The lift

I rise at 10:40. After a good long sleep.

Looking at my Whatsapp, I'm amazed to see a string of messages from the hotel. That's how they contacted me. Not via email, as stated in the confirmation email. Fuck. I really cocked that up.

I make myself a nice pot of English breakfast tea. You can’t go wrong with a nice cup of tea. Several nice cups are even better.

Andrew surfaces after midday. It's OK, we're in no rush. 

“Drinking tea again, Dad?”

“It helps wash the whiskey down.”

“Never too early for whiskey, is it?”

“Not when you’re on holiday.”

“And every day is a holiday now you’re retired.”

“Exactly.”

What's the plan for today? The Empire hotel for a cheap lunch. We head there about 13:30.

I've finally twigged that the Empire is linked to Valley Hops, the brewery next door. Which would explain why they supply most of the draught beers. At very reasonable prices, too. Some of the beers are only $10 for a pint. And the most expensive one, the Hazy IPA I'm drinking, is $15. Andrew, thankfully, is on the $10 Original Lager.

Between noon and 3 PM, the Empire has cheap meals. $18 for either a rump steak or a chicken parmo. Andrew has the latter while I go for the former. It's an absolute steal. Eating a chicken parmo was one of Andrew’s main objectives for the trip.

It's a funny old spot, the Empire. Doesn't exactly have a craft beer bar vibe. Lots of vertical drinking space, a few pool tables and a giant Fireball advertising statue.

“I'm starting to take quite a liking to this place, Andrew.”

“Me, too.”

 “The staff are friendly and the prices very reasonable.”

“Good for a cheapskate like you.”

“Thank you.”

“There’s a first.”

“What?”

“You said thank you at an appropriate time.”

“Damn.”

After we've eaten, a few more punters show up. Some wearing yellow and black scarves so I'm guessing that they're going to some sort of sporting event. My money would be on rugby league, which is big in these parts.

I Whatsapp Mikey with a photo of the $10 pints pumps.

“Oh my Buddha. That’s fucking cheap!” He replies.

Always good to make Mikey jealous.

After a few pints, we stroll back to our hotel. Flat, really. And chill for a bit. I know what we're doing this evening. Taking the lift.

When we checked into our emergency hotel, the nice man mentioned that nearby there's a lift which takes you down to the riverside. Where there's a brewery, amongst other things.

It's just around dusk when we head there. Providing us with a great view of the Story bridge and the downtown skyscrapers. Felons Brewing is massive. With a big frontage along the river. It's rather lovely. We sit outside and get some beers. A 10.5% ABV Imperial Stout for me, something Lagery for Andrew.

It's our last evening in Australia. Andrew seems to have enjoyed himself here. As have I.

“Would you like to come back to Australia?”

“Of course, Dad.”

“But in the summer, when it’s nice and hot?”

“Haha. You know I can’t take the heat.”

“What about living here?”

“Maybe Tasmania.”

We have a few beers. Well, I do. Andrew swaps onto cider, as he's apt to do. We don't stay too late, having an early start tomorrow. Our flight to Singapore is at 11 AM. Meaning we'll need to be up at around 7 AM.

"Have you noticed something, Andrew?"

"What?"

"It hasn't rained today. Like it has every other day we've been in Australia."



Empire Hotel
339 Brunswick St, 
Fortitude Valley QLD 4006.
https://www.empirehotel.com.au/


Felons Brewing
5 Boundary St, 
Brisbane City QLD 4000.
http://felonsbrewingco.com.au/