Ferris wheel
The Giant Sky Wheel is claimed to be the largest travelling Ferris wheel in the southern hemisphere.
It comprises 36 gondola carriages, each able to hold six people. It has a 50-metre peak clearance and each ride is 10-12 minutes in duration.
Michael and I rode the Ferris wheel on Friday evening before heading to the MCG for the Lions v Bulldogs AFL semi-final. The cost was $8 each and we were the only people on it.
The Ferris wheel was operating in Birrarung Marr, on the north bank of the Yarra River next to Federation Square.
Apparently the park has been there since 2002, but it’s the first time I have visited.
There is now a lovely walk along the river linking the city with the MCG.
We enjoyed the trip, just a shame about the football score. Here are a couple of views from the big wheel: (more…)
Celebrity comedian
After dining at a Nepalese restaurant in Lygon Street tonight we attended a couple of shows at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in Trades Hall.
The first was with British celebrity comedian Deborah Frances-White (pictured).
She’ll like me calling her a celebrity, because her show was about how to become one. (more…)
Corporate box at the MCG
A corporate box at the MCG is the ultimate in luxury sports entertainment.
I used to view them with some contempt, seeing the concept as a corruption, almost a betrayal of football’s origins.
It probably is those things, but the “super box” is also the way of the world, and if you can’t beat them, join them.
Juliet and I arrived at 12.30pm. Our hostess, Fiona, immediately offered drinks while we checked out the facilities. (more…)
Speed renting
Speed renting sounds like a great idea. I read about it in The Age today while attending a junior soccer carnival.
I had thought the soccer season finished until they sprang this on us. Apparently it was a pre-season cup that was cancelled, so they shunted it to the end of the year.
The last thing I expected to be doing today was standing in the wind and rain watching a meaningless soccer tournament.
Rant over and back to the topic. (more…)
A total of 55,436 people attended the A-League soccer final won 6-0 by Melbourne Victory. Soccer is now a mainstream spectator sport in Australia.
Race Round
Here’s an update on news from Juliet and I:
Our house in Porepunkah finally sold and we have some spare cash for the first time since 1993. Combined with the fact we can now go out for dinner or functions, leaving the little kids with the big ones safely for a couple of hours, our lives have completely changed!
Kalgoorlie has an active social life and the mood here is really buoyant at the moment, so it’s an exciting time.
The coming Race Round is going to be fantastic. This is Kalgoorlie’s equivalent of the Melbourne spring carnival. It includes some high-quality races intermingled with social events.
Our plan is to attend the Boulder Cup and the Hannans Club Ball (black tie, masquerade) plus whatever else we can fit in between work and family commitments.
Footy fever?
The football season has begun. Here in WA the supporters of West Coast and Fremantle are strutting and fretting as the case may be.
Delayed coverage from Victoria and South Australia tells me the Lions are in demise, the Kangaroos are jumping and the Cats are looking good. Do I care? Not really.
2006 is the 10th year since my beloved Fitzroy was axed from the league. They “merged” with the Brisbane Bears to form the Lions. (more…)
