March 2026

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1st - Cam's parents and the Turnbull girls went to the Adelaide Motorsport Festival. IT reminded Paulie of her brother Jim's racing experience - New Zealand's oldest rookie Formula 2 (F2) racer . Paulie enjoyed herself so much that she stayed on after Olivia, Cam and his parents left. She got close to the action. Meanwhile Nick and Jess, who flew into Adelaide the day before, joined Stephen at Grange Beach for a big lunch for birthday boy.
. That night it was dinner at Cafe di Roma and a cake from Murrati's. 2nd - Cams Mum joined Olivia and Cam on their morning run And the Trio made their way 40 minutes south to McLaren Vale. The cube at d'Arenberg vineyard was first stop
It is interesting in a tourist magnet kind of way. Piles of Dali works, but an average tasting. Nick lived in Spain near Dali's gallery so had seen enough of his work for a lifetime. Instead they went to a tasting at the pleasant Alpha Box & Dice vineyard down the road. 3rd - No visit to Adelaide is complete without a visit to The Hills. Having seen enough vineyards, they headed back to town Change of pace at Norwood .
Nick hoping that his scores were more favourable. Then it was home for Stephen As the Fringe Festival was in full swing, Jess and Nick went to an event each evening. Nick was the star in a magic show that evening. Stephen just made it to Jess & Nick's hotel the for big hugs and off they went. Lovely visit 4th - Stephen rode the 13km to David and Jane's to collect David and then cycle back to AthoTurnbull Aussie HQ for lunch
7th - at last, extra storage delivered and was put together. On return from France Stephen plans to lay a concrete slab so it is properly anchored. It won't move as it has a full industrial shelf inside 7th - Olivia & Cam spent the long weekend camping by the Murray River at Ramco near Waikerie Whilst mother contemplated life in the Brompton garden And then sorted some more boxes in the garage.
8th - Happy aquatic campers Friends had joined Olivia & Cam 9th - returning from camping, The guys dropped in. Olivia measured Cam for his kilt which will be worn in May at his pal's wedding in Glasgow .
10th - an evening visit to Grange Beach seemed sensible given Paulie was to start being locked in planes for 24hours the next day . . 11th - Paulie braved what work was ahead at La Cachette after the February floods
Sadly Stephen had to stay in Adelaide to finish gardening and house tasks before an American renter was to arrive 16 days later 12th - Paulie survived the 17.5 hour flight from Perth to Paris and then the flight to Toulouse and was reintroduced to the village by the Docherty men. Then it was to work. Electricity was at last working. Destroyed stuff was collected by helper and friend Karianne to take to the déchetterie External damage was assessed and photographed ready to add to the insurance claim.
In la cave (basement) water reached the ceiling. Some of the plaster ceiling collapsed, so Paulie sourced quotes (devis). It clearly needed another timber joist Back in Adelaide Stephen took a break and cycled around the River Torrens Linear Trail which runs from the sea to the hills. Joining it is easy from their house. 15th -Stephen did more odd job and gardening in the Adelaide home
And Paulie took time to walk and get out into the mostly cold days. 17th - She collected her bike - one of three that were submerged in La Cachette's garage. It required a service. Hopefully insurance will pay for that. It became apparent that the reed fence would also need replacing - another quote to source and pass on to the insurance assessor. The materials for the paving of certain areas of the village (mostly up Rue Droite) were dumped against La Cachette's flood damaged fence. This added to the damage.
17th - The local Rugby seniors win the coveted Rugby 82 plaque . 18th - who needs an alarm to wake in the morning? Each morning the paving support team tractored in to move gravel and pavers. The hope was that the paving was to be completed soon, and the mess cleared up It was more than an eyesore at the front gate.
On the La Cachette side of the fence, Paulie had to find firewood that had floated away . Order in the garden started to return. Outside, pavers continued to be delivered...
... and the paving guru continued his work 19th/20th - In Adelaide autumn colours and flowering roses were enjoyed by a somewhat lonely resident . .
With her newly serviced bike, Paulie explored the countryside. There were plenty of signs of the previous month's flood damage . .
20th - Paulie wasn't the only one tackling hills - Cam and Olivia took their morning running to the foothiils behind Burnside. As well as the seaside in the evening Followed by rosé for sunset After dinner with pals David & Jane, Stephen caught up with James in Oxford. He will come to France in May (as are Cam and Olivia).
21st - Back in France, Karianne and Paulie had a coffee at "Mamie Angele" on Boulevard des Thermes That afternoon Wendy and David turned up to accelerate the return of order in the garden . .
The long overdue fig pruning. . 22nd - Stephen happily accepted an invitation to a "turf and Surf" dinner at Cam & Olivia's ... ... and then headed home to chat to Paulie at French HQ
23rd - Paulie was back to work cleaning tools and clearing the garden beds . 24th - The river was almost back to normal (but in reality flooding is normal as well) The paving of Rue Droite had nothing to offer Paulie and Stephen except disruption & mess.
. 25th - Stephen has never been fond of eating out alone, but this was Paulie & Stephen's table at Cafe di Roma. 26th - the last task at the Adelaide home was to build in the back of the garage with help from a builder/musician (PhD in conducting) pal of a friend. And that closed the door to chores at the AthoTurnbull home in Adelaide until at least October.
27th - Stephen spent the previous night with Olivia & Cam as he prepared to collect their American renter flying in from KL in the morning. That night Stephen moved to David & Jame's for 2 nights. His flight to France was not until the 30th. The hosts were at the long weekend wedding of daughter Jessica in the Barossa. A lovely mix of natural vegetation with a touch of running stream intervention. 28th - Service with a smile. Stephen showed their tenant around Adelaide city and the Hills. A local koala woke up to say hi at Mount Lofty
Olivia's long time pal, Michele, dropped in for a few days from the Gold Coast. The gals went to Aldinga for a lovey evening meal Whilst back in France, Paulie took time off from her house recovery plan to exercise on her newly serviced bike .
29th - Stephen's last night in Australia was at Cam & Olivia's. Meanwhile in France Paulie visited the gals at the salon. After dinner it was time to hop into their Easter PJs care of Cam's Mum. 30th - time to head to Perth and then on the 17.5 hour flight to Paris.
By keeping an eye online at the seating on the flight, Stephen spotted an empty row and quickly booked it just before check in closed. Very pleased with himself! 31st - Stephen arrived in Toulouse around midday and was rested enough to stay up late for apero with Storm, Michael and Julia. A nice way to end the month