

Posted by Paulette at 7:59 PM 0 comments
Midnight on 31st Dec 2009 saw Simon & I toasting the new year with our good friends David & Roz Clarkson. Just a nice quiet glass of bubbly and some nibbles in the park near our home. The Sydney fireworks were spectacular as always. This NY more so than any other I was acutely aware at how quickly the year passes and resolved to take more time for meditation and not get caught up in activities that aren't productive. On New Years Eve I started a button bag. As every crafter knows once you start collecting it's difficult to stop, as my partner Simon will attest to. When he saw my completed button bag he commented that it was quite large and expressed concern that if the button collecting became an obsession like my fabric and craft magazine collection he may very well have to buy me a bigger home to house all of my stash. Oh well I can't complain at that suggestion.
I think my next project which I'll start tonight will be a cross stitch sampler. I also have some quilt projects that are in various degrees of completion so I must finish those off this month. I do love starting new projects. I loved the button bag because it was quick to complete and I was able to use fabrics and supplies from my stash. That was something else I resolved to do this year was use more of my stash instead of buying new fabrics. Although I can't promise anything. I'm a sucker when it comes to fabric. What's a girl to do???
Another project I finished just in time for Christmas was this lovely wall hanging which I've made for my daughter Kelly. It's been a project which I started 2 Christmas' ago and vowed to finish it this time round. The little girl and boy had gold thread for their hair and the tree had little light bulb buttons. It was very cute and I was quite pleased with the finished product. As Kelly is currently living in WA working in the mines and doesn't have a place to hang it, I was able to have it hanging on our wall for Christmas. Hopefully next year she'll be in a place of her own to enjoy decorating.
I've been very blessed this year. As in my previous blog, I was able to travel to Europe and visit my birthplace in England with my Mother and daughter. And also visit some wonderful countries and experience their culture and cuisines. My work is going well with the accounting practice that I look after. We're a niche accounting firm which looks after many well known artists. I'm surrounded by beautiful artwork in my offices and I'm constantly amazed at the new ways these artists use different media in their work. You'll see some of my favorite artists on my blog. Have a look. We have some amazing talent here in Australia.
Must be off now to start another new project. I'll let you know how it's going in my next blog.
Bye for now.
Paulette xx
Posted by Paulette at 8:51 PM 0 comments
I enjoyed a visit to Europe this year. Mum, Kelly and I left 25th July and headed to my birthplace, Christchurch in the county of Dorset in the south of England. First we had a stop-off in Singapore for 2 days of shopping and pampering. Singapore is so clean and we felt incredibly safe there. The people are very friendly and service oriented. Our first night there we went to the famous Raffles Ho
tel for a meal in one of it's many restaurants Doc Cheng with it's colourful interior and lush cuisine. And we naturally had to have a Singapore Sling. Mum was quite excited to be there. It was very enjoyable. We wondered around the shops which stay open very late in the shopping centres there. It was very humid being a tropical country. It was quite funny on a couple of occas
ions we asked the locals what the season was, and they looked at us quite strangely. Not having done our research beforehand little did we realise there is only 1 season all year round. Bloody muggy! We took respite in the shopping malls which are air conditioned. Probably why they're open so late at night. Kelly was in shopping heaven. The prices are very good for perfume, jewellery and clothing.
After 2 days of shopping and a nice massage we are off to London for a few days of sight seeing. What an incredible city. So vibrant and alive. I was amazed at how big
the city is yet how incredibly easy it is to get around on the tube and rail system. We were able to negotiate our way around for the 3 days we were there without any problems at all. Arriving at 8.30 in the morning Mum thought it was a good idea to head for the pub for a good English breakfast. Hey that doesn't look like breakfast to me! Ah well we had to try one of the ciders didn't we. And mum doesn't even drink. Mind you she manged to polish off the large pint before stumbling onto the open topped Red London bus fora four hour bus ride around London seeing the much loved and well known landmarks of the city. Whilst in London we managed to fit in 2 west end shows. The very popular Grease
musical was a hit, as was Chicago which we also saw. It's amazing how much cheaper it is to see a west end musical than it is to see a show here in Sydney. I think it cost us 25 pounds to see Grease and about 30 pounds for Chicago. It would be so much more accessible for the average person to enjoy these shows here if it wasn't so expensive. We also took a visit to Harrods for some more shopping. Also The Tower of London and Tower Bridge was a must see. So much to see and do in this city. Cant wait to go back.
Now the time we've all been waiting for was to take the bus ride down to my hometown of Bournemouth to meet up with Simon and his family and take the journey back to my birthplace of Christchurch.
My time in Christchurch was a highlight, to be able to go back to the house that I was born in, with Mum who brought us out here when I was only 4. I remember very little about living in England naturally as I was so little, but the smells and places that we frequented when we lived there were recaptured on our visit. What a blessing it was to be able to share this experience with Mum and
my beautiful daughter Kelly. We met family for the first time and also re-acquainted ourselves with family not seen for many years. My Uncle John and Aunt Di who I'd not seen since I was 4 were lovely and actually just as I remember them.
Simon and I caught up in my hometown, as he was visiting his mother and brother and family who coincidentally come from the same town of Bournemouth which Christchurch is a neighboring village. That was lovely to be able to share this experience with him also. We went to the beach and walked along the promenade fed the squirrels in Bournemouth Gardens.
Mum, Kel and I took a ride up in the Bournemouth Eye which is a hot air balloon in the gardens. It gives you a great view of the area and up the coast line. Another place I'll definitely be heading back to.
Posted by Paulette at 8:38 PM 1 comments
Labels: Blue Grotto, Bournemouth, Capri, Italy, London, Paris, Singapore, Sorrento