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Flying high fifty years old

November 17, 2014 by David Herd

This is not a travel blog, it is part of my personal photo history . 

Flying high fifty years old

Flying high fifty years old

Flying high fifty years old living in Surfers Paradise, working for Metway bank & living life to the max. A great trip to Berlin & Prague with a stopover in Bangkok on the way home. Helen & Helenka are in the photo having Birthday drinks at Broadbeach tavern, can’t remember the name of the girl on the left. 

I’m also getting a great buzz re-visiting some of my fantastic years. Some of the photos contain nudity & certain comments may offend the narrow minded, so if you are in this category it’s probably best to close the page & move on.

flying high

Flying high fifty years old with my great old friend Harley Bradstreet

Flying high fifty

Harley and I have been friends since about 1968.

Female bouncer at Cocos.

Flying high fifty years old

This well built is the only female bouncer I have seen working in a nightclub. As you can see she took no nonsense from Harley. Then again Harley could talk underwater with a mouth-full of marbles so she may have just been trying to shut him up. 🙂


Stacy at Rio’s in Orchard Avenue

Flying high fifty

Stacey was absolutely gorgeous.

Georgie, Sonya & Dave Hamilton.

Flying high fifty years old

Dave was the owner of the club, a wild Scotsman who was always getting himself into trouble, mainly street fighting. Sonya was a Kiwi who was as mad as a snake. Georgie was a gorgeous blonde singer from Perth.

Steve Jones (RIP) & Dave Barnes (RIP)

Flying high fifty years old

Sadly both these lads have passed away, Dave in early 2016 and Steve about 10 years prior to this.

Beautiful Kelly Davis

Flying high fifty

For a few months in 1993 I was lucky enough to be taking out this gorgeous lady. This is proof that I was flying high in 1993.

Kelly Davis

Flying high fifty years old

Say no more.

Japanese for dinner

Flying high fifty years old

Great dinner opposite the casino at Broadbeach with Kelly Davis, Sandy Ansell & Helen Burke. Kelly & I went home by boat, I dropped anchor in a quiet part of the river & enjoyed one of the most memorable hours I have had with any woman in my life. 🙂

Happy friends at Marina Mirage

Flying high fifty years old

On the left is an American guy called Henry Geller, 2nd from the right is Tony Sweurs a guy I knew in Sydney who is now living in Belo Horizonte in Brazil.

Jill McCrossan with Tony Sweurs & Lorana from Brazil

Flying high fifty years old

What time can we start having fun?

Andre Buzek on Chevron Island

Flying high fifty years old

Andre was one of my best friends and a total party animal. He told everyone, especially the cute girls he was French when in fact he was from Prague in Czechoslovakia, sounded more sophisticated I guess. 🙂 Sadly within a years of this photo being taken he lost his life in a car accident in Cuba.

Andrea from Rio de Janeiro & Andre Buzek

Flying high fifty years old

One two occasions when Andre traveled to Rio de Janeiro he bought back to Australia an exotic Brazilian girl for a holiday. Andrea was fairly calm compared to the one he bought out the following year who was younger and wilder.

Flying high fifty years old with Andrea from Rio.

Flying high fifty years old

Here is a funny story, I had a day scheduled to visit Metway bank branches in Lismore & Ballina so I generously took Andrea with me to see some of the Australian country. We stopped for lunch in Byron Bay and were hitting it off famously. Knowing the reputation of many Brazilian girls I made sure we arrived back at my home a couple of hours before Andre finished work. Well it took no more than 10 minutes for this gorgeous tall Brazilian to shed her clothes & drag me into the bedroom. By the time Andre arrived to take her home we were composed and innocently awaiting his arrival. 🙂

Coral Knowles, Andre Buzek & Helen Burke.

Flying high fifty years old

One of my favorite photos, Andre’s eyes always lit up around attractive females. Also around some that were not so attractive, it never mattered to Andre as long as they were female & breathing. 🙂

Eddy Bonaventure , Jill Mc Crossan & Andre Buzek

Flying high fifty years old

WOW! Did we have some fun in those days? Yes we did, you better believe it. 🙂

Flying high with the Melbourne girls

Flying high fifty years old

The parties & barbecues seemed to never stop all through the fabulous 1990s.

 Another Sunday lunch at home

Flying high fifty years old

A typical lunch at Upton St.

Two beautiful Koreans

Flying high fifty years old

I feel like a rose between 2 thorns. 🙂

The big guy is Graham LaRoche aka Biff.

Flying high fifty years old

Harley & Biff are with another one of the lovely Korean girls who enjoyed out parties. There is a terrific story about these two guys on my 1982 post called New Year’s Eve 1981, the Great Escape.


Another Sunday lunch at my home.

Flying high fifty years old

You will notice how Harley always like to dress up in his army fatigues.

My favourite song from 1993

Winnie Andre & Harley.

Flying high fifty years old

Winnie was from South Africa, she loved a party. Andre of course was always in the thick of the action. Harley in this photo looks a lot like Col Gaddafi.

Eugine Korin has company at Kooralbyn

Flying high fifty years old

Kooralbyn was a great gold course which sadly has shut down in the last few years.

Two Tonys Murphy & Bonner

Flying high fifty years old

This was Coffs Harbour where Murphy was working & Tony Bonner was in a motorbike rally.

Family Xmas at my home on the Gold Coast

Flying high fifty years old

Of course this was Xmas 1993, many of my nephews & nieces now have children of there own. Here is a Xmas gathering in 2006.

Family dinner NYE 1993 at Marinas Cove

Flying high fifty years old

It was so good catching up with all the family.

Catherine Bonetti NYE 1993

Flying high fifty years old

So many women and such little time.


Roberta Aitchison still runs the meter maids

Flying high fifty years old

Roberta was originally a meter maid herself, she still runs the company today in 2021.

Crazy Sonya

Flying high fifty years old

Sonya was a Kiwi with very few inhibitions, check out the photo below if you want to see her in her birthday suit. However please remember my warning at the start of this post, in case you have forgotten……

Flying high

Sonia in all her glory

Flying high fifty years old

Andre is also going nuts on the slideshow, check it out before they censor it. 🙂

I told you he was crazy

Flying high fifty years old

I will never forget you old mate.

Sexy Suzie is on the slide show as well.

Flying high fifty years old

She was as cheeky as they come. 🙂

Why wait, here she is. 🙂

Flying high fifty years old

Just like little apples.

Sexy Jill Mcrossan

Flying high fifty years old

Jill was a lovely sexy lady who was always fun to be with. She now lives in Sydney and I  bumped into her at Manly about 3 years ago.

Patpong Road Bangkok

Flying high fifty years old

On my way home from Prague & Berlin I stopped in Bangkok to meet my dear mother who was on holidays there with a friend. Naturally I had to visit Patpong for some R & R.

At Coolum with Robert Allemby

Flying high fifty years old

May as well finish where I started, playing a round at Coolum with Robert Allemby, is that like 15 minutes of fame. 🙂

Henry from California & Kelly David

Flying high fifty years old

Lunch with nice people.

Once again, so many women & such little time. 🙂

Flying high fifty years old

Flying high fifty years old    Flying high fifty years old

    Oh well, a mans gotta do what a mans gotta do. 🙂    

Here are some more posts to check out

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

Flying high fifty years old        Flying high fifty years old          Flying high fifty years old

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

Flying high fifty years old          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        Flying high fifty years old

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
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 That’s all folks
1g Duck
Pattaya live webcam 
 
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A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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Jump forward 21 years and I’m still flying high, click here.

 

Before you go have a look at 1997 in Bali.

 

Australian adventures

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Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

November 9, 2014 by David Herd

Chevron Renaissance Surfers Paradise

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular, semi tropical climate, 25 kilometers of beautiful beaches, an amazing skyline and lots of good restaurants & bars.

Tall building is Soul & the Hilton

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Soul is a 243 m (797 ft) tall residential tower local on the corner of Cavill Avenue and The Esplanade in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It has overtaken Circle on Cavill as the second tallest building on the Gold Coast, behind Q1. The building was approved by the Gold Coast City Council in October 2004 and finished construction in 2012 along with the next stage of the Gold Coast renovation project. Use THIS LINK to book a great rate at the Hilton.

Soul on Australian Gold Coast

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Use this link for great deals on Gold Coast hotels

Surfers Paradise beach

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

The tall blue building is Q1 a skyscraper in Surfers Paradise, on the Gold Coast, Queensland. It lost its title as the world’s tallest residential tower to the 348 metre building The Marina Torch in Dubai on 29 April 2011.Wikipedia

Surfboat Australian Gold Coast

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

A surfboat is an oar-driven boat designed to enter the ocean from the beach in heavy surf or severe waves. It is often used in lifesaving or rescue missions where the most expedient access to victims is directly from the beach.

 Circle on Cavill

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Circle on Cavill offers great ocean views and is a good location to spend your holidays, use this link for an excellent room rate.

 Light rail on the Gold Coast

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

 Fast, efficient & hard to buy a ticket. 🙂

Cavill Avenue Surfers Paradise

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Lots of action here at night.

The Oracle at Broadbeach

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

The twin towers of Oracle are a new addition to the Broadbeach skyline.

Melbourne Cup day at Moo Moo in Broadbeach.

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Moo Moo restaurant is a great place to “people watch”, not bad for a steak as well.

Melbourne Cup day at Melbas on the Park.

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Melbas has been my favourite Gold Coast bar since 1981. It was owned by the late Paul Allen one of the coasts most colourful characters.

Circle on Cavil on the Nerang River.

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Thank you for visiting my Australian Gold Coast post, it was great to catch up with old friends & family.

My home

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

I can’t visit the Gold Coast without thinking of my beautiful home I built in 1990 and lived there for 21 years before moving to Thailand.

                     Here are some more posts on my wild wicked ways. :)       

 Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
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 That’s all folks
1g Duck
 
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Home extension budget blowout

October 15, 2014 by David Herd

Doubling the size of my home

Home extension budget blowout

Home extension budget blowout

Home extension budget blowout  was due to the many changes I made to my original plan. I wasn’t satisfied with just adding a 2nd floor. The photo above was taken just after my home was built in 1990.

Day one the job begins

Home extension budget blowout

From here on nothing will ever be the same.

Laying the slab

Home extension budget blowout

My builder Ari is the guy with the shovel, one of the hardest working guys I have ever seen.

Dad’s army take a coffee break

Home extension budget blowout

Ari and his guys were the hardest working tradesmen I have ever seen.

Seeing some progress with home extension

Home extension budget blowout

Starting to see some progress with my home extension, these guys really work fast.

Now we are getting somewhere.

Home extension budget blowout

I really wanted to give the home “street appeal” something it didn’t have in its original form.

Brickwork & a fancy door.

Home extension budget blowout

Painting the door was one of my jobs. 🙂

The tree has gotta go

Home extension budget blowout

It was like losing a friend, I had planted it 14 years ago.

Timberrrrrr!!!!!

Home extension budget blowout

There goes my beautiful tree.

Starting to look terrific

Home extension budget blowout

This is the point it’s all starting to look fantastic.

 Laying the floor

Home extension budget blowout

There is no job these guys can’t handle.

The kitchen takes shape

Home extension budget blowout

It’s easy to be wise after the event, on the original plans a stairway was supposed to lead from that wall to the main house downstairs, for some reason we left it out which later proved to be a mistake.

Laying Terracotta tiles

Home extension budget blowout

The finishing touches.

The downstairs studio $250 pw.

Home extension budget blowout

The jewel in this home extension is this fabulous little studio completely self contained with a private entrance.

Beautiful private courtyard for the studio apartment

Home extension budget blowout

Quite a beautiful peaceful area for the granny flat.

Upstairs lounge & kitchen

Home extension budget blowout

When I look at this home extension which cost me double the original quote of $120,000  I feel it was all worth it. Uptairs consists of 3 bedrooms & two bathrooms and downstairs a separate private studio apartment.

Bedroom & en-suite

Home extension budget blowout

OK, so the chair should really have been dumped.

Beautiful courtyard

Home extension budget blowout

Quite spectacular at night.

Courtyard & front entrance

Home extension budget blowout

I was very happy with the entrance to my new home.

I really love the front gate & entrance

Home extension budget blowout

Now how good does that look?

The fabulous finished product

Home extension budget blowout

One of main main goals with this home extension other than creating rooms I could rent to students was to give my home more “street appeal” to help when the time came to sell. I think I certainly achieved that.

My dream home

Home extension budget blowout

The finished product was wonderful however I made some big mistakes in my overall scheme of things. I did not do enough research on council regulations regarding student rental, secondly I never anticipated the reaction from my feral neighbours who were always complaining to council about anything & everything. These people the Ryan family at 108 Upton proved to be cowardly & malicious. I often wondered why until a policeman friend of mine pointed out the increase in complaints from neighbours always increased after major renovations due to their uncontrollable jealousy.

Finally my biggest mistake was building such a large home which made it very difficult to finally sell. It was just far too big for the average family, without realizing it I had placed myself in a small range of under 10% of buyers. Apart from all that I was very proud &  thrilled with the final product, it also gave me a great sense of achievement to design & create my dream home.

 
 
 

Click here for a flashback to my home in 1991.

 

Jump forward to 2007 just click here.

 

 Here are some more posts on my wild wicked ways. :)

A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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  Please check out these fabulous posts
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Bangkok Bars                         TokyoCape Town Safari
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               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

Pattaya live webcam
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Party travel terrific year 2005

October 11, 2014 by David Herd

This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection from 2005. Sunday Barbecue with super chef John Hunjadi

Party travel terrific year

Party travel terrific year

Party travel terrific year 2005, another fantastic 12 months in the life & times of David Herd. Four trips to Thailand, one to Sydney, plus a great round the world adventure to Paris & Brazil with Carnival in Rio being the ultimate highlight. Party travel, eat drink & enjoy life to the max, that’s the way to live.

This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection.

Nudity-300x197

Flags are flying guests arriving

Party travel terrific year

Booze barbecues & boats a formula for fun & games at my home on the Gold Coast.

Party travel terrific year & BBQ lunches at my home..

Party travel terrific year

Everyone seems to be relaxing after a nice lunch.

More of the happy crowd

Party travel terrific year

OK, lets put some names going left to right. John Hunjadi, John Hanrahan, can’t remember the girl, Greg Bell, Jim Bell & Rob Gerrard.

Another Sunday another lunch

Party travel terrific year

Three Japanese girls, one Colombian, one Chinese guy & me. 🙂

Beautiful Japanese student

Party travel terrific year

Ikumi was a student staying in my home, out of all the lovely Japanese students who rented rooms in my home I think Ikumi was the most glamorous.

Ikumi feeding the seagulls

Party travel terrific year

The scavengers are looking for a handout.

Kayoko comes to dinner

Party travel terrific year

I met Kayo in 2005 & I am writing this post in October 2014. We are still good friends, in fact she came to visit me in Thailand in 2015, I also caught up with her in Yokohama in February 2016. Are you starting to realize my life in 2005 was dominated by party travel food & friends?

 Megumi & Yoshiko

Party travel terrific year

Megumi & Yoshiko November 19, two more gorgeous Japanese students.

Ikumi, Ryoko, Yuka & Nana

Party travel terrific year

Four lovely Japanese ladies.


Gold Coast Indy

Party travel terrific year

The party for the petrol heads.

Allison Schroeder

Party travel terrific year

I first met Allison in 1988 when she was only 18, she extremely cute & I vividly remember using an old tried & true technique, I promised her the world & bought her an Atlas. 🙂

Flashback to 1988 with Allison & Winnie.

Party travel terrific year

Dinner at La Rustica.

The Sheraton Hotel at Marina Mirage

Party travel terrific year

A wonderful Gold Coast hotel.

For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Phil Thompson & Bridgette at the Boardroom

Party travel terrific year

We had a couple of trips to the Boardroom in Southport for lunch, it’s fairly obvious why. If you take the time to watch the slideshow at the end of the post you will see a whole lot more of Bridgette.

More from the Boardroom

Party travel terrific year

Tall and gorgeous.

Say no more, wink wink, nudge nudge.

Party travel terrific year

Do you understand why this place is so popular? 🙂

Q1 Surfers Paradise.

Party travel terrific year

Now one of Australia’s iconic buildings.

Chevron Renaissance Hotel.

Party travel terrific year

Great facilities at the Chevron, use THIS LINK for a good discount.

Chevron Renaissance food court

Party travel terrific year

I like to have coffee here and watch the passing parade.

A day at the beach

Party travel terrific year

Looking north from Burleigh Heads.

Footy tipping competition drinks.

Party travel terrific year

Drinks at Melbas for our tipping competition.

Another Barbecue at home.

Party travel terrific year

The fun never stops at Upton Street.

It was another great year on the Gold Coast

Party travel terrific yearLots of friends & beautiful girls.

My jetty & beach

Party travel terrific year

I enjoyed this view for 21 fabulous years.

Celebrating the life of Nan Tippett

Party travel terrific year

Not just a funeral but a celebration of her wonderful long life. Our beloved grandmother lived to the ripe old age of 104.

Here is a photo of Nan from around 1953

Party travel terrific year

Nan Tippett with Warren & David at Booker Bay, check out the Herd family history.

Thanks for visiting my Party travel terrific year photo blog.

                       Here are some more posts on my wild wicked ways. :)

               

   Here are some more posts to check out

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
                         d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
Surfers Paradise Party Animals
 
Pattaya live webcam 
 
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A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

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Sexy Soi Cowboy Bangkok 

Beautiful Budapest

Australian seafood

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Home Gold Coast 1990

October 10, 2014 by David Herd

Part of my personal online photo albums, as opposed to my FiveStarVagabond travel blog.

Home Gold Coast 1990

Building dream home Gold Coast 1990

Home Gold Coast 1990 was a great thrill for me, I also completely designed the layout & drove the builder crazy by checking the progress every day. The address is 106 Upton St Bundall, QLD Australia 4217.

This post also features many of the terrific people I crossed paths with in 1990. Apologies for the poor quality photos, it was very early day for digital cameras.

Dream home 1990 & a new boat

home Gold Coast 1990

I was working for Metway Bank & took out a loan to build the house, the interest rate was 12.5%, can you believe it? I also still owned my previous home in Claymore Crescent Sorrento.

Followed by  new girl. 🙂

home Gold Coast 1990

 Karen Greenwood was a Kiwi & we spent the next 12 months or so together.

My favourite song from 1990

Madison & my car fleet completed the set. 🙂

home Gold Coast 1990

My best friend Madison & my Mini Moke came with me in January 1987 when we moved from Newport Beach in Sydney to Surfers Paradise.

At Coolum with Ross Radford & John Sprouster.

home Gold Coast 1990

These two great guys were my bosses, John was GM at Macdougals Ltd at 58 Clarence St Sydney which was my first selling job in office equipment. Ross owned Sanyo Office Machines & sent me to Adelaide in 1972 then Melbourne in 1974.

Helen Burke at Coolum golf resort

home Gold Coast 1990

This lovely lady really knew how to have fun., + she had a fabulous pair of Bazookas.

Bryan Dart, Greg Hughes & Wayne Jones

Building dream home Gold Coast 1990

We often played golf as I was a member at Sanctuary Cove, Greg forever the village joker took my putter and had it shortened by 4 inches. Next time we played I couldn’t understand why they seemed to be laughing & giggling each time it was my turn to putt. Being a fairly average golfer I never noticed the difference. 🙂

Amanda Kathy & Christy

Building dream home Gold Coast 1990

Three beautiful Surfers Paradise princesses.

Boating to Sanctuary Cove

home Gold Coast 1990

Taking Kathy Amanda & Christy to a party in Sanctuary Cove at Peter Hesky’s waterfront villa.

 Dave Alen at Melbas

Building dream home Gold Coast 1990

Dave is the son of Paul Alan the owner of Melbas nightclub & restaurant.

NYE at Melbas with gorgeous Simone.

home Gold Coast 1990

Another great year is almost over.

New Years Eve 1990

home Gold Coast 1990

Narrelle one of the gorgeous girls working at Melbas and my old friend Harley Bradstreet.

Tony Fasio & Steve Jones, RIP.

Building dream home Gold Coast 1990

Tony was the manager at Melbas & big Steve one of the bouncers, Steve sadly passed away far too young in the late 90s.

Surrounded my lovely ladies on New Years Eve.

home Gold Coast 1990

Life is hard in Surfers Paradise but someone has to do it. 🙂

Happy group at my home for dinner

home Gold Coast 1990

Tony & Narrelle & the other names I can’t recall.

Derek Pugh & I in Sydney

home Gold Coast 1990

Derek & I worked for MacDougalls in the late 60s.

Paul Slaughter with Clode & Ian Rich.

home Gold Coast 1990

Xmas day in Sydney with my brothers.

home Gold Coast 1990

Ian, Bryan & Warren, the only one missing as usual was Neale.

The Herd clan at Kihilla Rd Auburn for Xmas.

home Gold Coast 1990

Most of them now in 2014 have children of their own.

A rose between two thorns.

Building dream home Gold Coast 1990

More like a thorn between two roses. 🙂

Tony Murphy & Graham Hughes

home Gold Coast 1990

Cold beers at my home in 36 Ckaymore Crescent Sorrento  just before moving into my new home.

The end of another exciting year.

home Gold Coast 1990

Thanks for visiting my Building dream home Gold Coast 1990 photo blog.

After building my dream home 1990 I lived happily there until October 2011 & then moved to Thailand.

   Here are some more posts to check out

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
                         d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
1g Duck
Pattaya live webcam 
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1) 
A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 

This gallery contains 2 photos

Friends family Surfers Paradise

September 29, 2014 by David Herd

Breakfast at Main Beach

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Friends family Surfers Paradise starting with my brother Warren his lovely daughter Laura & his friend we call Mumbles. Another incredibly busy year for travel including Belem at the mouth of the mighty Amazon , Fortaleza on the north coast of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Cabo Frio & another great trip to Tuscany & Portofino.

Two trips to Sydney including a terrific family Xmas & one trip to Melbourne for an AFL weekend. Yes, 2006 was another great year.

This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection from 2006.

Lovely Laura

Friends family Surfers Paradise

My niece Laura is a terrific singer & dancer trying to break into the big time. She won a scholarship to preform in New York which like myself she has fallen in love with the city.

My beautiful home at 106 Upton St Bundall, 4217

Friends family Surfers Paradise

I designed & had my beautiful waterfront home built in 1990, I made a huge mistake in 2004 when I added a 2nd floor, it made it difficult to sell because it was too big for the average family, 500 M2 with seven bedrooms & five bathrooms. Oh well, it’s not the first major mistake in my life and it won’t be the last.

Lunch with Rossco at Omeros Brothers.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Good friend Ross Kennedy & I at Omeros Brothers, one of the best restaurants on the Gold Coast.

Lobster Morney with Rossco at Omeros Bros.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

The food here is always excellent.

Dave & Janice Hoskot

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Drinks on my jetty with the Hoskots, Janice is an Australian girl & Dave is American, for a number of years he was a back up drummer for Bob Dylan.

A rose between two thorns.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Asuka on the left was a lovely Japanese girl from Osaka who was studying on the Gold Coast and renting a room in my home.

Robin & Les Scheffer, Janice Hoskot & Randy Fuse.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

The Scheffer’s & I were good friends for many years, but in 2013 they placed my firmly on their blacklist for various infractions, you will see some others they have also placed on the list in following photos, it’s nice to have company. 🙂

Here is a classic “black list” photo.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

That’s Robin at the front & four of the other six people including myself have been banished to her & Les Scheffer’s blacklist for quite a long time, as I said before it is nice to have company. 🙂 This particular day was a happy one, I have a small tradition where for many years on Good Friday I invite friends over for lunch.

Even though I was high on Les’s black list I’m sorry to say he passed away in March 2019, RIP.

Here is our Good Friday feast.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

  Beautiful Gold Coast fresh seafood & leg ham, salad & freshly baked bread.  

Birthday lunch for Noel Smith.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

  At Carmody’s restaurant at the Southport Sharks club to celebrate Noel Smith’s birthday.

Sadly we have lost Noel Smith. Les Scheffer, Ian Fraser-Smith, John Woods and Ron Collier, RIP. 

Xmas lunch at Melbas with the usual suspects

Friends family Surfers Paradise

  Greg Craig, Mike Nidrie & Noel Smith (RIP) are all regular drinking buddies of mine at Melbas.  

Beautiful smile at Melbas

Friends family Surfers Paradise

    Melbas always hires gorgeous girls.

Xmas lunch, the tradition continues

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Xmas lunch at Melbas with Lars Shitterer & Dave Hoskot, I first started drinking at Melbas on January 1st 1982 when some friends & I flew from Sydney after a huge NYE on Sydney Harbour when my boat was peppered with falling sky rockets because I stupidly  anchored in the drop zone.

Red wine at Melbas

Friends family Surfers Paradise

  Sudzi was one of the Melbas managers, in January 2008 we met up in Brazil for Carnival.  

Dave Allen at Melbas.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

  Dave is a terrific fellow & is the son of the owner & founder of Melbas Paul Alan.  

Melbas in Cavil Avenue

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Follow THIS LINK for lots of memories on Melbas.

Jim Bell & Dave Allen

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Jim Bell rented a room in my home for 13 years, that’s what I call a long term tenant.

Breakfast on Chevron Island with Brian Rawnsley.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Brian is a Brisbane guy I met in Thailand, here we are at Tigerlilly on Chevron Island one of my breakfast haunts.


 

The girls in our footy tipping club.

4661ef0b-58a3-4960-9dd1-15e5af5b127e (1)

I ran a AFL tipping competition for 10 years, here we are at the end of year dinner.

And the winner is……..

Friends family Surfers Paradise

My great friend Ross Kennedy aka “Shoeless Joe Jackson”.

My brother Ian’s 50th birthday.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Friends family gathered for Ian’s 50th birthday, here is Bryan another brother given one of his famous speeches.

 Family breakfast on Chevron Island.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Two of my Brothers Bryan & Warren, Bryan’s wife Lynn & daughter-in-law Maisie.

This is Elliot, another little Herd.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Maisie’s cute little kid.

Les & Robin Scheffer marry at Saks restaurant.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

A great venue for a wedding on the Broadwater at Marina Mirage.

Wedding guests at Saks.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Niggle Stopsgiving standing next to me is now firmly on the Les Scheffer‘s black list, his lady of 10 years beautiful Randy Fuse on the far right and he sadly are still doing battle. The name  Geoff Pilkington’s wife eludes me & ?????

Sadly Les Passed away in May 2020, RIP.

I met these two lovely Japanese girls at Broadbeach.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Their names were Nemo & Nami, naturally I took them home to my house for lunch. 🙂

Vannessa & I at Tamborine Mountain.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

It was not the fact she was excited to see me, it was very cold in the mountains. 🙂

 Melbourne Cup day drinks at Melbas

Friends family Surfers Paradise

David Robertson & Phil Thomson at Melbas on Melbourne Cup day watching all the gorgeous fillies getting flyblown. 🙂

Harley Bradstreet, one of my oldest friends.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Harley was preparing to leave Brisbane after a another disastrous business experience. When describing Harley, Larry Wilson a mutual friend once said “anyone can have a bad decade”. Which fitted Harley to a tee, over the many years I have known him this nice harmless fellow seemed to stumble from one disaster to another. On my boat on our eventful NYE in 1981 when rockets were falling from the sky, who was the first guy to get hit by one? Harley Bradstreet of course. 🙂 Thanks for visiting  my friends family & others from 2006, check out the slideshow.

For a great hotel rate on the Gold Coast just book through THIS LINK.

Thanks for visiting my Friends family Surfers Paradise photo blog.

 Here are some more posts on my wild wicked ways. :)    

 

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
                         d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
Surfers Paradise Party Animals
 
A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Gold Coast Australia

September 27, 2014 by David Herd

Gold Coast Australia

Gold Coast Australia

Gold Coast Australia was my home for 25 years from 1986 to 2011. Here are photos & comments on some of my wonderful memories.

This post focuses on 2008 which was another frenetic year of travel. Starting with 6 weeks in Brazil over Xmas & Carnival, with a fabulous week in New York on my way home. My Brazil trip included Rio de janeiro, Curitiba, Paraty, Belneario Camboriu & Florianopolis.

Three trips to Thailand in April, September & November, then throw in Bali, Singapore & Kuala Lumpur,  so as you can see I hardly had time to unpack my suitcase. I nearly forgot a hectic couple of weeks in Sydney as well.

This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection from 2008.

Qantas 1st class NYC to L.A.

Gold Coast Australia

I just had to include this photo flying 1st class thanks to my cousin Deb who is a Qantas flight attendant.

The old & the new opposite each other.

Gold Coast Australia

During my 25 years living here the changes were extraordinary, not all for the best I might add. The first 15 years were wonderful, however after that in my eyes, the overall atmosphere of the Gold Coast started to lose its shine, it no longer had the friendly village feel to it. I guess in my final 10 years there it just got too big and modern.

My home at 106 Upton St Bundall, 4217

Gold Coast Australia

In 1990 I designed & built a beautiful home on the waterfront with my own sandy beach & jetty for my boat, life was good. I sold the house in 2011 for over a million dollars, but this was $250k less than I was offered twice in 2007, the big drop in price was due to the Global Financial crisis, c’est la vie.

Gold Coast Australia, drinks at Melbas

Gold Coast Australia

Melbas bar & nightclub in Surfers Paradise Australia was my main drinking spot for most of my 25 years on the coast. Here are some of the fellows I would sometimes drink with.


Melbas always had sexy waitresses

Gold Coast Australia

  One of the main reasons I made this my local watering hole.  

Ian Rich was a friend for 45 years.

Surfers Paradise Australia

In 2008 Ian was living in a fabulous sub penthouse in Surfers Paradise Australia, the next few photos taken from his apartment are wonderful examples of Australia’s Gold Coast.

Ian’s beautiful apartment

Gold Coast Australia

A great view but very windy on the balcony.

Looking south at Surfers Paradise Australia

Gold Coast Australia

Absolutely breathtaking. 

Looking north towards the seaway

Gold Coast Australia

Magnificent coastline in Surfers Paradise Australia Gold Coast.

Good Friday lunch at Chevron Island fish & chip shop.

Gold Coast Australia

One of my favourite eating spots in Surfers Paradise, great food at cheap prices & Frank the owner is an Australian football fanatic similar to myself. The couple on the left Les Scheffer & his wife Robyn & I used to be good friends, however in July 2013 they placed me firmly on their black list where I still reside today. 🙂

I’m sad to say Les passed away in March 2020 after a long battle with Cancer, RIP.

The boys in the fish & chip shop

Gold Coast Australia

A good bunch of guys.

Bjorn, Alisha, Brad, my nephew Michael & Matty.

Gold Coast Australia

Michael was in charge of cocktails as he was a barman at the Sheraton in Sydney as well as some other top venues.

Brad, Elisha & Matty.

Gold Coast Australia

I have a couple of internet hotspots in Surfers Paradise which earn me a few bucks, Brad owns the IT business which looks after them. Elisha is his lovely wife & Matty one of his technicians.

Here is Kayoko my friend from Tokyo.

Gold Coast Australia

Lots of cocktails were consumed at my home this night, there were a few sore heads in the morning.

 Margarita time.

Gold Coast Australia

I’ll let Jimmy describe this fabulous cocktail.

Gold Coast Australia Michael & Bjorn

Gold Coast Australia

  The happy couple are living in Berlin which is Bjorn’s home town.   2016 Update; sadly earlier this year Bjorn lost his long battle with cancer, he will always be remembered as a wonderful friend, RIP.

Surfers Paradise meter maids

Gold Coast Australia

These lovely girls in the gold bikinis put coins in the expired parking meters, plus they look terrific.

Surfers Paradise Meter Maids

Gold Coast Australia

Are these babes cute or what?

Other side please

Gold Coast Australia

They look great from any angle.

Men At Work - Down Under (Official HD Video)

At Trevor’s apartment Broadbeach

Gold Coast Australia

Trevor Loresch is very much a self made man, lives in a beautiful Pattaya waterfront apartment along with this luxury holiday getaway in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.

Birthday drinks with Ross Kennedy & Phil Thomson

Gold Coast Australia

Two of my best friends on the Gold Coast. Last year Phil & his lovely Japanese wife showed me how to get around the great city of Tokyo which has become one of my favorite cities. In 1996 Rossco & I jumped in my Porsche & did one of my all time great road trips to the Hunter Valley, Sydney, Falls Creek & Melbourne.

Birthday lunch at Melbas

Gold Coast Australia

You know you are getting older when you look at some group photos and a couple of guys you have known for decades are not with us anymore. Ron Collier on the left in the black & Noel with the glasses on the right, RIP.

Good friends Wayne Jones & Bryan Dart.

Gold Coast Australia

I have known these guys for over 20 years.

Happy birthday DH.

Gold Coast Australia

A great day with a lot of good friends.

This would be a perfect birthday present. 🙂

Gold Coast AustraliaPromise I’ll give her back in the morning. 🙂

St Kilda play North Melbourne at Carrara.

Surfers Paradise Australia

  Rossco & I jump into the wine & food at the St Kilda’s dinner at Carrara stadium.  

Drinks at Melbas for our AFL tipping Competition.

Surfers Paradise Australia

I ran a AFL tipping competition for nearly 10 years, here are some of the happy crew enjoying our mid year drinks at Melbas.

My great mate Phil Thomson.

Gold Coast Australia

  We are at Southport Sharks for our end of year AFL tipping competition.  

Dennis Perry, a rose between 2 thorns

Gold Coast Australia

Running the tipping competition was a lot of fun, when I moved to Thailand in 2011 Dennis & his crew took it over.  

Gold Coast Australia New Years Eve 2008

Gold Coast Australia

After a frantic year I spent a very quiet NYE with friends reflecting on another super year of travel & living in Gold Coast Australia. Thanks for visiting my Surfers Paradise Australia photo blog. 

         Here are some more posts to check out

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
                         d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
Surfers Paradise Party Animals
 
A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
 

Perhaps you would like to see my terrific year in 2007?

 

Gold Coast in 2014

 

Australian Outback in 2003

 

Check out these great photo blogs.


Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Babes boats Bangkok trips 2001

September 10, 2014 by David Herd

Babes boats Bangkok trips 2001, the frenetic travel continued. Two trips to Thailand & one world trip including  Spain, Venezuela, Cuba & Los Angeles. This is not part of my travel blog it’s just a photographic record of the people who crossed my path in 2001.

Rita & Vanessa on the Broadwater.

Babes boats Bangkok

Babes boats Bangkok & living on the Gold Coast which ensured you spent many days on the beautiful Broadwater. Rita was from Shanghai & Vanessa was a Gold Coast local.

Most other boats were bigger than mine.

Babes boats Bangkok

Like most places in the world, someone always has a bigger boat. 🙂 This particular one is owned by Billionaire Bob Ell.

Skye Edwards from Launceston

Babes boats Bangkok

Skye was a beautiful girl from Launceston who was visiting the Gold Coast, I was lucky enough to take her out a couple of times.

Ross Kennedy & Jim Bell.

Babes boats Bangkok

Jim Bell rented a room in my home for 17 years, that’s what I call a long time tenant. 🙂 Rossco is a good friend and a long suffering St Kilda fan.


Keiko visits from Japan.

Babes boats Bangkok

I met Keiko on the internet so when she came to the Gold Coast for a business conference naturally I took her boating on the Broadwater. There is something special about babes boats sunshine & living like a king on the Gold Coast.

Keiko & her workmates

Babes boats Bangkok

A chopper ride over the Gold Coast.

Dinner at Main Beach with Keiko & her workmates

Babes boats Bangkok

Main Beach was a Gold Coast hotspot, now in 2016 it has faded somewhat.

 A weekend in Sydney at Pothole’s place.

Babes boats Bangkok

It’s 2018 & Pothole & I live in the same building in Pattaya Thailand.

Swedish backpackers at the Oaks Hotel

Babes boats Bangkok

I met a couple of Swedish backpackers at the airport and bought them back to Pothole’s home, we ended up at the Oaks hotel in Neutral Bay.

Lars, Rick & Derry.

Babes boats Bangkok

Rick the guy in the middle has been a friend since the 70s, he was a Sydney solicitor who for as long as I have known him has pretended to be some sort of secret agent, I like to call him 003 & 1/4, not half the man James Bond was. 🙂 He played the role quite well including fitting out his Porsche with a police radio, umbrella guns in easy reach and a switch to release an oil slick to foil any bad guys who were pursuing him. The thing that amazes me is how such an intelligent guy can live out such a fantasy. His most recent episode was finding a obscure European title, he now calls himself “Count” and has hyphenated his name. Words fail me, then again whatever floats your boat. 🙂

Vanessa Teo

Babes boats Bangkok

Vanessa worked in the U.S. for many years before returning to Australia, I think her mother was English & her father was Chinese & was a high court judge in Port Moresby.

Ponzi scheme

Babes boats Bangkok

Loading cargo onto the only flight a failed company called Cargo Jet managed to get into the air. My involvement was a very expensive exercise as I’ll briefly explain. Graham Cash was a Gold Coast accountant I had known for 14 years & regarded as a friend. He put together a air cargo company which failed miserably, he also conducted a clever Ponzi scheme which cost me around $100,000 in capital over a period of 4 years. It’s not as bad as it seems as I did receive around $85,000 in interest during that time, many others lost far more than I did from this mongrel of a con artist.

My lovely mother Iris Herd.

Babes boats Bangkok

Sadly passes away in 2007, will never be forgotten.

Thanks for visiting my Babes boats Bangkok photo blog.

 

 Here are some more posts on my wild wicked ways. :)

             

   Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
                         d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
Surfers Paradise Party Animals
 
Pattaya live webcam 
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1) 
A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos

Travel plus danger in 2010

August 24, 2014 by David Herd

My Gold Coast home 1990 to 2011

travel plus danger

travel plus danger

Travel plus danger in 2010, first the travel, I’ll talk about the danger later. Travel included Thailand, Cambodia & Europe plus two visits to Sydney. 

Some English & Italian visitors were guests in my Gold Coast home. Bill & Joan from Wiltshire met up with me in Thailand in January & we flew to Australia in February, this was their first trip “down under”. We drove down the east coast to Sydney before they returned to the U.K.

This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection from 2010.

Bill Austin & Joan Baptiste

travel plus danger

Bill is the brother of my friend Alan Austin who is a guest of Her Majesty, Bill & I met when I first visited Alan in 2007. Joan was an Olympic runner who competed in the 200 meters at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Bill was a Para Military man who served time in Ireland & many other countries.

Alan finally regained his freedom late 2018 after 11 years in the slammer.

Mt Tamborine on the Gold Coast.

travel plus danger

Hang gliders jumping off Tambourine mountain.

Byron Bay

travel plus danger

One hour south of the Gold Coast is Byron Bay the most easterly point of Australia.

My beach & Jetty

travel plus danger

I sold my boat last year so I was able to rent my jetty to moor a houseboat.

Cold beer on the houseboat

travel plus danger

You too can have a body like this if you abuse it. 🙂

 

Roberta, Mikie & Alice from Italy

travel plus danger

I did a house swap with this lovely Italian family, I stayed in their ski chalet in northern Italy in July & they came to my home in August.

Roberta loved the pelicans at Labrador.

travel plus danger

Roberta was the Italian champion kite surfer, in fact if I remember correctly she was ranked 4th or 5th in the world.

Lovely Alice from Italy

travel plus danger

Is this a cute little gal or what?

Charis seafood in Labrador

travel plus danger

Wonderful seafood market on the Gold Coast. I moved to Thailand in October 2011 and apart from some friends & family the fresh Aussie seafood is the thing I miss most.

Roberta, Mikie & Alice from Italy

travel plus danger

Playing on the beach in front of my home.

Fresh prawns & avocado

travel plus danger

While on the subject of fresh Aussie prawns, there is no better sandwich in the world than prawns & avocado on fresh white bread.

Dinner with Deb & Jodie

travel plus danger

Planning our trip to Italy & the French Riviera in July at the Garlic Clove restaurant.

Melbourne Cup at Surfers Paradise

travel plus danger

The track is adjacent to my home.

Tania Zaetta at the Melbourne Cup

travel plus danger

Tania was a well know celebrity, I think she may have been in a couple of TV shows & a Bollywood movie.

Melbourne Cup at Surfers Paradise

travel plus danger

A little eye candy at the track, talk about travel and danger, well I would love to travel with her & accept whatever danger that may bring. 🙂

Dressed to the nines & feeling no pain

travel plus danger

It is always great entertainment watching the crowd at the end of the day, some find walking rather difficult. 🙂

Travel plus danger in 2010 “Dueling baseball bats”

I spoke earlier of travel and danger, well here is the danger. It was May 2010 and I had only returned from Asia 48 hours ago & was still a little jet lagged. It would have been far safer staying in Bangkok or Cambodia than my home on the Gold coast, as I was the victim of a violent home invasion & robbery at 1 am in the morning. I took a very solid hit from a lunatic with a baseball bat, but luckily was not badly hurt, I managed to fight the bastard off, & when I finally got through to 000 5 cop cars turned up within about 7 minutes. It may well have been the most terrifying experience of my life. There was an 18 year old girl renting a room in my house so when I heard some strange noises in the early hours of the morning I thought it was just her banging drawers etc. Then a loud male voice from outside my bedroom door said “GIVE ME YOUR MONEY AND YOUR JEWELRY OR I WILL SHOOT YOU” I jumped out of bed, put on a pair of shorts, grabbed a baseball bat from my wardrobe and opened my bedroom door, I was only halfway through the door when this wild man rushed me swinging his own baseball bat straight at my head. It all happened so fast, and bear in mind I was half asleep, luckily I came awake fairly quickly and held my bat at a 45 degree angle in front of my head, the bat took the main force of the blow. His bat bounced off and caught me on top of my right shoulder which made my whole arm briefly go numb. Needing to gain a little time & to get the feeling back in my arm I slammed and locked my bedroom door & called 000, (I also hit my house alarm button and the bloody thing did not work) as soon as I reported to the police I knew I had to go back out and front the bastard again because I could hear the young girl sobbing in her bedroom, my biggest worry was that he was not alone. Luck was with me, the coward had bolted with only Alison’s old laptop, her new iPhone and $15 cash. On the same night he robbed at least 2 other places near my house, mine was the only one that included violence. Across the water a couple were asleep on the lounge downstairs while the intruders went through their upstairs bedrooms, one of which contained 3 children under 6 years old. I have absolutely no doubt had I not been able to block the vicious blow aimed at my head I would more than likely have wound in hospital or the morgue.

Theme from Rocky - James Last Orchestra feat. Derek Watkins

Family dinner in Port Macquarie.

travel plus danger

Two of my brothers Warren & Ian, Warren’s wife Kerry & family friend Chris Lockwood.

Warren & Ian with our Uncle Allan.

travel plus danger

Allan Herd our uncle was without a doubt the toughest bravest Herd that ever lived. We travelled to Port Macquarie to present him with a family history photo book I had just finished. His 2nd World War experiences were absolutely remarkable. My brush with violence as I previously described is almost embarrassing compared to the horror he experienced. The title of this post Travel and danger fits Allan to a tee, I have never heard of anyone who was exposed to as much danger as this brave man.

Well into his 90s Allan was as sharp as a tack.

travel plus danger

Allan had a terrific sense of humor, describing the English soldiers on the Burma railway he remarked “those pommies had no stamina, they started dying within a week”. Please note I mean no offence to the thousands of brave British soldiers, this was just a comment from an old Aussie warrior.

Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast.

travel plus danger

The fabulous Surfers Paradise skyline.

Alan Kendall from Sydney on his catamaran

travel plus danger

Alan is a nice guy who loves his sailing.

From the Sea wall on the Gold Coast

travel plus danger

A fascinating view of the high rise buildings.

Bondi Beach with Joan Baptiste

travel plus danger

I travelled to Sydney in February with Bill & Joan, check out the photos on this post.

Nikki & Tony Murphy

travel plus danger

Tony & I have been friends for nearly 30 years, here he is with his lovely lady Nikki.

Lloyd Ross

travel plus danger

Chinese food and a few drinks with my good mate Lloydy.

Melbas on the park

travel plus danger

lloyd’s 2nd office and my favourite bar. On July 10 2019 Melbas celebrated it’s 38th anniversary, I was lucky enough to be on the coast at the time. Check out THIS LINK.

Peter Hesky & his children

travel plus danger

Another friend of around 33 years, Peter is almost a recluse in Sydney these days with his Labradors, sadly I never hear from him any more.

Ettalong Central coast of NSW

Ettalong

Driving up the NSW coast to Port Macquarie I travelled through Ettalong for a dose of nostalgia. As kids we used to always spend our annual holidays here and Booker Bay.

Celebrating Xmas at the Shitterer’s house.

travel plus danger

In 2013 Les Scheffer & his wife Robyn placed me on their blacklist after many years of being friends. Now in 2018 I must admit my life is better without them in it. 🙂
 
Thanks for visiting my Travel plus danger in 2010 photo blog.
 
Glen Frey says it better than I can.

                           

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A-One hotel on Beach Road

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For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

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Birthdays weddings funerals

July 10, 2014 by David Herd

Birthdays weddings funerals in 2007, plus another hectic year of travel resulted in one of the best years for me in this century. Even though my beautiful mother passed away it was a relief for myself and my family as she had deteriorated to an almost vegetable state due to advanced dementia.

Travel in 2007 took me to Tokyo & Kyoto in April, my first trip to Japan, I loved it so much I went back to Tokyo in December as the first leg of a world trip which also took me to England, Lisbon & Rio De Janeiro. Thailand in June, August & November including Koh Samui in June. In January I was in Sydney for one of the seven birthdays.

This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection from 2007.

Beautiful Sydney

Birthdays weddings funerals

On January 3rd in Sydney was Peter Hesky’s 60th birthday, we had lunch at the very upmarket Doyle’s restaurant at the Rocks.

Peter Hesky, David Herd & Richard Blair.

Birthdays weddings funerals

I have known Peter for 30 years so I was glad to be at his 60th, these days in 2014 he seems to have turned into an eccentric recluse, he does not keep in contact with me anymore but I hear from some of his fiends he is doing ok and enjoying his life.

Richard is an interesting fellow and a successful businessman, yet in 2004 in Koh Samui I gave him the nickname “Mr Stingy” so I guess that explains his character. I often daydream about winning lotto, I would be traveling the world first class instead of cattle class. 🙂

One thing with Stingy however, he does enjoy life with his long lunches at Bar Reggio in Sydney and visiting Thailand 5 or 6 times a year & to his credit he is a very successful businessman.

Peter Hobbs, Joyce Weir & Steven Bates.

Birthdays weddings funerals

Three more old friends were at the celebration, I have known the guys since the early 80s & Joyce since 1972 in Adelaide. In fact I stayed at Steve’s home in Singapore only 2 weeks ago in June 2014.

Ken Shelly, Steve Bates & I at Bar Reggio.

Birthdays weddings funerals

Bar Reggio is a very well known restaurant in Crown St  Darlinghurst in Sydney, good low cost Italian food, and bring your own wine.

Nick & Sharron

Birthdays weddings funerals

My friends Nick & Sharron stayed in my home for several months, they looked after it while I was in Brazil for 2 months from December. They often visit Thailand and will be here again July 21st 2014.

A couple of critters around my home.

Birthdays weddings funerals

A couple of these guys swim past many times each day.

Unexpected visitor looking into my office.

   Birthdays weddings funerals

These stingrays often cruise up and down my beach, and this cheeky little lizard was peeking in my office window.

Talking about wild animals

Birthdays weddings funerals

Her name is Danny, a very wild lady, I’m not sure what chemical substance she was sampling this night, but whatever is was it certainly worked its magic. For once I’m going to say no more on the subject. 🙂

The Beast on Chevron Island.

Birthdays weddings funerals

I can’t recall what the promotion on Chevron Island was all about but I do remember the gorgeous girls that were helping with the task.

Very cute indeed

Birthdays weddings funerals

All I can say is…………….

Birthdays weddings funerals

 

Craig aka “Sudzi” & gorgeous Chrissy.

Birthdays weddings funerals

Sudzi has worked in most of the popular Surfers Paradise bars & restaurants for year, he is also quite a talented photographer. He currently works at Waxy’s Irish Pub in Surfers Paradise. Chrissy also works in hospitality, last time I saw her she was at “Shuck” in Main Beach.

Drinks at Melbas

Birthdays weddings funerals

For many years Melbas in Surfers Paradise was our local drinking hole, here  I am with Noel Smith, David Robertson & Greg Craig. Noel & Greg were great friends for many years & sadly Noel passed away around 2010.

Tammy Brazel has her 40th Birthday

Birthdays weddings funerals

Happy birthday Tammy.

Tammy & Cate on Tammy’s 40th.

Birthdays weddings funerals

Another one of the seven birthdays on Chevron Island for Tammy’s birthday, last month we were relaxing on Koh Samui.

On a sadder note

Birthdays weddings funerals

Simon Markby, sadly passed in July 2012, RIP. Originally from Melbourne before moving to the Gold Coast, Simon was a guy who loved life, expensive cars & boats, not that there is anything wrong with that. 🙂

Asuka from Osaka

Birthdays weddings funerals

Asuka was a lovely Japanese girl staying in my home, she lives in Osaka and we sometimes stay in contact through Facebook

Phil Thomson’s new toy

Birthdays weddings funerals

My great mate Phil splashed out on a terrific cruiser to park outside his Runaway Bay home. Sadly the excitement soon wore off & he sold it a year later. 🙂

Drinks at the Rowers

Birthdays weddings funerals

The Rowers was only a 4 minute walk from my home, very convenient indeed. 🙂

How do you like this number plate?

Birthdays weddings funerals

Trying very hard to be noticed.

This is one great looking car.

Birthdays weddings funerals

Great looking car owned by Ken Lowry. 

Sadly Ken passed away in 2017 after a short illness.

But this one is better

Birthdays weddings funerals

Aston Martin Vanquish owned by one of my friends Lloyd Ross.

At Labrador looking south to Surfers Paradise.

Birthdays weddings funerals

Looking south towards Southport.

I got caught didn’t I?

Birthdays weddings funerals

I was at Melbas having drinks with friends and this lovely girl was there on her “Hens” night before getting married. She said buy me a drink please David, so I did & it cost me $50. 🙁

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Another of the seven birthdays Les Scheffer’s 60th

Birthdays weddings funerals

Les Scheffer, Juergen Ulitzer & I at Les’s 60th. Sadly Les passed away in March 2020.

How quickly things can change

Birthdays weddings funerals

I couldn’t resist showing this photo from Les’s 60th birthday, the three on the left including me are all on Les’s black list for various social infractions. One of my many bad habits is rattling peoples cages, Les & his wife Robyn did not react well to my last effort. 🙂

Another birthday for my good friend Ross Kennedy.

Birthdays weddings funerals

We are at Riviera Trattoria Sorrento

I lost 7 kilo before leaving for Brazil

Birthdays weddings funerals

Trim, taut, terrific, if I say so myself. 🙂

Three lovely Japanese girls having lunch at my home.

Birthdays weddings funerals

Megumi on the left has been a friend since since 1988 when she rented a room in my home at Sorrento. Asuka is in the center and the gorgeous girl on the right was a golf pro at a local course.

200 meters to the middle of the lake.

Birthdays weddings funerals

I asked her to hit 5 or 6 balls into the lake and she certainly had a smooth swing.

My lovely niece Elyssa

Birthdays weddings funerals

Elyssa was single & fancy free in 2007, now in 2014 she is the proud mother of a gorgeous little girl called Isabel.

Bye bye my beautiful Benz.

Birthdays weddings funerals

After 17 wonderful years I have sold my beautiful yellow canary to a nice lady in outback Queensland. She is a dentist in a mining town and I’m sure she will turn many heads when she drives down the main St in this wonderful car. This was my first step in downsizing my treasured possessions with a view of moving to Thailand. Little did I realize because of the GFC it would be four years before I could move to Thailand.

Gorgeous German waitress at Melbas.

Birthdays weddings funerals

One of the many gorgeous girls at Melbas.

One of the Seven birthdays Smokey Shitterer’s 55th

Birthdays weddings funerals

Average age 55 at Robyn’s birthday. 🙂

Grahame LaRoche & his bride Sheena

Birthdays weddings funerals

Grahame LaRoche aka “BIff” decided to tie the knot again, if I remember correctly the marriage only lasted a year or so. 🙂

“Biff” a colorful character to say the least

Birthdays weddings funerals

Grahame LaRoche aka “The Biff”, how did he get that name you may well ask? In his younger days he used to travel around the countryside with the Jimmy Sharman boxing troupe. They visit country towns set up tents and offer to fight all the local lads for a cash prize. Biff was a light heavyweight and legend tells us that he was never beaten. He is a lovely bloke and I’m very glad to have known him for many years. In fact he was on of the main characters on my boat on NYE 1981 when we were peppered by falling skyrockets.

Another Xmas lunch at Melbas.

Birthdays weddings funerals

The yearly tradition continues with a group of guys mainly from Melbourne gathering for a Xmas lunch at Melbas restaurant.

Noodles, Chocolates & Rocket, aka the verbal battering ram.

Birthdays weddings funerals

These three reprobates have been drinking buddies for many years in Surfers Paradise. Chocs is famous for never buying anyone a drink, Rocket is known a “the verbal battering ram” & Noodles is famous for just being Noodles. 🙂

 With John Sinclair & Ian Pettifer in Chinatown Sydney.

Birthdays weddings funerals

In March 2009 sadly Ian passed away after a long battle with cancer, he was a gentleman.

Drinks on Chevron Island for my birthday on July 7.

Birthdays weddings funerals

 One of the seven birthday rolls around, here I am with Greg Craig, Les Scheffer, Dave Hosket & Nigel Treliving celebrating mine.

Time to paint my roof.

Birthdays weddings funerals

My original roof color had faded somewhat so it was time for a paint job.

My beautiful home looks brand new now.

Birthdays weddings funerals

I designed and built my beautiful waterfront home in Surfers Paradise. I moved in July 1st 1990 and sold it 21 years later in October 2011 and moved to Thailand.

At Melbas with Dave Hosket & Alan Jones

Birthdays weddings funerals

Alan Jones of course was 2 times world Formula 1 world champion. While the American Dave Hosket was a shocking sycophant. 🙂 Dave did have a claim to fame however, for a number of years he was Bob Dylan’s back up drummer on tour.

My families saddest day

Birthdays weddings funerals

 My beautiful mother passed away in 2007, although it was terribly sad, it was really a relief for myself and my family, she had deteriorated to an almost vegetable state due to advanced dementia. It’s a terrible sickness, however the family suffer much more than the patient as they are oblivious to everything around them. The worst thing for me was seeing this wonderful lady as a shadow of the beautiful woman and wonderful Mother I knew and loved all my life. RIP Mum.

1943 with Mum & Dad

Birthdays weddings funerals

Iris & Arthur Herd, RIP.

 What a wonderful World

Ok, that’s all for my Birthdays weddings funerals photo blog, many thanks for dropping by.

Have a look at my life on the Gold Coast in 2006     

       

 Here are some more posts to check out

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