Someone has complained that I haven’t been talking about my move to Oz and that I’ve been talking too much about films and “blokey” things.
Will Ferrell, brothels and Skype – blokey? Ok, point taken. I’ll try to do a similar update like this one every week. I’ve got a bit to talk about, so this is going to be a long one. After this one it should be smaller readable chunks. You better get some coffee, I think we’re going here for a long time.
I have really thrown myself into my work. We’re working on the first release of a new web project which has it’s first deadline for the end of September, so that’s what I do Mon-Fri with little time to do anything else. I’m usually too shattered at the end of the day to spend my evening blogging or sending emails. So apologies to those that have sent an email and I haven’t replied yet. I will get around to it. Honest.
I have done a shitload of walking at the weekends. I’m trying to get my bearings and explore the various areas of the city. I have to, there’s nothing in Abbotsford – where work is, and where the temporary accommodation is situated. As I mentioned before there’s a train station that will take you to a more interesting place where there is something to do.
The first few weekends (Sundays really) was spent going to Victoria Gardens – a shopping mall with Ikea (yes, they’re here too); Coles (supermarket) and a number of other retail outlets. It’s about 30 mins away, walking. And its quite a trek getting back when you are carrying a set of clothes hangers and a large wok, and a week’s food shopping. Victoria Gardens in situated on Victoria Street which runs all the way into the city – west to east (I’m on the east side of town). Where Victoria crosses over Church, is the Vietnamese section of the city and there literally 100’s (ok, its more like 40 or 50) of little Asian cafes and restaurants along that area. I haven’t been brave yet and tried one for food. I heard some of them are really good, but I need to find out which one as some of them look manky and I’m too feert go in. One day though. I definitely try the food markets to make Thai, Chinese food at home, plus the butchers are cheaper here than at the local supermarkets. Actually this is the first Sunday that I haven’t been up at that area. I did something different today which I’ll speak about later.
Still awake? Ready for some more? Good.
Last week we went for some drinks after work (unfortunately that’s becoming a regular thing … it’s also a good thing I guess, socialising) at the local – The Park. It’s quite a trendy wee place for its location. It is definitely a Cheers type as everyone knows everyone in there. A colleague at the Edinburgh office mentioned that they do a good Chicken Parma – chicken schnitzel with tomato sauce (not ketchup). They do amazing food and its quite reasonably priced too. The times I’ve been out with a crowd at work, I’ve tried the Spring Rolls ($8 – GBP3.50) and the bowl is full; Breaded Squid rings ($16 – GBP7) which are good, and the Chicken Skewers ($12 – GBP5), not so good. I’m not brave enough to try the Kangaroo steak. Doesn’t seem right does it? Poor skippy. They do a good wine list – I’m off the beer. Need to loose some weight. I stood on the scales at Vic Gardens and it read 12st 3lbs. Fat f**k. That’s the heaviest I have ever been. So as you can tell I’ve been enjoying myself a little much. I’ve been eating out quite a lot.
Last weekend I walked over to Fitzroy. This is one of the areas that Vikki and I are thinking about staying in. I had read before coming out here that it was full of cafes, restaurants and that it was quite ‘bohemian’. That sounded pretty good, close to work – just along Johnston Street, and not that far from the city centre and it had all that stuff that we missed since moving out from Edinburgh to Rumford. So I spent most of the afternoon there.
I like it. I like it a lot.
But so do a number of people too. I looked at a number of flats this week and there’s going to be a bit of competition getting somewhere to live – but that’s another story. Back to Fitzroy. It’s quite a liberal area – Melbourne in general, is quite liberal. There’s a big gay community here, bigger than I saw in Edinburgh. And the fashion is different I think, people really do wear what they want and have the hairstyles and shoes to match. Actually we were driving along Prahan today and there’s a big difference between there and Fitzroy. Prahan is less cluttered, a bit cleaner, and the fashion again was different – more main street clothing than the grungy, hippy look of Fitzroy. This area as well as Richmond are two other areas I’m looking for accommodation. All full of bars, cafes and restaurants and quite trendy. There are two main streets in Fitzroy – Smith and Brunswick, with the latter being the most popular. But both chock full of places to eat and drink.
Yesterday was a long day. I looked at 3 different apartments in Fitzroy, 2 nice and 1 was manky. Unfortunately they weren’t suitable – a bit small for all the furniture we’re shipping over. During that though I did have an amazing coffee (skinny cap) in Atomica Coffee on Brunswick Street – could become a favourite I think. They do take their coffee making very serious – f**k you Starbucks. After the viewings, I walked into the city centre – a few miles I think and hit Bourke Street. I decided that I was going to treat myself to a decent lunch, so I went to Nudel. As you can tell it does noodles. I’ve been once before. As with the coffee place it could become one of my favourite restaurants in Melbourne. I had the Thai Style Noodles ($17 – GBP7) and this plate was massive, I had to leave a wee bit of food as there was so much. It was like Pad Thai, but with thinner noodles and no shrimps. There was a stack of king prawns and calamari – just as I thought I had eaten the last bit of seafood, I would uncover a load more under the noodles. So much food for so little money… Stuffed I was. Ok, not that much as I managed to have an almond croissant from Breadtop. Good effort eh?
That us brings up to today. I went with a few friends to Victoria Market in the north part of the city. It’s in two bits, one big bit with clothing, jewellery, goods and tat. Every aisle was practically the same – stalls selling the same stuff. Yawn. Then we got to the food bit. Its similar to Borough Market in London – bread, fruit and veg, meat and seafood. This place is amazing. I think most people come here at the weekend and get their week’s food shopping and its really cheap. I think you can get everything you need. Saturday is apparently a lot better as there is less clothing, tat and more food.
After that was a trip to St Kilda which is south and on the coast. Very nice. We stopped and had some lunch and a glass of wine and watched the world go by. I could get used to this… It was a fleeting visit, I may spend a bit more time there when Vikki gets here. It was hot as well – 22oC apparently, and its only the start of Spring… It’s going to get even hotter in the Summer.
Burn fat boy. Burn.
After all my adventures and a couple of glasses of wine earlier in the day, I’m getting sleepy…
That’s all for now. I think I’m up to date. I’ll take some photos soon. I hope everyone is well.
G.
