Adelaide December 2025

 

 

Day 10/50

Last night’s adventure could be summed up very easily with reference to the amazing film Planes, Trains and Automobiles, but add on Feral cat fights and motorcycle drag racing

Even with earplugs and headphones on over top, last night’s smoking hot deal of $45 for the Airbnb room with free laundry services did have some downfalls.

So up and at em at 4 AM again.

Did a bunch of computer work and then off to the mall for 8 AM to hit the money exchange, grab some breakfast and do a bit of shopping.

At the airport for noon and flew out at 3 PM. Front row seat 1A in a plane that held about 300 people. Only cost an extra nine dollars. Because Airport food is insane compared to North America, I went to the lounge and had an all you can eat lunch and filled my backpack with cans of soda and some extra sandwiches. Unfortunately, this put the weight of my backpack over by 3 kg and the airline wanted to charge me an extra $75 so I gave away all my pop and sandwiches to some families and once it was under 7 kg I got on the plane.

One hour flight to Adelaide went quickly and when we landed, it was 35°! Thank goodness some summer weather at last!

Walked a mile, but got downstairs and found my amazing friends and hosts for the week George and Melissa Sadiwnyk.

When I first met George in Calgary in the early 90s, we became best of friends immediately.

Once he heard my name, I instantly achieved the nickname FrostyBoy, as Moroz in Ukranian directly translates to ‘Frost’. It didn’t take long before we were singing in a choir and playing in a band together. His vibrant personality, lust for life, strong

family commitment, and a deep seeded faith in Ukrainian Catholicism was incredibly infectious, and he became a pivotal friend for life.

In the early 2000s after he and Melissa married, I was devastated when they chose to move to Australia for him to pursue his career and passion in chiropractic work. They travelled home to Calgary every year or two for a quick visit, but it was never the same as all the time we spent together in our band Absolute and choir Korinnya.

We had the greatest pleasure of spending a week with them in December 2010 touring Adelaide and swore we would be back every five years for a visit.

15 years disappeared, and I have finally made it back to this beautiful country and even though I only have a week to visit, I assure you we will fill each and every moment making memories and sharing stories and catching up on our families, careers and lives.

We grabbed a quick bite to eat in Adelaide, walked around for a bit and then headed to Gawler to see their beautiful new home and get settled in for the week.

Though I’m not a big drinker, George introduced me to the sweet succulence of Crown Royal when we first met and it has been our beverage of choice ever since. Extremely difficult to get at an affordable price in Australia, it was imperative that I arrived with a bottle - and even though it took four flights to get here with this monster 1.75 L jug of golden nectar, we toasted many a thing tonight watching some hockey highlights sharing stories just like old times.

If I said it once, l’ll say it 100 times, God has blessed me far greater than I ever deserve. 

Looking forward to an amazing week with the best of friends. 

Day 11/50

The iPad alarm goes off for no reason at 4am. Sigh.

Back to sleep but up at 7. Breakfast and then dog walking for an hour.

‘Mr Huxley’ - resident 5 year old Hungarian Vizsla has the stamina of a 6 month old puppy and dragged me around the neighbourhood. I swear both my arms are an extra inch longer.

Back to the house for a quick outfit, change and out the door for a chiropractic tuneup with Dr. George at their new office.

Did a little shopping for orthotic flip-flops and then off to run errands and hit two wineries , Wolf Blass and Jacobs Creek. Spent a couple hundred dollars on some high-end wines that you can only get in Australia that aren’t exported.

Drove through Angaston - city of churches. Stone work everywhere - began in 1842.

Quick bite to eat at the chocolate factory and off to Novotel Tinunda Pines golf course or around the 18 holes at two with the temperature hovering around 40°. Thank goodness we got a stiff breeze. We consumed multiple litres of water and maybe one cold beer and had a fantastic round.

The biggest dilemma where the 25 flies buzzing around my head with no less than 10 Landing on my face at one time for the entire afternoon. It was beyond infuriating and difficult to focus and play your best.

Back home passed a dead, kangaroo and possum on the road, followed by an amazing surf and turf meal of steak, shrimp and potato salad, followed by a few hours of canasta and hockey highlights and called it a day at 11 PM. A blazing hot day in the Australian sun, making some wonderful memories outdoors. 

Day 11-12/50

Adelaide

It’s been a couple relaxing days of sleeping in, walking the dog and exploring the city, a bit of yard work and prepping for a Christmas party gig with George’s band Midnight Train! Saturday night we headed into the city and played a few sets where I didn’t have to be the lead singer or hauling tons of band gear in and setup for a change! Sweet!

Thank you Georgie boy for letting me up on stage to join you for a night of great music and people! 

Sunday Dec 7 - Day 13/50

Sadiwnyk Sunday

After almost 2 weeks of being away from home without family, I am beyond thankful to have been adopted by George and Melissa and their kids as I imposed myself upon them for a week during this down under adventure.

Sundays are very traditional to them and today was extremely special and I was so glad to be a part of it.

It began with a trip into the city to attend a most incredible church and religious experience. George and their boys Christian/Zachary play in the worship band that kickstarts the service and it is quite simply a Christian rock concert.

My Sunday mornings at St Albert The Great Roman Catholic Parish in Calgary has very upbeat, phenomenal music that I miss tremendously while on my trip, but this morning was an outstanding thing to be a part of.

After church, we came home for a huge family brunch in celebration of their youngest daughter Gabriella leaving for a seven week trip to Canada early tomorrow morning.

Melissa made the most incredible shredded lamb with all the fixings for wraps and we ate out in the garden under a beautiful blue sky and a warm spring day thankful for all God’s blessings.

George and I video chatted with our dear friend Placy and his wife back in Canada.

Company dropped by off and on as many stories were told and so very much laughter.

Several toddlers provided great entertainment with their enthusiasm and energy!

The day literally flew by and ended with a bit of hockey highlights on television and off to bed for an early start tomorrow.

The most wonderful way to spend day 13 of 50. 

Monday Dec 8 - Day 14/50

Frozen feet before bed meant two hours to get core body temp up so not a great night of sleep.

Breakfast/Coffee, chat with Mom/Dad and out the door to the Gawler Train Station for a one hour trip to downtown Adelaide for $4.

Arianna joined me as my tour guide and we arrived downtown lickety split. We headed to Adelaide University to get her student card renewed and check to see if she could pick up her diploma from a couple years back. Success on both accounts!

We you’re the Uni campus for a bit then heeded to the Adelaide Art Gallery where there were over 20 galleries with art from around the world. Fascinating place!

The Adelaide Museum next door was very similar to Calgary’s in that it was three floors of rocks, bones, dinosaurs, wife and a wee bit of indigenous material. The one highlight was the giant 3 floor high Squid!

At 2pm, we toured the South Australia Parliament Buildings. Australia having 6 states and 2 territories has its own state building and it’s quite massive and majestic. 2/3 built in the mid 1800s and the other third in 1939, we were able to tour the Upper Parliament ( all in Red - 22 seats - of which the Labour Party in leadership holds 10 ). The Lower Parliament ( all in green - 47 seats of which 22 are Labour and the rest a mix of Liberal and independents ) was being used for retirement speeches as the last day of government sitting was Nov 23rd and the next election is in March. Representatives are now all in their home ridings working hard(trying to get re-elected) over the next 4 months. Upper are 4 year terms and Lower are 8 year terms with 50% turnover every 4 years.

I was able to sit in the Head Chair as the only Canadian on the tour. 

Out the door and down through the main streets filled with the lunchtime crowd and many Christmas shoppers and into a sushi joint for lunch. Giant sushi rolls compared to Canada but delicious.

Into Kmart of all places to buy a glow in the dark gold shirt for $8 and some festive Christmas boxers and socks that say ‘Merry ChristMoose!’ Seemed oddly Canadian.

Resisted many urges to buy a Wiggles scrubs shirt with pockets for $27.

Picked up a postcard for my high maintenance Carstairs colleague and down the steps to the riverside for a good hike before getting onto the train for the $6.60 rush hour ride home.

Fantastic taco salad, supper and a drive out to the countryside to watch the sunset into the ocean.

Back home for another round of canasta or Ariana and I teamed up and laid a good old fashioned whoopin on George and Melissa before bedtime.

I do believe I have worn out my welcome and it’s time to book a flight out of town on Wednesday! Lol

Another phenomenal day in Adelaide!! 

Tuesday December ninth - day 15/50

My last day in the Gawler/Adelaide area was all about Golf. We played 18 holes at Sandy Creek followed by another nine holes near the ocean in Adelaide called Patawalonga or The Pat.

Lunch was a giant bag of KFC for the family.

Ran some errands, got some groceries and walked Mr. Huxley another 5 km in the 35° heat before supper.

A nice relaxing evening with some television and ice cold Corona before calling it a night at 11 PM. Another incredible day in southern Australia! 

Wednesday Dec 10th - Day 16

Travel Day! Always a little

stressful getting everything packed carefully and not forgetting anything. 2 big lattes and one very long ATA meeting online and out the door for a one hour drive to the airport.

Quick stop at Costco to fuel up and a huge transport truck almost sideswiped us leaving the fuel area. Wow what a jerk.

Arrived at the airport with only 2 hours til my flight and feeling very rushed but Australia has a strict check in policy. Bag drop opens 2 hours before the flight and closes 1 hour before the flight so it’s dead as a doornail at check in and then there’s like hundreds of people lined up in a frenzy.

STRICT BAGGAGE WEIGHT POLICY not only on checked bags but carry ons and personal items.

If you are over 7kg on your carryon or backpack, you pay HUGE! $75!! So here I am 3kg over on luggage and 3kg over on Backpack.

Here we go layering up like Joey Tribbiani on Friends and SWEATING BULLETS IN THE AIRPORT. Thank God for air conditioning - pockets jammed full of battery chargers and flashlight and big headphones - bag weight done and big sticker saying Under 7kg and off to the plane. 30 degree tarmac and I’m stripping clothes off like an ecstatic skinny dipper while heading to the rear stairs of the plane before literally BURSTING INTO FLAMES - phew - made it - get seated and make the sign of the cross and say a little prayer for another boarding adventure behind me. 5 flights down 3 to go.

90 minutes later over some very interesting changes in terrain, arrived at the Sydney airport, grab my luggage and met my brother-in-law Devin for the drive south to Cronulla.

Giant steak, vegetables, and beer for supper!

Told a bunch of stories and got caught up and called it a day! Two solid days of rain and cool temperatures to kick off the week while looking forward to being in Sydney!