The end of the drought

hello
apologies for the delayed update - due to a stomach bug that we have all had over the last few days which we think Emma picked up from a baby group. Anyway we are all on the mend now so hopefully things will get back to normal. The update wont be as exciting this week as not so much has happened. The main news here has been the weather which properly took a turn for the worst last week. Adelaide has a higher annual rainfall than Manchester but for the last three years they have had <50% of the usual amount and has officially been in drought. However that seemed to change on friday when the heavens opened and it chucked it down for a few days. All the locals we met were delighted commenting how great it was to see rain, unfortunately for us it meant we had to cancel our trip to the Yorke Peninsula which hopefully we'll get to see before we come home (which is 5 weeks today sadly). Thankfully normal service had now resumed, it was 25 degrees today and looking like 30 degrees this weekend.

So what have we done? Not too much really. With Emma poorly her and Dylan didnt get chance to attend the usual baby groups which was a shame as they have all broke up for christmas now. Thankfully Emma has made lots of friends here and her phone is constantly ringing so her and Dylan never seem to be short of things to do. They have a nativity play to go to tomorrow where Dylan will get chance to be in it. Last friday was my christmas party - the bbq by the lake - however as it was raining it was a bit of a sad affair huddled under a marquee. Despite the weather we had a nice weekend though. Saturday we hired a car and explored a few parts of Adelaide that we havent visited before which included the largest shopping centre (surprisingly quiet given the time of year), the beach (for fish and chips) and the worlds largest rocking horse (see pic). The latter is the centrepiece of a wooden toy factory nestled in the Adelaide Hills and was obviously an attempt to draw people out of the city to visit - and it worked. They even had a free wildlife park with albino kangeroos (see pic). We took the scenic route back to the city along the windy mountain roads and experienced what it is like to have a child with travel sickness for the first time (projectile vomiting!). On Sunday we also did quite a bit - visited the street markets, went to a rap festival (dylan wasnt keen), took a boat trip down the river torrens, went swimming and then went to the picnic and carols in the park event which was at the end of the street. The picnic was actually really nice. Emma noticed that there is a real sense of community here which is not something we have had anywhere before. People are certainly more friendly here than back home. We got talking to lots of people and overall the event had a real nice feel to it. Mick-me (Santa) turned up and Dylan seemed to have got over his fear this time (see pic), although perhaps it was because this was the most laid back Santa ever who also gave out free chocolates. Dylan has learnt a few more words this week but the best by far was 'ho ho ho' whenever he sees anything christmassy even tinsel. He has been entertaining lots of people in the local shopping centre by running round shouting 'ho ho ho' all the time.

So that's all the news really, told you not so much has happened. Even though we still have 5 weeks to go things feel a little different now with talk of home more and more common. It still doesnt feel that christmassy here. There are lots of christmas decorations in public but it seems most people dont really decorare their houses with lights or trees. There is also hardly any mention of it on TV. In fact potentially christmas might be a little strange here. Not sure what we are doing yet but it seems sadly as if the bbq on the beach could be an urban myth! Someone told us the beaches are deserted on xmas day. We are hoping to pick up the campervan on christmas eve so then we'll at least be able to explore a little. It seems most aussies have a bbq (tutkey and seafood) at home with family. We have a few things lined up for this week though. I have my departmental seminar on friday and then Emma has her mums night out on saturday night. Then on Sunday it is Carols by Candlelight when 40 000 people gather in the park by the river with the symphony orchestra for carols. Not sure what that will be like, especially since it doesnt start until 8pm and we'll have Dylan with us but we plan to check it out. Anyway we'll report back on that next week in what might be the last blog for a bit. At least probably until the new year. You never know I might convince Emma to write next weeks one as a 'guest blogger'. Might also use next week to deliver our annual christmas message :) So until next time Bye The Mooneys xxx

PS feel free to leave us a christmas message below !