A few quickies for the Drrons..

[drron]

Now that I have your attention here we go.I decided to take 3 months off working and serious travel.It did include a 2 week trip to Thailand but that was a necessary mattress run.Though we really like Thailand.
But things kept popping up so a few short journeys are happening.First was a birthday for mrsdrron and the necessity for using a 40 Euro certificate from Accor which had to be used by September.This was a lot harder to do than seems necessary.You cant use it when booking a stay online and the refundable rates in Adelaide where we would be going were more than 40 euros more expensive than the prepaid rates.Mrsdrron discovered that at the Pullman in Brisbane the refundable rate was nearly the same as the prepaid rate so we booked a night there for her birthday.
Next is a trip to Sydney to see the grandkids.
Then a trip to Kangaroo Island when Luxury Escapes had an offer too good to refuse.
Having a problem with AFF at the moment.Doing strange things including not allowing me to post pics.So stopping now and trying again a little later.Also it is not allowing paragraphs even when trying to edit.

PS this is now on my old travel computer and it looks like it will work the old way.

 

[cove]

When you said quickies..........

 

[Hvr]

When you said quickies..........

I think they're at the age where it takes them all night to do what they used to do all night.

 

[drron]

So here is the room at the Pullman-

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The view-

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A good position and very reasonable.Under $200 for room and breakfast with the certificate basically paying for parking.
We went for some retail therapy for mrsdrron.Just over the road-

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But the main celebrations were here-

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The table setting was daunting-

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As it got dark the view was good-

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[drron]

We had the degustation menu.
First 3 dishes-spanner crab,grilled cos,citrus,apples.Second-brussel sprouts,parsnip,sherry,garlic flowers.Third-waygu bresaola,parmesan,fried bread.

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Spanner crab was very good.The brussel sprouts were the surprise dish-really nice.I loved the beef but dried meat is not one of mrsdrron's likes.

The next 2 dishes-Moreton bay bugs,shiitake,seaweed butter.Next-smoked veal short rib,beetroot,horseradish.

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The bugs were the standout dish of the night.We were both a little disappointed with the veal.
Next roast duck,red cabbage,rhubarb,pecans.Then a lychee sorbet.

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I liked the duck but mrsdrron doesn't like it quite as rare.The sorbet was really good and a great palate refresher.
Dessert was apple tarte tatin,apple sorbet.

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A nice finish.We did enjoy the meal and will return.

 

[drron]

We declined coffees at the end of the meal but the petit fours were very chocolatey soi probably ended up having nearly as much caffeine-

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Then a pleasant walk back to the Pullman-

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Winter in QLD.Walking around at night without a jumper or jacket.Perfect.
The Pullman was quite adequate.Good night's sleep.Brekkie OK and shared with the Dragons NRL team.
The problem was at checkout.The certificate could only be processed by the manager.So a wait.Then the computer wouldn't accept it so it took at least 20 minutes to use the darn thing.Mrsdrron has already switched her earning preference to airline miles.We don't stay at Accor frequently so this will be less of a hassle.Accor now off the list of possible secondary hotel loyalty programs.

Then a quick drive back to the Coast for Mrsdrron's birthday lunch.Just south of Caloundra a large fire was causing concern-

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[OzEire]

So here is the room at the Pullman...

The view-

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I'm waving from behind that scaffolding ... room in the adjoining Mercure tower. If you partook in the exec lounge breakfast we may have practically crossed paths.

Hope MrsDrron enjoyed the special night out.

 

[drron]

Our night was August 18th.
Definitely no exec lounge for us at Accor.

 

[Major]

Was that Aria restaurant ?

 

[Simo]

We have stayed at the Pullman a few times and pacing has been up and down... We have had some great prices and we have also not stayed there as Hilton was cheaper... We have stayed at both on a semi regular basis.

 

[LadyC]

That dinner looked delicious!

 

[drron]

Indeed it was Aria.There was an outside picture.
We returned for a birthday lunch at Hungry Feel,Buderim.Good food at reasonable prices and one of our favourites.
I had the Nasi Goreng and mrsdrron the lambs brains-

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Mrsdrron had the Crème brulee with an addition-

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Whilst I had the delicious coconut pannacotta with berries-

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Worth a visit if you are in the area.

 

[drron]

So our next little outing was a drive to Sydney.We waited until our garbage collection had been completed so left about 1230.An easy drive to Armidale for a night's stop.Nothing to report gourmet wise as our meals were Mc'Donalds and Red Rooster.Most motels were full and we got the second last room at the Abottsleigh motel.Wouldn't really recommend it.really needs a refurb.
Left early and made it to Sydney in time for lunch despite taking an age to get through Parramatta.We were staying with Mrsdrron's sister that night at Newington-ie Olympic Park.Had a nice lunch at a little Japanese restaurant there-Iki.Very nice sushi,sashimi and you can order some other simple dishes.

That night we went to the Saigon bowl in Strathfield.Ver nice reasonably priced Vietnamese food.But boy has Strathfield changed from the days I was courting mrsdrron.The Saigon bowl occupies the place of a Greek milk bar in those days that was owned by Aussie John's father.Walking through Strathfield plaza was just like walking through any mall in Asia.Probably passed 2-300 people walking to the restaurant and only 3 other Caucasians.Walking back just 1 other.
But to the food.Summer rolls,crispy skin chicken,spicy green veggies and marinated pork with vermicelli.Not pictured are stuffed chgicken wings and a plate of straight marinated pork-

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The next day we were staying at the IC Double Bay and having lunch with one of our surrogate granddaughters.Some of you have probably seen her.she is one of the dancers on the Australian ad for the last Eurovision and is now in the Ad for the upcoming Asian Eurovision.
First though we visited some of our old haunts-Watson's Bay and Vaucluse.Spectacular scenery-

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[Milboo]

If you're around Olympic Park then check out Lotus Story there (think it's on Dawn Fraser Ave) - really nice Vietnamese.

 

[drron]

Sydney certainly has a lovely harbour-

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It was now time to head to Double bay and lunch.
I said up thread that one of the things we were checking out was another hotel program to be secondary to SPG/Marriott.having lost all status in honors and really with few aspirational properties we will be ditching honors next year.Now I joined IHG when we were visiting Japan last year.They at least have some properties outside the major city.With no status we were treated well at the CP niigata and earlier this year received a great upgrade at the HI SCL.
IHG then sent an email for a great bonus for staying at an Intercontinental.on top of that by staying at the IC Double Bay over a weekend and at the CP Newcastle on a bonus point rate I would nett over 40000 bonus points.The IC bonus though was if I bought Ambassador status.Seemed a no brainer to me.

Then they blew me away.Before we left home on the Tuesday I got a phone call from the concierge at the IC Double Bay asking if there were any special requests.I asked to be able to park the car at about noon and a possible early checkin.No problems.But if your room isn't ready you can wait in the lounge.So we dropped the car off and walked to Pink Salt restaurant-just up the road from the IC.Can thoroughly recommend it.
So to the food.Mrsdrron had the beef cheek,myself and our guest the pork belly-

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We weren't going to have desserts but they had a special for 2-a waffly,yummy apple tart.The 2 women were sold.So I had the baked bakclava with kaffir ice cream.Both were divine.

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The service was very good and I had no hesitation in leaving a good tip.reccomended.

 

[drron]

After lunch we walked back to the IC and our room was ready.Upgraded from standard King exec to Bayview King Exec.IHG are really trying to impress.
So to the room.certainly not the greatest hotel room we have had but comfortable.

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Service was very good.had a couple of minor electrical and plumbing problems not picked up by housecleaning but mention it to the front desk on the way out and fixed when you come back.So now the view-

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The lounge at breakfast-

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The afternoon tea has to rate as the best exec lounge afternoon tea we have had-

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[cove]

With Double Bay did you find it to be double pay or is it actually reasonably priced in 2017? The food looked great but I have a newish cardiologist who wants my blood tests to be closer to perfect.

 

[drron]

I think the rest of Sydney has caught up and it is all double pay now.
That lunch with a bottle of wine and a decent tip was $160.very reasonable for Sydney for 3 people.

 

[cove]

Melbourne has caught up or passed Sydney if Dinner By Heston is any guide for lunch.

 

[drron]

Thursday night was a first for the drrons.Our 2 granddaughters are with the 1st Woollahra Paddington guides.They had only 1 leader due to illness and exams so we became leaders for the night allowing the meeting to go ahead.I had a great time.
There is a lot of history with this Scouts group.It was formed in 1908-the first in Australia.There is a plague to the first leader-

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The building it is held in is also unique as this scout pack owns the building and gets commercial rent from the shops underneath.It was built in the early 20s on land donated by Sir Henry Braddon-son of a Premier of Tasmania.He had a remarkable life.Founded the Latrobe aussie rules club,then went to Invercargill and played in the Southland rugby team.Was selected for the first All Black's team as fullback but when their tour of NSW finished he stayed on and played for NSW.

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Now this little detour into history leads to another reason for this trip.On Saturday I attended another place that opened in 1908-Henson Park.I worked out it was 60 years since I first went to a North Sydney bears match.

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A try and successful goal kick-

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Pleased to see the Bears retain a link to QLD-sponsor being BOQ.

PS-an interesting read about Henry Braddon and football-
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/features/10467389/A-look-at-rugbys-first-knight