At the beach

The beaches in South Australia are stunning, as are the beaches around the rest of Australia.  However South Australia is very fortunate as there are two gulfs making the beaches within them very safe, and Adelaide has managed through various creek and river management systems to keep its beaches very clean. 

A visit to Sue's holiday house in Hayborough, on the south coast, and a walk along the coastal path.   

The sea here is very rough with treacherous undertows.   Great for surfing but not for the average swimmer.   The people below are swimming in the narrow area allocated for safe swimming by the surf life saving club.

 The old train, pulled by a steam engine, that travels between Goolwa and Victor Harbour.   During the summer, when there is a high fire danger, the carriages are pulled by a diesel engine.

Further around the peninsula, and heading towards Adelaide, is Second Valley, amongst the rocky volcanic cliffs.  A beautiful area.

On a day between Christmas and New Year, the small beach was packed with people, canoes and sun shades.

Not quite the same as a packed mediterranean beach in high summer, where one has to fight for a spot of sand to sit on, but very busy all the same.

Walter sitting happily in the shade.

Our patch, against the wall, with gazebo and tarpaulin for shade, and eskys to keep the beer and food cold.

The narrow walk around the cliffs, to the deep inlet was precarious to say the least.  I clung to the cliff face as I walked along, and managed it, with the help of Darren and the other walkers, all wearing flip flops on their feet, I might add.

I walked on a path, narrow as it was, unlike Dave, who tried out his rock climbing skills.  At the point I took the photograph he looked down, and realised that if he walked along any further he would have rocks under him rather than water, so he then jumped into the water.  This photo does not show just how high up the cliff he had climbed.

There were those that travelled around to the inlet by canoe, much easier.

The rocky inlet, with very deep water, which leads into a cave, not seen from my viewing point on the opposite side from the divers.  I did not have the confidence, or the agility, to climb down to the ledge below.

Looking down at the ledge where most people dived off. There was a point for diving above this ledge,  but that was purely for the very experienced or the very foolish.  Belly flops not recommended.  Ouch!

Jay and Jespa, with their friends, plucking up the courage to jump into the water.

Jay

Jespa.

There will be more photographs of beaches, no doubt, a country of stunning beaches.

An Aussie Boxing Day at Glenelg

On Boxing Day afternoon we collected at Donna and Patrick's house for a late lunch/early dinner.  Andreena, John, Margaret and Gordon came from Gawler to join us for the combined family event.  The weather was perfect, only 24 degrees, and sunny.

We dined on all the leftovers from the previous day, plus a new trifle made by Margaret.  There was a little competition as to who made the best trifle, but I think we decided that they were both delicious.  It never ceases to amaze me how different each trifle is, and how confusing it is for a novice like me.  Each person is so sure that the way they make the trifle is the correct way.   

We ate more prawns, and I can honestly say that I have had enough prawns now.  No more until next Christmas. 

Altogether, it was an excellent lunch, shared in great company.

Billie-Joe, Jay and Margaret.

Andreena, Billie-Joe and Jay.

Donna, Walter with Andreena getting into the photograph too.

The boys, Gordon, John, Jespa and Patrick, sitting together with the esky.

Scott and Darren, looking very handsome, and dressed alike in their checked shirts

We ended the day with a perfectly clear skype to the rest of the family in the Netherlands.  Emma, Steve, Jackson and Isabel spent Christmas with the van Dam clan in Houten.   It was lovely to talk to them, both on Christmas Day and on Boxing Day.  Modern technology is great for communicating when families are so far away from each other.

Walter and I drove back to Aldings Beach as the sun was setting over the sea.  Very pretty.

We deterred slightly after we drove up the hill, in order to get a close up view of the Christmas lights on the houses in a street in Lonsdale.

There must have been a competition between the residences in this street, as they were all very elaborate.

And it was certainly worth taking the detour.   We were not disappointed.

We arrived home in time to see the large full moon, rising in the east.

Another super happy family day.

An Aussie Christmas Day at Aldinga Beach

An Aussie Christmas Day.  Quite different from Christmas in the United Kingdom, and Europe.  The weather here dictates events, although airconditioning helps considerably, so no longer sweating over a hot meal in 30+ degree heat.

There had been the usual busy lead up to Christmas, with parties, and seemingly out of control shopping.  A very late shopping expedition at a large shopping centre, meant coping with mayhem inside the centre at 10 pm and  then when we left we had to avoid long queues of cars on the roads outside, all trying to get into the carparks.   But all that is over now, and we can settle down to enjoy the festivities and relax.

Donna, Patrick and Scott stayed with us at Darrens, which was lovely.   We all enjoyed a few drinks, and some more, plus a barbeque with Dave and Sonya, on Christmas Eve.   A very warm evening.   Great fun.

After Dave and Sonya left, around midnight, Walter, our sober driver, drove a very merry Darren, Donna and me around the neighbourhood to look at the Christmas lights.   Unfortunately the lights had all been dimmed.  Too late at night.  A great drive though with all car windows down, but no music blaring.  That would have been just too crass.

The photo below was taken about 9.30pm last night.  Only the reindeer were visible on Christmas Eve.

A Christmas activity for families here, is to drive around suburbs and look at the Christmas lights on houses.  They are spectacular I must admit, the best I have ever seen.  I have been told LED lights keep the price of electricity down.

The house behind Darren's street.  Amazing.  Last year the owner fell off his house while putting up his lights.  Luckily he recovered in time to put on a great display this year.

Christmas morning.  I know the photograph makes it look as if we had not gone to bed, but in fact we did manage a few hours of sleep, although there were some people who were feeling a little delicate in the morning.  But a few glasses of 6% fizz, and orange juice, plus croissants filled with ham and cheese, revived us and we were ready to start the day.

Present opening time. And there were lots of them.  As always, the most electronically minded, Scott, wanted to be the first to check out my new Smart Watch.  Now before anyone thinks that hundreds of dollars were spent on my latest gadget, it was bought from Target.   Only $100 and it works brilliantly.

As a joke people sometimes give Target a French pronunciation, in order to elevate its position a little in the world.  But there is no doubt Target has become a little more upmarket these days.

And Donna received a Fitbit, so some competition there.   The line up of Smart Watch and Fitbit on the table, with the accompanying smart phones which the new devices must be linked to, in order to work.

And for those that are eagle eyed, also on the table are the Aussie accessories, mosquito repellent and a bottle of beer in its super cool neoprene stubbie holder.

In the afternoon Billie brought Jay and Jespa to Darren's house and we had more present time.   The house by then was starting to look as if there had been a present explosion.

The culmination of present opening resulted in the uncovering of the surf boards, hidden behind the water tank.   A very exciting time.

  

The seafood platter,  the ultimate of Christmas fare.   It was donated by Scott, who had it made up by Woolworths.  What a beauty.   We devoured it very quickly.  So delicious, and such a luxury, especially the oysters.

 After temperatures of 38 degrees all day, a cool change had arrived by the time we set off for the beach.

Donna, Patrick and Scott with Poppy.  Apparently the water was warm, but I decided not to join then as there was a cool wind.  Poppy loved the water.

Patrick told us all that this was the life, there was no going back to the UK.

Still plenty of cars on the beach.

Poppy and her sandy nose.  So cute.

The line up of the non swimmers, mostly dressed in swimwear, but not wet

Jay and Jespa tried out their new surfboards, and luckily there were some waves.

Jay sitting on her board waiting for the next wave to appear.

Finally we sat down to Christmas dinner, at 7 pm.   Cold meats and salads followed by a trifle.   All delicious.

And that ended a truly lovely Aussie Christmas Day at Aldinga Beach.

The road to Bethlehem

A nativity play with a difference.  But it can only take place in a very large hall or when the weather is totally reliable.

The Seven Day Adventist Church at Jespa's school prepared an Australian wide scripted play, which led the audience, in small groups, through the different events that led to the birth of Jesus.

We waited for our turn, in the arena, which included plenty of stalls from which to buy goodies.

Jay and Lucy.   It was Lucy's last evening in Adelaide before flying to the UK the next day.

There was even a tent selling espresso coffee.  This is Australia, after all.

Jespa and Billie, enjoying being amongst the animals.  There was a very cute llama, who took a great interest in my jacket.

Finally it was our turn, to take the road to Bethlehem.  First stop the market.

Second stop.  The Angel Gabriel, Mary and Joseph.   The taking on of a huge responsibility by Mary and Joseph.

The discussion about the census.  This scene was very witty.

The news reaches King Herod's Palace.

And he was not happy.

The shepherds were waiting eagerly,  on the new arrival.

The baby has arrived, and crying boisterously as he was hungry.   Billie and Jespa had their photograph taken with the special couple.   It was a truly lovely walk to Bethlehem.

Sadly, we were unable to attend a Carols by Candlelight service, but we did go to a carol service at Edge Church.  Very loud, enthusiastic and American in style. 

Impressive singing and acting.

Tonight I attended Mass at the local church in Aldinga.  Very calm and airconditioned, with a marvellous view of the surrounding brown hills and green grape vines.

The Christmas message came across very clearly.  I loved it.  Simple and familiar.