I know I should be appreciate it. I know I should like the rain. But I can tell you the vast majority of Sydney-siders I know are sick to death of the (unexpectedly) cold, wet weather we’re experiencing. I woke early this morning only because I was cold and needed another blanket for the bed. … Continue reading »
It’s been a really busy week. Well, a really busy several weeks, which explains my lack of posting lately. I’m finding that I’m coming home most nights mentally and physically exhausted and collapsing on the couch. I’ve also been working on the weekends, and so my Saturday has been pretty much collapse on the couch … Continue reading »
I spent the early part of the day teaching at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. As part of the lecture I gave, I repeated the mantra, “there are no boring stories, only boring story-tellers” which I’ve heard many times from radio consultant, Valerie Geller. She’s absolutely right. Just about any story can be … Continue reading »
For just a moment tonight I thought I was back on the subway in Beijing. Okay, so maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration borne out of my lack of experience on crowded Sydney trains. I simply don’t catch many trains during peak hour, and so when it is busy, I’m always a bit surprised. … Continue reading »
Sometimes the Opera Bar can be frustratingly crowded. In contrast to the “old days” when Opera Bar only attracted a handful of theatre-goers prior to an opening night, these days it’s usually very, very busy, especially on weekends, and particularly during summer. Although my friend Colin and I had agreed to meet at four-thirty, circumstances … Continue reading »
If you were to identify a “glory time” for Mardi Gras, in terms of crowds, you would have to say it was the 1990s. Every year, it seemed, there were claims of “record crowds”. Every year, it seemed, the number of parade participants increased, and so did the number of people watching. The parade route … Continue reading »
“These will bring passion and romance into your life”, the bloke behind the counter said to me as I handed over my planned purchase. “That was the general idea”, I told him and we smiled at each other. It was towards the end of an “Historical and Cultural Tour” of Chinatown, co-inciding with Chinese New … Continue reading »
Would it be wrong if I wore thongs, not shoes to work tomorrow? What about shorts, instead of pants? Yes, yes I know the answer to both questions. For a mid-ranking bureaucrat such as myself, it’s part of the deal, part of the shtick that I should wear always nice pants (and usually a jacket) … Continue reading »
