When we left you we were preparing for Hogmanay at our place. It went off very well. Margaret, my youngest sister was here for a few weeks from Lauder. She came to visit Sam, her daughter who is on working holiday. Having them both here for the ”Bells” made it even more special. Elizabeth my sister was here also. She of course lives in Adelaide. Only Emily was missing. However, it was a good night. There are I believe, some photo’s of me asleep on the sofa about 0430, which are described as of “blackmail” quality. They were taken by my cousin. I haven’t seen them (probably for best) so cannot comment. It was as I said a very good night.

Kim and I have both been on holiday for most of the month. Lauren of course on school holidays. Schools went back last week and Lauren started High School. She was understandably nervous but seems to be settling. Her school is all girls which we feel will be best for her.

We continue to feel the effects of the world financial “meltdown” but still seem to be weathering it better than most. Kevin 09 has plans to alleviate it for most Australians. Will they work? Time will tell.

On returning to work I have spent the last couple of weeks working during the day. I have enjoyed it but will be happy to revert to my usual nights this coming week. Kim continues teaching the next generation of nurses. A job she enjoys. However, as with so many in such positions, she is asked to do so much more with less and less resources! Quite frustrating if one is as conscientious as Kim.

Is this a good time to talk of our weather? We still desperately need rain. It is summer so little likelihood. This past week has seen extremely high temperatures in Adelaide and in fact South Australia and most of the country. We are experiencing our fourth day of 40C + heat. The highest has been 44.7C! It is forecast that the heatwave will continue for another 4 to 5 days. We also had a record high 33.9C lowest temp. Very difficult to sleep even with airconditioning!. In fact the airconditionig in Lauren’s school failed it was so hard worked. Consequently an extra day off school on Friday for the girls. No complaints from any of them. But that wouldn’t surprise would it?

Due to the intense heat we suffer from rolling blackouts. There is such an increase in power demand that the provider simply shuts off different suburbs in succession. Sometimes for “only an hour" sometimes for much longer. On top of these there are of course the inadverdant failures such as when transformers “blow” or other such things. Then you can lose power for anything up to 30 hours and sometimes more. The provider has also been known to shut power off at these times for regular maintenance!!. There is a not unexpected, increase in hospital admissions (especially of the elderly and very young) and sudden deaths at this time.

South Australia is a member of the National Energy Grid. Someone interstate decides on supply and ptrice we pay for our power. Most of our rolling cuts are due, it seems, to a small town in Tasmania!. The process is called “load shedding” When the temperature exceeds 33c in George Town the intergrid connector automatically switches off to "protect" itself! George Town has a population of 5,500!! 265,000 houses and busunesses were affected in Adelaide on the 28th and another 95,000 on the 30th. Mind you the temperatures in George Town have been records. They’ve been that in Southern Australia and Adelaide also. To this stage I am happy to say we have not lost power. It will happen to us I am sure! One of my workmates lost power at 8.30pm Thursday. It had not restored by 1pm Friday. People are entitled to compensation but of course it is time consuming and difficult to access! Meanwhile freezers have failed, meat and most food has gone off and has to be replaced. It is of course always someone else’s fault! We’ve all heard the story. There was nothing we could do in various forms! So many buck passers. We are supposed to be a first world country not a third. Sometimes I wonder!

The early part of January brought us our “Tour down Under”. This year Lance Armstrong, 7 times winner of the tour de France, rode in it. This was his comeback after about 4 years of retirement. The upsurge in both local and international interest was astonishing. Where previously there might have been 60-70 overseas reporters and news crews, this year over 300 attended. The tour starts and finishes with a street circuit in the city. Over 100,000 people attended both. Thousands watched the individual stages daily, Lance didn’t win, an Aussie did, but did he pull the crowds? He will be back next year if still riding. His aim is of course to win another Tour de France. However, his other aim is raising money and awareness for cancer research. More power to him. He visited the Children’s Hospital and adult cancer units while here. All very beneficial both to the tour and cancer research and treatment. Well done Lance and the tour organisers.

Other sports did noy fair so well for us. Australia lost the test cricket series 1-2 to South Africa and have just lost the 1 day series 1-4. Scott and I went to Adelaide oval on Australia day to see the 1 dayer. We were “toasted” by the sun as Oz was roasted by the South Africans. Our worst 1 day loss to them ever at home (another record we didn’t want!) We have retained our status as No 1 test nation - just, but are now No 2 in 1 day standings. Our performances do not augur well for our tour of South Africa in February!

Adelaide United needs to win their last game by 2 goals to win Premier Plate. They won 1-0, despite hitting the bar and the post and the goalkeeper straight in the face. He had no idea where the ball was! that meant Melbourne were winners on goals scored. As a Hearts supporter I was taken back to 1965 and 1986. In 1965 Hearts lost championship on last day of season by losing 0-2 at Tynecastle to Kilmarnock, who pipped them on goal average! In 1986 Hearts lost 0-2 to Dundee in last game of season, allowing Celtic, who beat St.Mirren by 5 goals, to win championship on goal difference. A great irony then was that Hearts would have won had it been goal difference in ’65 and would also have won had it been Average in ’86. Still United will be in the finals again with a double chance of qualifying for the Asian Champions League. During the week Australia with basically a reserve side drew with Indonesia in Jakarta in the Asian championship qualifier. A good start to our campaign.

We have quite a busy social and sports filled February ahead of us.

More on that next time.

Till then take care

Eric (article by Eric Ford, Australia)