The Drought has Broken

It's raining

Typical that the kids should be off on their holidays when the rains finally came to Adelaide. We have had loads of rain, high winds and stormy weather over the last few days. It has been a very welcome occurrence and personally its been great to see such a downpour as farmers, rivers reservoirs, crops and gardens (not to mention the vineyards) have all been desperate for a dousing for many a day.

We can do wind and rain here too. Glenelg 4pm Sat >

The only real shame is that the government here have not done more to harness this natural element to ease the burden on the drought ridden land. They do not harvest the water anything like they should. All new houses (including ours) all come with big water tanks to catch the rain water and use it throughout the house as grey water in showers, toilets, sinks and the like. Crazy to think only a few weeks ago were record temperatures and fatal fires, now we have flood and storm warnings...

Kids Easter Hols
Debi took the kids along to Adelaide Zoo, were they had a fine time with friends, Ashley, Hannah and Lewis. They also did a kids try golf at Blackwood (Jamie loving it, Georgia putting up with it)

and went along to an afternoon in the Adelaide Hills at Stirling with Annette (the HR Manager at Phil Hoffmann Travel) and several other Mum's and kids. All about getting to know each other a bit better.

Glenelg Footy Club fund raising corporate lunch

Friday lunchtime through to 4.30 pm (beats working). We are a sponsor of this club and it was a good event. The main speaker was an old footy player (Aussie Rules - Hawthorn) and Coach. Supposedly voted player of the century, a bloke whose won everything there is to win as a player and a coach. Suffice to say I'd never heard of him, but he was a good speaker and can see why they hold him is such high regard. He gave a pretty good motivational speech - without any F or B words.

Adelaide Power v St Kilda - Adelaide Now Corporate Box

Tore myself away from the lunch above to go to AMII stadium to see Adelaide Port Power get summarily dumped on by St Kilda. We were in a box hosted by Adelaide Now (the Online version of the Advertiser newspaper - equivalent to the Times or Telegraph online over here). Had a nice dinner, a few wines and took the Micky out of the Power Fans (who's the home team? Aren't you meant to kick the ball between the sticks? Why do they keep dropping the ball? Why are they running round in circles? Why do they keep passing to the opposition? Etc Etc. ) Can't understand why my boss Peter as a Power fan mentioned my trial period was still not up.....

House & Home show

As it was peeing down so heavily on Sat, found ourselves at the above. Less said the better. Only upside was a food and wine exhibition at the same place so we did try some food and wine as well. Always look for the upside I say.

Seen any Kangaroos lately while walking the dog?

I'll let Debi describe what happened to her today, from an email she sent me earlier;

"Just walked Charlie down the bottom of road. A few little boys were playing at the cubby house tree and Charlie started running through the bushes. He disturbed this Kanga, must of been about 8 feet tall, which went jumping past the boys practically touching them much to their delight. Charlie was bouncing after it, but it just as quickly disappeared, what a sight. I was worried that Charlie was going to get boxed, but obviously he never caught it. How cool is that?"

Aussie Rules

Nah, not really. Just that I got an invite to see the Adelaide Crows play Geelong in an Aussie Rules Footy Game here in Adelaide. My first Experience of a National Game found me in a Corporate Suite, with dinner and all drinks thrown in, sitting in leather seats viewing the game from behind the goal. Pretty spoilt I know, but I guess as good as any way to start my new relationship with their national game. There are 2 teams in the AFL here the Adelaide Crows and Adelaide Port Power. Most of my new office follow the Power, so when I chose the Crows and turned up at work this week, with a Crows scarf it wound them up something rotten....Jamie has also decided to support the Power, but I guess its more about their cooler name than 'owt else.

Went with my old EBOG chum Derek Finch, and surprisingly really enjoyed the game. 40,000 were watching so more than turns up at White Hart Lane, but the atmosphere, noise excitement and tension was not a patch on the beautiful game (English Football). Also noticed no trouble at all between the rival fans. Geelong (From Victoria state) slaughtered the Crows - yeah who cares I hear you all say...

Must mention the Pies at half time, another Aussie tradition, probably as good as pukka pies, but I reckon they would taste better out in the cold of the Stadium, rather than from the corporate ambience. Good, but not as tasty as some I've had at Underhill (Barnet FC) in the bleak mid winter, or from Simmonds the Bakers in Hatfield.

My handicap at Blackwood GC has dropped to 9 last week, but actually played to handicap this morning for only the 2nd time in over 6 months. Heard Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup so a good weekend all round.

Gigs, Sevens and Socials

Snow Patrol

Debi and I went to see Snow Patrol on April Fools day. As good as they are, they only managed to half fill the venue here, which to me was quite a surprise. There did seem to be a heavy British bias in the audience, so I guess their popularity has not filtered over here yet. It was our first concert in a very long time, so was a nice change. Bumped into a Scottish bloke I've met at the golf club, with his wife, so we shared a couple of drinks with them. (Doesn't take long to start the old networking does it!)

Adelaide Rugby Sevens

Two days later I undertook a big business lunch along with Phil Hoffmann, to mark the start of the Rugby Sevens. Phil went back to the office, and after a few swallies at the corporate lunch, I moved on down to the Adelaide Oval to see the competition start at 5.30. Fast and Furious, 7 mins each way, but enough time for a beer between games. Sadly saw England loose their first game to Australia with the last try in overtime. Being a sensible chappie, I took the train home, but as Debi had already uncorked the wine at home I had to walk the 35 mins back from the station. Thankfully mostly downhill, so rolled home.

Phil Hoffmann Travel Social

Held in one of the tree lined parks in the eastern suburbs, and a very nice area it was too. Some lovely homes certainly caught Debi's eye. This Sunday afty was all about staff members and their families getting to know each other. Tennis, Cricket, kids games and of course the proverbial Sausage sizzle and Barby. Oddly enough caught a bit of rain today, the first in a while, but much needed.

Jamie making a jump for the line !! >

Jersey Boys (Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons) preview

Monday night and went to this function after work. This show has now hit Melbourne and we got a sneak preview of a few songs sung live by the performers in a room full of 6o odd travel agents.

Sadly didn't win one of the 3 top prizes of flights to Melbourne, Sofitel Hotel and tickets to the show. Bah humbug, I'll have to pay to take Debi now!!

Weds night swimming at Westminster School

Took Georgia and Jamie after school to this Swimming club. They are getting along great, Georgia is a great swimmer, really good to see her excel at something. Jamie is also about to be moved up a class, also giving his all. Interesting we have no problems getting them here, they must genuinely like it. (Nothing to do with the Chocolates from the vending machine afterwards..) I'm doing OK too, this week doing 1250m in the hour. My target is to hit 1500m in the hour before long.

Debi - she takes Charlie Dog Classes Weds nights. Charlie is doing OK, also about to be moved up a class. Debi however needs a muzzle to keep her quiet and under control!!!

Easter Friday.

Remember the song - "Didn't we have a love-r-ly time, the day we went to.........

Victor Harbour".
1 hour south of Adelaide, very quaint and surely a throwback to the English seaside resorts of the 50's. Donuts, Big Wheels, dodgems, ice cream milk shakes. Charlie went mental on the beach where he got his first look at Camels giving kids rides. They also warned us about the Bank holiday traffic. I remember leaving home in England to go to Bournemouth, or anywhere on a Bank holiday weekend and getting caught up in miles of log jammed traffic on any road or route. We must have seen 50 cars on the way there and 10 on the way home. Amazing.

Holding Charlie back from the camels! >

Ladies golf at Blackwood

Debi has now joined the golf club and had a few games. She went out with the ladies on Thursday playing twilight which starts at 2pm as the clocks have changed. She and her friends want to put in cards to get their handicap (3 required), so a member with a handicap comes out with them to mark their cards.

Seemingly all went well for the gruesome foursome, until a few too many balls were banged against the trees. Liz another lovely quietly spoken Scottish lady (who does know her on course etiquette) went from Shxx to Fxxxxxx to fxxxxxx hxxx. Lots of belly laughs were had, until the 7th at 4.50pm where they were informed the bar was shutting at 5.30pm, as it is autumn and dark at 6pm so no one is around. They all played some wonderful fast golf, (that's what they told me) called ahead to Lesley's husband Paul to get a bottle of Sauvignon on ice, rushed up the ninth, toilet lipstick and hair done and in the bar for 5.25pm. Surely it's not too rude of me to remark that by my reckoning that makes over 3 hours for nine holes...... Chaps, please don't choke on your coffee/beer....

I asked Debi if she enjoyed the golf she said it was good, but enjoyed the banter and the wine after more. Fair comment!!!!