Andrew Pilcher & Family in London 2016

I am new to the team at Performance Medicine and new to Melbourne having just relocated from London. It’s exciting joining such proactive therapists working in the vocal area here in Australia. I wanted to share some funny and interesting things about my move from London, where I worked with the West End practice which pioneered Vocal Physiotherapy.
I’m still too scared to stop saying flip flops here. Thongs are underwear over there and after years of not saying that, I can’t go back to saying ‘thongs.’
Australia is a friendly country! There are so many friendly people in Australia. I’m initially from Australia, but on the tube in what is commonly grey sky’d London, there is a ‘standard’ – no-one tends to speak. If you know someone, you will, but generally otherwise it’s foreigners speaking. But walking around Melbourne, I’m once again reminded how easy it is to bump into people, there is such a interestedness in Australia. It’s something I love about our culture here.
In physio practice when asking to remove ones trousers for treatment, it’s trousers in the UK, pants in Australia. Duly noted. Definitely got some odd looks talking about people’s ‘pants’ when I first moved to London, they thought I meant underwear. Another one I can’t go back on.
Coffee in London is good (in places) but you’ll need the London Coffee app to find the best independent places. Melbourners would probably prefer the tea. Proudly wave the coffee-snob flag. Keep the standard high!
A lot of performers want to try the London scene. Don’t be intimidated about travelling there, work in the arts is being hit hard in a lot of places. Don’t let that stop you wanting to get over there. Other performers don’t want the competition but they don’t want it here either. I know established UK singers and coaches there who loved trained singers from Oz. There’s competition there and competition here. I believe a happy artist is one using their talents wherever they are living.
Brexit land is the land of opportunity. I’m half Brit and loved the arts world there, still miss it! Melbourne is enticing and we have so loved the enchantment of it, and getting settled.

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