Down Under 2024 (6)

It's early Monday morning here in Old Noarlunga. I've just returned from driving Kelly to the airport - she's flying to Auckland today for 4 days' work in NZ. I was up at 2:30 am and Kelly not much later. The drive to the airport, although it was dark, was nice and easy with very little traffic so the whole trip only took me an hour and 10 minutes. The dilemma now is - do I stay up or go back to bed? So far, I've opted for the former but no doubt I'll squeeze in a nap - or two - later on.

Now to recall the events of the last week. I previously reported that Jo seemed to have recovered from her seemingly endless series of illnesses this year but I was a bit premature. Finally (hopefully), yesterday she had a full day of eating - the first time she's managed this since Bali. It's been a long haul for her but we hope that she can fully enjoy the last 2 weeks of our holiday. Yes, it's 2 weeks today that we begin the long journey home.

Kelly, Jo, Miller and I took a drive up to Stirling, near where their new house is going to be. We attended a presentation at the Montessori school there, which hopefully Miller will be going to when they move. It's a different form of education - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montessori_education. Miller would be going there for just 3 years - from 12 to 15 - before moving on to a more "normal" establishment to finish off his schooling. The Montessori school in Stirling only has 40 pupils and it's set in a lovely rural spot. We think Miller quite liked it, but he's also viewing a more traditional secondary in Noarlunga.

I've been out for some shortish rides on Chris' bikes 3 or 4 times now - but two of them ended badly and I ended up having to walk back. I started off on his upmarket mountain bike but got a puncture on the gel-filled back wheel. Yesterday I was on his drop handlebar gravel bike and got a puncture on the front wheel, meaning another long trudge home.

Friday lunchtime, Jo and I went to the local cinema to see:

Naturally, the music is the best bit and the showing we went to was advertised as having "Quake Sound" which made it sound even better.

We attended another couple of Fringe events this weekend - both of them alcoholic. On Friday, Jo, Kelly and I paid a return visit to Ayers House for another Gin Flights. Last year it was a riot as the organisers lost control, gave up and just put bottles of gin on the tables for everyone to help themselves. This year, it was the complete opposite - tight budgetary control and miniscule helpings of gins and tonics. Plenty of cheese, however - in fact it felt more like a cheese tasting rather than Gin. Kelly and Jo still managed a smile, however:

On Saturday, all 6 of us drove up to the beautiful and vast Belair country park for Drinks on the Grass. It was a lovely casual event. Acres of space for the boys to throw model aeroplanes and frisbees whilst Chris, Jo and I had a few beers and all of us enjoyed the pizzas. Here's the team in a selfie:

Here,  a role reversal as Miller seems to be educating Jo:

Some beautiful large pine trees amongst the native gums:

Afterwards, Kelly, Jo and me took a slight diversion and went to look at a potential new primary school for Asher at Scott Creek. Some of the photos have already been shown on WhatsApp but across the road the school has extensive playing fields:

This week, Jo and I have our 4th Fringe event tomorrow (Tuesday) night - 15 Beatles Songs that Changed the World. Then on Friday, it's our annual trip down to the south coast where we stay for a couple of nights at a house in Carrickalinga. It's a bit of a family tradition with Chris' parents, brother Matt and his daughter Abby coming along too - and sometimes Chris' best pal Anthony and Matt's ex-wife Amanda make an appearance as well. 

I'll close  with a personal success. Every week recently I've been doing the Times' online Quiz of the Week and this time I achieved perfection!: