We had our first taste of real heat, nearly a week of 40+ degrees. We stayed indoors most of the time and thank goodness we have aircon. It was off to Adelaide on the 7th Feb, the hottest day of all and the day the fires broke out and we returned a week later to a smoke covered Melbourne.
We had a great time in Adelaide, catching up with friends, driving through the Barossa Valley region (stopping at Penfolds and Jacob's Creek wineries) and taking the kids to Wiggly Worms.
Life is slowly starting to feel a bit more normal and we are settling into a routine of sorts.
If you are not taking part in the Monopoly championship at the local Mall then there is no other place to be than the (Aspendale) beach as it's what they do here, beach and BBQ. After three days of solid 43+ degrees (nights dropped to 28 at 3am) we went to the beach, early I might add and what do you know, there was not a fly in sight. Karli is learning to body-board and daddy and mommy are trying to remember what to do on a beach (it's all coming back) while Marti just smiles and gets on with being 1.
9:30am@28degrees (make sure you use the HQ - bottom right)
Another year starts much the same as it ended. We had our first 40 degree day so the boys enjoy keeping cool in the pool or just sitting under the trees licking ice lollies.
We went to the Melbourne Aquarium to see the new penguin attraction, it was a lovely day and we got a good shot of the city. We headed towards Mornington again but stopped off in Frankston at the funfair, Karlie had his first ride on the big wheel and the tea cups and for once we forgot the camera!
We finally made some space in the 'box room' and set up the Thomas train set again after over a year. The boys had great fun, especially Martin, he just watched in amazement as Thomas is his favourite at the moment.
Christmas has gone and New Year is approaching fast..... We cooked a goose again this year but unlike the fat juicy British kind which are reared for consumption the Australian version was reared for the Olympics. Mom (Neubauer) is living it up in Singapore while the kids make more noise than my 100W(rms) stereo. Australia have fleeced me again by charging me regional "tax" for my motorcycle after I just paid national "tax" on arrival, and I thought we were taxed in old Blighty. (Death and Taxes an all that!)
It was also my birthday and if it were not for my birthday cake (see below) I would never have known I'm on the wrong side of 30. It's time to chill for a few days before work starts in earnest and 2009 gives us our surprises.
It's that time again............ bloody Christmas, so good cheer and a ba-humbug to you all.
The one good thing is that everyone was so busy shopping, all the beaches, parking and restaurants were empty (PS nobody told the &%^%$ flies thou). The weather has finally cleared and it's been I nice crisp 30 with little more than a puff of cloud in the sky. (he says as he types in his air-conditioned lounge).
Looking forward to a few days off from the 24th to prepare for 2009 where they tell me we are going to have weeks of 40+.
