One of my goals in life is to watch a first-class cricket game at each of the main ovals in Australia (dream big, jess! dream big!). So far, I've managed to watch a game at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Bellerive Oval and Adelaide Oval.

It was about this time last year that I checked Adelaide Oval off the list. Andrew and I road-tripped down to Adelaide especially to watch the 2nd Ashes Test. We spent days 3 and 4 of the match on the hill in front of the Clem Hill stand. That's where all the hardcore cricket fans hang out.

You actually do have to pretty tough to sit there. There isn't much in the way of shade and with temperatures in the mid 30s both days we were in serious danger of overheating. I was pregnant with Evie at the time so I often retreated to the shady area out the back to watch the game on the big screen and to reduce my core body temperature. Luckily, it rained a bit on both days. Play was stopped but it did cool us all down.

In the end it was actually a pretty depressing match to watch. Australia ended up losing by an innings and 71 runs. We had the option to go to the 5th and final day but decided instead to do the tour at Coopers Brewery. We figured it was a much better option than witnessing such a humiliating defeat.

Making our loss even more distressing were the taunts of the English fans at the game. Day 4 was a Monday and so was attended mostly by English supporters. It was so bad that it felt like we were at a game in England. They cheered when they did well and jeered when we didn't (which was pretty much all day). The Barmy Army were also in full voice over on the hill.

Tash was the one who convinced us to join her for an Ashes test. She was also there for days 3 and 4 (and like a true supporter she also turned up for day 5). Tash had a seat in the members stand but she did join us on the hill for a bit. On Day 4 her time with us included a little bit of a nap. She'd hosted a blender party at her accommodation the night before and was a little bit under the weather.

Tash and I were reminiscing about our Adelaide fun just recently and now have hatched plans for the Ashes Series in 2013 / 2014. Tash and I are thinking the WACA should be the next oval on the Wilson agenda. If I write about it on here, will that make it more likely to happen? We shall see.

More photos (slideshow) on Flickr.

Andrew and I travelled to Adelaide especially to watch the 2nd Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval. On our trip we also visited Ballarat, Naracoorte Caves, the Coonawarra, Hahndorf and the Barossa Valley. This is the first entry from this trip.

A few weeks back I was sent to Adelaide on a work trip. My mum decided to come with me to keep me company. While I labored during the day, my mum toured around the countryside visiting wineries, art galleries, chocolate factories and immersing herself in the culture of Adelaide. Each evening we'd go out to dinner together and she'd impart what she'd learnt that day, so I could share in the fun. Here are some interesting tidbits about Adelaide:

• Although Adelaide is known as the City of Churches, it is rumoured that for every church that was built, a pub was also built for the less pious.
  
  
• The streets in Adelaide CBD are named after "founders, friends, and promoters of South Australia".
  
  
• Rundle Mall (named for John Rundle) is Adelaide's shopping district. In the mall there is a sculpture of 4 (very cute) bronze pigs named Truffles, Oliver, Horatio and Augusta. My favourite is Oliver who is snuffling through a bin.
  
  
• The restaurant district in Adelaide is on Gouger St (named for Robert Gouger, Humanitarian). Everytime I passed Gouger St I'd happily quote "and this happy little fellow is called the gouger." I was disappointed to learn that the correct pronunication of Gouger was GOO-JER. (Can anyone pick the quote?)
  
  
• Haigh's Chocolates was founded in South Australia in 1915. John Haigh, the grandson of the founder and present chairman of Haigh's, studied chocolate making at Lindt in Switzerland. Haigh's is one of the few chocolate factories in the world to make chocolate from the raw cocoa beans. The Haigh's Visitor Centre is NOT open on Sundays (which makes for one very disappointed Jess.)
  
  
• The tram which runs from Adelaide CBD to Glenelg has been doing so since 1929. Riding on one of these trams is like taking a trip back in time. The trams are being upgraded to a light rail system in 2006, so if you haven't had the opportunity to take a ride on an Adelaide tram, your time is running out.
  
  

Oliver	Gouger Fish Cafe	Glenelg Tram	La Trattoria
GPO	FuShie!	Sandstone	Pies