Adelaide

As Adelaide’s heatwave finally breaks and they spend a day below 35 degrees, I’ve just braved the hottest March night Melbourne’s had since the 1980s. My first Australian summer in over 8 years and I find it to be full of records. And I seem to catch them all. New Year’s Eve not dropping below 33 degrees, Adelaide’s 15 days of over 35 degrees (well, I was there for 4 days) and then Melbourne’s hottest March night. And to be quiet honest, I’m enjoying the heat. Today’s a balmy 33 degrees and I savoured my mid-afternoon post-office trip in the dipping sunlight.

The Sunday I left Melbourne was a beautiful sunny day, so it was only fitting that we spent it at the movies. We went to see ‘Run Fatboy Run’ before having lunch down by the Yarra followed by gelato or cookies and cream cheesecake if you’re me. Heading off to Southern Cross to catch the skybus, I realised it’s been 4 and a half years since I’ve been to Adelaide. At least this time the weather would be better (by my standards anyway!). I purchase my skybus ticket and hop on, sitting down with my mp3 player which I finally found at the bottom of my bag. The familiar text message sound rouses me from by daydream and I check it to find that my flight to Adelaide has been cancelled – panic! I call Qantas and confirm that it has actually been cancelled. They ask for my surname and transfer me to the next flight – just over an hour later, thank you and have a nice flight. Surely it cannot be that easy! I check at the customer service desk and they confirm that it’s all done, so I check in my bag and sit down for a good read and people-plane watch – my favourite things to do at airports.

Arriving in Adelaide was quite surreal, I haven’t been since the airport upgrade and I hadn’t seen the family friends picking me up for a good few months. Their son, I hadn’t seen in 4 and a half years. He was now taller than his parents and me, and driving. A very scary thought when I can remember him running around in his new pull-up nappies after his christening. Checked in with Grandma, let her know I’d be a bit late because we were going for a drink, then I got back to the house I’d last stayed in Adelaide, this time with the owner present. Quick dinner, catch up and then off to bed after a long day.

Monday, a public holiday. This meant that Adelaide was going to be effectively shut, so we’d planned for just a day of relaxation. An old school friend came over late in the afternoon and we caught up and then made a team effort of cooking for my Grandma. She was reluctant to just sit back, but eventually went to watch TV while we did our thing. After dinner there was some more TV we all watched before May headed home to do some study and I went to bed to finish a good book (‘Water For Elephants’)

Tuesday dawned just as hot as the previous day, but today we were going to the city. After breakfast we called for a taxi, which eventually turned up and we got to Rundle Mall. It was both frightening and reassuring to see it hadn’t changed very much! The previous night I’d heard there was a 20% off sale, and after May checked where it was, I could go and browse – and ended up picking out 2 patterns and some fabric for a skirt. Met for lunch with my only aunt in Adelaide at the Belgian Beer Cafe, which was delicious, and then we wondered back down Rundle Mall to browse and to catch the tram down to Central Markets. Grandma had been waiting for me to come so she could purchase heavier fruit and veg – so I became a pack-horse laden down with 3kg of oranges, a couple of weeks worth of potatoes and much more! A quick doctor’s appointment then finally, home. Air-conditioning on, and sit back. Another night in.

Wednesday was much the same, just reading most of the day. Grandma had a housing meeting in the morning but said I could sleep in – unfortunately the phone went twice and Grandma came back in 3 times so I wasn’t going to get any sleep!! I just took it easy until she came back, and then she had a hospital appointment – and told she wouldn’t need another so came home in good spirits. Later on, I went out for dinner with the Smarties (who had picked me up) and then went back to their place to watch a movie, so Grandma had some peace for the evening.

Thursday I had a free morning, but was seeing another family friend later after lunch, they used to live around the corner from us. Driving back to my old street, I didn’t recognise very much, but it was nice to see my old house again – looking much smaller than I remember! As did their place, where we stopped for a drink before going to Tea Tree Plaza for a look around and a coffee. I remembered bits and pieces of it, but they’ve extended one end so I had a little bit of trouble! They took me ‘home’ and came in for a coffee and a chat with my Grandma before leaving us to dinner before I had to finish packing and the Smarties came to pick me up again to go home. Arriving at the airport, the ominous label ‘delayed’ next to my flight was shown, but thankfully only by 20 minutes and it was a smooth journey back.

A hot but enjoyable trip, and I reckon I’m still better off in Melbourne. There’s simply more going on, and to be quite honest, it’s where my bed is. And how good it felt on that first night back.

The Friday after I got home, I saw Tiger Army play at the Hi-Fi Bar in the city. The Vaudevillians were the first support, and were mediocre; they didn’t really appeal to me. Zombie Ghost Train played next, and although I’d heard mp3s of them before and hadn’t enjoyed them, they put on a very enjoyable live performance. I may have to listen to their mp3s again. Tiger Army however, blew them both out of the water. They had a huge energy, they played a good mix of stuff, and the crowd were loving it. I’m just very glad I took my fan with me – it was stinking hot in there, and I had quite a few people tell me what a great idea it was, turning green with envy! A great night was had by all.