quicko: nicknames

They call me Kimmy here.

I've never let anyone call me Kimmy except my closest friends, or else I've resented them terribly for presuming to be so familiar. But here it's okay. In fact, I kind of like it.

I think it's because almost everyone gets nicknames here, even if their name's short. Generally you get an -y, -o or -z added to the end -- Australians instinctively know which name gets which ending. (Hence, Matt, Steve and Sharon become Matty, Steve-o and Shaz.)

It's all so relaxed and casual -- like you're permanently on vacation. It's nice, at least for now. And so I am a happy Kimmy, glad to be included in the de-naming fun.