Building Sand Castles

Sunday 24th November, 2013

The last couple of days the weather has been rather cool.  Earlier in the week we had temperatures in the low 30's and now they have dropped down to the high teens/low 20's and it feels like winter.  Earlier today Tony had trouble trying to get warm and so we decided to go for a drive.  Perhaps the sun on the windows in the car would give enough heat for him to warm up.  It worked!

We went and paid for our Christmas dinner.  We are going back to the Watermark Hotel with Robyn and Bob again this year.  After we had done this we went down to Christies Beach.

They were having an exhibition of sand sculptures.  Sculptors had been brought in from Canada, Netherlands, America and Australia.  The theme for the sand castles was "Under the Sea".

Wow! what an amazing job these sculptors had done.  They had been working on the sculptures for the last 3 days.  The sand they use is builders sand as it holds its form better.  They say that these sculptures can survive for many years, but eventually would erode away by the wind and rain.

Even the ocean looked beautiful and plenty of people were enjoying playing on the sand, maybe not so much in the water though.

We didn't catch up with Katie.  Earlier in the day Christies had their Christmas Pageant.  She was going to that and then off to Maddi's place.  On Tuesday she is going away with Maddi and Maddi's parents to Robe.  

Robe is a small town on the coast in the states South East.  It is well known for cray fish (lobsters).  I don't know how much Katie will like it there, there's not much for her to do or see, but we are going to have some warm weather again and so I'm sure she'll spend her time swimming.

On Friday afternoon I had an appointment for my nails and then I went into town to meet Tony.  While in there we wandered down the Mall.  Rundle Place had again invited Prudence Staite back to create a Christmas scene with chocolate, lollies and gingerbread.  

This time she built a gingerbread house and made Christmas trees with candy canes and lollies and presents and baubles out of lollies. Around 10,000 lollies were used in this scene.  It will be on display until the 6th January.  Personally I think I preferred her chocolate creation she made earlier in the year when Rundle Place was first opened.

Candy cane Christmas tree

Christmas tree made of lollies

Community Spirit Is Alive In Port Adelaide

Saturday 16th November, 2013

Today we decided to go and see about having the timber replaced in the courtyard.  The timber company gave us a name of of a contractor that may be able to help us.  Now it's just a matter of Tony ringing him and getting him to come and give us a quote.

In the quote I received from the kitchen company I didn't particularly like the oven he was going to supply and so we went to have a look at some.  I want white as I HATE stainless steel.  By wanting a white one I am very limited to choice.  Apparently all the manufacturers of ovens are into stainless steel.  Regardless of what they say about them they always look dirty to me.  I found a couple that I liked  but one of them was far too expensive.  

I decided to get the cheaper of the 2 ovens and so we went over to the kitchen display guy to let him know.  He was OK with that.  From here we went into the city and to the T2 store  (they sell all different types of tea and accessories).

Then we thought we would take a trip down to the Port.  Bad decision.  They were having their Christmas Pageant and we got caught up in all the traffic and chaos.  We decided we may as well stop and watch the Pageant.  

It was nothing like the Pageant we went to last week.  This one is about the community.  It took me back to my childhood as a young girl growing up in Renmark and watching their Pageant.  The floats were all done by the local shops, businesses and community organisations.  The people in the Pageant all had bags of lollies which they threw to the children sitting along the route. There were lots of bands, cute dogs all dressed up in their Christmas finery, karate kids, the army and navy were represented plus loads of other characters.  Father Christmas came in his sleigh.

When it was finished we went and had some dinner and then went over to the river to wait for the fireworks display.   Due to it being very windy the fireworks only lasted 10 minutes.  Still, the kids enjoyed them.

Christmas Has Come Early

Thursday 14th November, 2013

Today Christmas came early to our house.  Remember back in July I told you about the rocker/recliner chairs that Tony and I ordered and there was a wait of approximately 17-18 weeks for them.   Well today they were delivered.  OMG they are so big....they dwarf our lounge suite and chairs.  I may have to consider buying a new lounge now.

We ordered the high base ones, which we thought would be easier for us to get out of as we age.  They are so comfortable I don't want to get out of the chair.  Who needs a bed when I can easily sleep on it!

While waiting for the chairs to be delivered I thought I would bring out the vacuum cleaner and do some vacuuming.  I also wanted to see just how good a job Lottie (the robotic vacuum cleaner) does.

After I finished vacuuming the whole house I was amazed to see how little dirt there was in the vacuum.  Normally the canister that holds the dirt and fluff would be half full.  I usually get 2 vacuums out of it before it has to be emptied.

It goes to show that Lottie does a great job.  The robot cleaner may not have been cheap but so far it has been a very good investment.

Lest We Forget

Monday 11th November, 2013

Today is the day that we rejoice in the news that the guns were to be laid down and the Great War of 1914-1918 was declared to be over.   So, on the eleventh day of the eleventh month at the eleventh hour we stop for a minutes silence to remember those brave military men and women who made the greatest sacrifice of all to give us the freedom that we enjoy today.

                              ~ ~  LEST WE FORGET  ~ ~

Friday afternoon we met up with Katie.  She was coming to stay overnight because on Saturday morning the most important person in a child's life was coming to Adelaide.  Yep, it was the annual Credit Union's Christmas Pageant.

On Saturday morning we were up at an ungodly hour and went into the city to get our possie to watch the Pageant.  We got in there at about the same time as last year, 7.00am.  Last year Flinders Street was practically deserted and we could have the pick of where we wanted to sit.  This year the street was crowded at 7.00am but we managed to find a free spot.  We set up the chairs, Katie and I went to get breakfast while Tony stayed behind and then it was just a matter of waiting.

This year they had dancers, gymnasts and the like spread throughout the route to entertain the crowd while we were waiting.  Katie especially liked the gymnasts.

Soon the pageant was underway and once again we were enthralled by the clowns and the characters on the floats.  This year they had three new floats..... a telephone hotline to Santa which was suggested by school children, the big bad wolf from Little Red Riding Hood and Rudolph's Lollies.  They also had robot like Christmas Elves.

Once the pageant was finished we went shopping for Christmas presents for Katie.  I let her choose a couple of things that she wanted and then I got her to give me a list of a few more things she would like. I told her that I would select a couple of those items so that she could have a surprise on Christmas morning.  I don't think she believes in Father Christmas anymore but when I questioned her about it she was a bit coy and thought he would bring her some presents.  I think she is too scared not to believe in case she gets nothing for Christmas.

After shopping we went back home for Katie to pick up her things and then we headed off to Christies Beach to take her home.  

Kahra had invited us out for dinner at the Lonsdale Hotel to celebrate Darrin's birthday which was on Sunday.  We had a lovely evening with them and Darrin's parents.  The food was good.

By the time we got home, which was well after 11.00pm, Tony and I just fell into bed.  We were so tired after a long day.

On Sunday we didn't do too much as we were going to a concert in the evening.  Robyn and Bob came around at about 4.00pm and we headed off into the city.  We had planned on having dinner at the Casino.  When we got there we found out that they only do lunch on a Sunday.

We then chose to go to the Strathmore Hotel.  Robyn had been sick with a virus all week and so she wasn't feeling up to eating much.  They all ordered schnitzels while I ordered a pizza.  My pizza was great, they weren't too impressed with the schnitzels, found them to be tough.

When we finished we headed off to the Festival Centre.  We were going to see Charley Pride.  He is one of Bob's favourite country artists.

Before Charley Pride came on stage a young and very talented young guy came out and sang a few of John Denver's songs.  OMG he sounded so much like him.  His name was Bevan Gardiner and he is sight impaired.  Apparently he is going to star in a stage show about the the life and music of John Denver sometime next year.  We will be definitely going when the show is on.

Charley Pride was also great.  I thoroughly enjoyed the show and was rather surprised at how many of the songs I knew that he sang.  He still has the voice despite his 75 years and has a wicked sense of humour.  Loved him!!!