AFF Gathers: In Melbourne!! [1-3 August 2008]

[Flashback]

Currently in MEL QP, awaiting my flight to PER. Allocated 57F :evil: on the flight home. 3rd last row!

Got here 3 hours early, and still couldn't even snag an exit row. Not happy...

Anyway, just wanted to add my congratulations to a well run event, I had a fantastic time, met some fantastic people and am very glad I made the trip over.

Well done guys, a pleasure; and hope to see you all again one day.

 

[Keith009]

Just came back from the footy - only my 2nd live footy match and was v interesting. I never ceased to be amazed by how sports has the capacity to inspire the sort of excitement that I witnessed. A big thank you to Flashware, serfty and tupekastar for patiently educating me on the basics of footy. I thought Port Adelaide was the better looking team, but living in St Kilda I felt obliged to support the local team - plus it's not hard to emphatise with the huge crowd of St Kilda fans we were sitting with.

Thanks to everyone for attending and making the inaugural Gathering the event it was. Thanks in particular to...
- Our lovely guests Phil Gunter and Luisa Megale for giving up part of their weekend to join us.
- admin for his support and backing.
- Members of the OC: dot for organising a kick cough lunch; MelUser, sr81, munitalP and oz_mark for their ideas and inspiration.
- Veteran organisers serfty and Mwenezi for their advice. And thanks also to serfty for organising the footy tickets.

 

[straitman]

I'm at Greasy Joe's now... but there's no one here ??

Edit: maybe I misunderstood ... people are catching the tram at 10.30, so should be here 11? :O

Apologies for missing this morning but something came up and we had to head home earlier than planned. All OK now though.

 

[oz_mark]

I also apologise for not attending - for some reason I did not wake up till midday

 

[straitman]

Just came back from the footy - only my 2nd live footy match and was v interesting. I never ceased to be amazed by how sports has the capacity to inspire the sort of excitement that I witnessed. A big thank you to Flashware, serfty and tupekastar for patiently educating me on the basics of footy. I thought Port Adelaide was the better looking team, but living in St Kilda I felt obliged to support the local team - plus it's not hard to emphatise with the huge crowd of St Kilda fans we were sitting with.

Thanks to everyone for attending and making the inaugural Gathering the event it was. Thanks in particular to...
- Our lovely guests Phil Gunter and Luisa Megale for giving up part of their weekend to join us.
- admin for his support and backing.
- Members of the OC: dot for organising a kick cough lunch; MelUser, sr81, munitalP and oz_mark for their ideas and inspiration.
- Veteran organisers serfty and Mwenezi for their advice. And thanks also to serfty for organising the footy tickets.

QF009 (and helpers),

Thanks for putting together a wonderful weekend. It's great to meet such a mixture of people from such a mixture of backgrounds. Some met for the first time and some regulars at these type of 'DO's'.

Everything went well with particular emphasis on last nights dinner. A special thank you to Luisa Megale and Phil Gunter who probably gave us more information than a few people thought they would or could. The insight provided was excellent and possibly changed a few perceptions of their respective businesses. A pity we could not pry out a few more secrets however the commercial realities are understood. Qantas missed a great opportunity to wave their flag and I believe, lost some more ground in a few peoples eyes.

Thanks again to all concerned.

 

[tuapekastar]

Pity I couldn't make Saturday at all, but enjoyed Friday and Sunday. Thx to QF009 for putting the idea forward and leading the organisation of the w/end. Thx also to others who assisted, and enjoyed meeting some new folk (as well as the 'old' ).

Look forward to next time!

 

[Evan]

Was a good weekend, sorry i had no chance at all of Sunday morning ... sort of got side tracked Saturday night after i got home went out again !
Good to meet all who attended.
E

 

[Keith009]

...Saturday night after i got home went out again !

Our company wasn't good enough for you? :shock:

 

[serfty]

Hey QF009; I thought you were going home to do some RRS?

(*Rest, Repose, Sleep)

 

[Keith009]

Hey QF009; I thought you were going home to do some RRS?

(*Rest, Repose, Sleep)

I wasn't tired anymore when I got home...:-|

Uploading pics from the festivities to photobucket now.

 

[admin]

... and let me join the chorus in praising all those who organized the week-end. I won't mention names because I don't want to leave anyone out, and I know that many contributed.

The dinner was a fantastic event and it was wonderful getting to meet and spending time with the people who make AFF the truly wonderful site it is. Thank you all for your contribution to our unique online community.

Also, a big thank you to our corporate guests Phil Gunter (Virgin) and Luisa Megale (American Express) for giving up their leasure time to travel to Melbourne to join us. The insights you shared with was much appreciated, and your willingness to hear our feedback is to be applauded. Its a shame executives from other travel companies don't share your passion!

Finally, I listen too. I heard your complaints that the 10 Private Message storage limit (for non paying members) is too low. Well, it's just been increased to 25.

 

[straitman]

Finally, I listen too. I heard your complaints that the 10 Private Message storage limit (for non paying members) is too low. Well, it's just been increased to 25.

.... and how long will it be before the silver and gold members want an increase also :?:

 

[Evan]

Our company wasn't good enough for you? :shock:

Actually it was but un-expectedly caught up with a good girlfriend of mine... an well, she wanted me to drop her at her place
E

 

[Keith009]

Pics now up.

QF009/AFF Gathering August 2008 - MEL - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

In the interest of preserving some degree of anonymity for all concerned, I've not tagged handles to faces.

 

[serfty]

Actually it was but un-expectedly caught up with a good girlfriend of mine... an well, she wanted me to drop her at her place ...

Careful; gettin' close to TMI ...

 

[JohnK]

Finally, I listen too. I heard your complaints that the 10 Private Message storage limit (for non paying members) is too low. Well, it's just been increased to 25.

Thanks. A very nice gesture.

Careful; gettin' close to TMI ...

Getting close? Way TMI already. Couldn't hang around Saturday night, met a good girlfriend, took her home and couldn't make it to brunch on Sunday.

 

[Alanslegal]

In addition to all the praises, many thank you's to all the organisers for their hard work, effort, commitment and time to make the AFF weekend a very entertaining event

It was good to meet you all and now I can put some AFF faces to AFF names now

The knowledge from the bunch of you guys are amazing!!

 

[Flashback]

Actually it was but un-expectedly caught up with a good girlfriend of mine... an well, she wanted me to drop her at her place
E

Yep.

And that's all I'll say on that one

My fellow Football Watchers, I ended up having a chat to Mark Williams (Port Adelaide coach) in the QP, for about 5 minutes before I had to run for the plane. Very down to earth fellow, and quite friendly considering they had just marginally lost to the "Mighty Sainters", as the ground level presenter so put it.

 

[sr81]

I would like to add my thanks to all those that attended the weekend's events. Great to meet you all and place some faces to handles.

QF009 - a round of applause going your way. Thanks for your efforts and those that helped organise a very successful event.

Admin - thanks for moving us up to 25 private messages.

Hello and welcome to our visitors from a certain credit card company and the other local airline. Great to meet you both.

My GF is now satisfied that I am not looking at cough anymore, I'm looking at AFF instead. She is not so convinced that AFF is any better though!

 

[straitman]

My GF is now satisfied that I am not looking at cough anymore, I'm looking at AFF instead. She is not so convinced that AFF is any better though!

Might be time to try a new GF :!: