• Amazon Deals

  • Ebay Affilliate Links

Lindt Pick and Mix 50% off! – Lindt Chocolate Café melbourne

Pick and mix at lindt chocolate café, Melbourne CBD. half price 50 off lindt pick and mix gift boxes lindt cafe

– 50% off all gift boxes. HALF PRICE!
NEW DEAL- photo taken on Thursday!

As far as I can tell, this deal should run till Christmas 2015.
Little box $14.50
BIG box, $24.50
16 odd flavours of Lindt balls to choose from, some not EVER available in supermarkets

Simon food favourites provides a bit of a review of these below:

http://simonfoodfavourites.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/lindt-cafe-17-lindor-ball-flavours-put.html
The mix bar also includes mini “hello” bars too, and other small wrapped goodies I’m not entirely familiar with. The Hello bars are nice enough, and the enticing looking shiny blue wrapped single tailed items are quite tasty and nutty, reminiscent of a Ferrero Rocher maybe, but I’m more of a fan of the Lindtor balls, particularly the various incarnations of the mint ones.

The big box fits around 900gms in it, so works out to be in the range of $25/kilo for this deal, which is better than most supermarkets.

Sadly, the BIG red Christmas gift baggie, which holds 1.8kgs+ is NOT included in this deal 🙁

Some people might be worried about the freshness and expiry date of these, but I’ve tasted my purchases, and they are definitely top notch merchandise.

The full size “HELLO” 45gm bars are also on special for $1 each, down from $2.50 at the counter.

I couldn’t help myself but buy a cookies and crème, and a crème brulee flavour bar too. $2.. can’t say no!

Happy mixing!

Cheap $2.99 Christmas pop up wine shop with discounted beer and cider- Pascoe Vale, Melbourne

While exploring the unknown environs of the suburbs this weekend the trusty squeaky bike, old rusty, I stumbled across this little gem, “Pop up Wine Shop” pop up wine shop pascoe vale melbourne frontby accident at 440 Gaffney Street, Pascoe vale. link to google maps

Apparently its been operating since June this year, but it was in Moonee ponds back then. This incarnation opened up on last week on the 12th.

Totally unplanned, at the end of my urban adventure, and coming to the point of thoroughly having enough of being in a foreign and unfamiliar neighbourhood, I tacked my way in the direction of where I thought there may be some description of a train station that could take me home with the minimum of effort.

Cruising down a quiet street, lined with geriatric old men watering their wizened lemon trees of an evening, who acknowledged the progress of my squeaking, clanking conveyance with cursory owlish glances, I spied in the distance what looked like a neighbourhood highpop up wine shop very cheap wine deals street in the distance.

I pedaled enthusiastically toward it, eager for some provisions, or coffee, or grease… whatever was on offer really. Then I noticed the impossibly huge hill looming above me, blocking my way.  To the left, on the corner, was slightly dilapidated corner shop.. but it was the billboard that caught my eye. $2.99 wines.

YES. cheap wine, impossibly cheap wine. most under ten dollars according to the plain, but clear billboards that encircled the shop.

I parked the bike, and decided to go take a look, just for the hell of it- I had no intention of buying anything that day, right? I don’t even really drink particularly often- I’m just not much of a fan of alcohol in general unless its to complement a nice meal, or as part of a journey of discovering new and unusual beverages. (ok, maybe i do like good wine and beer, just a bit :p) pop up wine shop melboune discount rekorderlik on special

Wandering around, i was surprised to find that there was indeed copious quantities of ultra cheap discounted wine in stock.

In fact, the wine was even cheaper than the billboards crowed, because of the bulk discounts offered like buy six, get one free etc. Some Asian beer was also looking lonely in the fridge, at only $15 for a six pack, or $2.50 for one. Tempting, especially at the end of a long, hot day.

In the fridges were more finds- Rekorderlig Swedish cider varieties on special for $5, with buy 6, get one free! bargain! The sweet, fruity ciders aren’t exactly my favourite, but I knew one particular person who would enjoy those though. There were a couple other brands of apple and pear cider that I didn’t recognise.

An inkling of an elusive easy and cheap Christmas gift idea solution began to form in my  mind.

I absently extracted a couple cold ciders from the fridge, of uusual flavours i had not seen before.

 Tpop up wine shop pascoe vale ownershe proprietor at the counter was a chatty and friendly old bloke, with a quick smile, and a persuasive manner. Despite riding, I found myself being led to the counter, to try out his wares, in copious sized tastes. Generous quantities, that’s the kind of wine tasting that’s the best!

Chatting to him idly, i got a bit of the story behind the shop- he was a wine wholesaler, and the retail shopfront was a bit of an experiment, and a way to move some extra product over the Christmas period. he mentioned that he was going to have a about 20 pallets come in this week, all of chardonays and whites he planned to sell for a crazy $2 each!

Admittedly, I know nothing about wine, but the 2008 Cabernet sauvignon, and the Chardonnay white I tried out seemed not half bad. Especially for effectively a bit of loose change.

Anyway, after spop up wine shop melbourne suburbs cheap christmas boozeome tastings, and spying some unusual different Rekorderlig cider on special for a measly $5, I took home a haul of 5 bottles-

  • Two whites,
  • a red,
  • and two heavily discounted Swedish ciders-
  • orange and ginger Rekorderlig;
  • and a Mango and raspberry Rekorderlig.

The whole lot cost be a princely $20.  A Christmas shopping trip well done!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Infoguy of Melbourne- Homeless to role model

infoguy nightride busI’d just arrived in Melbourne, at a time of the year when the damp, coursing rain, and bone chilling winds rule the streets and suburbs, and, of course, I just had to explore the nocturnal fruits of the city.

After the music stopped, the band packed up, last drinks were served, and we had consumed the mandatory utterly delicious grease, carbs and protein feast that is the glorious rocketburger and fries combo, it was time to part ways and head home.. “oh, bro, you have to taxi it this time of the night- the trains stop at midnight”

Slight problem. My house was at the end of the earth, and I really didn’t fancy spending half a days pay conveying my very tired, and slightly inebriated body back there.

Asking a few similarly stumbly locals outside the deserted and spooky, vaguely urine perfumed façade of the iconic Flinders Street Station on Elizabeth street, I discovered that the budget late night transport option of choice was a wheezing nightrider bus…

A conveyance that generally reeks of kebabs, broken dreams and something vaguely and unpleasantly vintage cheesy at 30 paces in the Swanston st bus mall, and i’m not talking about the stench of maccas and KFC wafting from their open entrances.

Only problem, that there were over a dozen stops to choose from.. and as I blearily stared at the sputum and grease smeared perspex route map placards at each stop, I found them incomprehensible. I just wanted to go home.

Infoguy melbourne homeless nightrider deskThen I noticed a bloke in a high vis fluoro vest, directing similarly cluseless and lost people to the right buses.

He had a little makeshift desk set up, made of a few milk crates, stacked, a laminated info “I” symbol stuck on the front, with a tabletop, a box, post it notes, and a few other papers and paraphernalia on top… like a tourist infodesk.

I didn’t think anything unusual about the setup at that point. drunk people proof maybe? that made sense.

YES! must be a late night PTV customer service worker. Just what I needed. 🙂

Dutifully, I lined up, and waited to be served.

The apparent PTV guy was a cheery, industrious looking fellow, with a quick smile and was unusually cheery and happy for a somebody who obviously had been dealing with stroppy drunk, tired and  “where do you need to go mate?” I told him my suburb.

infoguy melbourne helping infromation tourist customer service homeless“Ok, you are around here then” *he points, thumbing a circle around my suburb*

“Can you point out your street at all? you have a couple of route choices” he waved his hand theatrically, tracing a couple lines up and down.

Looking down at the big map, filled with hand drawn lines of what must be bus routes, I was rather impressed with myself to be able to indicate my house.

“Ok, you need to take the Eltham bus- that’s the best one for you, the next one is at 03:30AM”

Leaning down over his “desk”, he scribbled the details on a post it note, carefully folded it into quarters, and pressed it into my hand.

Then he threw the curveball.

“I’m a homeless person. I struggle with homelessness every day, and all donations are much appreciated”

He indicated toward the plastic box on the makeshift table, where a few solitary coins were camped out.

I lurched off toward the bus stop he indicated… then just… stopped. had an incredulous double take moment. Turned. Shook off the slight fuzz of alcohol (yeah, ok I’d only had two beers, but I’m a terminal lightweight cheap date), and fatigue, And opened my eyes, and saw.

infoguy homelss man melbourne degraves street subwayThe orange vest had the insignia of a cold storage company on it, the coat was good quality, but a bit tatty. Shoes looked worn, and the jeans a bit shabby…  the man’s face marked with experience, eyes misted with distant memories of better times.

This was a man that had nothing, on the edge of society, was probably struggling with mental illnesses and living in the cold unforgiving street of Melbourne. Was probably hungry and alone often.

I felt for my wallet, fished out the coins, and strode back to the desk and dumped them in. I felt lighter. Somehow seeing a homeless man being entrepreneurial, find a place in a city, a society that was valued, made my own problems, fears and aspirations seem so small, and easy to overcome and accomplish.  There was somebody that had stepped up from a low impossible to fathom to help himself, and others.

Every coin was deserved. Earned

I caught his eye, directly- looked at him as an equal. with respect, not pity.

“Thankyou”

That’s all I needed to say.infoguy melbourne central railway tube station

His little “business” even had a facebook page. Solid gold. i didn’t look at it at the time though.

I didn’t see him around for a long time after that, though I did have a feeling I he might have been a guy in Degraves street selling the “Big Issue” magazine. I wasn’t sure though.

I hoped that his disappearance was a good sign, that times had turned for the better for him.

It wasn’t till many, many months later, quite recently, I saw him again at the Swanston street mall again.

I didn’t need any help, but I threw some coins in the box anyway, and stopped to have a chat, and congratulate him on having the up and go, gumption and courage to do something positive, and do a hard days  work (or in this case, nights work) , well, and with pride and competence.

infoguy melbourne central helpdesk volunteer homelessTurned out that things were indeed on the up for him, as he proudly told me that Melbourne central shopping centre had allowed him to set up shop below the shot tower, doing what he does best- customer service.

A professional looking desk had even entered into the equation.

The place is a confusing maze, and the touch panels seem always broken or no help at all.  I can see how he saw a  niche opportunity there.

I was also amazed when he shared with me that he had been living homeless for 30 years.

Looking at his desk, I noticed he had set up a facebook page. Even homeless people understand the importance of the digital channel for promotion and customer interaction. Fantastic.

On that, I learned more of his story.

https://www.facebook.com/InfoGuy-of-Melbourne-351917111682585/?fref=ts

The guy even somehow GRADUATED from Latrobe university, with a Bachelor of arts recentlyinfoguy graduation latrobe iniversity bachelor of arts.

An amazing, and difficult achievement in itself for us regular, fortunate humans with a warm bed, home and support mechanisms to help us along.

But one degree is not enough for this courageous fellow. Next year he plans to study towards a masters of speech pathology at Charles Stuart university.

Well done, I salute you sir!

You have come a long way in six years, starting outside the Degraves street subway entrance of flinders street station in June 2008, warning people that the entrance to the station closed after 10PM, trying to prevent people from missing their trains.

It’s been step by step in the right direction over the years- from the humble subway sentinel, to drunk person drover, festival football and concert traffic director, shopping centre sage, and now finally, educated man reaching toward the light from the darkness.

Hopefully, the next trip on your journey will be a job, a home and everything that others take for granted in their lives.

All the best, true personality, battler and friend of the city of Melbourne.

 

 

 

  • Amazon Deals