Arrived alive! On the bus into downtown Sydney on this first day, I have the flicker of an inkling that I could live here again. It’s the bustling vibe in Sydney on a hot, busy day; the place is thriving. Street performers on every corner, tourists taking happy snaps of Martin Place and Circular Quay and Darling Harbour, shops at Chinatown going into overdrive despite the public holiday.

What I quickly realise I don’t miss, though, is bare legs on a vinyl bus seat. But I’m distracted by all the shops and suburbs flying past – secondhand books, antique furniture, Thai takeaway, sushi train, Asian grocers, dodgy looking internet café, Golden Pide kebabs, Charlie Chan bottleshop, Solomon Levi money exchange…now this, I do miss.

And what I love – and Sydneysiders love – about Sydney is that so many corners of it (I won’t say all) are great. There are scores of suburbs that would be tops to live in, each with their own flavour: ‘little Italy’ Leichardt, where I’m staying with Kylz now; bohemian Newtown; backpacker heaven Bondi; swanky Double Bay, colonial Pyrmont; trendy Woollomooloo – and that’s just on the south side of the harbour.