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.

Annoying internet access and networking of a different kind

'kin hell - just spent an hour typing up my thoughts and the freakin' internet wouldn't let me save the post. Most annoying. Debi had even written up a couple of notes too talking about my drunken stature after a business networking lunch last Friday. This was at Glenelg footy club, who PHT sponsor and I have to do my duty and hold up the companies end. Arrived at 12.30 and left after 8 - obviously not making it back to work. Still someone has to do this work!! The speaker was a Paul Gascoigne character a local aussie footy star who has come across bad times and recently turned to alcohol, drugs and women.

The cruise site at work is now launched - http://www.cruiseworldwide.travel/ check it out. Just now need to promote it and get the bookings coming in. Been to Sydney for a days business trip this week and am going to the Adelaide City Rotary Club now every possible Wednesday lunchtime. A good networking event, a spot of lunch at a great venue - the Adelaide Oval, combined with some charity work, can't be bad.

Kids have just finished the school holidays - I imagine Debi is quite happy about that! We all went to see Harry Potter the day after its launch here, we are all big fans. Debi and I were even to be found on the Wii last night - Debi was Hermione (all attitude and opinions) and I was Harry (lasered 4 eyes, scarred forehead (old football wound), baggy trousers and a battered old wand (my credit card - which Debi now shares!))

Won't mention my golf handicap. Oh alright - I came here with a decent 7.5 and have already slipped to 9.5 so back in double figures, a nightmare. Really playing badly and in danger of not having enjoyed a round for many weeks now.

Enjoyed watching the Ashes over here. Starts at 7pm and if you see all the days play its on til 2.30 am. Flintoff last night was superb. My boss was at Lords, but I'm not sure he'll need me to wind him up any more. I have a contract to be renewed !! I do know however that he has been badly let down by the UK ticket agent and ground arranger.

Not sure I've mentioned it before, but we have an excellent range of walks and countryside around us. The pictures in this post are all from where we now live. One is the moody winter sky from out the back of our current rental. One is the Sturt River Dam just 1 mile walk from the new house. The bike and horse trails are also on the doorstep and Debi is there every day walking/ running with Charlie. If I can get my lazy arse out of bed before work its a real buzz running in there with Charlie. Easier said than done as I am a night person not a morning person.

The beach shot is at Seacliff, just 15 mins drive away, where we took Charlie for a treat (off lead) last Saturday. Actually we were picking my car up from work following the drink up at Glenelg footy club as mentioned last Friday.

Mid winter ain't so bad

Not doing well at this blogging lark am I?. It's been nearly a month since my last post. I promised myself I would write at least a little snippet every week, but I'm sadly miles away from that. Combination of things I guess. At work I'm constantly on a PC right now, and when I get home Jamie and Georgia are hogging ours. I settle with a nice glass of wine and bingo its midnight, I might have dozed off a little in the chair or we're catching up with a little light entertainment. Read into that what you will.

Tuesday nights, I help out with the Cub Scouts. Not sure If I've mentioned this before, but both Georgia and Jamie go to the same pack, and are both loving it. Georgia finds it so much more fun than girl guides was over here (very religious and girly). Last Tuesday we went to the local shopping centre and the Cubs enjoyed free reign in an amusement type arcade. You know the Video games stuff - previously I guess it was all Sega, but all sorts now. They all had fun. We've had Camp fires, indoor bowling, sight, sound and touch and other games nights.

Wednesday nights I take the School under 9's for Soccer training. 'Scuse the Aussie slang there but the kids pick me up on it. Every time I tick them off for misbehaving and say come on we're here to play football, they say no - soccer... Drawn 3 lost 3 to date, may get the sack before the seasons end!!!

I mentioned Debi's new job last time round and that it was part time work. Let me tell you how part time. She has a load of samples to try out and learn with, but not one client has yet benefited from her new found skills..... This Saturday after several training days, is her first real day of work. Typical its come now the kids are off school for end of term, going back end of July. (They have 4 terms here, this being the end of term 2).

We are deep in winter now, and have passed the shortest day, just as you have hit big summer. The piccy on the right here was taken in late May, just before going into winter. the Weather looked great at Wimbledon, but as I write today, our winter day, has been much like your summer day. Check this out.. Highs and lows, Rain coming here Sat & Sun oh great

Luton
17°CCurrent: CloudyWind: W at 13 km/hHumidity: 72%
Wed18° 11°
Thu19° 10°
Fri21° 11°
Sat22° 14°
Adelaide
10°CCurrent: Partly CloudyWind: NE at 14 km/hHumidity: 66%
Wed16° 7°
Thu18° 11°
Fri12° 11°
Sat14° 11°

The Locals here are finding it freezing here which is remarkable really. I just put a light sweater on to go to work, that comes off at the office and at home we have rarely had to have the heating on. It does certainly have a chill in the evenings, but not a patch on the good old British winter nights.

Just typing this as the First Day of the Ashes Test match is on. My boss Peter is there in Cardiff, with a small group of Aussies, lucky blighters. 3 wickets down at lunch - not good.

Debi's playing golf with a group of ladies tomorrow which is good news. She is enjoying the game and we have both met a nice crowd at the club. As its school holiday I'm having to work from home tomorrow afty to let her out. Thankfully the facility does exist. My golf of late has been absolutely shocking. I'm going backwards at a rate of knots. 2 more weeks and I'll be back to 10 handicap. Still only played to handicap twice in all my time here. It is a real tough course, but this workman cannot blame his tools, it's all down to me. Touch and feel has all gone, missing greens, fairways and short putts. Now I'm 50 I guess I'd better take up Bowls... The piccy above was taken during my 50th birthday. A quiet romantic evening out with the Mrs at a restaurant called windy point. Well it was a Monday!

The EBOZ (my old Football team East Barnet Old Grammarians - EBOG, so those that have gravitated over here are EBOZ - East Barnet in Oz - geddit?) boys are coming to Adelaide in November which should be great fun, most certainly booze filled. Waza, Linton, Patel, Thorny, Jules, Winger, Haycock et al - take note.

The Cruise site I've been working on is still not launched, which is a mare really, but it has enabled more thorough testing and bug fixing. It will go live imminently, and fingers crossed it will pile in with the bookings. It has to... More projects to follow this one. Have had a few good work functions to attend recently, a fund raising dinner for the Adelaide Crows (Aussie Pro football team), a South Australian Hotels Association (awards night) Dinner and dancing; and a long business networking luncheon at local (to work) Glenelg footy club, with the guest speaker being ex OZ cricketer Merv Hughes who was hilarious. Some great stories.

Getting home from one of the dinners in the City was a test. The train line is closed for a few months for improvements. So caught the Rail replacement bus. Within seconds I'd nodded off, luckily waking up in Belair 5 mins from my stop at Blackwood. Got out and now faced a 30 min walk home (No way Debi was coming for me at that time, and no doubt after a few swallies at home!). Within 10 mins the skies opened and I had to take Shelter under a big gum tree. Eventually making it home at 2am or so drenched. When it does rain here - it certainly hammers it, but never for too long, and generally at sociable times - nightime...

Better sign off now as Georgia and Jamie's bed time. Georgia is here now and says Hi to you all.

Debi's a working girl now !

Just been speaking via Skype with my Brother Gary, who was telling me all about my younger brother Mark's wedding in Devon last week. Gutted I couldn't be there, but I hope to catch up and live the scene by looking at pics and hopefully some video of the proceedings.

Then just spoke with Jugsy, also via Skype. Curious you are talking away as if they are in the room with you. To all my other mates out there, please get Skype and a web cam I would love to speak (and see) you all from time to time. Jugsy bought my beloved CLK from me when we left last year. Good to hear its in good hands and still running well.

This weeks big news - Debi has found some work!!!

Indeed, as much a surprise to me as it is to you. It's for Clarins, and she has just completed an initial 3 days training course. Kind of promotional sales, on a part time basis. I guess no more than 3 days a week, but can be less depending on if they have promotions to run. The cynics might say she is in it for the products - I can't move in our bathroom for samples, so maybe there is some truth in that rumour. My complexion has even improved as she has been dabbing my ageing visage with all kinds of boy products. I am getting in touch with my feminine side sweetie.

About to launch my new website at work. It's dedicated to Cruising, so its been real fun to work on and exciting its about to go live. Lets hope it does bring in the bookings its meant to for the firm. Still enjoying the Work and in particular the people. Really nice, caring crowd. In fact Phil Hoffmann Travel is growing as we are just opening 2 new offices, one in the City itself and another in Victor Harbour an hour and a half drive South of Adelaide. Bit of a retirement area, so hopefully a good level of clientele.

The new house is nearly watertight so they should now start on the Giprock inside, i.e. all the interior walls and ceilings. Hopefully still looking at moving in in September, fingers crossed.

I am also delighted to mention that we actually do have a sea view! OK you have to be on the upstairs balcony, its between 2 trees in the distance and its only an inch to view between the Sky and the horizon (Fawlty Towers) but its there !!

Also, talking of things being watertight, its winter here and its amazing the amount of rain that has fallen recently. All good for the water stocks. Its certainly made the countryside more resemble England's. All rolling hills and green fields. Gone are the barren dry, dusty fields of just 2 months ago.

I'm 50 now
Have to say it passed with a whimper, not a bang. The bangs were reserved for every other of my ageing milestones. I had big parties at 18, 21, 30 and 40. This time my 50th was on a Monday. I took the day off, ran with the dog Charlie across country, and then played Debi at Golf. Her first ever 18 holes completed and she beat me - a fair old 21 points to my 20. In the evening we left G&J with a sitter and went off to Windy point - a great restaurant on the hillside overlooking the whole city far below us. Our own bit of Hollywood here in SA. Roll on the 60th.

Found a local bar at last to rival the Brookmans
The night time here in Blackwood (a suburb to the South of the Main City) is pretty shocking. If you are out after 9pm, they pack up all the chairs on the tables around you, in a subtle means of telling you its time to leave. Anyway the Belair Hotel as had a big facelift these past few months and its now open. Debi, Georgia and I snuck in there to investigate and were pleasantly surprised to find its actually quite good. (Jamie was playing at a mate's house). Very modern, good music pumped throughout, good wine list and bistro style cuisine, open hearth gas fire and loads of beers on draft. Heaven I can tell you. At last a bit of class arrives in Blackwood / Belair. Just a touch too far to walk to however, it's do-able, but not for Debi in her high heels. There are also far too many bushes and gardens to fall into on the way home, I'd never got her home without incident. It is 2 stops on the train from our new house, so loads of potential for a good few nights out. Any visitors who do make it to see us, this bar will be on the agenda for sure.

Must go - bottle of Sauvignan Blanc just opened and the night has drawn in.

Give me a moment to reflect

Forgot to mention in the last blog another reason for me in particular feeling a little down amongst the other things mentioned was the annual Golf Trip by the boys back home to a European venue. This year they ended up in Cascais in Portugal on the Lisbon Coast. I would in normal circumstances have been the first named on the list, paid up and desperate for the first day to arrive.

This year I had to make do with a quick phone call to the boys in the sun in Portugal, as they sat around a sun drenched bar after a good lunch and a full mornings round of golf. Boy did I miss not being there with them. It was great to catch up, but also made me very sad afterward knowing how much I miss them all, and how much I would have loved to have been there with them. Supposedly in this picture, my old mate John Turner 2nd in from the right is on the phone to me in Oz. Skype is great....

Today I got the EBOG newsletter talking about the Golf Season in full swing talking about the day out at Trent Park, not massive I know, but I miss the banter and 'iss taking. Also today have been struck off the list at Brookmans Park GC after some 36 years of membership as I don't see the point keeping up the membership from afar. Another sad moment, at least I got my name on the board in my last year before leaving. The Brazier name forever indented on the winners board at my old club.

Apologies but allow me a little melancholy once in awhile. I was told the first 2 years was always going to be the toughest part.