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.
The cinemas are more relaxed and comfortable
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