As I write, we are in the last hour of our Australian summer, tomorrow it is officially Autumn. We might get a drop or two of rain sometime this month. None of us will hold our breath! a leftover from January. Not sure how I left this out.

On our way back from Amglesea we passed through a little Victorian town called Winchelsea, small and a farming country town. On the outskirts is a large mansion (is there any other kind?) Barwon House, built in the mid 60's (1860's that is). The last lady owner lived alone in it's 47 rooms for about 30 years. Only herself and 27 servants!. That is some lifestyle. It is a lovely house now of course under the auspices of the National trust. Fascinating history. But I digress so on to February.

A quiet month for the Fords but quite busy for South OZ and OZ. You will remember that we had a general election in November which Labor (thats how we spell it) won. You do, good! Well Parliament at last sat this month! Who was running the country you may ask. Well it was Mr Rudd our new Prime Minister. No sky falling in yet as I said last month, at least not quite!!!

Australia's Parliament has usually had a normal 4 sitting days - Monday to Thursday - giving members time to get back to their electorates/homes on Friday before returning for Monday mornings. The new PM has decided that the House will now sit on Fridays also. Shock, Horror, Outrage by the Opposition parties (Immediate past Government of course) There was a "rider" to this. There would be no 'Queston Time' and no Ministers present. This extra day would be for Members to raise constituent matters etc. Well, the first sitting was almost anarchic. The PM was in far North Queensland. The house was in uproar and the Opposition turned up with a life size cardboard cutout of the PM. Little business was done as you would imagine, to add to the drama(??) the X foreign Minister - Andrew Downer - went to lunch instead stating " I'd rather be here than listen to that caterwalling Julia Gillard (deputy Prime Minister) creating more uproar. Julia is by the way the daughter of Welsh migrants and was born there but is a South Aussie. Her dad an ex policeman in Wales is now a retired nurse, whom I worked with (is that name dropping?) Ah Politics.

Closer to home, here in Adelaide we had the Clipsal 500. a V8 motor race on the Adelaide street circuit. Motor sport has been enormous here since the early 90's when we first had the F1 Grand Prix, now of course in Melbourne (and due in March). Twenty three years on, with record crowds, we had our first fatality. Ashley Cooper in one of the minor events "hit the wall". Sadly the twenty seven year old lost his battle for life, leaving behind his wife and two children under six years of age. Some brightness in that gloom, Ashley was an organ donor and seven people have a chance at life because of his death. Hale Ashley and thank you.

This month also has seen this years Adelaide Festival and Fringe Festival commence, they are both second only to Edinburgh! Need I say more? Adelaide quite simply is alive and how! The city is electric at the moment. Mind you there are still the curmudgeonly who continue to complain about the interruptions to their lives and schedules!!! None so wierd as folk!

Sporting wise we have had the 'One Day' cricket with India, Sri Lanka and Australia competing in thee triangular series. Australia and India will contest the final three game series. Sri lanka beat Australia tonight in the last qualifier but finished last. It should be such an interesting final as much for what is said off the wicket as the cricket played on it. The series continued on from the Australia/India test series with acrimony, verbal stoushes, prima donna behaviour, suspensions and fines. The teams don't like each other on the field!! Who said cricket was boring?

The National football grand final was played in Sydney, Central Coast and Newcastle the participants. Both teams from New South Wales and almost a local derby. Central finished top of league and Newcastle second, so the best two teams played. Not the best game I've seen and more stoushes at the end. Newcastle won 1-0. However in the second minute of stoppage time the referee and assistant both missed a blatant handball in Newcastle's penalty area. Mayhem ensued as the Central Coast players surrounded the officials. Central goalkeeper was sent off for striking the Referee. It was a 'tap' mind you, and must now serve a 15 month suspension, with 6 months of it also suspended. Ah! Sport and the taking part not the winning being the important thing!!

Australia has also put in a bid for the 2018 World Cup!

On the home front we have been relatively quiet. However it has been expensive. Both our washing machine and our vacuum went 'west" this month. Washing machine caused most distress to Kim. We have, after all, had it for over 20 years! We are now the proud owners of a 'you beaut' front loader, with water economy that gives us at least initially, $200 off our water rates. The new vacuum although, almost as expensive, unfortunately, has no such benefits, but my goodness does it suck!!!

Coming up in March we prepare for the Adelaide Cup - a horse race and a public holiday! Then it is Easter and I am off to Canberra for the National Folk Festival.

More on that next month, Until then, Take Care

Eric

(article by Eric Ford, Australia)