Showing posts with label Activities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Activities. Show all posts

Sunday, 1 February 2015

Brisbane things to do: Fort Lytton

Today was hot! I mean hot, 35C (95F)! Heat rash heaven and much too hot to go walkabout but that didn't dent the plan! Besides, my Fitbit has been overly lazy this week so a little exercise was in order!

We decided to take the car for a short run out to Fort Lytton, just 14k outside of town, close to Port of Brisbane.

If you are looking for something to do one Sunday morning (and I say Sunday because it is only open from 10am to 4pm on Sundays) then it might be worth the trip!

Don't get too excited! It's pleasant, not exactly a thrill seekers paradise but pleasant, especially if you have kids. It is educational, wo'manned by volunteers, mostly members of the Fort Lytton Historical Association, who give their time simply because they enjoy it. The ladies man the 'canteen' where you can pick up a cold bottle of water for just a $1.50, unlike most other tourist spots where the same bottle will cost you $3.50 or more these days! If you are feeling peckish, the ladies also operate a sausage sizzle although even the aromas of sizzling sausage and onions failed to tempt me on this beautiful sunny day!

On arrival, we were given a photocopied "map" of the lay of the land, it's all free and you can wander as you will but if you prefer, there are guided tours at intervals throughout the day. If you have ankle biters with you, I would encourage you to join a guided tour and hear stories of history spanning 150 years!





We arrived in time to hear and see the cannons fired, 2 six pounders ...














... and a thirty pounder ... most impressive was the smoke ring blown by our sixty-four pounder!!

Not an everyday occurrence but one we can thank the weather conditions for!

A highlight of the day for me was question time, the "commander" invited questions from the crowd and as usual silence prevailed until a young chap, not more than six or seven years of age piped up:
"can we shoot a plane?"
... the innocence of youth, the influence of TV and the movie era, computer games or simply a sign of the times? As we were on the flight path into Brisbane airport, it was somewhat of a relief when our host simply smiled and declared, "no son, we cannot!"

In the mid day sun, we wandered the 'self guided trail', checking out the artillery on show, especially the #1 disappearing gun ... clever for its time!!! All in all, a pleasant morning wander!






Monday, 15 December 2014

Party Time and a Poem!!! December 2014


So last year it was Keith's turn, this year mine for a notable birthday, can't change it so may as well enjoy it! A frenzy of preparation as we decided last minute on a party! Who to invite? Where should we go? What should we eat? What should we drink? Well once again, an old favourite The Story Bridge Hotel, a private booking in the Heritage Bar and super helpful staff, Keith soon had things sorted!

What to wear? OH? Wear? What? Shopping! OK OK, I've unexpectedly got a bit of time on my hands, so that's an option! SHOES! SHOES! Oh ... perfect, got them too, yes yes, ship em up from Melbourne, I need them! The music playlist? Well the 80's has to dominate of course! Brings back some interesting memories! A-ha ... Kim Wilde sang about the Kids in America, Culture Club, Pat Benatar and Madonna! Like a Virgin and Tainted Love side by side with Love Shack, all mixed in together! Throw in a bit of The Boss and Tina and you can't omit Cher! Dead or Alive spun us around and Cyndi Lauper reminded us that Girls Just Wanna Have Fun! Until finally Slade finished with Merry Christmas Everybody! It's on Spotify Jayjinx Birthday Compilation, check it out!

The only thing left was to have a great time! Which we did! A really great time ... K had me a little nervous with hints of reprisals. Apparently he wasn't quite as amused by my speech for his party as I was a year ago. WHAT? A nostalgic look at events that had transpired since he was born? Elvis Presley's first hit, The Beatles left school, man landed on the moon! Well his sisters did such a good video job, I knew I couldn't match it!

... And so, he opted for a poem, a nice poem, a really very nice poem.  ... I am proud to be the recipient and so happy to share my life with somebody who cares enough ... 

Here it is ...


An Ode to Janet on Her Special Birthday


It's your forty-tenth birthday, but don't feel down
Just wear a wide silly smile, like a big daft clown
Enjoy yourself, have fun, there's no need to feel in terror 
But whatever else you do today, stay away from the mirror!

When you were born into this world, you were very small
But now here you are today, not that much bigger at all
And as a tiny little child, all you did was to cry & honk 
Just like Friday nights after drinking too much plonk!

But since then, just look at all that you have done
You have travelled the world, like someone on the run
You have always worked so very hard, and then some
Never once stopping at all, until all jobs were done!

You have travelled Great Britain & France, another time zone
And you have seen cities like London & Paris, but not Rome
You have seen the Rockies in Canada, Vancouver, & San Fran
And Greece, Brunei, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand & KL
And one more I can't remember, Oh Phuket, what the hell!

Then finally, one way to Australia, to escape the freezing rain
To set up home anew, in this place that they called Brisbane
You have seen Sydney & Melbourne, Adelaide & Tasmania
Flinders & Kakadu, and Katherine and Cairns, but not Perth
But there is still plenty more to see and do on this magic planet called earth!

In your career, you started at the bottom all those years ago
Punching cards and typing like you had nowhere else to go
But now you have smashed a hole in that big glass ceiling
And you continue to seek out new challenging jobs to do
But just say that you had never made it, well I'd say "so what", you would still be you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANET!! 
LOVE K

Awwwwwww ... OK so yes, I shed a tear or maybe even two! Thank you :)

The best of the day was spent with friends, here's a small selection of snaps ...



Allie is a winner and our wait staff were attentive and cheerful as always! Thank you @sbhotel

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!