Working Girl

Looking back, I realize I've never really blogged about work or what I do every day. Well, if you think I've landed a dream job here in Sydney, you would be right! In case you didn't know, I am the Marketing & Communications Manager of the biggest independent brewing company in Australia, and it's every bit as amazing as you might imagine.

My company owns three brands: Barons Brewing, Snowy Mountains, and Lucky Drink Co. Like Barons, Lucky is available all over the U.S., so be sure pick up a six-pack of buddha bottles near you! :) With the acquisition of the two new brands, there is plenty to do. Since I report to the Managing Director, I am free to be really creative in my role and dream up lots of madness. The people in the office are fantastic, and in six short weeks, I have learned heaps about both the beer business, and crazy Aussies in general!

I spend quite some time in pubs all around Sydney, and "research" has never been such fun. As much as I loved my past life in the beauty biz, booze suits me much better. It's a boys club for sure, but that's a space I've always been comfortable in and I'm growing more confident in my role every day.

Unlike New York, work stops everyday at 5pm. We get a long, leisurely lunch whenever we want and Fridays usually end at 3:30pm, when we all go to the pub downstairs and enjoy the fruits of our labour. Did I mention my office is above a pub? Ha! I haven't fully grasped this concept of a work/life balance and I often think my blackberry must be accidentally off when I don't get emails on the weekends. It's always on - people just don't bother you during personal time. It's a very foreign concept, don't you agree?

I Have Arrived!

This morning, I went to get my coffee at 10:30am instead of my regular 9am pit stop. When I went in, the barista said, "Aren't you a little late this morning?" and made my large skim flat white with one without even asking what I wanted. When the coffee man knows your order without having to ask, it's official. You're in. :)

Lawn Bowl

Weekend afternoons at Union Hall in Brooklyn were some of my most favorite times. After all, nothing says entertainment like bocce and beer abound. So, when my friends here in Sydney thought up the idea to spend an afternoon in Paddington sitting outside and playing lawn bowl, I was all about it.

I imagined the bowling club to be filled with retirees outfitted in white from head to toe and covered in zinc oxide everywhere else. I was wrong. Paddington Bowling Club has to be one of the most happening places in Sydney on a Saturday afternoon. There were tons of people, young and old, dressed to the nines in wigs, leisure suits, and whatever else they could get their hands on. Drinks flow very freely and people get pretty rowdy. The 15 courts were packed and the clubhouse was mobbed with people hanging out and watching various rugby games.

Our group consisted of about 12 people and as the boys got pretty competitive, we gals chit-chatted in the sun with lounge chairs and icy beverages. After an hour or two, no one could even remember which team they were on. It was a stunning, sunny day and we had an absolute blast. Who knew bowling could be such fun?