Elvis and other delights

Christmas, my birthday, and the new year are all eagerly awaited ... and then they are gone. But we still have many 'lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer' left (I always enjoyed that 1963 song because it was cheerfully summery, but Steve hates it and calls it a 'dribbly song' although he admires Nat King Cole; he also tells me that the singer was fading in popularity in the early 60s, his career was in decline and he needed the money, hence this commercial, and successful, tune. I hope you remember it, otherwise you won't know what I'm talking about).  

Anyway, this blog is a mish-mash of things that have delighted me over the last few weeks, so in the dead of winter I can look back nostalgically over a summer long gone.

First up - still love Elvis, and Steve obliged by giving me an Elvis album from one of his earliest movies Loving You, plus a CD of very early Elvis tunes,  and last, but not least, a blocked poster of Blue Hawaii (which guests will be able to appreciate as it is now hanging in the seaside-themed  guest room). 

The post-season football games are now on in the US and we are avid watchers, although we tape the game that starts at 5.00 am!  There are now 2 games on Sunday and 2 on Monday - thank you Seven Mate. Here's Steve having the obligatory bowl of popcorn which I have to make each week, watching a match. Sadly my team, the Baltimore Ravens, lost  their play-off game.  Boo.  (But Steve's team  - San Fransisco 49ers - didn't even make the play-offs.) 

Kate and Kim sent me this photo after they had enjoyed their traditional Christmas Day ride around Albert Park.

And Sharon sent  this photo of her dancing the night away on New Years Eve. She and Paul have just bought a chiauahua  but it's only 3 weeks old so can't take it home yet. They have named him Brutus.
It's the caramel coloured puppy on the right.

Just last week this cactus, sitting on my pot rack outside the back door,  flowered - for only one day. I was so lucky to have spotted it. Such a shame that its beauty is seen for so short a time.

I love birthdays and this year Steve took me to a Langhorne Creek winery for lunch to celebrate. Delicious food, wine and company.

Two of my friends opted for a white Christmas this year. How wonderful it was to receive photos of snow when we had temperatures in the 30s. Marianne was whisked away by partner Andre  to Rovianiemi, Lapland in northern Finland where they went tobogganing with huskies, and visited a reindeer farm. The photos she sent were mesmerising.

Joan and her family went to Austria. Here she is enjoying the delights of a snowy Strasbourg.

And, after her white Christmas, Joan and Ken went to Singapore where they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Here they are in January 1969 with me as one of Joan's bridesmaids. I will never forget that day ; it was 43 degrees, the taxi drove very slowly as obliged by law because it had bridal ribbons on it, the car did not seem to be air conditioned,  and our dresses were a vibrant burnt orange. But we survived the heat - as did their marriage.

And here they are now, celebrating in Singapore, 50 years later.

And finally - the Tour Down Under came to town. Well, not really. This year the route bypassed Victor Harbor and the riders skirted the town on the ring road. At the roundabout where the riders swing around to go down the ring road the Council placed these gorgeous cycling kangaroos which I love.

I didn't really know where to station myself for a good view on the very long ring road so parked in an off street and walked up a slight incline where I could see them coming around a bend. Fortunately it wasn't hot and there was a cool breeze blowing. I was the only person for miles. In fact, I didn't see another spectator for the entire time I was there.

This where I stationed myself.

The scene opposite - very rural.

 Those who are not interested in cycling races cannot comprehend the absolute excitement and anticipation before the riders appear: the road is closed off to traffic, police on motorbikes patrol the road, tour cars go by with their hilarious papier mache riders atop. I guess because I was the only one there, everyone waved and honked their horns at me; even the policemen called out hi!!!! Such fun.

To confirm the road is closed off because the cyclists are now approaching, police with sirens blaring patrol the road once more, adding to the anticipation. And then, when you hear the helicopter (which is filming the race), you know they are coming. The first riders you see are the ones in the breakaway (generally five or six), though this time there were only two. I was lucky to capture the television cameraman, the riders, the team cars and the tour organisers on their motor bikes in the one shot! 

And not long afterwards, here comes the peleton, a group of 130 riders. If you look carefully in this next photo you will see the hovering helicopter. That first glimpse is thrilling.

And closer....

My camera was working overtime as the riders were whizzing along at breakneck speed. I had it on 'Sport' which helped me take photos quickly.

It was great to be so close to them - even for a nano-second.

Left to right: Germany's Roger Kluge, Luke Durbridge Australia, Joey Rosskopf USA.

Richie Porte in the centre.

I stopped taking photos so I could wave and cheer the last riders, but when they were past me and I turned to take more photos the peleton had almost disappeared and all I got were bottoms. All of this happened within about 6 seconds. The riders had already ridden 100 kms and had 50 more to go.

Then the team cars appeared...

 
... and disappeared...

And the road was opened to traffic again. 

I made my way back to my car, excited and extremely satisfied. I went home and watched the finish of the race on TV.