One Pink Chair

Rain, rain go away......!!!

2012-02-28T22:51:00.000+11:00

10 years ago a friend asked if I would do a two day course with her
she didn't want to do it on her own

Of course I said yes...hadn't learnt to say no then!

and that is how I came to be a member of the Red Cross disaster relief teams
The years passed and fortunately I was never called upon to assist anywhere
Now, ten year on and I truly don't remember anything we learnt, have lost my notes

from here

Which brings me to this afternoon, when the phone rang
The Red Cross calling
Would I be available?
over the next few days?
for the evacuation centre
if it is needed?

So what did I say...?

Why

YES
of course!!!!!

Obviously I still haven't learnt to say
NO!!!!

I think have heard of this town
I have now looked up how to get there

through three areas that are also likely to be flooded
and have I told you

I am terrified
of storms

I hate
driving

Soooo why can't I say

NO

What to do....What to do?

2012-02-28T00:22:00.000+11:00

I had such a lovely post for here tonight
and then I got a comment from Milly at
the Laurel Hedge
here
who sent me out to get
this magazine

and there on page 97 is a short story competition!
NOW
do I publish my post here tomorrow or do I send it of to
Country Style as an entry in their competition????

HELP!!!!

Wise words....sometimes!!!!

2012-02-21T23:39:00.002+11:00

Top always said I would talk to a lamppost if there was no one else nearby!
Not quite true, but close enough
The truth is
I love people
I love all people
people of every age,
I love to talk to them all
(if I am being honest some more than others but hey!!!!!)

I believe
that I am a product of all these people I talk to
I believe that every conversation I have changes me in some way
those conversations make me grow,
they make me see some things in a different light
they build my level of empathy,
they expand my sense of humour,
because
I take on board a little of everyone
and that makes me who I am!!!!

via Pinterest

which in my round about way brings me to blogs and the comments
The blogs I follow are the ones that amuse me,
interest me, challenge me
and delight me. They are the ones that engage me in some way

via Pinterest

and because they do, I like to build a connection
with the fascinating person who is the originator.

It is through the commenting on the blog that we do this
and over the past two years I have made some truly wonderful connections
I have met people who will be friends for life
I have met people who allow me to have a thoroughly good giggle,
a bit of a cry, a burst of anger, a sigh of delight
and I like to tell them when they give me this joy
I also like to let them know that I appreciate
the time and effort that went into writing each and every post

I'm listening via Pinterest

so I comment on what I have heard them say
sometimes a dumb comment because I may have misinterpreted their message
sometimes one I think is quite clever till I go back later and see it in print...oh dear!

Top passed on to his children the ability of the smart retort, the quick comeback,
the funny one-liner...me... I don't have it
but I comment regardless because I enjoy the building of the connection.
and it gives me great joy when you want to do that with me
I am so thrilled when you leave a comment and I try always to reply
but
do you come back and read those replies?
am I connecting with thin air?
(I always check your posts back to see if you have answered my words!)
and sometimes I want to reply to someone else's comment
sometimes I want to have a full conversation
but
that does not seem to be the way
which is a little disappointing
so feel free to reply to another's comment,
feel free to initiate a conversation,
feel free to just say hello!
to let me know you are there!
Now
to the nitty gritty
Google have changed their word verification and I can't read it
so if I haven't commented lately it is not for lack of trying it just won't accept
what I am seeing, so please could they go back to letters you can understand!!!!!

Come and say hello I just want to meet you!!!!!

He's back.......my Frenchman...!!!!!

2012-02-19T22:42:00.000+11:00

This weekend was not a time to be spending outdoors
too hot during the day and at night
the storms chased each other across the sky
and the rain came down in torrents

but it didn't matter because Bruno
came from the Dordogne
to visit for the weekend!

do you remember me confessing my love for Bruno?
if not
then you can go here before you read on!

because this weekend
I have nowhere to be and nothing I can do so
I am just going to curl up in a chair with Bruno
and indulge myself.

I have found some images from the area that Bruno lives in in France
because he describes it so beautifully
I am definitely going to visit one day soon!!

Before we got together for the weekend I trotted over to his
blog to find out what he had been doing
here

He has been incredibly busy recently in his role as
the Chief of Police
so I have lots to catch up on!

Tell me, did you also fall in love Bruno after I introduced him to you?
Because if you did I am thrilled to say that he is back in

So I have had a wonderful weekend with Bruno!!!!!!!

Do tell if you intend to too

all images of the Dordogne via

It's all about the people.....!!!

2012-02-11T18:20:00.000+11:00

It rolls to a stop.
A car like this

via

except, that it is bright yellow
held together with chewing-gum, wire and blue tack.
The driver takes up both seats in the front
and in the back sit three large dangerous looking young men

The first time you see them you think
Oh hell...here we go!!!!

The three young thugs leap out of the back and fight to open the door.
The driver exits, despite her size, with a grace and dignity I have yet to see repeated
by any younger or thinner woman

and then she sways like jello
her whole body gently rolling from side to side
as she glides across the hot and dusty ground
a young man on either arm
one to the rear

It is a procession unlike anything I have ever seen before

This little group arrive at the table

and slowly, carefully she extracts a large change purse from the depths of her voluminous dress
and hands it to one of the young men, he takes it and waits patiently until she has both hands
formed into a bowl, then he slowly and carefully tips it into them

The young man who had brought up the rear steps forward and says
Auntie would like a bag please
ripe ones please

a bag of plump, red tomatoes is handed to him and
Auntie then pours that handful of 5cent pieces into my hands.

and the biggest, broadest toothless grin spreads over her face!

and with that the three young men escort their Auntie back to the car, carefully assist her back in, turn and wave and call a big thank you before they head off in a cloud of black smoke and back firing!!!

That was five years ago and every fortnight they are back
the $6.00 is always in 5 cent pieces, Auntie rolls and flows gracefully to the table and the young men are unfailingly polite to me and gentle to her

and that is why every year for five years I turn up to sell tomatoes on the side of the road from January to June!

That is my payment that wonderful Auntie, to whom a ripe tasty tomato is like a fine cut diamond, and now she stays and chats awhile, as do the hundreds of other regulars who appear like magic on the first day back.

I do it for a friend, it started as a favour for two weeks,
she pays my costs and it has become
my mental health break and I wouldn't miss it for quids!!!!
This year I am doing it alone;
It is strange but familiar

I wonder if I will stick with it now!!!!

I read the red.....!!!!

2012-02-07T15:15:00.000+11:00

I started blogging when someone whispered in my ear
"I follow a blog"
and so I came to look at absolutely beautiful things
and then later other beautiful interior blogs
and then I started
Mostly Older Than Me
which was supposed to be about the furniture we bought and renovated!
Didn't happen!!!!

but we are a cliquey lot here in the blog world and where you come in
seems to be where you find a home

if you check down my blogroll, and the blog rolls of those there, you will find that on the whole
we all follow the same people, here, is where we make our friendships

I have branched out a little to some very beautiful lifestyle and writing blogs, mostly because they found me first (thank you!) but it is the interiors that still grab me.
First, because we were going to build our dream home and now, because I have to move into something much, much, much smaller and it needs to be just right, for me

So
because a lot of my bloggy friends like the pretty interiors I thought it was time I put up some of the pretty images that appeal to me these come from my red file which is a colour that I just seem unable to resist!!

In my frantic bid to declutter (You would not believe the clutter I have!!)
one of the first things to go were the two boxes of magazine pages, my dream files

They have gone because I discovered I could photograph the page and save it on the internet
and now the chair fits back into the corner of the room instead of two feet out because the boxes (I never looked at) were behind!!

So I have no idea where any of these came from, they could be anything from 2 years to 10 years old or perhaps older still!!!

The magazines I read during that period were House and Garden, Country style, Verandah, Architectural Digest so I am guessing that's where they are from

Do you cut out the pretty pictures and keep them too?

A tale of five hens....!

2012-02-06T01:16:00.000+11:00

When I first met Top he was an agronomist
and on this particular Friday he had arranged to visit a farmer to discuss a new feeding regime for his cattle.

He arrived to find the farmer had been called away unexpectedly so he refused the offer of a cup of tea thinking he could finish the day early

but
The farmer's wife asked if he could do a small favour first
of course he could!

They had a large family gathering the next day and the farmer had left before organising the 5 hens she needed for the lunch
could Top please dispatch them for her?

Top had never done this before, but he did know how to do it
you pull and twist the neck in a smooth fast motion and it breaks the neck instantly.
Unfortunately Top had a very soft spot for all animals, but he was also a gentleman and could not refuse the farmers wife

So it was with great trepidation that he approached the first hen that had been chosen as the dinner sacrifice.
10 minutes later he presented the farmers wife with her 5 lifeless bodies with poor little necks hanging at an awful angle . She put them on the laundry floor for plucking later and Top went on with his days work.

It was only after many repeat visits to this farm that he learnt the fate of those five hens. Somehow the subject of the family party came up and Top asked how lunch had gone
The wife gave him a strange look.

Oh very good the farmer replied we had spit roasted pig and it was a great success
Oh, said Top, I thought you were having chicken
the wife gave him the strangest look and went blood red

Oh no said the farmer, my wife asked a caller to wring their necks for her but when she went to pluck them they were all wandering around the laundry!

The farmer's wife never gave Top away, and she did tell him she felt that those five hens had been through enough with their poor sore necks so they had a lifetime reprieve and apparently went on to die of old age!!!!!!

Top was happy for the 5 hens but did admit that he always had trouble calling at that farm again!!!!

It wasn't long after that that he went into hospitality!!!!!

No hens were harmed in the writing of this post!!!
the images were all taken in a friends garden

A very musical family.....!

2012-02-02T00:08:00.000+11:00

My son has perfect pitch and perfect timing

now don't ask me what that means except that his piano teacher (when he was a boy)

wanted to take him back to Shanghai Conservatorium with her

and no we didn't let her!!!!

Unfortunately a later teacher destroyed his love of playing!

but he can play any tune by ear and almost any instrument once you show him how!!!!!!

I also have two young cousins

Stephen Lindsay

was one of the winners of the Abbey road Anthem competition and you can hear his entry

Stephen Lindsay - A Million Stars

played by the London Symphony Orchestra

it is just amazing and after I listen to it it runs in my head for the rest of the day, very happily!

and then

Tabatha McFadyen

Tabatha is still studying but I think she will be a force to be reckoned with in the musical world before too long.

What I would like to know is with all this musical talent (and it runs on both sides of the family)

Why

I, who loves music with a passion

can not sing one single note in tune!!!!!

Can you?

bubble wrap, scissors and......!!!!

2012-02-01T15:55:00.000+11:00

The widow has everything she needs

SO

why can't she find anything!!!!!!

Image: Sorry have no idea where this came from but it is pretty and if it is yours let me know!!!!!

Facebook adventures....!

2012-01-27T19:39:00.000+11:00

Facebook
Ahhhhhhh
Facebook!!!!!!!

A place I joined (much to Top's horror)
because it was the only way we could see the family photos and UK daughter was too far away not to see what she was doing.

so friends were, the children, their children, their best friends
(who had haunted our kitchen for years and still called us Mr and Mrs!!)

then slowly over the years I said yes to some local friends and then, yes to some girls I went to school with
(though I would be hard pressed to recognise them if I met them in the street!)

then I liked some of my favourite and close bloggy friends

all going cheerily along...I knew what the Grandkids were up to, often before their parents did!
I could chat online to UK daughter when she was at work and I couldn't sleep
a place where we could play Scrabble, I could have a Restaurant with my Granddaughter, you know... the kinds of things you do on Facebook....!!!!!

so hey, Facebook was really a grand place to hang out on occasion!

Then I went a wee bit, just a small bit, mad and said I liked a sight I had found
(Don't quite remember where)

Really, really pretty pictures
I looked for a blog......No

I found a home page
but I am not quite sure a home page for what
as my internet keeps cutting out and I can't get the translation

and really the images are just magic...
this is one talented girl

but
and you just knew there was going to be a but, didn't you!!!!!!!

she posts like there is no tomorrow and I can no longer see anything on Facebook but
shabby chic mania

Am I complaining?
I'm not sure....I will wait and see

Pop onto her Facebook page and check them out

all images from shabby chic mania Facebook!!!!!

Not this year....!

2012-01-26T04:23:00.000+11:00

outside the rain is now falling gently,
the town is quiet,
the dogs are curled tightly against the chill
of this extraordinary summer
and the house is murmuring, as old houses do,
in the silence of the night

Tonight is not a night for sleeping
it is a night for remembering

Grandfather and Granddaughter

It is for remembering
all the
big and little things that made up my life with Top
the love
for each other...for the children...the grandchildren
and the dogs!
the sharing
the wonderful dreams
the laughter, the tears
the bad jokes
the good jokes
the singing
the worry about the children,
the joy of the children
the spirited arguments
(that I nearly always lost!)
the superb meals
(that I did not cook)
the constant relocations
(good and bad!)

All the little and big things that make living together for 40 years so worthwhile

it's now

AUSTRALIA DAY

and it is his birthday
the first in 41 years that we will not be together

I think I might just give it a miss today

You have a wonderful family day

Surfing the net

2012-01-23T22:40:00.000+11:00

Whilst I was away we had three days where it was hot enough for me to go into the water.

It has to be fairly hot for me to hit the surf, but the taste of salt on my lips the push and pull of the waves and the laughter of the children made it well worth the indignity of sand where you didn't want it, stinging eyes and ear ache!!

Over the last few weeks I have been surfing in a much more comfortable way

I have been surfing your blogs
which is why I asked the question on Sunday!

My absolute new favourite is
Janelle McCulloch's Library of Design
her blog design is absolutely outstanding
(The fact that I can't quite work some of it out is absolutely beside the point!)

Janelle posts regularly and covers fashion, decorating,

food, photography, books

and bits about herself and probably lots of other things I just haven't caught up with.

She is charming and always replies (nicely) to my comments no matter how inane!!!
She is a
* * * * *
blog and I highly recommend a visit if you are not already there

then I came across
bush belles
"for rural women who want to be informed, inspired and instyle"

If you want to know about the Australian country lifestyle she is doing a great job
there is important info for rural women, fashion
the blog design is attractive and easy to move around all in all a really lovely blog

eye candy, when you really need it

and I am just enjoying reading though I haven't gone too far back yet.
* * * * *
I am thoroughly enjoying it and again highly recommend that you drop in for a visit and check it for yourself.

do you want more recommendations?
and let me know if you agree with me!

images from Janelle McCulloch and bushbelles (except the first which is from moi!)

Following blogs and the beach.....!!!!!!

2012-01-21T17:10:00.000+11:00

After two years of blogging and following I have a problem.

following the blogs of others

When I started most blogs I found were on blogger and I just pressed the little follow button on the top left and the blog would faithfully turn up on my dashboard where I could read and comment to my hearts content.

After going missing in action for over six months I notice there have been some changes.
Many bloggers have swapped to WordPress
Now, if I was following them before, that is fine they still pop up on my dashboard
but...
if they look exciting and I would like to follow it appears I have to subscribe via email!!!!

This I won't do!

My email here is where I conduct beautiful conversations with you and the one thing that gets me out of bed in the mornings is the chance that there might be a lovely message from you
I do not need to lose that amongst the emailed blogs!

My personal email currently has dozens of unopened emails that I really need to attend to so I don't need more there either

So my conundrum is
do I follow from someone else's blogroll (and not really get to know them!) not follow at all (and thus miss out on what may become a beautiful friendship!)
Now sometimes they do have an RSS feed but this creates another problem...I do not understand RSS feed and every time I try to do this I just get the same blog (1 only) from about 18 months ago from a blog that I no longer wish to follow as she was somewhat offensive!!!
I have also tried copying the URL (?) and adding it to the dashboard only when I do that all of you, my dear band of merry men, disappear (obviously blogger objects strenuously to outside influences!!)
so...

what to do???

and the images you ask? I am just trying to pretend I am still at the beach!!!
first photos taken on my new (old) camera!!!
(I have to work on the lighting thing as it was one of the few sunny days!!!)

How many shoes is too many...?

2012-01-19T01:03:00.000+11:00

I went to the big smoke for Christmas and I took
summer and winter clothes 'cause the weather was very strange
I took the leg of ham
I took 3 books to read
and I took 8 pairs of shoes
I was prepared for every eventuality!

unfortunately this pair were not amongst the eight pair

but these were!!

Now it is possible that 8 pairs is slightly excessive for just 3 weeks
and it does seem highly unlikely that I would need any more shoes but I have a small thing about shoes.
You could almost accuse me of having a shoe fetish
My excuse was that the sales were on and I wouldn't be back in the Big Smoke for some months

I would like to say that I was looking for these, but I don't think I would have found them where I was looking

but I think I would love a pair of banana shoe or maybe coffee or Asian or mother/daughter or
toucan or duck or swan or olive oyl shoes and I always wanted to be a blonde!!!

all these wonderful shoes and more can be seen at Kobi Levi's blog here

but instead I went looking for a pair of ballet slipper type in a little shoe shop I knew about
I walked out with a few pair!!!
Then we went to Blue illusion and the white shoes belonged to me
and of course we went to David Jones and who could consider not getting a pair of half boots for winter
after all it is just around the corner...isn't it?

winter really is just around the corner...really so the lace up walking shoes had to come home too
Do you think arriving with 8 pair and going home three weeks later with 22 pair is just a wee bit more than excessive?

See you at the next shoe sale!!!!

Is bling still fashionable....?

2012-01-16T23:39:00.000+11:00

my glasses, for the last 3 years, have been reasonably

unobtrusive but they allow me to read the telephone book, the paper, the latest book

and mostly recognise who is talking to me...but not always!

and then suddenly I couldn't do any of those things!
So off to the optician I went.
Searched the shop and could not find frames that I liked that were also comfortable. Knew I could just have new lenses put in the old frames, but they were still really good for driving and I wanted to have a spare pair.... just in case!

The next day I decided to clear out a drawer, you know the drawer, the one where you put everything that doesn't have a home and there it all stays until suddenly the drawer doesn't quite close any more!
At the bottom of the drawer I found a pair of sunglasses that my cousin had given me, as she didn't like them and had never worn them. Obviously at the time they hadn't impressed me either and they were her prescription so I probably couldn't see out of them anyway and so they had found their way into my 'where do I put it drawer'!

As I was about to throw them out I realised that they were rather nice to look at, looked good on and were comfortable and most importantly it appeared that the lenses could be removed'
So off to the optometrist I went again

Yes of course I could use these frames they said

and so it was done. I went to pick them up and as they were being fitted the young lass started talking about Judith Leiber glasses and I realised that I would probably never have been able to afford these glasses if they hadn't been given to me

When she told me the pretty bits of glass on the side were Swarovski crystals I knew I wouldn't have been able to afford them..... and they really, really look good on.

Well, that is, until I walk along the street on the sunny side and cause chaos to everyone else going about their business as the sun bounces of those pretty little crystals and practically blinds everyone within two feet!!!!!!

But hey I've got some bling!!

Have you?

For the birds....!

2012-01-05T22:24:00.000+11:00

As I sit on the verandah with a hot cup of coffee in one hand and a cold glass of juice in the other I watch

the antics of the two chooks that have taken up residence on the lawn of the unit I am staying in
they are wild and divide their time between here and the golf club opposite.

How they survive the two cats that are also in residence is a mystery but the hunting and fleeing
makes for some hysterical viewing. Mostly the hunting is done by the chooks and the fleeing by the cats!!!!

This beautiful place is on the beach and seems to call to all the local bird life

as the rainbow lorikeets come in the morning for their tit bits

but I am afraid they don't much fancy Special K!!!

The smell of the barbecue didn't take long to tempt the local kookaburra family

as Mum and Dad and the large child kept a close eye on the meat that was cooking;

Those beaks are a bit large to get too close to so I'm afraid I wasn't into the feeding part. The children, who have no fear did that for us!!!

Each morning as I walk along the beach the seagulls keep me company

but once they discover I have run out of titbits they tend to fight among themselves and get very noisy

and cheeky.

as they squabble over the bits of seaweed that they think might contain a breadcrumb or two.

Wishful thinking, on their part, I am afraid!

This was supposed to be about the birds I have been spending time with but I have included this image because
I could!!

UK daughter got a new, very impressive, camera last year and now
I have inherited her old one and it is magic!
Allows me to take photos of the sun hitting the trees at just the right moment!

What birds do you have in your garden?

a magic blogging moment.......!!!

2011-12-28T23:22:00.000+11:00

In the beginning
it was something to do, to keep the children updated with our thoughts
and the events in our lives.
We had one daughter in the UK, one daughter in Sydney and a son in Brisbane

When did it change? how did it change?

I don't know!!

I do know that I never expected it to bring such changes in my life
I never expected that I would make friends!

This blog world is an amazing place
a place where,
when you meet someone, you meet the essence of that person
There is no pre judgement on age, appearance, clothing or accent
(I hate to think I do this but being honest I think we all do a little bit!)
But here we have no idea and so friendships form

Some will remain, like pen friends, words on a screen
some will become more personal, emails separate to the blog,
but for both these types of friendships there is an intimacy that we share that is rare and beautiful
and then there is the third friendship we make

the ones who reaches out in a time of need and says what can I do?
here is my phone number, ring me if you need to!

This is the one that eventually you ring because you think you will be able to carry on a conversation without bursting into tears...you think it will be a quick call just to say thank you.
An hour later this blogging friend has become someone special

So imagine my joy, my exultation, when just prior to Christmas we made arrangements to catch up
in person
in Sydney
for coffee!!!!!

On Tuesday I had coffee with the gorgeous Kerry from
a tranquil townhouse

and I can tell you that she is as lovely in person as she is here
she is as generous with her time and her honesty as she is here
so
Kerry thank you for joining me
thank you for the absolutely beautiful scarf that I did notice with the cherries!
and thank you for being there and enriching my life.

It really is a beautiful world this blogging world!!!

with love

The wedding....!

2011-12-21T20:48:00.000+11:00

The groom looks amazing
a bit lighter in weight but otherwise pretty good
Do we detect a slight nervousness there as he prepares to go out to official areas?!

we didn't have time to notice as we cut and sliced in readiness for the predicted 300 odd guests
see the powerful magic of this day here

the guests didn't notice as they lined up to sign the visitors book

and waited for the big moment

the sun made it's first appearance in days and the wind dropped down
God was being very kind on this most beautiful day

the bride, as is her prerogative, kept the groom waiting, but only for a few moments

She looked beautiful, happy and radiant

and then it was all over and we met them as Mr and Mrs for the first time in 34 years

They are an amazingly handsome couple

did I mention that the Groom's dogs also took part in the ceremony

resplendent in their satin rose collars. They were quite happy to go back to their beds though as there were just too many people for them to cope with

some of the guests were dressed to the nines

and some just needed a bit if time out!!

amongst the roses

Say a little prayer for Col and Cheryle that this may be a marriage of years not months!!

Faded beauty......!

2011-12-12T23:46:00.000+11:00

Tonight I am linking to

small but charming

for flowers in the house.

I have written this post six times!

The first was so sad even my tears were flowing

The second was so cute it was pathetic

The third was just plain ridiculous and

four five and six just became worse and very worse

but I was determined to link to flwjane so I even thought

I might use this pic

but many of you will have seen it before when I last linked to flowers in the house

here and that sort of isn't playing fair so

I have spent a whole day arranging more bowls of flowers
than I think I have done in my entire life and not one of them worked! Sad sacks every one of them
It is so obvious that my skills are not of the florist kind.

Then I walked into the dining room and there sitting on the table was a vase I should have emptied weeks ago
but hadn't got round to. It is so perfect that it is going to stay for a while longer

this beautiful
faded beauty!!!!!

its called age...enjoy it!!!!!

p=

House hunting.....!!!

2011-12-11T20:43:00.000+11:00

If anyone out there wants to purchase a Victorian heritage property.
A property that would make a wonderful family home in the country or a smashing bed and breakfast with the addition of a bathroom or two or three for the 8 bedrooms
A home with 14 rooms if I count the outside loo with its black and white tile floor and marble step
Let me tell you it is going cheap!!!

Now if that person would turn up very soon I will not miss out on this next time it comes on the market!!!!

Sitting on a smallish block in the prettiest town. I could do some serious cooking in this kitchen

Oh what blogs would be written in here and morning coffee would be a treat when you come to visit

I love the french doors but the garden could do with some colour and some pots. I would ask flwjane for some tips on what to plant for picking

and of course the red door won me straight away (I just cannot resist a red door!)

the bathroom, I am totally in love with it. I just love the use of the ripple iron and french doors out to the garden...what heaven!

They could leave it furnished as it even has my great love, a worn brown leather chair...oh bliss!!

and that slab wall!

There is a loft bedroom which I think would have to be mine with that beautiful ceiling

The raw timber deck is already turning silver and I would have to talk to Renee about the perfect furniture for here

So as soon as I find the right people to buy our family home and turn it into a family home again (or B & B)
this is what I am looking for.
Just to make sure that there are some slightly more upbeat posts here I thought I would share with you some of the homes I find that appeal to me. I will try and be reasonable but occasionally I fall in love with something so outrageously not suitable that I can't show the children (they do worry that Mother might be losing it!!)
so I will share those with you too. You understand house love!!!!!

Now I just need you to find me a buyer with about half a million dollars ( the house does need a bit of work!) and we are rocking

happy house hunting

images from Raine & Horne Morpeth

Emotion is a powerful magic...!

2011-12-08T22:13:00.000+11:00

from here

The Wedding

Through the smudgy window in the ‘old wing’ down the corridor

We paused to view the next door office block.

Hospital gown, I.V. stand, grey and overcast outside

I thought, the time is right, and asked to tie the knot.

And the answer and the smile was immediate and sure

And a hug and kiss filled the place with light.

And the trolley seemed to float as we glided back along the ward

Both determined in the coming fight.

And we’d like our friends to gather and celebrate the day

Celebrate our times throughout the years.

For the memories are great and the experiences are full

And the time seems somehow right – after thirty four years!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This beautiful poem arrived in my email box the other day, it was the invitation to the wedding

to be held on the 17th of December. I will be there, but in the kitchen along with 12 other ladies who dropped everything cancelled prior arrangements so that we could do this for a man who has at one time or other helped every pet owning member of this community. The man, who laid my beautiful Maggie to rest and made sure she was buried with dignity in our garden, who convinced us to let our forever Winnie be given a few more days when she was only two months old and suffering post parvo abscesses (she's now sixteen!)

Two weeks ago the diagnosis was made, inoperable pancreatic cancer but Col's faith and his belief in prayer are surely working in his favour. The community here are working and running on pure emotion as we prepare for this wonderful day. We polish and shine his home so it is ready when he comes home. We plan the wedding lunch and have no idea if we are catering for 50 or 500 guests (!!!) when two people who lived in different places, but managed an everlasting relationship for 34 years are going to be joined in holy matrimony it is a wonderful thing but when it is this couple the emotion runs high!

If I have touched you,

in that place where your emotions reside

I would ask that you send up a fervent prayer for Col that the chemo works and that he and Cheryle will have a long and beautiful marriage.

give your partner a hug tonight

I will link this to Jenny Matlock here

confused am I......!!!!!!

2011-12-08T01:22:00.000+11:00

It was with great excitement that I discovered,

this morning, that 14 of my very, very favourite people had hopped

on board to follow this new adventure

Imagine my horror tonight when I hit the show blog button by accident

and noticed that I had no followers yet as it asked if I would like to be the first!!!!

Where have you gone?

I am so hoping it is blogger going bad but if not I don;t suppose any one will actually know that I am blogging this!!!!!

But it has been one of those days the pic above is how I walked down to the butchers this morning

blithely unaware until I was asked had I bought them like that as a pair or what!!!!!!!!

up the garden path....!

2011-12-06T23:47:00.000+11:00

I walk up the path

check out the tables under the grape,

but it's a hot day and the mossies will be out, so I stroll up

on to the verandah but, it's not that hot,

and the tables are in the shade

so I look back into the garden, that flourishes here no matter

how much (or how little) rain we may have had during the year.

and there is the table under the pistachio tree,

nobody is sitting there

it's just the right distance from the fish pond

so the mossies aren't a problem

there is enough sun filtered through the leaves to make it just right

I move smartly back down the steps of the verandah

before someone else beats me to it.

I pull out the chair, put my handbag on it, and wait for the girls to join me

Once upon a time I would come here each day with my book, have my coffee, sometimes a piece of cake or a bowl of soup. My friends would wave and pass on, they knew it was my alone time, my time for me,

Now they join me, we laugh, we chat and we make busy

plans for other days

I don't need me time, alone time any more

is it time for a cuppa?

Did you know....?

2011-12-05T14:50:00.000+11:00

That ladybirds came in quite so many

shapes and sizes?

That they had so many patterns ?

Did you know they gathered together like this?

We didn't!!!!

Did you know that if you look at the clouds very, very carefully

you can see the most amazing things?

We did!!!!

What can you see in the cloud above?

Do you see what we see

a magnificent grey horse in full gallop

and if we look very carefully we can just see the rider

Happy cloud gazing

a new beginning.....!

2011-12-04T13:00:00.000+11:00

Did the new adventure start when I drove to a neighbouring town?
Did it start the first time I left the house to spend a weekend with family?
or did it start when we entertained for the first time?

That's the day we are going with, and, as Gregoir took some really beautiful photos
we thought we would share them with you

Pieces that have been stored in the cottage,

hidden in the garage

pillows that grace the spare beds
were all dragged out of hiding

and set up on the side verandah

the gifted flowers were an appreciated touch of beauty

and with the ongoing rain the Jade decided it would not be put in the shade and shot up straight and tall

The food took forever and was unbelievably simple (I will have to practice again)
thank goodness for friends who brought a plate!

We did start small with just six guests and the three of us but it made for a jolly group

it wasn't quite on the scale of this but it is a start!

The adventures will continue

the pink chair

2011-11-26T00:54:00.000+11:00

For over forty years this one chair

has been hot pink, aqua now floral

but it will be forever called

'the pink chair'

. It held the lovers,

added warmth to an empty room,

supported the expectant Mama,

cradled the newborn,

wrapped round the sobbing child,

soothed the broken hearted teenager,

nestled the grand-babies,

rested the weary head

and now comforts those

who can find comfort no where else.

Now one pink chair and I

are going on another adventure together..

..will you join us?