Nov 14th: Rail Carriage Sydney to Thirlmere for a pub lunch

[Flashback]

C'mon guys, photos!

 

[nlagalle]

C'mon guys, photos!

Working on it! Delayed flight so we are waiting, I mean drinking, in the J lounge!

 

[oz_mark]

Working on it! Delayed flight so we are waiting, I mean drinking, in the J lounge!

Drinking?? Speak for yourself :mrgreen:

 

[nlagalle]

Drinking?? Speak for yourself :mrgreen:

Ok skulling in your case!!!!

 

[Flashback]

Working on it! Delayed flight so we are waiting, I mean drinking, in the J lounge!

Drinking?? Speak for yourself :mrgreen:

I'm only just waking up :shock:

 

[Ewing]

Working on it! Delayed flight so we are waiting, I mean drinking, in the J lounge!

Sitting on my flight - it is almost leaving on time

Anyway, great trip. Thanks so much to Matt and Sally for your generous hospitality.

 

[oz_mark]

Hmm, should I be worried that the announcement in the Qantas Club that my flight is delayed was made by the captain of the flight???? Hope he's not having too many beverages while here :shock:

Not had that happen before

 

[Ewing]

Never heard that one Mark.

Anyway, after all that joking about runway 34R I naturally ended up with it. Now in CBR

 

[Hvr]

And I too am now home. What a wonderful day and special thanks to Matthew and Sally for looking after us so well. If you ever offer this wonderful opportunity again I would suggest that those who can possible accept to so quickly.

To all who attended I am sure we agree that it was a representative mix of AFFers.


Hope the Melbourne people have finally taken off after several flights seemed to be delayed.

Photos will follow soon.

 

[notzac]

+1, I had a wonderful time. Many thanks to Matt and Sally for being such wonderful hosts! Looking forward to the next train trip

 

[nlagalle]

Another couple of ++ from here. Thanks Matt for organising it, and to Sally for running the bar! Was a fantastic day and can't wait for the next one.

Nick (and miss nlagalle) :mrgreen:

 

[dot]

+2 from here as well - Thanks Matthew & Sally very much for all you efforts and for everyone else that was able to make it.

 

[SFSC]

Thanks also from me Matt and Sally. Thanks also to maggies1 for the nibbles (including those delicious cupcakes).

I made the 17:15 Newcastle Cityrail service OK and was home before 19:30.

I had a wonderful time and really enjoyed putting some faces and nerd names to some AFF posting handles. Now to try to remember them all

 

[maggies1]

Thank you Matt and Sally, we had a great time. Great meeting every one. Boy, was it hot out there!!

 

[Ewing]

Thank you Matt and Sally, we had a great time. Great meeting every one. Boy, was it hot out there!!

Indeed it was. The breeze on the platform at Sydney Terminal was lovely though

And thanks to you again for the various nibblies.

-Shaun

 

[BAM1748]

Thanks to the AFF passengers yesterday for some good conversation, there was even a cameo appearance of a Virgin 737 as it took off across the rail line at St Peters in the inner south as we headed out through the southern suburbs before turning right at Wolli Creek. (one stop from the international terminal)

It was a hot day, the bar opened as soon as the train moved off and we had the first drinks on the bar before the train cleared the platform.

The pub had a kitchen failure (or so they said) so it was grab a hamburger from next door and eat it in the pub which certainly didn't look prepared from having 5 locals to around an extra 60 people in a 10 min period.

Here is a clip of the train departing Thirlmere at 3pm for the 2 hour return trip to Sydney, we are riding the second last car, the last car also being privatly owned which are always placed on the end and together to avoid "joe public" from wandering through.
YouTube - 3642 'Santa's Steam Train' Thirlmere Flyer 14/11/10

I didn't take many pics but will do something about them tonight.

Glad everyone made it home. Feeling a bit weary this morning myself.

Matt
PS, gin seems a favoured beveridge of AFFers and no doubt because of the heat plenty of beer was consumed. Maggies was noted enjoying the chilled wine!

PPS, $520 was raised which I'll send off to Vinnies, I'll get them some Coles and Wollies gift cards to give out before Christmas that way none of it goes to "admin costs". Thanks guys and gals, good effort.

 

[BAM1748]

Finally have some photos up.
AFF'ers day out - Nov 14 2010 - a set on Flickr