Can't shake the routine, wherever you are

Have found it quite difficult of late to know quite what to put in the Blog. After 9 months here now, we seem to have settled into what you might call a routine. Of course we have been out and doing things and have had some fun, but I think in this last month, both Debi and I have had some moments of sadness, bordering on regret, but even twangs of loneliness.

My last blog kind of brought it home about the distance we are from our old home and our good friends and family. Next weekend my Brother Mark gets married in Devon and I'm not going to be there to support him. Debi's sister Wendy gave birth to a little boy called Harvey a few weeks ago, and I know she would love a cuddle and to hold both him and her sister. All we can see are photos of the wee man.

What have we done this last month? My work has been full on as deadlines arrive to deliver the Cruise Website. I'm coaching Jamie's school under 9 football team and we have lost one, drawn two to date. Jamie being particularly upset one week when I subbed him for the 2nd time to rotate the players, the next week it was 'cause I asked him to go in goal. This week it was because I didn't allow him to take a penalty...

Last weekend both Georgia and Jamie went off to a Cub camp 40 mins south of Adelaide in a place called Douglas Scrub. Gilwell Park in Oz... They had a ball and were cream crackered on their return. Debi and I nipped out for a meal during their overnight, with Hazel and Hayden in the City. Watched the FA Cup final last night at a friends house round the Corner (Everton Fans). Thought of Clarky, Gordon, Graeme Goodwin and Phil Beard wondering which, if not all of them would have been there.

As your Sunshine returns for your summer in Blighty, our winter is settling in. The fields have turned green, from the brown dusty bowls they were before. We have had quite a lot of rain which is encouraging, (not the Storms of Queensland and NSW though). The winds have died, down, there are little if not any flies about and when the Sun shines it really is a nice time of the year. We have not experienced their Autumn before, so its a novel experience.

We're off for a curry at the Golf Club tonight as part of a themed night. Not expecting it to be a patch on the Raj or Methi, but hey ho, when in Adelaide... It's my big 50th tomorrow. I'm taking the day off, will play golf with Debi and we are off for a romantic meal overlooking the City at a restaurant called Windy Point, with the bright lights of the city spreading out and glimmering below us. Must go, curry calls.

Beverley Nash

I am so sad to report the loss last week of a very special lady, Beverley, wife to my best mate Robin (AKA Nobby), and mother to my god daughter Heather. Bev died after a long battle with cancer. I write these notes tonight as my own way of passing my respects to a dear friend, as the funeral service is today back in England. It really brings home the distance we are away as normally I would have been at the service in person. I know my Dad will be there on my behalf.

I have many great memories of Bev and Nobby. From our days as neighbours living in South Tottenham, indeed I think Nobby was lodging with me when he started going out with Bev after they met as work mates at Barclays in Wood Green. We also became close neighbours in Barnet for several years after that. We went on several Ski holidays together, and I particularly picture Bev in a pristine white ski suit in Avoriaz, until a pearler rendered her a muddy wreck. Bev also
on this trip astounded us with her body dexterity as she bent in half at the waist, legs dead straight and picked up an object lying flat on the floor with her mouth (you had to be there).

Bev was also an avid supporter of Nobby and Brookmans Park FC in its heyday. Rain or shine, she was always there supporting Nobby and the rest of us in the team. How she could manage to wash and clean Nobby's sports kit (Bill Grundies in particular) is still a source of amazement to this day...

I know my mate Nobby, their family and all their close friends will be hurting today. I know Debi and I are, here in Oz. We will miss you Bev, but will never forget you.

May you rest in peace.

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!!!!

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?