Results tagged “Aeroplanes” from Kazza the Blank One
Thursday morning (1st July) we had a bit of a sleep in. An hour before we had to leave I thought I'd better pack heh. Left on time and arrived at the airport with plenty of time to spare.
We had an Embraer E190 which is one of the smallest commercial jets flying. Two seats each side of the aisle. And surrounded by screaming kids. Yay. So a very noisy trip. And no music to listen to either - no headphone sockets. There was cloud cover over Eastern Australia so didn't have much of a view so ended up just reading the Virgin Blue magazine which kept me occupied the whole trip.
Our Embraer E-190
This sticky tape on the wing tip was a little disturbing
Canberra
Interior of the E-190
Brisbane
Brisbane Air Traffic Control Tower
Arrived just before 2pm and went and picked up our hire care. Took the scenic route through Brisbane so we could drive past Stu's old flat. There's so many new bridges and tunnels here now it was a little bit freaky!
New overpass being built near the airport
Stu's old flat
Go Between Bridge - opening the next Monday
Got to Chay and David's around 3pm and then we chatted for ages before going on a booze run. Had beer and ordered pizza and ended up watching V for Vendetta. Then the others went to bed and David and I stayed up til a bit after 1am Singstarring.
Friday had a huge sleep in (10:30!!) and got to up to find we'd kept everyone awake :( Decided to go out for coffee and shopping. Went down to the lake for coffee and other drinks. Then went to the Orion shopping centre. I got a couple of Singstars for $20 each. One of these days we'll have to get a Playstation... Had a look in BigW at Lego prices and wandered round looking at other things too. Had a sushi snack. Looked in the Reject Shop. Then did some food shopping in Woollies. Got home at 15:45 oops :)
Boats being raced on the lake
Kailyn on a mall ride
Feeding the guinea pigs
So David and Daemon cooked a roast chicken for dinner which was highly nom. Started watching The Backup Plan but lost interest in that and ended up just playing Mario Kart and then some Singstar til midnight.
Miss Mog
Saturday had another reasonable sleep in. Went out with Chay to a few garage sales so she could look for books, but they were all pretty crap. Mostly clothes.
Feeding the guinea pigs again
Played through the 50cc Mario Kart cups to unlock all the locked ones for them then played a few rounds with the kids.
Chay made a fantastic lasagna for dinner - better than any of the lasagnas I've ever made.
Then we went out and saw Toy Story 3 which was pretty awesome but a bit dark for a G rating I thought. Came back then played some Buzz. First the general one which I was an epic loser at, then the music one which I was still a bit crap at but at least the scores were a lot closer. Then the others went to bed and David and I stayed up and did a couple of ten-course Mario Kart cups.
Sunday we got up at a more normal time, dropped Kailyn off at a friend's place and the four of us grown-ups went to breakfast at Ascot Provisions (Stu got random breath tested on the way which was a bit.. random). I tried the "breakfast pizza" because its toppings of cheese kransky, hashbrowns, cheese, egg and onion relish intrigued me. It was pretty good actually :)
Clem 7 Tunnel
Breakfast pizza at Ascot provisions
Next we headed to South Bank. Went on a bit if a scenic tour if Brisbane cause we didn't have a real GPS but even if we did, so much has changed recently it probably wouldn't have worked anyway. So we got there and managed to find parking in one of the parking stations. Unfortunately it's a flat rate $15 which is a bit rude if you only plan to be there for a couple of hours :(
Victoria Bridge, Brisbane
Brisvegas!
Anyway, wandered our way past a Scottish festival and up to the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) to see the Ron Mueck exhibition. It was pretty awesome, I'll post pics in a separate post.
Kurilpa Bridge
Scottish Festival
We were all pretty tired and peopled out at this point so headed for home (via a short detour past The Jazzy Cat Cafe where I first met Stu five years ago but it wasn't there anymore!)
David and I went and picked up Kailyn and then to Coles for supplies. Came back and reheated the leftover lasagne with some pan bread and we made up a salad too. Watched Merlin and then Waynes World (party time, excellent) which the kids didn't appreciate nearly enough ;) Played some Mario Kart then some Singstar Eighties.
We dressed up Wallace in Kailyn's clothes
Monday morning Chay cooked up a pretty awesome breakfast of bacon, tomatoes and cheese, spaghetti and toast. Then we played a little Mario Kart before packing up our stuff and saying goodbye.
Gateway Bridge(s) (didn't realise a second one had opened earlier this year)
Returned the rental car to the airport then caught the first of two planes of the afternoon. Was a bit bummed that our seats were over the wing (I couldn't get anything further back - looks like a young sporting team had already booked out most of the back of the plane). Then someone from my old job said "Karen" and then just stared at me. Most awkward. I of course was a bit thrown, and she wasn't any help reminding me who she was. Hrmmmmm. People. They suck sometimes.
Qantas 767
View of a wing, and the Brisbane River
Gold Coast
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney CBD
Had a snack in the Qantas Lounge in Sydney but the creamy sauce I put on my salad was actually really really hot horseradish. Hurt my mouth :( Sigh.
Last plane home was a 737 and we were right near the back, but it was too dark for photos. And the flight was so short that they'd only just come round with snacks/drinks before we had to put up our tray tables. Oops. In the end I brought the little bottle of wine home unopened.
These beetroot chips were cool, but they make your poo purple - which is pretty darned freaky!
So had a really nice trip. It was very relaxing and *warm*!! Winter is definitely the time to visit Brisbane! Really not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow though.. The stress is a little bit ridiculous at the moment....
Me little brother and co were in Longreach today. So friggen jealous. Think might need to take a road trip or something next winter...
Meanwhile... two years ago today we saw some of the remnants of the Berlin Wall at Bernauer Strasse, visted the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag, wandered through the Tiergarten and up the Victory Column, looked at the Kaiser-Wilhelm Memorial Church and Schloss Charlttenburg and took more photos of everything on the way back..
Woke up in the middle of the night from hurty, and was delirious enough to stress over the time - 2:43 but in what time zone? Probably the first 2:43.
Aimed to leave the hotel at 9am this time (since it was "really" 10am), giving us an extra hour in Melbourne :)
Decided that we were going to go do the super duper expensive hotel restaurant. Turns out it was an all you can eat buffet for $35 each. I only managed to get two plates worth of food in (I never get good value out of all you can eats!)
Went back to our room and packed up, then checked out and left our bags with the concierge, and Nat and I did a quick photoshoot of the hotel.
Went for a wander up Exhibition St. Saw sushi burgers and a sign saying nothing happened.
Then wandered up through Exhibition gardens (Carlton Gardens) to the Exhibition Building.
I was most surprised when we got around to the north side of the building because there was a whole museum that wasn't there fifteen years ago! Made taking photos from the north a little difficult heh.
Decided that we'd actually go into the museum and have a look.
Pygmy blue whale skeleton
Flutterbies?
Big taxidermy room "Wild" .. at least a lot better organised than the one in Japan
And we have a thylacine too!
I had a long wander through the body exhibit, and then a quick run through the mind exhibit (would love to have spent longer there) before meeting up with the others to decide on a plan. While everyone decided what we were doing next, I raced up to take some photos of Phar Lap (would liked to have looked through the whole Victoria exhibit there as well)....
So went back to the others and we walked up to Lygon Street. Although we didn't have time to sit down and eat, Nat got some take away pasta from one place. Next time we'll organise ourselves better to actually eat here properly.
And then it was back to the hotel to pick up our bags, and hop in a taxi to head off to the airport.
Our plane back - Virgin Blue 737-8Q8 (VH-VOU)
We didn't get much of a view during the flight because it was dark, but we did get a nice sunset from the plane on the tarmac
So arrived back in Canberra and Andrew drove us home.
Totally great weekend away, lots of fun, and even a decent amount of exercise :)
We want to come again next year and organise ourselves better to see some of the comedy festival and have a proper meal on Lygon Street :)
Good Friday morning we had a nice sleep in and relaxing morning. Then a bit before 12 we were picked up by Nat and Andrew and headed off to the airport.
Watched our plane pull up, and took our seats up the back of the 737. Fairly average lunch, and otherwise standard sort of flight.
Qantas 737-476 "Currawong" (VH-TJU)
Lake Eucumbene
Khancoban Pondage
Lake Dartmouth
Last getting off the plane, but no wait at all for bags :)
Then hopped in a taxi (no queue!) and headed into the city.
The Giant Cheese Stick and Zipper (aka "Melbourne International Gateway")
Our hotel (the Stamford on Little Collins) was very swishy for the cheap end of the swishy market. Super cool glass elevators :)
Our room
View from our room window
We essentially just dumped all our stuff before heading out again for a wander.
Wandered past Hosier Lane and saw some people photographing the graffiti so went to see what they were looking at. Found several adjoining lanes covered in lots of cool graffiti (there was even some being created while we were there!).
Moving on, walked past Federation Square (which didn't exist last time I was in Melbourne)
.. and an Apple store ..
.. and past Flinders Street station (with the new Eureka tower behind it - also not there last time I was in Melbourne)
Then headed across the Yarra River
MCG from Princes Bridge
Lights on Princes Bridge
Took photos of the Arts Centre
.. and horse and carriages on St Kilda Road
Then wandered through Southbank. Stopped at this point for a snack to keep us going, as we thought we'd be having a late dinner.
This girl played short pieces from a stack of tunes.. a lot of movie soundtracks .. we were having a guessing game of what they were while we had our snacks.
Next we headed for the Eureka Tower. Fifteen years ago I went up the Rialto Tower. This one is a fair bit bigger.
It has bugs on it!
We headed up to the Eureka Skydeck 88 ($16.50 each). Unfortunately it's a disaster for photography. The windows are tinted blue and gold in different sections which screws up colour balances, the glass is *very* reflective, and the building is at all different angles. We didn't even attempt to do any sort of panorama. But we did spend ages up there taking photos and looking at stuff (and went outside to get blown away, but didn't do the Edge which was another $12 or so).
South west Melbourne CBD, including the Rialto Towers, Spencer St, the stadium and Docklands.
Tinted windows
Flinders Street station and Federation Square
Spirit of Tasmania coming in to dock
We hung around for about an hour waiting for the sun to set so we could see the place at night, but after an hour (when it was just starting to get dark) we gave up and headed back down.
The Yarra River is a lot prettier at night than during the day..
Walked past Flinders Street station
.. and wandered up Swanston Street and ended up at City BBQ Chinese Restaurant in China Town. Dinner was ok. We shoulda ordered less food. Or made one of the dishes vegetables. It was a very *brown* meal.
Wandered back down Russell Street.
Was amused by the plastic food we saw in one place.
Dropped off the sweetie who had had enough, then went out again looking for ice cream. Tried bottom of Swanston St and Federation Square without success. Then went across to Elizabeth Street and walked all the way up it to La Trobe Street before heading back, eventually getting Magnums at a local minimart place. I suppose we can't complain - it was Good Friday yet there was *heaps* of stuff open, and open til late too. Don't think that'd happen in Canberra!
"The Public Purse" - sculpture we liked in the Bourke St Mall
And so ended Good Friday. It was a pretty good Friday :) Lots of walking (really should replace the battery in the pedometer!)
And this blog post only took fifty minutes to do.. no wonder I've been putting it off for days..
One of my lesser favourite days in the past two years. Debated on more than one occasion just leaving and not coming back :/ At least until well into next year anyway.
Got home and almost immediately went out again to do the shopping. (via Dumpling Inn for shredded beef Peking style :) ). At least Coles is relatively peaceful at eight pm, even three days before Christmas.
Have got food organised for the next few days, although we didn't buy much in the way of "real" food tonight - just lots of snacks. Roast pork will be had, but probably Christmas Eve since we have other plans for Christmas Day.
And plane spotters should open this URL in Google Earth and go squeeee!!
My Dad always used to say any landing you could walk away from was a good one..
This story is fricken awesome!!
This story is fricken awesome!!
When the Olympic flame went through Sydney in 2000 I went and saw it. Twice in fact. On the same day. heh
And all things being equal I might have gone to see it in Canberra today. But decided to offer a silent protest to the whole Tibet nonsense and not go at all.
I did however sneak a peak at the plane yesterday... (sorry about the crappy photo)
And all things being equal I might have gone to see it in Canberra today. But decided to offer a silent protest to the whole Tibet nonsense and not go at all.
I did however sneak a peak at the plane yesterday... (sorry about the crappy photo)
Well I had quite a pleasant long weekend. How about you? :)
Saturday morning I headed down to the lake for the F/A-18 flyby. Took a photo of cannons while I waited..
Right on time (I think), the F/A-18s flew up from the south east. They were very fast and very loud. I didn't trust myself with burst mode, but did get this nice shot of them just as they were separating.
Then they fired the cannons. I could feel the shockwave from them from where I was standing some distance back.
On the way back to the car snapped this pic of a duck..
Then I headed off to Cancon, where Stu was competing. I got there in time to see him finish his first battle.
Damien requested this photo of an army in the "ancient" section. I don't know who ended up winning, but the line held remarkably well, and they'd killed three of the four elephants at one point when I looked over..
At lunch, Damien and Stu and I headed off to "New Asia" in Dickson. Damien is a regular there and now is on first name terms with the staff :) We had some delicious (if slightly *warm*) food there before heading back to Cancon for the afternoon session.
The beginning of Stu's second battle
A close up of one of Stu's guns
And some more of his guns
After the games, we came home, and Natalie and Andrew came over for pizza and movies. I slightly overcooked the pizzas, whoops. We watched Dr Strangelove, and Shakespeare in Love. I think they had a nice time.. :)
Sunday morning Stu headed off to Cancon while I painted and built model aeroplanes, washed the sheets, did several days worth of washing up, etc.
For dinner we went to Mamak Corner in Garran with some of the other war gamers. More good food there. I had some fried ice cream for dessert - haven't had that in ages.
Stu played both these dudes on his first day
Today was more of the same for me, and indeed more of the same for Stu.
Stu won this trophy - the Captain-General's trophy for chivalrous behaviour (or something like that) :)
Have to go back to work tomorrow. Doh!!
Saturday morning I headed down to the lake for the F/A-18 flyby. Took a photo of cannons while I waited..
Right on time (I think), the F/A-18s flew up from the south east. They were very fast and very loud. I didn't trust myself with burst mode, but did get this nice shot of them just as they were separating.
Then they fired the cannons. I could feel the shockwave from them from where I was standing some distance back.
On the way back to the car snapped this pic of a duck..
Then I headed off to Cancon, where Stu was competing. I got there in time to see him finish his first battle.
Damien requested this photo of an army in the "ancient" section. I don't know who ended up winning, but the line held remarkably well, and they'd killed three of the four elephants at one point when I looked over..
At lunch, Damien and Stu and I headed off to "New Asia" in Dickson. Damien is a regular there and now is on first name terms with the staff :) We had some delicious (if slightly *warm*) food there before heading back to Cancon for the afternoon session.
The beginning of Stu's second battle
A close up of one of Stu's guns
And some more of his guns
After the games, we came home, and Natalie and Andrew came over for pizza and movies. I slightly overcooked the pizzas, whoops. We watched Dr Strangelove, and Shakespeare in Love. I think they had a nice time.. :)
Sunday morning Stu headed off to Cancon while I painted and built model aeroplanes, washed the sheets, did several days worth of washing up, etc.
For dinner we went to Mamak Corner in Garran with some of the other war gamers. More good food there. I had some fried ice cream for dessert - haven't had that in ages.
Stu played both these dudes on his first day
Today was more of the same for me, and indeed more of the same for Stu.
Stu won this trophy - the Captain-General's trophy for chivalrous behaviour (or something like that) :)
Have to go back to work tomorrow. Doh!!