Last Day Of Spring

Tuesday 30th November, 2010

Today is the last day of spring according to some.  Others believe it ends on the summer solstice.  Anyway whenever it is supposed to end the Weather Bureau has said that it has been our coldest Spring for 9 years.  We did not make our average rainfall for the month either.

Today was a little warmer than it has been but still only 23 degrees.  It was overcast for most of the day with the sun making an appearance later on in the afternoon.

Nothing much accomplished today, a few loads of washing and that was about it.  Tori and her friend came around for a few hours so that brought an end to me doing too much.

I forgot to post this on Sunday's blog but as we were driving up to Monarto Katie told us a joke......

"What do you get when you eat tinsel?"

"Tinselitis"

From the Lens..........."Is my tongue as long as the lizard's?"

Monday-itis

Monday 29th November, 2010

Woke up to a grey and drizzly morning.   The weekend weather was very cool and we had some showers.......geez where has the sun gone?  Haven't been able to put away the winter clothes yet.

Today is a very quiet day.  Just got to go and pay a few bills and do some shopping.

After we got home from dinner, Katie rang to remind me that Glee was on.  They have changed the night from Wednesday to Monday.  I ended up falling asleep while watching it.

From the Lens............the entance to the Heysen Tunnels on the down track of the freeway

Don't Give Kids A Choice For Breakfast

Sunday 28th November, 2010

I have learnt not to give Katie a choice for her breakfast.  I had run out of bread and forgot to buy some yesterday.  Normally she likes to have toast in the morning.   I only had cereal.   So I gave her a choice, have Weet-bix or McDonalds.  

Guess what she chose.......

We decided to go up to Monarto Zoo today.  They have just got four female chimpanzees from Holland.  The zoo already had four males.  The Zoo hopes to breed with these and from what we saw today it may not be too far away.

After a few warm days the hills quickly start to turn brown

When we first got there the females were sleeping while the males were grooming each other.  The keeper then got some fruit for them and they suddenly came to life.  They are fed  in the outside enclosure, to give people a better opportunity to see them.  They were given coconuts, apples, bananas and oranges.  You could stay and watch them for hours with the silly antics they get up to.

We then took the bus around the Zoo.  Unfortunately we were on the last bus of the day so we didn't go into the lion enclosure but we got to see all the other animals, bison, wild horses, bongo, cheetahs, rhinos, giraffes, elands, zebras and a lot of other animals.

Katie got very excited when she saw the deer.  Friday night the Myers' Santa asked her what she would like to be when she grows up.  She told him a Zoo keeper.  He told her how he's been to Monarto Zoo and so she thinks the deer they have got there belong to Father Christmas as he must  he leave them there while he is in town. 

Katie had to take a photo of the deer

Even though we loved seeing the more exotic animals, the people on the bus also got excited to see some rabbits.

From the Lens...........a genuine white magpie, they say it is not an albino

Tea Time In Miniature

Saturday 27th November, 2010

Exactly 4 weeks today is Christmas Day and 5 weeks today it will be 2011.  Ugh!!!!

Needed to go to Ikea today as yesterday I broke the lid on the coffee jar.  On the way there we stopped off at West Lakes shopping centre and Katie put a bag of toys and other bits and pieces under the Wishing Tree.  This is organised by the Salvation Army for disadvantaged families at Christmas time.  We are trying to teach her that Christmas is not only for receiving but more importantly for giving as well.

I wanted to get the miniature Wedgewood cup and saucer and teapot that can be used for Christmas decorations.  We went and had a look in David Jones and luckily they had them both.  They also had the Royal Albert ones so I got them too.

On the way to Ikea we passed this playground that Katie wanted to play on so we promised her that we would come back to it.  Ikea did not have any of the containers that I wanted.

Back we went to the playground and spent the remainder of the afternoon there.  It was quite windy and cool but somehow this does not deter kids from playing.

While driving around we noticed that a lot of homes have their Christmas lights and decorations up.  The Brewery were to turn on the Riverbank lights tonight but it was too cold to go out so that will have to be for next time.

From the Lens...........Christmas Decor

 

Off To The Magic Cave

Friday 26th November, 2010

I know there will be one excited little girl when we go to pick her up later.  We are off to the Magic Cave and to see Father Christmas.

Tony has to stay back at work tonight.  Firstly he is having Christmas drinks with one his clients and then a function is being held in the Grand Hall by one of the tenants for "Mo-vember". 

I went and picked Katie up.  Tony was able to come with us to see Father Christmas, if he was needed back at work he was able to be contacted by phone.

She was very excited and luckily the line wasn't that long even though we still had to wait 30 minutes or so.  I think we got there on their dinner break.  She had a talk to the Magic Talking Tree.

She said her tummy was "very jiggly".  She is beginning to have some doubts as the kids at school are saying it is only someone dressed up, but part of her still wants to believe, as she thinks if she doesn't, she won't get any presents.  I think this will be the last year of her believing.

Father Christmas was most impresssed with her beautiful smile and told her he still remembered it from last year.  She told him how Darrin was going to set Santa traps.  Father Christmas and her then worked out a plan how to get him back.  She asked for a scooter and Polly Pockets.

She then had a ride on Nipper and Nimble, the two horses that they have in the Pageant, a ride on the merry-go-round and looked at the elves busy at work.

Ride on Nimble

From here she wanted to go and see Father Christmas in Myers.  She asked which one was the 'real' one.  I explained to her that the one in the Magic Cave is the real one and all the other ones are just helpers.  Seeing that there are thousands of children in Adelaide it would be impossible for the real Father Christmas to see them all so he needs some help.  She was happy with that.

So off we went to Myers.  No wait here.  She knocked on the door and Father Christmas answered for her to go in.  Rudolph was laying in front of the fireplace.  She told this one that she wanted a basketball ring and new basketball.

Then it was time to ride the Santa train, send him an email and write a letter to put in the post box.

Katie with the Myers Santa ...........

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday 25th November, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving to all those who celebrate it.  Here in Australia we do not, but it still does not mean that we can't be thankful for the things we have and the people we love.

The First Test started today.   Ooohhh I think the Poms will beat us this time.  The only cricket worth having any interest in these days is The Ashes between the Aussies and the English (or Poms as we lovingly refer to them).

Don't know how much longer Test cricket will be played for as there doesn't seem to be much interest in it anymore.   They have introduced 20/20 cricket (20 overs per side) and seeing it's over within a few hours this is what people are preferring.  Even the One Day games (50 overs per side) are losing interest.

Update:   Yaayyy for the Aussies and Peter Siddle especially.
He took a hat trick (3 wickets with consecutive balls) and it's his 26th birthday as well.    He ended up with 6 wickets.  They had the Poms all out for 260. 

C'mon Aussies!!!

From the Lens............

Still Got Car Troubles

Wednesday 24th November, 2010

The most tragic news came through this afternoon that the 29 miners in the Pike River mine near Greymouth, New Zealand had died after a second explosion happened there.  A lot of people were hoping for the same miracle that happened in Chile a few weeks ago.

This morning Tori and her friend came around and as I needed to go into the city I ended up taking them into town as her friend had some business to do there.

Lucky I did.  Just before we left the rain came.  On the way in I had to turn the lights on and have the window wipers going.  By the time I got in to Tonys' work the lights had dimmed and the wipers were barely working.  Tony came down to check it out and went and rang the mechanic.

The mechanic asked for the car to be dropped off at around 3.30pm.  I drove the car home as I forgot my phone and in the few minutes it was switched off, it struggled to start again.  I only just managed to get it to the mechanics.  The instrument panel died, the wipers barely wiped the rain off the windscreen and it felt as if it had no power when I put my foot on the accelerator.

They ended up replacing the alternator and after having a new battery put in yesterday, they had to replace that as well as it was so flat.  We have everything crossed, hoping that this fixes the problem once and for all. 

When they tested the alternator yesterday it was tested with no load, plus Tony had the battery charger on the car all day Monday which we think also gave a false reading.  At least the mechanic got to see what the real problem was.

From the Lens...........We found Rudolph at Monarto Zoo

Snakes Everywhere

Tuesday 23rd November, 2010

While listening to the radio they said that the snakes are out and about due to the warmer weather.  They have had about 80 callouts just in the suburbs in relation to snakes being in peoples' backyards.   Most of the snakes found here in the city are brown snakes which are the 2nd most venomous snake in the world.

The snake catcher said they are usually found in yards with a lot of rubbish laying about......now I know why I like my yard nice and tidy and clean.  He said the largest snake he caught over the weekend was 6 foot long.

Tony took the car back to the mechanic to have them look at the alternator.  They could find nothing wrong with it.  He did all the tests on it and it didn't fail any of them.  He said perhaps it was the battery and when Tony told him what had happened when he left the keys in the ignition and the battery went totally dead, he advised us to get a new battery.  He said that with the batteries these days, usually they will only charge to 60% if they have been left to go dead.  Let's hope that solves our problem.

Tori rang just as I was doing dinner and wanted a lift back to her friends place.  I had to leave it, go pick her up, drop her off and come home and finish cooking.   

From the Lens..........Lilies

HOT!!!!

Monday 22nd November, 2010

Nothing much has happened today.  Apart from the usual things I made a start on the calendars and had some success.  The pages turned out much better than last week.

 It is HOT!!!  I am sitting here sweltering.  Tony forgot to open up the vents for the air conditioner last night and I can't do it so I am doing as little as possible......lol.  Hence sitting behind the computer is good.......not too much physical work required.  Last temperature I heard, it was 36 degrees and that was around 4.00pm.

When he got home the first thing he did was open the vents.  Ohhh that cold air feels good.  Went and did the shopping and when we got home had to turn the air con off as it was like walking into a fridge.

From the Lens..............love these Hippieastrums





A Visiting We will Go........

Sunday 21st November, 2010

There is a real touch of summer in the air.  Outside it is warming up very nicely.  As we have got some things to do today (what we didn't finish yesterday), Tony has put the battery charger on the car.  He said it would be alright as long as we don't have to use the lights.

After doing what we had to we headed out to Gawler to see my sister and brother in law.  It was good to catch up with them again.

We left later than planned from their place, but still got home before dark so we didn't have to use the lights on the car.  Seeing the next couple of days are going to be in the mid 30's, walking on the beach would be perfect.   Hopefully we can get the car booked in and fixed either tomorrow or Tuesday.

From the Lens............

OMG......What A Day!!!

Saturday 20th November, 2010

The day started off 'normal' enough.  Tony had his 6 month visit to the Doctor.  Many years ago he was diagnosed with high cholesterol, so he goes every 6 months to get a blood test and his prescription renewed.  This time he didn't have a blood test taken as his cholesterol has been hovering around 3.5 the last few times he has gone.

After he came back from there we planned on spending the day running around doing a few errands and he wanted to have a look for a new laptop.  He needed to pick up a few things for the car, someone nicked one of the hubcaps off the wheel so he wanted to replace that and get a new interior light and a few other things.

While doing that my mobile phone rang and it was Tori.  Not having heard  from her for a few weeks it was nice to hear from her again.  They were going to go to Glenelg so I told her that we would come later to see her.

Went to a couple of computer shops and he finally decided on a HP with 8GB of memory, 1TB hard drive and a Blue Ray burner.  He was extemely happy as well because we saved $458 compared to other prices he had quoted.

Decided to leave the car at work and catch the tram to Glenelg.  Tori was there with one of her friends.  Her friends' mum had taken them down there and so when we got there she had to leave and so Tori asked whether they could go back with us.

The girls had a jump from the jetty, went and had something to eat and by this time it was time to go.  Caught the tram back to the city, dropped off her friend at home and then had to pick up another mate (from cricket) and take them back to his place at Parafield Gardens.

By this time it was getting on for 8.00pm and we thought a trip back to the beach and having pizza would be nice.  It was getting dark so the lights were needed on the car.  Uh-oh what lights?

We got the pizza, ate it and headed for home.  Each time Tony put the headlights on, the car would slow, the instrument panel wouldn't work and the lights would dim, so for a while he had to drive with no lights.  We finally got ourselves to Port Adelaide, pulled off into a car park and I rang the RAA.

They came within about 20 minutes, and yep we knew it, the new alternator we had put in back in September had failed us.  The mechanic put some extra boost into the battery, booked a tow for us in case we needed it, and said that perhaps there was enough charge to have at least the parkers on to get us home.

We took some back roads where there wasn't much traffic  and Tony could turn off the lights to conserve some of the battery and we did make it home finally around 11.00pn. 

So first thing Monday morning Tony has to try and get the car booked in again and the alternator replaced hopefully at no cost to us, being just over two months old it should still be under warranty.

What a day!!!  

From the Lens.........before the jump

Tori and her friend Tishara

There Is A Weather God

Friday 19th November, 2010


Well, there really must be "Weather Gods'.   This morning the sun is shining, the sky is blue and the day is just gonna be gorgeous.  These same weather gods have predicted the temperatures to be perfect for the weekend.....27 for Saturday and 30 for Sunday with the temperatures then rising into the mid 30's into next week.   A real taste of summer.......at last!!!

But guess what...........yeah, by Wednesday we'll be moaning it's too hot if it gets to the predicted 35 degrees.......lol.

With the nicer weather I noticed more people out and about last night.  Maybe with Christmas fast approaching they are out doing some Christmas shopping.  A lot of the shops have got the carols playing to get one in the festive mood.

From the Lens..........When this appears on the front of David Jones store you know Father Christmas is in residence

An Ordinary Day

Thursday 18th November, 2010


*from my window..........grey drizzly day outside
*listening to............Kiss, gonna crank up the speakers
*from the kitchen............shepherds pie cooking for dinner......mmmm smells good
*drinking...........sparkling mineral water
*creating............made a start on the 2011 calenders, but not happy with them at the moment
*have achieved............laundry, vacuuming and a general clean around today
*am feeling.............cold, need to put the heater on
*thankful for...........chocolate..........Hilliers Lemon Meringue.....yum!!

From the Lens..................choccies

A Royal Engagement

Wednesday 17th November, 2010

Today is a day to rejoice for all royal watchers as Prince William and Kate Middleton have become engaged.  He gave his late mother's (Lady Diana) engagement ring to Kate.  Apparently she is now to be known as Katherine.  I hope they have a far more happier marriage than his parents.

The wedding is scheduled to take place sometime next year in Britains spring or summer.  I doubt he will ever be made King in my lifetime.   Then again he may never be King of Australia if the Republican movement get their way.  Personally, I would love to see Australia as a Republic.

From the Lens..............William and Kate

                                                       photo courtesy of The Mirror

Where Is The Sun?

Tuesday 16th November, 2010

Where is the warm weather?  So far we have had 1 day where the temperature has been over 30 degrees.  We have had a few days where the temperature has been over 25 degrees.  Most days the temperature is in the teens maybe getting up to 21 or 22 degrees.

Last year I can remember we were having temperatures well into the 30's.  I don't want it that hot, somewhere between 25-28 would be perfect.  When the weather does decide to turn it will most probably jump from 18/19 degrees (which is what it is now) up into the 30's in one day.  That's when the hot weather knocks you about.......you haven't had time to acclimatise.

Last Monday morning 3 bodies were found in a house in Kapunda.  A father, a mother and their 16 year old daughter.
Tonight police have arrested an 18 year old Kapunda man with their murder.  All week it has been in the news as it has been an horrific event.  Congratulations go to all the police who were working on this......to get an arrest so soon is fantastic.

From the Lens..........cloudy with just a chance of sunshine

Aaah-chooooo!!!

Monday 15th November, 2010

Nothing planned for today.  After yesterday, walking through the grasses, trees and flowers I have got sinus and hayfever.  Why is that no surprise!!  All I am doing is sneezing, my eyes are so watery and itchy and my throat is itchy.  I've got to remember that in future, when we go walking or into the country, I have to take some sinus and hayfever tablets before we go. 

I still suffer from hayfever and sinus at home, especially when there is a north wind blowing.  By staying indoors I can alleviate some of the symptons.

Even though I grew up in the country, when I was a child I never ever suffered with hayfever.  It is only after I got married and we moved back to Adelaide after living in Darwin for 2 years that I began to suffer with it.

From the Lens...............Must remember to take some of these

A Walk On The Wildlife Side

Sunday 14th November, 2010

After yesterdays hectic pace we decided that today we would have a more gentler day and so we headed for the hills and up to Cleland Wildlife Park.

It has been many years since Tony and I have been there and it was the first time for Katie.  Here you find the kangaroos, koalas, emus, bandicoots, potaroos, Tasmanian devils, wombats, dingoes and plenty of birdlife.

You can feed most of the animals in the park, so you can buy little bags of food that is suitable for most of the animals to eat.  Earlier on in the day the kangaroos weren't interested in the food, but a lot of the birdlife were.  Katie was excited to see a couple of joeys in their mothers' pouches.  The bandicoots and potaroos would just dart out from under the bushes and onto the paths.  They looked like giant oversized rats.

We lined up and Katie and Tony had a photo taken holding a koala.   We then continued our walk around the park observing a lot of different types of birds.......cape barron geese, ibis, pelicans, ducks and other species of birds we had no idea what they were. 

Katie was off feeding the kangaroos and Tony spied a koala in a tree.   Suddenly it scrambled down and started to walk across the road in front of us.  From out of nowhere came an emu and chased the koala which then climbed up a tree just by where we were standing.  What an incredible sight! 

Instead of scurrying up the tree it climbed onto one of the lower branches and just sat there and watched us.   Even when Katie put her hand up to it, it did not move.  Usually it is hard to see them in their natural habitat as they sit quite high up in the gum trees.

Cleland is only about a 20 minute drive from the city centre but when you are there you feel as if you are out in the bush and civilisation is many many miles away.  It was a most enjoyable day.

From the Lens................The Kangaroo Whisperer.   I wonder what Katie is saying to him.

He's Arrived

Saturday 13th November, 2010

Up early this morning and into the city so that we could get a good spot to watch the Pageant from.  Katie was very excited and she was up and dressed before her eyes were even open.

God knows what time people get into town and pick their spots.  We got in around 7.00am and there already was a sizeable crowd there.  The forecast was for a few showers so I presume people get in early so they can sit under the verandahs of the stores and offices.

A few drops of rain did fall during the course of the morning but nothing to dampen peoples' spirit.  Katie was happy because sitting across the road directly in front of us was a classmate of hers, Jacob.  She spent the morning hanging out with him and then wanted to sit with him and watch the pageant.  To occupy their time before the Pageant starts, the children draw on the road with chalk, blow bubbles, play with streamers or amuse themselves some other way.

The Christmas Pageant is in its 78th year.  It was originally started by a shop owner, Mr Martin from John Martins.  About 10 years ago John Martins was sold to David Jones and they didn't want to take on the running of the Pageant, so the Credit Unions (all of them combined) took it over.

The majority of the participants in the Pageant are Credit Union staff, family members, friends, some lucky Credit Union members and other well known SA identities.  In the past even the Governor of SA has had a part in the pageant (as a pirate).

Before the Pageant started today they attempted and succeeded in setting a Guiness World Record ........9100 people.......the largest number of carol singers singing Christmas Carols at the one time.  Last year the record was set for the longest Mexican Wave.

Today's crowd was estimated to be in excess of 300,000  people.  86 floats wind their way through the streets, starting at South Terrace, onto King William Street, down Wakefield Street, Pulteney Street, Grenfell Street, back onto King William Street and then into North Terrace stopping outside David Jones store where Father Christmas goes in and sets up 'residence' in the Magic Cave.  He stays there right up until Christmas Eve and during that time is visited by thousands of children all telling him what they would like for Christmas.

For us parents and grandparents it is the realisation that we better hurry up and get the presents organised for Christmas Day.

After the Pageant finished the Fire Station had an Open Day and so we went off and had a look at that.  They had various displays set up and saw how they used the 'Jaws of Life' to rescue people from car crashes.  A fireman took us through the process of the special suits they wear, their breathing apparatus and then how they are cleaned and dried.  We could also look through a heat imaging camera.

We went and had a walk through Rundle Mall, had something to eat, did some shopping and then ended up at Largs Bay where we had fish and chips on the beach for dinner.  An exhausting but most enjoyable day finally getting home at around 9.00pm.