Forum Fest 2015 Melbourne

[fundj&e]

i hear you Marina i feel the same , next time we should do like they do on speed dating

[Cuilidh]

LOL

[achookwoman]

Marina, I agree about not spending more time with different people.
Maybe we could do what happens at some dinners we have been to and shift 3 seats to the left at each course.

I would like to thank everyone who organised, attended or worked in the background posting photos for making this FF such a memorable event.

[judydawn]

I'm the same Marina, I get comfortable somewhere and just sit there but mostly I had different dinner partners and whilst out walking I found it easier to just move onto a different group every now and then.

Bogie1, I'm sorry I didn't speak to you.  I  did wonder who you were but didn't bother to find out who the stranger in our midst was. 

[Cuilidh]

Bogie1, I'm sorry I didn't speak to you.  I  did wonder who you were but didn't bother to find out who the stranger in our midst was.

Bogie1, sad to say, the same goes for me.  I heard someone say your name was Jen / Jenny, but thought you must have been a friend of one of the other attendees.  It's a shame you couldn't have stayed longer ... there's always next year.

[trudy]

Bogie, it's such a shame that you weren't able to spend more time in Melbourne.  Hopefully next year you can make it.  I also have fingers crossed for next year and hope the dates will suit!!!  It's hard to get back into the hum drum of everyday life after such a great few days.  We have two of our grandchildren today so I am sure that will help!!!

[cookie1]

True Marina. However sometimes I find that being with one person and chatting I get to know them better.
I wanted to chat at length with lots of others, especially virgins to the thermonuclear group. Sorry girls, next year perhaps. X

[cookie1]

Sunday morning when you thought I was out perusing the shops again, I took a few photos. I used my phone so there are a few more I have to download using the home wifi. Here are a couple.
The purse is near the GPO arcade.
The other is for those who were unable to get to church Sunday morning.

[cookie1]

A couple more.
Flowers down near the Town Hall.

[cookie1]

And more!
I loved these. I think they are pin cushion Hakea.
The flowers at the flower seller always smell and look so beautiful, I wish I could bring them all home.

[cookie1]

And again. My print is already too small to read so I'm afraid these are large photos and I feel can't make the print much smaller or it would disappear.
These are around the trees down near the Town Hall and a bit further along. You may have noticed them.

[djinni373]

If thermonuclear refers to lots of chatting and laughter over food and wine then the Melbourne FF was definitely thermonuclear  What a great group!

Hope all have arrived home safely (safe travels Denise and Evan if you are still on the road).

Despite arriving at the airport more than 1.25 hrs prior to my flight, I had to be fished out of the baggage drop queue to board the plane 

The two tiny egg sandwiches (on white bread) on the flight were a disappointment after the offerings on the Tramcar Restaurant   Thank you very much to all who were involved in organising. I will have to make an effort to move around more next year too!

Can't add anything new to the food comments Cookie except that half my plate was chips . However the steak, greens and lemon tart were very nice. 

Back to work for me now.

[cookie1]

Gayle I had better keep my meal on the plane a secret then. It was smoked salmon with brown rice and red quinoa salad. Lovely dressing too. A very nice meal.

A jolly nuisance about the queue. I was lucky. I was there about 1 1/2 hours before my flight and it was very quick, everyone had obviously gone.

[kezza]

Chookie I agree with all previous comments. My salmon was overcooked and cold though.  Im glad I changed rooms.

It was wonderful catching up and meeting new people.  Thankyou so much to all those lovely people who organised different components of the weekend. You are all angels.  Colette had a great time, so thankyou for being so welcoming to her.☺

[CreamPuff63]

We got to the airport an hour before take off and it was a night mare and only 4 staff on.

Basically all I can say is:

. why was our 2 course meal $44, when they had on the placard near the entry stairway to the restaurant a special advertising a 3 course meal with a glass of wine for $45
. each meal should have been served at the correct time (as per other comments) as it seems wrong to be eating a dessert and watching someone eat their main course
. our air con was quite noisy turning itself off and on every 10 secs (must be an auto setting) and even though we were told a technician would come and fix it whilst we were out on Sunday, it appeared to be the same. Our room was otherwise very quiet.
. wifi was unreliable, I used my own

the positives:
. excellent central location to shops and public transport
. room was clean and had all the facilities required
. staff were very polite, and could not do enough for guests
. Haighs was maybe too convenient
. tariff was reasonable enough

All in all a wonderful weekend catching up with other Thermomixers, and of course our DD.