Lunch at the Ourimbah RSL, but no gaming involved (August 22)

With all of the recent medical appointments there are very few options to be social these days, however, I did receive an offer to get out of the house on Friday for the entire weekend, which I could hardly refuse. I would also receive some assistance with another problem I've been experiencing, a rather complicated psychological one which I'll save for the life blog when I get around to updating it. I figured this was worth a separate post rather than just tacking on another postscript to an earlier post, like I've just done for the Ourimbah takeaway.
The venue on what was a rather sunny Saturday afternoon, was the Ourimbah RSL. Usually, the only situation I would have cause to dine there, would be for attending a gaming event, like I did back in March this year. Due to all the medical issues I've experienced in the last couple of months, this will most likely be just one of two events that I'll get to this year.

We didn't arrive until after 2pm, which turned out convenient for us seeing the lunch rush was well and truly over. I deliberated, briefly, over having a burger, but opted for the parmigiana instead. It turned out to be the right choice. Whilst the parmi appeared to be a little on the small side, it was absolutely delicious and considering I hadn't had breakfast that morning I cleaned the entire plate. I would rank that one better than the Everglades parmi and on par with the Hotel Gosford's offering. Gerry, who was dining with me today, had the lamb shank. He felt it was good but it wasn't enough. There needed to be a second one.
We stayed for a couple of drinks, watched some of an afternoon league match on the telly, even ventured outside to enjoy a little sun and watch the lawn bowlers at play before heading home for the day. All in all a good couple of hours at the club.

Picture taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2026.

Links correct at the time of posting.

A burger after some tests (July 30)

I haven't been in the best of health lately (see the regular blog for further details) and so I've been out having assorted tests and doctors appointments over the last couple of weeks. On this particular day it was a trip into Gosford to see a specialist. I arrived at 9.30am but didn't get out until after midday.

As a reward for getting through all the examinations I was treated to a burger at a little takeaway at the Umina end of Ocean Beach Road, which also offered a little dining area out the back. Though on a main thoroughfare (on the side of the road heading back into Woy Woy), there is limited parking available. The Sizzling Chip is not the first takeaway located at 405 OB Road but appears to be doing rather well. My host said that the place was crowded on weekends every time that they've been there.
There are a wide variety of burgers on offer, as well as loaded chips, value packs, family deals and deep fried goodies. They also provide gluten free and vegan options. We were there for the burgers though, with the majority of them being beef. However, there is fish, chicken, pork, steak and vegan burgers. You can even get a good old bacon and egg roll.

My host had the traditional classic burger (patty, lettuce, tomato with an option of cheese, onion or beetroot) whilst I opted for the Sizzling Chip burger, which consisted of a patty with the hot chips inside the burger coated in a three cheese sauce, bacon bits and spring onion. The classic cost $13 whilst my chip heavy burger was $15.50. I should add, all burgers are available as a meal combo, where a can of drink and chips can be added for additional $5.50.
Even though I hadn't eaten all day, I still struggled to finish off the burger, but finish it I did. I'm thinking that considering the medical tests I had recently that I should have taken an option with more vegetables on it. I'll keep that in mind for the next visit there.

All links correct at time of posting.

Pictures taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2026.

Birthday lunch at the Everglades (April 30)

It's a rather damp day outside so I'd thought I'd rattle off a blog post whilst I had the chance. It's (mostly) a quiet day at home this week, though on Friday I'll be heading south to Sutherland for ShireCon for a day of gaming. Actually I haven't really done much since May 7, which was a mental health support group meeting in Gosford. I took an opportunity to do some grocery shopping, including a rare visit to the Abcoe Retail Store at Niagara Park shopping centre (formerly the Sara Lee factory outlet store) just up the road from the Niagara Park train station on Washington Avenue, then topped groceries up again on Tuesday (May 12) seeing, well, when one is at home and the weather isn't that great, one eats, one writes and one plays computer games for four days...

But a couple of weeks ago I decided to venture up the road to the Everglades Club and treat myself to a birthday lunch. I had originally intended to go out to Erina Fair for a bit, then felt I might even stay at home instead. In the end a walk up the boulevard became the plan. Not the first time I've done a birthday stroll up there for lunch (I did the same thing back in 2023 before I had even started this blog) yet it had been quite a while since I had actually visited the club. The last occasion was in 2024 on November 10 for Regurgitator, forgoing a Mariners home match against Auckland on the day. Like I've said before, the Everglades may be just up the road but I still visit the leagues club in Gosford more. In fact I'll be going there for a Blood Bowl league match next Wednesday (May 20).

I also took the opportunity to renew my membership, although it turned out to be a bad day to do it. For starters, when I walked in around 11.40am there was nobody on the front desk. I eventually found somebody, then was told that the financial year ended today and that I should come back tomorrow (May 1) to get the full benefit of my membership. I honestly felt like saying I may not be back again this year, for I might just forget about do it at all, so I just renewed it. It was $25 for three years. I'm certain I didn't pay that much way back in 2022 when I first joined the club. Obviously they needed the extra cash to pay for the recent renovations.

The Nine Restaurant and Bar hadn't been altered at all and for the most part the menu hasn't changed either. I discovered that if my birthday had fallen on a Tuesday I could've taken advantage of their weekly specials, seeing Tuesday is schnitzel day. On that day, a chicken parmigiana is $25. Because my birthday fell on a Thursday this year, it'll cost $29 with a members discount. Then there's a glass of alcoholic ginger beer on top of that as well so it'll be around $40 all up.
The meal, served with my choice of salad and chips (one day I'll find out what vegetables are being served with it and take the mash option) arrived at my table quickly enough seeing there wasn't that many many people present. It was good but not brilliant. I found it was a little too wet in places, with one knobbly end spitting at me like an oyster when I bit into it. Juicy I don't mind but that was just a bit too much. For me, the Gosford Hotel does a more consistent parmi and you're only paying one dollar more for it than a discounted meal at the Everglades. The pub trivia is also cheaper there too. At Everglades they run theirs on a Tuesday, with a cost of $25 but with better prizes. In Gosford you do have a choice of the GH or the leagues club on a Tuesday. We've stuck with GH because we like the atmosphere, the host is pretty good and the food is fine. It's also more convenient to get to for all of us.
And that's the thing. You have to sum it all up when you're going out these days. I look back at my previous post to see I paid $28 for a schnitzel burger at a cafe in Woy Woy. At the leagues club in Gosford I can get a chicken schnitzel for $26 and turn it into a parmi for an extra $3. For a chicken meal these days, that appears to be the standard prices you're paying. The last time I had the Caeser's Palace burger at Grill'd (back in March) with a choice of fries and a drink it was roughly the same. The thing is, they are still consistently good. However, with these prices, someone like myself on a fixed income isn't going to be eating out every week. In the last week of April, it was a birthday and a trivia night within four days. Add bus fare to the tally and that's $90 for two meals. I can buy that much in groceries in two shops yet I'll be eating for most of the fortnight at home.

Links correct at the time of posting.

Pictures taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2026.

An Afternoon out on the Peninsula (April 21)

The last of a trio of food reviews for the day. We're currently in the twilight period of the day. I've stretched my legs, had a shower and started dinner. Must say it's been a rather productive day today. Hope I can continue in this vein tomorrow.
So on Tuesday (April 21) I had a couple of things to do in the area. The first was to collect some mail from my PO Box in Umina Beach. The second was to get my Flu Vax jab at the surgery I semi-regularly attend in Woy Woy. Once the latter was done, grocery shopping was required. I had decided that I wasn't just going to go to Deep Water Plaza in the afternoon after collecting the mail, might as well make a day of it. The laptop gets packed as well so I can do something in the three hours I'll be hanging around. Of course, I'll need lunch. Today I desired a burger, one of the chicken variety. The choices were BFF outside Deep Water Plaza, Lush 1659 inside the plaza, or stroll to either KFC or McDonalds. Lush won seeing the weather wasn't too great. Sure enough, not long after entering the shopping centre it starts raining again.
Last time I dined at Lush was in 2024 when I had lunch with a friend of mine. BFF was in 2025. Either way I was going to be updating my dining experience at one of these places. Though they were a little busy on Tuesday (it was around midday when I ordered there) I still got my chicken schnitzel burger in about ten minutes. Same sized plate as last time, pretty much the same amount of fries and the burger was practically the same as well.

First bite though and the schnitzel was quite hot. Was it just taken out of a microwave? I had to let it cool for a bit before biting back into it. This time round, there was no problem with finishing the meal off. I even took my time seeing I was going through my e-mails.
I checked my bank account before finishing this post to find a $28 debit from the cafe. That included a can of drink and a surcharge for a bank card transaction. I felt that considering the size of the meal, $28 wasn't worth it. However, that seems to be the average price charged these days for a burger meal. The meal itself wasn't that bad though I'm now thinking that for better value I'd be better off buying a takeaway from the noodle place outside or wait until I got for my monthly trivia night at the Gosford Hotel. I may pay $30 there for a chicken parma with salad and chips but it's worth it.

Link correct at time of posting.

Picture taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2026.

Exploring Singapore Noodle Options 4 (April 2)

The second of my meal reviews for the day. Since I finished the first post (A Burger in-between Rounds), the weather has changed for the better. The temperature has dropped a point, the sun is out and one member of the local wildlife is wandering around my lawn picking at what's on it. In this case, it's a hungry kookaburra that has been quite successful and is now perched on the fence no doubt feeling rather satisfied.

I was a little busy at the start of April, with my mental health support groups on the 2nd and the 7th. This month being one of the rare occasions where I attended the Thursday group in Woy Woy before co-facilitating the Tuesday anxiety group in Wyoming. I also had to stick around at home on the Thursday, just in case technicians upgrading the electricity meter at the front property needed access to my place. They didn't and by midday I was walking down the laneway to catch the bus into Woy Woy and join the group at our usual location for the meetings on the foreshore during February to April. There was also a Mariners double-header at the stadium on Saturday (April 4th), the last one for the current season.
My choice of meals that lunchtime depended on which stand my bus pulls up at at the station. If it's towards the front, then it's the Noodle House on Blackwall Road. If it's at the rear, it's Woy Woy Asian Noodle and Chinese on the outside of Deepwater Plaza. Either one of them, I had decided, was going to be sampled yet again and this time added to my noodle posts. The bus stopped at Stand A, so it was Noodle House.
However, upon walking down Blackwall Road, I noticed that the casual cafe was unfortunately closed that lunchtime. This made things a little awkward. I had my heart set on a noodle dish and I really wasn't going to change my mind. Tempted as I was to try a nearby Thai place I hadn't dined at before, I decided to wander back towards the plaza, which meant crossing the main road back and forth before progressing towards the waterfront.
One bonus of getting lunch at Asian Noodle is that they have a lunch deal. If you order one item from 1-35 on the menu, you can add a can of soft drink for a $1, bringing the grand total to $13.90. Singapore Noodle is selection number 13. It is little more than a stove and a fridge but there is room for a couple of tables indoor and another pair out the front. The place is also quite popular for various menu delivery services.

On this occasion, I was satisfied with my meal when I finally got to the covered picnic benches where we've been dining for years. Both places that I've mentioned are currently running two and three behind Yi Yi in the Imperial Shopping Centre. The one I ate this time is worthy of being second with just enough curry powder to give it a kick, which is how I usually like it. Like the current leader it is consistently good and even with my fussy diet I find myself emptying the bowl completely, although when I grabbed another takeaway on the 10th, after doing some grocery shopping, one of the pork pieces felt like it had some bone in it and I had to remove it. That's been the only time that's happened since I've ordered food from there

Picture taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2026.

Links correct at the time of posting.

A Burger in-between Rounds (March 21)

A very autumn day here today. Overcast, sun is struggling to pierce the clouds but according to the weather app it's 20°. Sure doesn't feel like it. Regardless of what it's like outside it's a good day to to stay indoors and catch up on my blog posts, of which there are several to get through.
The food blog has three and this is the first of them. I had almost forgotten this one after the repeated trips to Parramatta for the Women's AFC. It's a crossover post for the gaming blog seeing this is related to an event I participated in on March 21.
For four years now at the Ourimbah RSL, which is on the main road pretty much in the centre in the township, there has been one day Blood Bowl tournament held, which, for some like myself, is usually the first one they play in every year. I've been running, or co-running gaming events on the coast since 2006, though these events didn't become official until 2010 with the first running of the Gosford Gauntlet. As a specialist gamer, I'm glad to see these events on the coast, which have grown in size since Covid, attracting players from Sydney and beyond.
The venue is very easy to get to. Being on the main road, it is a short 5 minute walk from the local train station albeit that you have to cross the road, then cross back over again to get to there. Being one of the smaller stations though it's only serviced once an hour. You can get a bus to the location (from either direction the #36 passes through there) or you can drive if you live locally. Some of the Sydney-siders do it seeing there's an M1 freeway intersection about a minute north of the venue.
Result wise, it wasn't that great for me, with just one draw to show for it out of the three games. (If you want to read the match notes you can find them here when I've posted them. Just one of the few posts I need to create.) The first game was terribly frustrating and I was quite relieved to get downstairs for a drink and a bite to eat around 12.30pm.
Last year I opted for the loaded fries. This year I went for a burger, which range in price from $25 to $32 if you're not a member. On their dining room menu you have a choice of four. Having had their beef burger before, I decided on the fried chicken option this time, which is served with cheese, slaw and sriracha aioli with a small serving of chips, which is standard for all burger meals.

The burger wasn't too bad, though I found the slaw quite annoying seeing it escaped the burger with every bite. Not to worry, you can eat it up with the chips. It was the right option in-between rounds and it was just the thing I needed before returning to the games room upstairs, after washing it all down with an alcoholic ginger beer.
There are plenty of other food options for a quick bite on a games day. The entrees have a varied selection, including the stock standard potato wedges, spring rolls and garlic bread. There are salad options as well though if you want something quicker and cheaper you can grab a sandwich or a sausage roll from the coffee bar.
Ourimbah RSL is a nice venue. Staff are genuinely friendly and you can stick around for a drink or two outside if time allows, stay for another meal, watch the live sport on multiple TV sets or listen to the evening entertainment. It is a very convenient option for yours truly seeing he has a mate that lives a couple of minutes down the road. Even if he isn't going, one can catch the #36 practically right outside his front door and can get dropped off at the school across the road.

Links correct at the time of posting.

Picture by Geoff G Turner (c) 2026.

Exploring Singapore Noodle Options 3 (March 3 & 6)

This is the third post for the day for me on what is a rare day at home. After all, one doesn't get to go to football tournaments that often and it's an added bonus to spend some time with friends and wander around some different streets.

Parramatta CBD has gone through some changes in recent years. It now has a light rail option, the Metro is currently being extended through the city and the football stadium has been thoroughly overhauled in the last five years as well. Some of the more familiar landmarks are still there though, like Peter Wynn's Score, the St John's Memorial Gate (pictured), Town Hall, Centenary Square, the Woolpack Hotel (which I mentioned in a previous post), the law courts, the Tudor Gatehouse and a rather languid Parramatta River.

Westfields Parramatta is still there as well and that's where I opted to go on both days I was in Parramatta. Of all the places on the T1 rail line I'm familiar with this area is second on the list after the Sydney CBD. When playing soccer in Sydney between 2011 and 2019 I often passed through there, or was dropped off from matches or picked up. I also had relatives living in the area as well and it was a good meeting spot to see them. Yes, I've also gamed there a few times as well, playing league matches and tournaments.

Anyway, the food court at the shopping centre hasn't really changed that much in twenty years and my meal preferences haven't either. It's also conveniently connected to the train station with additional food and drink options along the underground corridor as well as mini-supermarkets. Wok Delight is still there and seeing I'm examining Singapore Noodle options I'd thought I'd add a Sydney location to my list. For $15 I got my preferred half and half large plate of noodle and rice, forgoing a meat option, and getting a drink as well.

Unfortunately though on both occasions it felt a bit bland and the vegetable chunks appeared just a little on the large size. Still, it was filling but seeing that I have two more games to go to on separate days next week I should take an opportunity to vary the meals a bit.

Links correct at time of posting.

Pictures taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2026.

Exploring Singapore Noodle Options 2 (March 4)

So, after the first excursion to Parramatta was successful, I stayed an extra day with my Ourimbah football mate in order to view an upcoming Mariners match that night (March 4). Of course, we weren't going to stay at home all day so we went for a drive to have a bite to eat and do a little shopping.
Westfields Tuggerah is a very convenient location not far from Tuggerah train station and well serviced by several bus routes. With me currently in Woy Woy it is a bit of a hike to get there. One can take a train to there then either walk to the shopping centre or hop on a passing bus, which would take most of hour from my end of the coast. For me, I could also take a #55 bus to Gosford then a #36 or #37 bus from Gosford station which will take me straight there. However, that's a 70-80 minute trip if your connections are good. From my mate's place in Ourimbah, it's a 15 minute drive or the #37 bus for a slightly longer trip.
Transport options aside, there are plenty of food options inside the two levels of the main building and outside as well. Me, well, I generally prefer the food court, unless we're going to make an occasion of it and eat somewhere a little more up-priced.

There are plenty of options in the court. Usually, my first option is Master Noodle, which has been there since I first started visiting the shopping centre two decades ago. I find the food usually lacks in quality consistency. However, on this particular day I found my meal rather nice, though the carrot cubes were a little harder than I expected. The rest of the vegies were fine and bite-sized. I don't mind the yellow noodle and added curry powder gave it a little kick which I appreciated. I generally go for a large plate, half noodle and half rice, with a can of drink. Total cost is about $16.

I've been a bit lazy with some of the more recent posts and not added a water shot. I plugged in a back-up drive and found some old ones I took around 2014 of a small lake in the suburb of Mardi, just off McPherson Road. I don't think it even has a name. There was plenty of feathery critters there on the day that I visited, with an interesting assortment of common and uncommon birds. On foot it's a fair hike from the shopping centre but you only need to go straight up Gavenlock Road then turn left into McPherson. It's behind a housing estate.

Links correct at time of posting.

Pictures taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2026.

Sampling some of the fare at the AFC Women's Asian Cup (March 3) (Updated)

It has been somewhat of a holiday over the last week. On Monday (March 2) I wandered off to a mate's place in Ourimbah so that we could travel together for our first pair of matches at the Asian Cup. When ticket packages became available last year I quickly opted for a pair of affordable seats (in the same spot) for all six matches at Parramatta Stadium which consisted of five Group B matches and one from Group C.
On the first day of attendance, our two games were Uzbekistan vs North Korea and China vs Bangladesh. Strangely enough, at the men's AFC back in 2015, one of just two games I attended was Uzbekistan vs North Korea. I felt it was a rather unique double to achieve. We were joined by a couple of English gents, one whom I met at a Mariners match played at Wollongong in August 2023 (during the Women's World Cup), and proceeded to watch a rather one sided contest, won comfortably by North Korea. In-between matches we met up for a few drinks at a local pub – the Woolpack Hotel. The hotel has a special significance for this pair of coasties. We had quite a few drinks there before and after the June 2023 A-League Grand Final which was won quite handsomely by the Mariners.
Second match, just as one-sided and won by China. Before the game, we decided to grab a bite to eat at the stadium. A helpful staff member informed us that there was a limit of the number of food and beverage options open seeing only a crowd of 8,000 was expected. (In end it was just over 6,000.) After a short exploratory walk, we settled on burgers.

It was quite simple. You walked in, you grabbed a burger at the back, with sides and a drink, then proceeded to the check-out. If your burger of choice wasn't there you really didn't have to wait that long. We both chose a Chicken Parmi, which wasn't that bad. A schnitzel, a slice of cheese, a spicy red paste to give it that Parmi taste and some green leaves on a bun. With a 600ml drink and a standard cup of hot chips I wound up paying $26. It was a lot better than some of the fare I've sampled at the Central Coast Stadium but roughly the same price for a burger meal.

It was a long day. We were on a 9.45am train from Ourimbah and returned to that station at 11.30pm. Yesterday (March 6) I made the journey down by myself seeing I was meeting up with a Sydney mate near the station, then stayed at his place in Kellyville that night. On both trips we had lunch in the food court at Westfields in Parramatta (covered in a separate post) before walking to the stadium. It's a pretty easy walk which leads across the Parramatta River and at a casual pace you can get there in 10-15 minutes. Even better that you can amend the stroll via a certain pub for a pre or post match beverage.

P.S: Almost had a little disaster on the second day when the battery was running out on the tablet. With only electronic tickets accepted, we almost didn't get in for the second game on March 6 seeing the power bar was in the red. Thankfully it lasted long enough for us to get through the gate. There was a solution. Not far from the Gate A entrance/exit were a rack of portable power-banks which you could rent by the hour. I also took the further precaution of buying one, charging it up at the first opportunity to make sure that this didn't happen again.

P.P.S: Also sampled a basic cheeseburger at a couple of the games as well. It was decent enough. Oddly enough, it felt like I was eating a cheeseburger at Central Coast Stadium...

Links correct at time of posting.

Pictures taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2026.

Exploring Singapore Noodle Options 1 (Feb 25)

So I started my more formal assessment of my favourite oriental dish whilst in Gosford last week to do some more gaming. Wednesday night is games night at the Central Coast Leagues Club and I had plenty of time to kill before going there. So I ventured to the food court in the Imperial Shopping Centre to the one place on the Central Coast where I have been eating (regularly) longer than anywhere else.

Yi Yi Asian Cuisine pretty much looks like many other food court outlets. On 28 October 1999 I was wandering through the shopping centre on my way through to the train station, roughly a month after having moved to the Woy Woy peninsula, fully intending to go straight home after attending an appointment in town. As I headed for the Mann Street entrance/exit I passed a group of people in front of a games store with some very familiar gaming boards set up. A quick enquiry revealed that there was a Blood Bowl league playing there every Thursday night. So I made a quick trip back to my home in Umina Beach to fetch my miniatures, with enough money left for the return trip and something to eat. The rest is history.
The menu for the takeaway has improved in quality over the years, with set menu options added to what was available on display in the bain-marie. I can still recall derogatory remarks about what was on on offer by my new gaming companions when I first bought food from there. There was one thing though that I had found quite different from other places I dined at – the fried rice, the current manager once assured me, was steamed rather than fried. In recent years I was appreciating that more and more and had ordered it so often that when she sees me coming she only has to point and I only have to nod. It's generally white and fluffy, with little chunks of ham, peas and scrambled egg.
However, last Wednesday, I decided to do something different, keeping her on her toes as it were, ordering the Singapore Fried Noodle from the set menu and choosing to dine in for a change. If you add a drink to the cost it's little more than $20. I had enough time to go get one from the nearby Reject Shop, returning in time to see them bring the meal to the counter.

One of the things I appreciate in this noodle dish is the colour. There is a lot of it and the added ingredients are rather appreciative bite-sized pieces. It's a mild dish, hardly any curry powder in this offering and I took my time in devouring it, leaving nothing but some grease on the plate and a used wooden fork. For a proper meal, one can combine this with either the cheaper rice option or splurge and get the special fried rice. Either will set you back around $30 but it's two good meals there. I should also add, they have moved with the times after Covid and you'll find that they have food delivery options through the popular purveyors.
It's still pretty good after all these years which is one thing I really appreciate about the place – it is consistently good. Well worth paying a few dollars more. Like my preference for a good chicken schnitty, this is the place that I'll compare all Singapore noodle dishes to. It is the benchmark for my examination of other takeaways.
I practically lived in Gosford from the 20th to the 28th. Feb 20 to 22 I went to four football matches at the stadium, with two NRL trial games on the 21st and a Mariners matches either side of it. On the 24th was our pub trivia night at Hotel Gosford, which we didn't do so well at but had a good time anyway, then there was the games night at the club and finally one more Mariners' match on the 28th. It was yet another instalment of the F3 Derby and a rather tense and hard fought fixture. To come over the next two weeks, Asian Women's AFC Cup matches in Sydney.

P.S: Due to my particular eating disorder I actually find this meal quite palatable, using a little psychology on myself to get some vegetables and other meat into the system. I surprised my father once when we were dining out in Bathurst, before he passed away in 2004. The waitress asked for our order and I quite happily responded 'Singapore Noodle please!' The look on his face was priceless.  

Pictures taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2026.

Links correct at time of posting.

A drive to St Albans (Jan 31)

So I get a text last Thursday (Jan 29) from a gaming buddy to let me know that he would be picking me up on Saturday around 11am. Hmm, I'm surprised. He hasn't picked me up since I was in living in East Gosford 3-4 years ago. I usually make my own way to gaming sessions at his place in Narara. He advises me to bring my camera.
Saturday morning arrives and off we go. It's a warm day and the trip, my mate informs me, was to pick up some gaming gear that he found for sale on eBay. To save a few dollars, he offered to drive down to meet the seller at St Albans, named for the city of the same name in Hertfordshire, England in 1841. Our drive would see us pass through the south west corner of the Central Coast at Spencer, where Mangrove Creek merges with the Hawkesbury River, then follow that winding riverway to Wisemans Ferry and continue along a narrow road, with a considerable part of it unsealed, through farmlands and forests, until we eventually reached an overgrown cattle grid that guarded one access point to the village. From my place in Woy Woy, it took us nearly two hours to get there.

The actual meeting point would be the historic Settlers Arms Inn, formerly known as the Travellers Rest. The original license was issued in 1836 but by March 1848 the inn apparently was still yet to be built, although a landowner had already constructed a stone house two stories high. The inn was constructed facing the Macdonald River, at a point 15 kms from the Hawkesbury. St Albans being the upper navigational point of the tributary. From there goods could be shipped to Sydney.

The hotel is well-preserved and there were campers by the river, a lunchtime crowd enjoying a meal, a few drinks and some musical entertainment, kids playing in the nearby park and a trio of peacocks strutting about, including a considerably rare white male (leucistic rather than albino) a photo of which I'll post on my life blog when I get the chance.

When the deal was done, we had a chance to eat. It was a simple choice to make from the menu – chicken schnitzel burgers served in a shallow basket with a decent serve of chips for $20. I couldn't refuse having an alcoholic beverage and grabbed a bottle of cider as well. A good sized tasty schnitty with lettuce, beetroot and tomato, which kept me filled until around 9pm when we drove off for a late dinner after our gaming session.
Must say, it was a good day out. I haven't been for a drive like that for, well, years. The camera hasn't had that much of a workout since the 20th anniversary of Eucalyptus Bowl Blood Bowl tournament in Burwood last year.

Pictures taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2026.

Links correct at the time of posting.

Ourimbah Takeaway (December 12) (Updated)

So the Mariners were playing Auckland that night at Central Coast Stadium, with the kick-off scheduled for 7.35pm. My fellow gaming buddy, Mariner supporter and occasional drinking companion Gerry and I had been making plans for a week to go to this game. 
However, the weather intervened that day, storm clouds gathered and the drizzle set in. Text messages were swapped. I could, if I felt like it, walk up the road from my place to the nearby Everglades Country Club and see Australian band Regurgitator or even just stay at home to watch it. Gerry then suggested why not head over to his place in Ourimbah and watch the game there. It would be better than sitting at home by oneself and neither of us wanted to be at the stadium getting wet. We had done that enough times already over the years. I agreed, hoping to get away before the rain got heavier. 

And it did. I did make it to Gerry's, but ended up quite damp though despite wearing a raincoat. We then waited for a gap in the weather to get a bite to eat and some drinks. It was less than a five minute drive to the nearest bottlo and a decent variety of takeaway establishments for us to choose from. We opted for the quick and easy Kebab and Burger Bar on the Pacific Highway not far from the train station. Seeing we were the only ones there at the time, we didn't have long to wait. A chicken schnitzel burger each and a small chips between us and that was all we needed.
It turned out to be the right call. A very satisfactory meal to suit the occasion and reasonably priced as well. The rain though would ease up before game time, however, looking at the sparsely populated stands during the broadcast we obviously weren't the only ones to give the game a miss that night. We can make up for it on New Year's Eve with the double header against Brisbane. 

All the best for the festive period! Cheers!

P.S: Last week I managed to get a long overdue writing project finished and uploaded. Blutmunth: A Trial by Combat, is my fourth novel which has been decades in the making. I started work on the tenth and final version of the book prior to Xmas last year with the goal of getting it online before Xmas this year, which I just managed to do. It is currently available on Drive Thru Fiction for $4 AU along with my three part Feudball fantasy football series. Be advised, you need a DTF account with adult content enabled to access the page. 

P.P.S: Just a quick update. I was back at Gerry's place on Friday (23 August, 2026) and we decided to call in there for a late lunch/early dinner. This time round I opted for the Double Grilled Chicken Burger (accompanied by a small chips) which was a very tasty burger indeed. Okay, it's $20 for the burger by itself but it was worth it. Just the thing I needed after another visit earlier in the day to the medical practice in Woy Woy for more blood tests.

All links correct at time of posting.
Food image taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2025.     

 

      

Xmas lunch with the support group in Woy Woy (Dec 4)

This year, the mental health support group that I've been attending since 2011, decided to go somewhere different for the annual Xmas lunch. There are two pubs in Woy Woy, both within a stone's throw of each other near the waterfront. Both have also changed owners in recent years and have also undergone extensive renovations.
The pub we chose was the Woy Woy Hotel (established 1897), which is right next door to the Gnostic Mana Café (see 4 April 2024 post). I hadn't been there since, well, it had to be well before COVID. The last time I dined there I received some poor service from staff and decided not to go back.

Until now. The venue is a vast improvement from what it once was. The entire pub had been completely renovated - the dining area had been expanded, a covered beer garden with a children's play area installed and it now had a rather pleasant front bar area as well.

There is plenty of choice in the menus. One could choose from the main menu (which offered pizzas, burgers, kids meals and deserts), the $20 lunch time menu and pensioners could order from a discounted $18 menu if they so desired. I opted for the stock-standard chicken schnitzel from the lunch menu, then had Belgian waffles for desert. Whilst I had no problems with the schnitty, with a rather crunchy crust and a juicy breast fillet, I could not finish off the waffles. Whilst I have eaten far better schnitzels, at $20 it is good value and with an alcoholic beverage to wash it down you're only looking at a $30 lunch instead of $40. Honestly, I'd go there just for the waffles.

I also had a mate coming up from Bendigo (Victoria) that evening. Rather than waste time looking for somewhere else to dine, I just took him straight back to the pub. Still a little full from lunch, I ordered a Woy Woy burger whilst he settled for a steak sandwich. We were both happy with our dinner selections and had a couple of drinks before leaving as well.
I dare say I'll be heading back there again. One can sit in air conditioned comfort rather than broiling outside in the summer heat. It's a short walk from Woy Woy station and there's a large public car park almost directly behind the pub.

Links correct at the time of posting.

Pictures taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2025.

The impromptu mini pub crawl in Gosford (Oct 19)

I never get tired of the view. :)

So the first Mariners home match for the new season is over for the afternoon and they've won in an extraordinary fashion against their local rivals the Jets. A few celebratory drinks are in order. Why not a mini pub crawl? We'll start at the leagues club and work our way down to the station where we can catch the #37 bus home.
Of course, at some point, we're going to need something to eat. Leagues Club? Nope, currently too busy. Gosford Hotel? We'll be there Tuesday for trivia. Railway Hotel? We haven't eaten there yet, so why not?
I have been there a couple of times before, the more recent visit was the night of the home grand final against Melbourne Victory in May 2024. It was absolutely packed. This time it's around 7pm on a Sunday so it's considerably quieter. When I first went there I felt I was walking into the set of a noir film, right when a deal was being made between rival cartels and just before a badge gets flashed and all hell breaks loose. Gees my imagination gets the best of me sometimes... lol It's right in the centre of the Gosford CBD at the bottom of one of the more recent tower additions, right where Dutton's Tavern used to be.
But it's rather nice. Cosy even. Though it is primarily a steakhouse, there are plenty of other options on the menu. One goes for the steak and guiness pie, another for the classic chicken schnitzel, and seeing I'm in the mood for a burger, I take the crispy chicken option. All are served with chips with an option for salad, gravy and sauce. All items are over $25, which is pretty much par for the course in pubs and clubs these days around here.

It's worth it though. We didn't have too long to wait and during that time we chat and watch one of the many screens displaying a live sport fixture. The food is very good. I'm not too keen on chili sauce on a burger and due to my finicky nature I don't like cucumber either. However, after having consumed a few alcoholic beverages I don't care and finish the lot. In fact, all three of us pretty much lick our plates clean. We're all very satisfied and stay for another drink before moving on for our last port of call.
It was a short but good evening out. Most importantly, we started the new season with a win. Cheers!

All pictures taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2025.

All links correct at the time of posting.

Shopping at Lisarow (July 23)

Tuesday night a group of us paid a visit to the Hotel Gosford for our monthly pub trivia night. Rather than travelling back home to Woy Woy, I opted to stay over at my mate's place in Ourimbah seeing I was gaming at the Central Coast Leagues' Club Wednesday evening.
We had time to kill before the game, so before we settled in for a movie, my host decided to go for a grocery and lunch run to the nearby Lisarow Plaza, which was opened in 2007. It's a decent sized shopping centre, with two supermarkets, bottleshops, chemist, butcher, bakery, etc. with a variety of food options such as Thai, Italian, Domino's Pizza, Subway, a patisserie and a chicken takeaway. Having already sampled the fare at the patisserie (their sausage rolls were quite delicious I should add), this time I opted for the takeaway.

Formerly known as the Lisarow Takeaway, Ori's Charcoal Chicken & Kebab can be found in the bottom left-hand corner next to Subway, facing an outdoor dining area and the carpark. It has an extensive menu, offering breakfast options, salads, sides, wraps, rolls, kebabs, burgers and of course, a variety of chicken meals. There is a small dining area inside the store as well as the outdoor option. Their chicken schnitzel burger is quite adequate – lettuce, mayonnaise and a schnitzel which is cut in half and served on a large round sesame seed bun. I dined around 1.30pm and didn't need to have anything else until I got back home at 10pm. Looking at the menu though you may be better off buying the grilled chicken burger for the same price ($15.90) which has extra ingredients. I suppose it depends on your needs at the time. By the way, Menulog, Uber Eats and Door Dash all deliver Ori's.

As for nearby watery vista, well, there is the nearby Lisarow Wetlands at the corner of the Pacific Highway and The Ridgeway opposite Lisarow train station. The pictures that I have of it are around 12 years old, well before the adjoining apartment buildings were constructed.

Links correct at time of posting.

Pictures taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2013 & 2025.

Catching up with rels at Wyong Leagues Club (June 22)

So, whilst gaming last Saturday I received a text message from my sister asking me if she was at the right place. (She was close to my house but not quite there.) I must admit, it was quite a surprise. When she said she'd visit me within a couple of months I didn't expect it would be a couple of days after she had said that. Anyway, I provided an address as to where I was gaming and around 4pm there she was. 
After a night at a local hotel, we paid a visit to a cousin from mum's side of the family on Sunday morning, which then turned into lunch at Wyong Leagues at Kanwal. I hadn't been to this club since my sister lived in Lake Haven about a decade ago and I can safely say that the place hasn't changed since then.
For food choices, you have a choice of the Bistro or Sentosa, which provides a variety of Asian meals. I gave in an opted for some Chicken Pad Thai, which I hadn't had in quite some time. I must say it was absolutely delicious.

The one thing I'm finding common now when dining out, is the cost of meals. If you're not a member, a meal and a Brookvale Whisky and Dry on tap could well cost you about $40. Trust me, there wasn't much change left over. Still, I wasn't there so much for the meal and drink, but to catch with relatives. It was a nice spot to do it.

As for watery vistas to visit, the club isn't that far away from the Tuggerah Lakes. However, my sister and I stopped off at a little spot, roughly a five minute drive away, just off the Pacific Highway at San Remo, where my sister used to take her son fishing. Wallarah Creek branches off Budgewoi Lake, which when full, covers an area of 1400 hectares (3500 acres). It's the middle of the three Tuggerah lakes, which all connect, at The Entrance, to the Tasman Sea. If you're feeling energetic, you could walk from San Remo around the northern shore of the lake all the way around to Budgewoi. Last Sunday was a good day to do it seeing it hit 20°. Not bad for winter. 

Links correct at time of posting.

Pictures taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2025.

Hotel Gosford Revisited (April 15)

I had to bump this back to the front again on account of a recent meal that I had there. If you've been reading these posts, then you know I've been visiting the Hotel Gosford at least once a month to participate in the pub trivia. February has been our best month, with an equal second place that netted us a $30 drink voucher, which was duly consumed at the next event that we attended in March. Last Tuesday, well it was an acronym heavy night which affected our score, though I did win a $10 drink voucher in one of the in-between round games, correctly identifying Shaun Micallef in a picture question.
I arrived at to the venue around 5.30pm, having taken the #55 bus from my stop on Ocean Beach Road on the peninsula and getting off across the street from the pub, which is very convenient. Seeing I was in a rather good mood, I opted for the Chicken Parmigiana that night (a $4 upgrade from the schnitzel) and grabbed a drink from the bar. I had no sooner finished checking my e-mail when my meal arrived.

Unfortunately the picture from my mobile phone doesn't do it justice, so I'll be upgrading that first chance I get. (A wonderful error with the device that only allows me to take pictures as screenshots...) It was far better than the schnitzel I had at the same venue back in Nov 2 last year and I'd go as far as saying that it's the best schnitzel related dish I've had since I started doing this blog, bumping the meal that I had at the Kincumber Pub way back on May 12 2023 to second place. I may revisit that place and another at Erina Fair that I haven't been to in years, just to see if their parma's have improved. After all they do have the right of reply. Lol
One of my trivia team-mates decided to have a parma as well, opting not to include a salad with the meal. Personally, I'll take the option to get some veges into my system seeing I don't generally buy much for home due to the price and that I really don't eat them quick enough, so they usually go to waste. Dining out, well that's a different matter. On this occasion, the schnitzel was resting on the chips and covered with smoked ham and melted cheese which was absolutely scrumptious. $42 all up (including the drink) may seem a bit expensive, but it's a quality meal and I may well have another one next time I'm there.
Hopefully we'll do a bit better in our May trivia appearance. Cheers!

Links correct at time of posting.

Picture taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2025.

Appointment day in Woy Woy (April 10)

It was overcast, warm and very much like every other day in Woy Woy – busy. As a pedestrian, you really have to have your wits about you getting from one place to the next, especially the carparks around Deepwater Plaza.

Anyway, it was a double appointment day in the little shopping district, starting with the doctor around 11am and the Optometrist at 2.30pm. In-between the two I had to make a quick trip down to Umina to pick up the mail from my PO Box, then find somewhere to eat.

It wasn't too hard. I could've taken the easy way out and grab Chinese takeaway at one of two places in DWP, or walked to one of the two global chain restaurants, but I decided to pay another visit to a café that I dined at a few years ago after moving back to the peninsula.

The BBF Café (Bringing Best Friends Together) is a family owned café in a prime location in The Pavilion, which dominates the carpark. It's a short stroll from the rear entrance of DWP, three bus stops, the train station and the optometrists where I had my appointment. One can dine inside or out, with plenty of choices on the menu.

It was a good idea. Schnitzel burger, no problem, with a can of a popular soft drink and a small bowl of chips $22 all up. It wasn't too busy, so I had my meal within ten minutes and I took my time eating it. Toasted bun, good sized schnitty, crispy, juicy and I really must've been hungry because I devoured the lot.

Personally, I have a preference to eating there rather than Lush 1659. I prefer to have a bit of space when dining with a view, where Lush is in a busy spot indoors and quite cramped. Weather also plays a factor in this. On a fair day BBF is a good option. If I need to grab a bite before heading anywhere in the future (during the day) then I'll go there, weather permitting.

Pictures taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2025.

Links correct at time of posting.