Dan Murphy's Growler Station Review - An Old Philosophy Reborn

* This is a sponsored post

Dan Murphys, since April 2013 has been offering craft style beer sales through Growler Stations at their Prahran and Alphington stores.

On Sunday 27th October 2013, Kangaroo mum, Lil Miss G and I, along with Alice from KeepLeft PR with her partner (a self confessed brewed beer aficionado) got together at the Prahran store to experience the concept of a Growler Station for ourselves.

Firstly, a short history lesson! A Growler, in times past, was a galvanised bucket filled with brewed beer, that a pub patron would use as a take home style container. The pressure from being brewed would slowly release from under the lid, making a growling sound as it seeped out. The name stuck, so we still call it a Growler today.

Dan Murphy's has brought this amazing concept to Australia and taken the humble pale and using modern techniques, reacquainted us with the past.

We are, in Australia, a couple of years behind on this concept. It's been operational in a modern format, in the US, UK and Europe for some years. 

In the past, galvanised buckets were used to hold and transport the beer, this is what it looks like today;

Dan Murphy's has available bottles that are 1.89 liters(one Imperial gallon) made of glass or special PVC. In the store you choose from one of four styles available. The bottles are refillable, so you can return to the store for more craft beer!

Now, whats the difference in beers available that are already for sale?

The difference is Growlers allow for smaller boutique style crafted product and provide manufactures a format to run a smaller or limited batch. Since these beers are stored in small commercial kegs, a manufacturer does not need to setup for long term, large commercial production. A smaller beer run also allows for distinctive beers, that are not usually commercially available or otherwise would only be suitable for a short period of production.

At Dan Murphy's, they also provide an opportunity, at a good price base of allowing customers to taste different boutique beers, that you may not always be tempted to try if bottled. Prices of the near 2 litre bottle are comparable to a 6 pack of brewed local / imported beers. 

Mr Palindrome In Concert - La Mama Theatre Show 3 - Sunday August 25th 2013

Wow, can Mr Palindrome entertain!!!!

Fellow Daddy blogger and childrens entertainer came to Melbourne on Sunday 25th August 2013 and delighted kids with shows at Yavneh College & La Mama Theatre in Carlton.

I purchased tickets for my family and went along to the 3rd Concert, "A Very Wordy Music Show" at Carlton. Why Mr Palindrome and whats a palindrome mean? I am glad you asked.

A palindrome is a word, phrase or number that can be interpreted either forward or backward. 

You can guess rather quickly that Mr Palindrome's songs are catchy, easy to sing along to and importantly, have a unique form of teaching children word concepts through singing and entertainment. The target range of kids being entertained is 3-7 but older kids would enjoy as well.

The theatre has three rows of seats and a small floor area which allowed the children to sit right in front of Mr Palindrome and join in the songs whilst the adults sat back.

The concert kicked off with Backwards Alphabet. A song that later on, you will take delight in seeing your kids randomly screaming a particular word (its clean! promise!) that no one else gets why that word is being screamed except you.

 

Several more songs which are catchy, upbeat and educational, provided the audience with alliteration, onomatopoeia and more palindromes (yes, you will have to Google those ones, I did!) and by the third song, kids are really getting into the swing of things.

The concert runs for approximately 40 minutes and still sees the kids wanting more after the concert concludes.

onomatopoeia

alliteration, onomatopoeia

alliteration, onomatopoeia

alliteration, onomatopoeia

alliteration, onomatopoeia

There are not many Australian entertainers that are around to spread fun and joy for pre-teens these days as well as learn something new. If you get the chance go and buy tickets and get to see this wonderful entertainer.

My personal favourite is 'What Rhymes with One' and Kangaroo Mum often finds me singing this tune to Little Miss G.

La Mama Theatre - Carlton, Melbourne

Mr Palindrome Official Website

Mr Palindrome Youtube 

Mr Palindrome Facebook 

Mr Palindrome Twitter 

Mr Palindrome music

The Post You Have, When You Haven't Posted In A While

Hi Folks,

It's been a while since I posted on here and there are several reasons I have not.

1. I have been working and also burning the candle at both ends. Consequence is I have had a few early nights when I would normally blog/twitter/facebook/communicate/ do online digital schtuff.

2. On occasion been computer gaming, not an activity I get to do as often as I would like..

3. Recent trip to Adelaide for a family wedding and enjoyed four days of kicking it with family, some I have not seen in over a decade.

4. There are 3 articles for me to publish as well as 3 outstanding blog posts (all in draft mode). One on a review of Mr Palindrome's recent show I attended with my family in Melbourne. Seriously, I see this gentleman to have big things happen for him in childrens entertainment in this country. Go and see him when you can.

Second is a big post (it's big, like novella big) about finding family day care / childrens child care. I naively thought this would be a walk in the park and it has turned into an event bigger than Ben Hur. All with this to occur and be signed, sealed and Lil Miss G in care before Kangaroo Mum returns to work.

Thirdly, I just feel like I am behind in my plans and things like articles and posts are unfinished and will need to be published pronto!!!! It is just me pushing myself to get things done in a timely fashion. I have been a fair bit hard on myself and know events will transpire, just give yourself time, breathing space and don't be so hard on your bloody self!

Right, now I have had my little relief valve opened, let me ask;

Are you hard on yourself when you plan to do things and they don't go to plan or happen in the time frame you envisaged?

What I Learned With Pizza Masterclass

You know how to make pizza, don't you.

I know how to make pizza. Well, I thought I knew how to make a pizza.

My pizza's in the past were made according to a recipe I designed, to be easy, straight forward, with a few toppings and quick to cook.

I received an invite to attend at a function organised for the Blogconnect Pizza Masterclass by the fine folks of @keepleftPR. Being my first major function attending as Kangaroo Dad I was excited by the prospect. I would get to find out my pizza experience, was severely lacking.

My previous pizza making in the past of the past were OK. I discovered pleasantly that although my old technique was adequate, there was MUCH more room for improvement.

This event was sponsored by Bakers Delight, Leggos. Woolworths, Dan Murphys & Perfect Italiano.

What Would Be Your Ultimate Fantasy Fathers Day Adventure? Read On, Vote And Win A Subscription!

This is a sponsored post brought to you by Magshop.

I’m delighted to have been asked, along with 9 other fellow Aussie Daddy Bloggers to take part in a Fantasy Fathers day Challenge where one of us can WIN a day out courtesy of Magshop. Here’s the thing though, you can WIN a monthly magazine subscription courtesy of us, the Aussie Daddy Bloggers. All the details are below.

Here is my entry for the Fantasy Fathers Day Competition, I know you will enjoy it!

After 30 laps I am still trying to make best of not starting in pole position. This is it, the last lap, I feel a surge of adrenaline, as I rapidly down change gears, anticipation of a possible win. I am approaching speeds into this first corner that you don't normally with general road driving. I suddenly realise all of a sudden I have to rapidly make a gear change down or I won't make the first corner.


I bolt out of the corner as I enter a short straight. I have an opportunity before hitting second corner to make fourth gear. I enter the corner and I hit the brakes hard coming out, rapidly approach the cars in front of me, seeing three other vehicles leading the race. I have gained on position three with that car directly in front and we're almost crunching bumper bars.

Very Best Dad Jokes Book Competition

Hi Folks,

I am excited to help out a fellow Daddy Blogger Torkona with promoting his brand spanking new eBook.

It is for Dads and it's choc full of the best Daddy jokes you will find this side of the equator.

There's a copies for you to win and you need to be in it to win it for Fathers Day.

Here's an extract of a couple of REALLY good jokes here that got me guffawing lots;

Joke 1

Son: "I'm Thirsty"
Dad: "Hi Thirsty, I'm Friday"

Joke 2
I'm a dyslexic atheist - I don't believe in Dog

For those of you reading from the Northern Hemisphere, Fathers Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in September for those of us Down Unda!


This eBook sells for $4.99 but Tork is also offering special price allowing you to take advantage of this exclusive Father’s Day Sale price of just $2.99 and download the Dad Jokes Book to the eBook reader of your choice. (Plus, $1 from every sale will go towards the Little Hero Foundation to help seriously unwell children).

I'm in luck to also be able to offer 2 FREE COPIES for a couple of lucky Dads.


Click on the link below for your chance to win one of the two available copies - TOTALLY FREE!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

...And The Liebster Award Goes To

I received an award last week. Why did I receive this award? Well, read on more to find out of course.

Lisa over @ her Button Brain blog , Twitter, & Facebook, nominated me a Liebster award. Its an award given to emerging bloggers.

What is a Liebster award? “A Liebster award is given to support and recognise up and comer bloggers who have less than 200 followers (on their blog) or Facebook likes on their FB page. The word “Liebster” traces it's German origins and is reported to mean sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.
 
By following these basic rules (answer 11 questions set by your nominee, write 11 additional facts about yourself, write 11 new questions of your own and pass the award onto 11 other bloggers to answer) it enables readers to get to know new bloggers and connect with a wider audience.”

 

A Letter From My Son

Hi Daddy,

We have not met yet, but I am sure when I am old enough to understand I will be excited to meet you and mummy as soon as I arrive into the world. I am only newly created and I will take about 40 weeks until I am ready to meet you. I wanted to write you this letter to let you know how I feel and express my aspirations as a child who will be growing up under yours and mummy being my parents.

I look forward to learning from mummy, all my other family members and you. I also look forward to getting to know and learn from all those new friends I will make over the years. In time, I will develop new skills and get to explore and understand the world around me.

It is several weeks passed now and I am developing in the womb and I know if you were to take a picture of me I would look exotic and alien like.

Do You Have Time To Date Your Partner?

Before my daughters birth,  I knew that significant and important changes would happen after she came into the world. One of those significant changes were the amount of available time I had for me. Previously, I would be able to run out the door to the shops if I needed something urgent for dinner. Grab an hours kip after working a Saturday shift or even sit and watch television whenever I felt the need. That previous free time is used  caring for Lil Miss G and looking after her needs.

Where I previously had loads of time for Kangaroo Mum and I, it's not so readily available anymore. Raising your child takes a significant amount of your time, every day. I did not know how much time until I became a parent.

It soon became apparent to me and to Kangaroo Mum that we both needed two things. A dedicated amount of time to each other and also, some time to spend alone. That dedicated time to each other doesn't happen as often as we'd like for many reasons. One of those ways to get that time is to have a date night.

Now date nights do not always have to be a night event. A date time can be a period of a day (or night) spent with your significant other, without your children.

To me, having this date thingy made a lot of sense. I cherish and appreciate the time I get with Kangaroo Mum and there are times I want her, at a predetermined time, all to myself. It allows for some adult conversation, a chance to reconnect with her and for fewer interruptions from the daily activities of parenting, child rearing and all the other daily stuff that needs your attention (like housework). This also gives me opportunity for me to focus on KM.

How Sick Is That

My day came crashing down last Friday. A small sniffle, that over two  days, exploded into a full blown head cold. I awoke on Sunday feeling more poorly than Luke Skywalker getting pushed into a Taun Tauns belly. Except I do not smell worse on the inside....

Saturday morning I spent feeling quite OK, still having a nose like a leaky valve and attended my best friends sons 10th birthday party. We played Lazer Tag. With 15 other kids, they ran and shot, I walked and hoped I shot....something. I think I shot more 'holes' in walls than I shot other kids. We later returned that evening to celebrate the birthday boys celebration with dinner. I still felt OK, but Lil Miss G was not settling in for her normal late feed and fussed about more than usual. So we left for home.

To top it off Lil Miss G, awoke 4-5 times, during Saturday evening for us to discover that she has cut through with her first tooth. So all that extra fussing from her last feed made more sense. I spent most of Sunday sleeping and taking an inordinate amount of Sudafed and Strepsil tablets. I hate taking any pharma products at the best of times. With me,  awakening Sunday morning feeling like I'd done three rounds with Mike Tyson on a bad day, I saw the look of pleading help from my partner, and I could not help with much with the household or with helping bubs. I could not. Do. Much. At. All.

Awawa awawawa

'Awawa awawawa' is a new sound Lil Miss G made for the first time today.

Its also a highlight to me of how fast 7 months of my daughters growth and how quick each month now seems to fly by. Milestones, shit, how do I keep up with them all. There have been so many milestones. I struggle to remember the past ones, let alone new ones coming.

One day there is a game my daughter and I get to play and the next time that game is turfed in favour of a different game. I'm loving it though, I am amazed sometimes how quick some changes with her happen.

Setting Up The Blog

Its been.....geez, a good 18 months since I played around with setting up a blog. I also forgot how frustrating it can be.

I have had three blogs in the past about niches that I enjoy. But my blogging and hence my readership, never really took off. Not to worry, I am back to have a crack at this daddy blogging since its something I am VERY interested in doing, participating and becoming heavily involved with.

You, my dear reader get to go on this journey with me, as I stumble, fall, fumble and make a general nuisance of myself with trying to craft a story, post by post, right 'ere.

'Hello World'

'It's A Head!' I exclaimed to both the Triple 000 operator and to my partner who was deep in labour, Ms L. 'I see a patch of hair!', I said, and with that, the final stage of birth was well and truly progressing...at home.

When you get told that things don't usually go to plan for labour and birth, what comes to mind is caesareans and medical interventions, but our story is a bit different.