Backpacking in Australia: Touring Maclean, The Scottish Town

Australia has a few Scottish towns and influences of course (Perth for one, and Bothwell for another). But Maclean is in the north part of New South Wales and I popped in to see what was there. Advertising itself and promoting itself as “THE Scottish town in Australia”, tartan designs, bagpipes, murals, Scottish names and Read more about Backpacking in Australia: Touring Maclean, The Scottish Town[…]

“It’s really got me worried, I’m going nowhere and I’m in a hurry…you know the last plane out of Sydney’s almost gone” *

I probably couldn’t have left Sydney in any worse a state, but in many ways I was better off for it. Thanks to Hannah Wicks I got a lift home to my flat in Parramatta around midnight, with my flight in 10 hours time, I was feeling a wee bit worse for wear, but had Read more about “It’s really got me worried, I’m going nowhere and I’m in a hurry…you know the last plane out of Sydney’s almost gone” *[…]

Goodnight Parramatta, It Was Sheer Bliss, We’ll Meet Again *

Goodnight Parramatta – internet in New Zealand is shit so photos and videos are banned sorry… I had been so busy, I just about had it all sorted for leaving Parramatta for a 108 day stint globetrotting again – this time I would be entering three new continents, to finish off visiting all seven continents. Read more about Goodnight Parramatta, It Was Sheer Bliss, We’ll Meet Again *[…]

The Last Plane Out Of Sydney’s Almost Gone

Not quite, and “hardly end of the rainbow stuff” (as Del Boy once said to Rodney in ‘Only Fools And Horses’) but I have a flight booked out of Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport this very Friday morning. Not since I was aged 8 have I spent so long in the same country. I will have Read more about The Last Plane Out Of Sydney’s Almost Gone[…]

Backpacking in Australia: Sunset at Drummoyne, Sydney

The district or area of Drummoyne sounds so Northern Irish I was convinced it would be some kind of Irish quarter of Sydney. In fact it’s basically just a picturesque inner suburb of Sydney, nestled nicely by the Parramatta River. I had known about it for a brave while, since arriving in Sydney in October Read more about Backpacking in Australia: Sunset at Drummoyne, Sydney[…]

Backpacking in Australia: Four Times In Forth, Tasmania

I worked in Forth a few times while staying in Tasmania. And on a range of things as it turned out. The village itself is tiny. One main street with a petrol station/shop, plus the token local pub the “Bridge Hotel”, which by no coincidence is right next to the Forth Bridge, over the Forth Read more about Backpacking in Australia: Four Times In Forth, Tasmania[…]

Half Way To St Patrick’s Day – PJ Gallagher’s, Parramatta

Only in Australia have I ever heard of such a thing as “Half Way To St. Patrick’s Day!” This happened to be last week, on the 17th September 2010. Makes sense given that St. Patrick’s Day is on the 17th March, yet when you consider there are less days after the 17th September (due to Read more about Half Way To St Patrick’s Day – PJ Gallagher’s, Parramatta[…]

Australia v Ireland (Lansdowne Cup)- Rugby Union in Brisbane, June 2010

It must be stressed than generally in life: 1. I HATE rugby 2. I HATE anything associated with bringing the two countries in Ireland together However over the years I have gotten into rugby a lot more mainly due to the Ulster rugby team winning the European Cup in 1999, but also my time here Read more about Australia v Ireland (Lansdowne Cup)- Rugby Union in Brisbane, June 2010[…]