Thursday

Nothing much to report from today - although last night was another exciting one for Miller and his parents in a battle of wills. Miller and Chris, in particular, looked exhausted this morning, but, despite that, Chris made it to the gym - as did Kelly. Jo was still fast asleep so that left me in charge, but Miller slept through most of my baby-sitting session:

A similar position to the one we saw on Australia Day:

When he did awake this morning, he was in good form and was no trouble at all.

Jo and I had a quiet day today, although I did get out for a cycle once Kelly was back from the gym and Jo was up. We had shopping to do - Jo's doing falafels again tonight - and strolled to the shops, via the end of the pier, then had a coffee and some dessert at Lickerish - very nice.

Tomorrow we're all off down to Carickalanga again - we went there last year. It's part of Chris' birthday and he has family and friends arriving too - there's a sea fishing adventure planned for Sunday - hope my sea legs are up to it!

Lost on Lofty

We gave Chris a t-shirt from Barrosa Valley Brewery and some white port from Bethany Wines for his birthday and he modelled the former for us:

Jo and I strolled down to the beach on Tuesday morning, with her majesty sporting her latest accoutrement:

Quite the lady, isn't she?

Largs Hotel was where we had Chris' birthday tea:

Kelly ordered dessert - with candles:

It was such a beautiful evening that Jo and I decided to walk back along the beach, having a quick paddle:

Today (Wednesday), everyone awoke having had a bad night, with Miller up and down, so Plan B had to be put in to action - Kelly stayed at home with Miller and Jo and I took her car and went for a drive over to Mount Lofty. It turned out to be a very adventurous day - read all about it in my Hill-walking blog (http://bvhill-walkers.blogspot.co.uk/).

Adelaide update

G'day once more from Adelaide. It's Tuesday morning here and we've been up since 5:30 am. Nothing really unusual about that - we're well used to the schedule in the Steele/Stewart household by now. Today is Chris' birthday and he's got a day off, spending the morning with his brother Matt - they were climbing Mount Lofty at sunrise.

Kelly left for her usual gym session at 5:45 am and we - well Jo and her i-Pad really - entertained Miller while she was away. Kelly's now off to work and she's taken Miller to child care, so it's just Jo and I here just now. I think we're going to have a down day today, just chillin'.

It's going to be 33-35 C again today but we're fortunate in being on the coast where we get some cooling breezes. They've had a very hot and dry summer here but we've been lucky with the weather so far - thankfully it's never approached the horrible 40 C mark that we've had on previous trips.

Yesterday I played 14 holes of golf at North Haven GC. Jo came with me and walked the first nine. We travelled by train after being let down by the bus service. It meant a bit more walking and I was carrying my clubs so we got plenty of steps in yesterday. Here's Jo relaxing beside one of the greens whilst I putted out:

On Sunday morning, I got some cycling in - down to Glenelg - and then Kelly drove us up the Barossa for lunch at the Barossa Valley Brewery and a wine tasting at Murray St vineyard, followed by another beer sampling at Barossa Brewery - different place but confusingly similar names. Here's a few snaps from that day:

Outside the apartment block in Glenelg that we stayed at when we first came to Adelaide 5 years ago

The War Memorial at Glenelg

Murray St vineyard

Murray St again

Saturday - halfway point

City of Bungalows. City of corrugated roofs. That's Adelaide - or at least our impression of it. The suburbs are full of detached bungalows fairly close to each other - not much point in having big grass gardens unless you have the sprinklers on them 24/7. Our first impression of the corrugated roofs was how cheap and tacky they are, but you soon appreciate the practicality of it, and even the look of it after a while. There's a kind of colour coding system in operation - and there's very few tiled roofs. Apart from the city centre, it's very much a low rise city.

Jo kept some of Miller's shorn locks from his haircut on Wednesday:

On Thursday morning, I went for a short cycle and then my first hit of a golf ball this year at the local par-3 Glanville course - a nice gentle introduction for me:

We walked to the golf course and Jo walked the first 9 holes with me then read her book whilst I played the second 9 holes - after we'd both had a Magnum and Diet Coke break in between.

On Friday we took the train in to the city again and walked from there to the Adelaide Aquatic Centre, crossing the river Torrens on the new footbridge on the way:

The Aquatic Centre is huge - very impressive - and has gardens to sit in between swims. From there, we walked to the Royal Oak in O'Connell Street for a couple of beers before heading "home" again, where Miller was in relaxed mode:

On Saturday morning, Chris and Kelly did their separate shifts at the gym and then we were off for Miller's swimming lesson. Kelly then took him home for a sleep whilst the three of us had some beers and a bite to eat at the new craft beer bar in Semaphore, which has a nice beer garden:

In the afternoon, Kelly had her appointment for the 3D scan of the next Steele baby boy. We were all allowed to watch on the big screen - it was fascinating. Kelly and Chris have a DVD now and some photographs:

Chris is working tomorrow (Sunday) so Kelly is going to drive us up to the Barossa for some more wine and beer tasting.

Midweek week 3

So I did eventually get out for a cycle yesterday (Tuesday) after all - late afternoon, after a day in the city shopping and lunching.

Today (Wednesday) is Kelly's day off and we decided to drive to the Barossa for lunch and some wineries, but first of all, we had to do the shopping at Westfield, where they had a nice play area for Miller - and his Mum:

Then - trauma of all traumas - Miller went for his first haircut:

Grocery shopping then off to the Barossa for lunch at the Artisan winery, a co-operative of 7 small vineyards, with an adjacent restaurant, whose chef featured recently on MasterChef. Miller had a mini-meltdown:

Kelly took him to play with the cricket equipment:

Lunch was lovely and then we were off to do another couple of tastings at nearby wineries. First of all was Bethany, then it was on to Pindarie:

There's some weather around just now so we're going through a slightly cooler spell - like a good summer's day in Scotland - mid 20's - but it's going to get hotter again over the next couple of days.

Weekend in Robe

It's now Tuesday morning in Adelaide. We've been up for a few hours now and I had thought I might get out for a cycle this morning, but, would you believe it, it's raining! In fact, we've had a fairly damp weekend down on the Limestone Coast. It rained virtually all day Friday but it didn't really matter as we were in the car for over 4 hours anyway.

We got to our cottage in Robe to find the heaters on in preparation for our arrival - in the middle of summer! According to the local press it was the coolest January day for 9 years - it only reached 20 C in Adelaide. Anyway, we quickly settled in:

Dinner was at the local Caledonian pub washed down with pints of Little Creatures Pale Ale.

By Saturday morning the clouds were gone and, after brunch at a local cafe we took a stroll down to the beautiful beach:

Walking on to the marina, Lorene, David, Jo and I had a coffee there whilst Kelly and Chris took Miller back for his - and Kelly's - lunchtime snooze. Lorene, Jo and I strolled along the walkway round the harbour to the Yacht Club:

From there, it was just a short hop to the end of the breakwater:

Later on, Jo and I took Miller down to the small beach near our cottage, where Miller explored the little caves:

On Sunday, our plan was to drive to the Coonawara wine region, about an hour or so away, but first there was breakfast/brunch at another local cafe. The sun was a bit reticent to make an appearance and it was cloudy most of the day until early evening - pity we couldn't get the iconic Coonawara photo in sunshine:

We'd attended a Wynn's masterclass at the Wine Gang's Xmas Fair in Edinburgh just a few weeks prior so a visit to the vineyard was essential. The samples were great and we bought some wine - and chocolate.

When we got back to Robe, the evening sun came out and we went for another stroll round the harbour - this time taking a wider circle round a lovely walkway, exploring other beaches and caves:

The setting sun provided some nice views over the rocks and sea:

Soon we arrived at the high viewpoint:

Chris and I stopped at the Caledonian on the way back for a couple of pints and to watch a bit of the tennis final.

Monday morning came and we were heading back to Adelaide, but, first there was breakfast at yet another local cafe:

We took a break at Meningie where Jo demonstrated her skills on the fitness machines:

It was 32 C when we arrived back in Semaphore.

Eve of another holiday

It's Thursday evening and we're still eating the leftovers from Australia Day - they have to be finished by tomorrow morning as we're off to Robe for the weekend. Talking of food - what a lovely lunch at Penfolds yesterday. Not cheap but worth it - none of us could face eating any more that evening.

Jo and I had caught the train in to Bowden and had something to drink in the Loose Caboose cafe whilst we waited for Kelly to pick us up:

We picked up Miller at his nursery on the way home and I, for one, was in bed before him for a change, trying to make up for lost sleep the night before.

After a good sleep we were up bright and early on Thursday morning. Chris had offered us the use of his car as we fancied taking a walk in the hills on the other side of Adelaide, so we dropped him off in the city and then drove out to Morialta Gorge where there are a variety of trails. Jo didn't have her walking shoes with her - only her thongs (flip-flops to the rest of the world), so we selected a middle of the road relatively light hike that took in two of the falls - or so we thought. We made a wrong turning at one point and ended up doing the longer all 3 falls hike. It's the middle of summer, however, and they were all dry, but it was a nice walk. Here's a few photos:

No, not an animal, but we thought this tree/plant was a bit sloth-like

Not forgetting some of those back home, the night before we left we had supper with Ross and Lizzie. For those that haven't yet seen his new car yet, here it is on the right outside the back of his flat:

 Across the other side of the pond, Braeden has taken up wrestling. Scott and Lucy sent us some snaps:

That's him on the right of course

Post Australia Day

It's Wednesday morning here in Semaphore - the day after the Australia Day celebrations. Chris is at work, Miller is in nursery and Kelly has gone to get her hair done. Jo and I will be catching the train in to town and Kelly will meet us and take us to Penfolds Magill Estate for lunch. After yesterday, I should probably be having an alcohol free day today but we can't go to Penfolds and not drink some of their delicious wine. Maybe tomorrow then?

Sunday's trip to the hills and Lobethal Bierhaus and Maximillians winery was lovely. It was Crush Festival weekend and they had a kids' playpen at the winery:

Monday was quiet - I went for a short cycle and then we did the shopping for Australia Day - lots of protein.

Tuesday itself was busy. Kelly and Chris got up early and drove to the hills for a walk up Mount Lofty. I could have joined them but opted instead for another short cycle. We were all back well before 10 am, in good time to prepare for the arrival of our guests - Chris' Mum, Dad, brother Matt, former sister-in-law Amanda and friends Simon and Nicole - with children.

Chris presented Kelly with a framed certificate of her Australian naturalisation certificate:

The group gathering:

Chris and Kelly had bought me a ticket to go and see the Twenty Twenty international between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval so Matt, David, Chris and I jumped on the train in to Adelaide in the evening, where we met up with Chris' pal Anthony. Great stadium and a lovely evening but there was to be no happy ending for the home team as India won fairly comfortably in the end.

It was all happening at the match - as well as the usual pyrotechnics when somebody gets a six, there were fireworks, a 21-gun salute and a flypast adjacent to the ground - all for Australia Day.

End of first week

I've been a bit nervous about using my laptop recently. After my Facebook account was apparently hacked last weekend, there has been further suspicious activity since then - like losing control of the mouse - a scary situation. My virus guard spotted a multitude of errors on my Outlook files and tried to clean it up but, as a result, Outlook doesn't work at all for me now - I'll have to re-load it when I get home. All I can use for e-mail, diary, contacts etc just now is Windows Live - and my phone of course.

Therefore, I'll keep this short.

Been out cycling twice and Jo and I now have our Metro cards which make travel on the buses and trains a lot easier.

Miller asked Chris for a "Superman" the other day:

Jo and I were back at the Wheaty on Friday to return their tab card and we got caught in a brief storm on the way back to the station - fortunately we were under cover as the heavens opened, and, almost before we knew it, it was all over and the sun was out again.

Yesterday (Saturday), Chris, Jo and I took the train in to town and went for a spot of lunch and a couple of beers. Kelly picked us up and took us to Chris' friend Simon's 40th birthday party, held in the Bombay Bicycle Club:

This morning (Sunday) Miller's going for a short ride on the little train that runs along the prom here, after which we're heading to the hills again for lunch at one of our favourite brewpubs, Lobethal Bierhaus, followed by some wineries - it's the Crush Festival weekend here.

Week 1 midweek

I did get my credit card back on Monday - Chris popped in past the Wheaty on his way home to retrieve it - an expensive detour for him - it cost him A$80 to settle the bill I had left behind! I've still to return their tab card, but there's no great rush now.

Jo was housebound with Miller on Monday so I had to go to do the shopping. I strolled down to the prom - just 200 yards or so from Kelly's - and took this photo from the end of her street:

Taking a slight detour, I walked to the end of the pier, where there were 3 large pelicans perched in various positions:

Miller was OK to go back to nursery on Tuesday morning so Jo and I decided we needed to get out and about and get some exercise, now that we were over the worst of the jetlag, so we decided to take the beach walk south to Grange and have brunch at the Jetty Cafe there. We hadn't walked for a while and we were pretty tired when we got back to Kelly's not long after 3 pm, having covered almost 20 kms. The toughest part was through some of the softer sand trails. Jo was pretty red by the time we got to Grange:

- and we still had the return leg to do!

Kelly was off work today (Wednesday) so she suggested we take a drive up in to the Adelaide Hills and have lunch in the pretty little town of Stirling, not realising that today was Day 2 of the Tour Down Under and it was passing right through Stirling - in fact 5 times in all on a mountain loop. It was pretty hectic there but we eventually made it to Patch Kitchen & Garden in good time for lunch.

They keep hens there and Miller was enchanted with them - and the playhouse:

We were seated behind the cafe but each time the peloton passed by, I stepped out front to have a look and take some photos:

There's a couple of short videos here - https://youtu.be/EMyGvT_oieQ & https://youtu.be/EMyGvT_oieQ

After lunch, Kelly drove us over to nearby Mount Barker and the Prancing Pony brewery. We had been there a year ago on the very day they opened, but this time they were much more organised - nice place. Unfortunately, Miller had fallen asleep on the short journey in the car and did not appreciate the rude awakening. He eventually settled down on the concrete floor and fell fast asleep again!: