Christmas in Rundle Mall

Since coming to Australia I find it very odd celebrating Christmas in the middle of summer.   These photos of some of the decorations in Rundle Mall were taken on the hottest December day in 82 years.  The temperature hit 44C (111F)

"Justice" in Rundle Mall

Australian Rules Football, AFL or footy is the most popular spectator sport in South Australia, and twice a season the two local teams, Port Power (Hooray!!) and Adelaide Crows (Boooo!!) play in a derby  match called "The Showdown.  This causes much local excitement, and is akin to the big local derbys in the EPL like Manchester United and City, or Liverpool and Everton.

During the season, "The Footy Show" is on TV on a Thursday and the hosts all give their tips for the following weekend's games.  These tips include a "certainty" which, if they tip incorrectly, means they have to pay a "penalty".    Two weeks ago was the first showdown for 2013 and one of the hosts, Gary Lyon, chose Adelaide Crows as his certainty.    Well, I am happy to say that Port Power won handsomely, and the following photos show Gary, paying his penalty.

Firstly, Warren Tredrae, a previous captain of Port Power introduced some of the young Port players to the crowd, followed by John "Sam" Newman another of the shows hosts, and finally Gary Lyon.

Gary was strapped in the wheel, ready for his penalty, until David "Kochie" Koch, the president of the club pointed out that he was still wearing a Port guernsey.

"Off! Off! Off!" shouted the crowd, and off it came!!  Then strapped to the wheel again, round it span, as Port supporters pelted him with another South Australian favourite, Balfours meat pies!! "What goes with pies?" asks "Sam" Newman - "Tomato Sauce of course!!"

Debt paid!!

Going, Going, Gone!!

Harris Scarfe's flagship Adelaide store in Rundle Mall is having a major makeover, So major that it is being demolished, and will be replaced by an ultra modern shopping centre and office complex. We have a birds-eye view from our lunchroom at work. First photos show how it used to look, followed by a sequence taken over the cast couple of months. 19th April 6th May 23rd May 30th May - Much of the demolition was done at night to minimise disruption to the CBD. 10th June 15th June 16th June 24th June 29th June 1st July 4th July I'll post on the costruction of the new centre as it starts.

Skywatch Friday

Giant Christmas decorations in Rundle Mall, Adelaide, South Australia

Four Pigs, Three Balls and a Thong

The other day whilst walking through Adelaide's main shopping street, I was watching people enjoying some of the sculptures, and I realised how much we take for granted. So yesterday, I decided to take some photos and share them with you. Probably Rundle Mall's most famous and best loved residents are Horatio, Truffles, Augusta and Oliver, our four life-sized pigs. They have amused countless people, young and old, ever since they were installed. Further down the mall you come to this little girl having great fun on the slide. And then there are the Spheres, at over 4 metres (13 feet) tall the largest sculpture in the mall. Colloquially known as "the mall's balls" it is a common meeting point. Just around the corner from Rundle Mall is Hindmarsh Square. The north-western corner has recently been re-developed into a community space filled with sculptures designed to be played on by children. I have not been able to determine the meanings behind them, but they all have a connection with South Australia. They are a tap and hosepipe A fish and a bone A clothes peg and a thong and a beach ball. Throughout the space there are some tall curved structures - I am not sure what these are, but they have prompted some people to nickname the area the elephant's graveyard. I hope you enjoyed this quick tour through the centre of Adelaide.