BEACHGOERS are being warned to be alert for sharks because of a surge in sightings at popular swimming beaches this summer - with another spotted at Henley Beach today.

Around 2.20pm, a large shark was spotted off Henley Beach, about 200m offshore, opposite the Henley Beach Hotel.

In the past week, 11 sharks have been sighted at metropolitan beaches, including five separate sightings on Friday

So far this month, Surf Life Saving South Australia's aerial patrol has spotted sharks 39 times along the state's coastline – the same number for the entire summer of 2007-08 and more than 2005-06.

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• Sharks: Three sightings in one day
• In pictures: Ultimate killing machines
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Swimmers were evacuated from Grange beach on Friday after a 3m bronze whaler was sighted 20m offshore about 12.30pm. The four other sightings were another at Grange, two at Henley Beach and one at Port Willunga.

Surf Life Saving SA state manager Shane Daw said the increased numbers could partly be attributed to more fish in Gulf St Vincent.

"We have noticed this year that there are more fish moving through the gulf and obviously that's an attraction and therefore we're asking for people to be conscious and aware that we are still getting a number of sightings, as we do every year," he said.

"We ask them where possible to swim at patrolled beaches so that if there are sightings they can be alerted as soon as possible.

"We have to be very conscious and if we see extra fish around we have to be aware of that."

Andrew Fox, who is the son of shark attack victim Rodney Fox, said increased sightings could lead to greater risk of attacks.

Similar warnings of increased sightings before the 2004–05 summer were tragically followed weeks later by the death of Nick Peterson, 18, about 400m offshore from West Beach. Already in December, the 39 sightings are the second highest during a summer month since helicopter patrols officially began in 2005–06.

The highest was in December, 2006, when there were 80 sightings, which which included a group of 50 hammerhead sharks.

This month's figures include the sighting last Sunday of a group of 23 hammerheads off Middleton.

This summer, Surf Life Saving SA will monitor more areas by extending patrols at West Beach, Glenelg, Southport, Port Noarlunga and Aldinga Bay.

It also will use rescue boats and jet skis at beaches not patrolled by lifesavers.

Mr Fox, a director of Rodney Fox Great White Shark Expeditions, said he believed one of the reasons for the increased sightings was more people visiting the state's beaches.

"As a lot more people get into the water and a lot more boaties are out there . . . that's when we tend to look for sharks and that's when we will find them," he said.

"If there are large sharks being sighted over a week or two, which may or may not be the same shark, that would indicate there is a natural, attracting food source in the area and, of course, that can lead to an increased risk of attack."

SA Ambulance state duty manager Paul Lemmer said the increase in shark sightings was "a timely reminder you can never be too careful when around water, especially around the ocean, which can often be unpredictable".

Family First MLC Robert Brokenshire said shark nets should be installed near jetties on popular beaches such as Glenelg, Christies Beach and Semaphore.

Liberal MP Duncan McFetridge has campaigned for several years to have shark nets installed at popular swimming beaches.

Marine biologist John West, from Taronga Zoo, said spotting sharks was "not a bad thing".

"It just means the ecology of the oceans is in good shape if you have top-line predators as well as all the other animals that they eat and so forth," he said.

more info: http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24843936-2682,00.html

The Lights of Lobethal offer the largest community Christmas light display in the Southern Hemisphere.Thousands of visitors head to the Adelaide Hills town of Lobethal to enjoy the spectacular light displays and soak up the Christmas spirit. It's a valued local tradition that has continued for more than 60 years. You can see hundreds of homes and businesses lit up to spread Christmas joy, and also wander through friendly twilight markets.

Australia's driest state has decided to buy in water supplies amid fears it will run out next year.

South Australia said it had spent tens of millions of dollars to ensure Adelaide, Australia's fifth-largest city, and the state had enough water.

State Premier Mike Rann described it as a "prudent and sensible" measure.

Drought has become a regular occurrence in South Australia, which already receives the least rainfall of any Australian state.

Lack of rainfall and a sharp reduction in the amount of water flowing into the Murray River meant the state could not guarantee water levels for 2009.

The state's water security minister, Karlene Maywald, said she had purchased 61 billion gallons (231 gigalitres) of extra water for 2009.

Some of it has come from shared water resources with New South Wales and Victoria states, while the rest was purchased on the water trading market, she said.

Water levels in the vitally important Murray Darling basin - which produces 40% of the country's fruit, vegetables and grain - have fallen to critically low levels.

Ms Maywald said the region had sufficient water needs for this year, but had not yet accumulated enough for 2009-10.

"So we've made a decision to go into the market and purchase water on the temporary market," she said.

Mr Rann defended his minister's move.

"We've been buying water for years, but this is water that's being bought as back-up water for critical human needs," he was quoted by ABC News as saying.

"I think what she's done is absolutely prudent and sensible in the worst drought in a thousand years according to the scientific experts." 

 Looks like they send the water by airmail today though. Our view is totally gone.As you can see on the photo below.  

Todays news: http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24784727-5006301,00.html

SOUTH Australians are being urged to batten down the hatches as emergency services wait for strong downpours on the Yorke Peninsula to make their way across the state.

The weather and our view today

This photo is taken a few weeks ago, this is normally our view.

Vandaag komt het regenwater met bakken naar beneden. Ookal hebben we hier in de Adelaide Hills aardig wat regenbuien achter de rug. Er is een groot tekort aan water in deze staat. Daarover heb ik onlangs al eens geschreven toen we naar de Murray river gingen. het waterpeil is daar enorm gedaald en het hele gebied loopt leeg omdat er geen werk meer is. Dus Zuid Australie koopt water in. (zie stukje tekst van de BBC hierboven ) Alleen vandaag lijkt het erop dat het water per luchtpost komt. Onze view is totaal verdwenen. Zoals je op de bovenste foto kunt zien. Op de onderste foto zie je ons uitzicht zoals t normaal gesproken is. Over t weer van vandaag kun je meer lezen door op de volgende link te dubbelklikken: http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24784727-5006301,00.html

Van de week hadden de jongens een kerstmaal op school in hun eigen klas. Iedereen nam lekkere hapjes mee. Het deed ons wel weer een beetje aan de Tweemaster denken. Olav en Sven hadden blokjes kaas en augurk met Nederlandse vlaggetjes meegenomen. 

Ook hebben ze een mooi rapport mee naar huis gekregen. Ze zijn alletwee over naar de volgende klas en dat vinden we erg knap na een jaar vol grote en kleine verhuizingen. We zijn supertrots op ze.

Bij cricketles hebben ze deze week een groepsfoto gemaakt van alle in2 Milo cricket kinderen.

This week the boys both had a Christmasparty in their own classroom. Everybody brought some savouries or sweets. It reminded us a bit of the Christmass dinner at their school in the Netherlands.  Both boys brought home a beautiful report or "celebration of achievement" which makes us very proud parents since they had quite a difficult year with big and smaller movements. Well done!

     In2 Cricket dec 2008