The view or two from my "office"

[Flyfrequently]

Parasailer Karon Beach Thailand


And then this

 

[Captain Halliday]

Late morning office was Cullen Wines where I tried a vertical of the Diana Madeline: ‘21, ‘23, and ‘24.

In my view the ‘21 is a keeper and will develop really well, ‘23 was okay but not even close to ‘21… while’24 is too early to tell.

While chatting with staff I asked when they’d last opened a 2017 because I have a few of these.

I was told the have very few left and almost fell over when he showed me what they are selling for.



Next office was a nice winery and restaurant at Cape Naturaliste called Wise.

Menu, review and more photos here for anyone who’s interested.


Cape Naturaliste, Western Australia.

 

[markis10]

The view from the Hong Kong side of the Futian checkpoint, and perhaps a look at what much of Shenzhen was like in the seventies before “progress”

 

[JohnM]

Nairobi NP last Sunday.

 

[JohnM]

Further N in Kenya. Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Woodlands Winery office.




Wilyabrup, Western Australia

 

[jase05]

Nursing a sore head after a big night so going to hang out by the pool on our final day before heading to the airport. Another good stay at the Movenpick Melbourne

 

[Rugby]

Long Beach, Russell, NZ

 

[Ade]

Is that the QF A350 ULR next to the CX?

 

[JohnM]

Kigali Genocide Memorial, Rwanda.

Sobering.




Kwibuka means ‘Remember’ and it is 32 years since the genocide. Next year that will be changed to 33.

 

[Port Power]

Late morning office was Cullen Wines where I tried a vertical of the Diana Madeline: ‘21, ‘23, and ‘24.

In my view the ‘21 is a keeper and will develop really well, ‘23 was okay but not even close to ‘21… while’24 is too early to tell.

While chatting with staff I asked when they’d last opened a 2017 because I have a few of these.

I was told the have very few left and almost fell over when he showed me what they are selling for.

View attachment 517023

Next office was a nice winery and restaurant at Cape Naturaliste called Wise.

Menu, review and more photos here for anyone who’s interested.

View attachment 517025
Cape Naturaliste, Western Australia.

I’ll be checking my Cullen red wines as soon as I get home! I know I’ve drunk all the Fred Cullen Chardonnay that I had, but there are a few bottles of Madelines if I remember correctly.

 

[Port Power]

A lovely day at Versailles, particularly as our small group had behind the scenes access to the royals’ private rooms. It was a bit of a shock coming back to crowds in the Hall of Mirrors!

This original clock was found in a carnival in USA.



Louis XIV’s bed chamber. The curtains and other draperies were replaced in 2024. The original manufacturer was still in business. Just! The museum gave them a selection of five patterns to choose from, but the manufacturers refused, showing that they still had the original design. Amazing! This is silk embroidered on silk cloth, with added gold thread embroidery and hand made tassels. The cost was something like 1,200€ per square centimetre to make!!!

EDIT: It might have been a later Louis, as married to Marie Antoinette. It became confusing after a while between XIV, XV, XVI, etc.

 

[Port Power]

Europe has been experiencing a heat wave, as you are all aware. Most fountains throughout France were turned off. Versailles had some working, but areas of lawn were not being watered. Beautiful formal gardens, but no colour at this time of year. Give me Monet’s garden anytime!

The Orangerie.