This, That & the Other

Live from V: Si, Cate & Stu

The Cowboys Couldn't Tame the Broncos

I wrote the other day of a desire to get out more and see some things
in and around Brissy that I hadn't as yet. The first of those things
was my first Broncos (rugby league) match.

It didn't disappoint. Not being a huge league fan I couldn't tell if
the game was good, but it entertained and it was good to see Suncorp
with a good crowd of 45,000. The Broncos managed to prevail by a
single point courtesy of a drop goal.

I also made my first visit to the Wine Emporium. And managed to
mebarass myself suitably. There was a tasting going on of Dog Point
(a Marlborough vineyard) so I thought I would partake. When it came
to the last, the Pinot Noir, the girl was happy for me to pur for
myself - instinctively I started to pour a glass rather than, well a
pour. Suffice to say I was suitably embarassed at this. Nonetheless
we picked up a few bottles of wine. Nothing outrageously special,
just some nice gluggers.

Saturday evening was back to Suncorp to see the Reds play the Natal
Sharks. The redsw are playing some mighty attractive at the minute
and prevailed over the Sharks 25-13. The Sharks were coming into the
game havign won 4 out of four in the start to the campaign and a line
up featuring a number of Springboks had the game taken to them. They
are a young exciting side and I hope the progress is maintained.

So a good weekend all round. Bring on the next!

The Changing of The Seasons

As Em and I approach our two year anniversary of being In Oz and our
third In marriage, I wanted to share some of my thoughts (maybe with
just myself) on life here.

Things I Love
1 the city cat: surely the most civilized way of travel.
2 going to the farmers' market
3 the cycle way
4 sporting events being accessible and relatively cheap
5 coffee...and good coffee shops (this doesn't mean starbucks)

Things I Don't
1 Queensland drivers/ driving
2 the blinkered view of commentators and presenters
3 24 month phone contracts being the default
4 the new bank charges ($2 for withdrawing my own money? I think not$
5 lack of online shopping by retailers of all sizes (may be a size/
geography thing)

What I Want to Do More Of
1 get out, go to the beach (I've still yet to go to either Byron or
the Gold Coast)
2 eat out more, even just for brekkie
3 drink more wine
4 see more gigs
5 see people more.....

I might even let you know how I get on.

The Wine List - Darkinsons 2009

Having recently returned from holiday with our great friends Toby and Kathryn, one of the things we took to doing was photographing the next morning the previous nights wine consumption.

What follows is, hopefully, the full chronological list of the wines (full bottles only, not covering tastings) consumed on Darkinsons 2009 (Darkinsons is the collective name given to Darkins/ Robinson holidays):

Katoomba, NSW - Monday 16th February (Order of Preference, not tasting)
1. Two Churches, Barossa Valley Rose, 2007
2. Banrock Station, Sparkling White Shiraz, NV
3. Penfolds, Thomas Hyland Shiraz, 2006
4. Phillip, Mount Pleasant Shiraz. 2006
5. Dalfarras, Shiraz Viognier, 2004
6. d'Arenberg, "d'Arry's Original" Shiraz Grenache, 2006
7. d'Arenberg, "Laughing Magpie" Shiraz Viognier, 2006

Apollo Bay, VIC - Thursday 19th February
1. Shadowfax, Riesling, 2008
2. Shadowfax, Werribee Shiraz, 2005
3. Shadowfax, Heathcote "One Eye" Shiraz, 2005
4. Yering Station, Shiraz Viognier, 2006

Robe, SA - Saturday 21st February
1. Balnaves, Sparkling Cabernet, NV
2. Sahdowfax, Sauvingnon Blanc, 2008
3. Balnaves, "Cheeky Red", 2008
4. di Giorgio, "Sterita" Shiraz, 2005
McLaren Vale, SA - Sunday 22nd February

1. Katnook Estate, Sauvignon Blanc, 2008
2. Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Coonawarra Riesling, 2008
3. Bannockburn Geelong, Shiraz, 2004
4. Wynns Coonawarra Estate, "Black Label" Shiraz, 2006

McLaren Vale, SA - Monday 23rd February
1. Gemtree, "Cadenzia" Grenache Tempranillo Shiraz, 2007
2. Red Heads. The Back Shed Shiraz Grenache, 2006
3. Tapestry. "Cadenzia" Old Vine Grenache, 2007
4. d'Arenberg, "Sticks & Stones" Tempranillo Grenache Shiraz. 2005
5. d'Arenberg, "The Last Ditch" Viognier, 2008

Barossa Valley, SA - Tuesday 24th February
1. Red Heads, "Lazy Ballerina" Shiraz Viognier, 2006
2. Red Heads, "The Back Shed" Shiraz Grenache, 2006
3. Wirra Wirra, "Sparrow's Lodge" Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006

Appelation Restaurant, Barossa Valley, SA Wednesday 25th February
1. Pelorus, Sparkling, NV
2. Radford Dale, Eden Valley Riesling, 2007
3. Cooper Burns, Barossa Valley Grenache, 2006
4. Deisen, Barossa Shiraz, 2005

Bay of Shoals, KI - Thursday 26th February
1. Wirra Wirra "Scrubby Rise" Unwooded Chardonnay, 2008
2. d'Arenberg, "The Stump Jump" Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Marsanne, Viognier, Chardonnay, 2007
3. Hardy's, Oomoo Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre, 2006
4. Pertaringa, "Over The Top" Shiraz, 2006

Bay of Shoals, KI - Friday 27th February
1. Majella, "Melody" Rose, 2008
2. Bannockburn Geelong, Pinot Noir, 2005
3. Gemtree, "Obsidian" Shiraz, 2005
4. Peter Lehmann, "Clancy's" Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot (Magnum), 2004
5. d'arenberg, "The Noble Mod Pie", Viognier Pinot Gris Marsanne, 2008

Bay of Shoals, KI - Saturday 28th February
1. Two Hands, Gnarly Dudes Shiraz, 2007
2. Turkey Flat, Rose, 2008
3. Pertaringa, "Scarecrow" Sauvignon Blanc, 2008
4. Woop Woop, Verdelho, 2008
5. Katnook Estate, Chardonnay Brut Blanc de Blancs, 2007
6. Chateau Tanunda, Terroirs Ebenezer Shiraz, 200?
7. Kaesler, "Reid's Rasp" Shiraz, 2008
8. Wynn's, Samuel Port, NV

Brisbane, QLD - Sunday 1st March
1. Langmeil, "Fifth Wave" Grenache, 2006
2. Langmeil, "Orphan Bank" Shiraz, 2006

Brisbane, QLD - Monday 2nd March
1. Isabel, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, 2008
2. Turkey Flat, Rose, 2008
3. The Black Chook, Sparkling Shiraz, NV
4. Two Hands, Bella's Garden Shiraz, 2006
5. Red Heads, "Yard Dog" Petit Verdot merlot Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006
6. Wirra Wirra, "Catapult" Shiraz Viognier, 2006
7. Langmeil, Fortified Shiraz
8. Wynns, Samuel Port

Bring out the blog

I have resolved to resume blogging. Now complete with Web2.0 phone [don't really know what that means, just sounds fancy],
this is a test.

Tomorrow the wine list from my recent holiday.