GUT2407

Legend has it that Mel, in his efforts to keep costs down and revenues up would save all the leftovers from the night before and pour them into a single container. Port, brandy, wine, you name it, Mel saved them all and experimented with various brewing techniques. Dr. Jurd’s Jungle Juice was created. This was eventually followed by a “spirited” marketing campaign. But, you could only obtain this special drop at Mel Jurd’s Wollombi Wine Bar, which stands by the old convict built Great North Road about 100 miles north west of Sydney town. The product has remained the trademark for the establishment ever since. And he was related to me via marriage to one of mums cousins.

OMG if you haven’t tried Dr Jurd’s you haven’t lived.

The other thing that amazes is me is unnecessary jobs that get tips. Heard two Americans discussing how much to tip the fellow who shows you to your seat at a concert sporting event etc, it was about per person or per group. give me a ticket, Area 4, Row x seat 5 and have decent signage and I’ll find it, even Bellboys (often old men) to carry my bag 10m

Not a huge fan of cities at all, except Lake Macquarie. If we limit it to capital cities, Hobart and Adelaide probably top my list but both have gone down hill ove4 the last 20 or so years.

I think other I was thinking of was Scruffy Murphy.

Maloney maybe? or there is another O’Briens, not PJ down Haymarket way.

I have seen some massive tips left (by people who were RICH all in caps). One fellow left a tip of near on $2,000, it was a bill of $100 odd he rounded to $2,000. He later explained it thus “You heard him saying he was looking for extra shifts, as he had Uni books and fees to pay for” (the waiter had been asking his boss about extra shifts) I’d have given him $2000 even if we weren’t eating there, so why not as a tip.

Port Arthur, Mt Wellington and a Wildlife park (there are a few) are all, in my opinion must see, Cradle Mountain is wonderful but you use near on half a day getting there and back. Ross and Richmond are delightful villages where you feel you have gone back in time. just wandering around Battery Point and Salamanca is a delight.

When I try a new line I become extremely itinerary focused, so even if the ship isn’t to my liking I still have a good time. We have sailed with most of the “mass market” lines and they all have pros and cons, but in the end two ships from the same line are likely to be as different as ships from different lines.

I can’t say I saw any difference in the nickel and dime stakes with NCL than with anyone else.

Apparently we also lost Barry, and Sir Les, what a disaster.

We stayed there before most cruises because of the location, it was looking a little old last time we stayed there and there were often a couple of stairs in silly places, but the location couldn’t be beat

That is one of our possibles as night in Windsor is on the cards.

One of the better frozen pies, but give me a good bakery any day I divide pies into Bakery Franchise Outlets (Harry’s, Garlos, Pie Face, Heatherbrae etc), even though they may not be an actual franchise Frozen normally in that order but you can find say a bakery that isn’t as good as some frozen, but a good bakery will always b3 better than a good frozen, just my opinion.

Mrs Gut (and indeed I) enjoy Harry’s vegetable pie (I have cheese sauce on it), a local bakery used to do a wonderful Chicken and Vegetable Mornay (that I hav3 with no sauce). the very best pies, 8n my opinion, usually come from small, one off, bakeries.

Or tomato relish

Getting serious into planning our Road trip later in the year Newcastle Ballina Tenterfield Gunnedah Blue mountains probably 14 or 15 days Pie stop suggestions??

No on a Tiger you have gravy demolished a couple on Friday. Plain pie you hav3 the dead horse, one shop near me does a potato top pie with the mushy peas under the spud.

Unfortunately there are really limited options for itineraries here. The Islands NZ Tasmania Circumnavigation Qld Coast And really I’m not sure the USA fares much better, so many Caribbean cruises, a few Alaskan, Hawaii Rount trip has that same too many Sea days issues. And the number of complaints about more than one or two sea days limits thing# even further. And while Small ships open up more ports they aren’t as economical as the mega monsters. Then we are a relatively small market so they can’t bring too many ships down under.

Or even owls https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/owl-cruise-ship-stowaway-royal-caribbean-b2296427.html

Or Galahs https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-01/harri-galah-gets-private-cabin-after-nz-cruise-ship-discovery/9383496

Yeah, nah and nah, yeah are a think now. The last one is what they mean.

Nelson Bay has some nice one’s too. Pie Lab were always worth a visit.