The Football Season is apon us and that glorious Ashes win

As we come to the end of the school under 9 season I have 2 momentous occasions to harp on about. We had a superb festival of football under lights last Monday night after school. As coach of the Blackwood Under 9's, we had a great evening of fast and furious football, on a glistening wet pitch, football the way it was always meant to be played. I haven't been so excited since Gascoigne's screamer against the Arse at Wembley in '91, when my boy Jamie stepped up in the final minute of the last game and slotted the winner. The coach was to be seen doing a David Pleat and Barry Fry jig all down the far side of the ground....Happy days indeed.

Then in the final league game of the season, we only went and tonked the opposition 4-0 with Jamie again on the score sheet. Having lost the previous few games 6-2, 5-0 and 4-0. The Coach through misty eyes milking it all...

As I write this the cockerel is definitely crowing. We sit top of the league with 3 straight wins. I even missed 2 hours of the famous Ashes win as Spurs were on at the same time. messages rained in from all over the globe (well England and Indonesia anyway - thanks Jonny Elliott). Boothers I even got to say hi to his new girlfriend Ravi.

Of course I had a terrible time going to work the next day with a big grin on my face. I had to say absolutely nothing. The Aussies just know when they have been beaten by a better side (not).

Gold Coast holiday and the return "home"

We stayed in a place called Broadbeach, which is the next resort down to Surfers Paradise, supposedly a bit more upmarket (well I do have a wife who would like to be kept in the manner to which she has become accustomed!!) On our first night which was a Saturday, we were sitting in a nice Italian restaurant and I have to say I saw more sights in the 3 hours we were there than in 11 months in Adelaide.

Imagine a night in Blackpool, crew after crew of scantily clad girls on Hen parties, with all sorts of dodgy themed clothing (or lack of it) It just so happened there was a night club 20 yards down the street form our table. What a great spot we had...of course I was engaged in the conversation on our table - why wouldn't I be!

We took in visits to the theme parks; White Water World, DreamWorld and Sea World - Think Disneyland, Universal Studios crossed with Thorpe Park and Legoland... Also some animal parks a day on the beach and for the final day and night we stayed at Debi's Uncle George's house in Tweed Heads to the South of the Gold Coast just over the border in NSW. Uncle George wasn't actually there, but his partner Mo and her daughter Nicky looked after us admirably. We went on a walk with them round the resort and saw 2 majestic whales basking in the surf just 200m off the coast.

Have to say the coastline, the surf and the beaches were more impressive than those in Adelaide, which are still beautiful but a little tame in comparison. Debi and I particularly enjoyed sundowners in a couple of their Surf Clubs, with moody music and a great views of the coastlline and surfers. Adelaide beaches maybe win, as they are safer, not such massive rips and undercurrents and we can let dogs free on the beach in the winter months. They're not allowed on the beaches at all on the Gold Coast. Visually though has to be 10/10 for the Gold Coast.

So back to life in Adelaide all very dramatic, picking up Charlie from the kennels as it was the first time we have actually used kennels as back in the UK we normally could rely on my Mum and Dad or friends to help out. Jamie was beside himself and crying with emotion at the thought of seeing Charlie again. All well, he did not seem to suffer much apart from now (2 weeks later actually), when it appears he may have caught kennel cough.

Debi has not had much work with Clarins, much to her delight. I must say I don't see her picking up the phone asking why there is no work. When she has been it seems there is more action with people nicking stuff than buying it...

She has now had a good meeting with our friend Lesley, to discuss yet another business venture.(at least she tries). Still in its infancy, but basically catering for the starving masses on the golf course on their busiest days Wednesdays and Saturdays. They just have to get it past the committee for approval - watch this space. I'm sure she will be keeping the Clarins samples whatever happens!!!

The house is getting on, We're still trying to get in for the end of September, but not sure if that will happen. Debi has had a full time job keeping on top of many issues, even though we have an official site manager appointed. Painting and tiling has now started and the wardrobes are all getting fitted today, so we can now see more visual progress. It's actually quite exciting to think we may have a home again in less the 5 weeks, fingers crossed.

Weather wise we have had the coldest week yet, still about 10c but whipping winds and storms which make it all the colder. Last night we had a big power cut for 4 hours with many trees down all over the city and surrounding hills. It's quite nice really as, you hear big howling winds outside and of course the storm brings heavy rains so Adelaide is now getting on track to having the water they need for the summer. They actually phrased it as being close to average winter rains for the first time in over 5 years (hence the drought). Very funny to watch the news with people getting so excited about the wet weekend coming. We know we will have plenty of sun ahead so its good to know we have enough water as well. Just one big example of the very different mentality compared to that back in England.