Holidays, yeeeeah

On holidays, until February. Wonderful. None of this "recharging the batteries" nonsense -- "It's my leave and I'll party if I want to".

Of course, back on Planet Earth, I'm minding a six year old for all of those weeks. So partying is as unreaslistic as any notion of recharging.

In the interests of Worldwide Parental Sanity these notes will occassionally mention good places for the under-10s, if only so I've got somewhere to check back to when mid-holiday child-accelerated dementia strikes.

• The beach at Semaphore. Noonies Kiosk to the south is much nicer than the kiosk by the Semaphore Jetty. Like the Jetty it has a very fine playground. Unlike the Jetty it has no paid attractions. Greek Festival 12-13 Jan.

• Port Adelaide Railway Museum. No pretentions here, the kids can climb on the old steam trains. There's a small train circling the buildings. Allow all day.

• Adelaide Zoo. It's expensive, so become a member. It's astonishing how much more fun it is when you can just wander in. Allow all day.

• Port Adelaide Maritime Museum. The attractions here don't change very often, so if you went last holidays you won't get much more from going these holidays. But the permanent attractions are very, very good: the kids can go on a real ketch, check out ship accomodations from the establishment of Adelaide until the 1950s (when economy class flights replaced steerage). Allow half a day.

• Adelaide Acquatic Centre. Lots of pools for the kids, free waterslide. Unfortunately a lot of the areas are often roped off in the holidays for VacSwim. Allow all day.

• Victor Harbour. The main attraction is the 5C drop in temperature :-) The walk around Granite Is is very fine. Allow all day.

• Waterfall Gully. Another cool oasis. Can walk up to the waterfalls. Allow a few hours.

• Tour Down Under, 20-27 Jan. More for dad than the kids.

• Council library.

• Carrick Hill. How the other half lived a long time ago.