Winter Weather

Well, in the midst of our South Australian winter, the forecast for today is someehing like 27 degrees! And tomorrow, it's back to 16 degrees.....,

It's amazing how a bit of sunshine affects people's moods, just waking up to a blue sky makes it easier somehow to get out of bed, and DD went happily off to her last school soccer match of the season this morning at 8:30, while we have DS's match later on today at 12. Once we've got those activities out of the way, it's tempting to head for the beach for a walk with the dog to make the most of the weather.

One of the great things for me about living here is the knowledge that we will definitely get a summer every year - perhaps it's a uniquely British thing to obsess so much about weather, but I have to say it still gives me a small boost to read in the International papers about the English summer being a washout again...sorry, if you happen to be reading this in the UK, but I can't help a small gloat!

Adelaide - unlike (so I'm told) places like Queensland - does actually have a distinct Winter season, although of course 15 degrees here feels cold now, and we very rarely have frost (although it does happen occasionally, specially in the hills), but in my opinion, that just makes it so much better when Spring does arrive. And of course, the sun and the heat themselves can be negatives: many's the time at the start of the soccer season here when kids' practices have been cancelled because it's too hot. As someone whose fingers go blue at the slightest hint of coldness though, all I can see about the summer here is "Bring it on!"

Off now to soak up some heat....

Am I a bad parent?

While OH was away recently on his family visit to the UK, I got chatting to the parent of one of DS's friends, and she mentioned that a series called TrueBlood had been made based on the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris.

Well, I've read the books: they're fairly light reading as far as vampire stuff goes, good characters, nothing too highbrow, and certainly not anything I'd hesitate to let my 14 year old daughter read. So I trot along to the video hire shop, ask if they have the series on DVD, get handed Series 1, Disk 1, and head home for some escapism viewing.

What I didn't do (and should have, I guess!) is check the rating. After sitting down with 12 year old son and 14 year old daughter to watch the first disk, I could quite easily see how this series was given an R18+ rating!! Not being greatly into censorship, and believing that actually violence is more damaging than nudity and sex scenes, I didn't leap up and turn off the TV; in fact the three of us had a good laugh about some of the graphic "vamp sex" scenes, and I discovered that my 12 year old son probably already knows an awful lot more than I'd have guessed!!


Anyway, once we'd watched the first three episodes on Disk 1, it seemed silly not to watch the rest, so we've now watched all of the first series! Does that make me a really bad mother? I'm actually really adamant that DS can't play Grand Theft Auto on his Playstation, and that's because having seen a bit of it, I felt the whole tone was crass and abusive of women, whereas apart from the sex scenes, Trueblood actually has a fairly high moral level, with strong female and male role models. On the violence front, there's a fair bit of blood spattering around at times, but I think the whole vampire angle makes it less realistic, and certainly it's not glorified in any way (like it seems to be on GTA from what I've seen).

DS's school have just sent home a note saying they're doing some sex education in the coming weeks for Years 6 and 7 - (although I've been told adamantly I have to refer to it as Growth and Development, not sex ed!) - I kind of think it's a bit late! Show 'em all Trueblood, and discuss!!

Beware the Magpies!

Noticed a few magpies collecting grass for nests today, so it won't be long before they turn into Birds to Beware!

When they're nesting, these huge black and white birds, with wicked-looking beaks, turn into ferocious agressive missiles, dive-bombing unsuspecting walkers, cyclists - they even attack the dog! Many's the time when I've been very glad to be carrying the ball-thrower in my hand, as something to wave at them when they swoop threateningly towards me.

You have been warned.....!!!!

Barossa Wine Tasting Tour

With the famous Barossa Wine Region right on our doorstep, it's one of the first places we take visitors. However, that means that despite several visits, I've always had the driving responsibility, and never been able to fully taste and test in the past. Decided to reward myself for 'keeping the fort' while OH was away with family in the UK, by organising a small tour of the wineries - with driver and minibus - for some of us expat girls, so yesterday, on a glorious sunny day after a week or grey and rainy ones, 13 of us and a dog set off to eat and drink our way around a few selected wineries.

The minibus company (Des's Minibus) was a great choice - not only for their prices, but also because Valerie in the office there was such a great help with sorting out the itinerary, suggesting venues, and making all the calls to book us in. We had a vague idea of where we wanted to go, but she pulled it all together for us. Our driver on the day, Sue, was also great - very experienced and knowledgable - and fitted in with the group just fine.

We started with coffee and cakes at Lyndoch Bakery, and then visited Rockford Wines, (love their 'Alicante' rosé) Turkey Flat Wines (great artwork on the walls, and another ex-pom - from Reading - to serve us!) and Langmeil Wines (fantastic sparkling shiraz!) before a lunch stop at the Tanunda Hotel, and then more winetasting at Seppeltsfield (woonderful range of fortified wines), then food tasting at Maggie Beer's. The day just flew: great company, some interesting wines, fantastic weather and scenery - just great fun! And we didn't even get banned from anywhere!! Brontë, Guide Dog in Training, was a hit everywhere and the quietest of all the girls!

Hopefully nobody had a headache at the end of the day - although for the first time in ages, when OH offered me a glass of wine with dinner, my response wasn't quite as enthusiastic as normal (but I still had one....)