PIES, WINE, BRUNO & CHARLENE

Apologies for the delay in updating the blog, there are two reasons for this, 1/ it is my turn (DAN) and I have been side tracked by all the goings on which is 2/.

So let’s rewind to the last time you lucky people were updated about our escapades. The good news is that we have started drinking now and had our first night in Adelaide on Saturday. It was for our friend Philly’s birthday and a lot of alcohol was consumed and good fun was had by all, I am actually writing this update from the toilet as I have the runs!

The first story is about our new house. For those of you who are aware of how our life works, it generally happens around drink or food. On this occasion it was food and in particular the pie (yes, even back in Aus I am still the pie master). So we spent Thursday 7th June searching for houses, they were either to expensive or to far from the beach or just plain rubbish, then it was lunchtime and we went for a pie in Semaphore. We got chatting the nice lady behind counter, “Two Steak Pies please and a recommendation on a house for rent, about $295 a week, 146.26 metres to the beach, nice wooden floors and a lovely front garden, plus can it be near to public transport”. Believe it or not the Pie Lady new exactly the place and recommended us a nice place she used to own. So off we trott to the realestate agents and book a viewing and low and behold it is available and we are suitable tenants and we moved in on the 16th June So the moral of this story is that Pies are healthy for you!



Now we needed a car. Where better to find a car than through a friend. A classic old banger (Toyota Corona for all you car connoisseurs) that has done very low kilometreage (they use Kilometres here, so I made a new word up). Becks had done all the arrangements and then announced that we had to do a 4 hour coach journey to pick it up (about the same distance as going from London to Newcastle)! Great, so we had a road trip on our hands. We got up early on Saturday morning and caught the bus to the coach station where we joined the local inhabitants of Port Augusta on a trip north, mmm what a lovely looking bunch they were. As seats are pre allocated we had the joyous position of sitting opposite the local tramps and what a delightful odour detramp they had, a mix of tropical fruit juice, stale bread, unwashed, cigarette smoke and of course the classic finishing touch of stale beer. And off we went. The scenery and views were stunning all the way up, especially as we neared the Flinders Range which will be somewhere to explore later on. We reached Port Adelaide and were met by the owner of the car (Philly’s boyfriends sister) Sue. She was wicked fun and gave us a cup of tea and a detailed history of the car. 3 owners, air con fitted (woo hoo), slight oil leak and an 80’s tape collection. Now the 80’s is a significant time for both of us as it was our growing up years so what better name to give the car than an 80’s institution… Neighbours and in particular Charlene, yes we have named the car Charlene after the one and only Kylie Minogue character. 31/2 hrs later and Charlene had done well in getting us back to our Bed & Breakfast.

The first trip in Charlene had been good fun; the second was to be even better as it involved food & wine! We headed south to the McLaren Vale for the Sea & Vine festival. Basically an excuse to have a big drinking session and lots of fantastic food, you have got to love the aussie attitude towards life. The first vineyard we came to was Wirra Wirra wine estate and we left $60 lighter and a little tipsy (sadly Becks was unable to drink as she was driving as I had conviently left my drivers licence in the UK). Next we went to the Information Centre in McLaren Vale so that Becks could get her designated driver badge which turned out to be a bonus as it entitled us to 20% off wine at some of the vineyards (we now only visited those who offered this discount; see marketing really does work). We had lunch at Woodstock Vineyard which did a really nice Riesling so we purchased a bottle of that, plus they were doing some great food offers. I had the classic battered Whiting & chips and Becks had seafood paella, plus some further wine sampling. Another 4 vineyards later, $200 dollars spent and Dan now slightly drunk and Becks very sober we headed back home. The really nice thing about the day was that everyone was relaxed and friendly, nobody gave any agro and the service was fantastic, god we love living here! Plus all these vineyards are only 40min drive from our house. If anyone comes over and stays from the UK you must go there.

Becks has cleverly got herself a job and I am debating on whether to become a kept man. She starts work next Monday at the City of Charles Sturt working as a Community Engagement Officer (I have no idea what that means, but sounds good, guess you go around the community getting people engaged, a bit like Blind date used to be). Hopefully things will work out and all will be fine, although she did have to do a Pysco test (I could of told them how Pysco she is) so we will see if that affects her future development.

The other good news is that we have another new addition to the family alongside Charlene. Bruno has joined us, he comes from Barbeques Galore in Mile End and is an absolute beauty. He has four big burners (lit by flame throwers), a side burner and the nicest silver hood you have ever seen. We have already cooked some amazing food on him and we hope that at some point you will all have the opportunity to do the same.

A reflective piece
We have done so much and have finally got rid of the jet lag, life here is hard as you can imagine but we will struggle on.

That’s the update for the moment; keep tuned Becks & Dan fans for more fun and frolics as we settle in.

P.s. We went and saw the Adelaide Crows which was wicked, although they didn’t allow you take alcohol to your seat, very selfish of them I felt and the Crows lost, but still a wicked game and thanks to our hosts the Schatt family