Annoying internet access and networking of a different kind

'kin hell - just spent an hour typing up my thoughts and the freakin' internet wouldn't let me save the post. Most annoying. Debi had even written up a couple of notes too talking about my drunken stature after a business networking lunch last Friday. This was at Glenelg footy club, who PHT sponsor and I have to do my duty and hold up the companies end. Arrived at 12.30 and left after 8 - obviously not making it back to work. Still someone has to do this work!! The speaker was a Paul Gascoigne character a local aussie footy star who has come across bad times and recently turned to alcohol, drugs and women.

The cruise site at work is now launched - http://www.cruiseworldwide.travel/ check it out. Just now need to promote it and get the bookings coming in. Been to Sydney for a days business trip this week and am going to the Adelaide City Rotary Club now every possible Wednesday lunchtime. A good networking event, a spot of lunch at a great venue - the Adelaide Oval, combined with some charity work, can't be bad.

Kids have just finished the school holidays - I imagine Debi is quite happy about that! We all went to see Harry Potter the day after its launch here, we are all big fans. Debi and I were even to be found on the Wii last night - Debi was Hermione (all attitude and opinions) and I was Harry (lasered 4 eyes, scarred forehead (old football wound), baggy trousers and a battered old wand (my credit card - which Debi now shares!))

Won't mention my golf handicap. Oh alright - I came here with a decent 7.5 and have already slipped to 9.5 so back in double figures, a nightmare. Really playing badly and in danger of not having enjoyed a round for many weeks now.

Enjoyed watching the Ashes over here. Starts at 7pm and if you see all the days play its on til 2.30 am. Flintoff last night was superb. My boss was at Lords, but I'm not sure he'll need me to wind him up any more. I have a contract to be renewed !! I do know however that he has been badly let down by the UK ticket agent and ground arranger.

Not sure I've mentioned it before, but we have an excellent range of walks and countryside around us. The pictures in this post are all from where we now live. One is the moody winter sky from out the back of our current rental. One is the Sturt River Dam just 1 mile walk from the new house. The bike and horse trails are also on the doorstep and Debi is there every day walking/ running with Charlie. If I can get my lazy arse out of bed before work its a real buzz running in there with Charlie. Easier said than done as I am a night person not a morning person.

The beach shot is at Seacliff, just 15 mins drive away, where we took Charlie for a treat (off lead) last Saturday. Actually we were picking my car up from work following the drink up at Glenelg footy club as mentioned last Friday.

Mid winter ain't so bad

Not doing well at this blogging lark am I?. It's been nearly a month since my last post. I promised myself I would write at least a little snippet every week, but I'm sadly miles away from that. Combination of things I guess. At work I'm constantly on a PC right now, and when I get home Jamie and Georgia are hogging ours. I settle with a nice glass of wine and bingo its midnight, I might have dozed off a little in the chair or we're catching up with a little light entertainment. Read into that what you will.

Tuesday nights, I help out with the Cub Scouts. Not sure If I've mentioned this before, but both Georgia and Jamie go to the same pack, and are both loving it. Georgia finds it so much more fun than girl guides was over here (very religious and girly). Last Tuesday we went to the local shopping centre and the Cubs enjoyed free reign in an amusement type arcade. You know the Video games stuff - previously I guess it was all Sega, but all sorts now. They all had fun. We've had Camp fires, indoor bowling, sight, sound and touch and other games nights.

Wednesday nights I take the School under 9's for Soccer training. 'Scuse the Aussie slang there but the kids pick me up on it. Every time I tick them off for misbehaving and say come on we're here to play football, they say no - soccer... Drawn 3 lost 3 to date, may get the sack before the seasons end!!!

I mentioned Debi's new job last time round and that it was part time work. Let me tell you how part time. She has a load of samples to try out and learn with, but not one client has yet benefited from her new found skills..... This Saturday after several training days, is her first real day of work. Typical its come now the kids are off school for end of term, going back end of July. (They have 4 terms here, this being the end of term 2).

We are deep in winter now, and have passed the shortest day, just as you have hit big summer. The piccy on the right here was taken in late May, just before going into winter. the Weather looked great at Wimbledon, but as I write today, our winter day, has been much like your summer day. Check this out.. Highs and lows, Rain coming here Sat & Sun oh great

Luton
17°CCurrent: CloudyWind: W at 13 km/hHumidity: 72%
Wed18° 11°
Thu19° 10°
Fri21° 11°
Sat22° 14°
Adelaide
10°CCurrent: Partly CloudyWind: NE at 14 km/hHumidity: 66%
Wed16° 7°
Thu18° 11°
Fri12° 11°
Sat14° 11°

The Locals here are finding it freezing here which is remarkable really. I just put a light sweater on to go to work, that comes off at the office and at home we have rarely had to have the heating on. It does certainly have a chill in the evenings, but not a patch on the good old British winter nights.

Just typing this as the First Day of the Ashes Test match is on. My boss Peter is there in Cardiff, with a small group of Aussies, lucky blighters. 3 wickets down at lunch - not good.

Debi's playing golf with a group of ladies tomorrow which is good news. She is enjoying the game and we have both met a nice crowd at the club. As its school holiday I'm having to work from home tomorrow afty to let her out. Thankfully the facility does exist. My golf of late has been absolutely shocking. I'm going backwards at a rate of knots. 2 more weeks and I'll be back to 10 handicap. Still only played to handicap twice in all my time here. It is a real tough course, but this workman cannot blame his tools, it's all down to me. Touch and feel has all gone, missing greens, fairways and short putts. Now I'm 50 I guess I'd better take up Bowls... The piccy above was taken during my 50th birthday. A quiet romantic evening out with the Mrs at a restaurant called windy point. Well it was a Monday!

The EBOZ (my old Football team East Barnet Old Grammarians - EBOG, so those that have gravitated over here are EBOZ - East Barnet in Oz - geddit?) boys are coming to Adelaide in November which should be great fun, most certainly booze filled. Waza, Linton, Patel, Thorny, Jules, Winger, Haycock et al - take note.

The Cruise site I've been working on is still not launched, which is a mare really, but it has enabled more thorough testing and bug fixing. It will go live imminently, and fingers crossed it will pile in with the bookings. It has to... More projects to follow this one. Have had a few good work functions to attend recently, a fund raising dinner for the Adelaide Crows (Aussie Pro football team), a South Australian Hotels Association (awards night) Dinner and dancing; and a long business networking luncheon at local (to work) Glenelg footy club, with the guest speaker being ex OZ cricketer Merv Hughes who was hilarious. Some great stories.

Getting home from one of the dinners in the City was a test. The train line is closed for a few months for improvements. So caught the Rail replacement bus. Within seconds I'd nodded off, luckily waking up in Belair 5 mins from my stop at Blackwood. Got out and now faced a 30 min walk home (No way Debi was coming for me at that time, and no doubt after a few swallies at home!). Within 10 mins the skies opened and I had to take Shelter under a big gum tree. Eventually making it home at 2am or so drenched. When it does rain here - it certainly hammers it, but never for too long, and generally at sociable times - nightime...

Better sign off now as Georgia and Jamie's bed time. Georgia is here now and says Hi to you all.