I'm currently in Sydney for a couple of days meeting with a client - my first business trip of what I'm told will be many for my new employer.

I flew up yesterday afternoon with a colleague who I'm taking over from on this particular client project as he's leaving next week. We're staying in the Bayview Boulevard in the Woolloomooloo area of Sydney. The hotel is actually pretty good - it's recently been refurbished so everything is shiny and new, and I've got a partial view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge from my room, as the photo below shows (taken with my camera phone).


Last night we went for a walk about and stopped off for a meal at a really nice side-street Italian Trattoria. I had Black mussels as an entree and a home-made fettuccine concoction for main. Finally had a decent Italian in Australia!

After the meal we went to a pub and caught the last 30 minutes of the Sydney FC v LA Galaxy game. David Beckham had managed to draw 80,000 to the Sydney Olympic stadium - unheard of for a 'soccer' match in Australia. They even showed the match live on Channel 10 (one of the main channels in Oz). Beckham pleased the fans scoring with one of his trademark free-kicks, although his side lost 5-3 in the end. I couldn't believe all the plaudits by the commentators after the game, and then on TV this morning. Beckham mania is still alive and strong, at least in Sydney anyway.

Mike, my colleague, has recommended a nice steak restaurant this evening so we'll be going there shortly. Don't you just love company expenses!