Fat C Walking Club » Club News

Pink Weds on Hamilton Island!!!

pesky — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:11:09 +0000

The heading requires some explanation. Your intrepid FatC’er Pesky made a solo trip to Hamilton Island in Australia’s beautiful Whitsunday Islands in mid June 2009. I was fortunate to enjoy the hospitality of family and friends there for a week, thus escaping Melbourne’s rather chilly winter for a short while.

the beach

the tropical pool by the sea!

Almost upon arrival, I was assailed with various questions and comments about “Pink“. Being quite progressive, I had a vague appreciation that perhaps “pink” was the new “black” & guessed that the references to pink were about that. Wrong! Apparently there is a “performer” who goes by the name of “Pink”. OK. This “Pink” is a blonde trapeze artist who sings (I think). Apparently she was visiting Queensland, and broke a bra strap or a bungee rope or something similar. There were rumours she was visiting a tropical island off the Queensland coast to perform and then get married. Hamilton Island was rumoured to be the venue. Dear reader, if you are lost by now, you are not the only one. I had absolutely no idea what people were talking about! One of the lovely people I spoke to on Hamilton Island is Rohan Gull – a charming, intelligent and energetic young man who runs a business called “Hamilton Island Weddings”.

Hamilton Island Weddings

He explained to me that his company conducts around 500 weddings per year on the Island, but that so far, this “Pink” had not been one of them. Anyway, for those of you who follow this intermittent blog, you’d know that I’ve been battling plantar fasciitis. Having had some orthotics made I decided that Hamilton Island was the place to resume my walking. Whilst walking I took some pictures. I decided that Hamilton Island Weddings and the local church where many of the weddings they conduct are held would make topical photographs.

The church!

Perhaps I should have given them a Pink tinge? I’ve also included a couple of pics which give an idea of Hamilton Island’s tropical attractions. And for a BIG TIP, the period between May and September is the best time to visit the Island, as the weather is superb ( mid twenties during the day, high teens overnight & not humid) & not too many tourists. I don’t even get a commission for this! Despite my bewilderment about Pink, I had a great time and managed to get in some good walks, ( as well as lots of eating and drinking!). I met some wonderful people and had a ball.

Tasmania Tantalizes

pesky — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:58:51 +0000

The “Apple Isle” again lured the FatCWalking club to its attractions, with the intrepid trio staying once again at Bruny Island, and in Hobart. On Bruny we took an “Eco Tour” boat trip around the southern coast of the Island to “The Friars” – an outcrop of rocks south of Bruny on which live a large colony of large fur seals. At least one of the seals bore a startling resemblance to Quirky. However, given that seals don’t “walk”, I didn’t bother trying to recruit any of them even though in many other respects they appeared amply qualified for membership!
A real highlight of the trip was the arrival of a large pod of dolphins, who swam around our boat, many of them leaping out of the water, often across the bow. Such beautiful creatures, they were worth the entire trip.

Diva Dina’s Declaratory Claptrap

pesky — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:39:33 +0000

Well, I could have said “drivel” for alliterative completeness, but somehow “claptrap” seems better! Here is a pic of Dina and Pesky at the Observatory Hotel in Sydney last December with the two most famous Iron Chefs (Iron Chef Chinese Chen Kenichi and Iron Chef French Hiroyuki Sakai). Both are thorough gentlemen, complete “hams” and wonderful chefs!!

Chen Kenichi, Dina, Hiroyuki Sakai & Pesky

Dina is a wonderful human being, but she can be quite ferocious, as you, gentle reader, may well have gathered. My absence from this blog has been occasioned by a sustained bout of plantar fasciitis. Be warned – being many kilos overweight has consequences, including “pf”. I am currently on an aggressive weight loss program (ie I am getting very aggressive as I crave the missing calories!), have had my foot taped, and am considering orthopaedic support from my podiatrist. Who will save me from this turbulent fate?

YOO HOO WHERE ARE YOU?

dina — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:06:51 +0000

Well, hasn’t this been a real lull in reporting the proceedings! The hot weather has come and gone, but nevertheless, Quirky and I, being committed and stalwart, have been trekking our laps around the Yarra. Pardon me this encomium, but Quirky and I have walked many kilometres enjoying the serenity and gentle breezes with nary a recherche conversation from our missing friend to distract us. Where is he you ask? Our oenophilic food critic has been taking it easy so to speak, nursing a gammy (not gouty you idiot) foot. Peel me another grape he says, I have to rest – I can only walk as far as lunch. Well Peskius Maximus (in more ways than one) – get well quickly for the next set of adventures.

Churchill & Lady Churchill conquer all before them!!

Quirky — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:02:38 +0000

Congratulations to Churchill & Lady Churchill on the birth of bouncing Clemmy Churchill. Mother and father doing well, although we wish to dispel any rumours that the cigar smoke exhaled by Churchill has increased Victoria’s greenhouse gases!

Come to think of it Pesky’s excessive verbosity may have added to the increase of Victoria’s greenhouse gases!

We look forward to raising our cups of tea and drinking to the health of little Clemmy.

Survived the New Year Celebrations.

Quirky — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:38:57 +0000

Greetings to all FatC Walking Club readers.

I survived the New Year Celebrations and I now extend New Year Greetings to all our loyal readers.

Pesky is due to return home and no doubt will be regaling you with all his culinary exploits from beautiful Tasmania. Although he did concede that he will run a mile if anyone placed a tape measure around his girth. It seems that he may have over indulged in delights from the Cadbury Schweppes choklit factory in Tasmania. Margery Dawes would be very proud!! Lets hope in the 2 weeks away, he actually did undertake some exercise and no doubt, if he walked to the corner store he will regale you with such exploits!

Dina has taken time after painting her nails and as a new years resolution is promising to renew her walks in 2009.

For all of you wanting news about Churchill, we hope to provide updates shortly.

I look forward to providing more of an insight into the walking adventures of the group when we return soon.

Happy New Year 2009 FatCers!!

Happy New Year to all Fat C Readers.

Quirky — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:44:14 +0000

Well dear reader it has come to the end of another year and on behalf of all of those from the Fat C Walking Club, I wish you a Happy New Year for 2009. In the last few weeks Pesky has been sunning himself in beautiful Tasmania and has found new friends at the beach amongst the whales. Dina has been applying finger nail polish daily in anticipation of the coming year. As you can imagine I have been faithful to the cause and maintained my exercise regime as much as possible during this very distracting time of the year. Even on Christmas Day I took the dog Tom for a long walk. It was wonderful as the suburb was deserted due to the time of day. Indeed I highly recommend a walk in the middle of any day in an attempt to walk off the excesses that abound at this time of the year.

Readers will recall Tom (the golden retriever) featuring in our travels to Sydney earlier this year. On this occasion the dog was spending part of his Australian whirlwind tour in Melbourne.

Having been back at work this week, I have taken the traditional walk along the Yarra River and Dina and I have resisted the temptation of “Yum Cha”. There is a high degree of excitement in the air as one walks close to the areas of celebration in Melbourne. This assists with the enjoyment of a longer than usual walk. Expect the night sky in Melbourne to be illuminated with fireworks at the dawn of the New Year.

We are welcoming some new members to the FatC walking Club in 2009. Unfortuantely Pavarotti will be a “no show” but we expect another Italian “Soprano” – “Tony” to join us early next year. It is hoped that “Cricket” will also rejoin us next year for our lunchtime walks certainly in the early part of the year.

I am glad you have followed our progress over the year and indeed managed to move past the indulgencies exhibited by Pesky in his entries to this site!

We look forward to providing further contributions in 2009.

Iron Chef French Hiroyuki Sakai & Iron Chef Chinese Chen Kenichi

pesky — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:55:31 +0000

For three special evenings these two icons of the cult hit “Iron Chef” Japanese TV series from the mid 1990’s were in Australia to dazzle their adoring fans with a spectacular display of their culinary skills. The Observatory Hotel in Kent Street Sydney was the venue for this gastronomic extravaganza, which almost has the potential to threaten Melbourne’s pre-eminence in matters food. Dina and Pesky were there to to capture the event and to report back to our loyal fellow bloggers.

The Sichuan Sage Iron Chef Chen with long time fan Pesky

First things first – the food was magnificent, and well matched with wines selected by the sommelier. Second, the Iron Chefs went out of their way to mix with the diners, and Chen Kenichi revealed himself to be a real “ham”!
In all there were 8 courses, including dessert and canapes. The dining room catered for 100 guests, and there were video screens strategically placed around the diners so that the frequent live “cross” to the kitchen could be seen by everyone.

In the above video is a short explanation by Iron Chef Sakai of his wonderful consomme of lamb & Chinese dumpling. If you look closely you will see Dina in the foreground watching the screen in front of her with obvious pleasure (as did we all!). This superb dish was accompanied by an equally superb 10 year old madeira from Henriques & Henriques of Portugal! More to come!

Quirky Forgets His Pills! – IRON CHEFS ARE COMING!!!

pesky — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:52:31 +0000

Well, its the only explanation I can come up with for his latest offering. I don’t know if everyone else was as mystified as me about Quirky’s babblings on mini lettuce leafs etc? In any case, I HAVE BIG NEWS! On behalf of the FCWC, Dina and I are visiting Sydney’s Observatory Hotel Galileo Restaurant to see the IRON CHEFS!!!!! French Iron Chef Hiroyuki Sakai and the Sichuan Sage Iron Chef Chen Kenichi will be there together with Masahiko Yomoda and Haru Inukai for what should be a marvellous culinary experience – more to come

Pesky’s mini lettuce leaf…

Quirky — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:06:53 +0000

After much cajoling Pesky decided to walk with Dina and I last Friday. As usual Dina and I waited for him to arrive after devouring his pre lunch lunch consisting of a mini lettuce leaf;a mini home grown Roma tomato and mini can of tuna in brine. Unfortunately mini is not usually a word one would associate with Pesky but he seems to thrive on its use in the hope it will stick to him in an adjectival sense.

Speaking of size reduction our patron was heard to describe Dina and I as having failed in our task. There is an old Cantonese proverb that glass houses often shatter when least expected.

This week I leave for Queensland to inform our northern neighbours of the worthwhile pursuit of the joys of the walking club. I will provide reports of the trip when I return.

In the meantime I shall miss the delights of “Kenny’s’ lunch bars dotted throughout central Melbourne. They provide healthy and nutritious lunchtime sandwiches and salad rolls. Unlike Pesky’s dietary intake the rolls are so satisfying it is unnecessary for Dina and I to consume the mini steel tuna container to satisfy our hunger as it seems must “mini” Pesky to satiate his immense appetite!