bossreggie AKL lunch [W/E Apr 27-29]

[dfcatch]

Thanks Boss for organizing and making the weekend what it was

.......

Funny SMS conversation with a friend in SYD yesterday when I thought I might overnight there:

FRIEND: "What were you doing in NZ?"

ME: "Had a degustation lunch with friends."

FRIEND: "You went to NZ for a lunch?"

ME: "Yep"

FRIEND: "I don't really know what to say to that!"

 

[anat0l]

I'm currently in the AKL I NZ KC right now. Not much substantial except this sweet pea soup, which is very sweet! (And after the last few days, I'm being a bit picky with the quality of food, and dammit this is lacking seasoning and body!)

Thank you wholeheartedly to bossreggie for the excellent weekend. I think I'm effectively falling off the plank in terms of keeping control of my weight, but it was worth it. Absolutely loved this weekend and even better to spend it with great company. To all those who came, thank you.

Apart from everyone from AFF who attended, a thank you to the Hilton Auckland who did a superb job for taking care of all of us, but in particular in my circumstances, very well.

Going back to work tomorrow is not going to be easy.....

 

[SFSC]

Still travelling home. LA801 this morning was uneventful. Very lightly loaded in J. Presently on the Cityrail Newcastle train with almost two hours to go before arrival at Fassifern supposed to be at 11:27.

Thanks everyone and especially BR

 

[straitman]

Just arrived back from another dinner at Euro. --- Superb :!:

Not going back until tomorrow lunch :shock:

We have decided to skip lunch (totally) so will just head off from the Hilton to the Novotel at about 2pm for our 6am flight tomorrow. (In Hilton Rm 404 until then if anyone is still around.)

 

[straitman]

As this great weekend comes to a close I/we would also like to personally thank bossreggie for getting it all together for all us.

Here's hoping you get back to full health as soon as possible.

Sue and I will certainly try for CPH next year.

A reminder from the weekend for those who have not yet paid ‘the boss’ for the meal to please do so ASAP. There were also a few who did not pay for the lunch wine have then consumed same. BR has been billed for it so let’s all do the right thing and ensure that he is not out of pocket.

If anyone is in doubt then please go back to Post #136 from Lindsay Wilson.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Thanks Boss for organizing and making the weekend what it was

.......

Funny SMS conversation with a friend in SYD yesterday when I thought I might overnight there:

FRIEND: "What were you doing in NZ?"

ME: "Had a degustation lunch with friends."

FRIEND: "You went to NZ for a lunch?"

ME: "Yep"

FRIEND: "I don't really know what to say to that!"

Time for another one of those animated cartoon thingies starring Dfcatch & his friends who haven't yet grasped the fact that there's nothing wrong with doing a same day return to MEL experience the Flounge & similarly with flying Trans-Tasman for a lunch.

The trailer before the main feature could be about a mythical character called 'awilcockson' & his ensuing battles of overhead locker ownership with F/A's.

Rule no 1. The customer is always right
Rule no 2. Possession is nine tenths of the law

Hope you had a fantastic time in AKL & what are the dates for CPH?

 

[straitman]

Hope you had a fantastic time in AKL & what are the dates for CPH?

No dates yet.

 

[Reggie]

A reminder from the weekend for those who have not yet paid ‘the boss’ for the meal to please do so ASAP. There were also a few who did not pay for the lunch wine have then consumed same. BR has been billed for it so let’s all do the right thing and ensure that he is not out of pocket.

It disturbs me to know after such a great weekend that some members of this forum have not abided by the clearly outlined upfront rules, and not paid in advance (and in full). I and Mrs reggie had a thoroughly good, no great weekend, and would very much like to attend in CPH, but fear that the event may not be run due to above.

 

[Deleted member]

Sitting in QP biz in AKL.
Mrs GPH is somewhere , shopping ?
Anyway looks like we have a spare guest spot. Travel guru has mine so whoever finds Mrs GPH can tag along with her

 

[Deleted member]

I boarded the DJ aircraft with box of chocolates in hand and my boarding pass balanced on top. The FA said "are those for us?" laughing and I replied "Yes, in fact they are". She thought I was joking and I had to convince her to take them

Simo and I were the only status PAX on the aircraft, 3C and 3D with 3B and 3E blocked. Finally had the Luke Mangan pie, it was very tasty.

Was a pretty uneventful flight until a DJ staff member got bumped to 2F and decided that he would move my bag from it's spot above my head to the other side of the cabin to make room for his own over-sized bag :evil: and then got all offended when I pointed out that I wasn't actually happy with him doing that He also had his second over-sized bag on the floor blocking the path out of his row of seats (luckily would only have impeded himself in the event of an emergency), funny how there's "one rule for them and another for us".

Similar problem on QF from Sydney this weekend. A bunch of trainee FA's got on ( in Y) and promptly filled the J overhead lockers. When the FA wanted to take my bag south I said NO. There will be an email to QF about this , not to mention the disaster with my ticket coming over :-((

 

[munitalP]

It disturbs me to know after such a great weekend that some members of this forum have not abided by the clearly outlined upfront rules, and not paid in advance (and in full). I and Mrs reggie had a thoroughly good, no great weekend, and would very much like to attend in CPH, but fear that the event may not be run due to above.

Unfortunately this seems to be a norm... I have personally subsidised events in Melbourne and the Gathering in Sydney when guests "forgot" to pay, funnily how this seems to happen frequently :|

 

[Greggsy]

Unfortunately this seems to be a norm... I have personally subsidised events in Melbourne and the Gathering in Sydney when guests "forgot" to pay, funnily how this seems to happen frequently :|

I heard there was a similar occurrence on the Friday night as well with one member left with a $500 odd bill (unsure if it has been sorted or not).

Thanks to everyone who made the day possible. My wife and kids had a great weekend (watched the reds get up Friday night and Waitomo caves on Sunday).

The lunch was something special, great vision bossreggie. Thanks also to my table partners on the day, great conversation.


Greg.

Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[ALH]

I can guest someone into AKL Qantas lounge until 3pm. Thankyou to everyone I met at dinner and lunch. This has been a great weekend. Bossreggie did a fantastic job organizing and seeing this through to the end despite numerous hurdles. Bravo. Looking forward to CPH

 

[Deleted member]

No names here BUT I understand ( from one who should know) that some turned up on Saturday not having paid , unless some arrangement was made afterwards, that is poor form

 

[awilcockson]

I was very disappointed to hear of people having the gall to turn up without paying on Saturday, and with a valued member of the forum being left to foot a considerable short fall in the bill on Friday night.

Absolutely disgusting, and the person/people responsible need to take a good hard look at themselves :evil:

BR, if you do decide to do this sort of thing again in the future, can I suggest that you require full up front payment for ALL events, and provide the venue(s) with a list of people who have paid and are allowed into the event. It's not hard people. You want to go, you pay. And leaving other people to pick up the tab after you've enjoyed a nice free meal is incredibly poor form.

 

[QF WP]

A reminder from the weekend for those who have not yet paid ‘the boss’ for the meal to please do so ASAP. There were also a few who did not pay for the lunch wine have then consumed same. BR has been billed for it so let’s all do the right thing and ensure that he is not out of pocket.

If anyone is in doubt then please go back to Post #136 from Lindsay Wilson.

It disturbs me to know after such a great weekend that some members of this forum have not abided by the clearly outlined upfront rules, and not paid in advance (and in full)

Unfortunately this seems to be a norm... I have personally subsidised events in Melbourne and the Gathering in Sydney when guests "forgot" to pay, funnily how this seems to happen frequently :|

I heard there was a similar occurrence on the Friday night as well with one member left with a $500 odd bill (unsure if it has been sorted or not).

No names here BUT I understand (from one who should know) that some turned up on Saturday not having paid, unless some arrangement was made afterwards, that is poor form

I was very disappointed to hear of people having the gall to turn up without paying on Saturday, and with a valued member of the forum being left to foot a considerable short fall in the bill on Friday night. Absolutely disgusting, and the person/people responsible need to take a good hard look at themselves :evil:

BR, if you do decide to do this sort of thing again in the future, can I suggest that you require full up front payment for ALL events, and provide the venue(s) with a list of people who have paid and are allowed into the event. It's not hard people. You want to go, you pay. And leaving other people to pick up the tab after you've enjoyed a nice free meal is incredibly poor form.

+1 to all. These comments absolutely sicken me and if they happen to be true, woe betide anybody who has not squared up with bossreggie. Trust me, I'm like a bear with a sore head at the moment (for other reasons), and you won't want to get on the wrong side of me, or the Moderators, or everybody on AFF.

I would expect those who know people who haven't paid for the meal, or drank wine but are tey to pay, to let bossreggie know immediately by PM (a well as a subtle PM to them as well); lest it kills what I consider to be the pre-eminent event of AFF's social calendar.

I wish I had been there to frog march the offending people out of the restaurant after first extracting the cash, or something of sufficient value - anyone who knows me, knows that it takes a lot to rile me but watch out when I am angry which I definitely am now. Those who are owing, consider yourself duly warned. :evil::evil::evil::evil::evil:

 

[Simo]

It was an awesome weekend and who ever hasn't paid for it make the payment today.

You got awesome value and who ever also did not make payment for Friday night also please sort it out today as well.

 

[Storyteller]

In the AKL Flounge, the folk on the BNE flight have just left. A nice gathering was had here with Katie, MrKatie & lil MissKatie; GPH & APH, & Travel Guru.

As I was just typing, announcement that my flight incoming aircraft was late, so boarding delayed 15 minutes. Not a bad place to hang around.

I was impressed with the QF checkin lounge here, and pre clearing immigration right there too!

And then, being smart, I didn't remember that & headed straight for the Smart Gate. Screen told me to go to the counter for assistance. Long queue of around 30 people.. Gasp. Luckily the Agent noticed me hovering, waved me to the head of the queue (ducks for cover from the death glares of the waiting px). She Pointedly pointed out the pre-clear, & waved me through. Security went well, and then as per my 85+% average I got selected for secondary screening. And when I went in to buy my chocolates the printer packed it in.

Now I expect to be selected for screening again on boarding like last time through AKL. Pulled aside into a sealed (? Soundproof) room with people in uniform & packing heat. :shock:

I digress, great reception in the lounge for me today, with Travel Guru being welcomed without a BP check. Then I went for a wander in the QP & found GPH & APH. Quick check at the desk if I could invite them through to the other side, no hesitation at all, not a problem. We all had a nice catch up for just long enough for a nibble & a drink.

 

[BVT]

In the AKL Flounge, the folk on the BNE flight have just left. A nice gathering was had here with Katie, MrKatie & lil MissKatie; GPH & APH, & Travel Guru.

As I was just typing, announcement that my flight incoming aircraft was late, so boarding delayed 15 minutes. Not a bad place to hang around.

I was impressed with the QF checkin lounge here, and pre clearing immigration right there too!

And then, being smart, I didn't remember that & headed straight for the Smart Gate. Screen told me to go to the counter for assistance. Long queue of around 30 people.. Gasp. Luckily the Agent noticed me hovering, waved me to the head of the queue (ducks for cover from the death glares of the waiting px). She Pointedly pointed out the pre-clear, & waved me through. Security went well, and then as per my 85+% average I got selected for secondary screening. And when I went in to buy my chocolates the printer packed it in.

Now I expect to be selected for screening again on boarding like last time through AKL. Pulled aside into a sealed (? Soundproof) room with people in uniform & packing heat. :shock:

I digress, great reception in the lounge for me today, with Travel Guru being welcomed without a BP check. Then I went for a wander in the QP & found GPH & APH. Quick check at the desk if I could invite them through to the other side, no hesitation at all, not a problem. We all had a nice catch up for just long enough for a nibble & a drink.

The AKL weekend seems to be a party that never seems to end .....

Not that there is anything wrong with that!

 

[awilcockson]

I was sure I posted this last night, but obviously not.

Was a great weekend, my thanks (in some sort of chronological order) go to:

Bundy Bear - for giving me somewhere to sleep on Thursday night
Heleigh - for providing the transport from the airport to my hotel
dfcatch - for paying for a round of drinks that I never got the chance to repay you for in kind
GPH - nice to meet you in person, and for providing interesting conversation at dinner on Friday night (although I'm once again shopping for wine storage fridges that I can't really afford)
GPH & stark - for splitting a couple of bottles of a fantastic Shiraz with me on Friday night
KPC - for an extremely amusing conversation on the way back to the hotel
bossreggie - for organising a wonderful lunch on Saturday, and for attending even though you probably should have stayed in hospital
Eugene (chef at Euro) and the 15 or so kitchen and serving staff - for not only looking after us on Friday night, but for preparing and serving and extraordinary meal to a very large group of people
mr_osborne - for great conversation at lunch
KPC, dfcatch (and possibly others) - for sharing you Hilton free drinks vouchers
Katie - for providing chips when I didn't think I could possibly still be hungry
storyteller - for providing more chips!
littleMissKatie - for reminding me of how much I was missing my kids
Fish Restaurant @ Hilton - for letting us in at 10pm, and for providing red meat options at a fish restaurant. Also for selling 2006 Rockford "Basket Press" for less than I can buy it at Dan Murphys
storyteller, bossreggie, simo, stark and 1 other who I can't remember (sorry) - for helping me consume the 2 bottles of 2006 Rockford "Basket Press"
girl in the Hilton car park - for the clever use of her "assets" in procuring cash to pay for her parking ticket note: I didn't give her any cash ...
mr_osborne - for reminding me via PM about the girl in the car park!
mr_osborne - for the lift home after dinner on Saturday
KPC - for guesting me into the Hilton on Sunday morning for breakfast
simo - for sharing the flight home and for letting me use your duty free alcohol allowance

I think that covers it, now back to work so I can make enough money to pay for the next one!