The Best Times are Often Unplanned

I didn't have plans on Sunday so decided to strap on my Chuck Taylor sneakers and let the city guide me. The only thing I had on my to-do list was to buy a travel book or two. I set off for a walk across The Domain (a gorgeous park right in the heart of Sydney) into the CBD (central business district) but only after stopping at Room 10 for a flat white, of course. I happened upon Australia's version of Barnes & Noble..it's called Dymocks. I spent about 90 minutes poking around in the travel book section. After deciding which to buy (one on New Zealand and another on Thailand), I then decided to walk away from the big box book store and to buy the chosen books in my neighborhood at the small-time local Potts Point book shop. Along the way back, the sun was starting to set and I took some snaps of Hyde Park and the Domain.....

The beautiful Hyde Park

Entering the Domain

Wooloomooloo Wharf at dusk

I next stopped into the Potts Point bookshop, a charming little shop that reminds me of the travel book shop in the movie Notting Hill. It's tiny with books piled high and into every nook and cranny. I not only bought the two travel guides, but also a book called "Sydney" by Delia Falconer. There is a series being written by authors about their Aussie hometowns, so I bought the newest one written about my new town. I'll let you know how it is.


I then popped into a yoga class, and after feeling reasonably stretched, picked up a vm from office friends telling me to meet them at The Old Fitzroy, a classic British pub in Wooloomooloo. It's just down two steep staircases and one street from my place, so off I went. 

The famous McElhone Stairs, which are very very steep

My friends (Dan, JB and JD) and I were pleasantly surprised to sit front row for a great local band called BhangLassi. They were SO great! We listened to their original music and drank pints of Bostons (ironically, this is an Aussie beer) while the rain poured down. It was a great time, indeed.

Playing the Xylophone...seriously. It rocked. 

So awesome

Some days, the fact that whatever you happen upon and experience is totally unplanned makes the day all the better.


Until next time...xoxo

I'm Back (I think)

NOTE: I wrote this 2 weeks ago but for some reason it reposted to tonight.


Good gracious. I have been SICK. But, I think I am back (operative word being think). And hope I am not jinxing myself by writing this blog post. But I will not let these germs dominate my life for one more moment, so write on I will.


I have surmised that I had 3 illnesses at once. 
1 - A severe headcold. And this was the full nine yards....cough, congestion, runny nose, earache, body aches, chills, fever. I think I have demolished at least 6-7 large, industrial-sized boxes of tissue, not including one of of my colleague's (thank you Leela!) that I annihilated in only one 3-hour sitting.
2 - A sinus infection. And my sinuses and teeth are all jammed up in my face together, so my whole mouth ached for a solid 2 weeks.


Now, before going on to #3, I pause to explain why I have separated the headcold and sinus infection into two illnesses. Well, my friends, that's because in the whole Australian cacophony of pharmacies and drugstores (of which there are millions), there is no medication that covers both at once. So I have spent the last 2 weeks alternating between the two, waiting for both to slowly ease away. UNREAL.


3 - A stomach bug that hit Sydney. I even saw it on the news. I'll spare you the details. You're welcome.


So anyway, 3 illnesses at once. I've had a lot of time to consider all this, so thanks for bearing with my explanation! Around 4:00 today, all of a sudden, I said (out loud to myself) "Hot dang it, I feel better." Now I still have a runny nose and cough, but I felt well enough to have half a glass of wine (first sip in 2 weeks! a lovely Gruner) and dinner out at an adorable bistro down the road called Lotus. It was awesome...a beautiful tuna sashimi with pickled veggies and fresh wasabi. And I could taste it! I haven't tasted food in 2 weeks. And I am reading a book about Australia by Bill Bryson, who is a terrific writer. The book, which I have wanted to read for years, is called "In a Sunburned Country". It's hilarious, so much so that I was laughing aloud while reading it while I ate dinner. I highly recommend it, but am personally glad I saved it until now as his observations are so uncanny that the book is helping my own come together even better.


Ah, it's the simple stuff, ladies and gents. Here's to health.
Until next time...
xoxo

Girl's Night!

After feeling a bit down this week about working so much and missing my friends back in the States (for the record, I still miss Fletch like crazy), I had a girl's night tonight! It could not have come at a better time. I have mentioned how lucky I am to have great colleagues here in Sydney, but am especially fortunate that a few are really awesome ladies and also old and dear friends.


Leela just returned from a well-deserved sabbatical spent traveling in South America with her hubby Pete. And Steph is on maternity leave after having her first child - a beautiful precious little baby girl named Clementine Ava - about 7 weeks ago. I was ill, Steph has been adjusting to new motherhood and Leela has been settling back in to Sydney, so we haven't had a chance to catch up - until tonight!


We went to a cool little restaurant called The Corner House in Bondi.  Bondi Beach is world famous, but we are in the autumn season here so I haven't ventured out to Bondi yet (but went years ago with my friends Hillary and Inna). We went this evening, had a great meal of wood-fired pizzas and a glass of vino. It was just great to sit and chat with the ladies, who are just awesome and have been valued colleagues & friends for years, but even moreso since I moved here. Afterwards, I had the treat of stopping by Steph's flat (right on a private beach with incredible views of the Bridge) to see little miss Clementine and the hubbies Pete and Andrew who babysat (i.e., ordered pizza and watched footie) while we were out. 


Tomorrow I have been invited to something called lawn bowling in Paddington. Hmmm.....hopefully there will be beer, and thank goodness for Google at a time like this.


Thanks to the ladies for the great night and friendship.


Until next time...xoxo

I miss Fletcher!

I have been in Sydney now for 2 months! While it seems to have flown by in many ways, it's also seems like a lifetime since I left the States. For about the last week or two, I have really felt far away. Despite cell phones that are clear as a bell and Skype (which is probably the best invention ever of mankind) to keep connected, it's just hard to be away from my family and close friends.


There are too many things I miss to even begin to list them all (daily Starbucks jaunts with Inna and Allen, twice weekly cocktail hour with Eileen via the phone, queso and margaritas with Tammy, abusive middle-of-the-night texts from Christian, dinners with Patrick, the dog park trips with Tammy, Ike & Fletcher, phone calls that were less then $1/minute with my sisters, my yoga studio's Monday night 8PM class, just being only 4-5 hours drive away from my parents/nephews, my Heavenly bed, etc) and they are all really just my every day life "stuff". But that every day "stuff" is your life, and even when you take the plunge and dive head first into an AMAZING life experience, it's the daily little things you end up missing so much. Isn't it funny how life throws curveballs your way every so often to be sure you don't take the important things for granted?


But what I miss the MOST (other than family and close friends) is my beloved dog, Fletcher. We did everything together! And I find myself on weekends thinking that it would be so fun to have him here.  He'd love it, and those ^%#*ing cockroaches wouldn't stand a chance in heck with him on the prowl. Anyway, my Mom and Dad are so great to put up with me having full-on conversations with Fletcher via Skype. And Mom sends me almost daily pictures of Fletcher, which is just so so awesome.


Here are two from tonight (his morning). The first I can only assume is him waiting for me to skype with him, since that's where he sits when we do.

When is she going to call already????

The second must be of him after my Mom told him that my skype isn't working. :( Look at that face!

Oh man! Not only did they wake me up at 7 am, but no skyping either?

I fly home on 8 July for two weeks, and can't wait to see everyone (including Fletcher)!


Until next time...xoxo

Aussie-ism's - Volume I

What's the point of moving somewhere halfway around the world if you don't learn some new things along the way?  And really, it would be irresponsible to learn these things and not share them. So here is volume I, as I am sure there will be more.


1) Common Terms:

• Bloke = guy
• Mate = friend
• Barbecue = Grill
• Bogan = Australian redneck
• Biscuit = Cookie (and TimTam's are by far the best)
• Crikey = Darn it
• Shattered = Very tired
• Trading Hours = Store Hours (I love this one...reminds me of what would be outside of Jacob Marley & Ebenezer Scrooge's counting house in A Christmas Carol)

2) Everyone here is obsessed with "sport", which I love. And inevitably, the sport is "footie". What is important to understand is that there are 3 (that I know of) types of footie they could be referring to, and the easiest way to identify which one (short of just asking, but where is the fun in that?) is to understand where someone is from or has lived:

• Footie = Soccer if you are from Britain (Aussies call it soccer)
• Footie = Rugby if you are from Australia except...
• Footie = Australian Rules Football if you are from Melbourne

Don't ask me the difference between the second and third types of footie. I haven't figured that out yet.


3) Coffee is really important here culturally. As I have mentioned, there is a coffee shop or kiosk every 15 meters or so. No joke. What I have learned is that each person has their favorite coffee spot and does not stray from it. Coffee purveyors here pride themselves on building personal rapport with their customers, as it is what differentiates them. And coffee here is strong. Very.


Side note. The little coffee place/cafe underneath my flat called Room 10 is one of my favorites. The coffee is really yummy. What I love is that they ask your name and instead of just calling it when your coffee is ready, they instead say "Thank you, Caroline". They knew my name after 2 visits, and still say "thank you" to everyone they hand a coffee too. So cute and charming. AND it differentiates them!


4) A staple here is banana bread. (You can get it anywhere you get coffee.) But no, they don't stop there. They slice it thickly, toast it, and serve it with lemon butter. I know! Ridiculous! Here's a little snap of my coffee and banana bread last Sunday morning from the aforementioned Room 10.

Toasted banana bread with sliced almonds and lemon butter, and my lovely skim latte 

5) Bacon here is not the same as American bacon. (Side note: Those who know me know that I love love love bacon. And sausage. Patties more than links, but really I love both. I love all breakfast meat, actually.) Bacon here is more like grilled pieces of ham, not long strips like USA bacon. It's good, but different. Just know this if you come here and want bacon. I don't want anyone to be shocked.


Like I said, I am learning important things here and thought I'd share them with all of you. You're welcome. Volume II coming soon, I am sure.


Until next time...xoxo

A Full Appreciation....

Today was Saturday, 21 May.  Apparently, some folks out there think that today was the end of the world. Well, while Saturday is just starting back home on the east coast of the States, we are almost done with the day here in Sydney and it was a glorious day!! And at least here in Australia, we are still alive & kicking. :)


It's autumn here, and today was 75F without a cloud in the sky. It was truly gorgeous. So I set off for a long walk through beautiful parks (the Domain and Hyde Park), down to Sydney Harbour and Circular Quay, and then another walk through the 'lower park" along the water back to my pad. I may or may not have stopped at the Opera Bar, next to the Opera House, for a glass of champagne at sunset too. And I reflected to myself that I do have a true and full appreciation for being able to live and work in Sydney. I am really lucky and after my rant earlier this week, I am reminded of just some of the very many things I love about living here. 

Me today with the sun streaming in

A small selection starts here:
1) I love walking to and from work every day through a huge, green park with rolling lawns, massive trees, huge colorful flowers and clean crisp air. I see sparkling water and a lovely downtown skyline, and hints around random corners of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I also have (re)discovered favorite songs on my iPod with all the walking I do..."Sara" by Fleetwood Mac (best lyric ever..."Down there, in the sea of love, where everyone would love to drown"...so good), "Secret World" by Peter Gabriel,"The House that Built Me" by Miranda Lambert and "Sweet Child O' Mine" by the one and only Guns 'N Roses. Variety is the spice of life!

My view walking home at sunset

2) Sydneysiders are very eco-conscious. They are just not wasteful, and the city is clean and safe. Recycling is big, and reducing "rubbish" is too. I love that people at work use drinking glasses and stainless silverware every day, and avoid plastic utensils and one-use cups as much as possible. It's just part of life here.


3) They don't really use preservatives in food here. As such, food is healthier and doesn't keep for very long. You buy what you need for a short period of time, and use it all. I am definitely more thoughtful about what I eat each week. I am less wasteful as a result, and eat a lot of fruit and salad.


4) People are well-traveled here in Sydney. Aussies, because where they live is so far away from everything, are gypsies. A 9-hour flight is nothing to them. Many folks I have met are world-travelers and love to talk about their experiences, which I love.


5) People are indeed really friendly. I have met some great people, and am lucky to work with an awesome set of Brits (who they call Pommes here), Aussies, and Americans. The office is like a family; I love going to work every day. My work is important to me, and I love that I love it here.


6) I love that I can take a ferry to the beach or take a 10-minute walk to see a beautiful coastline and water. Having grown up near the beach, I just adore being by the water. I find my zen there. :)


I really do like it here. While I am homesick, I am lucky to have this opportunity. I am glad the world didn't end today! (LOL) Lastly, I am hopeful that my friends, the Richter's, have a great day today and get to take their sweet Shaw home today. I am sending prayers for that. And I hope my nephew Thomas's knee is feeling better - he fell at the bus stop. :(


Until next time xoxo


p.s. The intense amount of PDA stills bugs me. There, I said it.

A New Milestone Has Been Hit...

What is this milestone, you ask? Well, I have been here in Sydney long enough to have developed some serious pet peeves. Are you ready? Because I need to vent.


1) I took 12 items of clothing to the dry cleaners, and it cost AU$129. Did you hear that? AU$129!!!!!! And I didn't take a gown or a comforter or anything major. Just a few pair of pants, dresses, a shirt. That is one thing and one thing only - HIGHWAY ROBBERY. And don't even get me started on how much more that costs in USD due to the dang exchange rate. Ridiculous.


2) My dry cleaners receipt said 13 items, but when I picked them up they had changed the slip to say there were only 12 items. The lackadaisical attitude of the Aussies meant that this was NOT a big deal to the dry cleaning lady, who insisted that I must have simply dropped off 12 instead of 13. No matter what logic I tried to apply to this situation, she wouldn't budge. But she was friendly the whole time, and not in a passive aggressive way, so I guess that's good. So now I have to wrack my brain to figure out if there is a missing item of clothing. Good gracious.


3) There is a lot of PDA (public displays of affection) here. Yuck. All day, everywhere, full-on make out sessions - subway at 7 am, middle of the street 4 pm. Enough already!


4) Like in the US (well, everywhere), people are in their own little worlds. And are addicted to their phones. So in the city, where sidewalks are packed and I just managed to learn to walk on the correct side, I am constantly slowed down by people who are obsessively focused on their phone and texting. They also do it while getting onto and out of the subway, taxis, food halls, gyms...everywhere.


5) Insects. They are everywhere. Sydney, like many major metropolitan cities, has cockroaches. DISGUSTING. I have black traps strategically hidden in about 10 places and about 60 bottles of industrial strength bug killer spray. Haven't seen one in a while but I am constantly thinking they are there. If they aren't, you can be sure some other insects or creatures are.


6) Dinner reservations are hard to organize. You have to actually either call the restaurant (eek! I have to actually TALK to someone live??) or queue up starting early in the dinner hour to get in to hot restaurants. They need to get with the Open Table or online reservation program - stat. Hmm, business idea for me?


7) Internet is really slow here. Painfully so. If I get cut off on my Skype calls one more time due to bad internet connections, I will scream and you will hear it.


There will undoubtedly be more, but I digress for now. I do feel better. So thanks!


I promise the next post will be more positive in nature. :)
Until next time xoxo

Certifiably Chilly!

A few observations of the weather here in Sydney:


1) Since Sydney is in the Southern hemisphere, the seasons are exactly opposite from my home land of the Mid-Atlantic. As such, we are in our autumn season. Most days, it is around 65 and rather mild. It's been raining a LOT since I arrived in May but everyone tells me that will stop....just not sure when. I have been laughing at people (yep, sometimes out loud) and teasing the Aussies in the office because once it settled below 75 every day, winter overcoats, hats, and scarves were broken out. Meanwhile, it's downright balmy for my blood and I was loving every second. I even convinced myself that it was foolish to bring an overcoat with me.


Weeeelllll, I now admit it's chilly. Especially this week, and I am not sure why. We had our coldest morning in May in over 14 years this past week. Awesome. The daytime never got below 55 or 60, but the breezes off the ocean were chilly and there is no real humidity, so it's chilly. Not enough to wear a jacket, except at night, but enough to wear a scarf and not leave the house with wet hair. So now the Aussies are laughing at me....


2) They are keenly aware that the Northern Hemisphere is in its springtime, and often call wintertime the "Northern Summer". No one in the States would even think to call our summer the "Southern Winter".  It just wouldn't happen. But then again, Aussies are keenly aware of so much about the US - our politics, celebrities, TV shows (especially reality), and major brands. (I admit this isn't all that surprising to me, though. I have said for a long time that the average London taxi driver knows more about US politics than most American citizens.)


3) Because of the temperate climate, most apartments and even many houses in Sydney have neither central AC nor heat (radiators or otherwise). Somehow, they are built in a way to keep apartments cool in the summer, and ahem, cool in the winter. Good gracious, it's cold in my flat. I think the temperature is actually lower in the flat than it is outside. (I have my hardwood floors and big windows to thank for that.) Very strange....


So I am now plotting my next trips. Perhaps a trip up north to Queensland where it's warmer. But I do hear that New Zealand is gorgeous in the winter, and very cold, especially the South island. And I am not sure I can pass that up.


Brrrr...back under my blanket for me!
xoxo

Sickie Sickerson

Sickie Sickerson...yep, that's been my name since last weekend when I fell ill from a whole smackering of illnesses. Part terrible head cold, part flu, my wretched sore throat, runny nose, cough, stomach cramps and all kinds of other things best left unmentioned made me a goner. Indeed, on the local news tonight, the running story was that a terrible virus was going around the city and I had every single symptom. UGH! This was made even more worse by:


- the fact that the first week of each month is HECTIC at work with wrap-up's and retrospectives for our executive management team on how the prior month's performance came to pass
- two of our General Managers were in town, both of whom I like tremendously and would have loved to spend more time with discussing the business and career stuff
- not really understanding the health system here, and how one with an international health insurance program fits in
- the guys from Maroon 5 being in town and playing on Friday night


In short, a terrible week to get sick, but alas, my body said "I AM DONE!" and I spent 2 days in delirious sleep and am just now, seven days later, feeling well enough to reconnect with the outside world. Sadly, I only made it halfway through a leadership team dinner at Rockpool (one of Sydney's all-time best restaurants), had to stay home from work 1.5 days and missed the concert/seeing the guys. BUMMER. :( Listen, I was even too sick to skype with fletcher. It's true. It was that bad.


My only shining light in the last week was a lovely invitation from friends Leela and Pete for brunch out at Bronte Beach on a lovely sunny Mothers Day morning. Off we went in their car, found a great brunch spot overlooking the ocean, and just enjoyed the day and each other's company. Leela and Pete are so great and easy to be around....I look forward to more great brunches with them!


Here's the simply spectacular view we had from The Bronte Cafe:

Until next time....xoxo