Three years in Adelaide

[Sankari]

So, we've been here for three years. Time for an update. Let's start with some photos of the garden, to prove I do actually put the work in when there's no way to escape it.

Pruned half-dead bottlebrush out the front to assist the new growth coming up:

Brutalised bougainvillea to restore side gate access:

Mowed front and rear lawns to give superficial appearance of respectability:

 

[Sankari]

These photos are more recent; taken just a few days ago. The grass is drying out, but the vine has come alive!

Bottlebrush is blooming:

I transplanted this tree from the flower box. It was little more than a bare 30cm stalk at the time, with a small horizontal twig on the side. After a few months, the twig dropped off!

Great to see it flourishing now.

 

[Sankari]

In May I finally got around to removing the old oil heater from our lounge. We replaced it with an electric heater:

 

[Sankari]

From late May to early June I spent two and a half weeks in Sidney, Texas, where I had been invited to lead a weekend church retreat and a series of public Bible study classes. These were all well attended.

The congregation generously paid for my flight, and I was accommodated at the ranch of a local family, who raise beef cattle:

Highlights of the trip included a Texas Rangers baseball game in Arlington, where I shouted helpful advice to the players, such as 'Hit the ball with the stick!'

Sidney has a population of ~400. The closest population centre is Comanche, with population of ~4,000.

More Texas photos here.

 

[Sankari]

Texans are famously hospitable, and will ensure your room is equipped with essentials. In my case this included five firearms:

I used all of them during my visit, and even managed to kill a snake which was crawling up the driveway:

When a Texan asks 'Would you like a steak?' what he really means is 'Would you like me to cut the ends off a cow, pass it under the grill for 30 seconds, and whack it on a plate?'

In Texas there's no such thing as 'too big.' This is particularly the case with their cars:

My hosts have a tornado shelter, which looks suspiciously like something out of a horror movie:

Some of the local customs are intriguing:

 

[Sankari]

In September we spent a weekend at Port Hughes with some friends. It was the first proper break we've had together since we arrived in Australia.

We stayed in a holiday house owned by a member of our friends' extended family. It has a great location, right by the beach!

 

[Sankari]

Here's Pup modelling a pretty handmade ensemble. It was a present from my Texan hosts:

Still a little bit big for her, but she's growing into it. Notice the Texas Rangers cap!

 

[Sankari]

Wibbly Pig takes a business call during brunch:

Wibbly Pig helps himself to my dinner:

 

[Sankari]

This was our bargain of the last 12 months: a Miele W830 washer for £186!

15 years old, but still in fantastic condition. Superbly economical and washes like a boss.

 

[Azza]

3 years on and I bet you've still not sorted out that jacuzzi!


Veg garden looks very good! Is that a cat?

 

[Raymond Lin]

You have a drive through in your house !

 

[Megahurtz400]

I may have a lot of questions for you in the next 6 months, planning on spending a year or two on a working holiday visa in Oz starting next year! Probably Sydney though

 

[Sankari]

3 years on and I bet you've still not sorted out that jacuzzi!

Au contraire, we had a blast with it last summer:

I'll be firing it up again very soon!

Veg garden looks very good! Is that a cat?

Yep, we brought her over from the UK.

 

[Sankari]

You have a drive through in your house !

I may have a lot of questions for you in the next 6 months, planning on spending a year or two on a working holiday visa in Oz starting next year! Probably Sydney though

Can't tell you much about Sydney (never been there) but I can probably answer a few emigration-related questions.

 

[Azza]

Au contraire, we had a blast with it last summer:

Incredible, shocked you sorted it out!

 

[Ephemera]

Wow very nice photos.

In your second post 1st photo is that a Redtwig Dogwood? The Colour looks immense.

 

[Uncle Petey]

Looks great out there.

How bout dem spiders?

 

[Sankari]

Wow very nice photos.

In your second post 1st photo is that a Redtwig Dogwood? The Colour looks immense.

Nope, Redtwig Dogwood is native to the US. I don't think we even have it in Australia. In the middle of that photo you can see our veggie patch, which is bristling with silverbeet and other stuffs.

The rest of the garden consists of bottlebrush, glory vine, hydrangeas, jasmine, etc.

Looks great out there.

How bout dem spiders?

Kill on sight. I don't even bother to identify them.

 

[Ephemera]

Nope, Redtwig Dogwood is native to the US. I don't think we even have it in Australia. In the middle of that photo you can see our veggie patch, which is bristling with silverbeet and other stuffs.

The rest of the garden consists of bottlebrush, glory vine, hydrangeas, jasmine, etc.





Kill on sight. I don't even bother to identify them.

Ahh ok thanks, thought it was odd to have a dogwood in the middle of a veggie patch

 

[OliP]

I begin my journey to Adelaide, Seaton to be specific this afternoon. I am flying Heathrow > changi > adelaide, I should get there at 9:10 am local time Friday. My mum moved out there with her boyfriend last month, she is a nurse in Adelaide. I am going on a 417 working holiday visa and I plan to spend 10 months in aus before returning home and deciding what to do with my life! I am a bit nervous traveling all that way on my own, I hope I don't do something stupid like miss a flight! I have a 10 hour wait in changi which will be a killer! So in my first few weeks of being in Adelaide is there anything major you reccomend doing? I will post again in changi to pass some time