I have no preference with respect of the food .

I will go with the majority or , if needed , your casting vote Stormbird as the convenor.
If we get a drinks package I vote for the midtown .

I agree with Rob about alcohol . I like a glass of wine with my meal but unless it is a dessert wine will stop after the savoury courses and perhaps have a cognac over coffee. But there is nothing worse than the 2 glass person or teetotaller having to subsidise others.

What about everyone who is coming advising if they drink wine to gauge demand ?

Once we know that we could check with Trunk ,as an alternative to their beverage package , if we can select from their wine list , at an agreed price point , a red and a white wine or sparkling for the night .

If an average bottle holds 5/6 ? standard glasses we can add the cost of " X " bottles to our bill and cost per person . We can calculate it by the numbers attending and allowing
" X " glasses per person ( 3 or 4 ??)each to our base package . They have wine by the glass and perhaps those who want to drink more can set up their own tab ?

Of course in the end there may not be much difference in price doing this and their packages include soft drink etc .

But that alternate option all takes time and energy .And how often do we do this ? Answer = never before .So if the decision is to take a drinks package I can happily live with it.

ps If it ends up that we are only a small number at table then subject to the numbers who drink alcohol I am sure we could sort something without the package inclusion.

Hey stormbird

Count me in to stop by for a bit. A GTG would be a first for me.

I've got simple tastes and an even simpler budget these days but I'm generally flexible. I doubt I'd drink more than a glass or two of whatever goes best with the main people want.

I'm happy with either food option. Not a mad dessert fan, but like a good cheese platter ...

Typically at something like this, I'd have a glass of champagne or a cocktail at the "meet & greet", and 2 or 3 glasses of wine with the meal. Unless there were an absolute stand-out sticky on offer, that would be it.

Agree with JohnFitz & KiwiRob, perhaps we should see how many are coming and decide what to do about drinks then. Like them, I'm more concerned about someone who only has 1 or 2 glasses (or no alcohol at all) subsidising those of us who'll have 1/2 bottle during the course of the night + a pre-dinner drink.

I'm happy to simply share the cost of the wine selection on the night, or run my own tab & just buy by the glass. Not sure how the latter option would sit with the restauranteur, though.

Honestly, I don't mind. If the package ends up being the best option, I think the "Midtown" one looks the most appealing.

I know all these "we're happy with whatever" votes just put the monkey back on your shoulder, Stormbird - but I think we're a pretty casual bunch and will be happy with whatever you think.

Hi All,

Of course Mrs Rob is most welcome Rob!! The more the merrier. I don't drink alcohol at all (long story...you don't want to know but it was the tequila that did it to me) I think we should just organise drinks on the night and decide then if we just tab it or pay for our own. I don't think we need the drinks package from what I'm hearing.

Regards the menu I'm leaning towards the 3 course option or the main/dessert option.

I am happy to go with the flow in relation to the menu. Either 2 or 3 courses would be fine by me. My personal preference would be to give the drinks package a miss. If I have had a couple of drinks at a bar before we go out to dinner my limit would probably be only another 2 glasses of wine before driving home - alternatively I will end up bunking in with someone staying in the city if I have more :) Definitely we should have Mrs Rob along.

Hey Stormbird-
What's funny is that I leave on the 4th for my Australia trip but...I'm going to be hanging with Hugh Jackman at Gwinganna Resort during your GTG! Well, I don't know if he'll actually be there but since he is an investor I am hoping he shows up.....I would die if he did!!! Sorry to miss the GTG but have fun!

Unfortunately I will be in Bali during this time. I would have loved to meet some of you at this GTG. The night sounds so much fun already. Fabulous food,Aussie wines,great company. What more do you need. Have a wonderful night!

Hey Skiergirl,
I knew you were going to be downunder sometime in May - was wondering if you were going to Melbourne.

Catching up with Hugh sounds like it could be a bit more fun than our GTG. Good luck with that one!

Let me know if you want to have a catch up as I'm not that far away from the resort or maybe you are coming to Brisbane?

Stormbird!!! How dare you dis us as being no match for that Jackman bloke in the fun stakes? I just hope that Trunk has got good rafters (for the climbing of), a strong chandelier (for swinging from) and good tables (for dancing on) -- and that's just for the women!
Sulky Rob.

Whadderyerthinkinggirl?! Never mind "3 courses choices" ... you'll be having hot tongue & cold shoulder, followed by 'umble pie after that slip ;)

Just for starters ... first shout's yours & I'm planning to console myself for being 2nd best with a glass of the very finest French!

Hugh Jackman, indeed! He may well be the thinking woman's (and a good number of the boys' too, no doubt) crumpet - but really, he'd be struggling to compete with us. Especially after a few of your reparation drinks.

Do want a bar for pre-dinner drinks that is more formal eg jacket reqired - or something more raffish .A view ? It needs to an easy walk to Trunk ./

Do we know our numbers yet ? By what date Stormbird must we confirm them to Trunk ? I would not want them gearing up and hiring extra staff etc and it is just 8 of us and able to eat a la carte and in the restaurant proper .Might bew worth a check up with them

I am getting anxious as I want us to know what we are ,
doing and no confusion .

Will select the Bar this week and let you all now .

Oh my I am sooooo sorry if I've offended - not my intention - because Skiergirl hasn't got a hope in hell of catching up with Hugh because he is MY boyfriend (he's desperately trying to fit in a visit to our GTG but he is heavily booked so he might not be able to make it). So I was being a little bit facetious with skiergirl - of course our GTG is the social event of the year IMHO!

So -

I count us currently as seven - Stormbird, John Fitz, Kiwi Rob and Mrs Kiwi Rob, Shandy, Bokhara, Clifton.

I agree John that we should now make a booking where we can go a la carte. I'll make an executive decision and just go ahead with that now. Hope that's okay.

I'm still a dunno!

What about Peter S - he was coming some time back? Planning yet another trip to Venice!

Yes I had Peter S down as a definite maybe along with ozgirl!

Okay so all is sweet with Trunk we are now a table of 7 a la carte - that takes a bit of the stress out doesn't it?

Ok John so may we leave it up to you re the drinks venue? We have complete faith in your decision as I'm sure it will be great. It will definitely need to be within walking distance to Trunk or at least I think that would be best.
Really appreciate all your assistance John thanks so much.

Oh Margo - I hope you turn into a definite instead of a dunno! Come on it will be fun and we'd all love to meet you.

Neil_Oz how are you going - you were maybe hoping to join us. I appreciate you have some health issues to deal with so hope it is all going well. BUT will we see you there in Melbourne?

Skiergirl: Nice article in the latest World Vision news about Hugh & Deborra-Lee's trip to Ethiopia with Tim Costello last year.

The article's too big for me to produce here, but there's a paragraph that I thought everyone would appreciate.

"We came home profoundly challenged by the lottery of latitude; that people whose only wrong was to be born on a latitude with little opportunity, educationally or economically for their future. We do not choose where we are born, or what stage of life we are thrown upon."

I'm out, I'm afraid.

It got too difficult on the domestic front.

Have a great time - and we'll wait for the stories.

Bokhara - perhaps next in Sid-en-ey?!

Can you squeeze another in? I'm still not organised, work has been so hectic, but I'm really going to try to come!!