When you are not on a coach tour ("seven countries in seven days…") it should not be surprising that the pace of life and events is more rational and the arrival of (in quotes) exceptional things to see or do is more rationed. Which does not mean that the quotidian is any less valuable as an experience of what it is to live in the places you have temporarily inhabited. Or in plain terms, when it rains you stay indoors and wait for it to stop raining. Even on...

Here are some of the new words I have picked up over here which I think deserve to be shared and perhaps used to make good old Queen's English an even richer language: Sliders - you might think it has to do with surfing or at least skateboarding. In fact it means potato wedges; Stubbies - bottles of beer; Nutting [something] out - thinking about it, finding a solution (using your nut); Norks - rather rude (!). Equivalent in UK might be 'jugs' Sanger - mean...

This is a sports mad country so this seems like a good chance to give a halftime report on 'being here'. There's no real suspense - Australia is a winner, but here are a few of the judges' observations. Plus points scored for: 1. Kangaroos - when you've seen one (I have !!!) you definitely haven't seen them all; 2. Beer nuts - little things but still great 3. Hyde Park - in contrast to the underwhelming CBD in Sydney, this is a terrific oasis on the ed...

Quite a lot of good stuff can happen when travelling for 24 hours...So credit where due to: Qantas for waiting at Singapore for our delayed by snow/ice inbound flight from London The Airbus A380 - amazing something so big can fly. Much nicer onboard than the good old 747.. Lincoln (the film not the place or the car) - I can't think of the last time 2 1/2 hours went so quick. A fascintaing, completely convincing juxtaposition of war leadership and low politic...