Sunday, 28 September 2014

Riverfire 2014!!

Once again we were treated to a sensational event, as fireworks and military jets took over our beautiful city!  In September each year Brisbane hosts a Festival, a mostly cultural event spread over 2-3 weeks, with attractions around the city, in theatres, at Southbank and across the city, which closes with Riverfire.

Riverfire kicks off at around 3:30pm, with an RAAF fly past. In recent years we have welcomed Super Hornet's and this year they excelled themselves!  Our best show ever and we were treated to three separate fly pasts in all!  

WOW! Thank you!

My friend took some of the best shots, I especially like how she captured the view of the team in the cockpit! Love it!

Between flypasts Black Hawk helicopters and surf life savers keep us entertained as we await the main event ...

At 7:04pm we were rewarded for our patience with a final flypast by the Super Hornet's, breathtaking and followed by a 30 minute firework spectacular. 

We are very fortunate, for the last 5 years we have viewed Riverfire without leaving our apartment. We live in an apartment at Kangaroo Point and we are just so lucky to have ring side seats for a spectacular pyrotechnics display and big thanks to the RAAF, military jets and helicopters!

While I am not an expert photographer, I am happy to share a couple of my amateur snaps:






This year was one of the best fly pasts, but some of us still have a touch of nostalgia when we think of our old favourite - F111's who flew in low over the city for a unique dump and burn!!  Here is a good video from Riverfire past ...



... and this is a personal favourite pic from Riverfire 2014!




Sunday, 7 September 2014

The Hunter Valley, Pokolbin and Thistle Hill

 rosé by the fire
Thistle Hill, Reception
... and so we found our way to our lodgings for the next few nights, Thistle Hill, Pokolbin. Our host Carol was delightful and it was soon obvious why Thistle Hill is the #1 rated B&B in the area!

Lazy days and wine tasting tours followed, the promise of a long day and a degustation menu didn't pan out as promised but our tour with James' Hunter Valley Wine and Vineyard Tours was exceptional! Good value, great fun, a small group of 10! Lots of laughter and more wine than is good for you I'm sure!

One winery offered us more than 20 tastings but helped us limp through to lunch with a generous serve of cheese and crackers! Can't imagine why we needed food after a mouth watering home-baked breakfast including (yes honestly!) fresh scones with jam and cream, devoured earlier!
Breakfast Room

We picked out a few favourites along the way, not least a delicious Shiraz liqueur from Ballabourneen tasted and purchased as we listened to the highly amusing chatter of our host and a Chardy from Audrey Wilkinson that really hit the spot!

Our stop at one winery saw us filmed to be featured on a popular TV show, but given it was the last stop after a full day, I won't be seeking out that video!!!

Hidden Gems


We found a few hidden gems, Blaxlands Inn deserved a second visit, you can't go past their deep dish pies, but our favourite find of the winery week was Cockfighter's Ghost and their gold award winning Pinot Gris and their chardy is pretty good too!!  Thank goodness for the Internet, the cellar door is never far away!


Thistle Hill, Guest Lounge

Our wine tour group included a couple of honeymooners who had celebrated their wedding on Segways in Coff's Harbour just the weekend before! Sounded like a blast and different for sure!

Yes, we tasted every one!  And more!

A horse and carriage, outside Blaxlands Inn, Hunter Valley

Outside our room at Thistle Hill
It's been a few years since we last went to the Hunter and it is fair to say, it has improved with age! The people are friendly, the wine is exceptional, the food is mouth watering and the air is fresh! I'll be back and we won't leave it so long next time!