Where were we? That's right Kim and I and the dinner party group were off to Carrickalinga. We stopped for breakfast on the way at McLaren Vale, which is the centre of a near Adelaide wine growing area. Check them out at your wine shop, especially the Wirra Wirra church block, a beautiful red!

The weather over the weekend was reasonable. Not as windy as the last time we were there, but then we were mainly inside, or on the deck. Suffice to say that a good time was had by all. We went to the Normanville Hotel in the next town for dinner Saturday night. It is always good value and quality. A nice pub too. Then it was back to the house for a rowdy session of scrabble. Sadly Denis wasn't too happy to be beaten so he upended the board and of course that ended the game. It was onto music and chat after that and quite a late night. Sunday was slow and quiet with late breakfast. The others left for home later in the afternoon leaving Kim and I on our own for the night and into Monday. We enjoyed the peace and the time for ourselves. Monday was home and back to the "grind".

While we were away Scott (my son) stayed at our house looking after Lauren-Jane. Mind you as she spends most of the weekends at the stables it wasn't onerous! It has to be said though that they enjoyed each others company. Think that Lauren actually has him round her little finger most of the time!

The Saturday we were away was also the day of the Credit Union Christmas Pageant. The event that officially starts the festive season here in Adelaide. It was a fine day and almost 250,000 turned out to see Santa arrive at the magic cave. The season is now in full swing, allowing for the problems of the world financial situation!

On fine days it has been the driest spring in over 20 years, something the farmers, and us could have done without! It will rain eventually we keep telling ourselves.

Lauren-Jane is soon to become a high schooler. To that end we went to her new school for an orientation morning, she will have another morning early this month. Our public education is not free. I got a wee shock when buying her uniforms and working out fees for the year. Didn't seem to faze Lauren-Jane!!! You know, "but dad, I'll need two of these!" The school is a girls ownly school, which she will do well in.

It has been a mixed month sports wise for both South Australia and the country. Sad to say Adelaide United lost both legs of the Asian Champion's final. Losing 5-0 on aggregate. That sounds bad but Gamba Osaka (winners) operating budget is $47 million US Utd's $7 million Aus --$1 Aus=64cents US!!!! To even get to the final was massive. I have to say that I really enjoyed the ocassion of the home leg even although we lost 2-0. Not sure that any team I support will ever be in such a final again. Then again there's always Scotland in the World cup, perhaps not! United have since done well in the League and are second 2 points behind Melbourne.

Did you notice that there was a Rugby League world cup on in Australia in November? Well there was and to my surprise Scotland was in it (I didn't know we played league in Scotland). We didn't make it past the preliminaries, but was good to see them. Australia were out and out so very much the odds on favourites it wasn' funny. Beat every one and by record scores!! Until that is the final. Beaten by New Zealand and rightly so on the night. The shock here was akin to when Scotland beat England in 1967 right after England had won the football World Cup. You know the feeling, It cannot happen, it did happen. How could it happen!!! Sad to say the Australian team was less than gracious in defeat and the coach's remarks and attitude were frankly disgraceful.

On a brighter note we beat (the same weekend) the Kiwi's in the cricket test match, so there!! The Melbourne Cup was run at Flemington on the first Tueasday, won by Viewed an Australian horse, rained by Bart Cunmmings a South Aussie and his twelfth win. He is now past 80. Not bad going for an oldie. The foreign entries were the favourites. In fact one of the Irish trainers wanted the track watered as he felt it was to firm for his horse. Track wasn't watered and his horse wasn't placed! It is a tough race over 3200 metres.

Still on horses, Lauren-Jane and I went to the Adelaide International Horse Trials this month. It is one of only 3 (I think) 4 star events in the world - Badminton and one in U.S. are the others. It is being mooted to go to 5 star when new classifications are bruoght in. It is a higher grading than the Olympics which are lesser to let more compete. It is a feather in Adelaides cap to have such an event. Held right in the parklands in the city, again making it one of a kind. Was a lovely sunny day. We saw some spectacular crosscountry riding and this may surprise, Lauren cost me a fortune!!!!

Yesterday was St. Andrews Day. It went, I'm sorry to say almost unnoticed here in Adelaide. I went to the Adelaide oval with Scott to see Australia and New Zealand in the 2nd test match. A lovely day and we won that one as well. A couple of nips of the Morangie finished off the day while I watched Hearts beat Rangers at Tynecastle, that made my St. Andrew's Day.

May you wish for others that you wish for yourself at this festive time.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all, Slainthe

Eric

(article by Eric Ford, Australia)