Air Qatar gets my vote of approval. New planes, great pilots and phenomenal service. Even the stopover in Doha was painless with it’s fast-track queue for rapid transit passengers. Almost 24 hours later we arrive in Melbourne. Not quite a journey I recommend but flying over the most amazing fishing area of Exmouth Flats, 1000 miles north of Perth made the journey all the more worth it. Nothing to see as it was dark as we flew past but we vowed we will make a homage later this year for a REAL fishing extravaganza. Watch this space.
Chadstone and Glen Waverley were much the same. Boxhill and even a WestFields shopping centre exists down under. Visited the huge Dan Murphy’s inspecting all the bottles at close range. What a fabulous choice of wines the Aussies have! Had a great time practising Hokkien at Melbourne’s celebrity status “Penang chai tiem ma” – grocery shop. An Aladdin’s cave of all things Penang with the ambience, too!
The subject is Tahbilk. A member of Australia’s First Families of Wine (‘AFFW’) and celebrating its 150th year in existence, I was determined to visit this producer. Persuading hubby to drive over 2 hours upstate without air-conditioning in the 35ºc heat was a feat in itself but so so worth it. OK R, I owe you big time (within reason). Beautiful scenery and the vineyard was spectactular. 
Matt Pubrick – you are great – the great grandson of the man who made Tahbilk what it is today. Knowledgeable, well travelled and handsome. The poor chap had to endure my presence for over an hour. Thank you Matt for your patience and allowing me to taste all those bottles… including opening a 2nd bottle. I did so enjoy your company (even if you didn’t feel reciprocal in the matter at the time). You probably gathered what my favourites were and both bottles are now in my cellar awaiting for an appropriate evening. You are going to do great things in your life!
“The AFFW is a group of 12 highly dedicated, enthusiastic, family owned wineries. The group represents 16 Australian regions across four states in Australia with more than 1200 years of winemaking experience. The wineries are Brown Brothers, Campbells, D’Arenberg, De Bortoli, Henschke, Howard Park, Jim Barry, McWilliams, Tahbilk, Taylors, Tyrells and Yalumba.” – Hayley Purbrick.