#canberra beer festival

[hamiltonsmotel]

The 5 Most Anticipated Events in Canberra

Spring in Australia's capital brings a burst of vibrant colors and a calendar packed with diverse events and festivities, making Canberra buzz with excitement. Whether you're drawn to cultural celebrations, music festivals, culinary delights, or sports, there's something in Canberra for everyone to relish during their stay. Dive into this blog to discover some of the upcoming events in Canberra that promise to turn your next visit into a memorable adventure:

Enlighten Festival

Dates: March 25th - April 10th, 2024

Step into a world where Canberra shines under a new light at the Enlighten Festival. This dazzling two-week event transforms the city's iconic landmarks with stunning illuminated art installations, creating a magical atmosphere for visitors of all ages. With its array of light projections, captivating performances, and interactive art, the Enlighten Festival is set to ignite your imagination and fill you with wonder.

Canberra Balloon Spectacular

Dates: April 7th - April 15th, 2024

Prepare to be enchanted as Canberra's skies burst into color with the Canberra Balloon Spectacular. Witness a breathtaking display as dozens of hot air balloons lift off, painting the city's skyline in vibrant hues. Whether you're up in the air or watching from below, this spectacular sight is guaranteed to leave an indelible mark on your heart.

Canberra International Music Festival

Dates: April 26th - May 6th, 2024

Dive into a melodious journey at the Canberra International Music Festival, where classical, jazz, and contemporary tunes from across the globe take center stage. Over ten days, experience exceptional performances in intimate settings and grand venues alike, showcasing a fusion of sounds that promise to enchant music lovers and newcomers alike.

Truffle Festival Canberra

Dates: June 1st - August 31st, 2024

Treat your taste buds to the luxurious flavors of the black truffle at the Truffle Festival Canberra. Celebrate the winter season with a culinary festival that brings together top restaurants, wineries, and artisans, offering everything from truffle-infused menus to hands-on cooking classes and truffle hunts. It's a gourmet experience that highlights the decadence of Canberra's winter harvest.

Canberra Craft Beer & Cider Festival

Dates: October 20th, 2024

Cheers to Canberra's vibrant craft beer and cider culture at the Canberra Craft Beer & Cider Festival. This event is a haven for beer aficionados and casual drinkers alike, offering a wide selection of local and interstate brews. Accompanied by live music, tasty food, and a relaxed vibe, it's the perfect occasion to discover new favorites and celebrate the craft.

Conclusion

Canberra's event calendar is brimming with activities that cater to all interests, from cultural aficionados and foodies to music enthusiasts and adventure seekers. Ensure these events are on your radar, pack your essentials, and consider the array of motels in Canberra for your accommodation needs. One notable option is staying at Hamilton’s Queaneyan Motel for a comfortable and convenient experience. Located near Canberra, this exclusive motel offers the perfect base to explore all that the city has to offer during these events. Planning your visit with motels in Canberra in mind will allow you to capture the full essence of Canberra's lively event scene and make the most of your adventure.

[brookston]

Holidays 3.11

Holidays

Alphabet Day

Cornish Heath Day

Daily Newspaper Day (UK)

Debunking Day

Dream Day

European Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Terrorism (EU)

Frankenstein Day

Human Services Day

International Day of Startups

Johnny Appleseed Day

Key Deer Awareness Day

Lend-Lease Day

Mahasivarathri Day (Sri Lanka)

Maha Shivaratree (Mauritius)

Mandrake Day (French Republic)

Moshoeshoe Day (Lesotho)

Mount Etna Eruption Anniversary Day

National Covid-19 Day

National Day of Observance for COVID-19 (Canada)

National Debunking Day

National Dream Day

National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day

National Healing Headbands Day

National Immune System Day

National No-Code Day

National Payton Playmaker Day

National Promposal Day

National Singles Day (UK)

National 311 Day

National Wash Your Nose Day

Nina Hartley Day

Press Day (Tajikistan)

Prime Time Day

The Snowy Day

Solo Poly Day

Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day (EU)

Wash Your Nose Day

Women Physicians Day (Canada)

World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film

World Plumbing Day

Worship of Tools Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Apple Appreciation Day

National “Eat Your Noodles” Day

National Sofrito Day

Oatmeal Nut Waffle Day

2nd Monday in March

Adelaide Cup Day (South Australia) [2nd Monday]

Bock Beer Day [2nd Monday; also 3.20]

Canberra Day (Australia) [2nd Monday]

Commonwealth Day (a.k.a. Empire Day; UK, Commonwealth nations) [2nd Monday]

Eight Hours Day (Tasmania) [2nd Monday]

Fill Our Staplers Day [Monday of 2nd Full Week]

Labour Day (Victoria, Australia) [2nd Monday]

National Butcher’s Week begins (UK) [2nd Monday]

National Napping Day [Monday after DST]

Wildlife Week begins [2nd Monday]

Workplace Napping Day [Monday after DST]

World Salt Awareness Week begins [2nd Week in March]

Weekly Holidays beginning March 11 (2nd Week)

International Brain Awareness Week [thru 3.17]

Turkey Vultures Return to the Living Sign [thru 3.17]

Independence & Related Days

Cheslovian Federation (Declared; 2003) [unrecognized]

Crudaith (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]

Lithuania (from USSR, a.k.a. Day of Restoration; 1990)

Montgomery Convention approved Confederate States constitution (1861)

Sorrenia (Declared; 2013) [unrecognized]

Taranaki Province Day (New Zealand)

Xarbarstan (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Festivals Beginning March 11, 2024

Feis Ceoil (Dublin, Ireland) [thru 3.22]

Indiana Tourism Conference (Evansville, Indiana) [thru 3.13]

SXM Festival (Grand-Case, Saint Martin) [thru 3.18]

Taste the Grapes: Lost in Space Edition (Munich, Germany)

Feast Days

Alberta of Agen (Christian; Saint)

Angus, the Culdee (Christian; Saint)

Aurea (Christian; Virgin)

Bela Lugosi Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Benedict of Milan (Christian; Saint)

Bunching of Fairies for the Second Flight (Shamanism)

Constantine (Christian; Saint)

Douglas Adams (Humanism; Saint)

Douglas Adams Day (Pastafarian)

Eulogius of Cordova (Christian; Martyr)

Feast Day of Hercules/Herakles (Ancient Rome/Greece)

Felire Oengusso Day (Celtic Book of Days)

Flower Sisters Witches of Belvoir Day (Pagan)

Gyalpyo (a.k.a. Gyallo Loshar; Nepal)

Jacques de Molay Day (Everyday Wicca)

Johnny Appleseed Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Kenneth Hayes Miller (Artology)

Marduk’s Day (Pagan)

Nora Nicks (Muppetism)

Óengus of Tallaght (Christian; Saint)

Pythagoras (Positivist; Saint)

Sophronius of Jerusalem (Christian; Saint)

Tessa Margaret Redi (Christian; Virgin)

Vindicianus (Christian; Saint)

Islamic Moveable Calendar Holidays

Ramadan, 1st full day  (Islamic) [through April 9] (a.k.a. …

Awal Ramadan (Afghanistan, Malaysia)

Beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan (Maldives)

Puasa (Brunei)

Ougadi (Myanmar)

Start of Ramadan

Ugaadi (Mauritius)

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Blue Dragon Festival (Chinese) [2nd Day, 2nd Moon]

Zhonghe Festival (Chinese) [2nd Day, 2nd Moon]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

The Adam Project (Film; 2022)

All Things Bright and Beautiful, by James Herriot (Book; 1975)

Birds in the Spring (Disney Cartoon; 1933)

Complicated, by Avril Lavigne (Song; 2002)

Contrasts in Rhythm (Disney Cartoon; 1955)

Dangerous Woman, by Ariana Grande (Song; 2016)

A Day at the Zoo (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)

Donald’s Better Self (Disney Cartoon; 1938)

Don Carlos, by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1867)

Everything Everywhere All At Once (Film; 2022)

Fellini Satyricon (Film; 1970)

Four Weddings and a Funeral (Film; 1994)

Goon From the Moon (Mighty Mouse Cartoon; 1951)

Homeless Hare (WB MM Cartoon; 1950)

The Hudsucker Proxy (Film; 1994)

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (UK TV Series; 2001)

I Will Always Love You, by Dolly Parton (Song’ 1992)

Less Than Zero, by Elvis Costello (Song; 1977)

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Animated Disney Film; 1977)

Mars Needs Moms (Animated Film; 2011)

Metal Health, by Quiet Riot (Album; 1983)

Minnie the Moocher (Betty Boop Cartoon; 1932)

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Animated Studio Ghibli Film; 1984)

On Violence, by Hannah Arendt (Science Book; 1970)

Operation Cold Feet (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1957)

The Original Soundtrack, by 10cc (Album; 1975)

Penny Antics (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1955)

Porky’s Movie Mystery (WB LT Cartoon; 1939)

Princess of Thieves (Film; 2001)

A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry (Novel; 1959)

Rigoletto, by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1851)

Ringing Bell (Animated Film; 1978)

Robin and Marian (Film; 1976)

Robots (Animated Film; 2005)

The Sea Haunt (Animated TV Show;Jonny Quest #26; 1965)

Stand and Deliver (Film; 1988)

10 Cloverfield Lane (Film; 2016)

Texas Tom (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1950)

THX 1138 (Film; 1971)

Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation (WB Animated Film; 1992)

Turning Red (Animated Pixar Film; 2022)

Two Little Lambs (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1935)

When the Wind Blows (Animated Film; 1988)

Today’s Name Days

Alram, Rosina (Austria)

Blanka, Kandid, Tvrtko (Croatia)

Anděla (Czech Republic)

Thala (Denmark)

Aigar, Ain, Ainar, Innar, Inno (Estonia)

Kalervo (Finland)

Rosine (France)

Alram, Rosina, Ulrich (Germany)

Szilárd (Hungary)

Costantino (Italy)

Agita, Konstantīns (Latvia)

Gediminas, Konstantinas, Vijolė (Lithuania)

Edvin, Tale (Norway)

Benedykt, Drogosława, Edwin, Kandyd, Konstanty, Konstantyn, Prokop, Rozyna, Sofroniusz (Poland)

Sofronie (Romania)

Angela, Angelika (Slovakia)

Áurea, Ramiro (Spain)

Edvin, Egon (Sweden)

Alberta, Albertina, Angus, Connie, Constance, Constantine, Consuela, Consuelo, Elberta, Ramiro (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 71 of 2024; 295 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 1 of week 11 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Nuin (Ash) [Day 23 of 28]

Chinese: Month 2 (Ding-Mao), Day 2 (Jia-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 1 Adair II 5784

Islamic: 1 Ramadan 1445

J Cal: 11 Green; Foursday [11 of 30]

Julian: 27 February 2024

Moon: 3%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 15 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Aristippus]

Runic Half Month: Beore (Birch Tree) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 82 of 89)

Week: 2nd Week of March

Zodiac: Pisces (Day 22 of 30)

Calendar Changes

Adar II (ʼĂḏār; only in leap years) [אֲדָר / אֲדָר ב׳] (Hebrew Calendar) [Month 12 of 12]

Ramaḍān [��َمَضَان] (Islamic Calendar) [Month 9 of 12] (Burning Heat)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 3.11

Holidays

Alphabet Day

Cornish Heath Day

Daily Newspaper Day (UK)

Debunking Day

Dream Day

European Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Terrorism (EU)

Frankenstein Day

Human Services Day

International Day of Startups

Johnny Appleseed Day

Key Deer Awareness Day

Lend-Lease Day

Mahasivarathri Day (Sri Lanka)

Maha Shivaratree (Mauritius)

Mandrake Day (French Republic)

Moshoeshoe Day (Lesotho)

Mount Etna Eruption Anniversary Day

National Covid-19 Day

National Day of Observance for COVID-19 (Canada)

National Debunking Day

National Dream Day

National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day

National Healing Headbands Day

National Immune System Day

National No-Code Day

National Payton Playmaker Day

National Promposal Day

National Singles Day (UK)

National 311 Day

National Wash Your Nose Day

Nina Hartley Day

Press Day (Tajikistan)

Prime Time Day

The Snowy Day

Solo Poly Day

Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day (EU)

Wash Your Nose Day

Women Physicians Day (Canada)

World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film

World Plumbing Day

Worship of Tools Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Apple Appreciation Day

National “Eat Your Noodles” Day

National Sofrito Day

Oatmeal Nut Waffle Day

2nd Monday in March

Adelaide Cup Day (South Australia) [2nd Monday]

Bock Beer Day [2nd Monday; also 3.20]

Canberra Day (Australia) [2nd Monday]

Commonwealth Day (a.k.a. Empire Day; UK, Commonwealth nations) [2nd Monday]

Eight Hours Day (Tasmania) [2nd Monday]

Fill Our Staplers Day [Monday of 2nd Full Week]

Labour Day (Victoria, Australia) [2nd Monday]

National Butcher’s Week begins (UK) [2nd Monday]

National Napping Day [Monday after DST]

Wildlife Week begins [2nd Monday]

Workplace Napping Day [Monday after DST]

World Salt Awareness Week begins [2nd Week in March]

Weekly Holidays beginning March 11 (2nd Week)

International Brain Awareness Week [thru 3.17]

Turkey Vultures Return to the Living Sign [thru 3.17]

Independence & Related Days

Cheslovian Federation (Declared; 2003) [unrecognized]

Crudaith (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]

Lithuania (from USSR, a.k.a. Day of Restoration; 1990)

Montgomery Convention approved Confederate States constitution (1861)

Sorrenia (Declared; 2013) [unrecognized]

Taranaki Province Day (New Zealand)

Xarbarstan (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Festivals Beginning March 11, 2024

Feis Ceoil (Dublin, Ireland) [thru 3.22]

Indiana Tourism Conference (Evansville, Indiana) [thru 3.13]

SXM Festival (Grand-Case, Saint Martin) [thru 3.18]

Taste the Grapes: Lost in Space Edition (Munich, Germany)

Feast Days

Alberta of Agen (Christian; Saint)

Angus, the Culdee (Christian; Saint)

Aurea (Christian; Virgin)

Bela Lugosi Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Benedict of Milan (Christian; Saint)

Bunching of Fairies for the Second Flight (Shamanism)

Constantine (Christian; Saint)

Douglas Adams (Humanism; Saint)

Douglas Adams Day (Pastafarian)

Eulogius of Cordova (Christian; Martyr)

Feast Day of Hercules/Herakles (Ancient Rome/Greece)

Felire Oengusso Day (Celtic Book of Days)

Flower Sisters Witches of Belvoir Day (Pagan)

Gyalpyo (a.k.a. Gyallo Loshar; Nepal)

Jacques de Molay Day (Everyday Wicca)

Johnny Appleseed Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Kenneth Hayes Miller (Artology)

Marduk’s Day (Pagan)

Nora Nicks (Muppetism)

Óengus of Tallaght (Christian; Saint)

Pythagoras (Positivist; Saint)

Sophronius of Jerusalem (Christian; Saint)

Tessa Margaret Redi (Christian; Virgin)

Vindicianus (Christian; Saint)

Islamic Moveable Calendar Holidays

Ramadan, 1st full day  (Islamic) [through April 9] (a.k.a. …

Awal Ramadan (Afghanistan, Malaysia)

Beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan (Maldives)

Puasa (Brunei)

Ougadi (Myanmar)

Start of Ramadan

Ugaadi (Mauritius)

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Blue Dragon Festival (Chinese) [2nd Day, 2nd Moon]

Zhonghe Festival (Chinese) [2nd Day, 2nd Moon]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

The Adam Project (Film; 2022)

All Things Bright and Beautiful, by James Herriot (Book; 1975)

Birds in the Spring (Disney Cartoon; 1933)

Complicated, by Avril Lavigne (Song; 2002)

Contrasts in Rhythm (Disney Cartoon; 1955)

Dangerous Woman, by Ariana Grande (Song; 2016)

A Day at the Zoo (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)

Donald’s Better Self (Disney Cartoon; 1938)

Don Carlos, by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1867)

Everything Everywhere All At Once (Film; 2022)

Fellini Satyricon (Film; 1970)

Four Weddings and a Funeral (Film; 1994)

Goon From the Moon (Mighty Mouse Cartoon; 1951)

Homeless Hare (WB MM Cartoon; 1950)

The Hudsucker Proxy (Film; 1994)

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (UK TV Series; 2001)

I Will Always Love You, by Dolly Parton (Song’ 1992)

Less Than Zero, by Elvis Costello (Song; 1977)

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Animated Disney Film; 1977)

Mars Needs Moms (Animated Film; 2011)

Metal Health, by Quiet Riot (Album; 1983)

Minnie the Moocher (Betty Boop Cartoon; 1932)

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Animated Studio Ghibli Film; 1984)

On Violence, by Hannah Arendt (Science Book; 1970)

Operation Cold Feet (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1957)

The Original Soundtrack, by 10cc (Album; 1975)

Penny Antics (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1955)

Porky’s Movie Mystery (WB LT Cartoon; 1939)

Princess of Thieves (Film; 2001)

A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry (Novel; 1959)

Rigoletto, by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1851)

Ringing Bell (Animated Film; 1978)

Robin and Marian (Film; 1976)

Robots (Animated Film; 2005)

The Sea Haunt (Animated TV Show;Jonny Quest #26; 1965)

Stand and Deliver (Film; 1988)

10 Cloverfield Lane (Film; 2016)

Texas Tom (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1950)

THX 1138 (Film; 1971)

Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation (WB Animated Film; 1992)

Turning Red (Animated Pixar Film; 2022)

Two Little Lambs (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1935)

When the Wind Blows (Animated Film; 1988)

Today’s Name Days

Alram, Rosina (Austria)

Blanka, Kandid, Tvrtko (Croatia)

Anděla (Czech Republic)

Thala (Denmark)

Aigar, Ain, Ainar, Innar, Inno (Estonia)

Kalervo (Finland)

Rosine (France)

Alram, Rosina, Ulrich (Germany)

Szilárd (Hungary)

Costantino (Italy)

Agita, Konstantīns (Latvia)

Gediminas, Konstantinas, Vijolė (Lithuania)

Edvin, Tale (Norway)

Benedykt, Drogosława, Edwin, Kandyd, Konstanty, Konstantyn, Prokop, Rozyna, Sofroniusz (Poland)

Sofronie (Romania)

Angela, Angelika (Slovakia)

Áurea, Ramiro (Spain)

Edvin, Egon (Sweden)

Alberta, Albertina, Angus, Connie, Constance, Constantine, Consuela, Consuelo, Elberta, Ramiro (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 71 of 2024; 295 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 1 of week 11 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Nuin (Ash) [Day 23 of 28]

Chinese: Month 2 (Ding-Mao), Day 2 (Jia-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 1 Adair II 5784

Islamic: 1 Ramadan 1445

J Cal: 11 Green; Foursday [11 of 30]

Julian: 27 February 2024

Moon: 3%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 15 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Aristippus]

Runic Half Month: Beore (Birch Tree) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 82 of 89)

Week: 2nd Week of March

Zodiac: Pisces (Day 22 of 30)

Calendar Changes

Adar II (ʼĂḏār; only in leap years) [אֲדָר / אֲדָר ב׳] (Hebrew Calendar) [Month 12 of 12]

Ramaḍān [رَمَضَان] (Islamic Calendar) [Month 9 of 12] (Burning Heat)

[thenextrush]

In Victoria earlier this month at the culmination of the BrewCon and Trade Expo, the Indies (Independent Beer Awards) saw All Hands Brewing House take the medal home for Champion Australian Independendent Brewery in the major ‘Brewpub’ category and NSW State Champion title!  They also won a further 7 Gold, Silver and Bronze medals for their 6 brews in the two day competition gaining favor with judges over the hundreds of beers entered across a range of styles!

The Boiler Room Dinner was an opportunity to celebrate the super duo and men of the hour – Head Brewer, Sam Clayman (who has a PhD in biology and Diploma in Brewing Science) and Assistant Brewer, Tim Radjenovic.  

A sensory experience in pairing food with their brew:

The sensory extension to the signature brews and whiskies is executed in a way that challenges the diner.   Venue Manager, Craig Morgan described the collaboration in menu design and  rationale behind the pairings with Executive Chef, Michael Acevedo.  “Both of us decided duck would work really well with with the IPA which cuts through the greasiness, Chef came up with the braised pork rib, which is describe on the menu with pineapple and we’ve put it into the braise.   The pear tart and combination of blue cheese whether you like it or don’t like it – it confuses the palette”

Handing over the rains to Benriach Distillery, hosts for the evening, the food, wine and beer pairing are a new concept for All Hands as it’s always been about the beer.    It was a great opportunity for the lads to let their hair down and bask in the glory of their wins.  An event like this opens the discovery of their Darling Harbour brew to new audiences in a destination dining hotspot for locals and visitors. 

In recent years we’ve seen more and more entrants outside the popular crafty ale trail of the inner west with local brewmakers popping up in Bankstown, Marsden Park joining The Rocks and Darling Harbour as well as online only boutiques into the new emerging area allowing brewers to operate as bars.   

Last time we were here there were five permanent taps with another four on rotation depending on demand. It provides a creative space for Head Brewer, Sam Clayman and his team to refine and re-tweak seasonal releases. This is a win for beer lovers, enabling Sam to experiment with different yeast strains, play around with fermentation temperatures and the science behind the craft.

Sydneysiders are demanding premium, innovative, and diverse offerings more with the area of craft beer holding strength in promising industry growth, despite an overall drop in beer consumption across the nation.

Brand Ambassador, Thalita shared her passion for whisky as she reminded us that we should take a moment to appreciate the 21 year old elixir that was casked by someone who may no longer be with us to enjoy.   The time and the effort that went into the glass poured was a great moment that allowed guests to learn and experience premium blends in a new way.    

  What’s On at All Hands Brewing House:

The next few weeks right through to the Summer will see Sydneysiders enjoying the celebrations (What’s On at All Hands Brewing House) they have for the AFL and NRL Grand Finals, Rugby World Cup, Melbourne Cup Lunch and After Party, Sunday live music, happy hour daily, weekly Burger Day (Thurs), $20 12” Baguettes (Wednesdays), Smoking Brisket Tuesdays and more! 

  A look back:

  Party Planning Kit:

Unbeatable views, an uber cool space that easily moulds itself to a casual affair or full blown business space or formal celebration – you’ve got lots to work with here!

Capacities: Lower Deck: 140 seated / 350 standing Private Dining in the Engine Room: 20 seated Total Space easily hosts 1000 for a standing reception

  Beer Festival Weekends (Save the Date/s):

Friday 8th November: Fremantle Beer Fest Saturday 30th November: Sydney Beer Fest Tuesday 31st December: Launceston Beer Fest Saturday 15 February 2020: Canberra Beer Fest Friday 27 March 2020: Perth Beer Festival March 2020: Brisbane Beer Fest Crafty Pint’s Guide to Australian Beer Festivals

    Credits: All House Brewing Company,  Pendulum Communications, Twentieth Letter, Beer Cartel, Independent Brewers Association, Brewers Association of Australia

All Hands Brewing House wins 2 major categories at the "Indies" - Independent Beer Awards 2019! #darlingharbour #craftbeer #beer #allhandsbrewinghouse #kingstreetwharf #beerlovers In Victoria earlier this month at the culmination of the BrewCon and Trade Expo, the Indies (Independent Beer Awards)

[thebottlers]

Beverages @nationalfolkfestival #thebottlers #folkpunk #folk #punk #folkmusic #aussiefolkpunk #punkrock #celticmusic #celticpunk #music #photography #acoustic #sydney #canberra #australia #theborderland #scrumpy #nff #nationalfolkfestival #folkfestival #festival #gig #show #ep #eptour2018 #beers #thebeertlers (at National Folk Festival)

[dryasadingo]

Suitably festive... #beer #festbier #oktoberfestbier #hopebrewery (at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGZslE2FCzj/?igshid=1s1lgcmzpzbxy

[topfygad]

9 Factors You Really should Expend This Wintertime in Australia

Because let’s be sincere: it is just much too damn cold in the Northern Hemisphere.

1. It’s Summer time!

When this is taking place in America…

Depressing in New York. | Image credit rating: Flickr

This is taking place in Australia.

Getting pleasurable with some girls!

Winter season in the northern hemisphere indicates it is summer months in the southern hemisphere. Every metropolis and beach in Australia becomes a buzzing and vibrant hotspot for both vacationers and locals, building it the ideal port of get in touch with for just about anybody who’s hunting to escape the chilly.

2. Xmas on the Seashore

Christmas on the beach.

You could be wearing santa hats and drinking beer on the beach front. Every single calendar year, all the important seashores in Australia (like Bondi and St. Kilda) fill up with Aussies and vacationers alike, celebrating Xmas by donning santa satisfies, swimming in the ocean, actively playing volleyball and ingesting beer! Not a poor way to spend a working day in December, irrespective of whether you rejoice Xmas or not!

3. New A long time Eve in Sydney

New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney.

The most spectacular New Several years Eve party in the world? It happens in Sydney. Every yr, Sydney’s bridge, harbor and skies become illuminated by air reveals, h2o demonstrates, mild shows and fireworks! It is definitely one particular of the most stunning visual exhibitions in the planet.

4. Scuba Diving on the Terrific Barrier Reef

Scuba diving in Australia! | Photograph credit: Flickr

All through Australia’s summer, the drinking water temperature goes up and the visibility raises, creating the months of November to February the absolute very best time to go scuba diving on the Excellent Barrier Reef.

5. Films in the Moonlight

Ben & Jerry’s Openair Cinema in Adelaide.

You, a sweet sidekick and a bottle of wine watching a movie under the stars. Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Perth all have Openair Cinemas. Just lay out a blanket and watch flicks on an open up air display once the sunshine goes down.

6. Dirt-Biking in the Wilderness

Dirtbiking in Cape York

Significantly North Queensland has almost just about every form of terrain imaginable and is the best location for adventure sports like four-wheeling and dirt biking. Just north of Cairns, Cape York is the best location to rev up and enable unfastened in some thick purple mud or a dense jungle!

7. Tunes Festivals

Stereosonic Music Pageant in Australia. | Photo credit: Flickr

Get your groove on! This period delivers about some of the ideal audio festivals in Australia, and even the globe. No issue what form of music you’re into (but let us the genuine, digital festivals are the very best!), Australia has it.

8. Make Mates

Good friends on Fraser Island

If you’re exploring for a excellent vibe and you want to fulfill other tourists, this is the time! Summertime in Australia is the most common time to pay a visit to, so be certain to book your spending budget accommodation with YHA Australia effectively in advance!

And past but not least…

9. Mainly because Why Not?

Sights of the Excellent Ocean Highway.

With the simplicity of acquiring a working/holiday visa, touring to Australia is nearly tough to say no to. Especially given the selection to function while you are there, if you want to get an prolonged vacation, there’s seriously nothing stopping you!

Read through Subsequent: 9 Impending Audio Festivals in Australia You Never Want To Overlook

from Cheapr Travels https://ift.tt/2zrmIMO via IFTTT

[jeremystrele]

Local Wines, Craft Beers and Gift Packs At Blackhearts & Sparrows – With 10% Off!

Local Wines, Craft Beers and Gift Packs At Blackhearts & Sparrows – With 10% Off!

Christmas Countdown

by Lucy Feagins, Editor

Emerging as Melbourne’s go-to purveyor of interesting, hand-selected wines, craft beers and ciders, Blackhearts & Sparrows are now in 11 locations across Melbourne, Canberra and Tasmania! Not bad for an independent retailer which first opened in 2006 with just one small store.

We’ve learnt a LOT about great wine whilst perusing Blackhearts’ shelves to create our very own gift wishlist for you – our top picks include an awesome 3-pack of ‘pet-nat’ natural wines, a summer survival gin-mixer pack, a handful of extra special (yet, surprisingly affordable) individual wines, and a brilliant new non-alcoholic wine substitute too!

The Design Files’ Top Picks :

Pet-Nat Park 3-Pack

– 2019 Triple Trouble Bubble Pet-Nat Rose – 2019 Noisy Ritual Pet-Nat Chardonnay – NV Orsi San Vito Sui Lieviti Frizzante Pet Nat NV

‘Pet-Nat’ stands for ‘Pétillant-naturel’ – and refers to the cloudy, slightly fizzy natural wines we’ve been seeing more and more of in recent years. This 3-pack is perfect summer fare – best consumed outdoors, and horizontal on a picnic rug.

Summer Survival Gin Pack

– Gin 700ml – Campari 700ml – Maidenii Sweet Vermouth 375ml – 2 x Stranglelove Light Tonic Water 540ml

Blackhearts and Sparrows put this summer pack together to cater for every and any gin drinker – between the humble G&T (+ good quality tonic water of course!) and the classic Negroni, this summer pack has all bases covered.

Extra Special Spirits

– Lantana Gin 500ml – a handcrafted Australian gin characterised by local botanical flavours including lantana and native finger lime… but honestly, we can’t go past the packaging – this is the prettiest gin bottle we’ve ever seen.

– Starward x Blackhearts Project Whiskey 700ml – A special single cask, distinctly Australian whiskey, selected by and bottled exclusively for Blackhearts and Sparrows.

– Allies Cinq a Sept Vermouth 700ml – Another handcrafted Australian spirit, made on the Mornington Peninsula from a botanical infused barrel of fortified Pinot Noir.

Glassware & Hardware

– Gabriel Glasses StandArt 2 Pack – Gabriel Glasses StandArt 6 Pack – Cartailler-Deluc Wine Knife

The surprisingly affordable ‘StandArt’ Gabriel wineglasses are made from dishwasher-safe, lead-free crystal glass. An incredibly versatile wine glass, designed to accommodate all types of wine rather than just being mono-varietal… no matter what you’re drinking, these glasses just make wine taste better!

Non-Alcoholic

– NON 1 Salted Raspberry Chamomile Non-alcoholic Sparkling Beverage 750ml – NON 2 Caramelised Pear Kombu Non-alcoholic Sparkling Beverage 750ml – NON 3 Toasted Cinnamon Yuzu Non-alcoholic Beverage 750ml

This stunning non-alcoholic option will be appreciated by the designated drivers, the Mums-to-be, the new-years-resolutionists or anyone aiming for a little restraint over the festive period.

Craft Beers

– Wildflower Gold – ‘Wildheart’, A Boatrocker x Blackhearts Festive Collaboration

Wildflower Gold is a medium strength wild ale sour beer, delicately balanced with notes of meyer lemons, fresh limey hops and stone fruit.

Meanwhile, the Boatrocker ‘Wildheart’ festive beer is an exclusive blended beer created in close collaboration with the Blackhearts team. It’s lightly sparkling and delightfully sour – a complex blend that is far greater than the sum of its parts. DELISH!

Gentle Folk Discovery 3-Pack

– 2019 Rainbow Juice Rose – 2018 Scary Gully Chardonnay –  2018 Oakbank Shiraz

A mixed 3 pack of Gareth and Rainbo Belton’s current Gentle Folk releases made from organic fruit in South Australia.

Schmolzer & Brown Pack

– 2019 Pret-a-Blanc – 2019 Pret-a-Rouge – 2018 Thorley shiraz

Three stunning wines from husband and wife duo Tessa Brown & Jeremy Schmolzer, winemakers from North East Victoria.

Exceptionally Good Single Bottles

– 2018 Tolpuddle Chardonnay – An extra special chardonnay from Coal River Valley Tasmania, which according to those in the know is ‘as good as it currently gets, and fought over by wine stores and people who write wine lists…!’

– 2018 Lone Star Creek Pinot Noir – An exceptionally good value Pinot Noir, from the cool climate upper Yarra. Blackhearts confirm this one will definitely make you look ‘wine-clever’ in front of snobby wine friends.

– 2019 Valentine Greco – Another great value wine, this time from Heathcote, Victoria. A savoury tasting wine with notes of white stone and citrus, and a refreshing minerality.

The Christmas Countdown offer :

Receive 10% off the TDF’s Top Picks . The discount will be automatically applied at cart for The TDF Gift Edit Products, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer is available for online purchases only.

Shop Blackhearts & Sparrows Now!

[hariet3-blog]

Australia Day Awesomeness All Around Aussieland!

Make this Australia Day more than just another day off. Spend this National Day celebrating everything that’s amazing about being Australian, no matter where in the country you are.

Australia Day Celebrations in NSW

Discover the best of Australia Day celebrations along the NSW coast. With the capital of NSW stealing the show with the harbour events, a word to the wise is to book an Australia Day cruise along Sydney Harbour well ahead of time.

Watch all of the harbour events like the ferrython, tall ships race and the annual sailing regatta from the spacious decks of your Australia Day catamaran lunch cruise on Sydney Harbour. Alternatively, if you want to marvel at the spectacular fireworks display, an Australia Day dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour would be more suited for you.

Australia Day Celebrations in ACT

If you’re looking to celebrate Australia Day in the capital, spend the day relaxing at Regatta Point and Patrick White Lawns in Canberra in an ambience of music, food and fireworks.

If you’re feeling particularly patriotic that day, you could also head out to Rond Terrace, Parkes and watch the National Flag Raising and Citizenship Ceremony on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.

Australia Day Celebrations in NT

The most fun event that happens on Australia Day in the Northern Territory is the Australia Day Run in Darwin. Dust off your running shoes and feel the community spirit as you jog alongside the masses.

Australia Day Celebrations in QLD

Brisbane puts up a spectacular Australia Day fireworks display at South Bank. There are also six pyrotechnic jet ski performers and you get a great view of the display from the Cultural Forecourt and Clem Jones Promenade.

All over Queensland, follow your nose and taste buds right to the Great Australian Bites festival- this free event features the best food of the area with local providers and makers putting up their pop-up stalls. It happens all over Queensland in Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Warwick, Airlie Bridge, Hope Vale, Brisbane and Townsville.

Australia Day Celebrations in SA

The Australia Day Adelaide Parade is one of the countries’ largest Australia Day parades where approximately 4000 people take to the streets in celebration and pride alongside vintage cars, floats and costumes!

Australia Day Celebrations in TAS

Tasmania doesn’t do Australia Day fireworks, but they have a bunch of other fun activities you could choose from to spend National Day. Start off with the Australia Day Breakfast on Bellerive Boardwalk and indulge in a big Aussie Breakfast, watch the Australia Day awards and listen to musical performances by local bands. There’s also the Tasman Regatta and Peninsula Feast where a bunch of activities like kayaking, bay swimming, crab racing and gumboot throwing happen!

Australia Day Celebrations in VIC

Melbourne is one of those other cities that knows how to party and they do Australia Day just right! With a parade soon after the flag raising ceremony, you’re free to unwind and relax with a beer and a barbie with the family by midday.

Australia Day Celebrations in WA

Don your green and gold, drape the Aussie flag around you and see the City of Lights living up to its name with a stunning fireworks display along the Swan River!

[chrissyglikesbooks]

88 Crazy Things You Probably Didn't Know About Australia

1. Australia is as wide as the distance between London to Moscow.

2. The biggest property in Australia is bigger than Belgium.

3. More than 85% of Australians live within 50km of the coast.

4. In 1880, Melbourne was the richest city in the world.

5. Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest woman, earns $1 million every half hour, or $598 every second.

6. In 1892, a group of 200 Australians unhappy with the government tried to start an offshoot colony in Paraguay to be called 'New Australia'.

7. The first photos from the 1969 moon landing were beamed to the rest of the world from Honeysuckle Tracking Station, near Canberra.

8. Australia was the second country in the world to allow women to vote (New Zealand was first).

9. Each week, 70 tourists overstay their visas.

10. In 1856, stonemasons took action to ensure a standard of 8-hour working days, which then became recognised worldwide.

11. Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke set a world record for sculling 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds. Hawke later suggested that this was the reason for his great political success.

12. The world's oldest fossil, which is about 3.4 billion years old, was found in Australia.

13. Australia is very sparsely populated: The UK has 248.25 persons per square kilometre, while Australia has only 2.66 persons per square kilometre.

14. Australia's first police force was made up of the most well-behaved convicts.

15. Australia has the highest electricity prices in the world.

16. There were over one million feral camels in outback Australia, until the government launched the $19m Feral Camel Management Program, which aims to keep the pest problem under control.

17. Saudi Arabia imports camels from Australia (mostly for meat production).

18. Qantas once powered an interstate flight with cooking oil.

19. Per capita, Australians spend more money on gambling than any other nation.

20. In 1832, 300 female convicts mooned the governor of Tasmania. It was said that in a "rare moment of collusion with the Convict women, the ladies in the Governor's party could not control their laughter."

21. Australia is home to the longest fence in the world. It is 5,614 km long, and was originally built to keep dingoes away from fertile land.

22. Australia was one of the founding members of the United Nations.

23. Melbourne is considered the sporting capital of the world, as it has more top level sport available for its citizens than anywhere else.

24. Before the arrival of humans, Australia was home to mega fauna: three metre tall kangaroos, seven metre long goannas, horse-sized ducks, and a marsupial lion the size of a leopard.

25. Kangaroos and emus cannot walk backward, one of the reasons that they're on the Australian coat of arms.

26. Speaking of, Australia is one of the only countries where we eat the animals on our coat of arms.

27. If you visited one new beach in Australia every day, it would take over 27 years to see them all.

28. Melbourne has the world's largest Greek population outside of Athens.

29. The Great Barrier Reef is the planet's largest living structure.

30. And it has it's own postbox!

31. The male platypus has strong enough venom to kill a small dog.

32. And when the platypus was first sent to England, it was believed the Australians had played a joke by sewing the bill of a duck onto a rat.

33. Before 1902, it was illegal to swim at the beach during the day.

34. A retired cavalry officer, Francis De Groot stole the show when the Sydney Harbour Bridge officially opened. Just as the Premier was about to cut the ribbon, De Groot charged forward on his horse and cut it himself, with his sword. The ribbon had to be retied, and De Groot was carted off to a mental hospital. He was later charged for the cost of one ribbon.

35. Australia has 3.3x more sheep than people.

36. Prime Minister Harold Holt went for a swim at Cheviot Beach, and was never seen again.

37. Australia's national anthem was 'God Save The King/Queen' until 1984.

38. Wombat poop is cube shaped! This helps it mark its territory.

39. European settlers in Australia drank more alcohol per capita than any other society in history.

40. The Australian Alps receive more snowfall than Switzerland.

41. A kangaroo is only one centimetre long when it is born.

42. Sir John Robertson, a five-time premier of NSW in the 1800s, began every morning with half a pint of rum. He said: "None of the men who in this country have left footprints behind them have been cold water men."

43. The Box jellyfish has killed more people in Australia than stonefish, sharks and crocodiles combined.

44. Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world.

45. The average Aussie drinks 96 litres of beer per year.

46. 63% of Australians are overweight.

47. Australia is ranked second on the Human Development Index (based on life expectancy, income and education).

48. In 2005, security guards at Canberra's Parliament House were banned from calling people 'mate'. It lasted one day.

49. In Australia, it is illegal to walk on the right-hand side of a footpath.

50. Australia is the only continent in the world without an active volcano.

51. Aussie Rules footy was originally designed to help cricketers to keep fit in the off-season.

52. The name 'Kylie' came from an Aboriginal hunting stick, similar to the boomerang.

53. 91% of the country is covered by native vegetation.

54. The largest-ever victory in an international football match was when Australia beat American Samoa 31-0 in 2001.

55. There are 60 designated wine regions in Australia.

56. Melbourne has been ranked the world's most liveable city for the past three years.

57. If all the sails of the Opera House roof were combined, they would create a perfect sphere. The architect was inspired while eating an orange.

58. Australia is home to 20% of the world's poker machines.

59. Half of these are found in New South Wales.

60. Moomba, Australia's largest free festival, held in Melbourne, means 'up your bum' in many Aboriginal languages.

61. No native Australian animals have hooves.

62. The performance by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the 2000 Olympics opening ceremony was actually a prerecording- of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

63. The wine cask (goon sack) is an Australian invention

64. So is the selfie.

65. Durack, Australia's biggest electorate, is larger in size than Mongolia.

66. The world's first compulsory seat belt law was put into place in Victoria in 1970.

67. Each year, Brisbane hosts the world championships of cockroach racing.

68. In 1932, the Australian military waged war on the emu population of Western Australia. Embarrassingly, they lost.

69. Canberra was created in 1908 as a compromise when Sydney and Melbourne both wanted to be the capital city.

70. A gay bar in Melbourne won the right to ban women from the premises, because they made the men uncomfortable.

71. In 1992, an Australian gambling syndicate bought almost all the number combinations in a Virginia lottery, and won. They turned a $5m purchase into a $27m win.

72. Eucalyptus oil is highly flammable, meaning gum trees may explode if ignited, or in bushfires.

73. In 1975, Australia had a government shutdown, which ended with the Queen firing everyone and the government starting again.

74. A bearded Australian was removed from a darts match in the UK, after the audience started chanting 'Jesus!' at him, distracting the players.

75. There have been instances of wallabies getting high after breaking into opium crops, then running around and making what look like crop circles.

76. An Australian man once tried to sell New Zealand on eBay.

77. In 1940, two aircraft collided in midair, in NSW. Instead of crashing, the two planes became stuck together and made a safe landing.

78. The male lyrebird, which is native to Australia, can mimic the calls of over 20 other birds. If that's not impressive enough, he can also perfectly imitate the sound of a camera, chainsaw and car alarm.

79. Some shopping centres and restaurants play classical music in their car park to deter teenagers from loitering at night.

80. Despite sharing the same verbal language, Australian, British and American sign language are all completely different languages.

81. In 1979, debris from NASA's space station 'Skylab' crashed in Esperance, WA. The town then fined NASA $400 for littering.

82. There have been no deaths in Australia from a spider bite since 1979.

83. There currently a chlamydia outbreak among koala species, which has led to a 15% drop in koala populations.

84. In NSW, there is a coal fire beneath the ground which has been burning for 5,500 years.

85. An Australian election TV debate was rescheduled so it didn't conflict with the finale of reality cooking show Masterchef.

86. Chinese explorers travelled to Australia long before Europeans arrived. As early as the 1400s, sailors and fisherman came to Australia for sea-cucumbers and to trade with Indigenous peoples.

87. The first European to visit Australia was Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon, in 1606. More Dutch explorers visited the country over the next hundred years, plotting maps and naming it 'New Holland'.

88. Captain James Cook first landed on Australia's east coast in 1770. In 1788, the British returned with eleven ships to establish a penal colony. Within days of The First Fleet's arrival and the raising of the British flag, two French ships arrived, just too late to claim Australia for France.

[hamiltonsmotel]

What makes Canberra a great place to visit for your upcoming tour?

Australia’s capital city – Canberra, is definitely the city that you want to explore once in your lifetime. Canberra is a young & dynamic city with a range of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. It is smaller in size and not very far from Sydney to its north, and Melbourne to its south offers plenty of things to discover. It is also home to many unique museums, renowned festivals, and frequent sporting events at the city’s stadium. Its environment, tourism, great food, flourishing nightlife, and budget-friendly staying opportunities are appreciated by visitors all the time. If you are wondering why Canberra should be your next place to live temporarily, here are the answers:

Finding a job is easily accessible here:  As home to Fortune 500 companies, Canberra is definitely the country’s job creator. So, you will definitely get a job sooner than later according to your eligibility. 

  Canberra is more than affordable: One prime reason that the population of Canberra has been amplifying at such a fast pace is due to higher salaries alongside a reasonable cost of living. When attuned as per national averages, Canberra offers excellent staying opportunity at a reasonable price. You get the chance to save quite a few dollars from your pocket. 

  Canberra is ideal for families: Affordable housing and living, plenty of parks & open areas, plentiful arts & culture, and plenty of things to do makes Canberra the best ever city to raise a family. 

  Canberra is a paradise for food lovers: With more than hundreds of magnificent restaurants, Canberra is a paradise for the foodies. The Canberra Culinary Tours can assist you in discovering every last bit of it. The small-town is easy to get around and enjoy the best food, wine, beer, and attractions. 

  It is all green in Canberra: Canberra is no doubt one of the best places in Australia. A minutes away from it lies the quiet natural lush mountains, valleys, and everything in between. There is no wonder that the locals here love the lifestyle and landscape. It is certainly no short of parks with green space as well. Its densely forested valley of Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is only 40 minutes from Canberra that teems with wildlife, including emus, kangaroos, and cockatoos. However, if you really want to get up close and personal with wildlife, consider a stay at motels in Queanbeyan.                                                                                              Read More

[brookston]

Holidays 3.9

Holidays

American Paddlefish Day

Amerigo Vespucci Day

Armored Warships Day

Babylon 5 Launch Day (Babylon 5)

Barbie Day

Baron Bliss Day (Belize)

Chervil Day (French Republic)

Chess Prodigy Day

Day of Waiting (Elder Scrolls)

Day to Mourn Slavery

Doctor’s Day (Venezuela)

Eid Al Moalim (Teacher’s Day; Lebanon)

False Teeth Day

Festival of Primal Ooze

Get Over It Day

Hatsune Miku Day (Japan)

Joe Franklin Day

Land Management Day (Kazakhstan; Ukraine)

Made in UK Day (UK)

National American Paddlefish Day

National CBDB Day (a.k.a. Central Bank Digital Currency)

National Day of Abundance Day (Nigeria)

National Day of Women Living with HIV (Australia)

National Dishwasher Appreciation Day

National Heroes and Benefactors Day (Belize)

National Lina Day

National Marcia Day

National Music Day (Indonesia)

National Shane Day

National Urban Educator Day

National Women’s Range Day

Panic Day (a.k.a. ... 

Absolute Total Nihilists Bang Clang Day (Los Angeles)

Bang-Clang Day

Hit the Panic Button Day

Wellness Permission League’s Panic Day

Registered Dietician Day

Taras Shevchenko Day (Ukraine)

Teacher’s Day (Lebanon)

U.S. Hostage & Wrongful Detainee Day

World DJ Day

World Kidney Day

World Trisomy 9 Awareness Day

Zangoose Day (Pokémon)

Food & Drink Celebrations

International Spanish Omelette Day

National Cookie Cutter Day

National Crabmeat Day

National Meatball Day

2nd Saturday in March

American Frontier Day [2nd Saturday]

Daylight Savings Time begins/Standard Time ends (a.k.a. Spring Forward Day; US, except AZ, HI, Navajo Nation, Puerto Rico, others) [Saturday Night/2nd Sunday 2 AM]

Genealogy Day [Saturday of Name Week]

Georgia Beer Day (Georgia) [Saturday of 1st Full Week]

Hunahpu’s Day (Cigar City Brewing; Florida) [2nd Saturday]

International Fanny Pack Day [2nd Saturday]

National Urban Ballroom Dancing Day [2nd Saturday]

Snake Saturday (Pagan) [2nd Saturday]

Independence & Related Days

Cambodia (Kampuchea, Luang Phrabang & Vietnam declare independence; 1945)

Festivals Beginning March 9, 2024

Bacon on the Lakein) Romulus, New York) [thru 3.10]

Beach Shrimp Festival (Fort Myers, Florid) [thru 3.10]

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival (Tampa, Florida)

Brew-Ha-Ha (Baraboo, Wisconsin)

BUFF International Film Festival (Malmö, Sweden) [thru 3.15]

Cajun Chili Fest (Maurice, Louisiana)

Canberra Balloon Spectacular (Canberra, Australia) [thru 3.17]

Carnival of Stavelot (Stvelot, Belgium) [thru 3.11]

The Chocolate Expo (Edison, New Jersey) [thru 3.10]

Fumetto: International Comix-Festival (Lucerne, Switzerland) [thru 3.17]

Golden Raspberry Awards (Los Angeles, California)

Gumbo Gladiators Cook-Off (Shreveport, Louisiana)

Highland Maple Festival (Highland County, Virginia) [thru 3.10]

Hokitika Wildfoods Festival (Hokitika, New Zealand)

Kona Brewers Festival (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)

Maple Sugar Festival (Kalamazoo, Michigan)

Marathon Seafood Festival (Marathon, Florida) [thru 3.10]

Melodifestivalen Stockholm, Sweden)

Minneapolis International Festival (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Orchids in Bloom Festival (Coral Gables, Florida) [thru 3.10]

St. Patrick’s Day Festival (Coral Gables, Florida)

St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Washington, D.C.)

Southern Michigan Winter Beer Festival (Jackson, Michigan)

Taste of Rums (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

Uncork the Alleghenies (Altoona, Pennsylvania)

Veggie World (Zurich, Switzerland) [thru 3.10]

Feast Days

Alexander Orlowski (Artology)

Archytas (Positivist; Saint)

Best Foot Forward Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Bosa (Christian; Saint)

Butter Lamp Festival (Buddhism; Everyday Wicca; Tibet)

Catherine of Bologna (Christian; Saint & Virgin)

Cyril VI of Alexandria, Pope (Coptic Orthodox Church)

David Smith (Artology)

Day of Adonis (Pagan)

Dominic Savio (Christian; Saint)

Erotic Dancing Day (Pastafarian)

Farvardigan (Zoroastrian)

Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (Christian; Martyrs)

Frances of Rome (Christian; Saint)

Granville Redmond (Artology)

Gregory of Nyssa (Episcopal Church, United States)

Jackie the Orangutan (Muppetism)

Meatball Day (Pastafarian)

Media Hiems III (Pagan)

Mickey Spillane (Writerism)

Millard Fillmore Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Mona Druids Massacre Day (Celtic Book of Days)

Pacian (Christian; Saint)

Saitousai (Harvest Festival; Japan)

Second Day of No Interest to Fairies (Shamanism)

Socrates (Humanism; Saint)

Strinennia (Festival calling birds and spring to return; Slavic Pagan)

Takaosan Hiwatari Matsuri (Fire Walking Festival; Tokyo, Japan)

Tom Roberts (Artology)

Vita Sackville-West (Writerism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [17 of 71]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

Alpine Antics (WB LT Cartoon; 1936)

Buddy’s Pony Express (WB LT Cartoon; 1935)

Can-Can (Film; 1960)

Castle (TV Series; 2009)

Children of the Corn (Film; 1984)

The Chipper Chipmunk (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1948)

Cirrhosis of the Louvre (The Inspector Cartoon; 1966)

East of Eden (Film; 1955)

Fast Buck Duck (WB MM Cartoon; 1963)

The Fire Alarm (WB LT Cartoon; 1936)

Fort Apache (Film; 1948)

42nd Street (Film; 1933)

The Hotel New Hampshire (Film; 1984)

House Party (Film; 1990)

Joe Versus the Volcano (Film; 1990)

John Carter (Film; 2012)

The Joshua Tree, by U2 (Album; 1987)

The Lost Chick (Happy Harmonies Cartoon; 1935)

Man in Space (Disney Animated TV Special; 1955)

Merry Wives of Windsor, by Otto Nicolai (Opera; 1849)

Mice Paradise (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1951)

Mike’s Murder (Film; 1984)

Nabucco, by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1842)

The Onion Field, by Joseph Wambaugh (True Crime Story; 1973)

The Owl and the Pussycat, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1934)

Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Piano Concerto; 1785)

Pretzels (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1930)

Raiding the Raiders (Mighty Mouse Cartoon; 1945)

The Ref (Film; 1994)

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (Film; 2012)

Screwy Squirrel (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1946)

Señor Droopy (Tex Avery Droopy MGM Cartoon; 1949)

Sheep & Wolves (Animated Film; 2018)

Skyscraper Caper (WB LT Cartoon; 1968)

Slumberland Express (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1936)

Splash (Film; 1984)

State Fair (Film; 1962)

Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale (Anime Film; 2017)

Take Me Out to the Ball Game (Film; 1949)

300 (Film; 2007)

A Wrinkle in Time (Film; 2018)

Today’s Name Days

Bruno, Franziska (Austria)

Fanika, Franciska, Nedjeljko (Croatia)

Františka (Czech Republic)

Edvin, Heido, Heivo (Estonia)

Auvo, Edvin (Finland)

Françoise (France)

Barbara, Bruno, Dominik, Franziska (Germany)

Aetios, Eliana, Filoktimon, Iliana, Lysimahos, Sarantos, Sevirianos, Smaragda, Smaragdos, Vivianos, Xanthos (Greece)

Fanni, Franciska (Hungary)

Francesca (Italy)

Ausmis, Ervalds, Ēvalds (Latvia)

Dominykas, Pranciška, Visgailė, Žygimantas (Lithuania)

Sindre, Sverre (Norway)

Apollo, Dominik, Franciszka, Katarzyna, Mścisława, Prudencjusz, Taras (Poland)

Františka (Slovakia)

Catalina, Francisca, Paciano (Spain)

Torbjörn, Torleif (Sweden)

Flavia (Ukraine)

Keely, Kelda, Kelley, Kelli, Kellie, Kelly (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 69 of 2024; 297 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 10 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Nuin (Ash) [Day 21 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Bing-Yin), Day 29 (Ren-Shen)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 29 Adair I 5784

Islamic: 28 Sha’ban 1445

J Cal: 9 Green; Twosday [9 of 30]

Julian: 25 February 2024

Moon: 1%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 13 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Apollonius of Tyana]

Runic Half Month: Tyr (Cosmic Pillar) [Day 15 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 80 of 89)

Week: 1st Week of March

Zodiac: Pisces (Day 20 of 30)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 3.9

Holidays

American Paddlefish Day

Amerigo Vespucci Day

Armored Warships Day

Babylon 5 Launch Day (Babylon 5)

Barbie Day

Baron Bliss Day (Belize)

Chervil Day (French Republic)

Chess Prodigy Day

Day of Waiting (Elder Scrolls)

Day to Mourn Slavery

Doctor’s Day (Venezuela)

Eid Al Moalim (Teacher’s Day; Lebanon)

False Teeth Day

Festival of Primal Ooze

Get Over It Day

Hatsune Miku Day (Japan)

Joe Franklin Day

Land Management Day (Kazakhstan; Ukraine)

Made in UK Day (UK)

National American Paddlefish Day

National CBDB Day (a.k.a. Central Bank Digital Currency)

National Day of Abundance Day (Nigeria)

National Day of Women Living with HIV (Australia)

National Dishwasher Appreciation Day

National Heroes and Benefactors Day (Belize)

National Lina Day

National Marcia Day

National Music Day (Indonesia)

National Shane Day

National Urban Educator Day

National Women’s Range Day

Panic Day (a.k.a. ... 

Absolute Total Nihilists Bang Clang Day (Los Angeles)

Bang-Clang Day

Hit the Panic Button Day

Wellness Permission League’s Panic Day

Registered Dietician Day

Taras Shevchenko Day (Ukraine)

Teacher’s Day (Lebanon)

U.S. Hostage & Wrongful Detainee Day

World DJ Day

World Kidney Day

World Trisomy 9 Awareness Day

Zangoose Day (Pokémon)

Food & Drink Celebrations

International Spanish Omelette Day

National Cookie Cutter Day

National Crabmeat Day

National Meatball Day

2nd Saturday in March

American Frontier Day [2nd Saturday]

Daylight Savings Time begins/Standard Time ends (a.k.a. Spring Forward Day; US, except AZ, HI, Navajo Nation, Puerto Rico, others) [Saturday Night/2nd Sunday 2 AM]

Genealogy Day [Saturday of Name Week]

Georgia Beer Day (Georgia) [Saturday of 1st Full Week]

Hunahpu’s Day (Cigar City Brewing; Florida) [2nd Saturday]

International Fanny Pack Day [2nd Saturday]

National Urban Ballroom Dancing Day [2nd Saturday]

Snake Saturday (Pagan) [2nd Saturday]

Independence & Related Days

Cambodia (Kampuchea, Luang Phrabang & Vietnam declare independence; 1945)

Festivals Beginning March 9, 2024

Bacon on the Lakein) Romulus, New York) [thru 3.10]

Beach Shrimp Festival (Fort Myers, Florid) [thru 3.10]

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival (Tampa, Florida)

Brew-Ha-Ha (Baraboo, Wisconsin)

BUFF International Film Festival (Malmö, Sweden) [thru 3.15]

Cajun Chili Fest (Maurice, Louisiana)

Canberra Balloon Spectacular (Canberra, Australia) [thru 3.17]

Carnival of Stavelot (Stvelot, Belgium) [thru 3.11]

The Chocolate Expo (Edison, New Jersey) [thru 3.10]

Fumetto: International Comix-Festival (Lucerne, Switzerland) [thru 3.17]

Golden Raspberry Awards (Los Angeles, California)

Gumbo Gladiators Cook-Off (Shreveport, Louisiana)

Highland Maple Festival (Highland County, Virginia) [thru 3.10]

Hokitika Wildfoods Festival (Hokitika, New Zealand)

Kona Brewers Festival (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)

Maple Sugar Festival (Kalamazoo, Michigan)

Marathon Seafood Festival (Marathon, Florida) [thru 3.10]

Melodifestivalen Stockholm, Sweden)

Minneapolis International Festival (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Orchids in Bloom Festival (Coral Gables, Florida) [thru 3.10]

St. Patrick’s Day Festival (Coral Gables, Florida)

St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Washington, D.C.)

Southern Michigan Winter Beer Festival (Jackson, Michigan)

Taste of Rums (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

Uncork the Alleghenies (Altoona, Pennsylvania)

Veggie World (Zurich, Switzerland) [thru 3.10]

Feast Days

Alexander Orlowski (Artology)

Archytas (Positivist; Saint)

Best Foot Forward Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Bosa (Christian; Saint)

Butter Lamp Festival (Buddhism; Everyday Wicca; Tibet)

Catherine of Bologna (Christian; Saint & Virgin)

Cyril VI of Alexandria, Pope (Coptic Orthodox Church)

David Smith (Artology)

Day of Adonis (Pagan)

Dominic Savio (Christian; Saint)

Erotic Dancing Day (Pastafarian)

Farvardigan (Zoroastrian)

Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (Christian; Martyrs)

Frances of Rome (Christian; Saint)

Granville Redmond (Artology)

Gregory of Nyssa (Episcopal Church, United States)

Jackie the Orangutan (Muppetism)

Meatball Day (Pastafarian)

Media Hiems III (Pagan)

Mickey Spillane (Writerism)

Millard Fillmore Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Mona Druids Massacre Day (Celtic Book of Days)

Pacian (Christian; Saint)

Saitousai (Harvest Festival; Japan)

Second Day of No Interest to Fairies (Shamanism)

Socrates (Humanism; Saint)

Strinennia (Festival calling birds and spring to return; Slavic Pagan)

Takaosan Hiwatari Matsuri (Fire Walking Festival; Tokyo, Japan)

Tom Roberts (Artology)

Vita Sackville-West (Writerism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [17 of 71]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

Alpine Antics (WB LT Cartoon; 1936)

Buddy’s Pony Express (WB LT Cartoon; 1935)

Can-Can (Film; 1960)

Castle (TV Series; 2009)

Children of the Corn (Film; 1984)

The Chipper Chipmunk (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1948)

Cirrhosis of the Louvre (The Inspector Cartoon; 1966)

East of Eden (Film; 1955)

Fast Buck Duck (WB MM Cartoon; 1963)

The Fire Alarm (WB LT Cartoon; 1936)

Fort Apache (Film; 1948)

42nd Street (Film; 1933)

The Hotel New Hampshire (Film; 1984)

House Party (Film; 1990)

Joe Versus the Volcano (Film; 1990)

John Carter (Film; 2012)

The Joshua Tree, by U2 (Album; 1987)

The Lost Chick (Happy Harmonies Cartoon; 1935)

Man in Space (Disney Animated TV Special; 1955)

Merry Wives of Windsor, by Otto Nicolai (Opera; 1849)

Mice Paradise (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1951)

Mike’s Murder (Film; 1984)

Nabucco, by Giuseppe Verdi (Opera; 1842)

The Onion Field, by Joseph Wambaugh (True Crime Story; 1973)

The Owl and the Pussycat, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1934)

Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Piano Concerto; 1785)

Pretzels (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1930)

Raiding the Raiders (Mighty Mouse Cartoon; 1945)

The Ref (Film; 1994)

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (Film; 2012)

Screwy Squirrel (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1946)

Señor Droopy (Tex Avery Droopy MGM Cartoon; 1949)

Sheep & Wolves (Animated Film; 2018)

Skyscraper Caper (WB LT Cartoon; 1968)

Slumberland Express (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1936)

Splash (Film; 1984)

State Fair (Film; 1962)

Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale (Anime Film; 2017)

Take Me Out to the Ball Game (Film; 1949)

300 (Film; 2007)

A Wrinkle in Time (Film; 2018)

Today’s Name Days

Bruno, Franziska (Austria)

Fanika, Franciska, Nedjeljko (Croatia)

Františka (Czech Republic)

Edvin, Heido, Heivo (Estonia)

Auvo, Edvin (Finland)

Françoise (France)

Barbara, Bruno, Dominik, Franziska (Germany)

Aetios, Eliana, Filoktimon, Iliana, Lysimahos, Sarantos, Sevirianos, Smaragda, Smaragdos, Vivianos, Xanthos (Greece)

Fanni, Franciska (Hungary)

Francesca (Italy)

Ausmis, Ervalds, Ēvalds (Latvia)

Dominykas, Pranciška, Visgailė, Žygimantas (Lithuania)

Sindre, Sverre (Norway)

Apollo, Dominik, Franciszka, Katarzyna, Mścisława, Prudencjusz, Taras (Poland)

Františka (Slovakia)

Catalina, Francisca, Paciano (Spain)

Torbjörn, Torleif (Sweden)

Flavia (Ukraine)

Keely, Kelda, Kelley, Kelli, Kellie, Kelly (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 69 of 2024; 297 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 10 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Nuin (Ash) [Day 21 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Bing-Yin), Day 29 (Ren-Shen)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 29 Adair I 5784

Islamic: 28 Sha’ban 1445

J Cal: 9 Green; Twosday [9 of 30]

Julian: 25 February 2024

Moon: 1%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 13 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Apollonius of Tyana]

Runic Half Month: Tyr (Cosmic Pillar) [Day 15 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 80 of 89)

Week: 1st Week of March

Zodiac: Pisces (Day 20 of 30)

[adelaidecity]

Beer & BBQ Festival serves up 2019 program

Adelaides celebration of brewing and barbecuing is back with a lineup more crowded than a primary school sausage sizzle on election day. The festival will return to the Adelaide Showground for its fifth outing on the weekend of Friday, July 12 Sunday, July 14. Its spread of featured cookers this year include Peel Streets Bread & Bone, Comidas Beer Can Chicken and for the first time at the festival, cult Adelaide slow cookers Sneaky Pickle. Interstaters include Victorias Burn City Smokers and 8 Bit Burger, while Simon Bryant will appear alongside Hobart-based Mal Meiers to raise money for Meiers Food For Thought charity supporting mental health in the hospitality industry.

Beer & BBQ Festival (Photo: Danny Howe) The festival will also welcome Ontarios Collective Arts Brewing, who will collaborate with six prominent Australian brewers including Young Henrys, Moo Brew and Adelaides own Little Bang Brewing to create a series of exclusive IPAs. The full brewer lineup is due to land in June, but the first announcement promises a celebration of all manner of non-beer tonics from wine, gin and bourbon to alcoholic kombucha. In addition to the eating and drinking, the festivals musical program has brought together some of Australias leading rock pisstakers in Frenzal Rhomb and You Am I, who will be performing their tribute to Spinal Tap, The Majesty of Tap, presumably to maximise the potential for making tap related beer puns onstage. Joining Frenzal Rhomb on Friday, July 12 will be Melbournes Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, last seen alongside Pussy Riot at this years RCC Fringe. On Saturday, Tim Rogers and co. will rub shoulders with N.W.A.s DJ Yella, Canberras finest Moaning Lisa and Sampology. [embedded content] The news follows a busy few months for the team behind Beer & BBQ Festival following their recent takeover of the relocated and revamped University of Adelaide UniBar, which officially opened earlier this month. Beer & BBQ Festival 2019 music lineup Cash Savage & The Last Drinks DJ Yella(N.W.A) and Playboy T Frenzal Rhomb Moaning Lisa Sampology (DJ) You Am Is The Majesty of Tap VOIID with more to be announced Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival Adelaide Showground July 12 14 beerbbqfest.com.au Header image: James Tarbotton https://www.adelaidereview.com.au/food-and-drink/food/beer-bbq-festival-2019/

[adelaideattractions]

Beer & BBQ Festival serves up 2019 program

Adelaides celebration of brewing and barbecuing is back with a lineup more crowded than a primary school sausage sizzle on election day. The festival will return to the Adelaide Showground for its fifth outing on the weekend of Friday, July 12 Sunday, July 14. Its spread of featured cookers this year include Peel Streets Bread & Bone, Comidas Beer Can Chicken and for the first time at the festival, cult Adelaide slow cookers Sneaky Pickle. Interstaters include Victorias Burn City Smokers and 8 Bit Burger, while Simon Bryant will appear alongside Hobart-based Mal Meiers to raise money for Meiers Food For Thought charity supporting mental health in the hospitality industry.

Beer & BBQ Festival (Photo: Danny Howe) The festival will also welcome Ontarios Collective Arts Brewing, who will collaborate with six prominent Australian brewers including Young Henrys, Moo Brew and Adelaides own Little Bang Brewing to create a series of exclusive IPAs. The full brewer lineup is due to land in June, but the first announcement promises a celebration of all manner of non-beer tonics from wine, gin and bourbon to alcoholic kombucha. In addition to the eating and drinking, the festivals musical program has brought together some of Australias leading rock pisstakers in Frenzal Rhomb and You Am I, who will be performing their tribute to Spinal Tap, The Majesty of Tap, presumably to maximise the potential for making tap related beer puns onstage. Joining Frenzal Rhomb on Friday, July 12 will be Melbournes Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, last seen alongside Pussy Riot at this years RCC Fringe. On Saturday, Tim Rogers and co. will rub shoulders with N.W.A.s DJ Yella, Canberras finest Moaning Lisa and Sampology. [embedded content] The news follows a busy few months for the team behind Beer & BBQ Festival following their recent takeover of the relocated and revamped University of Adelaide UniBar, which officially opened earlier this month. Beer & BBQ Festival 2019 music lineup Cash Savage & The Last Drinks DJ Yella(N.W.A) and Playboy T Frenzal Rhomb Moaning Lisa Sampology (DJ) You Am Is The Majesty of Tap VOIID with more to be announced Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival Adelaide Showground July 12 14 beerbbqfest.com.au Header image: James Tarbotton https://www.adelaidereview.com.au/food-and-drink/food/beer-bbq-festival-2019/

[rudimentaryrecollections]

Ghent, 6-9 August 2017

Ghent is beautiful. Quiet canals lead me from St Pieters train station into the centre of old town. My hostel for the first night is here, with a view to die for. I befriend a 33 year old Aussie bloke from Canberra and we grab some food and take a little look around. We befriend an Aussie chick from Melbourne back at the hostel. I am exhausted, so I stay behind to rest while they go get some dinner later. Outside on the canal there are lantern boats being lit. A harp and a singer are playing classical music on a row boat. The large oar which a man uses to steer the boat has a rainbow coloured peace flag on it. Some speeches are made then the lanterns are floated into the canal. I go down to watch the spectacle. It is the perfect way to relax after the festival.

The next day I get lost in the city. It is busy with tourists. Busy street malls with fancy clothing and goods shops lead to squares and canals surrounded by grand old churches, old trade buildings and the city castle. Tour boats and tourist driven canoes and kayaks roam the canals. I change hostels in the evening to one on a river boat, a short walk out of the centre. It is an eco-hostel. There is a garden on the roof which filters rainwater to be used for the showers and hand washing sink. Vegan snacks and beers fill the honesty fridge. This is a more relaxed vibe, and I sit in the sun and catch up with some people on my phone.

My friend Jess from Newcastle will be in Europe for three weeks. I talk with her about her trip and anxieties and agree to meet her in Stockholm towards the end of August. I go to meet my Aussie mate and a Spanish guy from the previous hostel for some beers.

And I am glad to return to the hostel. I buy a huge serve of frittes for dinner from a nearby fry shop. The man who runs it is large and jolly, I would trust him to be my cook. They fry the chips in animal fat in Belgium, at a higher temperature and for twice as long as other fast food nations. This makes the chips ten times as tasty, but also ten times as carcinogenic. The EU has banned this method of cooking because of the health effects, but Belgium protested that it was their national dish so an exception was made for their country. Or so I was told by a Belgian vegetarian. There are specialty shops which offer vegetarian chips in the city – which amuses me.

Some other guests of the hostel join me on the deck and we trade stories as the moon rises above the boat. I like this scene, I am very much at ease. My cares leave me, I am truly enjoying myself and immersing in travel. My priorities have shifted from writing and creating to meeting people, experiencing new culture and having a good time.

In the morning I go to Saint Bavo's abbey – which is in ruins. The man at the entry booth says I'm the first one to come in for the day at 11am – it is raining hard. Over 150 plant species have been planted among the ruins, to create a beautiful vegetated environment. The plants are allowed to become overgrown and wild to create a fantastical appearance to the abbey. There is a photo exhibition inside the cathedral there, showing photos of refugees from many different time periods and places. There is a magazine which shows letters and online messages sent between a refugee who was resettled in Ghent and his family back in Syria. It triggered a personal and emotional appreciation as to what refugees go through – as compared to hearing of refugees as statistics and numerical figures crossing borders on the news. I would reflect on this in the days to come.

More chips for dinner, then I drink beer in the common room and write journals and talk to a German lady. She advises me to go to Dresden. We are also both heading to Luxembourg and so hope we will see each other again. We do not exchange contact details, but instead leave it up to chance.

I go for some beers with a Danish man and two Spanish men from Malaga. We beat some locals at foozball before returning for a good nights rest. I am inspired to learn another language from my time in Belgium. If you can speak another language, then you can make more friends. I have enough Dutch and French to get by but it is hard to have more stick in the mind. French, Spanish and Italian make more sense to me than Dutch - because I studied Italian for four years at school. I think it will be the easiest to learn, but Spanish would be more useful. I will take lessons in Prague or the UK or both.

The next day is sunny and beautiful. It has been this way for the last week, one day rainy, cloudy, windy, the next sunny clear and still. I sit in the sun on deck until Monday before catching a train to Bruges.