Xmas is too hot to be Xmas

I am not sure I am ever going to get used to Xmas in 40 degree heat, salad for Xmas lunch, swimming in the pool or on the beach. On the other hand my entire family now looks like a herd of anti-Rudolph's as we carefully applied the zinc cream to our noses to avoid the dreaded skin cancer. Needless to say, these are now the only things not bright red on our tight, dry and very hot ex-pat faces.

Luckily there was one thing that brought back the feeling of being truely English, the England Cricket Collapse. Its a strange experience being a pom in Oz during the Ashes. You have pride in your team but watching the match is like picking at a very large scab in an
extremely sensitive place. It starts out like you are not going to get hurt, then the first bit comes of, then a bit more and eventually the whole thing comes away leaving you sore and bleeding again. Of course you know it will grow back in a few days and you can start again. In this test England were all out for 159 and Australia all out for ~120, oh except for the two guys who scored 300 between them.

The only other thing that makes me realise this is actually Xmas, apart of course from the bizarre phenomenon of fat Aussies in hot Santa outfits, sweating over small children, is the number of 'celebrities' who just have to kick the bucket at this time of the year. These are people who are so into their own self-infatuation, they die at this time of the year in a vain attempt to ruin Xmas for everyone in one last grab at the headlines. Still it has not been a good crop this year, Gerald Ford, Marmaduke Hussy and James Brown (so far), 2 destined for the elevator going down maybe?

I return to Adelaide in the new year. At this stage I may have a room mate or I may not. Isn't life full of exciting possibilities.

Be safe

First post

OK

This is my first go at blogging which is probably the most common first sentence in blogging history. It is slightly strange because this blog is about being away from home and living in Adelaide and yet I am actually at home in Perth at the moment, back for Xmas. Well you have to start somewhere.

I have been in Adelaide on an off for nearly 2 months now. It seems longer as I live in a rented property by myself and the time drags like an orangutan's hands. My family meanwhile live at our main home in Perth. Adelaide is probably very nice and the people I know certainly are.

This blog will serve as a record of my voyage of discovery, of life in Adelaide and beyond, that is not confined to the Belgian Beer Cafe, nice though this place is (I have been there 5 times so far). It will encompass trips to the US, attempts to get a kebab somewhere within cycling distance of Marden and those periods when no matter how hungry you are, you just can't be bothered cooking and have to settle for KFC (only 400 yds from the house)

I would like to acknowledge my friend who wishes to remain anonymous who has, in no small way, inspired me to write this. His writings on Farmer Ted's Porch are funny and a great read. Bill Bryson beware.

Let the journey commence.