Well, I’m back from Sydney. When I was in Sydney, it was freakin’ cold, and I ducked into David Jones on Friday arvo and bought a hat. Harris tweed, from the Outer Hebrides (it has subsequently been suggested to me that tweed from the Inner Hebrides is just so not the thing). Thanks heartily to all those who offered and shared hospitality and cheer! (Particularly LP comrades tigtog, Phil, suz and dk.au.) While there’s no doubt that Brisvegas and Melbourne have better bars than Sydney (though I blame the licensing laws), I can say truthfully that hat shopping in the Emerald City is fabulous. And while cheaper licences would bring an alternative to dank pubs full of pokies for the tippler’s indulgence and facilitate Sydney’s self image as a “global city”, I can say that any claims that Sydney folk are so big city that they’re not friendly are completely false. Now… back to work!
Mark:
Excellent purchase. Virtually indestructable and usually looks good. Almost as warm as a traditional Russian shapka yet can be worn in our Summer rain too.
Mark, having met you for the first time wearing that hat (indeed, did you take it off at all on Saturday?), my image of you will always remain “the man in the outer hebridean hat” - and a fine image it is, too!
Hat hair can be a bad look, tim!
Is BrisVegas still cool enough to sport it jauntily around town?
Nope! Glorious warm winter day! Might have to go in search of some less tweedy headgear!
Tweed had, leather jacket, ciggies. I’m with Tim, no more FDR, that’s how I will always see ya
By the way, is the post title a deliberate Pratchett reference?
If you want it to be!
I could look around for pics of FDR in a hat. He had a nice fedora!
you had a shindig in sydney…..and i wasnt invited??
youse are all so dropped…..
Sorry, jo, it wasn’t an open grogblogging thing but drinks after a meeting for a specific occasion. Next time I’m down I’ll definitely do an open LP celebration!
Mark
I didn’t realise you recent Tour was to condescend to Sydney! I should have been honoured to “give you the tour.” But you are right, the bars blow. Big Time!
Recent changes to inner city planning laws and some street-rescaping, while being a disaster for the short-term prospects of existing businesses, will provide some opportunities for savvy booze-entrepreneurs. Hopefully, your next Tour will be more rewarding.
I’m half tempted to become a booze entrepreneur myself, John, if they go the way of Melbourne and flog licences off for 5 grand. I’m sure there’s a market for purple themed bars in Sydenney.
Trying to generalise about the entirety of a metropolis is obviously silly, but I do think *inner* Sydney has a much less friendly, much more NOW NOW NOW don’t stuff me around culture than inner Melbourne.