16th - Pals flew in to Adelaide for Paulie's birthday retreat. Storm flew in from Brisbane and soon after Helen (Paulie's long time pal from Auckland) did the same. The girls had a walk around the gardens in town.
2The team stayed in the Majestic apartments in North Adelaide. The duo had stayed there for work and play before.
3Storm & Helen got to know each other.
47th - Paulie's birthday! Michael stayed too. He had been in a city hotel, but joined the crew in the 3 bedrrom apartment. Breakfast was served before the crew headed to the Hills. Michael headed to his sister as it was also her birthday. Although in palliative care, she was alert enough to enioy. He returned to France on the 17th - two days after his sister died.
5Birthday gifts were unwrapped.
6The team headed for Mount Torrens in the Adelaide Hills. Stephen arriveded first with the baggage and shopping. Paulie borrowed Olivia's car. Michael came later after time with his sister.
7Birthday girl arrived
8On arrival Stephen did not have the code for the key safe. Always a keen climber, he noted an open window and climbed the wall (seen on right) and let himself in :-)
9Time to open a bubbles to complement the pizzas that were ready to prepare.
10And then Olivia and boyfriend Cam arrived
11Night one... pizzas
12Co-chef Helen and Stephen enjoyed their work
13And then pre-dinner drinks. Michael made his way up from the city after spending the day with his sister Liz.
14And dinner was done.
158th - local friends were due so the girls discussed the lunch plans.
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17Pals Greg and Rosie Egan, Jane Andrews and husband David Baker came up from the city. Greg & Rosie stayed the night
18David gives his BBQ tips for Weber coal trained Chef Stephen
19Greg adds to the collective wisdom.
20Clearly there were also wise words from Jane. We assume the girls were discussing ironing out any issues at SA Health.
21The team from France chill
22Lunch is served
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27A lovely cake from Muratti's on Prospect Road
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32The bonding continued into the evening
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369th - The morning after. All scrubbed up pretty well.
37Paulie takes the girls to the Lobethal Bierhaus
38And Olivia and Cam enjoyed the Solitude
39Sunday lunch at Lobethal Wines vineyard before the team decamped from the "The Barn" where they were staying.
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4410th - Paulie took Storm to the d'Arenberg vneyard in McLaren Vale, home of "the cube" and it's Dali art. Storm flew out that evening.
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46Whilst Paulie took Storm on their art expedition (and a nice lunch there), Stephen set up shop in Crafers in the Adelaide Hills.
47This ex-Buddhist retreat on Mt Lofty Road was lovely with views of the sea and Adelaide city. Only 20 minutes to the city, but felt like another world.
4811th - time to chill
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50The 6 nights there were lovely.
5112th - sunset over Adelaide
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5314th - the guys drove to Oakbank with their bikes and cycled on the Amy Gillett bikeway to Mt Torrens where they had spent Paulie's birthday
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55They passed some lovely scenery such as the "Barrister's Block" vineyard on their 32 km pedal.
5615th - the sun rose on the last full day at the lovely Crafers retreat
57A few hours earlier Olivia and Cam both headed to the domestic terminal for a flight to Sydney. Cam was off to the Philippines with a pal. Olivia was off to Sri Lanka with Michelle. It was time to toast to a safe trip.
58Olivia's Qantas pilot pal Millie happened to be on call so they caught up. A Captain? That made Stephen feel very old.
59Michelle flew in to Sydney Airport and Olivia met her there
60Meanwhile in Brisbane Nick decorates the cake his Auntie Olga made for Nick's grandma Margaret's 90th birthday party (her birthday was on the 10th)
61Not only that... Nick's friend Jess tells us that he made these apple pies himself. Maybe under some guidance from Jess given she was a pastry chef before becoming a psychologist 😃
62The catering team at work
63VIDEO - Nick's Auntie Martine asked attendees why they were at the party. Nick has his say.
6416th - the girls arrived in Sri Lanka safe and sound for their 2 week adventure
65Dambulla cave temple (In Sinhala: දඹුල්ල රජ මහා විහාරය) in Dambulla, central Sri Lanka
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68Up they go
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71In Adelaide Paulie & Stephen left the retreat in Crafers (a home exchange - their hosts get the French house if they wish) and collected Michael. After a lunch at West Beach the trio headed to Grange to see the 1800's terrace houses ....
72...and adjacent pier
7319th - Olivia and Michelle headed for Ella
74A landslide meant that the train had to stop
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77A landslide meant that the train couldn't go all of the way.
78On arrival decisions had to be made - Coconut milk or....
79...tea?
8019th - The duo found the route to the Torrens cycle path from Olivia's and head to Henley Beach South. Lovely.
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82Looking back to the city and the Adelaide Hills beyond.
83To earn their keep, the guys removed dead poppies and planted some sunflowers in Olivia's wee garden
84Video - the poppies were nearly finished their business but the local bees haven't finished their work.
85Olivia recently purchased some planter boxes made from recycled pallets. The guys added soil and various herbs and vegetables (or technically fruit in the case of tomatoes).
8621st - Paulie attended a short story class led by author Cate Kennedy
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88Meanwhile in Sri Lanka, the girls get to the Udawalawe National park
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90Cooking class. Paulie & Stephen were expecting some fine meals care of these new skills.
91Olivia and Mich are on Safari
92Meeting Dumbo-ji is a highlight
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9422nd - Pal Jon Outridge, now retired from GP land, wanted a change of scenery so he drove to Adelaide and spent two nights with the duo and then 2 nights with his pals John and Krystina. Paulie and Stephen met them over lunch at a local Greek Taverna the next day later. Nice guys.
95A wander around the Torrens near The Uni of Adelaide (soon to be "Adelaide Uni" after they merge with Uni SA)
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97Then they headed to Angove Family Winemakers in McLaren Vale for lunch. Delicious!
9823rd - Jon's turn to make breakfast.
99This was taken well after breakfast!
10024th - lively Prospect Road is a short cycle from Olivia's flat. Morning coffee time.
10125th - In England it was Keno's birthday outing to Blenheim Palace. Keno's dad Ewald came across from Germany to spend some time with the lads.
102They then headed into London to see St Paul's and other sites.
103From the 23rd -27th the gals spent time around Hiriketiya beach
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105Time to hit the Indian Ocean surf
106VIDEO - Olivia developed a new skill
107And was pleased about it
10828th - James connected in from Oxford to catch Stephen in bed with bed hair.
109Later that day. A VERY low Sodium (Na) level saw Paulie in the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) Emergency Department
11029th - Paulie was admitted to RAH. All patients get their own rooms. Sodium infusions commenced.
111Mobile nurse Atherton cycled to hospital in the early hours to keep the patient company and keep and eye on her.
112Olivia and Michelle headed to The National Maritime Museum with in the Galle Fort grounds (the Dutch built the fort in the 1670s).
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114The Galle Lighthouse. The duo stayed in Negombo until their much delayed flight back to Sydney. Floods in Sri Lanka had killed hundreds and also on arrival in Sydney they discovered that many planes in the international fleet of Airbus A320s were grounded which delayed domestic flights.
115The month came to a close with Paulie being well cared for by the excellent RAH staff. Assistant Nurse Atherton put Paulie to sleep when required by reading to her. She remained in hospital until December 3rd
