When I left you last month we were preparing for Joyce's funeral. It was a very heavy occasion, but we got through it. The Celebrant who conducted the service was just so right in everything he did. He caught the mood and Joyce perfectly. This helped Tracey and Scott to get through it. It was very well attended, to show the affection in which Joyce was held by many.

It has been diffficult since then especially for Tracey. She found it hard to leave for Edinburgh. Saying goodbye at the airport was so hard. It is more difficult for her althouh she has wonderful support over there.

My sister has had her first Chemotherapy and has coped well, but' and whisper this -- her hair is starting to fall out. On a peice of nicer news Emily (my oldest sister) arrived today 31st for 6 to 7 weeks. We will all enjoy that.

Sports wise it has been a good month mainly. Tonight the Crows play in a must win match to keep their season alive. Win, and they are in the Finals. Lose, and it is mothballs 'til next season. Their inspirational captain has announced his retirement, so this could be his last game. Hope not! The Power are at the moment second. Win this weekend and they have home finals to look forward to. They beat the top side away last week in a thriller. That game and their previous game, they won by scoring in the last few seconds! Just enough time to restart game then blow for time. Cutting it fine indeed ! Adelaide Utd. won the Preseason Cup. Their next game is against Sydney who include World Cup winner Juninho in their line up.

Still on a sporting thought, Australia has been hit by Equine Flu. This has led to the cancellation of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival and is threatening the Melbourne Cup. The famous Birdsville race meet in outback OZ, (dirt tracks and people flying in from all over) will see the population increase from its usual 15 to 30 to thousand for the weekend. The meet will go ahead, but, without horses!!! Who needs a horse at a race meet to have a good time. Certainly not Outback OZ!.

On a serious note equine flu is bad for the industry. Jockeys can't work, betting companies can't operate. There is a major economic effect. The Federal government has set up a multi million $'s fund to assist. We also have a 'drugs in sport' problem as do most countries I suppose. Elite sportspeople seem to think that they are immune from the laws that operate for us. The latest scandal involves the AFL. Someone "found" medical records of 2 players and sold them for $3000 to channel 7. The records were from a drug rehabilitation clinic. Channel 7 broadcast the story. Named the club but not the players. Outrage followed. How dare they publish private medical records! I can see the ethics in that, but remember no names mentioned! The "finders" have been charged with "theft by finding"! Channel 7 is being boycotted by the players and their association. Little attention being given to the fact that footballers in the elite sports competition in the country are on hard drugs! The AFL drugs policy is regarded with derision in most parts of the country. Channel 7 by the way is the major broadcaster of the code having paid in the region of $780 million for 5 years!

We approach Spring. Saturday the 1st September is officially first day of it. Yesterday the 30th here in South Australia the temperature was 30.4. Total fire bans all over the State! Still Winter and the hottest August day on record. Who mentioned Global Warming? More stringent water restrictions are now in place. We still are drought stricken after all.

Lauren-Jane will be riding tomorrow. She is looking forwrd to her week long Guide camp in September. We are off to Kim's brother's engagement party tomorrow. Formal masked event, out comes the kilt again. It will be a good night, but will it rival Kim's 50th? I'll tell you next month!

Until then-Take Care

Eric

(article by Eric Ford, Australia)