Hunter Valley Cheese Company

Helen tasting at McGuiggans Estate
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Day of reckoning and some fun too. This morning I rang the RACV to see if they had info on Jayco repairs. No info held with them. So I rang Warburtons where we bought the van and they gave us the 1800 emergency number for Head Office. Not very helpful at all. A young lady answered and I said I was in Singleton and what the problem was. She asked me where Singleton was and I'm still sure she had not idea where it was and she gave me two numbers on the coast near Nelson Bay north of Newcastle. She didn't give us the Newcastle details. So I looked in the handbook and we decided to drive to Hexam and visit Newcastle Jayco Vans. Thanks to Tom and the mobile (which works well in this area) we drove to Hexam and spoke to Jayco (Steve) and when I told him the problem he said sorry, big job and insurance size work needed and the whole annex would need replacing and the front section of the van where the fixture was attached would need refinishing and bog etc and the cost between $3500 and $4500. So tomorrow I'll contact our insurer and get the ball rolling. In the mean time Steve said to get some straps around it and don't worry it happens to the best of people. So from there we went to Cessnock and walked the shops in the main street, had a bite to eat and of course Helen found a number of crafty shops to visit. Then out to Pokolbin and we found the Hunter Valley Cheese Company. You think you have tasted cheese after eating a bit from Coles or Woolies, sorry the HVCC cheese is just something else. We tasted about 6 and decided on Branxton Brie, Grape Vine Ash Brie and Hunter Valley Gold Washed Rind. About twice the cost of Coles, but you get real cheese. Helen tasted a few wines while there too and good price too $8 at the door. And for those who enjoy Dukka, we bought a bottle of Upper Hunter Valley Garlic flavoured extra virgin olive oil from the Pukara Estate. Went to the Smelly Cheese shop, but they don't make their own, they import, but Helen bought a King Island orange brie to add to the stash and we headed back to the van.