AFF Gathering #7 at HBA on 29 November - 1 December

[tuapekastar]

Now the only AFFer left at HBA, and getting very very dozey. Have set 2 alarms on the phone just in case I fall asleep.

 

[gwilli1]

Looks like all the baggage from VA1537 has gone MIA ... Why are we waiting ?

 

[gwilli1]

Looks like all the baggage from VA1537 has gone MIA ... Why are we waiting ?

Of course we all knew it was it was going around on carousel 1 for the last 30 mins , while everyone was staring blankly at carousel 3 .

 

[samh004]

Meanwhile in Hobart. Steve, Josh and Sam have wandered into the seediest bar.

 

[gwilli1]

Meanwhile in Hobart. Steve, Josh and Sam have wandered into the seediest bar.

Hobart has seedy bars ?

 

[samh004]

Hobart has seedy bars ?

Well we've just discovered one.

 

[samh004]

Special shoutout to VRC for suggesting the New Sydney hotel for dinner. Amazing venue, very trendy, menu and drink selection is sublime.

Dinner tonight is House smoked speck to start, Venison with blood sausage, caramel, peas & potato puff and Pork porterhouse with celery, leeks, pumpkin & pepita's.

Actually had a 'hand pour' beer here too.

 

[jetlagger]

I'm still very regretful that I missed such a wonderful event, as AFF#7 positively sounds from so many..
Work took an unfortunate precedent for me this weekend.
Look forward to further updates & look forward to a future rendezvous with the social ones at any of the next AFF events.

 

[blackcat20]

Crew on JQ looked a little confused by my VA cap; payback was sitting in the tarmac for 15 minutes waiting for a gate...

 

[Sprucegoose]

Special shoutout to VRC for suggesting the New Sydney hotel for dinner. Amazing venue, very trendy, menu and drink selection is sublime.

Dinner tonight is House smoked speck to start, Venison with blood sausage, caramel, peas & potato puff and Pork porterhouse with celery, leeks, pumpkin & pepita's.

Actually had a 'hand pour' beer here too.

Nothing wrong with the New Sydney!!

 

[VRC]

Special shoutout to VRC for suggesting the New Sydney hotel for dinner. Amazing venue, very trendy, menu and drink selection is sublime.

Dinner tonight is House smoked speck to start, Venison with blood sausage, caramel, peas & potato puff and Pork porterhouse with celery, leeks, pumpkin & pepita's.
Actually had a 'hand pour' beer here too.

Yes one of Hobart's hidden gems. I am stoked that The New Sydney deivered!
A traditional pub, great beers on tap, a solid wine list, no TV's, live music and a french chef?..... Who would have thought for Hobart? And even open on a Sunday..

 

[jetlagger]

Yes one of Hobart's hidden gems. I am stoked that The New Sydney deivered!
A traditional pub, great beers on tap, a solid wine list, no TV's, live music and a french chef?..... Who would have thought for Hobart? And even open on a Sunday..

tarte aux pommes on the menu ?

 

[hazel]

Great dinner on Saturday night - thank you to the organisers. Nice to meet everyone.
Good food, excellent company and 10 000 QF points - doesn't get much better than that.

 

[Newk]

Great dinner on Saturday night - thank you to the organisers. Nice to meet everyone.
Good food, excellent company and 10 000 QF points - doesn't get much better than that.

points? for some! sniff ;(

 

[Cat207]

In the MEL CL - thanks to samh004. 'The' corner is already taken!

I've had a wonderful weekend, met some great people, and learned a few more tricks. A big thank you to the organisers.

Roll on Dec 14 for the train crawl. Can't wait.

 

[Newk]

In the MEL CL - thanks to samh004. 'The' corner is already taken!

I've had a wonderful weekend, met some great people, and learned a few more tricks. A big thank you to the organisers.

Roll on Dec 14 for the train crawl. Can't wait.

Re the "new tricks". You are lucky to still be alive.

 

[Cat207]

Re the "new tricks". You are lucky to still be alive.

I think I learned something even more useful (for me) from samh004. You won't need to kill me. I can keep a secret.

 

[penegal]

Crew on JQ looked a little confused by my VA cap; payback was sitting in the tarmac for 15 minutes waiting for a gate...

The captain on my VA flight said he loved my cap. The crew were oblivious to it.

FWIW, I also exercised my ATA to the HBA QP wearing it. Unfortunately it was a very quick visit, so didn't get to catch up with Anna or admin there.

 

[gwilli1]

Group photo from Lark yesterday

 

[penegal]

What a great gathering!

A huge thanks to JessicaTam who took the lead role in organising this do. I know Jess spent quite a lot of her time and money researching activities and negotiating with suppliers, so a massive thanks to Jess for her efforts in pulling it all together. Jess's many spreadsheets and reminders ensured that everything ran smoothly over the weekend and the gathering was complete success.

Special mentions to jdeveraux3 and samh004 for their work in the early days of organising and also their help in the background over the weekend. Thanks also to falconea who let me borrow her slot punch to produce the name tags.

Thank you also to QANTAS Airways, Virgin Australia, The Australian Frequent Flyer, Qantas Founders Outback Museum, Richard De Crespigny, admin, samh004 and straitman who provided sponsorship in the form of various prizes and give-aways to the members who attended.

---

On a personal note - I wish I could have arrived earlier and stayed later, but I am very glad that I did made it (even if it was only for ~36hrs). I had a great time catching up with old friends and making new some ones. Special mention to jswong (from WLG, via DEL) and Rowly (samh004 Snr from HKG).

Apologies to a few people I only spoke to briefly. I wanted to come back and chat more, but the event flew by in a flash. I look forward to seeing some of you at the Train event in 2 weeks, and the rest of you at other events in the future.


Bring on AFF#8 at a yet to be decided secret location :!: :idea: