At last the time is down to weeks now and not months before we are off on the next trip. We are taking a short trip to Bali in just over 4 weeks time and it can't come soon enough. Not only time off together but I think we got a great deal on the flights. Jo is chasing Gold status this year and I've got to get my Silver back so we looked at what was the quickest way to earn flyer points and status credits. See our YouTube video here for details.
By doing a LOT of investigation I uncovered a Qantas Business class flight that departs from Brisbane and goes via Melbourne to Denpasar during daylight hours for only $680 each. At last check the price for the same day is at $1000 each so it pays to get in early. The flight also gains 9900 flyer points and 180 status credits for the one way flight. However if you expected the same value on the return leg you would be.....very wrong!
I don't understand, but expect Mr Joyce would have a exceptionally good reason why the return leg, via Melbourne too, is more expensive by over $100 but only attracts 2100 flyer points and 60 status credits. So we will be looking elsewhere for our return trip, perhaps Jetstar as they offer a direct Business Class flight to Brisbane for around $600.
Rest assured there will be videos about all the flights and accommodation reviews so keep tabs via the Channel.

I know I have chosen to reside in an area well known for it's extreme heat but this is getting tiresome.
We have not had a day in the last 6 weeks when the temperature has been less than 40 degrees Celsius with it usually hovering in the mid 40's and topped out at 49 degrees the other day. No rain to speak of, it does look promising every few days with the clouds building up in the afternoon to see some small isolated showers skirt around us. To smell the rain but not to feel it is torture!

I still manage a 5 klm walk each morning up and down the look-out hill, or 1 tank hill, as it's known locally for obvious reasons if you saw it. This walk, by necessity, is taken as early as possible in order to escape the high temperatures but still manages to raise quite a sweat before work.

I've been checking the Accor website every few hours waiting to see if any announcements have been made about the winners of their Ambassador competition but nothing. Today I received a phone-call to my mobile from a Singapore number which I at first had reservations about answering it thinking it might be some off-shore telemarketer. It was however a fellow from Accor offering me congratulations on winning the competition and just wanting to touch base. He requested  a photo of me and emailed me an agreement to say I would appear in any promotional activity as needed. All quite exciting although obviously nothing will probably happen for sometime but the title of Accor Australian Ambassador has a certain ring to it, eh?

Jo's mum flew back to Queensland this morning and we moved into the Sebel Docklands Apartments for two nights before heading back to work. We didn't realise that Sebel are a part of the Accor Group and had booked through booking.com instead of direct so missed out on some points, bother it! Again the position is great as it's right on the water at Docklands but the first room was a bit grotty so asked if we could change and were given a second choice which was much better.  I suppose it being New Years Day and they would have been at capacity last night the cleaning staff would have been under the pump to get things cleaned for today.

The hotel has a reasonable gym on the ground floor, not that we considered using it as this was to be a very chilled couple of days. There was a pool but it was an inside, heated pool which loses it's appeal to me as it was quite loud with kids playing and only quite narrow access on one side with no room to sit around. I suppose that for a lot of the year in Melbourne a heated, indoor pool would be used much more due to the cold weather. 

We spent the next two days just relaxing but managed to get out and about the last day to re-visit some places like some of the Graffiti lanes and Young & Jackson's pub in Flinders Street.