New Year's Eve

The girls arrived at 8.00 this morning and we're looking after them while Karen and Paul shop for their City Appartment.  They are going to rent it furnished in future and need to buy kitchen equipment, bedding, furnishings etc. in the sales.

The washing was out on the line at 7.30 and is all dry now (10.00am).  We walked to the park for a short play time but its already 37 and getting too hot to be outside.  The Lion King will keep them quiet for a short time till fruit break (nectarines and rock melon)

We are meeting up with K & P at the Belair Hotel at 1.00 for lunch - Al Fresco!

Fun on the beach

Brighton Beach - it may be windy but it is very welcome and helps to cool us down a little!

I hear the beach calling

It reached 35 today (28 inside before I turn the air-con on for half an hour).  Planning to have a pic-nic supper on the beach, swim and watch the sunset later. 

This is the life!  New Years Day could be a problem - the latest forecast says it could reach over 43 - which will be hottest day we've experienced ever in 6 years.  (mind you, a lot can change in 2-3 days)

First Christmas in Australia

On the day before Christmas  Eve we had the girls for the day - a nice diversion after all the unpacking of boxes (82) on Thursday.  We spent the morning on the beach at Brighton as it was a scorcher and most of the afternoon in the pool after a picnic lunch on the front lawn watching their local koala climbing high in the branches of a gum tree! 

The festivities really began with the Christmas Eve Community Carol Concert at Hewett Oval, Blackwood.  Over 2000 people turned up and it was a stunning occasion.  The evening began with lots of free activities for the children - camel rides, bouncy castle, pony rides, face-painting and side stalls.  Food was next on the agenda - Sausage Sizzle, Hot Cinnamon Doughnuts, Teas and Coffees (hardly sold any as it got to 40 degrees) and iced drinks - very popular.  Most things cost $1 or $2 just to cover the costs.  I volunteered to help on the doughnut stand and we must have heated and sugared over 1500 of the wretched things.

A huge stage was errected for the childrens choir, adult singers and band and the highlight for the children was a fabulous and funny puppet show.  Everyone bought chairs or blankets to sit on and the usual staples for this kind of event - an Esky filled with chilled beer, wine and nibbles. Candles were handed out as the sun went down and all in all it was a spectacular event and a great way to celebrate Christmas.

On Christmas Day we went to church (packed out and standing room only) then on to Karen's for present opening and traditional lunch under the veranda by the pool - prawn and avocado salad, roast turkey and all the trimmings, fruit pavlova and a selection of cheeses accompanied by some nice Merlot and Chardonnay.  The girls were very excited and thrilled with all their presents that Santa had delivered.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3jkHkJjXrg
We finished the evening with good friends from our new church - more wine, nibbles and relaxed conversation.  We got back quite late but in time to have a long chat to Iain via Skype at the start of his Christmas Day. The perfect end to a perfect day.

Another week gone

Here we are just one week away from Christmas Day and it feels weird!  Typical UK weather for the last 24 hours - grey skies, cool and almost non-stop rain.  It's rare here so am making the most of it - the gardens certainly need it.  Done most of the shopping and started to wrap a few bits.

Can't quite get in the Christmas Spirit as its much lower key here and the hot balmy days (usually) don't seem to fit.  Going to walk round 'The Road to Bethlehem' at the local Uniting Church - Nativity, artisans in costume, sheep, camels, hand-on things for all and free food - a novel way to present the Christmas Story.  All the Carol Concerts are in the open air but you tend to sit in deckchairs to watch with your Eskies (for cold drinks) rather than flasks of hot drinks and multiple layers of clothes!  the only blankets you need are for sitting on!

Still no news on our shipment but they have told us it should be with us in time for Christmas so fingers crossed.  The Carol concert presented by our Church is on the Oval at Blackwood and I'm helping on the Fairy Floss and Doughnut stand.  Clive's got roped in to help put up the stage and it's expected to be a warm night on Christmas Eve (33 during the day with some cloud cover)

 Christmas Tree in Victoria Square, Adelaide CBD

ROAD to Christmas event: A re-creation of Bethlehem including a nativity scene, animal nursery, refreshments, food and craft stalls. Friday, December 18, 6.30pm to 9pm; Saturday, December 20 Sunday, December 21, 10am to midday. At Aberfoyle Uniting Church, 42 Sunnymeade Drv.

BLACKWOOD Christmas Eve Carols: Free camel rides, live nativity, sausage sizzle, bouncy castle and a puppet show for children. At Hewett Oval, Coromandel Parade, Blackwood, on Thursday, December 24, from 6pm.

Great start to the week

The week started well when we had a 30 minute chat with our Iain on SKYPE.  His computer has been very poorly and had to be rebuilt but he's finally back on line.  Its the first time we've spoken to him since we left the UK 10 weeks ago.  It was good having a wireless link as I was able to walk round the house and garden and give him a guided tour!

We spent the rest of the morning putting the IKEA furniture together - don't you just love flat packs?
The result was even better than we expected and can't wait for the stuff to arrive so I can begin some serious cooking and have friends round.  Shouldn't be long now.............. hopefully!

IKEA - here we come

Spent about 3 hours in IKEA choosing table and chairs, book case and a room divider.  As I have just received a $50 voucher from them we decided to have the stuff delivered rather than try to get it in Karen's car.  Just missed the deadline for today's delivery as we needed 3 chairs which weren't in customer stock area but they telephoned to say all the order will be with us tomorrow (Sunday between 8.00 and noon) Took a while to sort it all out but the staff were so helpful there - unlike my experiences at Purley Way, Croydon!

Not look forward to all that self assembly but I'm sure we'll cope............. eventually

The table is black/brown wood in a stainless steel frame with steel with 6 clear perspex chairs (we even have the same plates and bowls too - deep purple and white with purple ring pattern round the edge)  Very modern for us and it should look good in the 'formal' area

Another step closer

This morning we were invited to the local Probus club.  Clive is joining after Christmas and has loads of monthly meetings, trips and meals out (and a few social events that wives can come to) arranged already, including floodlit night bowls) After lunch we went to a carol singing afternoon at the church round the corner and the Reception class from the local school came in and did a nativity play - so cute.

Whoopie!!!! Our shipment has arrived and is in a bonded warehouse awaiting customs inspection next Monday - hopefully it won't take too long to get through and be delivered and we'll get it unpacked in time for Christmas.  Been invited to loads of Christmassy functions by new friends and neighbours and have several more to come including carols at the Oval (I'm  helping on the Fairy Floss Stand).  The neighbours are very friendly and the previous owner's Dad has been great, introducing Clive to the local Probus group and pointing me in the direction of Seniors aqua classes at the Happy Valley Swim Centre.

Clive's got his SA driving licence but I can't get mine until I get a doctor's letter saying my eyes are OK and medication won't affect my driving - all the UK confirmation and covering letters aren't worth the paper they're printed on it seems!

The tree is up and a few cards sent but it all seems so strange having Christmas in the hot sunshine and without all the usual hype of TV adverts and packed shopping centres - Santa is very laid back and the pace less hectic.

2 months already

Time flies and finally we are getting used to our new home even if we're still waiting for the furniture and personal belongings to arrive but hopefully not long to wait now as the ship is due to arrive in Adelaide today.

Been enjoying putting a few shrubs in the rather bare garden but the temperature is a bit too high for tender new plants so, until we get the irrigation system working, its buckets of water (saved from the shower) night and morning.

Friday night was the time for the Blackwood Christmas Parade - the first floats were decorated by the united churches in the area, depicting the Nativity and 'The Reason for the Season'  The wise men rode on real camels too.  We camped out on the traffic island with our chairs, sunhats and Eskies for the cold drinks.  The main road was closed to traffic and the parade took just over an hour to pass us as it was so long - great fun and terrific atmosphere.  Lots of freebies and balloons for the children too.  There were three marching bands and all the local shops, trades, community groups etc were well represened + all the volunteer organisations, fire and emergency trucks and vintage cars.



Had a nightmare time trying to set up emails/internet/phone over the last few days and still a long way to go but at last I can get onto the internet and update you all.  Its taken most of the weekend to do it and I hardly slept last night with all the stress and frustration.