AFF Gathers: In RADelaide!! [28-30 November 2008]

[Flashback]

Just FYI about transport to and from the airport, a couple of options:

• Adelaide Metro buses: catch the J1, J2 or J3 JetBuses to Grenfell Street in the city, which is about 1 block from Rundle Mall and a couple hundred metres from Victoria Square (where the Hilton Adelaide is).
  
  Cost for an adult one-way is $2.60 during 9am-3pm and $4.20 at all other times. Buses leave every 15 minutes.
• SkyLink Airport Shuttle: leaves every 30 minutes on :15 and :45 every hour. Drop offs possible to many hotels in Adelaide city.
  
  Cost for an adult one-way is $8.00 at all times. See this PDF file for more detail.

I arrive too late for either, but 8km to my hotel so isn't so bad

Have a mate possibly picking me up anyhou, who will join us for drinks if so.

 

[Flashback]

Thanks to Enda for making it along last night, and tupakestar for the choice in restaurant. Meal was excellent, and a good night was had by all including the trip to the wine bar at the end of the night

 

[medhead]

Sounds like a great time. I'm very sorry I didn't make it even if I live 10 minutes drive away.

A few family things on this weekend. my girls especially loved the Norwood Christmas pageant.

 

[thegurio]

Ahhh... The Tap Inn, my most favourite place to eat in Adelaide! Mainly coz they pay some of my bills Hope you all had a good time and instead of going to ADE i'll try and make the golf torney instead.

 

[JohnK]

I hope everything worked out well for everyone participating in the AFF gathering this weekend.

Also hopefully there will be some more thought put into the location of the next AFF gathering and more peopla are able to attend....

 

[tuapekastar]

I hope everything worked out well for everyone participating in the AFF gathering this weekend.

Also hopefully there will be some more thought put into the location of the next AFF gathering and more peopla are able to attend....

Well John, it was in Australia, and about 55 minutes flying for me! So I don't think it was in any way 'underthought' (though you may be happy with the 'draft' location of the next one - hope to see you there). And we had attendees from ADL, SYD, BNE, PER and MEL so I think we managed to cover a reasonable number of the main ports in the country in that regard.

And yes thankyou, a great time was had (I'm speaking for me, but I suspect all share my sentiments)! The Tap Inn kicked us off on the reds, McLaren Vale kept it going (my CC is groaning), Saturday dinner and post-dinner drinks were excellent (and guest Enda was a friendly and knowledgable chap from DJ), as was today's brunch/lunch session.

Thanks to QF009 for kicking off the concept, Flashware for most of the organisation this time, sris for local knowledge (today's venue) and a bit of chauffering, and to all who attended for their great company.

I look forward to the next one, and hope to see many there.

 

[Evan]

I hope everything worked out well for everyone participating in the AFF gathering this weekend.

Also hopefully there will be some more thought put into the location of the next AFF gathering and more peopla are able to attend....

Hey John, so it has to be Sydney or Brisbane ?
How about Thailand ? i would not mind so much, not so far to fly for me
E

 

[oz_mark]

Hey John, so it has to be Sydney or Brisbane ?
How about Thailand ? i would not mind so much, not so far to fly for me
E

Interestingly, the idea of an offshore meet was floated.

The weekend just had went well, and in some respects there are advantages in a smallish group (i.e. the Tarago was big enough!).

 

[straitman]

Well John, it was in Australia, and about 55 minutes flying for me! So I don't think it was in any way 'underthought' (though you may be happy with the 'draft' location of the next one - hope to see you there). And we had attendees from ADL, SYD, BNE, PER and MEL so I think we managed to cover a reasonable number of the main ports in the country in that regard.

tuapekastar,

You have taken JohnK's post quite different to how I've taken it and how I'd suggest he meant.

I read that he was referring to some of those present having discussion/thought during the weekend about where/when for the next one. I certainly didn't think JohnK was referring to this one being under done. :idea:

It's a good concept and should if possible be continued. Having said that I have missed where the thoughts are for next time. Could you please enlighten me :?:

 

[oz_mark]

tuapekastar,

You have taken JohnK's post quite different to how I've taken it and how I'd suggest he meant.

Hmm, I think My interpretation of Johnk's post was in line with tuapekastar's interpetation.

 

[Evan]

I would have been in ADL if i had not been working all weekend in Singapore. But thats the joys of my job sometimes.

The main issue of overseas ones is costs and cheap flights, but i am sure if the flights were there you would get a few attending.

E

 

[oz_mark]

Something of interest about Mapo where we had dinner of Saturday night. As you enter, among the stickers is one that says Earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Points here. Seems it is a coming soon feature, so I wonder if it is going to be at other restaurants in the future.

 

[tuapekastar]

tuapekastar,

You have taken JohnK's post quite different to how I've taken it and how I'd suggest he meant.

I read that he was referring to some of those present having discussion/thought during the weekend about where/when for the next one. I certainly didn't think JohnK was referring to this one being under done. :idea:

It's a good concept and should if possible be continued. Having said that I have missed where the thoughts are for next time. Could you please enlighten me :?:

Happy to to be corrected if I misinterpreted, straitman (and JohnK)! It is quite easy to 'misread' the tone of a post when unaccompanied by voice/body language etc..and upon re-reading I can see how I may have done so (though also easy to interpret it as I did)...

As far as the next AFF meet goes, there were a number of suggestions, including as Mark said, offshore (maybe DPS?), but I got the impression SYD was number one on the agenda (HBA was also suggested). Having said that there was certainly no consensus - and sorry if I gave that impression - (not that the attendees are entitled to make any decisions of course...it ultimately comes down to practicality and 'the mood of the meeting' - as in what AFFers think).

Oh, and I forgot to thank oz_mark for chauffering us through McLaren Vale.

 

[anat0l]

Arrived back home at around 10:20pm. My flight was on time all the way; unfortunately, the same couldn't really be said about the baggage after we touched down in BNE (although thankfully priority luggage worked this time).

All my wines have been unpacked and the several layers of bubble wrap combined with some esoteric packing technique have paid off (pun intended).

Many thanks to everyone that came for making this smaller AFF do a very much fulfilling and enjoyable one:

• QF009 and Flashware for their organisation and foresight for these events
• oz_mark for taking care of the b*s, as well as being our ever-reliant driver
• sris for providing some 'local' support - I hope your Thanksgiving went well, and thanks for recommending Chianti

...as well as tuapekastar, QF009a (for lack of a better sub-alias) and Skoogle for coming along and joining in the spirit of companionship, travel, fine wine and dine, and status and bonuses (with airlines, hotels and ... credit cards ).

Very much looking forward to the next AFF Gather...

 

[oz_mark]

As far as the next AFF meet goes, there were a number of suggestions, including as Mark said, offshore (maybe DPS?), but I got the impression SYD was number one on the agenda (HBA was also suggested). Having said that there was certainly no consensus - and sorry if I gave that impression - (not that the attendees are entitled to make any decisions of course...it ultimately comes down to practicality and 'the mood of the meeting' - as in what AFFers think).

I think SYD was the favourite, with BNE and HBA also suggested.

 

[Flashback]

I think SYD was the favourite, with BNE and HBA also suggested.

And don't forget my idea of a meet in PER that co-incided with the Red Bull Airrace

Also, JohnK, don't appreciate the negativity; a great weekend was had by all and certainly not a bad event

 

[Evan]

And don't forget my idea of a meet in PER that co-incided with the Red Bull Airrace
<..>

Did somebody say red bull airrace
That was not a bad idea at all.

btw i dont think John was trying to sound negative, just the way it read.
E

 

[anat0l]

btw i dont think John was trying to sound negative, just the way it read.

Agreed - I'd favour it more as a bit of joking. Argh...words can say so much......

 

[oz_mark]

And don't forget my idea of a meet in PER that co-incided with the Red Bull Airrace

Also, JohnK, don't appreciate the negativity; a great weekend was had by all and certainly not a bad event

Yeah, I forgot about the Red Bull air-race! 'twas a good suggestion!

 

[tuapekastar]

And don't forget my idea of a meet in PER that co-incided with the Red Bull Airrace

Had forgotten the PER suggestion (must have been made late at night)! I think PER would be a v good venue for one of these...)