Day 3

Here at last in Adelaide! The colours of the red bottlebrush are in bloom everywhere! Such a riot of green and red in the trees...

Getting here was another matter. After leaving our day hotel, we made our way to LAX and then through security to the departure lounge 23A (Air NZ). Paula went shopping for one of our hosts in Duty Free. Fortunately I remembered that there would be a second security barrier to pass in Auckland, and she was able to get a refund.

We had our boarding passes reissued so our frequent flyer miles would be noted, and then lined up for pre-boarding. I thought that I could walk to the jetway, but a look at the long corridor said otherwise, and called for a wheelchair. So I was wheeled down in style where I then staggered to the Premium Economy seating. Got to say that Air NZ gives great meals, but their new seats are less than intuitive. I managed to get some sleep but both Paula and Lesley reported none. The evidence of my eyes as I went to the loo a couple of times suggested otherwise, but they remain adamant. Speaking of loos, the one on my side was the usual compressed job where you have to insert oneself in carefully, but apparently on Lesleys side there was enough space to hold a party there. Love their Boeing 777s.

The flight was delayed by 45 minutes leaving LAX due to runway repair (not Obama's AF1), so it was a hectic connection to the Adelaide flight in Auckland, with assistance from the extra security checkpoint. I was in a wheelchair and tried to stand up to walk through the scanner, and got a dose of the wobbles and had to be hand wanded in the chair. But we were at the gate and with another wheelie first on the plane, and takeoff for the Airbus 320 was on time at 8.00 am.
Consider this the morning of 4 breakfasts. Just too much! But we arrived early despite headwinds, and I got to see Glenelg from the air, as well at the Adelaide Oval under renovations. More wheelchairs, luggage retrieval, then we met Vincent, the beagle sniffer. The three of us were placed in an area on our ownsomes while Vincent (resplendent in his red jacket) gave us the once and twice-over. He accomplished this with great aplomb and dignity.

Then outside to where we were greeted by Christopher, my brother. Off to Semaphore where I am staying, and we had fish (gar) and chips - A Friday staple in the old days, washed down with Coopers Pale Ale (a new addition). I was fading by then, so was dropped off at the presbytery where I gathered some 2 hours of wool before Brian arrived. We had a chinwag, then out for supper and an evening of chewing through where we have been all these years.

It is now 11.00 pm, a time when my bod belongs in bed.

Tomorrow, the plan is to go down to Victor Harbor with Chris , Paula and Lesley, then join brother Phillip for an evening meal at the Avoca hotel, where many repasts were shared with Mum and the family.

All the best to you for now.

Brendan