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Scotland4me.net 
'Thoughts from Abroad'

 

Eric Ford's New Life

in Australia cont'd

Map of Australia

September is a month of memories for me. My Dad's birthday the 2nd, my Mum passed away the 26th (5 years ago) so an important month for remembering. That brings up another "cost" of migration. Most people grow up having (hopefully) a loving relationship with their parents and siblings. The structure is there, I'm a kid and your my Dad/Mum. As we kids grow, mature and marry (if thats what we do) the relationship somehow metamorphises into, we are still parent/child but we become adult equals and hopefully friends.

If you move 10,000 miles away and see each other every 4 or 5 or even more years, that change does not occur. When you get together for a few weeks at a time, it is intense and good, and with us, time for an arguement or three. So you tend to still retain the parent/child structure in many ways. I miss the fact that Mum and dad and I did not get to "mateship". That does not mean that we did not have a reaslly good relationship, the same applies to my sisters who remaimed in the UK. Margaret was only 10 when I migrated, she is accutely aware, as I am, of what we both have missed in her, and our growth and development as brother and sister. Having said that it must be said that coming home, or the family coming out to OZ is just marvellous and as I said very intense whilst together.

September is important here for other reasons. It is officially the start of Spring, which of course heralds the start of finer weather. Although it must be said we have had a dry, and for the main, cool winter. Only about half our usual rainfall, which in "The driest state in the driest continent" is a bit of a worry. September also heralds the "Royal Show" (Similar to The show at Ingliston, Edinburgh) although I believe that is in doubt due to airport extension). The Show runs for a week and is an extravaganza of Agricultural activities and of course the "Rides" which bring back memories of the "shows' as we callerd them opposite the church on Pennywell Road, Edinburgh next to the Store. Now of course no longer there. I think it is part of Craigroyston school now.

We are also debating, well politicians have decided, that we need to extend the tramline. We have a tram that runs from the City centre to the Glenelg Beach suburb, that is a bit if a tourist icon. The Government wants to extend it through the main street (King William) and down North Terrace. Not sure why. It is not a popular idea and there are free city loop buses serving the area! Many more important things to do with that sort of money!

Adelaide, it perhaps should be explained, was built as a square about a mile long each side bounded by North, South, East and West terraces.,It has of course expanded since the 1840's. The city itself is still that large square, bounded on the outside of the terraces by parkland. The parklands have a Horseracing "Circuit" which did double for the Grand Prix motor race when Adelaide had it, and now hosts the "Clipsal 500" a four day extravaganza of saloon car racing. There is also the horseriding four day event. I believe, one of only 2 outside of the Badminton Horse Trials that is a four star event. The highest rating which takes place in November.

Adelaide is serviced by at least 5 telvision stations plus satelite/cable channels. The TV programmes are local although part of Australian wide groups. We also have 10/12 local radio stations, so well provided for. That was one of the things that struck me when we first arrived here, such great local content in news. When I left Scotland of course, apart from the "Pirate" radio stations, there was little if any local radio etc. Times have changed for the better in that regard. I thought it marvellous to see and hear someone in Adelaide talking of what was happening in Adelade with knowedge, rather than someone talking 500 hundred miles away.

September is also "Finals" time in the Football. Adelaide, my team are second on the ladder 'The top 8' play off in a complicated fashion culminating in the "Grand Final". We are in a rough patch at the moment having lost four of the last five games and we lost local derby this week. However hope springs eternal, we will improve. At least the Hearts won.

Until next time.

(article by Eric Ford, Australia)

Socceroos

Glenelg Beach

Clipsal 500

Show rides in Adelaide

©Scotland4me.net2006