Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio Network & Travel Editor for River Newspapers Ireland & Lifestyle Northern Ireland Online - www.robertwalshe.com
TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe As holidaymakers head to France, Brittany Ferries is helping them stay connected by offering a new free Wi-Fi service on-board all its ships. It is the latest move by the ferry company to offer its customers a state of the art travel experience, allowing them to surf the internet, send emails and stay in touch via social networks as they sail to or from France. The Wi-Fi access allows wireless connectivity to the internet for Brittany Ferries passengers via any wireless-enabled PC, tablet or smartphone. It is free to all customers, who each receive an individual access code printed on their boarding card when they check-in. The service can be accessed on all routes, 24 hours a day, throughout most public areas of each ship. www.brittanyferries.ie
the Eureka Skydeck, this observation tower is located 88 storeys high and is an awe inspiring experience. This observation deck has a unique feature; the observer is suspended in a glass cube projecting out from the actual viewing deck, so for those of you looking for an adrenaline rush this is a unique experience. www.eurekaskydeck. com.au After looking at the panoramic view of the city one can start exploring the city by visiting of the city’s landmarks like the numerous historical theatres around Melbourne city, Other city landmarks includes the numerous cathedrals and sports stadiums like the Rod Laver Arena and the Melbourne Cricket Ground. You can also visit the city zoo if you are an animal lover; animals from all over the world and those indigenous to Australia can be seen here. Shopping in Melbourne is superb, from the 19th-century Block Arcade to the trendy Burke Road, to the antiques of High Street. Bargain hunters can’t pass by Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market. Started in the mid 1800s, the market offers everything from clothing to produce. Also worth a visit for shopping or dining is the popular Southgate district, on the banks of the
Holiday Hotspot – Melbourne, Australia
Once the country’s capital city, Melbourne comes with a Victorian feel, from green and leafy streets to the many parks to the bustling arts scene. Victoria’s capital city is often called the cultural capital of Australia, generating some rivalry between itself and Sydney. Melbourne is considered one of the world’s most liveable cities. The best vantage point in the city is
n Hotel Windsor,
Melbourne.
Pet’s Corner...
Yarra River. It is also home to Australia’s largest casino and the ever popular PJ O Brien’s , an Irish pub chain found across the country. www.pjobriens.com.au. Melbourne is one of those few cities in the world that you can sightsee by flying over in a hot air balloon. In the early morning light, you can float over the many parks, gardens and views of some of the cities iconic building and sporting venues. Chief Pilot Chris Shorten, “the balloonman”, a Melbourne native has vastly more experience operating passenger hot air balloon rides over Melbourne than any other pilot. When you fly with Balloon Flights Over Melbourne you always fly with Chris, and you can rely on his experience and professionalism to ensure you receive the best Melbourne has to offer. www. balloonovermelbourne.com. au/balloon-man Around Melbourne sightseers can find many natural wonders such as the Twelve Apostles. These pillars of limestone, carved by the erosion of the coastline are among Australia’s more photographed natural landmarks. Viewers of the soap “ Neighbours “ can take the popular Ramsay Street tour to see the location of the show for themselves – though visitors cannot actually enter the houses as they are still occupied by real residents however you do get the chance to meet a member of the cast of the show. Northern Irishman Gerard Austin leads this tour providing you with plenty of gossip , laughs & neighbours trivia. www.bunyiptours.com.au. The National Gallery of Victoria has two magnificent galleries located a short walk apart - both with free entry to the permanent collection. Victorians and visitors can now enjoy two public art galleries within one magnificent arts precinct. Dining in Melbourne has become quite an
pup up for life as a family pet. If you are prepared for all of that and are totally committed to the outdoor work that it will require then you can handle raising a pup in the cold weather. If you are getting a pup for the first time or are getting a pup after the death of an old dog then you will not know or will have forgotten how much work there is in brining up a new pup, that’s why the spring and summer are the months to get a pup... for everyone’s sake. A pup needs to go out to the toilet about every half hour to an hour when it first comes home to set it up for the clean
adventure, and is as varied as its cultural roots. You are treated to evening sightseeing when n Balloon trip over you dine on the Melbourne. Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. This unique restaurant-onwheels provides an Australian menu that may include Bourke Street. It is situated kangaroo fillets, seafood next to Parliament Train Staand beef dishes. Long-stem tion and trams stop in front of roses and corsages can be the hotel. he Hotel Windsor purchased in advance for has been Melbourne’s tradiromantic dinners. The tram tional choice for afternoon travels through South Mel- tea since 1883. Melbourne’s bourne, Albert Park and St. politicians, sports fans and Kilda. www.tramrestaurant. tourists alike gather at the com.au The Windsor Hotel is Windsor’s famous Cricketa Melbourne landmark listed ers Bar, a warm, relaxed and by the National Trust of Aus- friendly choice for a local or tralia for its traditional Victo- imported beer. An extensive rian architecture. restoration of the hotel and Located opposite Victoria’s redevelopment is planned Parliament House and Treas- between November 2014 and ury Gardens, the Windsor is 2017. www.thehotelwindsor. close to shops, restaurants, com.au Earlier this year theatres and a number of Emirates and Qantas formed local attractions. Built in a global partnership, work1883 and once owned by ing together to operate 14 the Royal Family the Hotel flights daily between Dubai, Windsor has been home to Australia and beyond - along visiting Heads of state and with extensive Australian countless stars of the worlds domestic flights, frequent of cinema, theatre, music and flyer advantages and shared the arts. The Hotel Windsor lounge access. Emirates Melbourne is only 5 minutes’ customers are now able to walk from the shopping and choose from 32 Australian dining on Collins Street and destinations to which Qantas
operates including Canberra, Port Lincoln, Cairns and Hobart, opening up Australia to passengers from all over the ever expanding Emirates network. Emirates operates a daily departure from Dublin to Dubai daily at lunchtime with onward connections to five cities in Australia – Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Current Melbourne prices ex Dublin are eeconomy class: €1192 & business class:€3445.The airline’s chauffeur-drive service is available to both First and Business Class passengers across the island of Ireland. All Emirates’ customers can enjoy in-flight telephones, SMS and email and children’s activity packs. Highly trained cabin crews from across the globe, including Irish & UK nationals are on hand to serve gourmet chef prepared meals. www.emirates.com and for all travel information www.visitmelbourne.com
Home and Away Extra Aer Lingus has unveiled social jet, an aircraft which will be used to promote Aer Lingus’ Twitter and Facebook in order to drive the number of fans and followers on each social media platform. The idea was born from an internal staff suggestion scheme examining creative
ways to promote the airline’s presence on social media. Aer Lingus is now active on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Pinterest and moves towards fully integrating social media with the web and customer service experience as these channels develop. www.aerlingus.com
with Kathleen Murray
The end of the summer It’s that time of year again and things are winding down. Soon it will be the end of the summer. Thoughts will be turning to other things like school, night classes, winter clothes and more. It is not the time to be getting a new pup. From now on the evenings will be shorter, colder and maybe windy or wet. This is not good toilet training weather for pups. People don’t enjoy standing outside waiting in the cold. If you are an experienced dog person then you know the amount of time, energy and hard work that goes into setting a young
Living
dog that you want it to be when it is older. If it is lashing down with rain or hailstones then this is not fun for either of you, as a young pup will need you to stay with it until it has done something. Young pups are very scared of the world. They need to be clearly guided and protected. That’s what their mother would be doing for them if they were still with her. If you go back into the house before the pup has gone to the toilet then the pup will want to go back in too as it will be scared without you. It will go to the toilet in the house then. Closing a door and leaving it
outside by itself will make the pup insecure and can cause further problems in different areas. A leaf falling for a tree can be scary for a pup. Plastic bags blowing in the wind can scare a pup. After a few weeks the pup will be confident enough to go out by itself but in the beginning you will need to be with it come rain, hail or shine. Pups need to be brought out to be socialised.
It’s important for them to meet other dogs and people when they are young so that they don’t develop problems with shyness or aggression. Winter time makes all of this very difficult and many people give their dogs up after they have “let them go” for this important phase in their lives.
Please don’t take a pup in the dark cold weather and then not be out there with it when it needs you to be. You are responsible for how it turns out. A dog is only as good as the handler. Ring me now to book your place in a five week workshop or training class for the autumn and winter.