i heart canberra #1

10 things I hate about Canberra - Poppy ponders life in the capital.

I know from experience that when you first move to Canberra, it can be a tough place to like... tolerate... get out of bed in the morning!

Canberra can really suck. If you just moved here you don't know anyone, your friends from home don't visit because they think there's nothing to do and you're freezing cold. All.The.Time! If you're from here, you're sick of seeing someone you know every time you step out the front door and not being surprised when you find out your boss' sister's best friend is the brother of a girl you went to college with who knows your hockey coach's niece who's dating your ex... and now they've all seen those drunken photos you're tagged in on facebook.

When I moved to Canberra I lived alone, worked alone, and for 3 months I spent Saturday nights, and most other nights for that matter, drinking and sulking, wearing my ugg boots and five layers under my dressing gown while sitting on top of my heater... alone. I hated Canberra. But I was meant to be here for 8 months... and that was 6 years ago.

The thing about Canberra is that, for all the Canberra-bashing that goes on, it's just like any other place in the world - if you decide to have fun, you will. When you let yourself, you find out that Canberra has a lot of great things to do, see and - something that's very close to my heart - eat! But don't tell anyone I said that, because the other thing about Canberra is that it's not cool to like it!

So here is what I hate about Canberra...

I hate when I sleep in on a Saturday morning and miss out on my breakfast brioche at Cornucopia... mmm, brioche.

I hate that I secretly love sleeping in on a Saturday morning so I can spend 2 hours at brunch checking out lycra-clad cyclists - oh c'mon, you all do it!

I hate the extra kilos I put on in cold winter months when I'm left with no choice but to warm myself by drinking cup after cup of Koko Black chili hot chocolate.

I hate the hours I rile away devouring delicious scones, tea, carrot-shaped pastry delights and cute cucumber sandwiches at De Jour's Mad Hatter tea parties.

I hate that I now think getting up at 7.30am is early.

I hate the amount of money I spend on pretty scarves and beanies and mittens that I actually get to wear!

I hate that I think it's cool to spot senior level public servants buying bread at Supabarn .

I hate that I only live 2 blocks away from Knightsbridge - it's so tempting to spend every night of the week under the Knightsbridge stars enjoying the cocktails... and the bartenders.

And finally, I hate that my out-of-town friends tease me about defending it. I hate my secret Canberra crush!