A weekend in Adelaide

 
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2015 is shaping up to be the year of the away wedding. We were invited to the wedding of a colleague I met in Afghanistan last year, but had to decline. As wonderful as a wedding in Yosemite would have been, Adelaide is a bit closer than California – and a little more on budget!

We had invitations to two weddings last weekend, and were delighted to be able to celebrate with special friends. We had booked flights months ago, but saved accommodation until last week. We booked at the Grand Chancellor on Hindley, mostly because of the swimming pool as that would be sure to entertain MacK.

We drove to Melbourne, before flying out to Adelaide. We planned our times so that we would be able to get in a pizza and beer at the Able Baker Charlie restaurant in the Melbourne Airport before departure. Restaurant food certainly ain’t what it used to be – and the prices weren’t too hefty either. We had a couple of really nice pizzas. The dough was OK, with well considered toppings the hero. A pretty good range of craft beers and ciders make this a destination well worth considering. What topped it off was catching up with one of the guys I deployed overseas with. It was really good to have a catch up!

 Jane and MacK with our Able Baker Charlie pizza

The hotel was right in the middle of Adelaide’s sheesha/porn/strip club/dodgy nightclub strip, but very well appointed. The aforementioned pool was kept at a really good temperature and the spa was lovely too. After a swim for MacK and I, and a nap for Jane, we ventured out looking for something to eat. MacK’s only request was for sausages. Would you believe that we walked for at least an hour without finding anything suitable? (Over the next day or so we would see dozens of funky little places tucked away in lanes, but nothing on Friday!)

We eventually turned into a pub called the Woolshed (directly over the road from the hotel), only to find that their kitchen had just closed. The chef directed us to their steak restaurant down the adjacent alley, and we were able to take one of the last tables. The restaurant was called the Little Hunter, and we wholeheartedly recommend it, unless you are a vegetarian (probably won’t be much good me recommending anything in that case). They were able to get the bangers and mash from the pub brought in to the restaurant, and moved us inside when a table freed up. They had an extensive range of beers and ciders on tap (including White Rabbit), and the wines we tried were very good. The steak I had was one of the best I have ever had, and Jane’s wasn’t far behind. It was lucky we were so close to the hotel, as MacK lay down in Jane’s lap and went to sleep (first time for everything, apparently).

We were up early for another swim (0630), and then off for breakfast, a walk and then a visit to Haigh’s Chocolate. Suitably supplied, we toddled off back to the hotel via a gothic/steampunk clothing store. Just perfect, since our next big party will be Simone’s 40^th birthday- with steampunk theme.

 

      

We dressed for the ceremony, with MacK wearing a waistcoat that I first wore 38 years prior at Fred and Raewyn’s wedding. The wedding was at 1:00pm, with the reception at 7:00pm. Both were in the Adelaide Town Hall, which was very close to where we were staying.  The service was lovely, and the break meant we had time for lunch, a sleep and another swim. We ate at the Afghan Charcoal Grill (Hindley St), and the food was sensational. The rice was to die for, and I think we will have to go to California to get Suraya to teach me how to make it.

 The organ in the Dining Room

 The beautiful ceiling in the 'chapel'

You know you are in for a good night when entering a room to see a bottle of Hennessey cognac on each table, along with the wines. The food was excellent, and the wines were well matched. The bride and groom did a cognac toast at each table – and there were 18 of them! MacK was very well behaved, and made a couple of friends at the kid’s table. He took 267 photographs of the night until the battery died. We have a lot of photos of his fingers…

We flew out of Adelaide on Sunday morning, after yet another spa and swim session. MacK fell asleep as we commenced our descent into Melbourne and didn’t wake up until we drove into Wodonga, He was well rested – Jane and I not so much! We had a great weekend, and I am looking forward to going back to Adelaide to explore a little more!

 Us, after the ceremony

MacK, in my old waistcoat.

 We had a bit of fun with the photo booth!