Big Al

It's my wife's Honda CRV's 1st Birthday tomorrow - 9/11 !!!!

Hitachino Nest Weizen Project progress update: epic fail. Finished work and rushed over to Archive Beer Boutique and they didn't have any. They said to try another joint (Craft in Red Hill) and they didn't have any. Both shops said to come back in a week or so as they should be getting some in. Doh !!! Thanks for the advice Tubby....well MiJ? have you tried it?

WooHoo !! The power of Google; it's (Hitachino Nest Weizen) stocked by the Archive Beer Boutique in West End here in Brissie and I'm working a stone's throw from there tomorrow. R & D project about to begin - will report back !!

Being a huge fan of Hefenweiss style beer (see posts about Burleigh Brewing Hef on "Pies and Beer reports - summer 2014) and also being a novice regarding Japanese beer (only really had Kirin, Asahi and Sapporo products which were certainly nice) I googled "Is there a Japanese Weiss bier" and came upon Hitachino Nest Weizen from Kiuchi brewery. So the questions are: Has anybody tried it? If so, what's the drum? Is it available in Hakuba? If so, where? Any other Japanese weissbiers that anyone knows about? Thanks in advance for replies and apologies if these questions have been

Not sure which way the Aussie dollar is going to go so bought $3000 of Yen yesterday at 92.95 over the counter from Suncorp Bank.

Although we're getting some strong westerly winds it is starting to warm up here in Brissie - up to 29 during the day which ain't too bad for Winter/Spring. As things get hotter and more humid towards Christmas I'll remember that wonderful contrast when we left 35 degree, high humidity Brissie in January this year to step off the bus at 02:30 in Happo in -10 or so. Doing the same in January 2015 and counting the days !!!!!! Fingers crossed for heaps of the cold white stuff !!

Pursuit of knowledge will always remain a noble endeavour. IMHO even the most cynical will have benefitted from University in countless ways.

Not much in the world comes close to an ingin' ane with flaky pastry. Must put Forfar down as a must-do-soon destination !

Don't remember fried Mars Bars, but last time I was back I couldn't get enough black pudding, white pudding and of course Haggis ! Ask Tubby if he's ever ordered "Twa plain bridies an' an ingin in' an' a'"?

And it's the home of "Blair Athol" and "Edradour" Single Malt whiskies. And Scotland's Theatre in the Hills !!

"Hey, we're back. That last two seconds of silence was Marcel Marceau's newest hit single, "Walkin In The Wind." And now, here are the headlines. Here they come right now. Pope actually found to be Jewish. Liberace is Anastasia and Ethel Merman jams Russian radar. The East Germans, today, claimed the Berlin Wall was a fraternity prank." "Here's a news flash: Today President Lyndon Johnson passed a highway beautification bill. The bill basically said that his daughters could not drive in a convertible on public highways." From Good Morning Vietnam - this has to be some of the funniest q

Someone testing their cyber-war capabilities perhaps ??

Dun Day - still pretty close to Glenshee. Nothing like a first run face plant into wind crust and ice atop the Tiger on a windblown -12 morning to get rid of the hangover !!! Have to laugh thinking about the following conversation which must have been repeated about a dozen times in Hakuba last season: Local: "Where you from?" Me: "Australia, but originally from Scotland" Local: "Aaaaaah, Scottoland. Scotch whisky very good!"

No, Pitlochry ! I remember some skiers from Blair though as the 1978 school ski trip was a combined Tayside schools job to Ravascletto (Monte Zoncolan) in Italy. Are you from Blair Tubby ?

we are going in early January for just over a week doing all the stuff the tourists do.so hopefully can get as much out of the trip as possible. also how busy are the slopes at this time of year as a novice to intermediate once I get my mojo happening if someones stopped mid run I tend to have great difficulty going around them. I see you have just been over any tips on traditional japanese restaurants for a family with kids looking for a more relaxed environment and not too expensive also what do all you guys do for lunch on the mountain I see there are quite a few places but whats the best a

Saw "Lucy" and "A Most Wanted Man" this week. The former was a very watchable piece of nonsense of the French film du look genre. "A Most Wanted Man" was a bit of a disappointment. Great character acting by Philip Seymour Hoffman, fantastic detail but a bland plot which can be summed up in a few words. For the sake of those going to see it I won't sum it up.

Hef ?? - See earlier posts In this thread. Regarding drinking only XXXX in Qld, what you say is true if you fit the following profile: 1.) Struggled a bit (a lot) at school; 2.) Name is Davo, Mitchie, Kevo or any nickname related to animal genitalia; 3.) Wear a Bronco's shirt at least 4 days a week; 4.) Wear a QLD State of Origin shirt on the remaining days; 5.) Drive a Hilux with a flat tray & bolted on toolbox; 6.) Watch "The Footy Show" (Qld version); 7.) Refer to the World Cup as "The soccer world cup" and that it is only played and watched by "poofters"; 8.) Actually be

I bbq'd a Wagyu porterhouse steak on our Webber last night and now know the meaning of the word Wagyugasm !! Washed down with 2 Hefs and a glass of Shiraz !! Life is good !!!!!!!!!

A few years back, an associate of mine said he wished George W. and Vladimir would sort out their differences in a live televised UFC cage fight !! Bloody brilliant idea even if Vlad's judo history would have made him the odds-on favourite !

Not sure about the semantics - it might be bigger than "micro" - but Burleigh Brewing is located in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast. All their beers are exceptional, but for someone like me who loves the Weissbier style of beer the Hef is the pick of the bunch. Check them out at burleighbrewing.com.au

The best pie in this part of the world (Brisbane / SE Queensland) is a 50/50 choice between Beefy's pies (various locations) and ACE Bakery at Albany Creek. Even better when washed down with what I seriously consider to be the best beer in the world - Hef by Burleigh brewing.

I resemble that remark !!

+1 Mr Wiggles. What an excellent effort and display of decency. Your post will remain with me whenever I watch a Sunderland game on TV. Excellent ! Just excellent !!

If it's the World Cup it might only be a couple of events - ie. there may not be a Downhill. The World Cup is the season-long competition held at numerous resorts throughout each season with the highest point scorers being crowned World Cup Winners in each discipline and some combined events. It is the equivalent of a football "League Championship". The World Championships, on the other hand, are a biennial one-off event not unlike a football "Cup" competition. The next Alpine World Championships will take place in Vail/Beaver Creek in February 2015. Why skiing and football use "cup"

Great to see Brazil humbled again !! Can't help but agree with Spider Kalac's comment that he wished Holland had been less cautious against Argentina as their forwards are truly World class. Go Germany tomorrow to complete a Europe over South America double !!!!!