A lot of the things I love about Melbourne aren't typically Australian, they are just things that make me happy to be here. One of the things, is that even in the most urban of areas, there are roses. I love roses. You can walk down the street in the grottiest of suburbs and outside a shit house there will be roses just growing wildly over the fences. I'm always snapping them. See? I can be fucking whimsical.

Sorry more of England's national flower. This is in the cafe in my building. It's a bit of a wanky cafe to be honest. I mean, it's really cool and I like going there because the coffee is like rocket fuel and they only charge me $3.50 even though I ask for a triple shot but the clientele can be a little try hard. Rad food though...they do this smashed avocado and Persian feta thing...oh my God.

NAILS. This is obviously one of the first things I seek out in a new city considering I've had acrylics for 6 years. I live in Abbotsford which is basically Vietnam, and we all know that the Vietnamese know their way round a nail file. 9 times out of 10 you don't need an appointment, they're fast and they're cheap. I'm pretty sure they talk about you in Vietnamese though but hey, I leave with fresh claws and only short around 25 bucks so they can wag their tongues all they like! This is my fave little salon on Bourke Street in the city.

These were the last result. The place is called 'Modern Nails' and it is GHE-TTO but amazing and open till 7 which is great! They let you design your own shizz which I love and they don't anialate my cuticles which let me tell you, is nothing to bulk at.

I took this photo 2 weeks ago on Victoria Street during the Chinese festival. Australia is Asia and every Australian has some kind of affiliation with Asia, even if it's just by association. Nearly every Australian know their way around an Asian menu and I always let them order for me. Coming from Africa, we weren't as exposed the mouth explosions that is Asian cuisine. I live right near a strip of great Vietnamese joints and it's almost stupid to cook when the food is healthy (mostly), tasty and CHEAP. God I love cheap. I love cheap almost as much as I love free.

Look I don't want to start throwing labels around, but I have become pretty green fingered of late. I've really taken pride in my apartment and with my good friend Paul who also shares a love for interiors we went to this dope nursery called GARDEN WORLD and bought us some shrubbery. I had my doubts about whether I could keep shit alive, but I think in this photograph you might say that this guy is flourishing.

The 2 dolla stores. A treasure trove of plastic crap and tacky shit and I fucking love it.

OK, Melbourne is known for it's shit weather. But when they say shit, they mean shit compared to the rest of the country. And when they say shit they also mean inconsistent. Melbourne has the moods of a pre menstrual woman. But I dun care 'cause I get to wear nice jackets and take self photos in the lift HA! Nah, the weather is the only thing that bugs me I gotta tell ya. But I really shouldnt moan after living in London for 7 years, but Perth made me realize how much I adore the ocean. But different strokes for different folks because Perth hits 40 degrees for 2 weeks straight on the reg and to me THAT is shit. Mother nature just can't please everybody can she?

Non Melbourne related but I don't straighten my hurrr any more and have started to let if go natural. Have to straighten the fringe though. I came close to growing it out but I'm too paranoid about frown lines and I already had a 23 yr old come up to me at RoofTop Bar a few weeks back and go 'milf'. So the fringe is here to stay. Anyway where were we...

The good folk at DRUM MEDIA in Perth have let me keep my column even though I now live in a different city. I love it, because it keeps me connected to the place I called home for over 3 years and it was good to me. Last night I finally got round to scrap booking all my clippings. Haha, I still can't believe I get paid to write. Those that know me, know that this really is a dream come true. I know it's only a column but it's mine and I'm proud. So there.

'burn city kids and their steeze. This is easily the best dressed state in the country. Easily. Not to mention the live music that is here in abundance (got nothing to do with Reebok pumps but I dun have a photo of a live gig) - arts and culture and fashion and food and coffee and trams and everything you hear is true about this place. I also love how most Aus folk will affectionately call me 'Tam' even though they just met me. There is an ease about them that I enjoy immensely.

BATS. My favourite part of the evening are when the bats fly over the city to go hang in the Botanical Gardens for the evening. This is the view from my living room...you can't really make them out but dun the city look pretty? I'm telling you, you just go quiet for a few minutes and watch them fly over the city. Hundreds and hundreds of leathery birds swoop the sky and create such an eerie yet not scary atmosphere as dusk kicks in. God I sound like I'm writing a Harry Potter novel, I'm not....I just got lost in my thoughts there for a minute. Do I sound lame? I hope I don't and if I do well...I am still just a tourist after all.