Today I caught up with my dear friend Jan, a former colleague I hadn't seen in years. She treated me to lunch at Joe's in Henley Beach, where we chatted endlessly while taking in the stunning coastal views.

After lunch, we naturally took a walk along the beach....something we both thoroughly enjoyed. 

It was a little windy ....we had such a lovely time together.

In the late afternoon Janine and I went for a long walk to Tennyson Beach, north of Grange Beach. 

Unusual sky....choppy water...and a little windy but nice and cool...

.....Grange Jetty....The coastline around Adelaide has so many jetties largely because of its geography, history and lifestyle. The natural coastline along Gulf St Vincent is very shallow. Ships historically couldn't get close to shore, so long jetties were built to extend out into deeper water for loading and unloading goods and passengers. 

 

Early morning walk with Janine ....

Cool and cloudy for our walk ....but the sun came out later...I enjoyed seeing so many interesting stones and shells on the sand....

Janine and I could see this building from the beach....I was quite interested to see it up close. This beautiful building in the Marine Reserve on the Esplanade in Grange is known as the Marine Terraces. Built in 1882-1884, they are iconic, heritage listed three-story Victorian Terrace houses. They are the only ones of their kind built on the Australian coastline.

Today Barb and I ventured into the city via public transport while the others went on a wine tour. After a little shopping we visited the South Australian Art Gallery. It was awesome, so many interesting rooms to wander into.

This stunning table was built with 30,000 pieces of wood ...unbelievable...

I'm always excited to see  original famous paintings.... "A Break Away" painted by Tom Roberts...

I could have stayed at the gallery all day....

These paintings are a collection of those painted by Clarice Becket. Clarice is  one of Australia's most important painters of the 1920s and 1930s. Her everyday scenes and still lifestyle are celebrated for their beauty, as well as for their capacity to evoke emotional responses. I loved them all.

Quite an interesting installation "Absence Embodied " by Chiharu Shiota...explores memory, life, death and the body, creating a "web of waking life and fading memories".

Next stop....the State Library of South Australia ....the library occupies several buildings....this is the Mortlock Chamber which features a barrel-vaulted skylight, cast-iron balconies and polished timber floors. There are so many books....

After a delicious lunch at the library cafe Barb and I continues our walk along North Terrace  ...above is Bonython Hall ...a Great hall building of the University of Adelaide.

We continued walking to the Adelaide Botanic Garden....the crepe myrtles were in flower ...the same colour as Barb's jacket....it was an ideal day to stroll in the garden.

 

After a good night's sleep we were all up bright and early to go and play at Mount Osmond Golf Club (one of our reciprocal clubs). Anna is in this photo. 

Janine's two sisters, Bronwyn and Deidre, who live in Adelaide, joined us.

Mardi was first off the tee. The course looked fantastic ...

There were undulating fairways and many elevation changes.....and quite challenging greens.

Jane E and Jane W are on the green of this par three....the surrounding bush was beautiful.

The view from some of the holes was incredible...lucky it was such a clear day...

AND we saw an echidna on the course...he didn't seem to mind that we were close...

The course is situated on top of Mt Osmond in Adelaide's eastern suburbs...and you can see all the way to Gulf St Vincent.

Me putting on one of the par threes ....

Jane E on the tee...I loved the trees....

The clubhouse opened in 1930 ....during WWII the clubhouse was used as a convalescent hospital. Legendary Australian cricketer Don Bradman was a long-time member and  won club championships there. It was a beautiful clubhouse and we all enjoyed a drink and a chat after our game. 

 

At the Perth airport waiting to board our flight to Adelaide ...from the left , there is Kelly, Mardi, Barb, Janine,Jane E, Jane W and me. (Anna was around somewhere )

I think it was my first time travelling with Virgin Airlines...such a short flight to Adelaide...I had a good book to read.

Adelaide Airport....me with my clubs ....

Four of us are in one house and four in another so that we could all have  our own bedroom. I just loved mine....

Jane W, Janine, Barb and I were in one house....Kelly, Jane E, Mardi and Anna were in the other ...we had this quirky front door....

Drinks in our outdoor area.....

Our house is a 10 minute walk to Grange Beach. The weather was glorious and the beach looked fantastic...

Grange Jetty

....it was great to stretch our legs, we had been sitting for most of the day.

Sunset from our west facing balcony....

....and the view from our bedroom window facing east. It was extraordinary.

 

Opening Day at the Western Australian Golf Club....Majorie, our Ladies President is on the balcony welcoming everyone .

Listening to Marjorie .....

Ruth , our Captain hitting the first ball of the season down the first fairway....a tradition....

This his her second year as Captain...we are so lucky to have her, she is a wonderful Captain and a good friend.

Gumnuts, gumnuts everywhere....we have had grey and pink cockatoos, corella's and the beautiful red tailed cockatoos pruning our trees for the last few months...

Irene was my partner today in a 9 hole Ambrose game...we had an enjoyable morning on the course and a very pleasant lunch ...

 

Pete and his mates on the golf course....Rod, Simon and Eugene...all good golfers and friendly chaps.