Aussie footy, Internet TV and no Camping!

I left a few of you swithering over the last post. No prizes for guessing, we never made the Cub camp and Debi never had to face her demons in the shape of juicy bugs, creepy crawlies and blouse eating moths, by the River Murray. A shame but we will make it there one day.

In its place was a weekend of activity nonetheless. Friday of course was the end of week Aussie wine sampling undertaken under duress by both Debi and I. It's a trial and a tribulation but we force ourselves through the pain barrier each week.

Saturday morning was Jamie's Kanga Cricket, with yours truly coaching. Our new tactic of bowling wides, meant the young opposition had no chance to hit the ball and we ran out comfortable winners by 1 wicket !!! Ashes combatants take note.

< The "wide boys"

On the subject of the Ashes series, some of you may well have viewed by now, my appearance last week on the Internet TV Sports Show KG & The General. I was promoting my company - Phil Hoffmann Travel's escorted tour to take in the Ashes in London. It's a fun clip. Watch if you can be bothered or have a spare 10 mins. You can't beat a bit of Aussie bashing....My 15 minutes of fame.. Can't believe the number of comments I've received on this clip that I've picked up an Aussie twang. No way Cobbers - it's a real ripper, no worries there mate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_Y-4naiXq0

In the afty on Saturday, I went along with a colleague from Phil Hoffmann Travel to attend a sponsors lunch at Glenelg Football Club (Aussie Rules). PHT are sponsors so we enjoyed a good lunch, with wine and beer included and some controversial speakers (They pull no punches here mate - telling it how it is) including accusations of transfers via full brown paper bags full of loot. It was an SANFL game - 9 teams in the South Australian league - these are semi pros akin to our div 1 and 2 football league. The best of these get picked for the national league teams like the Adelaide Crows and Port Power here and other bigger names like Carlton, Essenden, Geelong, Hawthorn and Collingwood from Victoria. Had a good afternoon, got quite tanked and by the time Debi G,J & Charlie picked me up, was not good for a lot else. We nipped down the beach to let Charlie loose in the Twilight. By the time we got home and I sank in my chair I was a goner. Well It was a Sat night, what else do us old gits do after a few hours at football (even if it was Aussie Rules).

Got out for Golf Sun Morning and by the time I'd played 18 holes (30 points) and got home, Debi G & J were only just surfacing.... If you don't get out - you don't get up! remember that one boys... Sunday afty was a very sociable and enjoyable time spent at local Geordie friends Ashley and Andrew, along with Vanessa & Steve from the 'Boro. I did mention two of the teams represented were in the bottom three, and it wasn't Spurs (thankfully - have I mentioned our resurgence??)

On the new house, the Pool was dug last week, we await the steelworks and pipework and then the concreting later this week. The Roof frame and brickwork is nearly complete, so we expect them to start the roof tiles any day now. Getting exciting. My problem is the serious stage payments have started. The bank balance, is not so attractive anymore!!

OOps we hit rock in digging the pool - more cost! >

Finally - for those who know Debi well. This weeks venture has been baking Mum's favorite recipe Chocolate Cake. No ordinary cake I can tell you - it's Gluten free, no eggs or sugar. Yum really tasty. Well the First 5 have been, my waistline has gone from not so slim to not at all slim. Supposedly there is a hole in the market and these cakes are gonna fill it. They filled the Dams in Holland with just one finger. These cakes would go down well in an Amsterdam cafe too. Just need to find a local supplier of the necessary ingredients......

On the Fringe, Cub Scouts and Camping

I've been wondering for a few days now what next to write about on this blog. I was thinking that perhaps we have now started to get into some kind of normal routines. For me, get up, go to work, come home, see family, have dinner glass (bottles) of wine then bed. Sound familiar?

For the Kids, school, homework, telly or computer or play station, tantrums, bed.

For Debi, lie in, walk Charlie in the warm sunshine, coffee with the ladies, or box or step class in the local Oval, or recently the ladies try golf at Blackwood Golf Club, pick up kids, crate of wine, dinner, another crate of wine, read a novel or two, get on the Poms in Adelaide Forum. (Only joking ....she of course does soooo much more.....and keeps us all sane and amused)

Anyhow, along comes a few days that change the outlook somewhat. The house build is really coming along now, with the walls and roof going up so we can now feel the new house, and can't wait to be the proud owners of property again. Sadly, both Debi and I turn up at the site every day to see how it's progressing. Being only 2 mins up the road it's an irresistible draw.

Last Wednesday while Debi took Charlie to his dog training class, I took both Georgia and Jamie to Westminster School (they will start there next January) where they have a great indoor pool. As part of the Seacliff Surf Live Saving Club we attend, they hold training nights here for members. It's the first evening we've attended and normally its a real effort to get G&J out to anything new. They dived straight in and I was amazed to watch them both do about 30 - 40 lengths of the pool. Up and down, they went, really strong strokes and with no fuss or attitude. They loved it and what a great sight it was to see them going at it big time. I also jumped in and did over 25 lengths myself, along with a few other dads. Both G&J say they want to go next week. I hope so, it would be great for all of us.

At the weekend we went to the "gardens of unearthly delights" a part of the Adelaide Fringe. We took in an animal freak show, a few side stalls a few dodgems and a big wheel (freaked me out more than them. I hate man made heights). Whilst feasting on a few doughnuts and Red Wine (great combo) we noticed a possum in the tree above us. This is a central City Park, great stuff.

As you will see from the piccy above, we have also had some long awaited rain. Can you also believe this is a major crowd event and they serve you with proper wine glasses. Can you imagine that at a UK event? To cap the outing we even found a new curry house on the way home - still not a patch on the Brookmans Park Methi or the Raj. We should still set up the Methi franchise over here! Next Week the Clipsal 500 starts for a long Weekend - basically road racing, a massive event souped up cars and big crowds and live bands.

I have been aching to get Jamie into the Cub Scouts over here as I firmly believe its great fun and character building stuff. After many weeks// months of careful suggestion, he agreed to go for a try out tonight (Some boys he plays cricket with are Cubs). Georgia was with us too. (She has been going to Girl Guides, but its pretty tame even by young girl (guide) standards. So We were delighted to see other girls attending the Cubs and they talked Georgia into giving it a go too. Debi and I walked Charlie round the woods, had time for 2 glasses of wine at the local before picking them both up. Great news, they BOTH loved it and want to go again. Jamie was pleading with me to buy the uniform and book us on a Camp in 2 weeks time.

Here's the real fun part. The Family are invited, so please if you will, picture Debi, on the banks of the River Murray, camping with the bugs and insects, the stars for a roof and no warm water or hair dryer for a weekend.... I love it. I offered 'em double for the privilege. Seriously Debi is already making enquiries as to Mobile Camper Vans.... watch this space....will she go for it?

Adelaide Fringe

Second only in World standing to the Edinburgh Fringe. Loads of comedy, music and acts of all sorts of quality, colour and creed. Its on for about a month, in pubs, clubs, theatres and open air parks and Carnivals. Debi and I have already visited the "Garden of Unearthly Delights" a couple of weeks back, loads of tents with acts playing. either rock up or pre buy tickets to the various shows. There are free acts as well, but of course will always end up with the hat upturned for donations of well received.

With this weekend just passed being a Bank holiday weekend (Adelaide Cup Race Day on Monday) we decided we ought to introduce Jamie and Georgia to the Fringe. We'd seen ads promoting a free kids festival in one of the parks surrounding central Adelaide. Didn't go Sat as Jamie had his Kanga Cricket in the morning (I'm the coach) and Debi had volunteered to help sell cakes on the Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club stall at the Surf Championship held at Seacliff Beach (G&J didn't compete sadly). It was a good event with all Adelaide Surf Clubs competing against each other. Kids of all ages from under 8's to under 18's.

Sunday morning I played Golf and by the time we'd walked Charlie in the afty most of the day had gone. So it was that on Monday (again after another Charlie Walk) we drove to the City in the afternoon. We'd blown it of course. The Family Event was only on the Sat and Sun. What was on was an Adult only "Future's Music" event. Think Ibiza clubbing, DJ's, Dance, House, and you have it. Mobbed, all sectioned off, plenty of drink and no doubt drugs of some variety. We settled on a restaurant nearby and sat outside to soak up some of the atmosphere. We all moved inside after just a few minutes. None of us Georgia included could handle the incessant bass beat and sounds from over 3 tents and sections of the event. Made us realise we are getting old...

In our defense, we have booked tickets to see Snow Patrol in a couple of months. Not so Hip is the tickets we also hold for Phantom of the Opera. We are about to try for French & Saunders and maybe to the Clipsal 500 motor Race meeting in a couple of weeks. The whole city and streets get turned into a massive race track for this weekend over 3 long days. Sounds fun, sadly the amount we have spent on electrics in our new house with the main sponsors Clipsal, has so far fallen on deaf ears. You gotta try and ponce when you can !

The first Interstate business trip

Might not mean much to many of you out there, but just passed another milestone in our Aus adventure. Last Thursday and Friday I was in Sydney for meetings on behalf of my new firm Phil Hoffman Travel. It was great not the least because I got to spend quality time with both Phil Hoffmann and Pete Williams my 2 bosses. Great to get to know them a little better and for them to see me in action in business meetings with key suppliers in Sydney. Of course I've only spent any previous time in Sydney as a tourist, so good to see another side of life in the big smoke.

It actually re-inforced our decision to settle in Adelaide. It took ages to get anywhere by car and you can see how much life would cost to live in decent areas here. Everybody was very welcoming, and it was lovely to have dinner with Phil down in the Rocks overlooking the harbour bridge and and the Opera House. We stayed in a central 3 bedded apartment hotel and had several good meetings with Cruise suppliers, Group Tour Operators and our own in-house wholesale operation which runs out of a Sydney suburb.

Rotary Club, KG and the General

Last Wednesday I was invited along to the Rotary Club of Adelaide. My first ever Rotary club meeting anywhere. Just never had the opportunity to get involved. This club meets weekly, every Wednesday and the lunch is just a prompt 1 hour. Being held right in the city centre means they get a lot of business people attending. The fact the venue is also quite prestigious is an added bonus. In the picture here are my new boss the Phil Hoffmann Travel CEO Peter Williams and Marketing Manager Joanne McLaren.

It was held in a hospitality suite on the 5th Floor of the Sir Donald Bradman stand of the Adelaide Oval. The view out the windows is quite spectacular. Guess it beats a sandwich at the desk, and always for a good charitable cause.

Just before this we had attended a quick meeting with a revolutionary new Internet TV sports show, on live Mon - Fri 3-6pm. We are just confirmed as one of the main sponsors and it will be very exciting to see this launch next week, and be a part of a new medium in sports broadcasting in Oz let alone South Australia. KG is a bit of a sporting icon here a bit like our own David Coleman or John Motson. We are of course looking at all sorts of ways to help their show, but also bring a new audience and clientele to our website. Check it out - www.KGandthegeneral.com.au

The Coopers KI Cup

The title of this blog will mean nothing to most of you. For me it was my first real taste of corporate hospitality down under. Let me start with the title. Coopers is THE best South Australian family owned Brewery. I have found their Coopers Pale Ale to be my favorite beer over here.

KI stands for Kangaroo Island - famous for its beaches, unspoilt scenery and abundant animal life. Put the two together and you have a festival of horse racing and excellent entertainment. We were picked up in the city by coach and then caught a ferry over to KI. There were 6 races in all and we were hosted by Sealink in their own hospitality tent, with beer, wine or fizzy on tap all day. Needless to say I was down on the betting front, but way ahead in the beer stakes. Met many new trade contacts and had a great day all round. My thanks to great hosts Sealink. Must be an offshoot of the old English Sealink ferry company I used to work with years ago

I travelled with the Directors PA Dee who knew the format and had arranged for us to fly home in a 30 seater plane, just 20 mins rather than the coach, ferry, coach return of circa 3 hours. We just took in one day but the whole racing festival was over 4 days with street parties and live bands. Maybe next year eh!

Bush Fires in Victoria

I got a few Skype messages today asking if we were OK, or anywhere near the terrible Bush Fires in Victoria. Mercifully we are over 10 hours drive from the afflicted area, but it rams home the seriousness of the combination of drought conditions, extreme heat and hot winds, all of which we have experienced here in recent weeks. The hottest spell in many years.

The pictures we've seen on telly are devastating, I can't imagine what those poor people are going through. At work today, my company Phil Hoffmann Travel announced they would divert $1,600 meant for an office party into funds for the afflicted. All staff have also volunteered to give blood, with the burns victims in mind. I wanted to give blood too, but am unable as I am a Brit in Oz, and only Nationals, can donate. It's like I'm quaranteened, or a mudblood like Hermione Granger in Harry Potter. On Friday, we'll have a casual day, when staff have to contribute a few dollars to the relief funds in return for a sausage sizzle at lunch time. (A controlled BBQ!)

Strict bans are in place here too. The Grass, bush and trees are all tinder dry and the Fire Brigade and CFS are regularly patrolling areas, as the risk of arson in particular is so great. We are living in a "semi risk" area so have to be aware of a 10 point plan to protect the home and people. Sirens do sound in this area whenever a fire brigade is called out locally. We are then meant to seek more information on local radio, telly or at info centres.