-
Down, Under, Over And Out
Reflecting on the six month backpacking adventure that turned into a five year stay, as I prepare to leave Australia for an extended period of time.
-
Super Storm
I don’t know what Australia has done to piss off Mother Nature recently, but the worst floods in Queensland in 40 years, more flooding in New South Wales and forest fires in Western Australia are being followed by Cyclone Yasi, a mega storm on the scale that you might expect from Roland Emmerich. To get […]
-
And The Water Continues Its Inexorable Ascent
The recent floods have transformed Brisbane. Here I describe the mood on the night of January 12th as we wait for the flood peak to come.
-
Grow Up Australia
Finally, there seems to be some momentum behind the drive to create an R18+ classification for videogames, which would bring Australia inline with the rest of the developed world. Hopefully with the support of major stores like EBGames and a large grassroots campaign, this anachronism will be corrected soon. Sign the petition and have your […]
-
Making A List, Checking It Twice
Since I decided to stay here and my company agreed to sponsor an application for a business visa, I’ve become reacquainted with the many and varied joys of trying to gather disparate items from various authorities. The requirements for a 457 visa application aren’t unreasonable, but there certainly are a lot of hoops to jump […]
-
A Crazy Wii Day
In which I am nearly misunderstood to be holding a little old lady hostage on Australia Day, and take a virtual beating on Wii Boxing.
-
Vote Lamb
Buying into the advertising campaign, I lend my voice in support of lamb on Australia Day.
-
Just Not Cricket
Yesterday was another day, another cricket defeat. I can hardly wait for the inevitable ironic cheers on Monday at work. I was out last night for a friend’s birthday at a local bar, when who should walk in but our fallen heroes. Freddie Flintoff, Ian Bell, Mal Loye and a couple of others were out, […]
-
All Change
In which I muse on the paradox of money in Australia, with its brilliant notes and ridiculous coins.
-
Tourism By The Numbers
On Manly Beach, and being on Manly Beach, and the disappointment of being on Manly Beach.
-
Fresh Start
One of my New Year’s Resolutions, (along with 30 million lapsed bloggers, I imagine), is to start writing here again. In Japan, I felt like I had lots to write about, but in Australia not so much, especially since I began working full-time in Brisbane. There are already thousands of people writing about what their […]
-
Homeward Bound
Two and a half years is a long time to be away from home, no matter how many awesome experiences you have. It’s hard to describe the feeling – I don’t really miss England per se, but I do miss the great times I had with friends and family while I was there. Having said […]
-
Broome Town
Broome, lovely Broome, which reminds me of that (awful) Simply Red song, “Beautiful But Oh So Boring”
-
Broome Time
Making plans to head up to Broome in northern Western Australia
-
Cup Success
Having watched the semi-final in Singapore, I was looking forward to what I thought would be an easy enough FA Cup Final against West Ham, who we’d hammered on the last day of the season. Though he hasn’t really done too much on the pitch, I was especially glad of having Harry Kewell in the […]
-
Pinnacles United
One of the guys, Ian, had a meeting up in Jurien Bay today, so I hopped in the car to go with him and get a taste of the Australian road. Jurien Bay is pretty close as things go in Australia, being ‘only’ 3 hours north of Perth, up the coast. So far, if I […]
-
Getting Sorted
I got myself a mobile phone today which means you can go back to emailing my phone from the about page again and I also opened a bank account so I can get paid if and when I finally get a job. I’ve been looking at finding work in Perth, though to be honest, I […]
-
Come Home Chris Hand
Always happy to help out a good cause! Get that man home!
-
Swanning About Town
A pleasant day in Perth, Western Australia, a lovely city which is a little sleepy but easy to relax in.
-
King Of Navigation
My friend Steve once told me while drunk about his keen sense of navigation. “I get it from my mum”, he said. “She had a really bad sense of direction, but she could run really fast. So basically, I just keep running until I see somewhere I recognise.” That same night he ran halfway to […]
-
Knocking On Oz’s Door
My time in Singapore couldn’t have finished in much a better way. As a special treat, Alan took me over to the Penny Black, a Victorian-style English pub, with real ale from the tap which was bested only by the plasma screens showing Liverpool and Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final live. The pub turns into the […]
-
The End Is In Sight
Seeing as the cat’s already out of the bag after the comment someone left on my last post a few days ago, I suppose it’s time I mentioned my big news. In a few weeks I’m leaving Japan and I’m going to Australia. My contract expires at the end of March and I decided I […]
-
Howdy!
Technology and travel stories from a global roaming, kangaroo loving, sake drinking gaijin pom.
Check out my projects and my resume, take a look at some code on Github and feel free to contact me.