The Volkswagen Beetle TDi versus Mercedes-Benz A180

We went to the Mercedes dealer this morning to take the A180 for a spin. While looking at the Mercedes Nicole and I were both thinking that would be the car we wanted. It was spacious and handy, a great little car. Nicole drove it up and down to Stirling in the hills and we were a little bit disappointed by the car. It was a tad noisy (the automatic transmission didn't help), you could clearly feel the car vibrating when standing still, the steering was very (= too) direct, it didn't suck itself to the road like the Beetle, the seats were a bit thin so I felt a piece of plastic from the side of the chair and my knee was leaning against the hard armrest of the door which became unpleasant after half an hour. We were not expecting this from Mercedes...

One of the reasons I was weary of the Beetle was the position of the gas pedal. It's a bit much towards the middle and I thought it would hurt my shin (NL: scheenbeen). There was only one way to find out how that would go so we drove to the Volkswagen dealer again and this time I drove the Beetle in to the hills. I had no problems. I could lean my elbow on the middle console (which the Mercedes did not have!) which was comfy. It was a pleasure to drive. It performs very well too. So basically the only downside of the Beetle is the passenger/boor space. I finally decided that that was not important enough to not get a Beetle.

So today we decided to get a Volkswagen Beetle TDi like the one above.

Because the black is really the only colour Nicole finds acceptable that's what it's going to be. We might bring it to a custom painter later on and have some cool decorations airbrushed on it somewhere.

The sea

What nicer way to start the day can you think of than to walk outside and hand-feed a cute little bird?

My view during lunch. This fence did not have a door. Funny.

This is the front of the church I sit next to. I sat under the trees.

My other little plant at work is now growing new shoots as well. It must like it.

After work I walked to Nicole. I have discovered that it's quite pleasant to walk over. It clears the head and it's good to move a bit. I sneakily took this photo of Nicole's colleagues.

This is the Rundle Lantern from underneath.

We drove to the beach after work. That black dot is the sun that I forgot to photoshop out. My camera can't handle the brightness of it. There was a newly married couple taking photo's on the Jetty.

We had dinner at the Thai Orchid restaurant. It was fantastic.

After dinner we went on the jetty a bit. It was very windy and the waves were BIG.

Big wave.

A guy was swim-surfing the waves.

Big wave.

Big wave.

Another big wave.

The fire

It was just before 2:30 in the night and Nicole and I went to the toilet. Nothing going on outside. While I'm in the loo I hear a bang. It happens. Usually it's the wind banging metal objects against things and what not. We walk back to the flat, didn't notice anything funny. We lie down and Nicole says "I smell smoke, we have to look". So I go outside, see smoke clouds in the sky and look where they're coming from. Big fat orange glow behind the backdoor neighbours house. I hadn't heard any fire alarms yet so I thought I better quickly get my ass over there to check it out. It was the house opposite our backdoor neighbours house (so, same position as ours but one street down). A few people were already standing in the street. The house was empty and apparently got raided by the police a few months ago in a drugs investigation. Five minutes later the fire brigade arrived with two trucks and I went back to try and sleep again.

After a crap night sleep we drove past the house on our way to work. On the news the fire was announced as 'suspicious'. No shit. Nothing going on first. A bang at 2:30 exactly and big flames right after. That was timed arson. Scary.

I spent lunch time at Victoria square. It was nice.

There was a one legged pigeon. It must've been born that way coz there was no remains of a former left leg.

On my way home I caught a pretty full bus. At least I got a seat.

In the evening we visited Gianna and her parents. Gianna must have been happy to see us.

Gianna and her mom.

Nicole and Gianna.

Anna and Pasquale.

Grandma kicks ass

Shot while having lunch. I call this photo "Girl checking mobile phone, with fire hydrant".

In the evening my lawn bowl team got it's ass kicked hard (14-23) by "Bits and pieces". A team with the average age of 78. This cute looking granny made us cry more than once...

The Melbourne Cup

Today the Melbourne Cup was on. It's a world famous horse race. Actually it's several races but one of them, the longest, is the one that every Australian takes a break for.

I organised a sweep (draw, lottery, whatever you want to call it).

I also went to the gambling office for the first time in my life to bet on a horse. I was given inside information via via by a guy who would know. I was not the only one having a bit of a gamble during lunch.

I bet on horse nr. one "Septimus".

Right before the race it got a bit quiet on the streets.

At my work we had a organised lunch and we watched the race.

Septimus started off really well and was leading the first half of the race. Then dropped to second, then third. He then was overtaken by almost everybody during the last 300 metres. Half the Croatian community was betting the same after the same advice. I think someone made about 300 new enemies today ;-)

I was depressed after all this ;-) So no better place to go than Woolworths, the super market. The best place on earth to feel miserable. It was very quiet though which was nice.

When I came home I saw the little doves in the Nectarine tree. They are beautiful and they make me happy.

The art-tarts

The fountain was being cleaned so it was off. Two guys were actually sitting in the top but I didn't photograph them.

Christmas is coming and you WILL know it!

Monday night = PJ's night.

There was this person sitting next to me and she just kept staring at me...

Bruschetta. It's just amazing.

While we were eating our main's this group of art students came in. It went like this: BLAH BLAH BLAH DEE BLAHBLAH. BLAH? AHUH BLAH. BLAAAAAAH BLAHBLAH. OH BLAH. BLAH BLEE BLUH BLOH BLAH. BLOOB BLOOB BLAH DEE BLAHAH. BLAH.
Incredibly interesting conversation. I'm sure they're just lovely people once you get to know them.

The letters

I wrote three letters today. One for Prime Minister Rudd, one for my Member of Parliament Ms. Ellis (who is also a minister) and one for Minister Conroy who thinks he has the right to filter my and other people's internet.

Back to more earthly matters. We needed to do a washing.

The two little birdies are still flapping around our garden.

In the afternoon we went to the Rundle street market to get some poffertjes. Boy they tasted good!

On our way home we stopped at Cibo where I had banana and Ace.