Christmas Down Under

Merry Christmas everyone.
After opening presents (Santa was very kind this year) we spent our Christmas Day at the beach ,trying out Dave's new snorkelling gear, followed by a BBQ and a wander around the local streets to view the Christmas light .
Turns out these are something of a local tourist attraction, and we will post up the best of them soon (once we figure out the new video camera!!)
In the meantime a few photos of our Christmas Day below.

Hope that you all enjoy your Christmas holidays be it hot, sunny and summery or snowy ,cold and wintry, either way there is always eggnog!

Thinking of you all love Lyn, Dave and the bump.


Christmas Picnic at our Local beach

Sharks!

Right - to put yesterdays Shark stories in perspective, I've got to together with Google Map, and Microsoft Paint, to create the above map. Numbers 1 & 2 are where the sharks were spotted, and number 3, is where we live, and we swim in the Ocean. And about a 10-15 drive from our place to Henley Beach...

Below is the local papers "Reporting" of the events.

"THREE shark sightings today have terrified swimmers and forced the temporary evacuation of Henley Beach.

In the latest sighting, a shark was reported swimming in waters near Penneshaw on the eastern tip of Kangaroo Island about 4.30pm

Earlier today, Henley Beach was evacuated when a large shark was spotted 50m from shore about 11.30am.

Another sighting was recorded a few hours later at Grange.

Police said it is possible one shark had migrated down shore and they were attempting to locate it and monitor its movement.

Today's sightings follow a surge of shark spottings in recent weeks, with reports at Moana, O'Sullivan Beach and Christies Beach.

Last month, a man fishing in a dinghy was attacked by a shark about 1km from shore near North Haven.

He phoned police after a bronze whaler circled his dinghy and bit into the hull and motor.

The boat sustained only minor damage and the man returned to shore."

Swimming!

Just a quick blog today! But since I left Canada 10 years ago - outdoor swimming was something saved for holidays on the Med or for over chlorinated hotel swimming pools.

Well, no more I say!

This past Sunday, it was hot & sunny, about 32c if the newspapers are to be believed (and considering the quality ofsome of local rags, I would take most everything they say with a very large grain of salt).

So on went the swim trunks and 15min later - there I was just like the local dolphins, Swimming in the ocean!

And the best bet - the water was warm! (and not that yellow kinda warm you sometimes get a public swimming pools)

D

PS - I hope everybody is enjoying the cold snap in the northern hemisphere.

Christmas Cheer

Lyn's parents came to visit with us for a week before Christmas. All went well (aside from the rain) - we had plenty of time to see some sights, visits some pubs, and play the pokies!


We even had a giant Christmas dinner - with the worlds largest leg of ham - which I'm proud to say, we are still eating - athough not sure how much longer I'll really want to be eating ham.


One of the activities we took park in - was the local Christmas Carols by candlelight (seen below). The weather had cleared, so the crowd was decent size, if only they had actually spent more time singing, and less time blabbing... but it was still a pleasant evening


I was on-call for the weekend, so we didn't get to go far, just a trip up to Handorf, and a visit to the summit of Mt Lofty - as you can see below, it wasn't the sunniest weekend!

In the end, Bob & Barbara spent a week with us - and I believe a good time was had by all.


David

E-G-G N-O-G!!!!!!!

This is a quick and simple blog today

After many years of searching, and having to go without during the holidays - I've finally found what I've been missing all these years...

I give you...

Yummmy!

Dave

PS I've still got quite a backlog of entries to come - hopefully I'll catch up over the holidays...

My tribute to David Letterman!

Hi, Sorry it has been a while - very busy with all the christmas BBQ's last weekend, and me working late this week, haven't had a chance to update the blog. I've still got lots of photos I'd like to share from the camping trip - hopefully I'll find some time next week.

In the meantime, I've had time here at the office, so I'm attempted to produce a mildly amusing David Letterman style Top Ten Signs that you might be living in Australia!

Drum roll...

Top signs that you Might be living in Australia

10 - You can’t leave your house without your friendly neighbourhood sand fly hitching along for the ride
9 - “Shoes” are an optional item when going to the shops / pubs / clubs
8 - While driving, if you are anything more than 1 meter away from the car in front of you – your not a real driver
7 - You know enough to be are afraid of the Magpies – not the spiders or the snakes
6 - You know at least one good Kiwi Joke
5 -Its 25c outside, and you wonder.. do I need to bring my coat?
4 -The “Mullet” is perfectly reasonable hair style – business in the front, party in the back!
3 -The word ‘SNAG’ no longer makes you laugh!
2 - You think AC/DC are good
1 - RAIN is a good thing!

/drum roll

PS - Kiwi Joke below

A Kiwi walks into the local unemployment office, marches straight up to the counter and says, "Hi! I hate being on welfare, I'd really rather have a job."

The clerk behind the Centrelink desk says

"Your timing is excellent. We just got a job opening from a very wealthy old man who wants a chauffeur/bodyguard for his nymphomaniac daughter.

You'll have to drive around in his Mercedes, but he'll supply all of your clothes.

Because of the long hours, meals will be provided.

You'll be expected to escort her on her overseas holiday trips.

You'll have a two-bedroom apartment above the garage.

The starting salary is $200,000 a year".

The Kiwi says, "You're bull****ting me!"

The Centrelink officer says, "Yeah, well, you started it".

The Epic Camping Blog

We all know and love Crocodile Dundee - some of us fondly recall WWF Wrestler Outback Jack - and most of us skipped the cinema "masterpiece" that was Kangaroo Jack.

Well, today I introduce you to a new Aussie legend - The Camping Kiers!


Yes - we finally made the big leap, after postponing the trip a few weeks due to bad weather and illness, we were finally able to take off for the weekend! We headed south - this time to a place called Deep Creek Conservation Park - a large chunk of wildnerness about 1.5hrs from Adeliade.

It was a weekend of first for me - I saw some of my first examples of Australian Wildlife - such as the Kookaburra (see bel0w)


A lot of Kangaroos. So many of them, they were most activing in the evening, there main feeding area was about 5min walk from our campground, but the actually hopped passed out campsite to get to the feeding spot. We were just sitting around - and the next thing we knew, we heard a large creature or two crashing through the trees - we looked up in time to see this fella!!


We followed him (or her!) to the feeding spot, where I took a few more photos!



As you can see, they graze in groups - taking turns as the lookouts while the others continue to graze. You can't get too close, or they will bolt - unlike the ones in the petting zoo!


We didn't encounter anything scary - no spiders or snakes - but as we were leaving Sunday morning, I spotted this guy walking across the field, eating flies.. I stalked him for a few minutes - but I didn't want to distress the guy - so I didn't get too many photos. I believe that out friendly lizard here is a Shingleback lizard - very common in Southern Australia. This guy was about 30cm in length



I've got more photos and camping stories to show - so I'll be back in a few days to share some more.

-DK

M is for Moonta

This weekend - we went north by Northwest - to the Yorke Peninsula - specifically to the town of Moonta - an old copper mining town.



" 65km from Adelaide, Moonta is a pretty town that is steeped in history. It was here in 1861 that Paddy Ryan found copper traces coming out of a wombats burrow. The wombat's burrow was on the pastoral lease of Walter Watson Hughes. Hughes formed the Tipara Mining Company, which later became the Moonta Mining Co. During this prosperous time in the late 1800's, Moonta had the largest urban population outside of Adelaide, with 12,000 people, including many Cornish miners and their families who brought with them their skills, and lifestyle. For this reason Moonta is known as 'Australia's Little Cornwall'. The name Moonta comes from the aboriginal words 'Moonta-Moonterra' meaning impenetrable scrub."

It was quaint - the museum reminded me a lot of what I still think of as the BC Forest Museum. A bunch of old mining equipment and some old buildings.. As you'll see from the photos, a pretty flat & dry land. Most of all the old buildngs and equipment have long since gone, just the occasional brick stucture or foundation scattered around the site of the old mines.






But - that is okay - because Moonta is on the coast (like every city it seems) so there was a nearby beach for us to stop and have lunch at. (see below) - you'd almost think that Lyn & I spend are weekends just driving from beach to beach... and you'd not be far from the truth!




-DK

The beach video (via Mobile Phone)

Technology! Was at the beach on the weekend - and decieded to try out the movie function on my camera... the screen is a bit small, and it was quite windy - but you can get the basic idea.

I'm probably closer to Uwe Boll than Steven Spielberg - but we all have to start somewhere.

-dk

The Great Milo Debate - Vote NOW

Yes its true I am trying to prevent Dave's suggested deportation / lynching after what turns out to be his some what rash pronouncements on Milo .......but really could there be a more important issue in the world today.

So I felt the only solution was to have an election. No not about Dave's deportation date!
For those of you not familiar with this food of the gods its similar to Ovaltine but better and yes you can buy it in the UK

The top 5 suggestions as sent to us by random individuals on how to best enjoy the nectar of the gods



1. Hot milk and Milo

2. Milo and ice cream

3. Put the Milo on the bottom of the glass then pour the milk in (ice cold of course)

4.Put the Milo on the top of the glass after you pour the milk in

5. Milo bars



Vote now for your favourite and save Dave's bacon!!!!!


-Lyn

Aussie Icon - Music of the 80's & 90's

Much like Canada can't get enough of Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Barenaked Ladies, and Tragically Hip - Australia has its own legends - and they play them on the radio... alot (of course I really only listen to Triple M - so my sample of radio stations is quite low)

We've got AC/DC, INXS, Men at Work, Nic Cave, and Midnight Oil! I'm quickly learning all the old songs - and learning new bands of the past that I'd never really heard of. Not as much Kylie as I thought there would be.

-DK

A Sunday walk in Adelaide - Final

Our next top was Rundle Mall - the pedestrianised shopping prescient of Adelaide's CBD. All the shops you'd expect to see in Australia



We then walked down the side streets to Victoria Square - the centre of the centre of Adelaide (if that makes any sense) Almost all public transport to and from Adelaide and the suburbs come to this square - which means that while it is nice have a large green space in the centre of town - its not the quietest place to be!

Adelaide has a tram line as well has suburban rail & buses. If anybody is mildly interested, I catch a train to the North Terrace, then catch the free Tram to the South Terrace! Fascinating stuff huh!

On all sides of Victoria Sq are the older public buildings & churches of Adelaide - I can't really tell you much about them, as I don't know yet - but one day this knowledge will come to me - and I'll let everybody know


And to finish the long walk, we headed up King William street - passing the old City hall on the way.



And that concludes the tour of Adelaide for today. I've got plans to grab more photos of the city when I get a chance - so you all can see what Adelaide looks like.

Below is a crudely drawn map of the walking train we did...




-D &L

Tis the Season - Down Under

Just a quick blog before I head to the office.

There are some days when the fact that I am living in the Southern Hemisphere just hit home. I don't know why - but every now and then I notice something and my minds just says... wait something is wrong here.

Yesterday was one of those days. I was sitting at my desk, and I had to put the current system date into a spreadsheet - something I've done 100's of times since i started work - and I noticed the date 6/11/2008! November! But it is sunny & hot and I've wearing my shorts 100% of the time! It just seemed really weird!

It could be a build up of all sorts of little things from the past few weeks that lead to this Eureka! moment - the Christmas decorations & TV commericals have started, and of course, I sit there during Wednesday afternoon, listening LIVE to Canucks games the night before on the internet...

Anyway - sometimes it just feels strange, after 30+ of my body associating certain months with different weather patterns, and the same weather patterns with different holidays, being a southern hemispherian kinda feels a bit like 'Bizzaro' land.

-DK

A Sunday walk in Adelaide - (Part 2)

After walking along North Terrace - we meandered into Adelaide Botanical Gardens. Always a nice place to visit - and best of all... FREE!!!!

I do plan on going back one day to take photos of all the strange flowers & plants, but for now you'll have to get by with some basic overview shots of the Gardens.

First up - palm trees! Not that exotic really here in Oz, but for a guy who grew up on Vancouver Island - the fact the palm trees are everywhere is just so strange!


A botanical garden would be incomplete with out a rose garden, and the timing of our visit was just about perfect. I couldn't quite get across the sea of roses and colours - but in all directions there were roses, roses and more roses!


And there is always a greenhouse (pictured below) - this is the one bit of the gardens that you have to pay to get in, which is fair enough - but I wasn't really planning to pay $10 to visit a greenhouse on a day that was already 30c (so sometime in the depths of winter when the temp is a lowly 10c I'll pay to visit!)



And to top off the visit, we stopped at the onsite cafe - next to the pond (below) - where I enjoyed my Iced Coffee milk


The next stop will be Rundle Steet & Rundle Mall - the main shopping hubs of the CBD.

Untill then,

D & L

Other Weekend News

Another weekend, some more shopping done.. including my new espresso machine! But more importantly, we purchased all our camping gear. A new tent, some sleeping bags, a lantern, etc...

We also had hall-o-ween on the weekend. Not really "celebrated" here in Oz. Still thought of as a mostly american holiday - although we did have one trick or treater come to our door! The first door to door trick or treater I've seen since I left Canada.

We also tidied up the garden again - all this "Free" lettuce is a lot of work. We have also planted more flowers. We are trying to use our "Grey Water" and we would prefer not to use it on the veggie gardens - so we need more & more flowers.

Anyway, I've been holding off photo talking about the 'punk' pigeons for months now - but I finally got one of them to walk in front of my camera, so before I leave this blog entry, I leave you with...

The Punk Pigeon!!!



D & L

A Sunday walk in Adelaide (Part 1)

Sunday - 2nd November 2008

We decided to stay a bit closer to home today. Drove the car into town, parking at the Adelaide Oval, and walked along the river torrens, then trough the university to North Terrace, did a loop of the botanical gardens, meandered along Rundle Street & Rundle Mall, and down to Victoria Sq - and then back up to the Adelaide Oval, a good 3.5 hr walk.

As expected, I took lots & lots of photos, so for those of you who wonder what the city of Adelaide looks like, behold!!

The Adelaide Festival & Convention centre


North Adelaide - St Peters Cathedral (http://www.cathedral.org.au/web/) built between 1869 and 1877


River Torrens Park (between Central Adelaide & North Adelaide)


And two photos from University of Adelaide - Founded in 1874




From here we headed into the Botanical gardens - but you'll have to wait for the next post!

D&L

Southern Beaches of Adelaide

Sunday drive time!

Not content with the beach just 15min walk from our front door, we packed a lunch and hopped into our car, and drove 45min south of adelaide to the southern most beaches. Aldinga & Sellick beaches.

The weather started quite cloudy and cool, but by 3pm was full sunshine.

First off is a view from the cliffs above Sellick beach.


As you can see, lovely blue water, and the golden sands... (if I hadn't cropped out most of the sand!)

At Aldinga Beach, there are the semi-burnt remains of what used to be a pier - below


And back at Sellicks beach - you can see from the cliff top, people still drive down to the beach. There was a little white toyota yaris on the beach, which gave me confidence that the blueberry stallion would have made it - but prudence got the better of us, and we'll just have to wait another day before we spin our wheels on the beach!



And too prove we really went out - shots of Lyn at Aldinga beach


And David - also at Aldinga Beach


Have a good week! Back on Wednesday with my next aussie icon.

D&L

October Sunshine!

THE state will this week bask in an early burst of summer weather. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast four days of 30C or higher in temperature – including three days of 35C or above – for Adelaide in the next week.

Already this month the temperature has exceeded 30C three times. Senior forecaster Tom Boeck said it was unusual weather but warm temperatures often occurred at the end of October. The hottest October day in Adelaide was 39C in 1987.

Yikes! That is the latest news from the local Paper - Adelaide Now.

So, I expect this weekend I'll finally have to kick-start the Air Conditioner at home!

-dk

Aussie Icon - MILO

What is MILO? Well, according to the web

"Milo is added to hot or cold milk to give it a malted chocolate flavour and extra texture. When combined with cold milk, it retains the gritty texture of its raw state. Milo can be stirred into steamed milk or hot water to create something similar to hot chocolate or cocoa. Sugar can be added to the milo beverage, but many people enjoy it without the addition of sweeteners, appreciating it for its subtle chocolate flavour. Another possible use is making a normal cup of cold Milo and microwaving it for approximately 40-60 seconds. This gives the Milo drink a biscuity cover on top"

According to me.. well it is pointless!

Anyway, my thoughts aside, MILO is everywhere in Australia. There is the original milk drink powder, the special make your kids smart milk powder (see below), MILO Breakfast cereal, MILO snack bars, MILO chocolate bars, MILO Ice Cream, MILO clothing range, and many many more MILO branded products.


Below, are two shots of a "Cold Milk Milo" - can you guess which one has had the MILO stirred in? (left hand glass)



Anyway, it seems pointless, it doesn't add a whole heck of a lot of flavour to the milk, and the "biscuity top" would be better off, as a just a biscuit.. perhaps a Tim Tam (coming soon!).

-David

DIY Weekend

First off, let me start out by saying it was 33c on Saturday, and I didn't even turn the air-conditioning on.. Which is good, it tells me that our flat keeps itself nice and cool (as if nearly freezing to death in the winter wasn't a clue!)


Anyway - quieter weekend this time - just some random DIY repairs around the place. Last weekend we found a few old pieces of furniture that looked past there prime, but were pretty solidly built. And one of these items was just what we were looking for a new wardrobe- not for us, but for the baby. So, with more time on our hands, and decent weather, we purchased it, and a few other items to take home.



It has a couple of layers of extra paint, and some surface scratches - but nothing that can't be fixed with a few power tools and some decent paint!

So, we've now stripped it down, sanded it, and washed it.. now we just need to paint it, and add some shelves to the inside. And add some new hinges & child friendly drawer knobs..

I'll put the final photos up in a few weeks - with some before & after shots, and then we can decide if we should have just gone to IKEA instead!

Also, this weekend, we started out Christmas shopping... our first purchase... solar powered Christmas lights! I'll take a photo in a few weeks when we put them out! LOL! I was very amused..



D & L

The Backyard veggie patch

Okay, the idea of my entire backyard being covered in Paving stones didn't really do it for me. Fair enough, with South Australia being in a drought, and at the end of Murray Darling River (main fresh water supply for big parts of Australia).

But, with all the water restrictions, you are allowed to water you plants with a watering can filled from the tap - so with Lyn being home these days, and with plenty of spare time on her hands, we've started our own little veggie garden tubs.

I don't think I've eaten as much salad as I have over the past 3 weeks - and there is more and more on the way.

Lettuce


Broccoli :(


Garden Peas


And MORE LETTUCE


-D & L