There are some good things about Sydney. Here is a list.
1. Jacarandas. They are beautiful and Sydney has a lot of them.

2. The Lord Nelson at the Rocks. Nice beer, nice restaurant, good hotel rooms. Also has special memories for me.

3. The energy and passion of the various multicultural hubs of Sydney. Bankstown, Auburn, Lakemba, Liverpool, Fairfield, Cabramatta. Great places to go

4. The Winston Hotel in Winston Hills. Great pub, great food, great atmosphere. Best hotel in the west.

5. Circa in Parramatta. The Ottoman Eggs are amazing, as is their coffee. And pretty much everything there. Best café anywhere in Sydney.

6. Parramatta. A place that is well served by public transport and will continue to be with the new light rail and metro. Eating is very good, the theatre is very good, the atmosphere welcoming, a thriving multicultural area. The better CBD.

7. Haberfield. It is a lovely gem - and the only criticism I have of Westconnex is that it had an impact on one of Sydney's best places.

8. Shops in Penrith. The warmth and friendliness of the staff in shops in Penrith has always been a feature of getting things there. There is a laid back honesty there you don't often get closer to the CBD.

9. El Jannah. One of Sydney's best franchises. And will always do more business in the outer suburbs than in the inner ones.

10. Mitchell's Pass Road, Glenbrook - Emu Plains. The most picturesque and gentlest way to descend down the Blue Mountains. A lovely last bit of peace and calm before you plunge in the hell that is Sydney.

11. The Opera Bar and surrounds for pre-concert drinks and food. The Opera Bar would be great if it wasn't filled with men in checked shirts and chinos.

12. Glenbrook. We will miss the great cafes and friendliness of the strip at Glenbrook. Better than so many closer to the CBD.

13. The Sydney Showground Stadium, aka Giants' Stadium. A great place to watch football or cricket - not a bad seat. The food takes a while, but unlike at the SCG, you can at least walk around the whole ground looking for food without security stopping you.

14. The Sydney Swans. An excellent team, with (mostly) wonderful supporters. The culture of the club is special, and it has been good to see it move from where it was in Sydney's narrative to where it is.

15. The Greater Western Sydney Giants. Big risk in starting something from scratch, but a great culture is forming. The range of supporters the club is attracting has been a thing of wonder for me personally- there's many lovely friends that I will continue to have when we leave.

16. The ferry ride from Circular Quay to Watson’s Bay. It is spectacular to look at - partially because you fly by all of those mansions that are allegedly worth a lot of money, as if they were insignificant dots.

17. North Sydney Pool. It is a lovely place to swim in, looking at the Art Deco design and the surrounding water. Better than swimming at Bondi.

18. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra. An excellent institution that continues to play different styles of music beautifully, despite barriers such as the opera house acoustics and mediocre conductors (*cough* Gelmetti *cough*). Will be even better when Simone Young takes over.

19. The new light rail lines. A good idea, to replace buses and have a reliable, consistent and comfortable method of transport. Hopefully new lines will continue to be built.

20. Riding on a Public Ferry. There is something decadent and spectacular riding on a Sydney ferry. It is like being in another world. My son loves doing it, my favourite cousin commuted on them for decades. I can see the attraction.

21. All those Sydney people I have met and still remain friends with. You know who you are. You have put up with my crankiness about Sydney and still talk to me! You are great.

22. Simone Young. Her treatment by the small minded Opera Australia board was terrible. Glad though she has had a better career in Germany despite of it, and is coming back.

23. Teachers I Have Known. There’s a fair few teachers in Sydney (who I mostly connect with on FB, not this), with whom I am friends. They are spectacular people who do an amazing job, battling Sydney’s traffic and still keeping on top of their game.

24. The Lewers Bequest and Penrith Regional Art Gallery, Emu Plains. One of the loveliest settings for art anywhere. The gardens hold many fond memories for me growing up. Just a nice place to chill.