Magpie watch; and the kindness of others

Today I web-surfed my way onto a page that is a great example of kindness by, and for, cyclists in Sydney; Magpie Watch

Matthew Newton was too good in that role…

Five years ago I took myself off to Sydney Theatre to watch Boy Gets Girl; and witness the worst fears of every modern girl who has ever dabbled with internet-dating.

Melbourne has one, why don’t we?

Stumbling back to my hotel after a function last week I noticed that Melbourne is now the first Australian city to implement Europe’s auto-pay, bike-share scheme. A row of shiny blue steeds challenged my spontaneous desire to deposit some coin and go for a spin around the block at 11pm…

How to crash Canberra

Like a school kid on her inaugural Year 6 Parliament House excursion, I approached my first independent lobbying trip in Canberra with trepidation, a map, and very little sleep.

Dumpster dipping in New York and beached ice in Bondi

New Yorkers are diving into converted dumpsters in a desperate bid to cool themselves down. Which I’m finding hard to imagine from Sydney, where I just received my highest ever electricity bill because my heater-love is out of control.

Coffee chain-pain at Max Brenner

Winter is not summer, a cat is not a dog, and chocolate venues do not deliver coffee.

The real CPI – the Cappuccino Price Index

What do I have in common with a South American coffee bean farmer? We both hate too much rain. And apparently this is the reason that $4.50 has become the standard price of a coffee if you live in Perth in 2010.

Tweed fever

The Sydney Tweed Ride saw 150 smashing bicycle riders gather together wearing various shades of brown this morning.

Boots, scarves and mittens were essential haute de couture with the temperature peaking at 10 degrees in the shade at Town Hall. The odd flower-in-the-hair, flash of red stocking, bow-tie and beret were not uncommon sights. And instead of car passengers screaming abuse we got plenty of friendly and multiple toots.

Dapper looking dudes and stylish ladies accessorised their bicycles with leather satchels and picnic blankets and united on a round trip of Sydney CBD, before winding up in Alexandria.

The pace was leisurely and the manner genteel. The weather held up and the traffic held off. All in all it was a jolly good morning! See the photos here – >

Its all about Gillard – 2010 is the Year of Women in (local) Government

Well well, few would have predicted Rudd being rolled in his first term as PM. It’s not common. But now Australia also has it’s first female Prime Minister – as of an hour ago! America has it’s first black PM. We have a woman. I almost don’t even care how they go after being elected. I’m just pleased that they got there.

Chic cycling in style

The online world is a funny neighbourhood. Inspired by the Tweed Ride I found some fabulously quirky blogs from girls who cycle.