Summer Holidays are here - Aussie style

The kids broke up from school last week, the end of the school year here, but of more significance the last day at Blackwood Primary. They have 7 weeks off now and in late January will start at their new Westminster School. Once we had visited the school, had a show round and talked to some of the teachers, it was an easy decision to move them. The opportunities at this new private school are endless. When I saw the playing fields, indoor pool, stage and theatre, art facilities etc , it was a no brainer. I enjoyed my school days immensely, I'm sure they will love it here too. They had a 2 day trial 2 weeks ago and were looked after by "buddies" whose job it was to show them round and introduce them to friends and school ways.

We can now look forward to at least 5 months of great weather, of swimming in our new pool, of long summer nights. It all sounds so glorious doesn't it? However I personally have been quite unsettled recently. A combination of visits from the UK of Debi's Sister Wendy, my old mate from college, Chris Tipton and stories from home of my Mum going into a care home recently in order to give my Dad some well needed rest. He went over on Eurostar to Lille for a few days to chill out by himself. I would love him to come and visit us, but I fear my Mum will not be able to make the journey. I am planning a trip back to the UK in March/April in order to see them.

As you guys are I guess, we are planning the Xmas / New Year break. We'll be on the beach Xmas day, and have a number of friends coming round for new years eve. The Police here are even stricter than in UK, they put up roadblocks and breathalyze everyone regardless. They do not have to warn motorists where they will be, so a very neat means of controlling things. Guess who'll be driving Xmas day? Can't see it being Debi can you? One for the road indeed.....

What's going on - new house and more

No blog for 2 months, just not sat at the PC and got to it really. A load has happened of course, I'll try and limit this to the meaty bits.

We're in the new home
On 21 October we finally moved in the new home. I took a couple of days off, but already Debi had done a magnificent job in pre-packing, planning and sorting things out for the move. On the day of the move and the day after we had a procession of contractors in - Curtains went up, paving went down, plants were planted, appliances were connected, the pool was filled. Within days Debi had made her mark and it felt like home. Nigh on 2 years since we sold up in Brookmans Park in Nov 07, hard to comprehend really. A major milestone in our new life down under, to be proud house owners again. I will post pics of the new house on our picasa site for anyone remotely interested. Of course we have a few items for the sang list, but really minor things, the builders have done a really good job, and through them we have made a couple of good friends in Hazel (the sales person) and her hubby Hayden (a professor at Flinders Uni, and a great character).

Family visit
13 Nov and Debi's sister Wendy, hubby Jamie and 7 month old Harvey arrived for 10 days with us before moving on to Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts in Queensland. Their arrival coincided with an amazing burst of warm weather. I took the week off work, we had a couple of days chilling out by the pool in great weather and we went on a houseboat on the Murray River for 3 days. Loads of wine, revelry, camaraderie and a bit of mothering - Auntie Debi and baby Harvey. We managed to run aground 3 times on the Murray, much to the amusement of the ladies. Charlie at one time insisted on chomping on a half eaten rabbit on the banks, just as a storm broke, the winds went to hurricane levels and as it was a 47c day the wind became like a furnace. Actually quite dangerous. The boat broke the temporary moorings and started off down the river, with me battling with Charlie to drop the rabbit, Debi doing the same, Wendy holding on to one of the ropes and the kids - and thankfully Jamie (Senior) on board with the kids screaming at us to get on before they disappeared down river. Comical really. Had to down a few bottles to get over it. Saw an amazing electrical Storm that night as the heatwave came to an end.

We all got very emotional when they had to go, with of course each of us trying our best to hold it all back. Brought back home with a bang how much we all miss our families and friends.

We had a fantastic drive back home, from the Riverland via a cross country route through the Adelaide Hills. We stopped in the Barossa Valley at Chateau Tanunda for a spot of winetasting (bought a few too). There was a magnificent Cricket Oval in the grounds where they hold an annual Cricket Charity Match. International Stars take part, I saw a photo of Sir Ian Botham and David Gower to name but a few.

Chris Tipton visit
Many of you will know my old college mate. He arrived here on the 3rd December for a quick 5 days. (He had already been in Hong Kong and was to have several days in Sydney after us) He took the chance, due to changes at his work place, to do a bit of long distance travelling. We had a lovely time, with my old ginger chum (well Ginge has shaved it off up top, but reliably informs me he's still got it downstairs - Mercifully I didn't need to verify).

Played Golf at Blackwood Friday (Debi too). Saturday we enjoyed an all dayer at the Adelaide Oval during the Australia / West Indies test match. After this I took him up to Rundle Street for a few more drinks to experience a bit of Adelaide's night life.

Sunday, we were back at the golf Club for a pre-arranged Mixed Ambrose at the golf Club, followed by a very sociable Xmas dinner. Our Scottish mate Gerald doing a fabulous Santa (Billy Connelly style). Very funny guy. Chris enjoyed meeting some of our new friends and having a brief insight to our new life.

Again sad to see him go after such a short stay, but it was as usual just like I last saw him last week. Good friends will always be... good friends. Great to hang out with. You can't beat history.

Trailblazer Challenge

Held last Saturday, I'm glad to say we all completed it in one piece. Over 800 took part, with many walking or running 50k or 100k. We did the 34k course and were well glad when we had completed that. If we are to attempt the 50K next year we will need to seriously need to up our training.

We started in the City at 7am and the first 18k was along the banks of the River Torrens gradually making our way out to the foothills surrounding the city. It took us though many suburbs, even one called Highbury, which even over here had a weird smell about it. Sadly it was a nice area unlike the hovel that surrounds the red half of North London. We reached checkpoint 1 about 10.15.

Then started the first of the 2 hill climbs up the aptly named Black Hill. As we got higher so too did the scenery over the City start to spread out beside us. Good spirits, camaraderie and a few sugary sweets got us to the 2nd watering point. From here a further steep uphill climb to the Morialta Conservation Park. On this section the aches really started, but I think it was the mental side of getting near the finish. There were others who were doing the 100 k walk about us and they actually looked in a worse state than we were. God knows if they competed their target.

Anyhow Peter Williams my boss and Andrew Tatlock my Geordie Chum, completed our 34k challenge in 6 hrs 47mins well ahead of our expected time. We have raised in excess of $1500 between us, for "troubled children" so we're happy with our efforts. Needless to say we spent the rest of the afternoon at the well named Edinburgh Hotel supping several well earned Coopers pale ale, with our other halves and kids. Roll on next year and the 50k challenge.....

Move in to the new house on Weds 21 Oct at last....

City to Bay 12k and bloody nipples

Well I'm glad to say, I managed to run the whole way, but not in much of a time. Well by the time I got through the start line 1000's had already started. Hence the 7500 who finished ahead of me. Also have to admit to some surprise when I read in the paper that 75 people had actually walked it quicker than I had run it...

At the end I was asking a lady where to pick up the kit bags. She looked me up and down in amazement. It was only when she'd gone I noticed I had 2 great bloody patches around both of my nipples. Not very cool I can tell you. I did say I was not built for running, this proves it...

It hasn't stopped my enthusiasm for the charity raising Trailblazer challenge which is actually next weekend. A 34k hike, starting in the city and ending in the Adelaide Hills. Next year I'll attempt the 50k, and the year after the 100k (not). Some people actually run the whole 100k, amazing. Sadly no-one from the UK has sponsored me yet, other than my Dad. Ah well, out of sight...

Oh yeah news on the new house. We should be moving in on the 21st Oct - can't wait.

One year on - The Good the Bad and the Ugly

Hard to believe it is now over a year since we left England. Even writing those words seems strange. There is so much here to make us comfortable and happy, but there has also been many moments to make us feel sad and miss our previous life back in Brookmans Park. I will try here to list a few of the highs and lows and the most memorable moments in this new chapter in our lives.

Moments of sadness
It's been tough to be so far away and hear about really tragic events amongst our friends in the UK. The deaths of very good friends Penny Akam and Beverley Nash taken so early from us by cancer. Dave Styles to a sudden heart attack after a game of tennis with his son and in the last few weeks the serious illness of Dave Curley and serious injuries to Sam Boothby just 16 and fighting to save his eyesight after being thrown from a jeep in Africa after a tyre blowout.

It's been very tough to see my brothers, Dad and close family rallying round to support my Dad, as Mum's Alzheimer's becomes ever more evident. Every time we finish a Skype call home there are tears as the call ends. We are unable to offer any physical help or support from here, but I hope my family know how much I admire and am proud of everything they are doing and how they are all pulling together. It's been amazing to watch from here.

The not so good
Linking up on the phone, and seeing the pictures on Picasa of my best mates on golf Tour in Portugal. I was always on this trip in previous years and it was really hard not being with these special guys this time round. I hope its not the last time we'll be able to holiday together as there is nothing that can beat being on tour with your very best mates. I miss the belly laughs and the camaraderie that only your best mates can deliver.

Australian TV is not in the same class as UKTV. Don't knock the BBC or ITV guys, they are quality believe me.

The Indian Restaurants here are absolutely rubbish, boy how we miss the Methi and the Raj. In fact any British curry house knocks the spots off them here. The best we've had here was in the Gold Coast. Too far to order a takeaway!

In October/November last year I remember the flies in the hills (where we live) being an absolute nuisance. When going for a walk in any reserve, or park, or going to our new property it was like one fly picking on you just to wind you up and never flying off. On the golf course too, you'd have a swarm following you round. I remember thinking they were not around during our reccy in 2007 and what a mistake we'd made coming to this area. Then just as quickly they disappeared. 2 months is bearable, and they aren't about in the city.

About the same time the millipedes are everywhere. How they make their way into the house, through locked doors and bolted windows I'll never know. David Copperfield just has to have taught these things a trick or too. Then as if by Magic they've gone too - maybe 3 months for them.

The evening winds and gully breezes have been a surprise too. Many was the time, I'd rush home from work, on a beautiful sunny, warm (even hot) day looking to sit out with Debi on our terrace and share some wine and a balmy evening. These cool winds put paid to that. Probably 3 months of these in the late spring early summer (Nov-Jan). ate Summer and Autumn (February - May) were absolutely superb weather wise.

I've definitely missed going to Spurs and watching live Football on the UKTV. I can get clips of Match of the Day via the internet, and getting up in the middle of the night to watch a Spurs game streamed through the internet will try anyone's patience.

Two last downers have been not being in our own home, and going back to a 5 day working week. We have been renting since Nov 07, nearly 2 years now, and we desperately want and need to get in our new home. Maybe just 4-6 weeks away now... In England in running Driveline with Nicole, we had more or less managed to wrangle a 4 day working week, plus a few other perks. Of course in selling up, we gave up such privileges. It's now a question of head down, work hard and prove yourself all over again.

The Good Stuff
When I started making some notes, I thought jeez, there's a load of cons and I thought they were going to outweigh the pros. I'll let you weigh up the arguments for and against

A quick list of the good, new, novel and most memorable experiences:
Blackwood Golf Club - Great Course, clubhouse, made some good friends, Debi playing too, summer twilight golf socials.
Jamie really getting into Football at last, he's really got the bug. Scored a few goals and thrown a few tantrums when asked to go Sub or play in goal. Really enjoyed coaching his under 9's.
Phil Hoffmann Travel - Really lucky to have been offered work with these guys, just as the GFC hit over here. Have been rewarded with a recent promotion to Head up Marketing, Groups, Wholesale and Special Projects. Go ahead company, 120 great people and loads of potential.
Charlie our labradoodle - An important addition to the family, a source of much fun and good company (not when he legs it and rounds up a herd of local Cows).
The 6 days last summer all over 40C (The time of the Victorian Bush Fire)
Glorious Blue Skies for days on end
The KI Cup day trip on Kangaroo Island, what corporate hospitality and a day on the pop is all about.
Coopers pale ale - best beer here by far, but not a patch on England's Real Ales.
Vilies and Balfours Pies - for the boy who continually ate all the pies in the UK
The Adelaide Oval - a magnificent venue for many outings; 20/20 cricket, A test match v NZ, the Rugby Sevens and venue for my Rotary Club of Adelaide lunch meetings each week.
Our holiday in the Gold Coast in August - well any holiday anywhere would get a mention.
A few business trips to Sydney - which actually have served to re-assure me we have made the right choice, by being here in Adelaide.
Aussie Rules Footy - Have got quite into it actually, supporting Glenelg in the local SAFL and the Adelaide Crows in the AFL National Competition.
My appearance on the Internet TV show KG & The General.

Debi has added a few more:

The cinemas are more relaxed and comfortable

Masterchef Australia and Rush TV shows.

Driving down from the hills where we live, towards the City and seeing the magnificent views as they expand out before you.

Our new ultra comfortable bed and mattress

Buying new furniture for the new house (Not in my list I can assure you)

Golf with the Girls

Working out with the Step into life fitness group - "They do it outdoors".

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.