As we left last month we were organising to head off to Bali for two weeks. Well we went, we enjoyed, we are home! Would that everyone would describe their holidays so, and no swag of photo's!!! Sorry there is more, but I think that you may have suspected that.

Our flight was unremarkable and quite smooth, 4 and a 1/2 hours. Bali is hot and humid. The resort was very nice, the rooms comfortable. There is a constant cacophony of car horns, street traders and music from the stalls as you walk along the street. The traders are quietly insistent but in the main oh so polite. They take 'no' quite equably usually. We did strike a couple who were quite aggressive. They apparently were Javanese not Balinese. Kim was soon quite well known around the markets closest to our hotel. She is after all a shopper! "Mr Eric" was the cry "where is your wife?" It must be said that she shopped wisely and well. Most of our Christmas shopping is done!

The people are generally so pleasnt and laid back always ready with a smile and a greeting. The hotel staff especially so. Security was evident but did not interfere with activity. Lauren jet skied. Kim para sailed I (chicken) kept my feet on the ground!!! We managed to ride an elephant, well two between us, which was just so good an experience. Most dealing is done by bargaining of course and prices are cheap. We managed to get a 'drive' whose partner came from Adelaide so we were well looked after in that regard. We visited the sites of the bombing. That was for all of us, a moving moment, as I knew the mother of one of the victims. An interesting sidelight. The hotel had an Irish pub!! First in Bali they said. It had live music and if you haven't heard "Wild Rover" or "Whisky in the Jar' or "Fields of Athenry" by Balinese bands--well!!!!! seriously they were very good. Remember the name "Gracie Kelly's" if you go to Bali. The food was very good too.

The one downside actually happened when we got home, Lauren-Jane told us she had left her mobile phone behind. We have spoken to the hotel but no trace. The insurance claim is in! So that was us home tired but happy as they say. We did have a lovely time and did much more (of course ) than has been mentioned. We will be back.

It had rained quite well in Adelaide while we were away. In fact we have had a reasonable amount since we came home, enough anyway, to make cutting the grass difficult (whew, thank goodness!) What did not change was politics. You will remember last month that the South Australian Leader of the Opposition was in deep trouble due to ill advised use of documents which proved to be fake. Would you believe it happened again but this time in the National Parliament. Malcolm Turnbull the Leader of the Opposition cited an Email which involved Kevin07 in trying to get favours for a car dealer mate.The Email purported to come from Kevin's office to a Treasury official. It also involved the Treasurer, Wayne Swan. Trouble is it is a forgery. "Resign you are unfit for office"cried Malcolm, "Resign you are more unfit" riposted Kevin. Lots of slanging and name calling has taken place over the last week or so in Canberra.

Turnbull has been damaged certainly, so has Swan to an extent. The Treasurer had more of a case to answer with evidence that Emails and faxes about the dealers troubles went to his home. That would appear to have been a better path for the Opposition to follow. Incidentally, it came out during this fracas that Kevin used as a "mobile election office" during campaigns loaned to him by this car dealer (who in fact is his neighbour) and that Wayne Swan travelled about 50k's to buy a car from him. The affair now has a name----Utegate. It has to be said that there are at the moment far more important matters affecting Australia than Utegate. Edifying as far as politics and Politicians the last week or so has not been. I suppose it is the nature of the beast.

We went to a 40th Birthday party last weekend. It was at a place called Yumali about 150k's heading toward Melbourne from here. Fancy dress. I was Dracula 'make no inference from that please'. Kim was the "Victim" and Lauren a Devil (some typecasting there!). We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast at Monteith. Very nice and it had horses! Lauren had a ride on a beautiful show horse $12,000 to buy. She enjoyed the whole weekend! Before I forget she also left her (new) phone charger behind!!!!! Sound familiar? It has been recovered I'm glad to say. She had been spoken to at length about care and responsibilty but she is a teenager.

It has been an interesting month in sport. Australia qualified for the World Cup Finals. I watched the game in Bali! The Crows have won 5 in a row. Power have lost as many and are in financial trouble and just reapponted their coach for two years. At a lower salary! Adelaide United have signed 5 new players. They have also encouraged people to maintain or become members with what I think is a good thing the Friday shout (most home games are on Friday nights). Free entry to a game for 4 of your friends. I have already rejoined and picked the game for my friends to see. The big one - Melbourne in September. Should be a cracker.

The last weekend of the month brought Birthdays for both Kim and I. Mine a special one and 'no' I shall not tell exactly which one. So there! We had a family dinner at the Rob Roy hotel on Sunday. I had beautiful Anderson's Haggis and on Monday, lunch at the Earl with two friends. Lots of lovely pressies for both of us. For some reason I got admirable quantities of various single malts. We have, in this life of ours in Adelaide, really wonderful friends. We are very privileged indeed.

Until next time, Take care
Eric

(article by Eric Ford, Adelaide, Australia)