Colin Perini

Whilst we were on holidays, we noticed paintings by Colin Perini that were just fantastic. They are all ocean and beach paintings, wonderfully life-like with perfect colouring.

"Summer Twist"

We noticed as our paintings are looking a little small and out of place at the moment and one has fallen off it's 3M hook and I haven't bothered to put it back up again so that probably isn't helping.

If I had my choice, I'd go for the beautiful 'Wishes and Dreams' triple but at a cool $5670AUD, I may be waiting some time...

"Wishes and Dreams" - courtesy of Colin Perini

Day Eight: Dane and Alyse spent the night on the air mattress they brought with them (this was before we realised that the sofa was in fact a sofa bed - doh!) and we all had some breakfast before driving out to Wet n' Wild.

The weather was a perfect Queensland day and the queue for the water park on a Saturday was understandibly huge! We eventually made it through the gates, put our gear in a locker and headed straight for our first ride - Mammoth Falls!

Saving the best 'till last - The Tornado!

We systematically went through every ride the park had to offer, occassionally chilling out in the relaxing Calypso Beach where you float around on a tube being gently carried by a soft current. Until that is we arrive and all chase each other around the 'river' like idiots! We ended up spending nearly 6 hours at the park and were throughly exhausted by the end of it. The combination of being in the strong sun, chasing each other on rubber rings and walking up endless stairs to the top of huge rides took its toll but it was excellent fun. We saved the best thrill for last as we joined the largest queue to ride the Tornado (bascially the equivalent of White Water World's 'The Green Room').

It was great to spend the time with Dane and Alyse as we didn't get to see them much when there were last in Sydney, hopefully we can catch up with them again soon.

As it was our last night we decided to go out for a nice dinner (we had been mainly eating in as the view from the balcony was too good to waste!) and we found a very nice restaurant near our apartment called Moo Moo's. Obviously this is a serious place for MEAT!!! But Jo was tempted by the Fish of the Day - Salmon on a crab salad with chinese cabbage, garlic gnocci and something else with truffle oil. It was much better than it sounds. I went for the lamb backstrap on pommes lyonnaise with seasonal vegetables - served with a global knife (like we have at home) - excellent stuff.

We then wandered over to Jupiter's (the casino) and Jo was tempted to have a flutter on the roulette table. We looked slightly stupid with our massive collection of eight chips ($20's worth) when most other people were betting $100 each round but we had fun anyway :) We had a nightcap and I turned into my brother for some reason and had a brandy and dry. The week has gone so quickly but we had a great time on the Gold Coast - looking forward to coming again one day.

Day Seven: We took it easy yesterday and just stayed around the Broadbeach area, enjoyed the pool at our apartment complex and had some very nice and very cheap Yum Cha for lunch. But we can't stay still very long and as we got such a good deal with the massage that we decided to use the rest of that budget to go Sea Kayaking for the day.

The pool at 'Air on Broadbeach'

Jo called up the night before to book with Splash Sea Kayaking tours that we take us on a 7km paddle to South Stradbroke Island (or "Straddie" as the locals call it). Our 'Triple Adventure Tour" started at 8.10am when we were picked up from our apartment and taken to a spot where we would get kitted out with our life-jackets and other equipment. After a short introduction to the day and some kayaking safety lessons we were on our way.

The Sea Kayaks

There were about 12 people on the trip, with one instructor. This meant that we were two to a kayak and Jo had the fun task of being in charge of the steering (the kayaks use a rudder at the rear) for the day. We paddled over to Wave Break Island and took a rest stop. The weather wasn't fantastic today (which was probably a good thing as otherwise we'd be so sun-burnt!) so we had morning tea at our first stop and we went for a snorkel. Just off the beach the water was teaming with fish and they ate the fish food I was given right out of your hand. Awwww.

The rather miserable South Stradbroke Island

We then paddled over to South Stradbroke Island and took a walk over to the beach. The weather by now had really closed in and it was starting to rain so it wasn't as picturesque as I'm sure it would have otherwise been. The Island is popular for camping and fishing but we didn't stay for very long and were soon back in our kayaks for another paddle around the top of Wave Break Island before heading back to land for our pick-up.

We got back to our apartment just in time to have a quick dip in the pool, shower and change before Dane and Alyse arrived at about 5:30pm. We all enjoyed a nice cold X&Y Sauvignon Blanc on the balcony before heading up to Chaing Mai Thai up the road. We continued with our exploration of yummy wines this week (we had already sampled some great ones including Stoneleigh, Montana and Rockbare Mojo) with a bottle of Eye Spy and South Island!

Alyse had made the booking for 8pm and we had heard this was the place to go for Thai in the area. We certainly weren't disappointed as Jo and I tucked into Coconut Prawns and Thai Dim Sim for entree. We all shared a Massaman Beef, Tofu with Chilli & Basil stir-fry and Lemongrass Prawns for mains. Yummy!

Day Five: Yesterday saw us head down to Rainbow Bay and Snapper Rocks as there is lots of activity there due to the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro's happening from the 26th February.

The as yet blank leader board

We took our boards down there but didn't have much luck as the current was terrible, the waves were a bit too big for us at the moment and the rips all up the coast are pretty bad this week.

Still, we did get to see some people who actually can surf carving up and down by the rocks as most of them were pro-surfers or plucky locals practising for a wild card spot in the comp next week.

A proper surfer gets some practise in

I stood and watched for a while from the rocks, it was pretty busy out there but the guys and girls who were having a go were excellent. It's such a shame we didn't plan our trip so that we could've seen a few days of the actual competition, but still there's always next year.

Some youngsters head out for some action

That afternoon we went to the Wings Day Spa at Surfers Paradise for a well earned massage. We booked in yesterday and got a great deal that included an hour of steam room/hydrotherapy pool before an hour and a half of all over massage. It certainly was value for money, the spa was beautifully designed and we were very well looked after by the staff there. Note to self: Must do this more often!

Day Three: We spent yesterday out exploring the surrounding area, and we even took a drive up to Sanctuary Cove where I will be staying with work at the end of March (very nice too). But today we decided to do what most people do when they come to the Gold Coast - go to a water park!

We have arranged to visit Wet n' Wild with Dane and Alyse on Saturday so today we went to the brand new White Water World next to Dreamworld. The day started of beautifully hot and sunny that we even had our breakfast out on the balcony but as soon as we hopped in the car the heavens opened. We thought we'd drive there anyway and luckily by the time we arrived most of the rain had passed as blue sky was starting to emerge again.

White Water World's 'The Green Room' ride

We went on every ride (except one which we didn't even realise was there until afterwards!!) and had a great day. The park isn't as big as it's main competitor but the rides it does have are excellent. My favourite had to be The Green Room - a huge green funnel type thing that goes like the clappers. 'The Green Room' is a surfing term for when the surfer is in the barrel of a wave.

Rider's coming out of the funnel on their tube

Jo's favourite ride was the 'Blue Ringed Octopus' - where you lay down head first on a mat and race down one of eight different slides. We'd both start off next to each other at the top but end up in opposite lanes by the end of it - good fun.

The 'Blue Ringed Octopus' in all it's glory

Day One: We arrived at Coolangatta airport on Queensland's Gold Coast at about 2pm, after we had adjusted our watches back 1 hour to account for the time difference. The first thing was to pick up our bags and surfboards from the oversize luggage counter before getting picked up by the East Coast Car Rental company to pick up our shiny white Toyota Corolla that would be our transport for the week. The guys at the car rental place were really friendly, and even helped us fit our boards and bags into the car.

The very cool 'Air on Broadbeach'

We set off up the Gold Coast Highway to Broadbeach and our apartment that we had rented for the week at the fantastic 'Air on Broadbeach'. I'd booked this place months ago and had high hopes for getting a nice and comfortable self contained apartment but all our expectations were blown away from the first second we walked through the door! The view!! The luxury!! The location!! We truly couldn't have picked a better place to stay, very very happy!

Our living area and view

I wasn't sure what to expect from the area as this was my first time on the Gold Coast, but it all makes sense when you see the coast line. I was thinking the beaches would be more like Sydney, all separate by headlands but the Gold Coast suburbs are just all in a row along what must be the largest and longest beach I have ever seen.

The balcony view over Broadbeach

Gold Coast here we come

It's not long now before Jo and I head up to the Gold Coast for a week of sun (hopefully), sea and most definitely surf!! We fly up tomorrow afternoon and will pick up our rental car (we've decided to rent one for the week so we can see some of the coast) before trying to squeeze in our luggage and two 7' 6" surfboards into a Toyota Corolla hehehe.

Places to explore on the Gold Coast

We are both so excited and I personally can't wait because:

1. I will get to go to Wet n' Wild
2. We'll get to catch up with Dane & Alyse for a few days
3. We can practise our surfing at some of the best beaches in Australia
4. We will treat ourselves to a nice relaxing massage
5. We can do whatever we like for 8 whole days without worrying about work
   

Board Art

Since we bought our lovely but albeit bland 'Maliboo' surfboards the other week, Martinette has put her usual creative genius to work using Uni Posca art pens! These pens are great for using on surfboards because they are water-proof and won't fade (apparently).

Her plain white board is now covered with a massive mermaid mural. It's so fantastic that the guy who sold her the board now wants to buy it back from her to put in the window of his shop!!

The 'work-in-progress' version taken via Mobile Phone

I think it looks awesome as it's done in a very 'Mambo' style. I love how she's drinking a beer and sitting next to an eskie of coldies!

I'm now going to be very nice to her so she can make my board look pretty too! I'm thinking of a nice surfie pattern so I can look cool :)

Spring forward

I found out at work yesterday that I have been selected to attend a 5-day Strategic Planning Forum to be held on the Gold Coast at the end of March.

I made my application (which consisted of an interview on paper eg. "Tell us why we should select you", "What can you personally bring to the forum" etc) and a case study to highlight a current business issue/challenge in December last year and I didn't think much more about it until my manager approached me yesterday to say that I had been selected!

I've read the draft agenda and it is FULL ON!! I have to arrive on the Sunday and the conference starts on the Monday morning. All the days start at 8am, finish around 5:30pm, have 45 mins for lunch with dinner starting at 7pm! I don't leave until the following Saturday!

Even though I'm sure it will be lots of hard work, it should be a rewarding week as I'll get to meet lots of people from other business units and get to apply some strategic planning techniques to actual challenges my company faces as some of the case studies written as part of the application process will be used during the week.

And the slightly cool thing is, I get to stay here.

Boards and Bluebottles

Last weekend saw my first surfing related injury. We went out on Sunday afternoon on our new boards (we finally bought our own last week - 7' 6" fibreglass mini mals) and I was only in the water for about 10 mins before I was stung by a bluebottle.

The evil bastard itself

Never mind the sharks, the sodding bluebottle sting hurt like hell! I felt it all around my left knee in an instant when walking about with my board in the low tide. I had seen a few in the deeper water but thought nothing of it as you usually do see some. But this time it must have been under the water pushed down by the surf. When I looked at my knee all I could see was this bluey string all around it.

By the time I had fled the water, the sting had fallen off and I was just left with the pain. Martinette took me back to her place where I hopped straight in the shower, still in my wetsuit, to wash my leg with warm water (apparently the best treatment). About ten minutes after the sting, horrible blister type welts had formed where the stings had been and my leg felt like it was on fire. It felt like you had about 3inch think deep heat on there but worse!

Today, the day after, the blisters have gone and I'm left with red stratch-like marks that are still tender to touch. And these little suckers appear in volume 6 of 120 volumes of things that will hurt, maim or kill you horribly in Australia.