There once was a Paddy called Howie,
who was running quite short on his dosh,
To the station he made,
Arrived in Adelaide,
Now he lives somewhere awfully posh.
Howie's Theme by Jennie Wogan, 2010

Inevitably, the time has come to begin to draw comparisons between Sydney and Adelaide. Yes, we've only been here for a couple of days but we are complete experts. Trust me.

We've not really seen any of the Adelaide sights yet, ie. we haven't been to the zoo to see the pandas, but we are now offically residents of the driest city in the driest state in the driest continent on earth. Which is ironic, really, as it was raining today.

After the deliberation and drama of Monday's house viewing, we finally got a place to live, with a lovely lady near Henley Beach.
Now here cometh the comparison:
$300 a week to live in a room next to a busy traffic junction and opposite 'Rita's Lounge', for ladies of disrepute and men of even more disrepute, OR:
$140 a week to live in a lovely clean house, about 50 meteres from one of the longest, most pristine white-sanded beaches this side of the equator.
Not that Sydney wasn't great: Sydney, we loved your beaches; we loved your hot chocolate even more, and cherish the memories of the mad fruit and veg emporium, the excellent cheese, and the convinient proximity to Newtown. But, it has to be said, that what Adelaide lacks in size, it makes up for in prime real estate.

We now have internet (hoorah!) and have spent our first night in our new abode. We've also scouted a good hot chocolate place, an excellent place for cheap lunches and some cracking cycle paths by the Murray River. We've got beach chairs for everyday use and Glenelg, a hubub of kitsch, beachside activity is a 20 minute cycle away (so we're told). Thus far, we like it.

Now, if only there would be a knock at the door any minute, offering me lots of lovely employment teaching in a private school, the circle would be complete.
Mind you, we've got a three week countdown to New Zealand, so it's looking tip-top.