Here's a culinary tip - kangaroo burger with "sliders" (potato wedges in the western world) goes VERY nicely with a glass of Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon. Or indeed a glass of Mudgee Chardonnay. And for afters, an iced Riesling from the Coal Valley area of Tasmania. The roo burgers themselves are surprisingly subtle, not the chewy venison substitute I had been expecting.

This was all going on (or down) at a chic wine bar on Argyle St in The Rocks area of Sydney. As a reward for some pretty aggressive retail exposure I had just survived in the boutiques of the same area.

The Rocks is Sydney's historic downtown area - they even have an archaeological "big dig" going in one section - blended with a Covent Garden feel from a maze of small galleries, shops and eating/drinking spots.

We are still promised a tropical cyclone and the storms it tends to bring as visiting gifts - but so far the weather seems to be refusing to do what the forecasters tell it to do. Let's hope it stays that way until the 'big barbi' scheduled chez Tim & Kam this Sunday.