Monday, May 14, 2012

Japan Here We Come!

With Qantas' sale at the moment we have jumped on flights from Sydney to Tokyo for under $1000 each!

Two months from today we'll be on our way over. I have so much planning to do! Not the least of it getting time off work... Really should have organised that first...

We're planning on spending just over a week in Tokyo, including a few days at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea, and then a week in either Osaka or Kyoto, we haven't worked out the nitty gritty yet, but that's the basis of our trip.

We're very excited!

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Tuesday, March 6, 2012

How do people do it!?!

Just a quick note to apologise for not updating this blog as often as I've like to.

I am so flat out with everything at the moment, that I barely have time to stop and breath, let alone post something worth while reading.

I really look in amazement at the people who are able to keep their blog fresh with new in depth posts every day. Every day! I don't know where they find the time!

Here's hoping I can get back into it sooner rather then later!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Tamworth Country Music Festival - $30,000 banners

Tamworth residents are up in arms, after being made aware of how much the local council is paying simply to hang Country Music Festival flags on power poles throughout town.

Every year during the Tamworth Country Music Festival the Essential Energy power poles located along Peel Street, Kable Avenue, Brisbane Street, and Goonoo Goonoo Road of Tamworth NSW are decorated with banners, which measure approximately 3m x 1m, promoting several high profile Country Music Singers. Usually this practice costs the local council around $10,000 a year. However this year that price will escalate to close to $30,000, which rate payers have been informed they will be paying the bill.



The rate hike came about after Essential Energy necessitated that new load bearing and safety bench-marks be implemented. Under the new guidelines employed; no banners will be hung on any power poles that have sustained damaged from car accidents or other incidents that have caused dents or possible structural damage due to safety concerns. Essential Energy regional manager Matt Patterson expressed that the price hike was not a capital expense from which Essential Energy would derive any financial benefit.

Nevertheless many local residents fail to see what else the cost could be for. “I can’t understand why it’s costing so much,” said one local resident “either the poles are safe and the town can hang flags on them, or they’re not and the flags shouldn’t go up. Why should jacking the price up so much solve the problem?”

Another local commented “How about we spend $30,000 on a survey to see how many tourists would turn around and go home just because the banners are not up?”



Other council areas are reportedly either using smaller banners, which don’t cause as much risk, or have installed their own flag poles as a cheaper alternative. Many residents are hoping that this is an alternative that will be put into place for next year, to ensure that their rates don’t continue to climb for no apparent benefit.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Quest Bridgewater - Kangaroo Point

55 Baildon Street, Kangaroo Point QLD 4169 Australia






The Quest Bridgewater is conveniently located on Kangaroo Point in Brisbane QLD. I found it was easy to get to everything, while being set slightly apart and not amongst the “noisiness”. There’s a lovely view of the bridge from most rooms, however you can’t hear any traffic from inside the rooms. We were only on level 4, so it’s possible that there was a view of the river from the higher levels, but not from ours.

We were greeted by extremely friendly and always smiling staff every time we approached reception. However the office does close around 11pm, so you need to check in before that time. I’m not sure what time the office reopens in the morning – I’m not a morning person, so there’s rarely a need to know this sort of thing…

The studio room we stayed in was a little small, but it also offered a full kitchen, all laundry amenities in a cupboard, and a nice enclosed balcony. The room was over all very neat and tidy and I couldn’t fault the cleanliness, however it definitely couldn’t be described as either Executive or Fancy.

Unfortunately we were only here on a short stay, so we didn’t take advantage of either the pool (lagoon style) or the gym. So I can’t comment on either of them, but they are both on offer.

The parking is extremely secure, you need a security tag which is provided with your room key to access it from both outside and from the elevators. The same tag is required to get to your level on the elevator, and you can only access the parking, your level and ground level with your tag.

Broadband internet access is available – for a price – but it’s not wireless, so you do need an Ethernet cable,  but I think these may be available from Reception if you ask nicely.

I feel if you’re paying around $140 per night for the studio room then that’s pretty good value, especially if you are going to be staying a bit longer. The use of the full kitchen and the private laundry is a great bonus in my books. Having said that though, this is the sort of room that makes a great home base if you’re planning on spending more time out and about. I’d probably look for a larger room if you’re hoping to spend more time inside.




All in all I was happy with this room for what we needed it for. Though it does get several black marks from me for simply not offering any cartoon style channels on its cable TV. I can only watch so much TV1 and Discovery Channel before I need my cartoons!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

The Muppets - New movie Soundtrack


Coming out this week! Can't wait!

 
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