Busy, busy, busy! And with the lead up to Christmas, even busier. However, we are certainly enjoying our life back in Australia.
The U3A walking and cycling groups are going well, with some very interesting places visited, plus am getting to know lots of interesting people. And I am understanding how the organisation of both groups work, so tend not to make errors. The new U3A booklet now has an inclusion about 'no dogs' allowed on the walks, which makes it clear to new members. It is funny how first impressions can be so wrong, as the man who I thought was condescending has turned out to be okay. All in all the people in both groups are friendly and those in the cycling group are encouraging and supportive of my attempts to keep up with them. They also make sure that I do not get lost!
So where have we walked and cycled. I have missed out on a couple of walks due to commitments, and once the weather was extremely hot. But I have since been told that they modify the walk somewhat in hot weather, and spend longer in the cafe. On one walk we battled the wind and rain on a long walk through the back streets of Glenelg. It was meant to be a walk along the sea front. Coffee was very much appreciated on this day.
I have completed all the cycle rides, which is amazing as I find them challenging. However, I am most definitely getting fitter. We cycled from Carrickalinga, on the south coast, to Yankalilla which is inland, no hills but a strong head wind both ways. The direction of the wind changed while we were having coffee! Absolutely brilliant scenery along the coast. I must try and find some time for photographs.
We also rode along the coastal path and roads from Seacliff to Henley Beach, and return, 30 kms altogether, and surprisingly it was slightly uphill all the way back to Seacliff. Tough ride. And this weeks ride followed the same route as my first ride with the group, and I found it considerably easier this time around.
One of our walks took us from the railway station in Adelaide, along the Torrens River, through the Botanical Gardens and along North Terrace, where we had coffee at the cafe in the library. Perfect weather too.
Reflections on the water.
Looking happy and relaxed under the bridge which spans the Torrens by Adelaide University.
The grove of Moreton Bay Figs in the Botanical Gardens. After visiting many botanical gardens during our travels I have to admit that the ones in Adelaide are pretty spectacular.
The Saturday ParkRun or ParkJog or ParkWalk, depending on one's preference. The following photographs were taken by the person allocated to the job of photographer.
Walter striding out. Emma running with Piper.
Piper very eager and keen to get going. Piper, frustrated with my slow pace.
Our new 'old car'. A Honda station wagon, twenty years old, bought for $3000, with a further $800 spent on it, namely a service and the suspension fixed. A brilliant car, with everything working in it, and which drives so smoothly.
Yes, you may wonder why we need another car, bought on a whim, when we visited a second hand car sales place with Emma. Emma and Steve have found that only having one car, away out in Aldinga, with work commitments and children in a country school, does not work. Also Jackson is learning to drive. They also bought an excellent car, a manual, a Holden Astra with a spoiler on the back, sporty looking too. It is not as old as ours, and cost less money too.
But back to the Honda. We needed a tow bar, to carry our bikes, and there are currently no tow bars available for our Kia, until perhaps March or April next year. And the Honda has a tow bar, and the bike rack fits. However there is so much room in the back of the car that I can easily just slide my bike into the car. And we have found more benefits as the car is excellent for taking the bottles to the recycling depot, carrying large items, going to the beach and most of all carrying Piper to and from the beach. No more messing up our new car, with a sandy and wet dog.
Of course, we all have to admit, we are loving the extra wheels, never having to worry about not having a car, or having to negotiate 'who needs the car' to do whatever 'needs to be done'. Such convenience! But not environmentally sound.
Of course the front of our house now looks like a car sales yard, three cars in front of the garage and the station wagon on the other side. Two of the cars appeared magically on the same day. I just have to make sure that I don't scrape any of the cars as I reverse in or out, given my previous track record.
Piper loving her own special area in the back of the station wagon, complete with harness, bed, blanket, and toys.
My early morning walks with Piper at Port Willunga. Such a delightful area, always changing depending on the weather.
On the day I took the photographs it was a perfect day, blue skies and the sea was flat with barely a ripple. It is a safe place to walk a dog off the lead, as there are no roads to worry about, and the high cliffs keep the dogs on the beach. We had to stop walking on Aldinga Beach, due to the road that runs along the beach , with just sand dunes in between. Piper was starting to chase birds up the sand dunes.
Lots of sand, and a nearly deserted beach. On this particular day, anyway. But in fact there are usually plenty of people, and most importantly, lots of doggy playmates for Piper.
The remains of the Port Willunga jetty, always a very photographic site.
Behind the jetty there is a road carved into the cliffs, which was used to transport goods to and from the ships anchored at the jetty.
And there are also man made caves in the cliffs, built as shelters for small boats, I have been told, but they look more like temporary storage sheds to me.
A photo of our swimming pool on a very wet and story day. This is to let people know that the sun does not always shine, here in Aldinga Beach. In fact we have had more overcast and windy weather since July, then days of warm sunshine. We are all thinking that the sun always shines here is part of a myth.
Christmas is looming fast. We have three Christmas trees as there is so much space.
The minimalist tree, stark branches, which Emma felt needed to have a few decorations. And I must admit it does improve its appearance. We bought this one from the UK.
Then there is the artificial tree, purchased from Woolworths, which decorates the lounge room.
And finally, the 'real tree' out on the patio. When I went to Bunnings, the hardware/garden store, to buy a real tree I saw they only had native fir trees. Then I realised we had the same tree growing in our garden so we cut a few branches off it, and Emma did some magical adjustments, such as tying small branches to the wall behind. And hey presto, a Christmas tree. For free.
We brought our Christmas stars from the UK. And here they look less like brothel lights, then in the windows of our house, on a hill, by the woods in the UK.
Our mermaid has a Christmas hat. I really think she also needs a bikini top, a more modest look, as she no longer has water spilling over her.
The front of our house is lit up with sparkly lights, not too 'over the top' and all solar powered. I love Christmas with solar power, one can really go overboard with the lights here.
The very old Catholic church, St Josephs, in Willunga. Built on the side of a hill, in the early 1800s, the inside has been left in its natural stone, which gives it a rustic feel.
We had a family girls' Christmas get together in Adelaide. Emma, Donna, Andreena and me raising our glasses. Great to be together again.
Jay had a belated birthday, end of school year party, with her friends. It was lovely having a group of very well behaved teenagers having a good time in the back garden.
We all helped deliver presents, through the Smith Family, to families around Adelaide. Walter and I were given an area behind Semaphore, and it was fascinating to see all the very old cottages there. The families we delivered the presents to, where also very appreciative.
We collected the bags of presents from the showgrounds and were very impressed with the how the distribution was organisation. But more about the Smith Family, an Australian wide charity, at another time.
Carols by Candlelight on the reserve at Aldinga Beach on a Sunday evening. Emma and Steve had also been to one in Adelaide on the Saturday evening, which was very impressive. Our small local one was well attended, and people were enjoying themselves, although were not great at joining in with the singing sadly.
And finally a photograph of part of the gigantic and totally ostentatious Christmas display in front of a very secure gated compound on Aldinga Beach Road. The local bikie establishment, according to local hearsay.
And my last comment. I am always fascinated by the array of dried animal parts on display at the pet shop in Aldinga Beach. Nothing is wasted and money is to be made considering that the price of a dried kangaroo or bull penis, is $10.
Yesterday I noticed that there were dried shark penises for sale. They were very small, more like the penis of a dog fish rather than a great white pointer! Fascinating. Sorry Piper, there will be none for you, too expensive, even for Christmas.
