Although this is an Aussie blog, South Aussie to be exact I occasionally post about products or services from overseas. As Aussies even though we like to support the local products we still like to see what our neighbors are up to and if we like it and the price is right we may just go out and buy it.

Today I would like to talk about multi fuel stoves! Now, I know what you’re thinking, what the heck are multi fuel stoves because if you’re like me you’ve always thought that heaters were either wood burners, gas or electric fires. Well, multi fuel stoves are able to burn both wood and coal and are fitted with a riddling grate to collect the extra ash which is generated whilst burning coal. I remember as a kid how we used to burn coal in our stove but I haven’t see anyone selling coal for years. Maybe they’re too busy using the coal for generating our electricity.

Anyway, I loved that fireplace so much that I had to get one when I finally got my own home. I’ve been to houses that have gas heaters or ones that have reverse cycle air conditioning and to tell you the honest truth, sure they’re warm and all but they just make me drowsy and the rooms usually feel stuffy. I haven’t found this to be the case with wood burning fireplaces and I assume its the same whether you burn wood or coal.

Besides, they are so much more romantic. You can cuddle up in front of a fireplace with just the flickering flames lighting the room whispering sweet nothing in your loved ones ear. Try doing that with any other system. Heck, they have electric fireplaces that try and simulate that effect but nothing beats the real thing.

Those of you who are regulars to this blog know that I written a few posts about the Festa di Madonna Di Montevergine and you may even remember that it’s held at the St Francis of Assisi Church at Newton in south Australia. I don’t believe I’ve actually ever posted a photo of the church itself, if anything apart from mentioning the Festa the only photo of the church is to one I took of the statue at the front of the church of Jesus and St Francis.

It pains me that I still have not posted a photo of the church,for which I apologize, but I do have some nice photos of a few of the religious icons that are in the church. I assume that the guy slaying the dragon is a Saint, being in the church and all but I didn’t get the chance to see who it was.

As for the next photo the statues represents St. Francis and St. Clare.

Then we have one that I particularly like.

You can almost see the sadness on Mary’s face as she cradles the dead body of her son Jesus in her arms. As for the next photo, its only on display during the Festa Di Madonna Di Montevergine.

During the Festival the Madonna is carried by four people via two poles inserted in the base from the Hectorville Church to this one. You may notice a ribbon draped on the side, that is so those who wish to can pin money to it in honor of the Madonna. For those of you who are interested this is a video of some of 2011′s Festa highlights.

I’ve always found Adelaide to be a beautiful city as are it’s surroundings which is why I started this photo blog, so that I could share it with you all. There was a time though when I wasn’t able to admire just how beautiful it was and it was all because of my vanity.

You see, I’ve always suffered from poor eyesight and because I wasn’t willing to do something about it I was missing out on just how beautiful everything around me truly was. It wasn’t until I went out and got my eyeglasses that this beautiful new world opened up to me. What was blurred and indistinct now had a brilliant clarity to it.

This beautiful Lilly can be found at the Botanical Gardens

I have to admit in those days I was young and insecure an the thought of having to wear some ugly glasses and having to put up with all the name calling, like four eyes and stuff, was pretty daunting. These days though glasses have pretty well become a fashion statement and no one even thinks twice about having to wear glasses.

Also because of today’s technology you can actually buy them online at sites like Zenni Optical where you can save a whole heap of money.m The reason for this is clear when you read what they explain why their eyeglasses are so inexpensive.

Using the latest modern materials, manufacturing and marketing systems we bring our product direct from our factories to you. No middlemen, no retail overhead, and practically no advertising budget,(we leave it to you, our satisfied customers to spread the word), we do not pay for or sell expensive, or even inexpensive, brand names, but only our own manufactured brand ZENNI. Eyeglasses are definitely a personal fashion and style item, and to that end we strive to provide a fashionable and stylish product. More importantly, we feel prescription eyeglasses are a health item necessity for most wearers, and to that end we take considerable pride in being able to bring to all a very high quality product of great durability, safety and comfort at truly reasonable and affordable prices.

Although I have purchased a pair from them yet, having only just bought some previously, I would consider getting a pair from them. The only thing I’d have to clear up is that, being a US company, they were able to understand the prescription values that our Aussie optometrists give out. If they’re able to do that then I would love to give them a try, especially considering that I would be able to choose from over 3000 designs, only two of which you see here.

Honestly, if you love to shop without having someone looking over your shoulder then online shopping is the way to go and if you have some time to kill then you will love Zenni. Don’t just take my word for it, go and check them out and then come back and tell me which of their eyeglasses you like the best. Check out their prices and you may even want to include in your comment what Christmas present you would buy with your savings.

On the way back from the Barossa we were passing through Rowland Flat just west of Tanunda when I had to pull over to take a photo of this church. The reason I pulled over is because I liked the look of the church and I thought the readers of this blog would appreciate it as well.

It’s the Trinity Lutheran Church and was built in 1956 replacing the original one of 1867. Personally I think they did a great job of retaining the view of the times, even though that may not have been their intention.

The church really is in a picturesque setting. It may not have the same quality as those basking in the sun during their st lucia holidays but it does have a charm all of its own. Standing in front of this lovely church you are presented with a breathtaking view of vineyards, serenity and all that you have become accustomed to while visiting the Barossa.

A few things you may not know about Rowland Flat.

• Its the winemaking centre for the giant Orlando wine group, the oldest winery in the Barossa Valley. Must make a point of stopping by there and trialling their restaurant and interactive winemaking display next time I’m driving through.
• Its close to Jacobs Creek which also happens to be the one of our favourite wine labels. It was Johann Gramp who planted the first commercial vines at nearby Jacob’s Creek in 1847, and forty years later his son expanded the winery and moved its current location which happens to be in, you guessed it,  Rowland Flat.

Honestly, there is so much to see in the Barossa that I reckon the family and I will have to take a long weekend break there first chance we get.

This post is going to be a little different. I know many of you are probably wandering about the man behind the camera who takes these photos. Naturally I’m an Aussie, that goes without saying I’m a father of two who loves telling jokes. I actually did a YouTube video of one of my favourite jokes that I thought just might amuse you.

A Barossa Valley Vineyard

As my regular readers would know I’ve recently visited the Barossa Valley and as one os want to do when visiting that beautiful place you tend to take a lot of photos. This one is a photo of just one of the many vineyards you will see in the Barossa.

It’s just a matter of parking the car, getting out, admiring the view and then selecting the photo, or photos, that you want to take.

The Barossa Valley is such a beautiful place that one could easily dedicate a blog to it. You shouldn’t be surprised then to see quite a few posts about it right here on Scenic Adelaide. One thing you have to know about the Barossa is that it can be well suited for those looking for cheaper holidays. There is so much to see and do, way more than just visiting the bountiful supply of wineries. I will be covering some of them in future posts.

If you’re just wanting to have a bit of peace and quiet then the Barossa is a great place to be. Full of quiet towns and surrounded by plentiful supply of photographic subjects. If it takes you a little longer to get from one destination to the next it’s only because you keep pulling over to take a photo of something that caught your eye.

While on the road from Angaston to the Tanunda Chateau I noticed a sign that said Mengler’s Hill Lookout and so I had no choice but to make a little detour. It only took a couple of minutes to arrive there and I’m glad I took the time to go and check it out.

The View From Mengler Hill

As you can see from the photo below it is a really panoramic view.

You really want to make sure you take your camera because your bound to want to take some photos of the view. The problem is that many people as so take with the view that they fail to miss the park below them that has many sculptures made from local marble and black granite during the 1988 Barossa International Sculpture Symposium. In case you’re wandering the lookout was named after an early vine grower in the area

Unfortunately we didn’t have time to wander through the park as it was getting late and we really wanted to see Chateau Tanunda. Believe it or not we just exited the lookout when, only seconds later, I had to pull over once again to take this shot.

It’s like I said earlier, there’s lots that will captivate your attention when you’re driving around the Barossa Valley.

After having lunch in Angaston and viewing the scrumptious dried fruit merchandise at Angas Park we popped into Chateau Tanunda on the way home. It really is a quite remarkable place, one with a lot of charm and heritage, not surprising considering it has been around since 1890. If you like old buildings, as I do, you will love this one and believe me you will want to bring your camera for this one. This first shot is of the front of the establishment. Pretty impressive huh?

I absolutely love these old buildings, the ones that use the old traditional bluestone in it’s construction rather than bricks as it gives them so much more character. As you walk around the grounds you will be impressed at how meticulously kept they are. This is probably why many wish to hold their special functions here like weddings or perhaps even that important boardroom meeting, even though you’re more likely to hold the boardroom meetings in the ballroom or something.

The place is really spectacular complete with it’s own international standard cricket oval as well as a lovely croquet green. You actually have to walk past the croquet green on the way to the cellar door and if you’re visiting on a particularly warm day, which we were, you be surprised at the sudden change of temperature one you walk into the cellar area. I don’t think it was due to air conditioners being on either. If anything it’s because of the thick stone walls and the immensely tall ceilings.

Once inside you will see a huge tasting area on the left and lot’s of barrels as well as displays trying to entice you to spend your money while your there. And why not, that’s the whole reason for them being there in the first place isn’t it? They even have a special tasting room for the elite.

If you only ever get the time to visit one winery it would have to be this one as it’s the birthplace of the Barossan wine industry as the first plantings were in 1845 and the first winery was established in 1848. While there you have to walk around the back and take in the true spend our of this remarkable building as well as the grounds around it.

Many people who choose to holiday in this beautiful state of ours prefer to car hire in Australia as it allows them a greater sense of freedom. However, if you plan on going on a wine tour of the Barossa and imbibing in a selection of all the wines on offer then you should have a designated drink free driver or better still take advantage of the many winery tours that are on offer. That way you all get to have some fun.

Wine Tools For The Connoisseur

Metrokane Rabbit Wine Opener Tool Kit, Silver Average Rating: 108 total customer reviews...

Vacu Vin Stainless Steel Wine Saver Gift Set Average Rating: 90 total customer reviews...

Metrokane Wine Shower Funnel Average Rating: 8 total customer reviews...

While there I actually bought the Metrokane Wine Shower Funnel and I paid $45 for it. If I only knew I could get it from Amazon for less than twenty bucks. Oh well, we live and learn.

I know that a lot of people, it doesn’t matter if they did a mauritius holidays or one in lovely Adelaide, find that once they get home they forget some vital information about something they saw while on holiday that they wish that they could remember. That is why I always buy a book or two when I’m away. The only time I didn’t do it was when in the States this year and I’m still regretting it.

You may even find that buying a book beforehand is a great idea as reading about the place where you are going to holiday helps you to map out your itinerary a lot better. Failing that you could always visit this blog and hope that I’d written a post on whatever it is you’re looking for.

As I live in Adelaide I don’t actually own a book on the place so I feel uncomfortable recommending any. That is why I went to Amazon to find a book as people who have bought a book on Amazon tend to leave a review and I’ve always found reviews helpful when making a purchase. This book is called Lonely Planet Central Australia: Adelaide to Darwin (Regional Travel Guide) But before we get to that I want to show you a nice photo I took while driving through the Barossa Valley on the weekend.

Lonely Planet has been researching Australia's dusty backroads for 32 years. This new, meticulously researched guide to Australia's center will enrich any travels in the region, whether short excursions from Darwin, Alice or Adelaide, or epic road trips all the way from the Great Australian Bight to the Top End.Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who get to the heart of every destination they visit. This fully updated edition is packed with accurate, practical and honest advice, designed to give you the information you need to make the most of your trip.In This Guide:Indigenous cultures, identities and arts explained in depthDriving advice and outback safety for 4WDs, 2WDs and bikesGreen Index and tips on environmentally and culturally responsible travel

After leaving the 40′s Cafe we were in the car for less than a minute when I spotted the Angas Park store and as I started to pull over Nadia started to wing; “Oh dad, we just got in the car, do we have to stop already?” So I started to pull away when Anna, the wife, was saying how it’s supposed to have a huge selection of dried fruit and Nadia being on a bit of a health kick suddenly exclaims. “dried fruit, I love dried fruit!” and so I do a U turn and park under the shade of a tree. As you can see it has quite an attractive entrance but that’s nothing compared to what you get inside.

It’s not a large store but it’s packed with heaps and heaps of goodies. As you can see from just one aisle it has a whole heap of dried fruit. All of them dried and many of them covered in chocolate, both dark and white.

It’s not just dried fruit either, as can be seen from the photo below they also have a selection of jams, preserves, specialty olive oil and other delicacies.

Now I know a lot of people are looking for Bargain Holidays these days but when it comes to buying quality you have to expect to pay that little bit extra and it’s no different at Angas Park. These guys have come a long way since they started as a humble dried fruit packing shed in 1911 on the very same site that the Factory and Angaston Retail Shop stand today. If you’re looking to buy quality sun-dried Australian fruit this is definitely the place to be.

We certainly took advantage of their delightful products. Nadia bought some dried strawberries coated in white chocolate as well as that huge chocolate freckle you see on  the right. I bought a dried fig bar covered in pink icing and Anna bought the ingredients for a Christmas pudding which came complete with a recipe. Honestly if you’re looking for something different for Christmas you should really pop in for a visit because I’m sure you will find something that will make a unique gift, especially for the kids.

Man I just love coming to the Barossa Valley.

It was a lovely Sunday so we decided to go for a little drive down to the Barossa Valley. To be more precise we were headed to a restaurant in Angaston which is touted to have the best pizza in Australia. I always love driving in the Barossa Valley because it’s such a scenic drive. It wasn’t too long before we parked at the front of our destination, the 40′s Cafe.

Although we’ve been to Angaston before we’ve never eaten here and so didn’t really know what to expect. Upon waling inside we were greeted by the friendly staff and showed to our table. They had a pretty extensive menu but we already had our heart set on pizza and so pizza it had to be.

Considering how they had won all these prizes we decided to try a couple of their winning pizzas.

Publican Special: Tomato sauce, cheese, black pepper, Schulz Butcher’s Mallee Gum smoked pork belly, salami, onion, capsicum, pepperoni, kalamata olives, mushrooms, jalapeños and anchovies. The Publican special that you see below won the best traditional small goods pizza in SA in 2009.

Lamb & Kipfler Potato: Smoked marinated lamb, kipfler potatoes, rosemary, fetta, spinach topped with a garlic yogurt sauce. This pizza won the best specialty gourmet pizza in SA in 2007. As you can see from the picture below it sure does look great.

Of the two I much preferred the Publican Special but Nadia’s, my daughter, favourite was the Lamb & Kipfler Potato one. I have to admit though that eating that one reminded me of having a yiros and that’s pretty cool.

Although the pizza was little dearer than I was used to it was well worth it. If you’re one for Family Holidays and you’re in the Barossa you can’t go wrong by having a meal here. The staff a really friendly, the beer is cold and the pizza we had was great. You’ll find them at 30 Murray Street, Angaston 5353, Australia.