Settling In We've been here nearly two months now. We're still discovering things which is always fun, but we're also building our routines. One thing I've found much different about living overseas this time around is how close home is. Really close. I see the homepage of The Age every time I go on the web, it's much easier to stay in touch with friends and family, and the idea of listening to radio from home without having to stretch metres and metres of aerial from a shortwave radio all over the house is great.

The Mid-Levels has any amount of bars and restaurants due to the large number of expats living here. We've tried a few of them. Some, like the Peak Cafe are basically crap - overpriced food, bad coffee and full of Toorak-types. On the other hand there are places like Joyce Is Not Here and Club 71 that are much more relaxed and nice places to be. Club 71 in particular has the wonderful combination of a beergarden (well, tables on a footpath next to a garden) and a large collection of stray cats wandering through it.

Today is Sunday, so every available public space (park, walkway, staircase) is full of Filipino and Indonesian maids enjoying their one day of the week off. They sit in groups and play cards, eat food, head off to buy discount clothing and make calls home. It must be quite difficult for a lot of them being here and working full-time for about AU$600 a month. The Sunday get-togethers seem to be a way of coping and enjoying life for a little while.  ¶ 5:01 PM