All things general!

Apparently you UK lot want and need to know about really general Aus stuff. Never occurred to me to be honest but will try and put some stuff down now. Order may not make sense but you know me, I speak generally before I think so it will be as it appears in my head - scary thought!

Post boxes. Jeez am I really writing about post boxes! Anyway they are like the States in that houses don't have the hole in the door. Everyone has a box type effort out on the verge. Letters go in the front slot and come out the back flap door thing. I don't do this very often. Abs likes to do it because maybe there will be something for her but very rarely is (hint hint). I am not keen because ours tends to be alive with ants a lot of the time and I am a woos!

Don't know if you can get papers delivered a la UK, but the free ones are delivered by someone either on a scooter (sit down baby motorbike, not a push foot on ground thing) or car and they drive slowly along, just lobbing papers at people drives. Now this is fine generally, but ever so often, well quite often at the moment, it is peeing it down with rain so when you find the paper it is a soggy lump of grey wallpaper paste!

But hey, they're free! Not bad actually, free local papers are much of a muchness.

The Post Office. Now call me sad, but they are great here. You are met with a smile and a "how you going" routine. May be fake, but it's flaming good fake because generally by the time you've left you've had a long chat about life etc. You can pay all your bills there free of charge very easily, they will fax stuff for you, usual postage stuff obviously. If you send packages to anywhere in the world, you have to show your driving licence. Some people moan about this but how hard is it just to flash the card! Anyway, the stroppy apes in Station Road Post Office could learn a great deal from these people although they would probably die just thinking about it.

Trees. You can't just cut down trees (where we are anyway) If it's within three metres of the house or pool you can cut it down but if it's further away you have to apply for planning permission or cutting permission. One of our neighbours had a tree at the front of their property, it had been hacked about by Energex (power supplier) because some of the branches were close to power lines, it was also dead and a branch fell off and just missed neighbours son's head so he chopped it down. Nosey neighbour reported him to the council. Council official came out, agreed that it was dangerous and yes had to come down, and yes neighbour was nosey and self important but neighbour should still have applied to do it - immediate fine of $200!

Luckily because most of us are hidden from the road, what you do in the back no one will know about it but probably still not worth trying.

Banks. Banks charge over here for lots of things, but generally you get charged a small monthly fee which covers most stuff - bit like the UK used to be. Not many people have cheque books as you tend to get charged for every cheque you use. BUT we do have EFTPOS - no idea what it stands for and can't be bothered to find out. Anyway it's much like chip and pin but vastly superior. You use it for everything, one card can cover more than one account, the amount gets entered, you press the button for whichever account, type in the pin and bobs your aunty. Trying now to think of reasons why it's so much better than chip and pin and can't think of anything but it is!

Also have something called BPay. Most business and definitely all major companies have a four digit BPay number which you type in to a web page from your bank, enter the amount you are paying, click on confirm and the bill is paid. If I remember rightly some UK banks do something similar but everyone can and does do it here. There are even terminals outside supermarkets where you can do it, I guess if you don't have a computer.

There is only one electric supplier in each state. Don't know about gas - don't have it. Water is paid on your council rates bill which confused me when I first found out.

There are stacks of clubs - surf, RSL (Aus version of British Legion), sports clubs etc and most of them have entertainment sections, restaurants etc. Everyone belongs to at least three. If you live within a certain distance of the coast, you have to be a member of a surf club or they don't let you in. Brilliant food and really reasonable prices. Obviously great views and very friendly - they also have Pokies which are just slot machines but all the clubs have a separate room full of them that any one under 18 is NOT allowed into which is very strongly enforced, they are not allowed to go up to the bar either.

The RSL clubs - most people are a member of one and they are brilliant, really sophisticated affairs. Our local one http://www.currumbinrsl.com.au/ has just had a refurb and lets just say, WOW. Fab restaurant, not cheap though, a club where live performances happen daily - apparently well known entertainers/singers as well (wouldn't know!) There is a massive one http://www.twintowns.com.au/ not far away which has just had Donnie Osmond playing! Now I grant you, doesn't do much for me, but can't quite see him agreeing to play Harpenden British Legion, can you?