Hello Australia: All Change, The First Glimpse of Down Under
- Two's Company
- Oct 14, 2025
- 4 min read
We seriously could not have written it. The universe, or just our witty flight attendant, was having a right laugh. From take-off from Bali to coming into land in Adelaide, she offered up a comedy set that rivalled any stand-up. "If you notice any unusual behaviour going on," she spoke, "let me know and I’ll come down and sort them out!" That got a chuckle, but she nailed the landing joke with: “Welcome to Adelaide, and kids, enjoy being back at school tomorrow!”
Chasing the Seasons – A Whirlwind of 10,000 Miles
Changing climates? We’ve just lived it. Our week-long, 10,000 mile journey has been a lesson in extreme weather, going from a scorching 38 degrees in Dubai to a humid 30 degrees in Bali, only to be greeted by a sudden, refreshing 14 degrees and a breeze in South Australia. And you know what? It felt like... home!
Neither of us really thought we would ever venture this far from our little corner of the world in Barnoldswick, East Lancashire. Yet, here we are. It felt strangely familiar when our first real exchange was at a bus stop, talking about Manchester, Birmingham, Scarborough, Whitby and London.
Then, naturally, the conversation moved to the all-important question: “How do you think you will do in the Ashes?” You can see that cricket is in the DNA here. As we came into land, you could not count the number of pristine, green ovals!
A Walk Through History: Adelaide's Echoes of Home
On Monday, October 13th, strolling through the streets of North Adelaide, the city's unique blend of old and new, history and spectacle, became brilliantly clear.
We started on a road where every few feet, a brass plaque gave gravitas to the works and endurance of famous people who had lived here. There was the legendary Donald Bradman halfway along, a great of cricket whose presence speaks volumes about the sporting pride of this place.
South Australia National Memorial: A Deep Connection
We made our way along the magnificent ANZAC Centenary Memorial Walk, at its end we came across a striking cenotaph dedicated to those from South Australia who fell in France and Belgium during the First World War.
The historical and personal links to our own nation were immediately apparent. Within the cenotaph are hundreds of names, and it was notable to see a person named who represented the East Lancashire Regiment.
Just a few years ago, we stood at the Menin Gate in Belgium, right around the time Prince Charles became King. It feels ironic now that these brave men who fell, served when King George V, Charles’ great grandfather was king.
The connection between Australia and the Commonwealth is a powerful, visible thread here, one that speaks to shared sacrifice and a continuing, evolving bond. Although Australia may one day realise becoming a republic and ending the status of a Commonwealth Realm, history will always carry a magnificent story of deliverance from symbolic colonial Britain.
A Shining Example of Enlightenment
The State Library of South Australia is a stunning masterpiece. It’s not just about the literature; it's a grand vision of how people learn from each other. Its focus on education, is so evident and so crucial in modern thinking.
It is a shining example of how a library should be engaging and specifically designed to articulate political understanding, knowledge and background to young people.
It is a place where they can truly take an independent, informed and knowledgeable understanding with them to the voting booth. Frankly, the British Isles has much to learn from this brilliant approach.
First Peoples
Today Australia has a complex history and has a vastly diverse population. Adelaide is a city that honours its origins.
The South Australian Museum offers a fascinating trail of First Nations people. Australia is home to hundreds of First Nations people, each with their own culture, customs, language and laws.
Importantly, Adelaide is the only Australian state capital with Native Title, with the Kaurna people officially recognised in 2018.
Sensory Overload and Flying Foxes: The Spectacle of Nature in the Gardens
The Botanic Gardens in Adelaide are stunning. The sheer spectacle of nature is overwhelming.
The canopy of trees in parts towers above your head, with trunks so wide that five or six men would struggle to reach around their circumference. From the delicate beauty of roses and water lilies to the sharp needles of cacti, the abundance of aroma, colour and the sound of birds is a wonderful sensory overload.
As the afternoon sun hits, however, you get a chilling sight: the silent, almost complete stillness of the grey-headed flying foxes. They hang like a colony of bats, dozing upside down, it's sinister, to say the least!
In contrast, we were treated to the bright splash of colour and almost dance-like movements of the Eastern Rosella, alongside the familiar, loud crackle of cockatoos.
So, we made it. From Barnoldswick to the botanic beauty and historical depth of Adelaide. The few hours here so far have shown us a city that is witty, proud, deeply connected to history and utterly beautiful.
It has been quite the week, and we are still unpacking our thoughts about today’s adventure, but we adore Adelaide that is for certain. (On that note: a little mystery for you? What’s in Pig's suitcase?)
So glad you set this app up for me.l love your blogs.x