Black Shaman Blog » Regional

Gold Coast Salmon & Chips Secret

Alex Webley — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:23:39 +0000

My wife and I like to eat oily fish at least once a week, partly for health reasons.

Our fish of choice is Salmon.

My wife, who is a very good cook, prefers not to cook fish herself. (I am very poor at cooking and am under severe restrictions as to what I am allowed to do in the kitchen. Cooking fish is not on the permitted list). And for anyone who thinks my wife has a raw deal…..I am butler to the cats. I get top marks from them (the cats) for my catering and other arrangements.

Anyway…back to the article!

We obtain grilled salmon and a small portion of chips (with no salt) from Chevron Island Seafoods here on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The salmon comes with a lovely sauce – not too much; just right.

We have always enjoyed great tasting salmon and chips from Frank, Warren and the rest of the team at Chevron Island Seafoods. The customer service is good too – we phone our order through and then drive to collect it.

I have been surprised that we have been obtaining such well cooked, and prepared, salmon and chips from what appears to be an ordinary takeaway shop.

Recently I discovered that not only the owner Frank, but the rest of his cooking team are fully qualified Chefs. Even the part timer. No ordinary cooks there! (No chance for me either).

Only last week my wife and I were treated to lunch in a Noosaville (Sunshine Coast) waterside restaurant by some dear friends. The food quality at the Noosaville restaurant was high, and it was attractively presented. Silly me, who should have picked a dish I don’t normally eat, chose the grilled salmon dish.

The salmon dish at the Noosaville restaurant was nice and well presented. It was not however in the same quality or taste league as good old Frank’s offering from Chevron Island Seafoods.

Choosing the salmon dish at Noosaville ended up helping me appreciate what I have every week from Chevron Island Seafoods even more.

It just goes to show that things are not always as they seem.

If you are a tourist, or other visitor to the Surfers Paradise or Bundall area, you could easily miss out on this gem. It is the sort of place that is generally only known to locals. Don’t miss out.

A big well done to Frank and the team at Chevron Island Seafoods!

Chevron Island Seafoods, 50 Thomas Drive, Chevron Island, Queensland 4217 — (07) 5592 0027

Gold Coast Salmon & Chips Secret is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

Schoolies (what ‘little darlings’) will soon start in Surfers Paradise.

Alex Webley — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:59:31 +0000

Soon, in November, the Gold Coast will host thousands of ‘Schoolies’ – young people ranging from 17 -18 celebrating the end of school.

Schoolies is always a time of controversy.

Here is one example; an article from recent news:

Schoolie balcony ban bid blasted

Some apartment managers are seeking to have Schoolies locked out from the apartment/high rise balconies.

I can understand why.

I note that civil libertarians are calling these apartment managers “little hitlers” and claiming that they are treating the partying teens like a “sub species”.

Perhaps I can shed some light on the situation, and bring some real perspective.

I have lived on the Gold Coast for more than 12 years, many of those in a unit/apartment block in Surfers Paradise. Surfers Paradise bears the brunt of schoolies, though other parts of the Gold Coast suffer too.

Here is a list of what I have personally experienced or seen, and in some cases suffered, as a result of the schoolie jerks.

After reading the list, you might, like many locals who leave town for the duration, choose to avoid coming to the Gold Coast during the schoolie celebrations. It is not a good time for tourists. You can check the dates and look up other information here at the official schoolie website, or here.

Urinating in private gardens; both where schoolies stay and elsewhere.
Getting changed in private gardens – once I even saw someone pull up outside in the road; run up the side of the building next door, have a piss against the wall and get changed. He then got back into his car and drove off. As the building was on the way into town, I presume that he felt the need to make himself more ‘presentable’. He was clearly way too important to waste valuable time looking for a toilet.
Faeces found on the back lawn of our unit block one morning. The little creep had wiped his/her arse on a towel that had been left on the washing line to dry. We know because the towel was left behind. Unfortunately we had no definite suspects for DNA analysis.
Vomiting all over the place – stairwells, streets, private gardens.
Loads of rubbish, including broken bottles.
Violence, some of it very nasty.
Vandalism, some extreme.
Excessive noise. Not limited to music. I will never forget someone called Craig. In the middle of the night a minibus full of morons turned up calling loudly for…you guessed…Craig.
Dangerous and extreme driving; both in cars and motorcycles. Flagrant flouting of road rules and riding motorcycles without helmets.
Drug dealing, abuse and associated paraphernalia – discarded syringes. These are a particular problem on the Gold Coast beaches where discarded needles are easily missed and likely to cause injury.
Theft.
Comatose teens lying in the road, on the pavements, in gardens.
Irresponsible and thoughtless parents delivering large quantities of alcohol (by the case, and not just beer).

The list is so long I am not sure if I have forgotten anything. Others have experienced even more. I am just ONE person. I have seen some of these things many times over many years.

Perhaps you are a parent, sending your child to inflict suffering on other people, as well as himself/herself?

Perhaps you don’t want to know what REALLY happens at schoolies? Maybe you believe some of the positive SPIN that various vested interests like to produce about schoolies, both before and after the event.

Be assured, schoolies is very bad.

Not just for the locals, but for the ‘little darlings’ themselves.

Just some of their personal harvest:

Damaged livers and other physiology from alcohol and drug abuse. Shortened life expectancy.
Learning to be nasty, thoughtless, selfish and disrespectful. Reinforcement of these traits.
Mental and emotional problems.
STDs.
Tolerance and enjoyment of filth (muck like filth).
Injury.
Criminal records.
A start in the criminal lifestyle.
Regrets.
Ruined lives.
Increased number of ‘deadbeats’ in their personal network.
Unwanted pregnancies.

I am sure you can think of more.

The Police, who are much maligned yet stand between us and a descent into all kinds of lawlessness, are severely stretched during schoolies, having to call in extra manpower from other regions in Queensland. This of course assists the non schoolie criminal element who can take advantage of lower Police presence elsewhere. I expect they are rubbing their hands with glee.

Of course, not all schoolies are as described above; however, very significant numbers of them are, which is of course the key point and ‘big picture’.

I am wondering whose side these ‘civil libertarians’ are really on. They term themselves ‘civil’.

Perhaps we should also consider the quality of parenting and schooling that these schoolies have had. Having a good time is one thing, but to come here and behave as they do, in such large numbers, is another. Parents and teachers bear significant responsibility.

In my view, schoolies define who they (and their parents/school teachers) are by what they DO. Need I say more?

As the good Lord Jesus Himself said: “By their fruit you shall know them”. Wonderfully logical.

I am not religious and, like the multitude who do not attend church, I too am called a ‘sinner’ by church-goers in private (they usually don’t call you a sinner to your face). This is not some ‘religious rant’; the words from the Bible are so apt in this situation.

Schoolies – Oink – I know it’s not a human sound, but I guess that if you behave like a pig then you must be a pig.

Schoolies (what ‘little darlings’) will soon start in Surfers Paradise. is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

Tasmania trip

Alex Webley — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:42:17 +0000

I have not posted much on my blogs recently because I went on a trip to Tasmania, Australia’s most southerly State.

Tasmania is much cooler than where I live on the sub tropical Gold Coast. Tasmania has a much older feel to it with a strong sense of the colonial past.

We landed in Launceston, in the north, having flown with Virgin Blue from the Gold Coast via Sydney. Virgin Blue service was great, as it usually is, and we experienced no hassles. On arrival at the airport we collected our pre booked hire car from Budget. Our experience with Budget was excellent and I will write a separate post about the research I conducted prior to booking, as well as the service we received; which I am sure will be useful to people contemplating car hire.

So, top marks to Virgin Blue and Budget.

The first day and night were spent in Launceston with a look around the town, which included a visit to Gourlay’s Sweets – Australia’s oldest surviving lolly shop – founded in 1896 buy a guy from Motherwell in Scotland. (We did not visit the factory which is on the outskirts of town). Unfortunately, due to the presence of my supervisor (wife), I was unable to stock up with loads of sweets/lollies. Cry.

Note: Sweets is an English/British term. Lolly is the Australian equivalent.

While in Launceston we also hiked up into the Cataract Gorge Reserve – a beautiful place.

I will write more about our Tasmania trip in due course, however you will find more information on my wife’s blog:

Our trip to Tasmania.

(She has written a much better post than mine, and has included some photos).

Tasmania trip is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

Australia – “The Lucky Country”

Alex Webley — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:24:18 +0000

Australia has long been considered “The Lucky Country”.

Australia shines as place to be in global crisis

This attitude has insulated us from some of the effects of the current economic downturn.

Why is this?

Because a significant amount of the severity of the financial climate today is due to fear and negativity.

Much is self inflicted.

Focus on the good. There is much.

In any case, things will get better.

We have had booms and busts before. It is cyclical. Yawn.

Perhaps we can also use this time to have a good look at ourselves and readjust – improve. Oh, the excesses of recent times! The strange and bizarre activity.

One reason we have such a mess is because we are so badly led. Yes, we have poor leaders and many of us voted for them.

And we are so badly led partly because we have a system (which is not really democracy at all) where mass self interest and blinkered thinking influences policy.

It’s barmy really.

Since when have the hordes of lemmings rushing towards the cliff been right?

I am reminded of the last days of Rome.

Australia – “The Lucky Country” is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

Sushi & Yum Cha on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Alex Webley — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:04:52 +0000

This is a ‘dining out‘ post aimed at people local to my area of the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; and at visitors or tourists in the region.

For many years now my wife and I have been enjoying Sushi and Yum Cha at Sushi 4 U in Broadbeach. Map link.

We have been attending Sushi 4 U since when it was opened by the original owners, with whom we became friends. Around two years ago it changed hands and we have got to know the new owners, a delightful Chinese couple, and some of their friendly, helpful staff.

The quality of food is superb and one of the things we really like, and which is very unusual in a Sushi restaurant, is that there is Yum Cha on the train as well as Sushi.

Prices are very reasonable and the restaurant has an excellent range. They will cook things to order for you too.

Obviously, we have come to our own conclusions about the excellent quality and service at Sushi 4 U, however you might be interested to learn that at lunch times on the days that large numbers of Chinese and other Asians come down to the Gold Coast from Brisbane for a day’s shopping, Sushi 4 U is well patronised by them. This is in spite of the fact that Sushi 4 U is across a busy main road from Pacific Fair (a large shopping centre which is well provisioned with eateries). Sushi and Yum Cha are clearly oriental in origin. The popularity of the restaurant with oriental peoples speaks volumes.

Here are the address, phone number and map:

Sushi 4 U, Shop 1, 2633 Gold Coast Highway, Broadbeach QLD 4218 (Note: This is in a row of shops below the Bel Air complex).

Map link

(07) 5526 9833

Sushi & Yum Cha on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

Parking meters from hell and the end of a tourist icon for Surfers Paradise?

Alex Webley — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:25:48 +0000

Here on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia we have many delightful, friendly ladies and some of these are what is known locally as Meter Maids.

In some parts of the world the term ‘Meter Maid’ is derogatory but here in Australia it is used for skimpily dressed (bikini) ladies who put money into parking meters so as to protect motorists from the local stasi (tongue in cheek: parking enforcement officers). You can find out more about the history of our Meter Maids here on the Wikipedia entry- scroll down to the Australia section.

For even more information check out the Meter Maids site here – this page includes some pictures of Gold Coast Meter Maids in their ‘uniform’ which is ideally suited to our sub tropical climate.

I am wondering how long our Meter Maids will last – they are a tourist ‘icon’, however the local Gold Coast City Council is installing voucher based meters, thus reducing or eliminating the opportunities for Meter Maids to assist motorists. This is an astute financial decision on the part of the local council in the sense that in the old days one could often find a meter with time left on it, whereas today as the time is ticket based, once the previous occupant of the parking bay has left then the council can sell the unexpired time again.

Things may soon get a lot worse! Being an avid watcher of new technological developments I have come across the advent of ‘parking meters from hell’. Far worse than anything you have seen before! Imagine the fiend that ‘phones home’! I must say however that they have excellent revenue raising potential for local councils – jolly good, chaps! Check them out here .

Parking meters from hell and the end of a tourist icon for Surfers Paradise? is a post from: Black Shaman Blog