Opportunity.
There have been a number of little things that I have noticed about Australia that could make so many Australians lives so much happier if they adopted a new way of doing things. And someone with the energy and capital to bring these things to Australia could become really rich.
For example, the vending machine at the office literally drops the cans of pop. What happens when you drop a can of pop (or soft drink as they say) and then try to open it? It explodes. Am I the only person who ends up having their pop explode? Quite possibly yes because the locals probably let it sit on their desk and get lukewarm before opening it. The robot grabber arm technology in the US is quite simple and quite amazing.

The pumps at the gas stations…you have to push the “fill” button, and then hold the pump handle until the car is full, and then you have to go inside to pay. The little clasp deal on the gas pumps back home that allow you to walk away from the car while it is filling are GENIUS and something I have always taken for granted. We haven’t come across a pay at the pump gas station yet…so convenient, especially with kids in the car.

I think I have mentioned the shopping carts. Will somebody PLEASE tell the Australian cart manufacturers about locking the rear wheels? There is no need for all 4 to swivel. Here is a pic I snapped at the mall of a grandma pushing a cart sort of sideways. Makes no sense… And yes, I did say that she was pushing the cart through the mall – because there is a grocery store in the mall.

And I know I cannot change this, but the time zone difference is killer. I ask for something from the US one day, maybe hear a response the next day, and if I run into problems there goes another couple of days. It is amazing that we can get anything done here. A package takes a month to get mailed, a tractor several months. We are not in Kansas anymore, Toto. It’s like we should be ahead, if the early bird gets the worm, but we are only as strong as our latest time zone.

But, we do live by the beach. And it isn’t snowing. And I can wear shorts year round. So no worries mate.