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.....

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!!

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!!

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.

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...!!

Daffs' Laffs

Steve fame had reached Elizabeth before him and with no prompting from any of the Daffs our hosts demanded to hear his now famous rendition (or should that be infamous!) of 'Albert and the Lion.' All was going well until Steve clouted poor little Tigger the Dog with his stick with the 'orses 'ead 'andle!!
This is Rolly's grandson Dylan trying to comfort poor Tigger!

Leek Speak

To end a lovely day we were all invited to my hosts house - Rolly for a BBQ produced by Teflon, Cyclone or was it Tyron?! An enjoyable evening had by all and again high spirits all round. Several incidents of fork snapping during the meal caused much amusement and many fines at the Rotary meeting the following evening.

Daffs' Laffs

Carly & Claire Daff: Sunday the 18th - the saintly went to church and then we all swiftly moved on to a brief spot of wine worshipping at the very famous Jacobs Creek! We also managed to squeeze in a visit to Trevor Jones winery before finding a bakery (!!) for lunch.

Leek Speak

What a fabulous evening and great spirit at the Blacksmith Inn in One Tree Hill with the Rotary Club of Elizabeth including DG Alun Hughes and wife Vicky. We seemed to overawe the other guests with the ribald humour and general merriment. Kathryn had a rather satisfying meal, the general appearance of which caused much amusement!!

Daffs' Laffs

Jacq & Kathryn Daff: Lost Claire and Carly on Saturday - our first morning at Elizabeth - we thought they might have gone shopping given their track record, but then we saw them at the top of the big Rocking Horse!!!
Then we all managed to squeeze in a bit of shopping at the Toy Shop before morning tea and homemade cake and biscuits - delicious!
Carly Daff: Following this we spent time at the National Motor Musuem in Birdwood - took heaps of photos for Ed - he would have loved it here!
Claire Daff: Enjoyed a lovely lunch by the Murray River at Mannum, although Jacqui lost part of hers when a large pelican took a fancy to it! Given all the pictures we have taken - why didn't someone have a camera handy at that very moment??!!

Daffs' Laffs

After tremendous pressure, bullying and a case load of wine!!! we did our nation proud(?) and did the unspeakable - we sang our National Anthem - badly. No one could even be polite enough to pass a compliment, but they couldn't say we hadn't warned them in advance. Thanks to all our host families and other Rotarians for a wonderful farewell BBQ from Kidman Park.

Nat: Good Luck - may the singing lessons commence ready for your GSE trip to Brazil representing South Australia - p.s. you'll be right!

Daffs' Laffs

Kathryn Daff: Number of BBQ's increasing as the weather improves! Here we are proudly displaying the emblems of both countries - I think that the Golden Wattle has it over the Leek! Shame we were the only Daffs available p.s. Good Luck Dave and Anne - eating all that leek soup!!!

Daffs' Laffs

Jacq Daff: We all make it to Leconfield winery (take note Claire and Steve!) What a stressful job tasting 7 white and 7 red - not to mention the Port! The regional platters provided for lunch were particularly delicious - even nicer were the wines we purchased to accompany this!

After this we got our own back on Claire and Steve as they had managed to squeeze in an additional vocational visit at Thebarton College (extra brownie points for them!) but extra vino for us at Serafino winery!! Hic We had a behind the scenes tour of the winery led by Charles, the winemaker, ably suppported by our wine expert Ian.

Daffs' Laffs

Carly Daff: Our celebrity standing has increased to the level of radio broadcast as well as newspapers!! Although we were all nervous Malcolm quickly put us at ease and had us laughing and singing along to Tom Jones (good job that bit wasn't on air - and there were no knickers flying around!)

Daffs' Laffs

Claire Daff: O my word! What ever possessed me - had a moment of bravery, but couldn't wait for the thing to be taken from me! Not used to handling pythons!

LeekSpeak,
Sorry about the gap since last posting but internet access has been limited. The girls will gird their loins and put on contributions tomorrow. The main report is that we continue to have a terrific time, vocationally, socially, culturally and any which way you want to describe it. Our "rest day" in a motel last Sunday proved to be anything but that. I blame the girls completely for leading me astray with a long liquid lunch, Chinese meal (Claire looking the part!?), and then an Irish bar and long sojourn at the motel. Next morning (Monday) a bit bleary eyed we met our next hosts from Kidman Park and the amazing carouselle started to swing again! Great hosts. Tuesday was very wet, windy and cold and we went up to Mt Lofty and the Cleland animal park. Jacqui was in absolute heaven holding the koala!! Claire was in hell holding the Python--pic to follow! In the evening we gave a presentation at a crowded Club meeting and it was very well received. In the background, the wind was howling and the waves crashing against the sea wall. Wednesday started with an interview on the local radio station--recorded for some future broadcast. We all had a go and it lasted about 20 minutes and came over OK I think. We met another GSE team (pic) being interviewed, also of 4 girls and a haggard male leader from the USA, for an interesting exchange of experiences. Then we were planned to go on a boat trip but due to the continuing windy weather went instead to a couple of wineries in the McLaren Vale. Thursday the 15th was a very successful vocational day for all of us, including Kathryn and I being invited to Premier's Question Time in the South Australian parliament--see pic of Kathryn looking regal in the speaker's chair!! We then had a terrific evening at one of the Kidman Park member's houses for a BBQ with a huge turnout of guests and a tremendous spirit all round. Singing by Aussies and Welsh equally bad! Albert and the Lion to the rescue!! On Friday the usual sad farewell to excellent hosts and the changeover to our latest Club, Elizabeth. Weather forecast from now on is scorchio. Girls still a social knockout with an increasing cult following!! I'm redundant (all say Ahhh)

Daffs' Carly

Hi all, just thought that I would update you, we are sorry that we have not been keeping this blog as up to date as we would like but we have been kept very busy by all our Host families and Rotary Clubs that we are finding it difficult to get together to do it!

Still having such a fabulous time and learning so much both vocationally and culturally. I can not believe that we are nearing the end of week three. 2 more families and Clubs to visit before next friday. We will be adding more photos as and when we can and keep the comments coming please, we are loving all the support that we have received from back home! C xxx

Latest caption competition. Wide berth for ribald contributions!

LeekSpeak,

Saturday 17th provided us with a wide panorama of outdoor Oz life. Started at Bob and Bernice's house under the Flinders hills--amazing couple (Carly's hosts) with a large collection of squawking and talking exotic birds, this joey rescued after the mother was run over, and a variety of other fauna. Then a brief stop at "Supermario"'s vineyard and farm for some local produce followed by the 4x4 trip up into the Flinders range. Looked like Wales for the first time. Weather scorchio. Kathryn officially appointed as wild reptile handler for the trip. Then back for a real outdoor BBQ with the Pirie club members and hosts. The food was to die for. The girls contribution was toasted marshmallows on sticks!!

LeekSpeak

Hope you all appreciated that the girls had got off their rather pert (after so long away) as--s and put such heartfelt contributions on the site. Also many thanks for all the messages and comments--keep 'em coming.

Thursday 8th was changeover day. Very tearful farewell to Northern Yorke hosts and now familiar tremendous welcome by new hosts from Port Pirie, having travelled about 2 hours north. I find myself at a very remote homestead in the back of beyond with John and Lynne Rowe--lizards everywhere and a brown snake on the drive in. Really interesting couple with their own jam/chutney/condiment business. Straight into presentation at Club meeting in the evening which seemed again to go down very well. Loads of people stayed back to talk at the end. Next day (9th) was another very stimulating vocational day and then time with hosts. The pic shows Kathryn with hosts Alan and Gwen and Denise Johns (left), wife of Philip who is the GSE Team Leader of the team now in South Wales.

Daffs' Laffs

Wednesday 7th October: Very interesting guided tour of Moonta (Cornish History of Copper Mining) and Wallaroo (Welsh settlement for Copper Smelting.) Followed by a trip on the Copper Coast as you can see opposite. Close friendships developing yet again with hosts.

Daffs' Laffs

Carly Daff: Tuesday 6th October - This is me visiting Point Pearce an area of Aboriginal land for my vocational visit. Spent the morning observing a social worker and dietitions talking at the Health Centre.

Jacq Daff: I also visited Point Pearce and met the Elder Irene and her sister Anne; spent a very informative hour with both.

Kathryn Daff: I spent an enjoyable day with Paul Thomas, Mayor of the Copper Coast Council and Mary the Director of Corporate Services. Whether it's Wales or South Australia, many of the issues we face are excatly the same.

In the evening the team made another presentation to the Northern Yorke Peninsula Rotary Club who were joined by a coach load of our groupies from the Maitland club. Despite a sound failure - went down very well!

Daffs' Laffs:

Claire Daff:

Tues 6th October - This is Steve and I on our Vocational visit to the famous Clare Valley vineyard to study Year 7 - 13 education system and associated wine tasting!!

The picture proves that you can take Claire out of the Valley but you can't take the wine out of Clare!!

Daffs' Laffs

Claire Daff: Thanks for the comments - brought a tear to my eye, but am so impressed that you have managed to look at the blog and make a comment - WOW! What I'm not impressed about is the home situation with the make up and shoes - there will be an inspection when I return! District Conference was remarkably daunting but felt like a celebrity after when we attempted to grab a coffee and couldn't get further than the shop next door. A fab sense of achievement! O and I did manage to spot a Roxy bag that I fancied from the shop we stopped outside and managed to get back there the next day to make a small purchase!! Am loving every minute of this brilliant opportunity - have met fantastic people and the welcome we have received everywhere has been extremely overwhelming - may the good times continue!!!! Love to all xxx

Jacq Daff: Hello everyone! Thanks for all your comments - glad your enjoying our blog - we are enjoying the experience. Re: the District Conference - how scared was I? but as we all had each other for support we all did a fabulous job. The audience were very supportive and I actually found myself enjoying it - not that I want to do it everyday for a living!! Just want to reiterate what Claire has said about how fantastic the people are that we have met and the wonderful welcome we receive - truly tremendous! This is a trip of a life time. P.S. RIP Len I'll be toasting you later.xxx

Kathryn Daff: Wonderful to see so many comments and to know that people back home are thinking about us and following our exploits. Really enjoying spending time with fabulous people seeing marvellous scenery and drinking superb red wine!!! The District Conference was our biggest opportunity to tell people how wonderful Wales is and encourage them to come and visit us - hopefully not all at once! Got to go there is a glass (or bottle) of wine with my name on it! xxx

Carly Daff: What else is there to say? We are having such an amazing time, we are a great team doing amazing things and in such a fabulous place. District Conference was a nerve wracking experience, but I am so proud that we made it through and what a response we got! I felt like royalty for hours afterwards. Everywhere we go we are the main attraction it seems! Public speaking? No Problem - lol! Enjoying every minute we're representing Wales, Rotary and our individual professions as well as ourselves and hopefully doing everyone proud. Missing you all back home (esp Ed) keep the comments coming and see you all before you know it. Bye for now - white wine is calling! xxx

LeekSpeak Monday 5th October
Started the day with a dawn wild Kangaroo hunt. Slow start till saw one then 4, then 2 jumped into the road in front of the 4x4 requiring emergency avoidance. Those boys can bounce--reminded me of Janet's first chequebook!
Couple more pics from last night's BBQ.
More kudos at the Conference. The RI President's envoyYan-Kee Cheng in his summing up singled out the GSE presentation as "exceptional". Changeover of hosts with usual emotion. Now settling with new hosts from Northern Yorke Peninsula--no travel involved. Usual overwhelming welcome.

LeekSpeak Sunday 4th October
I am SOOOOOO PROUD of my team!! The District Conference presentation was sensational. The girls walked up to the rostrum one after the other and absolutely knocked the large audience out with slick down-to-earth presentation, humour, and oozing personality. Constant interruption for laughter or applause, and a huge ovation at the end. The technical stuff all worked fine as well and the pics and music brought a lump to the throat. Loads of people came up through the rest of the day with sincere superlatives about both vibrancy of presentation and interesting content--" You guys should be on permanent tour to promote Wales!" All the preparation worthwhile--but especally well done the girls!! On a high for the rest of the day and excellent BBQ and live band in the evening. Ratarse restriction withdrawn. We were last to leave!! Leave it to the girls to express their own emotions.

LeekSpeak,

Saturday 3rd October

The day of the tractor and the grape. Fantastic educational visit to a large farm with all the processes explained. GPS has now taken over both planting (works out right balance of seed and fertiliser per sq. m) and harvesting (controls the harvester position andc line). Apparently even women can do it now as there is no reversing or emergency stops. Then much awaited vineyard visit (Barley Bush), tasting and greatv lunch with hosts. Then to see the cropspraying plane and talk to the (suicidal?) pilot. The evening is the Conference dinner/dance. Very enjoyable. Most impressed with the pledging of 12, 000 dollars for tsunami relief around the tables. Carly won the miner's lamp raffle then Jacqui walked away with the raffle first prize--an enormous hamper. Visual inspection of the girls at end of evening confirmed reasonable adherence to my instruction--dont get ratarsed, its the big presentation tomorrow!

LeekSpeak

Friday 2nd October

It must be Wales!! Rain, cold, windy--the ideal day to travel. What looks like a short distance on the map turns out to be 7 hours!! A convoy of 4 cars set off from Port Lincoln up the coast of the Eyre Peninsula, crossing at Port Augusta, and then down the east side of the Spencer Gulf to the Yorke Peninsula, to the area known as the Copper Coast where the District Conference is to be held (Wallaroo/Kadena). Quite interesting scenery en route but repetitive. Chance for some sleep. Changeover of hosts is again emotional although we will see our Port Lincoln friends at the conference. Instant positive rapport all round with our new Maitland hosts and we go off in different directions. My hosts Pete and Julie have a fantastic farm--just the job. Julie says that as it is Friday they usually go down the pub and am I interested!!! Meet Claire and Jacqui down there and have a great meal, few Coopers Lights and loads of jollity--great atmosphere. Then its back to the farm and a bucket load of fresh crabs as a nightcap!!

LeekSpeak

Just another pic from the Lincoln Park trip. Recognise this? Prize for the best caption

LeekSpeak

First full cultural day and what a day it has been! 4 x 4 off road along rough tracks and sand dunes alongside the sea and cliffs in the Lincoln National Park - unforgetable. Lunch taken in the middle of a huge sand dune - great company, many good laughs. We will be very sorry to leave this fantastic place. Finished the day having dinner with hosts - and some sad farewells.

LeekSpeak

More birds henpecking me!

Wednesday 30th September started with vocational visits - all extremely successful. Nice lunch enjoyed by all with hosts followed by a visit to Glen Forest Animal Park again owned by Carly's host! Fed Kangaroos and saw Koala, a Hairy Nosed Wombat (not the picture on the left,) Dingos, Emus and many more. Fantastic evening at Adrian and Margaret's (Kathryn's hosts) with food provided by all the hosts. Everyone very relaxed and once again the wine flowed. National Anthem substituted by Albert and the Lion!

LeekSpeak
Introduced to hosts and taken to spectacular homes and area - this place is a million dollars! Went to local Park sponsored and maintained by Port Lincoln Rotary - hugely impressive. Chased by paparrazzi for quote and photos for local paper - will there be a fee?

Second presentation in the evening to Port Lincoln Club minus technical hitches this time and red jackets as you can see from the picture with President David Johnston. Again very well received with a number of questions and a request for us to sing the Anthem (politely declined!) A lively atmosphere afterwards over a bottle or two of Lincoln Estates wine, Carly's host being the owner!

LeekSpeak
Although unplanned we made our first presentation at the Port Adelaide Rotary Club meeting on Monday evening, 28th September. Very well received, but slight technical hitch - no sound!! Here we are with President Rod - what do you think about the green jackets?

Following morning - just what we wanted, another plane ride! This time though only 50 minutes to Port Lincoln - our next stop. Yet another huge welcoming party at the airport.