Pollyana

The 2 other driving things that are weird, besides the traffic lights, are - turning left across a pedestrian crossing when its showing green for pedestrians. I always get nervous as the car edges slowly towards me, even though I know I'm crossing quite legally! And the other one - which I think is only in Victoria - is when a car turning right pulls in at the LEFT side of the road, while indicating right, to wait for a gap in which to actually make the turn. Very odd!

Badge

ah- that will be the infamous 'HOOK' turn. Haven't noticed it, or taken stock of it, myself yet.

badge

NickyC

That only happens at a few intersections in the city in Melbourne. It's because of the tram tracks - you cannot wait on the right to make your turn in case a tram comes along. You wait on the extreme left instead and turn when the lights have changed.

I think it's easier to avoid the intersections altogether than risk doing one of those turns!

MeganEkno

I think it's easier to avoid the intersections altogether than risk doing one of those turns! [/QUOTE]


My advice exactly and I grew up driving in Melbourne - still hate those bl*ody junctions!

Goodpubmisser

I was in a clothes shop in central Sydney and a young Pom was trying to buy FlipFlops. I leant forward and said "He means thongs". The shop assistant's face lit up.

For good measure I added "By the way, swimming trunks are Bathers in Melbourne and Swimmers in Sydney". To this my girlfriend added "They are Togs in Brisbane". The young Pom said "Thanks, that was what I was going to buy next".

All in a days work I suppose.

Pollyana

The funniest thing is to go back to the UK and say to someone that you wore your thongs to go down the shops/the movies/MacDonalds/wherever.......the reaction ranges from polite puzzlement to absolute horror!!!

Phoenixuk2oz

For example, given that the windscreen wiper and headlight/indicator stick are on opposite sides in Oz compared to UK, I have been known when intending to flash my lights at the idiot who has just cut me up to instead spray my windscreen with washer fluid, thereby looking like a moron. I also have a habit as the rain starts to start indicating wildly... [/QUOTE]

Fantastic. Very funny. Need more!!!

Puk2oz

jodie

I have to say the bit about overseas is very funny, my fiance just cannot get over the fact that I use this term rather than abroad.

been an aussie and living here for the past four years, i have adopted a number of non-aussie slang terms. crisps are now crisps and not chips.

and the cinema is no longer "the movies" which I got slagged (or paid out as they say at home) from my aussie friends back home

snowhite

Im already getting my girls use to ,textas ,icebloks,chips all the things I stubbled over when I moved to the UK 14 years ago !!!

MikeStanton

Why did they do that? I thought you went to the cinema to see a movie (or film as we say in UK). Hoyts is referred to as a cinema in NSW (www.hoyts.com.au)

Trevglas

When working for a company in NSW, after lunch we all would go outside for a ciggie or two.

The boss turned up one time and said "Bloody hell, you can spot the pom easy enough!"

All the aussies were sitting in the shade, and sun-starved me was basking in the glorious sun (mad dogs and englishmen???)