Mid Year AFF XMAS Drinks and Dinner - 30 June 2012, Hilton Surfers Paradise, QLD

[bossreggie]

I don't want to be accused of hijacking a thread again because that's not my thing.

I would however like to be ON topic and give my thoughts.

Firstly... I did not attend... I really would have liked to, however I had arranged dinner with BenMay and we really wanted it to be just us!. I'd also hoped to catch up with a few people for a drink OUTSIDE of the event but timing was not ideal. It was nice to see Ozmark and Mrs Ozmark on the plane... (Me in row 1!! Ha-ha) It was also great to have drinks on Sunday evening with a few AFF'ers still at the hotel.

I have attended other events which Munitalp has arranged and I have enjoyed them. HSW last year was a great evening!

BenMay and I were checking in to the Hilton Surfers Paradise as a lot of people were checking out on Sunday morning. We got to sit and have a coffee with around 10 people, and we chatted with others. There was a clear consensus that the "buffet" style of the evening was not what people were expecting. There was also a VERY clear consensus that Munitalp had put a great deal of personal time and effort into the event.

The disappointment was NOT a reflection or personal attack on Munitalp... It was more a statement of fact. People were disappointed. I think if people thought it was going to be a Sizzler style buffet, then perhaps the price point was wrong... I think most would have stumped up $30 more and had 6 courses at Salt!!!

The reason I am posting this..... Is because I have had the pleasure of getting to know GPH and Mrs GPH quite well since the bossreggie AKL lunch. They are decent, hard working, mature people who would not post something on this forum unless they believed it to be the case. GPH took great care to ensure his post was NOT about any individual, but rather the catering. The response was.... IMHO rather childish.

I think that those people who spoke to both BenMay and myself about their disappointment..... Well let's just say.... Don't leave GPH hanging. It's pretty unfair to let him be the "bad guy" when in reality he was stating what you were thinking!!

Once again.... This is NOT about a witch hunt or anything like that..... But please be up front!

I think Munitalp was possibly let down by the suppliers... But, like a lot of AFF events, it's about the people. But it's also OK to express a valid opinion.

Finally..... As a foodie.... I would also recommend Chill. Tempura Oysters and Duck Confit.... TOTAL win! (As was the company)

Boss

 

[munitalP]

And on that note, I too bid farewell.

 

[QF WP]

I am taking some posts off to review them and will be closing the thread temporarily.

I am disappointed with some members who chose to express their views here in public after the event; rather than discuss them with munitalP at the first opportunity they realised their expectations were not being met.

 

[serfty]

A big thank you to Munitalp and Kim for the organisation of this event.

I did enjoy myself very much and look forward to future such events.

It was great to catch up and discuss the things that concern people who frequent these forums the most.

 

[NM]

Following moderation review of some of the content of this thread, I am going to re-open the thread and am returning the posts that were temporarily removed for review. Please note that the purpose of moderation is not to censor content, but to ensure the forum rules and posting guidelines are followed. All members are free to post their opinions provided they do so within the forum rules (both the spirit and the rule).

AFF is a community of diverse personalities and experiences, which is what makes AFF such a useful entity. Different people will interpret the same experience in different ways. Please be mindful and respectful of the diversity and difference of opinions. However, this is a public forum and all members are able to post their opinions within the forum posting guidelines.

I was not able to attend this event due to other personal commitments over the weekend (the Queensland premier of Rogers and Hammerstein's "G2K State Fair" stage production). But I will say that I am very encouraged by the fact that so many people put in such effort to attend, outlaying financially and sacrificing personal times to meet and spend time with others who share a common passion for the travel experience.

If anyone wants to provide feedback regarding the specific details of the event, then my personal recommendation is that it be done through private mechanisms (PM, email, SMS etc) rather than via this public forum.

 

[Lawlass]

On a completely separate note...

We need some handles with those pics! I know lots of the usual motley crew, but there's loads I don't know and I'm curious as anything.

Also did QF/VA give away any bundles of FF points this time around?

 

[penegal]

On a completely separate note...

We need some handles with those pics! I know lots of the usual motley crew, but there's loads I don't know and I'm curious as anything.

Also did QF/VA give away any bundles of FF points this time around?

You would know the answer to that if you attended

 

[Lawlass]

You would know the answer to that if you attended

Please don't make fun of my fiscal situation :evil:

 

[penegal]

I thought someone said not to post too much detail, but the prizes and give-aways included:

• A quantity of Velocity points (VA)
• Numerous model planes (VA, QF, CX)
• Mouse mats (QF)
• Richard Branson book (VA - one for every attendee)
• Pens and notepads (QF - one for every attendee)

Also there were some very generous KK gifts.

Thank you to whoever provided the bottle of wine I scored, I shall look forward to consuming that very much.

 

[penegal]

Please don't make fun of my fiscal situation :evil:

We both know that you have more money than me, but that's not for here...

 

[Katie]

Well, I'd like to apologise to those who missed out on dessert for being a greedy pig when dessert came out, and taking one of each (see my dessert plate photo earlier in the thread).
Given they were pretty much the size of petit fours, I didn't think they were rationed at one, maybe two per person. Sorry!

 

[anat0l]

Just want to throw my thanks in to munitalP for the amazing effort he put into the Do this past weekend.

Having somewhat put a Do together before which is, on a relative scale, microscopic in comparison to what was achieved during this Do, I know that the amount of time investment, continual pressure to deliver and the always unexpected circumstances which pop up here and there (the spanners in the works), is tremendous.

We need some handles with those pics! I know lots of the usual motley crew, but there's loads I don't know and I'm curious as anything.

I think some people prefer to be incognito. Not that yours truly has a chance...

Please don't make fun of my fiscal situation :evil:

Hey! I resemble that remark

Well, I'd like to apologise to those who missed out on dessert for being a greedy pig when dessert came out, and taking one of each (see my dessert plate photo earlier in the thread).
Given they were pretty much the size of petit fours, I didn't think they were rationed at one, maybe two per person. Sorry!

Same here - in fact I got up rather late-ish so by the time I got to the dessert board there really was just cheesecake left. I had to joke - these people don't know us very well (and don't know what we know about lounge food buffets! :mrgreen.

 

[Ewing]

I know lots of the usual motley crew, but there's loads I don't know and I'm curious as anything.

I spotted me.. using my phone!

To be fair I was only using it because I was trying to get in touch with another member to tell him that the deconstructed mojitos were ready to be constructed again! :mrgreen:

 

[QF WP]

I don't want to go into somebody elses' posts and put the names - seems a little inappropriate. Perhaps they will?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I don't want to go into somebody elses' posts and put the names - seems a little inappropriate. Perhaps they will?

I must admit, I purposely don't identify member pics as it's not always a good idea on an open forum and some people prefer not to be identified. If people wish to identify themselves, I think that's fine, but inappropriate for anyone else to do it without permission perhaps?

For the record.....I'm the boof headed ugly one with grey hair! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to identify the correct boof headed ugly one with grey hair .

 

[tuapekastar]

For the record.....I'm the boof headed ugly one with grey hair! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to identify the correct boof headed ugly one with grey hair .

No, I'm the boof headed ugly one with grey hair! (Spartacus didn't make it to dinner!). :shock:

 

[penegal]

I must admit, I purposely don't identify member pics as it's not always a good idea on an open forum and some people prefer not to be identified. If people wish to identify themselves, I think that's fine, but inappropriate for anyone else to do it without permission perhaps?

Agree - I think a little mystery keeps things interesting and it means people can keep their "privacy".

For the record.....I'm the boof headed ugly one with grey hair! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to identify the correct boof headed ugly one with grey hair .

No, I'm the boof headed ugly one with grey hair! (Spartacus didn't make it to dinner!). :shock:

Are we all boof heads today?



I'm the boof head with hair which is #NotQuiteGreyButWillBeSoon playing on a mobile phone at the bar

 

[Storyteller]

No, I'm the boof headed ugly one with grey hair! (Spartacus didn't make it to dinner!). :shock:

And here I was thinking I was the boot head, with shoe firmly in mouth, then changed feet ( shakes head)

Thought you all scrubbed up pretty well for the pics.

 

[penegal]

On a lighter note, whether you enjoyed eating the prawns or not, the guests at my table were treated to a detailed explanation of how to determine if a prawn is a boy or a girl. I don't know if I will ever use this as a life skill (or remember it properly), but I feel my life was enriched through the experience.


Thank you to this member, you know who you are...

 

[ALH]

Please share. I may need to know how to sex a prawn one day