Andrew and Kathleen

Our friends, in the loosest sense of the word, downstairs are playing their techno doof-doof music as I write this. I always thought that if you were into techno, like, *really* into it, you'd be playing all this obscure stuff, and you'd be a total music elitist, spurning anything remotely mass-market.

But no, downstairs they be playing "Turn To You", by that chick out of the Spice Girls.

I want to lean over the balcony and tell them, "Hey mate. Your music is so bloody MAINSTREAM!"

That'll shut 'em up.

My mate Troy has a car parked in his street that has recently had a council sticker plastered over the back, with words to the effect of: "Move your car, or the council will tow it away". Said car is a write-off after a tree fell on it in storms, back in August. Obviously he's waiting for the council to take it off his hands. "No! Please don't tow my written-off car!"

Got back yesterday from three days up the coast, huntin', shootin' and fishin'. Well, actually, we only did the last one. But it was still good fun!

After almost a month, I've finally posted the photos from our New Years' trip to Hobart.

About to hit $1 a litre. Lucky I filled the tank on Tuesday, since everybody knows the price goes through the roof just before a long weekend!

Petrol is like cigarettes - you could tax it up the wazoo, and people would still line up to pay, rather than look to alternatives like riding a bike, walking, or catching public transport. Sure, they won't like it, they'll complain, but not to the extent that they would change their behaviour.

You should see the queues of cars lining up from North Sydney to go over the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the morning. Unbelievable.

Headed down to Coogee Beach with Troy for a swim. It was a cool day, and overcast, but the water was incredibly warm! A bit of strop coming from the east caused a decent swell, with pounding waves for some great bodysurfing.

It's the first time I've gone to the beach since I've been here in Sydney. Definitely can't get that in Melbourne!

Went up the road to a nearby cafe this morning. Ordered a coffee.

"Here you are. I put three shots in it. Wake you up."

Um... okay. Thanks.

Now I've got a headache from the after-effects of a triple-strength coffee that I didn't ask for in the first place.

If a girl wears a t-shirt that says "Pot My Pink", is that an invitation? Should I feel obliged to try? Is she allowed to be offended if I do what her t-shirt is saying? Why do women wear t-shirts with writing on them if they don't want men to stare at their breasts?

What's with that FCUK t-shirt thing anyway? "FCUK you" "FCUK me" "FCUK Australia". We get it - you're trying to be edgy and daring by almost being a swear-word. That's so extreme. So out there. You guys are surfing on the edge of taste, hanging five on the wave of cynicism. Outrage as marketing strategy. Very post-modern.

Does anyone else find the phrase "I'm just going to marinate my tuna", taken out of the cooking show context, mildly suggestive?

We had a fun weekend, catching up with a lot of friends and trying, unsuccessfully in Kathleen's case, to avoid sunburn in this sweltering weather.

Friday we went to Circular Quay at sunset for the City of Light show, part of the Sydney Festival which is on for the next few weeks, lighting up the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Saturday was Lu's birthday, and she had a barbecue at Centennial Park. Saturday night a group of us headed out to Homebush (tip: next time, take the train - parking's a killer) for Of Angels And Light, an outdoor show. It was visually fantastic, but the narration was a little pompous.

It was warm until late at night, and we stayed talking and relaxing on the grass, with Eva and Steph bringing a picnic basket full of food.

And today? We ended up at Watson's Bay, fish and chips from Doyle's and a trip back to the city by ferry.

Sydney's a beautiful city - Melbourne definitely doesn't have that beach sentimentality - and little by little I'm starting to like it more and more.

33 degrees in the city today. Apparently. Felt much hotter than that in North Epping. I'm sitting at home now, sitting ramrod straight, since my back gets up a good deal of sweat whenever it comes into contact with a surface like a couch or a chair. Not much fun for the other people who live here to find.

Japan was hotter - much more humid - plus the small apartment size means that two people together in a tiny space makes it worse. Having air-conditioning was such a temptation. 17 degrees all year round.

North Epping sucks, too. Massive big highways, nothing reachable by foot. Thirty minutes by bus from the city. Nothing to do at lunch, except walk for 20 minutes to a huge-arse shopping mall, then walk 20 minutes back.

Available now!

Just arrived back in Sydney yesterday after a whirlwind four day visit to Hobart. While we were there, we've managed to:

• almost decide on a reception centre for the wedding
• attend an old friend's wedding
• catch up with heaps of people who've been off seeing the world
• spend time with my family

I'll get around to putting up a trip diary over the next day or so - stay tuned!