See, there is an advantage to having to work weekends – time off during the week. So on Wednesday four of us (Jo works in the ED and her cousin / cousin-in-law) went off to the Barossa to start working a slow way round the wineries.

We managed four wineries after a brief stop at the Whispering wall, or Barossa reservoir. The dam was built as a perfect semicircle, on similar priciples to St Pauls. The grandeur’s missing, though. There were a couple already there so we talked to him from 25m away – although I suspect that he didn’t actually need any amplification. When it works properly, the voice sounds like it is coming from 2” in front, which is cool.





But to important matters. Bethany winery was good – beautiful views, almond tree, and I’m going to have to go back to sample the wine again (and the 5l bottle of port – I thought of you, Susie). They did a good rose, and good Shiraz. Similarly Rockford which is the old hut-like building in the piccie, complete with sprayed on 50yr old cobwebs. They do a very unusual wine called Alicante Bouchet which is a red juiced grape – worth a try. It’s light, low alcohol (unless you’re drinking it in pints -10%) and like strawberries.

The next two weren’t as good, although the Barossa is worth a visit for food – local cheese, meat with a glass of wine. Two Hands was just disappointing. Obviously they think of themselves as a little bit exclusive-boutiquey. But the £50 Shiraz just missed.

We floated back to Adelaide (except Jo, thankfully as she had the steering wheel), and then went to Warrawong which is a field with a few brown furry animals. OK, it’s a sanctuary of native plants where animals have been able to establish themselves. So we patted the kangaroos, saw platypuses (they’re tiny – about 20cm), wallabies, potaroos, and tiny animals called Bilongs which puff themselves up to ask “who you looking at?” even though they’re only 6” high. Great attitude.




And handily it’s very close to a very good pizza parlour.

Sadly I had to work on Thursday. And I’ll leave you with some photos taken by one of the pharmacists to show you Thursday evening. And to prove that I’m really not writing this from a cupboard in Peterborough.