21.06.2012 at 08.39 a.m. SOLSTICE









Current weather condition

This morning 7°C
Today 13°C
Now 9.9°C
Updated at 08:00 CST North Agricultural for Thursday Cloudy. Areas of rain, easing to isolated showers later in the evening. Isolated thunderstorms in the late afternoon with possible hail. Winds NW 25 to 35 km/h turning W/SW 20 to 30 km/h in the evening. Daytime maximum temperatures between 11 and 14.

I marveld at my 5000 gallon rainwater tank (it only needs to be connected to the gutter).



I visited my house the second time.





I finally received the approval for the septic system.

I visited a workshop: "The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board presents a free workshop for landholders to learn about planning and the correct techniques for successful revegetation."

Holiday. Here some details:



“Queen’s Birthday also known as the Queen's Official Birthday celebrates the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. The exact date of the Queen’s Birthday varies from country to country. Most commonwealth countries celebrate Queen’s Birthday as a public holiday. In Australia (except Western Australia), this day is celebrated on the second Monday of June. In Western Australia, It is on the month of September or October. In New Zealand, Queen’s birthday is observed on the first Monday of June and in England it is on the first Saturday of June.

Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born on 21st April, 1926. After the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952 she became the queen and thereafter known as Queen Elizabeth II.

This day has been celebrated in Australia since 1788. Until 1936 this day was observed on the actual birthday of the Monarch of the Great Britain. After the death of King George V, it was decide to celebrate this day on the second Monday of June. Every year on this day Australian Post issues a Queen’s Birthday stamp and recipients of the Order of Australia are also announced on this special day.”

Two years ago – on Queen’s Birthday - I arrived in Australia with my one way ticket. It was a bumpy start and I had to learn two details:
1. On this holiday the big supermarkets (like Woolworths and Coles) are closed! This is a rare event and only repeats on Good Friday and Christmas Eve. I was cruising along and couldn’t believe it and suddenly I discovered a big shop with a lot of cars in front. It was ‘Bunnings Warehouse’. I decided to have a look and thought there may be a corner where I could get some butter and milk. No. No chance. Only timber, paints, tools and garden supplies. Later I found a ‘deli’ where I purchased my (expensive) breakfast for the next morning.
2. It was cold. Very cold. My beloved South Australia was so cold, especially during the night. I rented a self-contained holiday apartment in Brighton, a suburb south of Glenelg. Glenelg is like a tourist attraction and therefore pretty expensive. Brighton is more away from the City but still on the beach. It was a nice apartment. Besides of the insulation. There was no insulation. In the night it was 2*C outside and I assume inside as well. The apartment was more somewhat for the summer. There was a reverse cycle air condition (this means it can produce some warmth as well) an old one, making lots of noise and not very effective. I could choose between not sleeping because of the noise and not sleeping because of the cold. So the first thing the next morning was to drive to 'Bunnings' again (now I knew where I could find it!) buying a heater.

Black Caviar on her 30 hour trip to Great Britain (incl. stopover in Singapore and Dubai). She is wearing a pressure suit to prevent oedema.




PS: Just discovered on facebook (mean!):

Postponed! The officer from the immigration department told me that I missed one of the (felt thousands) obligations. I have to repeat the whole process in November! I don't know how this will work. The processing time will be 11 months and my visa expires in May 2013. Why is everything so complicated?

Finally. I'm residing in Australia for 2 years and therefore eligible to apply for permanent residency (pr). At first I have to ask the Government of South Australia for Sponsorship and so yesterday I went to Adelaide to lodge my 78 pages application.

Today the 2nd time in Adelaide. This time I was sitting at home watching TV:



Now she will travel across the Big Pond to England. Good Luck Mighty Mare (or, how the speaker said: "The Equine Super Star of the World") at Ascot: http://www.ascot.co.uk.

Clare is not very impressed - she prefers a beauty sleep in the autumn sun:

No, not Clare, but the palm! I bought it (half the size) when I moved here two years ago but I decided that on my own property I only will grow native trees. So I posted an add on
http://www.gumtree.com.au

When walking along the property I recognized some structures looming out of the soil. First I thought it's a kind of asparagus:



But then I had a closer look and suddenly it came into my mind: A couple of nights ago I was bombarded by Bogong Moths and these are obviously the skins of the larvae.



Really impressive!

Here my personal impressions of the race: