When I left you last month, I said I would give you the result of the Melbourne Cup run on the 3rd. It was won by the aptly named Shocking 'an Australian horse' the jockey had finished second last year! Shocking won $3,300,000 for his owners. Second and third were both Irish horses. Crimescene being second and Mourilyn third. They won $835,000 and $220,000 respectively. Not bad for a few minutes work!

Continuing on sport Adelaide United have gone from bad to worse. They are now bottom of the league. They find it almost impossible to score goals. Into the bargain their coach Aurelio Vidmar has been suspended for two weeks and fined $10,000 by the club. His indiscretion? In refuting suggestions at a press conference, that he may be to soft, he asked if he should cut off the player's heads. He compounded that by asking if he should take them to Saudi Arabia! Not at all politically correct! Let us hope the season improves from here on in. Both for the teams results and aurelio's. We are due to play in the Asian Champions League in February. Improvement very neccessary.

Test cricket is back with us. Austrlalia comprehensively defeated the West Indies in three days in Brisbane. The next test is here in Adelaide from the 4th of this month. Scott and I have tickets for the sunday. Let's hope it lasts that long!

On to politics. What a month it has been here in South Australia, you will remember last month that our Premier was assaulted. You do? good. It gets juicier. The estranged wife of the alleged assailant has appeared on a television current affairs programme to allege that she and the Premier had an affair. The allegations claimed sex took place in his office in Parlaiment House, on the floor and on his desk, and in a car adjacent a city golf course. She was paid for the appearance. The Premier has of course denied the allegations and is suing both the television station and a national women's magazine which carried the story. He is not apparently suing the woman! Interesting days for the Government here in South Australia.

Federally our Kevin07 has still struggled with the 'boat people' with claims that some are being offered preferential treatment, which of course, again Canberra denies. Kevin is also struggling to get his Emmissions scheme through Parliament. He wishes it done before he attends the Copenhagen conference. The Opposition have refused to play ball with him. Refused? In fact they have just changed Leaders because of it! That is three leaders in the last two and a half years. Doesn't really make for a very viable Opposition does it?

The Weather. It deserves capitals for its behaviour this month. We have just had the hottest November on record. It has also been the wettest! Explain that, we had 10 days of over 38 degree heat. A few of which reached over 40. The highest? 43 degrees and not even summer!

The Christmas Pageant took place on a day of 38 degrees. Over 250,000 turned out to watch it. I think Santa perspired more than a little! Well its never that warm at the North Pole is it? Santa's arrival of course means it is the Festive Season. Decorations in shops and businesses have been up since the 14th. Far too early for me!

I spoke of 'Panda monium' the other month. They have arrived. Wang Wang and Funi (pronounced Wung Wung and FunEE) arrived last week. They are in quaranteen at the moment. They toured the city! Live in an air-conditioned facility which cost over $8,000,000, (what that money could have done for hospitals etc (and you have to book to see them! I and many more are not terribly impressed by the fanfare for them.

Kim and I went to see Parky the other week at our Festival Centre. He was very good. Just like TV really!!! We both thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Kim's brother's wife gave us an addition to the family, Daniela-Jade arrived very very early but is now thriving. We had friends over for dinner one Saturday night. They were introduced to RunRig, very loudly!!! Last Sunday we had a lovely lunch on the deck with three couples a very nice day to almost finish the month. The last day of November is of course St.Andrew's Day-Scotlands National Day. As usual here in South Australia it passed more with a whimper than a bang. Scots obviously aren't quite as important as Pandas'!

We are off to Fiji for the first week of the New Year. We will I am sure enjoy the trip. To you all a Very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.

Until then take care

Eric

(Article by Eric Ford, Australia)