The month started off more or less (at least for me) with Father's Day. I did very well. I am now the owner of a digital camera. My previous (and still a taker of very good photos') has been almost consigned to the scrapheap. I say almost, because I am comfortable with it and know how to operate it. Who cares if, in the words of Lauren, "Dad, thats prehistoric, get rid of it!" I wrestle with the technology of the digital age (and usually lose two falls to nil!). The TV remote has me puzzled but I will persevere! It is a very nice camera after all and was bought for me for the right reason. It was a good day and the camera was only part of it. Lauren decided that apart from the camera the perfect Father's Day for me was to take her, a friend, and Kim to the Royal Show. I have to admit that 'perfect' from my point of view was slightly different. The girls at the Show yes, but me, perfect would have been home alone watching the football! I have to say though, that it turned out to be a really nice day for us all. Lauren and Kelsey (her friend) went off, with instructions to keep in touch via mobile phone, while Kim and I enjoyed the day wandering. The weather was fine, mainly sunny but not too hot and there was of course lots to see. I will not mention the cost. It still frightens me what teenage girls can spend without it must be said, even trying. However, the day was worth it. Next year though, perhaps I will have a say as to what constitutes perfect for me!

The weather this month has been as usual 'intereting'. It has ben the wettest September for quite some years but also it has been the mildest overnight for years also. Sydney and large parts of New South Wales and Brisbane and Queensland were "Redded' out by the worst dust storms since October 2002. Planes were diverted. Ferries stopped sailing on Sydney harbour. Up to 75000 tonnes of dust an hour was blown into the harbour!!! In 2002, it was estimated that the winds stripped 4million tonnes of soil off the land. This months' will be worse. Particle concentrations in Sydney, on a clear day are 20-30 micrograms per cubic metre. During the storm the maximum concentration was 15,366mg/cm!! this may or may not surprise you. Joggers were still out getting their endorphin kicks. That despite all the health warnings. Nowt say daft as some folk!!! The stripping of so much topsoil has of course increased the problems of farmers and stockmen.

Politics as usual, played a large part in the month. Our Kevin was busy, being here, there and everywhere, especially at the G20 meetings and the climate summit. Closer to home he displayed a couple of faces. Depicted as a reasonable man, a churchgoer and a listener, he lost his cool with some of his back benchers and party faction leaders. They had the temerity to disagree with his policy on carbon emissions and how to deal with them. Had them in his office for a explanation. The air, it is said, was totally blue. The "F' word was used extensively by him "You F#@&%* better listen". "What the F+*^% do you think you are up to" this side of his personality has been exposed before of course. Did not do a lot for him with the voters. The other side of Kevin was displayed during the football finals. I have a suspicion that it would only happen in Australia, Brisbane (Qld) were playing the Bulldogs (Vic). It was a live telecast on Channel 7, they had organised Kevin and Julia Gillard (deputy Prime Minister) to support their teams. With scarves etc., cheer them on and exhort support. This on National Television. As I said, I think only in OZ!!

On Sport the SFL finals have come and gone. The Crows made it through one round. Scott and I got to that game. We enjoyed it. They, however, managed more to lose than Collingwood win the next game. Back to "there's always next year for us"!!! Geelong beat St. Kilda in the Grand Final. It was a "proper" final game. The top two teams played off, in what turned out to be a classic. Two goals the margin. Geelong had ben behind all day except when it counted! St.Kilda going for only their second Premiership in over a hundred years. Geelong won for the second time in two. Here in Adelaide, Centrals (my team) play Sturt (on the 4th October) in the Grand Final. It will be Centrals 10th appearance in the final this century. They have won 7 since 2000. Sturt won in 2002 to halt Centrals1. A little payback needed, I will let you know the result next time.

Back for a moment to the weather (perhaps politics too). I did mention that it has been reasonably rainy this month here in Adelaide. We are still on grade 3 water restrictions. Can only water gardens for a few hours with hand held hoses a couple of times a week for example, Mt. Bold our largest reservoir was getting quite full. Answer? Let around 4 and a 1/2 million gigalitres of water over the slipway to the sea!!!! Ah a wonderful place.

The City Coucil is in a dispute, of sorts, with Wrigleys. Apparently it costs Adelaide around $200,000 per annum to clean chewing gum off the streets! They want Wrigleys' to help defray the cost or they may ban the sale of chewing gum in the city! We are also in the middle of "Pandamomium". No, not a wrong spelling. Adelaide Zoo, in about 70 days, will become the home of two Pandas'. There is great anticipation and all sorts of ideas to financially support them. I think, a cost in the millions of dollars to keep, has been mooted. They will be a tiourist attraction and attract dollars which is a good offset. Anothet touristy attraction has just run its course. The "Bay to Birdwood" vintage and veteran carr rally took place on the last weekend of the month. Hundreds of cars drove from Glenelg to the National Motor Museum in Birdwood in the hills. A wonderful sight. The "City to Bay" fun run was also this month. Over 20,000 runners, walkers etc., ran or walked the 12 kilometres form Parlaiment house to the Bay.

On an "isn't the world a small place" note to finish. I employed a young German couple (on working holday) to do some gardening. They were telling me about the house they were staying in while in Adelaide. Their landlord? A Scotsman! not only a scotsman, but a man who trained with me in Edinburgh!!! I did know he lived here, and, in fact worked in the same hospital as him for some time. A small world indeed.

Until next time
Eric

(Article by Eric Ford, Australia)