Departure and Arrival

We leave Topsham at 3pm on 31 January. It is raining so heavily that Simon has to drop me and the bags at the station and then walk to meet us. All on time and an uneventful and comfortable journey to Heathrow. We have a few hours to kill in the Duty Free shops and have a bowl of pasta to keep the wolf from the door. Our flight leaves pretty much on time just after 10 pm. Despite very little leg room we actually manage to sleep quite well on the first leg and enjoy a couple of films (3 billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri and Goodbye Christopher Robin). 4 hours at Singapore and we manage to stretch our legs in the roof top swimming pool and refresh ourselves with a shower. It is now 11 pm again and we have seen virtually no daylight. A relative short hop to Adelaide: less successful with the sleep this time.  We arrive at 9.05 am local time on Friday 2 February and as we approach Adelaide we fly right over Ellie's flat in Glenelg, and wave of course. Michael and Ellie greet us (real hugs at last) and take us to their gorgeous flat by the sea. Michael has to work but drops us in Adelaide town where we explore the market filled with tempting local produce. We buy Gin and coffee! Locally brewed Coopers beer in a street bar and then Lunch at Argo on the Parade. Crushed avocado, quinoa, falafel and other healthy superfoods, all very delicious. We manage a stroll through the Botanical Gardens but it is very hot and we are beginning to feel very weary. Tall Eucalyptus Trees (Gummies) with a roost of hundreds of massive fruit bats? It is impossible not to nod off on the tram home. We sit on the beach in the cooling breeze before watching our first sunset from their magnificent balcony. Barbecued fish and sweet corn in the menu tonight. We think we shall sleep well.