a crash which tool out a power line!), I get to share the bus with loads of school kids.
What is amazing though is the bags some of them have. There is one 6 or 7 year old who carries a rucksack that must bigger than standard airplane carryon luggage AND then has a trumpet or similar in a box as well. The bag is nearly as big as him!
What is amazing though is the bags some of them have. There is one 6 or 7 year old who carries a rucksack that must bigger than standard airplane carryon luggage AND then has a trumpet or similar in a box as well. The bag is nearly as big as him!
Monday, May 08, 2006
bbq
Another weekend gone..
Sunday was spent sorting and moving stuff around; I now have the "tv room" laid out nicely. Still clothes, books, CDs to sort :-(
Sunday saw us host our first aussie bbq - our new friends from last week came round with their daughter. My bbq isn't a patch on theirs though!
BBQs from UK
Be warned that UK LPG gas fittings are different to those in the UK. We bought our UK bbq over with us (having cleaned it first!), and discovered this when we went to Bunnings (B&Q'like). The regulator is completely different and not compatible. Thankfully, you can by replacement regulators - just needed to remove the existing hose and replace it with an aussie version ($31).
Sunday was spent sorting and moving stuff around; I now have the "tv room" laid out nicely. Still clothes, books, CDs to sort :-(
Sunday saw us host our first aussie bbq - our new friends from last week came round with their daughter. My bbq isn't a patch on theirs though!
BBQs from UK
Be warned that UK LPG gas fittings are different to those in the UK. We bought our UK bbq over with us (having cleaned it first!), and discovered this when we went to Bunnings (B&Q'like). The regulator is completely different and not compatible. Thankfully, you can by replacement regulators - just needed to remove the existing hose and replace it with an aussie version ($31).
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Oz fuel prices
Buying petrol in Sydney is great - it is cheaper than the UK, and if you buy on the right day, you can get it cheaper still.
On the right day?
Yup - the price varies per day and even by hour, dependent on the day of week and the demand for fuel. The cheapest day is usually Tuesday, and the most expensive is Friday/Saturday (eg the weekend). Prices can vary from $1.19 a litre at cheapest to as much as $1.35 at peak. That said, the recent increase in crude oil prices has pushed the average price up to about $1.40 a litre.
The following pic shows the average price over the last 60 days:
(have a look here for details on NSW prices) .
As well as the price varying by day, you can also get discount vouchers if you buy goods at certain shops (coles/woolworths)/petrol stations (7-11) - usually 4c a litre, which whilst not much, is better than nothing.
On the right day?
Yup - the price varies per day and even by hour, dependent on the day of week and the demand for fuel. The cheapest day is usually Tuesday, and the most expensive is Friday/Saturday (eg the weekend). Prices can vary from $1.19 a litre at cheapest to as much as $1.35 at peak. That said, the recent increase in crude oil prices has pushed the average price up to about $1.40 a litre.
The following pic shows the average price over the last 60 days:
(have a look here for details on NSW prices) .
As well as the price varying by day, you can also get discount vouchers if you buy goods at certain shops (coles/woolworths)/petrol stations (7-11) - usually 4c a litre, which whilst not much, is better than nothing.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
unpacking
that's about 90% of the boxes now unpacked, and most of the flatpack furniture reassembled. Still clothes to sort out, and books to put on shelves.
Saturday evening we went round to new friends; Sandra from NZ and Gary from SA and their daughter for a barbie.
UPDATE:
I need to be clear about the unpacking :-)
Whilst most of the boxes are unpacked, the house does look like a bomb has hit a number of rooms.
Saturday evening we went round to new friends; Sandra from NZ and Gary from SA and their daughter for a barbie.
UPDATE:
I need to be clear about the unpacking :-)
Whilst most of the boxes are unpacked, the house does look like a bomb has hit a number of rooms.
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