There’s something uniquely Australian about Chemist Warehouse, isn’t there? Those garish yellow and red signs dot our suburbs like beacons of bargain-hunting hope. I’ll admit it – despite everything I’m about to say, I’m a regular customer. The prices are genuinely good, and when you’re on a budget (which, let’s be honest, most of us are these days), that matters.

But bloody hell, have you tried navigating one of these stores lately?

The familiar “pew-pew” followed by that rhythmic “duk-duk-duk” has become such an integral part of daily life that we barely notice it anymore. That is, until you travel overseas and suddenly find yourself standing at a crossing, waiting for an audio cue that never comes.

Recently, browsing through online discussions about our pedestrian crossing sounds brought back memories of my recent trip to Europe. Standing at various intersections in London, I felt surprisingly lost without that reassuring audio feedback. It’s fascinating how something so mundane can become such a crucial part of our urban experience.