Mr Romance 
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with buying a combined present for a couple. On the odd occasion Mrs Romance has fretted about whether to buy two individual presents, worrying that getting a combined gift looks cheap or slack, I’ve had to console her. There are so many reasons for buying a couples present is appropriate – … Read more
Sydney’s been in a strange old mood recently. It hasn’t been the build up to summer we’re used to here. Low temperatures one day, hot the next, raining the next, hail and thunder storms the next… will summer ever get here? That’s what I want to know. Anyway, as a quick addendum to last week, I … Read more
In my books, Sydney’s all about the sun, the sea and a good swig from a glass. That’s what I was expecting anyway, a bit under 14 years ago when I first reached these eastern shores. So far, I’ve been pretty happy – and now, I’m even happier! Thanks to an unintentional tip-off from a … Read more
I remember as a kid thinking Christmas would take like a million years to get here. These days It’s like we’re having back-to-back festive seasons every weekend. I must be getting old. With the impending threat of another Christmas hanging over us like a cliff on a fault line, so the dread of buying worthwhile … Read more
Rain is pelting the windows and Sydney looks unseasonably glum. It feels a bit ironic as I work on our next post about Australian beach life and how to fit in with the locals. We start getting cabin fever so we make a mad dash for the nearest cafe and some perspective. I don’t find any … Read more
*The most exciting thing about He Said, She Said is wondering if we’ll still be married by the end of each post! We both write on the same topic but only get to read the other’s work after it’s published.* He Said: As late as possible. It gives you something to blame it on when … Read more
It was a well-earned late lunch we were looking forward to as we stepped into the recently renovated Union Bank wine bar on Byng Street in Orange’s town centre. We’d had a hard day’s wine tasting and were ready for sustenance. The Union Bank building was – funnily enough – a bank from 1857 and still … Read more
There’s something so satisfying about looking down on a city, isn’t there? Wherever Mrs Romance and I go, we always look for rooftop bars or for views from the highest point in the town. We recently went up the Sydney Tower with visiting friends of ours – Nickie, Wes and little Arthur. Even though we’ve both … Read more
When we think of travel, it usually means trains, planes or automobiles, but it doesn’t have to.We’re big fans of staycations – staying in an hotel in our own city for a night or two. It’s a great way to explore your home town. For this staycation, we headed to Pyrmont and 1888 Hotel*. It’s … Read more
The only way to start off the week – to start off most things actually – is with a good coffee.We try the newest place round the corner – the Paramount Coffee Project‘s coffee hits the spot nicely. The coffee’s so good, we decide brunch is in order. Mrs Romance has the salmon, black quinoa … Read more