QF WP goes across Australia...a live TR adventure

[QF WP]

Okay, now I've arrived home and still wired (only 10:30 WST) so I may as well post pics. As this was a 738 service, a different menu but they ran out (as I was the last J seat to board) so didn't get a chance to photograph all pages:

 

[QF WP]

Meal from the top...

Starters: G&T plus Almonds (no choice, no Olives by the time it came to Row 2)



Entree: Soup option (what, no photo )

Wine options (red for me, the Tempest Two GSM):



Main: Curry



The entree was spicy and lovely to wake up the taste buds - could have had more than a small ramekin bowl.

The main was disappointing - vegetarian curry, the curry was nice but it needed protein (no Salmon on board AT ALL - which would have been my pick of dishes)

The Tempest was delightful - almost finished the bottle by myself (all the other philistines were drinking white)

 

[QF WP]

I tempted my poor seatmate into trying the Gramps, which she liked but had to stop as she had to drive on arrival. No such problem for me

Dessert:



The topping was just too tart for our liking and decreased our enjoyment of the Dessert Wine, so I just tried to finish the bottle (alas, I failed)

Then 30 mins out from BNE, as we tracked along the border, Dean (the CS) brought out options from The Pantry, unbidden. The shortbread went down well with a cuppa and my seatmate and I polished off the chocolate drizzled honey popcorn. Yummo

 

[QF WP]

Now I'm home and my wife and kids are asleep - and I probably should be as well. It was bumpy coming in from about Ipswich and driving in the taxi, it rained the whole way. My dogs were at the door to greet me and I kissed everybody as they slept.

Now it's time to put down my iPhone & iPad and wish you all goodnight wherever you may be.

I trust you have enjoyed the TR as much as I have doing it.

Until the next time - may your flights be short and your SC's plentiful.

 

[love_the_life]

Sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite as they say. Thanks for the TR - almost like being there!

 

[Major]

Very enjoyable TR...great reading...thanks for sharing

 

[QF WP]

It was a great experience to do another TR - it's been years so I was a little rusty.

Not such an enjoyable experience was the view from my back deck this morning





cough, don't believe it's covered under our building insurance (who when I rang their claims hotline to check, conveniently don't open until Monday 8am - but that is a public holiday). Probably due to the age (13 years), the fact it's wood and the recent dry then wet spells.

Anyone know a good builder who specialises in retaining walls on the northside of Brisbane??

 

[Pushka]

Yowsers. Looks like your neighbour piled a whole heap of soil above the retaining wall line and the retaining wall wasn't built properly to hold the weight. We use concrete in ours. In which case that's their issue. Or did you excavate down? In which case most likely yours.

We've just been through a retaining wall saga ourselves. Neighbour (who is 85+) has her adult children involved who are behaving like children and refusing to pay half the fence. Keep threatening to go to court. Which would suit us fine as we have followed the Fencing Act and they didn't. But we don't have time atm.

 

[QF WP]

Yes it all goes to perspective when my 7 y.o. daughter hands me this:

 

[boomy]

Welcome back from the Wild West QF WP.
Very enjoyable TR, you should do it more often

 

[QF WP]

If only I did more exciting trips that just BNE/xx_/BNE day trips. Looks like my retaining wall problem has scuppered any chance of a holiday in the first half of 2015 (will probably soak up all my tax refund )

Still it could have been much worse (close to where our kids play and exactly the garden bed where my dogs escape the heat). We're just a little on edge that we can't get a builder in to survey and quote until Tuesday

 

[clazman]

Hope you enjoyed your trip to the wild west ......

 

[QF WP]

I always do - but I hope you had a successful outcome to your early work meeting clazman

 

[RB]

cough, don't believe it's covered under our building insurance (who when I rang their claims hotline to check, conveniently don't open until Monday 8am - but that is a public holiday). Probably due to the age (13 years), the fact it's wood and the recent dry then wet spells.

Anyone know a good builder who specialises in retaining walls on the northside of Brisbane??

Most insurance covers are pretty specific about retaining walls. I think you need to pull up the PDS & do a word search- I believe there wil be multiple references to retaing wall in the wording

 

[QF WP]

Had read the PDS before I rang the hotline, so I was (and am) pretty certain of the outcome (not covered) - as it is expressly excluded. My background is insurance...

Also considering getting a structural engineer to report on it.

 

[Major]

If it is higher than 1 m you need to submit a building application

Build a retaining wall | Brisbane City Council

 

[get me outta here]

I think certainly worth giving it ago. The definition of a retaining wall as averse to a fence is a bit subjective.

A good bricklayer(s) will also give a free quote and a good idea on rebuilding w' concrete footings, weep holes, internal piers etc. I have replaced 3 of my walls in the past 3 years badly constructed from the previous owner. A good brickie did a very fine cash job. He'll need a young off sider to deal w' the soil spoi. The last job they did was very approx the size of yr job and was $2,500 incl all materials. Did it in his Christmas hols!

Had read the PDS before I rang the hotline, so I was (and am) pretty certain of the outcome (not covered) - as it is expressly excluded. My background is insurance...

Also considering getting a structural engineer to report on it.

 

[QF WP]

Major, the reference in the link is about erecting (building) a new structure (retaining wall) and requiring (correctly) an application to Council. Our situation is different as it is renovations (maintenance) of an existing structure, which were included in the original plans when the dwellings were built by the developer in 2000.

its frustrating that in all our research yesterday (and information from here and AFF), there is no clear direction - but we'll soldier on. Mrs QF WP is worried about further movement, but I am less concerned with the hot humid weather which is sucking out the water weight in the soil and lessening the risk. So long as there are no further deluges before Tuesday.

 

[QF WP]

I think certainly worth giving it ago. The definition of a retaining wall as averse to a fence is a bit subjective.

A good bricklayer(s) will also give a free quote and a good idea on rebuilding w' concrete footings, weep holes, internal piers etc. I have replaced 3 of my walls in the past 3 years badly constructed from the previous owner. A good brickie did a very fine cash job. He'll need a young off sider to deal w' the soil spoi. The last job they did was very approx the size of yr job and was $2,500 incl all materials. Did it in his Christmas hols!

Great infomation get me outta here - allaying the fears particularly for Mrs QF WP. We have looked at a neighbours (down the road) replacement of their existing retaining wall (also wood) to a concrete one.

Soil spoil will be interesting. Most of the soil comes from the neighbours backyard and will need to be replaced lest it weaken their back yard. We can utilise any excess in our own back and front yard garden beds.

 

[get me outta here]

The question of the neighbours side potential causing a problem in the future is serious. I'd get the insurance co to come on site and and make some sot of ruling, but maybe after you get some experts/ brickies to tell you what they think.

The asseor for my first wall that fell over told me that I may be granted a cash out of the claim. They allowed $6,000 or so and the job actually cost me about $3500 cash. Whatever the outcome, you want peace of mind that no matter what happens, it will hold everything back forever.

Great infomation get me outta here - allaying the fears particularly for Mrs QF WP. We have looked at a neighbours (down the road) replacement of their existing retaining wall (also wood) to a concrete one.

Soil spoil will be interesting. Most of the soil comes from the neighbours backyard and will need to be replaced lest it weaken their back yard. We can utilise any excess in our own back and front yard garden beds.