Carly Daff
Well, what can I say?? Myself, Claire and Jacqui all arrived back yesterday after the very long flight home, it seemed never ending as all I wanted to do was get back and see Ed at the bus station waiting for me, I was not disappointed! Kathryn is now enjoying some final relaxing time in Melbourne with old friends and Steve should have recovered from his jet lag by now! I am happy to be home but we had such an amazing time during this once in a lifetime experience, it was very sad to leave.
Many thanks to each and every host family and the 8 fantastic rotary clubs that we had the pleasure in meeting and spending time with, it will never be forgotten and the offer for repayment is always there! I am especially proud to have been a GSE team member in district 9500 and could not have asked for a better Team Leader in Mr Best AKA Bill AKA A.O.M and my new good friends Claire, Kathryn and Jacqui.
Time in Sydney and Uluru finished things off very nicely although the rain in Sydney was like we were at home early! 37 degrees at Ayers rock though more than made up fot this!
I have one day to recover from all this before heading back to work tomorrow, looking forward to going back and sharing all these new experiences! Watch out everyone, you know how much I like to talk!
Wales is not as cold as I was expecting it to be so far! Thanks to all for the support, it has been fantastic, back to reality now!!! xxx
Monday 2 November 2009
Monday 26 October 2009
LeekSpeak,
Its Saturday 24th and time to leave South Australia. A sizeable delegation (see pic) is at Adelaide airport to wave us off- the overwhelming support and generosity apparent to the end. Lots of sad farewells, hugs and kisses and promises of future meetings. Then a last wave goodbye. For me the even more heartwrenching moment is at Sydney airport where I go one way to the international flight and the girls head out for their extended stay. They have been great and I know I am going to miss them all immensely. A last huddle
and pic and then it's away.....
Its Saturday 24th and time to leave South Australia. A sizeable delegation (see pic) is at Adelaide airport to wave us off- the overwhelming support and generosity apparent to the end. Lots of sad farewells, hugs and kisses and promises of future meetings. Then a last wave goodbye. For me the even more heartwrenching moment is at Sydney airport where I go one way to the international flight and the girls head out for their extended stay. They have been great and I know I am going to miss them all immensely. A last huddle
LeekSpeak,
Friday 23rd is, sadly, our last day in South Australia. A lot is planned but in the event we are sidetracked by two things--sending 4 parcels of mainly paperwork back to the UK (60 kg total!), which takes a long time, and also modifying the presentation for the final dinner to include lots of comments about experiences with vocational visits, host families, clubs etc. We take over the language school of Angus and Helen Tuck, Claire's hosts, for the entire morning for these tasks which means we miss a museum visit and shopping opportunity. Then we have a final wind-up meeting with Barbara Wheatcroft and her GSE Committee (see pic) and we are mutually very happy with the way the tour has gone in every respect. The final dinner is a combination of the Adelaide Light club and what was originally expected to be a small number of people we had met on the tour. In the event the numbers swelled out to 83, filling the large venue, and including people who travelled several hours to attend and are returning immediately after the dinner. Our updated presentation turns out to be exceptionally well received and we get a long standing ovation (pics to follow). Lots of people stay on until late and their is considerable merriment, emotion and Albert. I join Jacqui and her hosts Ron and Erica for a trip to the pub and eventually get back to the storage shed at 2 30am!!
Friday 23rd is, sadly, our last day in South Australia. A lot is planned but in the event we are sidetracked by two things--sending 4 parcels of mainly paperwork back to the UK (60 kg total!), which takes a long time, and also modifying the presentation for the final dinner to include lots of comments about experiences with vocational visits, host families, clubs etc. We take over the language school of Angus and Helen Tuck, Claire's hosts, for the entire morning for these tasks which means we miss a museum visit and shopping opportunity. Then we have a final wind-up meeting with Barbara Wheatcroft and her GSE Committee (see pic) and we are mutually very happy with the way the tour has gone in every respect. The final dinner is a combination of the Adelaide Light club and what was originally expected to be a small number of people we had met on the tour. In the event the numbers swelled out to 83, filling the large venue, and including people who travelled several hours to attend and are returning immediately after the dinner. Our updated presentation turns out to be exceptionally well received and we get a long standing ovation (pics to follow). Lots of people stay on until late and their is considerable merriment, emotion and Albert. I join Jacqui and her hosts Ron and Erica for a trip to the pub and eventually get back to the storage shed at 2 30am!!
LeekSpeak,
Thursday 22nd is our last cultural tour day. In perfect weather (27 deg) we go up to the Adelaide Hils to the tourist village of Hahndorf, quite spectacular and a haven for gift shopping, sweets, cakes and chocs. Then a tour round the house of Hans Heysen, a famous artist, followed by the Hahndorf Hills winery, which is very appealing as you can see. Then another visit to the Mount Lofty centre, this time in good weather, to see the fantastic views over Adelaide. The evening is with hosts. I have a 10km walk with Colin and Liz up the hills behind the storage homestead and he insists on a 18kg backpack!! We come down in the dark only to find we have left the dog on the hill. Torches required to find Spot!!
Thursday 22nd is our last cultural tour day. In perfect weather (27 deg) we go up to the Adelaide Hils to the tourist village of Hahndorf, quite spectacular and a haven for gift shopping, sweets, cakes and chocs. Then a tour round the house of Hans Heysen, a famous artist, followed by the Hahndorf Hills winery, which is very appealing as you can see. Then another visit to the Mount Lofty centre, this time in good weather, to see the fantastic views over Adelaide. The evening is with hosts. I have a 10km walk with Colin and Liz up the hills behind the storage homestead and he insists on a 18kg backpack!! We come down in the dark only to find we have left the dog on the hill. Torches required to find Spot!!
LeekSpeak,
Wednesday 21st is another successful vocational day-our last so some arrangements have been changed to accommodate missing items. Then in the evening we have a BBQ at the splendid home of Terry and Angela Rodoni. The spirit is once again sparkling--like the wine the girls drink--and is thoroughly entertyaining.
LeekSpeak,
Tuesday 20th was another handover day so it was an emotional farewell to ur wonderful hosts from Elisabeth, and hullo to our last hosts (can't believe it!) from Adelaide Light. We get a conducted walk round some of the landmarks in the very centre of Adelaide, including Col Flanders statue, the guy credited with the pioneering planning of Adelaide and wider South Australia. Also a look in the Adelaide Oval cricket ground enabling another whooppee for the Ashes win!! Other wonderful sites and museum visited and then on to host families. I end up in this storage building creating an initial cultural shock, but on discovering I dont have to sleep in a cardboard box and hosts Colin and Liz are an interesting couple settle down to an unusual but entertaining 4 days. In the evening Jacqui gets her much awaited evening with a practising brass band.
Tuesday 20th was another handover day so it was an emotional farewell to ur wonderful hosts from Elisabeth, and hullo to our last hosts (can't believe it!) from Adelaide Light. We get a conducted walk round some of the landmarks in the very centre of Adelaide, including Col Flanders statue, the guy credited with the pioneering planning of Adelaide and wider South Australia. Also a look in the Adelaide Oval cricket ground enabling another whooppee for the Ashes win!! Other wonderful sites and museum visited and then on to host families. I end up in this storage building creating an initial cultural shock, but on discovering I dont have to sleep in a cardboard box and hosts Colin and Liz are an interesting couple settle down to an unusual but entertaining 4 days. In the evening Jacqui gets her much awaited evening with a practising brass band.
LeekSpeak
Monday 19th was another successful vocational day all round. Jacqui managed to offload the helmet that had been bogging down the luggage to the South Australian Police HQ. Hope it fits him!! Then we had a mayoral reception at Playford Civic Centre with Mayor Martin Lindsell in his full regalia and very welcoming. This was followed by another presentation at the Elisabeth club meeting with a couple of other clubs also present. A packed house and another sparkling performance by the team. A fine Welshman Dennis who, standing next to Claire, was originally from Cwmbran and really took to our visit, so we presented him with his own Cwmbran banner, much to his pleasure. Also a lady, Janet, from the Club said she originated from Cardiff and had attended Whitchurch Grammar School, my old school and where Claire teaches now. She came along with the school photo from 1963 and there were she and I about 20 pupils apart--amazing coincidence. I must consult my list of old flames when I get back just in case...!!
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