The Travel Thread

[horrie hastings]

Quick trip up to Tarree to visit some of the in laws for the next couple of days, then staying at Norah Head on the way back for a couple of nights, will be good to get out Sydney with the events of the last month even if it is only a short break away.

[mightyrooster]

I’ve been working on a return UK trip the past week. Still to be determined if it will happen late next year or not. But at least I’ve started looking at it.

[horrie hastings]

Trip up from the Harbour Bridge till Heatherbrae just north of Newcastle was hideous, traffic was awful all the way, once past the roundabout at Heatherbrae it was a breeze.

[horrie hastings]

Not good mate but better safe than sorry for your travel plans. The Artisan Farmer will be there next time you up that way.

Called in to have a look at the Artisan Bakery after the markets at Nabiac today, looks fantastic, will be making pit stops there in future trips up the coast.

[rented tracksuit]

Called in to have a look at the Artisan Bakery after the markets at Nabiac today, looks fantastic, will be making pit stops there in future trips up the coast.

Yeah they are pretty good. Not cheap but very nice!

[horrie hastings]

A nice short and uneventful drive from Taree back to Norah Head, stopped for a lunch break at Henny Penny East Maitland, the store looked like Delta Dawn ( a faded rose ) but the chicken was still decent. Hit a bit of rain just south of Newcastle but cleared by the time we got to Norah Head so spent a couple of hours down at Birdie Beach then had drinks and dinner at the Sporties club and now having a drink of the verandah of our accomodation. This feels like a real break now.

[horrie hastings]

Just put down my interest for a cruise around Croatia for September next year so if it comes off it can be the start of the building blocks for Europe UK trip also after two cancelled trips in 2000 and 2004.

[mightyrooster]

Just put down my interest for a cruise around Croatia for September next year so if it comes off it can be the start of the building blocks for Europe UK trip also after two cancelled trips in 2000 and 2004.

Exciting! Will you add on the rest of your trip to that? I’ve started looking at flights into the UK around Aug / Sep on Singapore Airlines again. I can’t believe how much prices have gone up. I’d like to somehow use the KrisFlyer points we earnt last time but I’m not a frequent flyer so have no idea how it works. I looked at the t&cs and it’s all too confusing.

Ok, I’ve worked it out and I clearly don’t have enough points lol. But I can contribute some of the points to a cash fare apparently.

[horrie hastings]

Exciting! Will you add on the rest of your trip to that? I’ve started looking at flights into the UK around Aug / Sep on Singapore Airlines again. I can’t believe how much prices have gone up. I’d like to somehow use the KrisFlyer points we earnt last time but I’m not a frequent flyer so have no idea how it works. I looked at the t&cs and it’s all too confusing.

Ok, I’ve worked it out and I clearly don’t have enough points lol. But I can contribute some of the points to a cash fare apparently.

This cruise takes only 38 people so small and intimate , the one the week before sold out and the one i expressed interest in will only sail if they get enough people so it will be a wait and see, would be interesting sailing around the Croation Islands, Yes would add on, would probably start London/ Brighton, Scotland then not sure after that, only want to go for a maximum 5 weeks this time, the last one which was cancelled was almost 8 weeks so would have to weigh up whether i want to include Italy and Greece again or not. Also in the back of my mind am i going to be a 100% and firing on all cylinders by then or still having health problems.

[mightyrooster]

This cruise takes only 38 people so small and intimate , the one the week before sold out and the one i expressed interest in will only sail if they get enough people so it will be a wait and see, would be interesting sailing around the Croation Islands, Yes would add on, would probably start London/ Brighton, Scotland then not sure after that, only want to go for a maximum 5 weeks this time, the last one which was cancelled was almost 8 weeks so would have to weigh up whether i want to include Italy and Greece again or not. Also in the back of my mind am i going to be a 100% and firing on all cylinders by then or still having health problems.

A smaller cruise would be so good. I didn’t even realise you could book such a small group. Having large numbers of people on a cruise ship has always been something that’s turned me off doing a cruise. Croatia is apparently very beautiful, very scenic. I guess with the rest you’ve still got some time to see how you’re feeling.

[mightyrooster]

Airfares have gone up again since last time I looked. Now I’m having second thoughts.

[horrie hastings]

Airfares have gone up again since last time I looked. Now I’m having second thoughts.

Price are always going to fluctuate so my way of thinking unless prices have gone up double i would still look around and roughly plan, the cruise i mentioned above i only put in an expression of interest so it might not even happen but if it does and i decide yes i have something to build around.

As for a local break early next year we are at loggerheads date wise, better half wants mid March but stuff if i am going to give up two home games, i usually don't worry to much about football games but i do like going to early season night matches as the weather is still nice and mild. I found a nice sweet spot early Feb or very late March into early April but better half complaining about having to come back on Good Friday with all the extra traffic, fair point but coming back to Sydney i reckon it would not be as bad as leaving Sydney on that day.

We are getting new balconies on the unit block sometime next year and work could start as early as Feb/ March anyway so i'm actually happy to stay at home just in case it does happen then and not having to change plans, just don't have any set date for the work to start though. Better half is getting itchy feet though and pushing for a beachy trip before the cooler weather sets in.

[mightyrooster]

Price are always going to fluctuate so my way of thinking unless prices have gone up double i would still look around and roughly plan, the cruise i mentioned above i only put in an expression of interest so it might not even happen but if it does and i decide yes i have something to build around.

As for a local break early next year we are at loggerheads date wise, better half wants mid March but stuff if i am going to give up two home games, i usually don't worry to much about football games but i do like going to early season night matches as the weather is still nice and mild. I found a nice sweet spot early Feb or very late March into early April but better half complaining about having to come back on Good Friday with all the extra traffic, fair point but coming back to Sydney i reckon it would not be as bad as leaving Sydney on that day.

We are getting new balconies on the unit block sometime next year and work could start as early as Feb/ March anyway so i'm actually happy to stay at home just in case it does happen then and not having to change plans, just don't have any set date for the work to start though. Better half is getting itchy feet though and pushing for a beachy trip before the cooler weather sets in.

We’re still ummng and aahing too. The cost of airfares is one thing then there’s the 93 year old FIL. We risked it last time and he’s still going ok but we’re talking another 10 months away still. But we need to be on the same page if the worst happens while we’re away mid trip. I still haven’t booked anything but I think I will just make sure things are all cancellable. Is that a word lol?

I get what you’re saying about the home games at the start. I’m thinking about the finals too. What if we actually have a great season with the two big spine buys? Like last time we’ll miss the entire finals series. I’m getting itchy feet too. I want to do something more substantial it’s just getting the timing and destination right.

[horrie hastings]

Weekend down at Vincentia was fun catching up with the better half's school friends and partners, ate way to much, weather was good on the Friday when we got there and half of Saturday was good so managed to have a nice swim in nearby Moona Moona creek before the weather changed and the wind came up. Seeing we had to be in Canberra on Tuesday for a dear friends life celebration we decided to stay down the coast and stay with friends at Ulladulla instead of driving back to Sydney then back to Canberra, was so windy at Ulladulla and the wind was cold so ruled out a swim anywhere. Weather was great when we had to leave Ulladulla for the drive across to Canberra, weather was lovely in Canberra Tuesday and when we leaving Wednesday, if we didn't have a Christmas party to go to on Wednesday night back in Sydney we may have stayed an extra day or so in Canberra. The thing that got me when driving back to Sydney was there was such beautiful blue sky and when you got to Pheasants Nest just south of Campbelltown to could see the beautiful blue sky towards Sydney turning more blue grey because of the pollution.

[mightyrooster]

Weekend down at Vincentia was fun catching up with the better half's school friends and partners, ate way to much, weather was good on the Friday when we got there and half of Saturday was good so managed to have a nice swim in nearby Moona Moona creek before the weather changed and the wind came up. Seeing we had to be in Canberra on Tuesday for a dear friends life celebration we decided to stay down the coast and stay with friends at Ulladulla instead of driving back to Sydney then back to Canberra, was so windy at Ulladulla and the wind was cold so ruled out a swim anywhere. Weather was great when we had to leave Ulladulla for the drive across to Canberra, weather was lovely in Canberra Tuesday and when we leaving Wednesday, if we didn't have a Christmas party to go to on Wednesday night back in Sydney we may have stayed an extra day or so in Canberra. The thing that got me when driving back to Sydney was there was such beautiful blue sky and when you got to Pheasants Nest just south of Campbelltown to could see the beautiful blue sky towards Sydney turning more blue grey because of the pollution.

Hope you enjoyed your stay in the capital Horrie. You came at a good time weather wise.