About this blog

Mugshot of MattI started this blog in May 2007 to share the ups and downs of living as an expat in Australia. I’m English (a “Pom” as they say) originally, but I moved over here in 2002 with my wife Cat. We became “true blue Aussies” (i.e. citizens) in 2005. I currently live in Sydney’s Northern Beaches with Cat and our little boy Isaac (Zack for short).

A bit about me: I’m 35 (last time I checked), and I run a couple of websites and write the odd book. Favourite musicians: Orbital, Brian Eno, Jane’s Addiction, Bola, The KLF, Aphex Twin, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Autechre, Black Dog/Plaid. Favourite authors: Iain Banks, Haruki Murakami, Tolkien, George Orwell, Robert M. Pirsig, Aldous Huxley, Ray Bradbury. Favourite movies: This is Spinal Tap, Withnail & I, 2001, Bad Taste, Lord of the Rings trilogy, Fargo, The Empire Strikes Back, Godfather trilogy, Bad Boy Bubby, Twelve Angry Men.

For some reason it took me 5 years of living here before deciding to start blogging about it. Better late than never, that’s what I say.

Topics include:

  • Similarities and differences between living in the UK and living in Australia
  • What’s great about living here, and what’s not so good
  • Useful tips and info for anyone moving to Australia, or thinking about it
  • General diary-type stuff about me, my friends and my family
  • Interesting snapshots of Australian scenery and life

So what’s with the name, I hear you ask? “The Good Oil” is Aussie slang for “accurate information”, which seemed fitting. Not that the information in this blog is likely to be entirely accurate, but I’ll do my best…

I want this blog to be a two-way thing, so please do get involved and post the odd comment, or send me an email or two. I’d love to hear from you!

Cheers,
Matt

ps: The lovely “wooden boards” font used for The Good Oil logo is Burnstown Dam from the highly talented Ray Larabie. Thanks Ray!