The totally off-topic thread

[RAM]

You have to declare food which means you go through the Red channel.officer usually asks what we have-"packaged curry paste".is that all."yes".Ok off you go.

With a tribe of sweet-tooths - we run out of space to write down all the different foods/items that we want to declare. The worst (in last 5 years) was around 24 to 25 kg of chocolate/jelly sweets/Xmas Puddings/Xmas cakes/biscuits/Schnaps etc.

No matter how much we warn the scanner people; "That bag is VERY heavy" -they look at our daughters and shrug right before they dislocate their shoulder or near enough.

Declare everything, and if you arrive at the same time as flights originating in Asia - they wave you straight through in Sydney.

I did get stopped years ago with the 4.5kg Toblerone though. The custom's lady was contemplating having to open it to ensure no drugs were hidden inside. She had lots of volunteer customs officers willing to help in the process.

 

[RAM]

I'm sure I'm over insured when we travel... Hope to never find out by needing to claim.

Better to be over-insured than in trouble.

Twice the cc TI has proven to cover every unforeseen expense - after all who would be rude enough to get severe pneumonia on Xmas eve? Then have to be taken 80km by ambulance on oxygen from the mountains to intensive care on Boxing Day?

Hardest part is having the correct codes to dial out from countries back to Australia. I've yet to find an insurer that has a list available.

Next hardest part is whether you call the in-laws immediately to let them know...

 

[wandering_fred]

After cutting firewood for a couple of hours, it's time for some "intellectual" effort. Apologies in advance if I miss.

Thai curry powder. I suspect that it contains enough chili to permit some people to consider it inedible - therefore not food. But since it is vegetable in origin, let the border people decide...

Income? different countries approach that definition in rather different ways. The USA considers lottery winnings taxable though Australia does not. Would it be too much to ask that I am lucky enough to have to experience this?

CC travel insurance doesn't really work all that well if you don't have round trip tickets ex-the country where the CC is domiciled...

Back to normal wandering

Fred

 

[JohnK]

CC travel insurance doesn't really work all that well if you don't have round trip tickets ex-the country where the CC is domiciled...

Or you can just purchase a travel insurance policy and not rely on credit card travel insurance.

Interesting trying to get travel insurance online for my wife and daughter's trip to Australia. The few websites I have seen have link to call.

 

[Austman]

CC travel insurance doesn't really work all that well if you don't have round trip tickets ex-the country where the CC is domiciled...

A one-way ticket on my CC TI covers up to 31 days. A return ticket covers up to 6 months.

Both work well for me. It's probably a bit dangerous to generalize.

 

[Pushka]

I've used both CC and individual policy insurance. Depends on circumstances as to which is best to claim on.

 

[Austman]

Hardest part is having the correct codes to dial out from countries back to Australia. I've yet to find an insurer that has a list available.

On any mobile phone just dial +61xx_xx_xx_ The "+" is the international prefix that works world-wide.

Tip: Store all your Australian contacts in a +61xx_xx_xx_ format on your mobile phone and calls to them will work no matter where you are in the world.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Last trip I asked about 3 packets of Lays I stole from SIN BA lounge and was told don't be silly it is sealed food.

Inconsistency can be a problem with customs/quarantine... before the changes to the incoming passenger card you theoretically had to declare tea and coffee (I have those little sachets for use in hotel rooms). One officer told me no need to declare. Next trip customs asked why I had undeclared food. What proof do you have a previous officer told you not to declare it? None. And that's the problem. The previous card was so general it caught all food.

 

[RooFlyer]

What's the weather like in Hobart? Cricket test match could be over tomorrow evening.

Rain forecast for most of the day, continuing intoMonday BUT a huge front coming in overnight which may lessen the showers during the day.

Why are they playing Test cricket in Hobart in Spring, when it's always windy and frequently rainy? The Perth and Hobart tests are the earliest ever scheduled in Australia. Cricket admin in this country all about making money, at the expense of the best long term interests of the game and the people who turn out to watch.

 

[AnnaB]

Post late Saturday arvo shift in ED, I am trying to cure a stubborn, annoying cough with whiskey.... on my third one, but none of them seems to do the trick Ah, well... its gotta give sooner or later In the mean time I might as well have another one

Any other good tips to shift it, or should I just continue with this concept?

 

[JohnK]

How is someone able to be selected to play test cricket when they can't play a moving ball whether seam or spin. Flat track bullies?

A 31 year old who has played over 100 first class matches and is averaging only 40 with the bat is selected to play test cricket. Why? The cupboard is bare? If that's the case then select younger players only and let them find their feet.

 

[RooFlyer]

Pitch report

 

[Pushka]

Our second insurance claim in 6 weeks. Hadn't gone out to the back patio since Friday's hail storm. Ventured out this morning as the extreme winds were creating noisy bangs. Seems the back patio roof is well, rather holey and multiple sheets banging around. At least I know the process. Still doing the repairs from the first claim.

 

[RAM]

Our second insurance claim in 6 weeks. Hadn't gone out to the back patio since Friday's hail storm. Ventured out this morning as the extreme winds were creating noisy bangs. Seems the back patio roof is well, rather holey and multiple sheets banging around. At least I know the process. Still doing the repairs from the first claim.

For future reference (avoid use of) what material is your back patio roofing made of?

If plastic/polycarbonite to let light through - would you be better off having mix of colourbond interspersed with perspex panels for light? Or even use the metal vergola?

I was somewhat cynical about the product when a friend did renovations 7 years back - now I am somewhat envious...

[h=3]Vergola - the original opening and close louvre roof system[/h]vergola.com/


Made of longer-lasting Australian-made Colorbond, Vergola is the original and still the best opening and closing louvre roof system.

 

[Pushka]

The vergola is a great idea but in Adelaide it would be like a furnace in mid summer as the metal heats up. That is, if we ever get another summer!

 

[cove]

We are still trying to figure where the horrendous weather is coming from that keeps hitting South Australia. Chin up and deal with your insurer and obviously we hope this is the last hit for this decade.

 

[whatmeworry]

The storm that got Adelaide also got Mildura and Broken Hill.

[h=1]Mildura right now. Stereotypical 'picture of the neighbour's trampoline in my tree after storm.'[/h]

Around Broken Hill area hit by golf ball sized hail.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

We are still trying to figure where the horrendous weather is coming from that keeps hitting South Australia.......

Well it moved north yesterday and hit us on the Sunshine Coast !! Just before 5pm, the most torrential rain I have ever seen - I could not see the house across our canal. Thunder and lightning and then of course a blackout. Power didn't come back on till 3am !!! :evil:

 

[Pushka]

We are still trying to figure where the horrendous weather is coming from that keeps hitting South Australia. Chin up and deal with your insurer and obviously we hope this is the last hit for this decade.

They've been very good. I guess like I said earlier, when it's part of a city wide issue they respond quickly and positively. When it's a once off thing, less so. It is SGIC which started off in SA then bought out nationally by NRMA.

It is freezing here. Friday - very hot then humid. Saturday - heaters back on.

Guess Trump sorted out global warming then!

 

[PLANT]

New Adelaide tourist attraction the TRAMP IN THE TREE...biggest in Australia?