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!