arkon

Just got back from a holiday to Canberra. 1st time there and we thought it was great! It was very un-Australian if that makes sense. It seemed to have a much better work ethic and service in the shops was so much more than just jobsworths. The chav to not chav ratio was very small and a very refreshing change. The Bryson book make have been accurate about Canberra a few years ago, but to me it's a proper city now with a definite European class feel to it.

So if like me you are not finding chav Australia to your liking it might be worth you checking out Canberra first before flying home too quick.

jrob

Quick tell Arkon. Someone his using his name in vain

arkon

Took a while for my poor brain to work this one out, having spent a week with a much more educated populace it's difficult to dumb your brain down again!

jrob

None taken!

NickyP

Firiends of ours live there and love it and we visit when we can. I must say that if work allowed it then we would definately move over there. Saying that though we are in the middle of nowhere so it doesn't take much to impress us .

Nicky

Lord Pom Percy

Has it changed your mind about going back to the UK , do you plan to stay in Canberra a few years before going back

Lord Pom Percy

Looks like someones stolen his username and pretending to be Arkon.
Theres no way the real Arkon would say customer service and work ethic is good in OZ

NickyP

I was wondering the same thing. I hear people saying try somewhere else before heading back but it is often harder to do when you are tied to work.
Nicky

thribble

I'm with Bill Bryson on this one, but each to his own!

sasbear

Just curious - Have you actually visited Canberra - or just founding your opinion on a book?

sasbear

Hi,

Why didn't you let me know you was coming - I would have liked to have met you.

Glad you liked it here

MartinLuther

I agree that BB got it wrong about Canberra. It's amazing how people can give the wrong impression of a place when they have a blinkered view.

Britishaussie

Whatever Bill Bryson's personal views on Canberra, he told it all in such a funny and entertaining way! We went to Canberra once, and I'm sorry to say we did actually agree with Bill Bryson, but then again we were in a bit of a hurry and didn't actually manage to find the "real" Canberra. We couldn't see where people lived, and the city centre was dead as a dodo - it was as though everybody had just left the city and gone home, which was probably true, even though it was about 4.00 in the afternoon. I would like to visit again to see what we missed out on, as I am interested in the opinions of those who live there. We have a friend in Australia who is from Canberra and raves about the place so I would like to see it again when we're in less of a hurry.

sasbear

Good for you - you certainly missed the 'real' Canberra - but it all depends on what your priorities are I suppose

Britishaussie

Our priorities were getting to our next accommodation before dark, and a longer drive than anticipated! Otherwise I think we would have been able to spend a lot more time in the city. I would certainly give it another chance.