Sportbrella Sunshade

The Aussie Sport-Brella is a beach umbrella, sun tent and rain shelter all in one. Folding out in just three seconds and weighing less than 6.5 kilograms, the shelter is a handy addition to your outdoor festivities.

The Sport-Brella opens up like a traditional beach umbrella but includes side flaps that fold down and can be tethered on windy days for extra protection.

The Sport-brella gives you  2.4m of maximum sun protection which we found to be plenty for a family of 4 and their gear. 
We liked the 30 day guarantee and the fact that with SPF50 it blocks 99.5% of harmful UVA and UVB rays.

The Sport-Brella retails for $99.95, and is available through Rebel Sport, Amart All Sports Stores nationwide and online at http://www.sportbrella.com.au/ or by phone at 1800 110 160.
Dad Rating

Mark
Handy addition to the family outdoor gear.

Simon
Not as easy to set up as it could be but once up a great unit.

FlipFold

We've found a cool gimmick which we just love so much we had to share.







We've tried the FlipFOLD ourselves and it is as easy to use as in the video. This great folding tool is now available in Australia at Green Apple Organising.

The FlipFOLD which is frequently featured on The Big Bang Theory and used by Sheldon, one of the main characters.

The FlipFold is lightweight and easy-to-use tool which really does make folding clothing quicker, easier and neater

FlipFOLD is available in two sizes to accommodate everything from children’s tops through to long sleeve business shirts.

The FlipFOLD is priced at AUD$44.99 for the Adult and AUD$42.99 for the Junior with a Combo of both sizes available for AUD$84.99 plus postage.

Buy the Flip Fold online at Green Apple Organising.


Dad Rating

Mike
A bit of a gimmick but so much fun

Stevo
I love it. Perfect for packing your gear for trips.

Ideal Valentine's Day Gift - Travel Documents Set

Looking for a Valentine's Day gift for the lady who likes overseas travel? Something that's very popular right now is a stylish travel document set and we've got our hands on a couple that are currently in the market

The travel document set from GirlyGadgets.com.au contains a document wallet, passport cover and two luggage tags. The document wallet contains separate compartments for each of tickets, passports, travellers cheques and other documents making it really easy for your lady when she is struggling in the queue with handbags, beauty cases and suitcases.

The travel set comes with a bit of extra bling to add some sass and is  $39.95 online at GirlyGadgets.com.au. The Girly Gadgets online store is simple, almost stark in its design but is easy to use and fast loading. Shipping is $9.95 for orders under $50 and free for orders over $50. They do have an exchange policy but products must be returned unopened within 7 days which could be a challenge for a gift.

If you want to take it up a notch, take a look at the travel accessories gift pack from Catherine Manuell Design. 

The beautifully boxed travel set from Catherine Manuell  contains two luggage tags and a passport ticket walllet in various colours - we're going for Oversize Rose for Valentine's Day, but there are heaps of other choices (floral and otherwise) to suit your lady's tastes.

The Catherine Manuell Design travel accessories gift set is available at the Catherine Manuell online store  for $79.95. The website and online store itself is well designed and easy to use and contains heaps of beautiful designer travel accessories that we're sure the ladies will love. Shipping is $9.95. They do have an exchange policy if goods are returned within 10 days which again is tight in the case of a gift.

Dad Rating

Stevo
For the stylish lady flyer

Matt

Get one with lots of pockets, will keep things well organised.

Regional Museums

If you're looking for something to entertain the kids these holidays, there are options that don't cost you big bucks. We recently took the kids to a couple of regional museums and for only a couple of dollars each we spent a great couple of ours learning a bit of Aussie history.

While this might bore the socks off more wordly teens, it's really amazing how much the under 12s enjoyed seeing old settler photos, WW1 nurses uniforms, Sea shell collections, turn of the century school rooms and all the rest.

We went to the Gympie Mining Museum and the Redlands and District Museum but there are heaps of other choices.


Dad Rating

Mike
Great fun for the under 10s


Stevo
History in easy slices

New Year's Taxi Ranks

When will the powers that be realise that people have to get home after a night out on New Year's Eve, and the way to do it safely is taxis and public transport.

Why should it take hours to get home - its not like the big crowds are unexpected. How about doing better with the rosters Transport People.


Dad Rating

Simon
Dreadful.
Mark
Can I send the bill for the extra baby sitting charges to the Transport Department?.

Portobello by the Sea Dicky Beach, Caloundra, Queensland

With a beautiful swimming pool and bbq area that's protected from the wind, its easy to kick back and relax knowing the kids are having fun and you don't have to move from the deck chair at Portobello Appartments at the Sunshine Coast Qld's Dicky Beach.

With just 60 appartments the pool is never crowded and you can always get the barbie when you want it. The fact that our 4 families could wonder between appartments without getting lost or having to cross any roads, and the beach was just a short stroll away was a real selling point for us. Make sure you ask onsite managers Pia, Rosa, Lance and Frank to try and put you in one of the beach side 2 bedroom appartments, or, if you have a large family, one of the 3 bedroom appartments.

Check out the Dicky Beach Surf Club just 2 minutes stroll away for a fantastic feed.

Portobello By The Sea 6 Beerburrum St Dicky Beach, Caloundra Queensland, 4551 Australia

Resident Managers Frank & Rosa Collins Lance & Pia Rule Ph: (07) 5491 9038

Portobello By The Sea
6 Beerburrum St
Dicky Beach, Caloundra
Queensland, 4551
Australia

Resident ManagersFrank & Rosa Collins
Lance & Pia Rule
Ph: (07) 5491 9038

http://www.portobellobythesea.com.au/


Dad Rating

Mark
There's a bottleshop down stairs and a fish and chip shop next door!
Stevo
Great place to sit down and relax.

MattPerfect Caloundra Sunshine Coast holiday

Qantas out of Sydney Airport

How can an airline be so consistantly late out of an airport? Has anyone ever got a flight on Qantas out of Sydney airport that left on time?

We don't seem to suffer the same consistant delays when flying other airlines out of Sydney or out of other airports.

Dad Rating

Stevo
Can I bill Qantas for the extra parking charges I incur?

Mark
It's really just getting silly now