384 hours in Australia (16 days)

Day 1: arrive long haul flight. But it's all worth it as the sun is shining and a dry warm wave of air greets you together with the embrace of family at the terminal exit. That and breakfast at the Adelaide Central Markets - eating Green Eggs and Ham (by Dr Seuss) and a flat white

Day 2: Find a spot to sit (The Adelaide Uni Boat Club is the best vantage point) and watch the "Tour Down Under" the only UCI Pro Tour in the southern hemisphere and the start of the season for the riders who will soon be tackling the long lumpy roads of France.

Day 3: Head down to Aldinga, on the Fleurieu Peninsula, for a bite to eat the Victory Hotel and then have an icecream at the Star of Greece over looking some of the most glorious beaches in South Australia


Day 4: Lunch at Rigoni's, Dinner at The Greek

Day 5: Hold a nearly two week old baby and have confirmed that the gift of life is a beautiful thing. Too many close friends are seriously ill reminds us to be grateful for our health and the health of those important around us

Day 6: More sport, this time rowing at Westlakes followed by more of the Australia Day Test (Australia vs India)...cold pies and warm beers are the order of the day

Day 7: Run along the beach, followed by a swim and then lunch at Bacchus Bar at Henley Beach

Day 8: Smell. Butter on toast, cattle dung wafting across the road, stagnant salt water of the Coorong, the electric air of an approaching thunderstorm, wet hay fields, roast lamb...

Day 9: Fly to Sydney. Wander up to the Hornby light house overlooking the entrance where the Tasman Sea enters Sydney Harbour. Settle in for some beers at Watson Bay Hotel with a view of the city skyline in the distance

Day 10: Work. Great to meet colleagues from different offices. But if I didn't have to work, I would've walked around the Botanical Gardens and to the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Day 11: An early swim at Bronte Beach. Coffees and freshly baked sourdough at the corner store. Fly to Melbourne

Day 12: Check out the huge coffee scene in Melbourne. We enjoyed some Dukes home roasted coffee on Chapel St. Get together a picnic with a dear friend and sit under a tree in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens to enjoy conversation and sights and sounds around you. Chinese fest in Prahan followed by cocktails to finish the day

Day 13: Hire a car and head out to rural Victoria. Trawool in the Goulbourn Valley is a magical part of the world. Explore the granite formations as well as the meandering Goulbourn River

Day 14: Back in Adelaide, head up to Mt Lofty for a view of the city. More coffee and great food on the plains.

Day 15: Penultimate day for me was taken up attending the magical wedding of Ed and Marni - the main reason for my trip. The ceremony was beautiful, the speeches hilarious and the rest of the evening salubrious

Day 16: Wake up sad that you made a decision to work on the other side of the world and now need to leave - hop on a big bird all the way back to your desk

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