Willunga Farmers' Market 28.01.12

Got up early to go to the Farmers Market at Willunga and had a great spend as well as tasting lots of goodies.  For just over $50 I bought:

a 'Black Prince' Chilli plant - now growing in a large tub on the patio (bought another variety at the Harvest Festival a couple of weeks ago and needed at least one more.
mushrooms - clean buttons and huge open portabellos

bok choi
lemon myrtle and chill goats cheeses - don't normally like goats cheese but I'll make an exception with this one!
almonds - vanilla flavour, smoked and chilli (tasted some other weird ones too - used to sweet but not salt and vinegar ones)
Coorong smoked mullet with lemon pepper - yummy broken up in a salad
cucumbers - small Lebanese ones
tomatoes - large field grown and tiny cherry ones
rock melon - orange flesh and very sweet
strawberries (enjoyed a bowlful for supper with cream - amazing flavour)
lavender brownies - subtle flavour and he makes a good chocolate/lavender fudge too
grapefruit - a huge bag (8) for $2

avocados - 2 for now and two to keep
Turkish bread - yummy served warm or toasted under the grill spread liberally with with garlic butter

Definately worth a visit and I'm sure we'll be back there soon. Usually finish off with coffee at the Bakery in the High Street when we go there and catch up with the local (free for customers) papers and magazines inside with aircon if its hot or outside watching the world go by when cooler.

Sofa, so good!

The long awaited sofas and chair have arrived and boy, are they worth waiting for!  They are so comfortable and the electric recliners are ace.  5 out of 6 seats have them!  Tried the armchair out and was rudely awakened by the phone 40 minutes later and I never sleep in chairs!

Cricket, lovely cricket!

Sorry girls, still no crafting to show yet!

The sporting theme continues.  After a week of cycling followed by Aquafit and bowls last night, we went to the adelaide Oval for the Test Match against India.  All sorts of records were broken and we saw both Ricky Pontin and Michael Clarke make centuries!  Mostly a good day except for the 37 degrees heat (4 days running and 4 more to go before it drops to about 27) and lack of shade occasionally when we ventured from the stands.

Caught the early express bus with a minute to spare VERY early this morning and was in the City in 35 minutes for $2.40!  A great day out..... but I'm ready for a quiet day (hopefully tomorrow while we wait for the sofas to be delivered)

Highlights from Stage 5 McLaren Vale to Willunga

Had a fabulous day out on saturday watching stage 5 of the Tour.  Had a great view from our comfy chairs right on the main cross road at Willunga and saw the cyclists go past 5 times.  Can't describe the party atmosphere but can't wait for next years tour - definately hooked!

The Singleton family have now gone back to Sydney and the house seems so quiet without them all.  Loved having visitors but it will be nice to get back into a relaxing routine again - especially when this week of 33 - 37 degrees comes to an end - hopefully on Sunday!

stage 2 - finish and presentation at Stirling

What a great day we all had but, after staying up late last night to watch the edited highlights of the day I decided to give the Unley to Victor Harbor stage a rest. May try to get to stage 5 on Saturday as its not too far from here and I love McLaren Vale and Willunga

Build up to the finish of stage 2 of TDU at Stirling

............... and a great day was had by all!

Tour down Under - Stage 2 finish at Stirling.

Had a very enjoyable day at Stirling watching the 2nd half of Stage 2 of the TDU.  Will Clarke, a newcomer from Tasmania led from the start and was a record breaking winner with Aussies finishing in 2nd and 3rd too!

Got there early and staked our claim with deckchairs and had a brilliant shaded viewpoint for 3 circuits then walked to the final and presentation.  Had a great picnic too.

Wine Spitting Contest!

It could only happen in Oz!
Went to the Harvest Festival at McLaren Vale and enjoyed the fun of watching the wine-spitting contest before sampling the delights of the area in a Winetasting Masterclass - no spitting for me - it was good stuff and cost over $35 a bottle!

Sailors' Walk 175 Anniversary Coromandel Valley

Got up early on Sunday for the Sailor's Walk - commemorating the event in 1837 when sailors from the HMS Coromandel anchored at Holdfast Bay absconded and walked to the area now known as Coromandel Valley. They gave themselves up eventually but were pardoned by Govenor Hindmarsh - good thing as the ship sailed on to New Zealand and later sank!

A day on Brighton Beach

What a great day we all had. Reuben and Sarah with their children Abigail, Elijah, Joel and Nathan, Clive and I and Sophie and Emily. It was 33 by mid morning so we had an early lunch - crackers, cheese, tomato, cucumber and cold meat then off to the beach to cool down.

The sea was like a millpond (unlike today with 1 metre waves and windy - still high 30s though) and we must have been in the water for nearly 4 hours. A great day was had by all and, as you can see, 'fishing' was high on the agenda - moved on to balancing on surf boards later!

Night Owls

Had an hectic day yesterday looking after the girls - lots of crafting, colouring and cooking followed by time at the playpark, library and shops before taking them home again.

After just an hours rest to recover we went off to Happy Valley Bowls Club for the social club evening under floodlights. I didn't play on this occasion but Clive played a match. The were 16 lanes each with 8 players and the night began with a nice meal. A couple of hours later we had a draw for the raffle prizes and a couple of beers. A good night out and change from $20!

As you can see from the dress code - its all very relaxed and the emphsis is on friendship and community.

Old Willunga Hill

This is just a tiny fraction of what the cyclists on the Tour Down Under will have to face twice on Stage 5. They do a loop around Aldinga, McLaren Vale, and eventually finish at the top of Willunga Hill.

Crazy Weather

While you are all being battered by wind and storms we have been melting in extreme heat!  Thankfully temperatures are back to normal and its nice and cool inside even without the air-con.

Took the girls to see Alvin and the Chipmunks yesterday followed by time in the adventure playground at Noarlunga and lunch at Hungy Jacks.

Emily kept us amused on the journey home with her singing and we spend the rest of the afternoon keeping cool in the pool and playing with the squirting sharks (free gift in the Happy Meal)

New Year's Day

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

..... and what a scorcher (it reached 44.7 (112F) here earlier)

ADELAIDE has recorded its hottest New Year's Day in 112 years with the mercury hitting 41C.

Had a lovely evening at Glenelg and watched the family fireworks at 9.30.  Much too hot to go out today - shame, we were planning to join friends at Port Noarlunga but this heat can be dangerous for 'oldies' like us so we're keeping cool with the air-con on low and blinds drawn!