Board Game Geeks

Over the past couple of years, Claire and I have been getting into board games.

It all started with Risk (Thanks Dan & Jess). After a few games we were hooked and come Christmas 2006 (after dropping a few hints), we were the proud new owners of Risk. After playing numerous times with friends and family, it occured to me that games can be all about two things, fun or ego. To be honest, I think that for me they are both. I enjoy the challenge of staking my wits against others (fun), and winning (ego). There is nothing more infuriating than losing a game you should have won, simply because the dice didn't role the right numbers (which seems to happen all too often in Risk).

Christmas 2007 bought a new game into our lives, Carcassonne. It is a tile laying game which is playable from two to six players (only five player without the expansions). We took it away with us for a weekend to Moore River with some friends and it hardly got packed up. Unlike RISK, it only takes around hour to play, so much less time investment = much less ego. I got a couple of the expansions for my birthday recently (Inns & Cathedrals and Abbey & Mayor), and we are currently working out how they play. Certainly a different experience than the original game, not sure yet whether I think they add or subtract from it though.

June 2008 heralded the arrival of Ticket to Ride (Euorpe), a train game. For two to five players, Claire and I have enjoyed playing this together more than any game to date. Like Carcassonne, it only takes around an hour to play, however is I think more fun than Carcassonne and is definately the game of the moment in our house.

If you are interested in board games, here are a few links that might interest.
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/ (for game descriptions, reveiws etc)
http://www.gamesparadise.com.au/ (for a great range and prices)

A Day in Sydney

So you arrive at the Airport on the red eye from Perth (6:00am) and are getting picked up at Central Train Station at 4:30am. What do you do?

Tip No. 1: Pack some friends
Ideal to have someone to share the flight with (thanks Vicki), along with the terrible 2:00am supper/dinner, so that you can commiserate for the rest of the day how much you feel like throwing up (thanks QANTAS), and sleeping. Additionally it may be worth perusing the gates at the train station to see if you can pick up any other wayward travellers (like Julianne) who just happened to be in the same place at the same time, for the same thing!

Tip No.2: Find a locker to stash your stuff
Sydney Central train station does not have lockers - what sort of a crazy place is Sydney? A Post 911 city that is what - no bins, no lockers, no... well anything that a bomb could be put in, so what do you do? Ask a security guard, who will tell you where you can find some (I can't remember where they were anymore - sorry). At $5.00 each they weren't cheap, but certainly cheaper then having to have physio for a month.

Tip No. 3: Get breakfast
Even with our stomachs complaining from the bad aeroplane food, breakfast is essential. Where to go? We didn't know, so just headed up Pitt St and into "The Strand", where we had a very pleasant breakfast (Apple Cinnamon Toast took my fancy, with a pot of Tea - only $8.00, and we were waited on!)

Tip No. 4: The Tea Shop
Don't know where it is, but it was amazing. I didn't realise that there were so many different kinds of tea - easily over 100, and tea gizmo's to-boot.

Tip No, 5: La Renaissance French Patisserie
Words can not describe:

(Thanks Liana for the great tip)

Tip No. 6: Lindt Cafe
In order to truly savour the experience, firstly, walk in and browse, your taste buds will be tingling. Then, rather than order, go and get some lunch, nothing flash, just somehting average, like fruit salad (to try and settle the still upset stomach from the bad plane food). Then after lunch head back into Lindt, with a purpose - total indulgence. The hot chocolate was amazing, and apparently so was the Mocha (Sam crooned over it - joined us at lunch after a hearty sleep in - no red eye flight!). The cake Sam had was great too (Sam generously let me sample). The place is not cheap, but it is worth it.

Tip No. 7: Games Paradise
If you like playing games, whether it be board games, cards etc, then this is the place to go. Ever been to Tactics in Perth (Downstairs at London Court)? Well this is like Tactics on Steroids. The only problem is... where do you start? If you did not know what game to get before entering the store, you most likely won't after going in. Their range is mind boggling.

Tip No. 8: Velluto Nero Roastery, Coffee Bean Boutique & Caffe Bar
Truth be told, after so much food, we really didn't feel like more, however it was the last stop on the list, and the last thing I wanted was to wish I had been to this place. So what was it like? Hmmm... I had a Macchiato, which I had never had before (not a good start for judging quality), however it was amazing. Not sure I will make it my standard coffee, however am certainly looking forward to comparing it to what is on offer at Epic Expresso.

Tip No. 9: Sleep
By 4:30pm, after a Macchiato and forced march back to get our bags and on to Central station, I was running on adreneline and caffene alone. We got to conference (which was why we were in Sydney) and I honestly can't remember much about the first night, except hitting the sack at 9:30pm and sleeping soundly until 7:00am.

All in all, perhaps I was a little too indulgent for one day, however had great company, great food and would do it again in a flash.