Change is in the air.....

The change in the weather here today has lead me to think of home.
Not the place I rest my head every night or the place I've enjoyed living in for the last few years but home...that place miles away...well 12,000 miles away to be exact.
The change in the weather is perfectly timed for our next trip.
Yes, I know I haven't even finished the New Zealand posts yet (which I promise I will) but this trip has been planned for some time now.
I just haven't got around to telling you about it yet.
Don't worry I'm giving you some time to get used to the idea because we don't depart for another month or so....beside I need time to get used to the idea myself.

And so...where are we heading next? Have you guessed yet?
I hope you're sitting down because we're off home!
To the UK!!!

Yes, finally after 24 years of travelling we've decided to call it a day and settle back in 'Blighty'.

There have been other destinations and possibilities discussed but we've decided to head home.

I have to admit I've so many mixed feelings over this next move.
Move number 12 can you believe!

Remember all of those packing boxes not so long ago....with move number 11 well they came back last week and in fact they even multiplied!

We've considered every factor to reach this big decision and had umpteen nights of being awake from 2am so it's not one that we have taken lightly...that's for sure.

 There are so many things that I'll miss but the world is a much smaller place with the internet and I have every intention of keeping up close and personal with all my Aussie connections.

One thing I won't be able to send back though is the light!
I now realise that the light in the Southern Hemisphere is totally different than that of the Northern Hemisphere...you'd think a world traveller would know that sort of thing but I hadn't realised just how different it can be and what a huge impact it can have on you.
I think one of the first purchases once I land might be to buy one of those bright light therapy lamps recommended by doctors as the first line treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder. Just in case....
I've always remained positive on this blog and that's the way I plan to carry on...no matter what it takes!

At least with this move I know exactly what I'm returning to and that sits very comfortably.

We'll also have our daughter close to hand for the first time in years which will be perfect...I'll just have to remember the novelty might wear off if I'm a nuisance.

We also have every member of both sides of our family all living within a 10 mile radius of each other...although we'll have a few hours distance between us. 

I'm looking forward to moving back into the house that I loved and had difficulty leaving in the first place.
I never really got to know it...if any floorboards creak, wood burners and open fires plus getting familiar with cooking on the Aga again. I have wonderful memories of the 11ft Christmas tree that we brought into the hallway...and the bonfire night celebrations in the old ruined cobble stone barn which we call 'the folly'. Country Life here we come.....

Can you believe that this is my studio!

I feel rather sad looking at this photo, but it will be fine as I get to completely design a new one.
How exciting is that? Will you help me?
If you have any ideas and good tips then please just pop a comment below.

I only borrowed this one...it's been brilliant but it'll be fantastic to organise my own.

Here's someone who doesn't seem to be bothered by all the weird happenings going on...in fact I think she's loved having so many people coming just to see her!

One of the packers was so taken with her that I had to check where she was when he was about to leave because I felt sure he might have had her tucked away somewhere.

Oh yes...I should say 'YES OF COURSE SHE'S COMING WITH US'!!!!
How could we possibly leave her behind?

In fact she's been for her rabies jab today and amazingly enough seems to have forgiven me.

As you can see she wasn't much help with the early organising...it was all so very tiresome!   

But as they say....there's no rest for the wicked and let me tell you I must be extremely bad because it was an exhausting week.

That's one reason why my posts and visiting has been very sporadic of late to say the least.

Oh yes and the fact that my laptop died!!!

This was our 40ft container waiting for our worldly goods to be loaded...it seemed so huge but then we do have a lot of stuff and I did fret that we'd have to make the terrible decision as to what would fit in or what would have to be left behind.

HELLOOOOOOOOOOOooooooo.........

And here it is...with everything in!

Phewph!

I can't praise the guys who worked on the packing enough...but maybe I should wait until we open up all the packages at the other end.  No seriously they worked like Trojans.

Two of the team were a father and son who had such a brilliant working relationship. The father had some incredible tales to tell and mentioned he'd been doing this kind of job since he was 13 years old. 

So now we have a minimalistic look about the place, with just a few rental essentials for our remaining weeks. It feels like we are on holiday again.
It's such fun to start to cook and go to get a favourite pan or utensil to then realise...doh...of course it's not there. Oh what fun I'm having having to improvise constantly!!!! :(

I hope you'll join me on this new adventure because there's going to be lots to talk about and certainly lots to photograph. I'd love to have your company along the way :D

That's one of the things I'm looking forward to...showing you all the wildlife and visitors that I remember that used to call into our garden...I wonder if the pheasants, deer, badgers and buzzards still come to visit us?Not to mention the foxes and rabbits. I think there will be lots of fun and games plus challenges ahead as I want to create a veggie garden, plus I may even venture to own my own chooks!
Who knows....the possibilities are endless!

I'm trying not to think about the actual transporting of Mufftypup but at least she won't have to go into quarantine like last time. I couldn't bare to do that again. If you want to see what happened on Muffy's mission from the Middle East click here.
I also worry about how she will get on with the UK weather! I think she may well be an Aga magnet.
But I might have to fight her for that position....remember I don't like to be in temperatures below 16 degrees! She does have jumpers and coats already so that'll help, but I know she likes the heat more than the cold so I'm sure they'll be some antics ahead.

But I hopefully will be able to dispel some of the terrible myths about the UK weather...I've already asked that the thermostat be turned up in readiness for our arrival.

I have lots planned that I'd love to share with you...cooking, baking, gardening, setting up of the new studio, house and garden projects, plus all the historical tours and revisiting of so many fantastic places. We also will be exploring more of Europe now that we've been over this side of the world for so long.
So it won't be all about the weather ~ promise!
Although I suppose it'll be featured in there I'm sure...I'm just thinking what Muffy might think about snow! I can almost hear her now..."we are NOT amused'! ^..^

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just an additional thought.....

I'm aware that there are many people that are dealing with lots of changes occurring at the moment.

Friends have had family dynamics altered which have completely pulled the rug from under them...others have health issues that are making them adapt to their new limitations and restrictions...but there's also good changes that can occur. Some people hate change of any sort...and I must admit even though I've had many changes to deal with and coped, I do find it difficult initially to embrace them.
But I've been lucky that so far they always seem to work out for the good.
The important thing is how we cope with these changes.

Some changes might well feel horrendous and difficult to cope with at the time, but then who knows what lies ahead...the changes may actually be a blessing in disguise...I truly hope so.

I'll get back to our New Zealand posts soon and I've also been to a French Cooking and Language course which I want to tell you about.

Catch you again soon I hope...in the meantime have a great week...

I'm off to make the most of my last few months here...whoohoo!

Keep smiling and pass it on...someone may need it today



Part 2 ~ Steam ship cruise to Walter Peak, New Zealand

Oh boy...what a week and we're only on Tuesday!

Well I've sad news today everyone....my laptop wasn't able to make it :(

I know I've always said I'd only be positive on my blog, so I'll try to be brave saying farewell to my dear friend. (deep breath) 

We had so many good times and knew each other so well...I can't believe the journey we travelled together. A real voyage of discovery but after five years (which I'm told is exceptional) it's time to 

face reality...it's time to move on....but I'll not rush into anything. I'll have a wee while to reflect. 

I'm borrowing a laptop this morning in the hope that I can bring you Part 2 of the New Zealand trip to the South Island. As I mentioned previously I was so close to posting this on Sunday before the tragedy occurred.

So let's move on swiftly...today we're off on a vintage Steamship cruise.

ALL ABOARD!

It's always difficult to get the shot that you want with so many flipping tourists around! ;D

Let me introduce you to a special lady...TSS Earnslaw.

She's 101 years old and looking really good for her age.

Just in case you are wondering (like I was)...TSS stands for Twin Screw Steamship!

Now you can wow your friends with that information.
The TSS Earnslaw is an integral part of Queenstown’s pioneering history and to this day a Queenstown icon. She was commissioned by New Zealand Railways to service the communities around Lake Wakatipu and launched in the same year as the Titanic, the TSS Earnslaw’s maiden voyage was on 18 October 1912. Soon known as The Lady of the Lake, she provided an essential link between the isolated farming communities along the lake and the outside world. At 48 metres long she was the biggest boat on the Lake and carried passengers, sheep, cattle, mail and supplies.
There's more information about this grande old lady below.

(Photograph courtesy of https://www.realjourneys.co.nz/en/experiences/)

She makes quite a spectacular sight sailing across Lake Wakatipu with 'The Remarkables' as her backdrop! Especially when she gives a loud blast to announce her arrival/departure into the harbour.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, President Bill Clinton, and the Japanese Emperor and Empress among other famous people have enjoyed their TSS Earnslaw experience...along with ourselves of course.

Here are some details for anyone who might like to know more about the TSS Earnslaw...

Nearly scrapped in 1968 she was rescued and purchased by Real Journeys and put to work once again carrying passengers around the Lake. Since then the TSS Earnslaw has been painstakingly restored to her original condition – everything you see is pretty much like it was a 100 years ago. Today, the TSS Earnslaw is the only coal fired steamship in operation in the southern hemisphere, making her one of the most unique experiences in the world.

She's also featured in several movies including a cameo in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as an Amazon River Boat. Parts of the trawler SS Venture in Peter Jackson’s King Kong were inspired by her. Famous composer Ron Goodwin composed a piece of music inspired by the rhythm of the TSS Earnslaw’s engines.

So let's get down and dirty peeps...

Can you smell that? (cough...don't breath in too deeply). It was a chilly fresh day when we boarded so it was good to have a warm peering down into the bowels of the ship.

It looks like it was washing day too...if you look at the photo on the right below.

I thought I'd take a couple of shots of the thingy's that help to keep her moving.

So we're full steam ahead...

You can visit the engine room and see its giant steam engines at work which is really quite an experience...and I don't know a thing about them...even though I kept nodding prefusely whilst my hubby went through the whole process!

I must admit I did feel slightly guilty watching this chap working so hard to provide all of the passengers onboard such a wonderful afternoon.

You can also view the collection of historical photos in the mini-museum, check out the bridge or even join a sing-along with the pianist. I kid you not....

(Apologies...this post is putting up a fight too. I'm trying to tweak but it's not happy. It won't do as I say...which is really annoying to say the least) The quality of this photo is terrible but at least you can see I wasn't joking...he's there playing away with passenger's singing...having a fine time! I hasten to say we just noted all of this and moved on. Well...we didn't know the words! ;D

The cruises depart regularly throughout the day and we chose the afternoon trip for ours.

You can choose to do a cruise only, or a cruise, combined with a visit to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a guided farm tour, horse trek, barbecue lunch or evening dining. We chose the farm tour with afternoon tea. All very civilised and it wasn't hard to visualise what it might have been like back in the era of steamships.

Here we are arriving at Walter Peak jetty...with a loud toot from the funnel...

Situated on picturesque Lake Wakatipu’s south-western shores, the farm is the perfect place to spend a relaxing few hours. The Farm Tour itself is a wonderful interactive experience for the whole family with something to keep everyone entertained and happy.

Here's someone else for me to introduce...Gordon our guide (and Bess his sheepdog although I can't understand why I haven't a photo of her...maybe because she was constantly busy and on the go?)

Gordon was really interesting and so knowledgeable.

The rural host will meet you after you disembark from the TSS Earnslaw (which might not necessarily be Gordon as there are a few hosts) and depending if you are having the BBQ lunch first or just the farm visit they will take you on the walking tour of the farmyard. The first stop is the holding pens, where you can help feed the sheep, deer and even get up close to the Highland Cattle.

Aren't they adorable and I have to say not what I expected to see...

This stunning stag was very vocifious and strutting his stuff when we arrived...but his female companions didn't seem to be impressed. They've heard it all before probably.

Here are some other residents that you can feed...this was a big hit with all the little kiddywinks...

Afterwards Gordon led us over to the shearing shed where we watched Bess rounding up sheep from the hill paddocks. I was mesmorised and looked on in awe as she followed every command from Gordon without hesitation! I'm thinking Mufftypup needs to spend some time with Gordon and Bess ^..^

And so after rounding up the sheep we were entertained by Gordon shearing a sheep. Although I've seen this numerous times it's still amazing to watch.

I've have the whole shearing process on a video but won't attempt to put it on here with the way things are going!

There's also a spinning demonstration plus a shop for the shopaholic fix...

(I'm not sure I'd like him peering down on me...)

As you can imagine by now we were ready for afternoon tea...so a gentle stroll through the lakeside gardens to the charming Colonel’s Homestead for a traditional high country morning or afternoon tea of scones and pikelets. I've got more photos of this house but I'll have to add them into future posts....maybe Part 3 if I can keep sane enough to give it a go.

The Colonel's homestead was stunning and had perfect views of the lake and surrounding landscape that matched an excellent afternoon tea setting. We'd ordered sun with ours which added to the whole experience.

In earlier days the farmer must have been very successful because the homestead even had it's roof tiles transported from Italy! As you do....?

Here's some random snaps... Who knew Bambi lived here?

Just look at that grass! The house is built in a Scottish style and how perfect to have a view of the lake and mountains daily. The gardens were gorgeous and the perfume nearly knocks you out...hence this busy bee making the most of the abundant blooms.

Each time I look at the view...I just have to stop and stare.

Here are two views that shows how the scenery can change so rapidly depending on the time of day.

The photo on the left was taken on the way out to Walter Peak and the one on the right was on the return journey...late in the afternoon.

And so without anyone really being aware we were rounded up and put back on the ship ready for our return journey. ;D

A fantastic entertaining day and well recommended for anyone who visits Queenstown.

Poop poop...(that's the ship by the way...although it could reflect my sentiments after struggling so much with this post).

So onward and upwards hopefully...maybe there will be Part 3 or maybe not? It depends if I can stay sane in the process.

I certainly hope that your week is going well...have fun and I'll hopefully see you again soon.

Apologies for the layout ~ which I can't look at...I can't even get the writing to sit in the centre. ARGH these little things get to me which is sad I know...but hey that's me

I'll just smile and wave...smile and wave :D

My Laptop has been admitted into Intensive Care....

Just to let you know...my laptop was admitted into the Intensive Care unit of my local Computer shop this morning. I'm hoping for a miracle....and waiting for a phonecall...but no word yet.
I think I may have overworked it because I'd been downloading photos ready for the posting of Part 2 of the trip to the South Island and it just decided enough was enough!
I must admit it was working rather hard, so maybe it just decided it needed a rest.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that hopefully I'll be back soon.

Trying to put on a brave face (sniff, sniff)
I hope your Monday works out to be better than mine! :-(

A Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY ~ Wednesday 1st May 2013

Outside my window...it's grey! Yes I know that's a surprise...it is to me too. We've been having fantastic autumn days here in Melbourne. Beautiful blue skies bursting with sunshine. Crisp freshness to the air early on, but then the sun works its magic and the warmth penetrates. Then as soon as it sets, sometimes not before treating us to a beautiful sunset, then there's a definite drop in temperature that makes you reach for something cosy or for the heating button. Today we've had two heavy rain showers, which are the first for quite a time. I love to hear the raindrops beating down on the roof but unfortunately Muffin doesn't. She goes for the sympathy vote and shakes until someone comforts her. (Such a woos...but then she did grow up in the Middle East where rain was a real rare occurrence).

I can see the beautiful rusty autumn colours on the trees outside, They're leaves slowly fall twisting and turning on their downward spirals. I've tried to catch one and make a wish but they like to play hard to get. I suppose you don't just get a wish that easy...you have to work for it! There's a carpet of leaves along the street which can suddenly swirl if the wind catches them...giving them one last dance. 
 

I am thinking...that my feet are cold and I really should find my slippers. I have Ugg slippers that have served me well. Too well in fact because they are in a sorry state now...I've even super glued them so I think it's time for a new pair. They look like they've lived a life...so maybe it's time to call it a day?

 

I am thankful...for my children. This week has been an eventful one. My son has reached his 21st Birthday.

It's been an ongoing celebration all week. I just can't believe that he's reached that age and is over 6ft now. When did that happen?

Also my daughter has finished her FINAL exam yesterday. That's it now...I don't think there's any more for her to do, even if she wanted to! Hopefully the result will reflect all of her hard work. Fingers crossed.

In my kitchen...I've got chicken waiting to participate in a culinary delight. I'm thinking due to the weather that it will be a good evening for a curry....Mmm...I can almost smell it. 

  

I am wearing... boring! Fleece and joggers. 

Well I didn't know I was going to write this post did I....so I didn't dress for the occasion. I've been busy all day since our dog walk this morning, so haven't changed! Shocking I know...but that's the fact of the matter and do you know what? I care less...I'm cosy and that's all that matters!

I am creating...I walked through the studio earlier and realised that it's been lonely, so I stayed for a while. I haven't drawn anything since I arrived back from New Zealand so stopped for a quite fix. 

Here's the result...

These little cuties used to be my daughters favourite. Do you recognise them? Do you remember having everything in the Forever Friends range from pj's to pencil case. Ahh...such memories. 

I think that it is quite possible that I actually liked them more than my daughter.  I always seemed to be buying something in the range. I searched but just couldn't find adult sizes in the pj's...oh how I would have loved some! I even painted a Forever Friends silk painting as a leaving gift for a friend....I give myself such tough assignments sometimes don't I?

I am going...to change my hoover (vacuum). Now you might think I've lost the plot here but yes I'm excited about this because I've been struggling with a faulty hoover for months and today I'd had enough. I decided to ring the retailer where I purchased it, thinking it was probably going to be a waste of time...but there were a few surprises ahead of me. Firstly the year's warranty that I thought had expired was in fact a two year warranty...Yeeha! Then when I explained that this particular model wasn't the original one I wanted and that the sales person had talked me into it...yep call me a sucker! Also that it had been returned once already for repair and I really wasn't impressed that it had broken again. Now you have to know that this is not really the kind of thing I do...I mean to complain...I'm a softy as well as a sucker but this time I was really fed up. I didn't think I'd get anywhere but just felt the need to moan to someone. I mean I couldn't hoover for goodness sake and it was really upsetting me (LOL not! that was a flat outright lie) 
So imagine my surprise when the customer services girl said yes I could bring it back and change it to the one I wanted. RESULT! The fact that I want to buy a model (designed by a Brit...wink wink...you'll probably guess which one) which will cost me a couple more hundred dollars is beside the point...I've had one previously and loved it. Well as much as you can love a hoover! I feel quite pleased with my little self so if you have something you aren't satisfied with...go on give it a go...you never know you too could get a result. 
 

I am wondering...if I was a flower what would I be? I'd like to think I would be a beautiful bloom that had a delicate fragrance with longevity whether cut or not! What flower would you be?

I'm reading... The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier

This book is a 1850's drama. 

Honor and Grace Bright walk up the gangplank to embark on a voyage across the Atlantic, join Grace's fiancé and start a new life in America. One sister runs from heartache, the other craves adventure far from England. Honor's few possessions on the journey include her signature quilt, a final gift stitched by friends from the Quaker community they have left behind, her patchwork memory of home.
But when tragedy strikes, Honor is forced to continue on alone. In a country that is practical, precarious and unsentimental, she must rely often on the compassion of strangers. As she struggles to find her place and her voice, Honor discovers that Ohio is a land crisscrossed with runaways: slaves escaping north to freedom and settlers venturing west. Set in the sunlit cornfields and tangled woods of the rural Midwest, Tracy Chevalier's new novel is a vivid story of unlikely friendships, of bad men and strong women, and of the remarkable power of defiance.
About the Author: Tracy Chevalier is the author of six previous novels, including the international bestseller Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Virgin Blue, Falling Angels, The Lady and the Unicorn, Burning Bright and Remarkable Creatures. Born in Washington, DC, she moved to London in 1984, where she lives with her husband and son.

I am hoping...that a family member in the UK who is quite poorly and in hospital at the moment, improves and is able to return home soon.

I am looking forward to...some time to get back into my designing and drawings that are queuing up in my mind. They are all getting both impatient and quite excited about appearing on to paper!

Around the house...I couldn't possibly tell you...well obviously I could but at this stage I don't want to.

There's major events happening which I'll post about soon so for now I'd like to leave it at that. ;D

A favourite quote for today... In everyone's life, at some stage, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit ~ Albert Schweiter.

One of my favourite things...is to blog! There's no getting away from it...I'm hooked. 

I'm in the middle of posting about my trip to New Zealand as many of you will know, but those posts take quite some time to prepare...sorting all of my photographs etc. But I've so many other things popping into my head that I'd like to blog about them too, so that's why I decided that today I'd post my journal. I can't believe it's been a whole month since my last one. 

That reminds me that this might be an ideal opportunity to apologise to everyone if I haven't been visiting you lately. I really miss my visits and hope to resume some time soon. Life here is kind of crazy just now but hopefully it will ease in the coming weeks. I'm hoping anyway. Once I tell you what's happening I'm sure you'll forgive me. More about that later. 

The next instalment of the NZ trip will be coming soon...I promise. I just need to get my act together :D

  

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Work, rest and play but not necessarily in that order...I think work might be the majority unfortunately.

A peek into my day... well I could attach the photo that I had on Twitter earlier today when I was incredibly brave. But I'll spare you...I mean who wants to see a photo of a dead cockroach at this hour of the day. But let me just say...I was so brave because this cockie was a BIG DUDE! See how kind I am and how I think of you. 
Instead I'll show you a tree that caught my attention on my morning walk. It seems a little confused to which direction it wants to go...an indecisive tree!
 

 So that's it for this week; I hope you enjoyed your visit and if it's your first time reading my daybook entry, I hope you liked it.  
For my regular readers I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued visits...I really love to see you on my globe and even more so if you stop to leave a comment!

Don't forget to pop over to The Simple Womans Daybook and check out the other day book entries

I hope to see you again soon...

Have a wonderful week everyone.
Bye for now 

Our trip to the South Island ~ New Zealand (Part 1)

As I promised I've finally managed to prepare a few photographs to take you on our trip to the South Island of New Zealand. I've decided that it might be better to post this trip in increments, as I did for the North Island. There are quite a lot of photos so be warned. 
I just can't resist snapping away...especially when there's so much to see and appreciate. 

(If you'd like to take a look at the North Island then just click here...there's a few posts to the trip so make sure that you see them all).

So off we go...

This was our first glimpse of the South Island and immediately I was struck by how different it appears to the North Island. The South Island is the larger of the two main islands of New Zealand, but the least densely populated.
If you are reading this post whilst sitting in Scotland you may feel quite at home with some of this landscape.

The South Island also known by the Maoris as Te Wai Pounamu or Water of Greenstone, is a place of spectacular scenery as you will see.

At times the spectacular dramatic scenes render you speechless.

Right from our first view of the island I knew we were in for a treat. 

The photo on the left shows Queenstown enveloped by breathtaking mountains and based near the dramatic shores of Lake Wakatipu. Lake Wakatipu was formed about 15,000 years ago by a glacier coming down from the north-west which gouged out the lakebed.

Queenstown was to be our destination and the photo below shows the spectacular view from our apartment. The mountain range in view is called 'The Remarkables' which sort of gives you an indication of just how splendid they are. This photo unfortunately doesn't do them justice but I wanted to show you what I looked out on every day.

  The mountains were named The Remarkables by Alexander Garvie in 1857-58, allegedly because they are one of only two mountain ranges in the world which run directly north to south. An alternate explanation for the name given by locals is that early Queenstown settlers, upon seeing the mountain range during sunset one evening, named them the Remarkables to describe the sight which I can quite understand.
I used that term quite a few times myself!
They are one of the most photographed mountain ranges in the world due to the spectacular jagged shapes and the steep rise above the shores of Lake. (No surprises there once you see them).
The mountain range is also famous for The Remarkables ski field. 

Here is the view of the mountain range from a pathway in front of our apartment. The pathway leads down to Lake Wakatipu and if you follow the trail along the lake it leads into Queenstown.

Every few minutes the view from our window changed and I was seriously near to never leaving the apartment...choosing to stay to watch the ever changing display. 

As you can imagine my camera was extremely busy!

Maori culture is unique to Aotearoa.
Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand - Land of the Long White Cloud

These photos show more of the pathway along Lake Wakatipu.
The lake was such a beautiful turquoise-blue.
It's such a pity you can't breathe in all that fabulous fresh air.

How wonderful to slowly walk along the lake appreciating all the wonderful sights and sounds...filling all the senses to the maximum. I realised how lucky I was and so stopped numerous times to take it all in. 

You can't help but stop!

Every time we took this walk there was always something new to see...

I just loved this little red boat and the name 'Oops' appealed to my sense of humour :D

And so onto Queenstown...

One visit to Queenstown and it's easy to see why the resort town is known as the world's adventure capital. 

There are all year round activities so there's something for everyone in every season.

Whether it is golf to jet boating, skiing to skydiving, revitalising to partying! 

It's all here in Queenstown.

Enveloped by breathtaking mountains and based near the dramatic shores of Lake Wakatipu , Queenstown could quite possibly be the most appealing city in New Zealand...it's certainly picturesque.

Queenstown location is great for a base to then explore Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park. 

In the south is Dunedin with its Scottish heritage, and diverse wildlife. 

To the north are sunny Nelson and Marlborough, famous for their wines and food. 

It's difficult to know where to start first upon your arrival.

So maybe I'll let you settle in before we carry on....

I hope you'll continue our trip and who knows you may see a bungy jump?!?!

Don't forget to have fun this week...catch you later! 

Happy 21st Birthday Son

As I'm typing this post...I'm completely amazed that I'm actually writing about my son's 21st Birthday! 

I mean how can that possibly be? 

I'M ONLY 19 YEARS OLD MYSELF for goodness sake!

But I suppose the calendar never lies, so I'll have to bite the bullet and accept it. 

It shouldn't be hard really because he's now over 6 feet tall!

At the risk of upsetting or embarrassing him (HA! isn't that what we're supposed to do?)

I just wanted to mark his special day here on my blog.

We had a great night and I think the birthday celebrations will be ongoing throughout this week and into the weekend at least.

I've had a mind to create a little special line drawing for him for some time now and this was the perfect occasion. I decided to draw a Liver bird which is the symbol of the football team Liverpool. 

I know that anything to do with football whether its AFL or the UK Premier League...can cause quite a lot of controversy, but the fact is Liverpool is my son's team (and also my hubby's too for that matter) so that's it FULL STOP!

Both my boys wake at silly-o-clock to watch all of their games...crazy I know but you try telling them that!

So here's my design which was very well received....

I cropped the photo so that you might see it better. 

It's not the best light for a photo shoot today. 

The design is enclosed in a black frame with a white mount.

I'm not sure if you'd be interested but if you are here's a clip from YouTube of  Steven Gerrard  (the Liverpool Captain) drawing the Liver bird on a 60 second challenge. I had such a giggle watching it.

I have to admit I didn't take 60 seconds to create mine.
Happy Birthday son

I also created a collage from some of the masses of his childhood photographs.
We now realise how much my son liked to dress up...not in a cross gender type of way, but just generally. Phewph...better make that clear!!!
I couldn't possibly post a photo of the collage because basically I'm going to keep the threat of doing that for as long as I can...it will keep me way ahead in the game of the blackmail stakes...MMMWWWWAAAhhhhhhaaaaa

Thanks for stopping by everyone...I hope you are having a great day.
Remember to make the most of it...it's a gift!

See you again soon I hope