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I was picked up by Craig Walsh, Clare Vaughan and Dr Tiina Laatikainen (temporarily from Finland!) in the Departments station wagon on Sunday afternoon and we journeyed to Mt Gambier, just over the Victorian border in South Australia.

We all agreed to have a look at the Blue Lake, a limestone hole that at certain times of the year has its water turn a stunning blue. I took some photographs, so if you want to have a look, do. I have not altered the colour in the pictures in any way.

Then it was straight on to the Airport. We were joined by Dr Adrian Schoo (has come over from Holland, but loves Australia and I think wants to stay here), Jane Templeton and Kylie McIntyre from Hamilton, slightly to the North of Warrnambool, where we have another Office.

When we arrived in Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, we immediately set out for the CBD and our Hotel, which was named after its rooftop garden. I went for a walk there, and was unimpressed. Large pots of succulents and one wall fountain made it look like a temporary effect by one of those garden rescue television teams.

My brother Jim, and his wife Jan, picked me up from the Hotel and we went out to Parafield Gardens, one of Adelaides outlying suburbs and where Mum is now living in a nursing home.

I had a good long chat with Mum, Jim and Jan, and then I was dropped off at Barbara's house and the talk continued into the night. I finally arrived back at the Hotel at 11:30.

The news was that Leah Braeside was not going to be staying the night, which pleased me immensely. Leah has her family in Adelaide, and obviously was staying with them, and the bonus was that both of us snore, so it was a challenge as to who would get to sleep first and thereby have a relatively good nights sleep.

I therefore had the room to myself and my sleep was good.

The following morning, I decided to hunt out breakfast. Knowing that we had to leave for the Airport a little after seven, I was up, showered, packed and out before six.

I went from Frome Street to Hindley Street, a few good blocks away, and found a 7/11 (yes, we have them here, too), and grabbed a stale salad sandwich and a liquid breakfast drink.

On the way back, I took the shots of Beehive Corner, a legendary meeting place for many over the past I-don't-know-how-many decades, and the MLC Building diagonally opposite, with its wonderful pink granite carved facade of lions holding heraldic shields and gargoyles watchfully posing.

Back in Rundle Mall, I couldn't resist the photograph of the pigs, one with its snout in a normal litter bin that has had bronze fruit peel and cores and other food miscellany welded to it. All of the pigs have been given names by various people. The names included Augusta, Horatio and the like.

I wandered back to the Hotel to find that the others were breakfasting there. I had been misled the day before by Craig saying we were covered for lunch and dinner costs to a certain amount, but that was all. I was not about to pay $22 for breakfast! Oh well, at least I was full. Next time, I'll know that breakfast is included!

We made it to Adelaide Airport with plenty of time to spare and finally were loaded aboard a very small Piper aeroplane that had seen service, I am sure, as an ornament on a Christmas tree. Our pilot, Daniel, had heard all of these jokes before, but good naturedly put up with them. I learned on the return flight that he plays basketball. I tend to feel sorry for the poor blokes on the other team. Daniel would actually climb in to the pilot's seat via a window. We were allowed a maximum of 10 kilos of luggage each. 2.2 imperial pounds to the kilo, in case you are wondering.

The scenery was magnificent, with the Gulf waters in their solid colour vying with the patchwork of large tracts of farmland.

Next week, I'll tell you what happened on the Training itself.

Sweet Love

I see your weary face

framed by your pillow

Exhaustion cannot remove

the lines of tension

you stress even in your dreams, my love

How I want to tell you again

how wonderful you are

But you don't believe me

you never do

Duty first.

And love steers duty.

I would kiss your cares away

If you would let me.