My new tree

This is my jewellery tree with all my necklaces and pendants. I will probably move thing around frequently. I dont have any expensive stuff, but I like what I have. Not that I wear them often. I prefer bracelets, of which there are a few on the tree too, but not sure that you can pick them out.

Dont know if you can pick out the pink crystal necklace it is on the left, but it belonged to my mother and is the only old thing that I have.

Christmas Day

This is my friend Joan's new dog. His name is George and as you can probably, or maybe not see, he is a golden cocker spaniel. So cute. Loves a tummy rub. Still very mischievous. Loves to chew things. Including fingers and toes, and clothes.

My adopted grandsons gave me this beautiful orchid, and my friend Joan gave me the jewellery tree. I also got, apart from your presents, and the licorice is yummy, by the way. Rohan and family gave me a new cover for the barbecue, and Shaun and family gave me a new therometer, which registers indoor and outdoor temperatures and also humidity.

I took a photo of the Christmas table, but looks a bit bare here. Was a nice day about 22 deg, so we had roast pork, chicken and ham with all the roasted vegetable. Nobody likes plum pudding, which is a tradition here, (a carry over from our British heritage).

This was Jayden's plate, he is only 10, but eats well.

Went to the hotel for tea, for Sam's birthday tonight. Tried to take some photos of the food we ate, but they were all blurred. Sorry. this was my dinner which was fish (hake) and chips.

Then on the way home took some Christmas lights. We dont have a lot, but they are becoming more popular. I dont have any, they are fairly expensive and a lot of work to put up. Some came out ok, but the others are a bit blurred again, maybe because of the fact the lights are flashing.

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a safe and happy 2010. Lots of love.

King of the Castle.

Some one decided that they liked to view from the table better than anywhere else.

When to see the movie Avatar tonight. In 3D. It was fantastic. The animation and special effects were spectacular. If you like sci-fi and action movies it is a must see. Then went to a Thai restaurant for tea. Went there after the movies a couple of weeks ago, and the food is lovely. The girls are all Thai and dress in their native costumes. They are all so pretty, and the dress are lovely. You have to have a good figure to get away with it though.

Had Jayden overnight and he mowed the lawn for me today. Have to pay him of course. We played scrabble too. A good day all round.

Another day, another dollar.

Tuesday went to lunch with Pauline, Lynne and Glenise. Went to an organic restaurant. They had a tine little courtyard at the back of the shop, which was lovely, because it was a really nice day. Sorry I didn't have my camera. Had meant to take it. Bought some some gifts.

Wednesday was very hot. Nearly 40degrees. Didn't do much. Actually fell asleep in the afternoon watching the cricket.

After I woke up I went to the large shopping centre and bought Christmas paper and a few last minute presents.

Decided that I should start wrapping today. I haven't finished but decided to take a photo of the tree anyway. Not very happy with the tree. The decorations don't show up very well and the lights didn't come out well either. Never mind.



Think I have most presents covered. Just one daughter-in-law to buy for and have no idea what to get for her. Have ordered the meat for Christmas day. Will have ham, pork and chicken with roasted vegetables as it is going to be a cooler day, only low 20's, and plum pudding and custard.


Not a great one on traditional stuff. Lots have turkey for Christmas but I don't like it, so will have the chicken instead.

Some garden shots

This is not a very clear photo, but the hydrangeas are looking great, especially as I have two colours on the one plant. It has been blue for many years, but the soil must be getting tired as it is gradually turning pink.

Then I have tried to get a good photo of the bougainvillea climbing over my roof. Unfortunately it is very close to the next door neighbour so cant get close enough to take a good shot. Tried to zoom in but didn't work.

I think I have finally worked out how to work this blog. If I upload the photos first then put in the text it is much less hassle.

I am feeling a bit better today, though still a bit tired. I have cleaned the house so that might explain it. Also a few family hassles. We have my ex-husband's family Christmas day tomorrow. It is at my mother-in-law's unit. She lives in Lara which is near Geelong (which is the biggest town outside Melbourne) and about and hour and a half drive from here.

Wednesday.

Sorry I havent been able to up-date lately. Rohan went to the doctors and was told he might have swine flu. No tests were done though, so he went to another doctor and he did all the tests and he does not have swine Flu. Thank Goodness.

Before the results came in though, to be on the safe side I had the two boys here for the weekend, so there wasnt much time for me. Even Ethan likes to play the computer, but, of course, we limit the time he, and Jay, are on the computers.

While Jay was playing on the laptop, it spat the dummy, as we say. Cant get it to do anything, so it is currently been looked at. Fingers crossed it is not anything major. Cinders is thinking of using the computer too.

Went out for lunch with some friends yesterday. Had some fish and it was quite nice. The conversation was good.

Had a couple of patients today. It was a really nice day. Shame to be inside.

I have been trying to catch the rabbit to come inside but he had decided he wants to play games and wont come.

I did try and take some photos of the moon tonight, which is full, or almost. But I need a tripod as the camera moves when I click it. This is one I took last night, using a chair for a resting spot.

Monday, 23rd Nov

Not a lot happening except for the new addition to the family. Liam, we think, is beautiful, but if we are honest at two hours old, he looks like any newborn baby. He doesnt have as much hair as Ethan had, but is just as dark. Jayden had about the same amount of hair when he was born. He looks more like Jayden than Ethan. (Liam and Ethan had a different mother to Jayden).

I will post the photos but only until you see them as Mum and Dad aren't took keen to have the childrens photos on the net.

Apart from babysitting the two older children, I havent done a lot. Been trying to do a bit of Christmas shopping. Did have to go to the funeral for the mother of a close friend. She was 85 and had cancer.

Had a dreadful headache last night which I had trouble shaking, took 4 very strong tablets before it allowed me to get to sleep, and woke up to day feeling the after effects of the tablets. Had to have an afternoon sleep.

Then got stuck into the garden,. Dug over a couple of garden beds and pulled up some bulbs. Left it a bit late cause cant remember where they all were. I know I have missed a few. Thinned out some of the irises and transplanted to some of the bare spots in the garden. I have one bed that I find hard to get anything to grow as it doesnt get any water and with our water restrictions everthing I plant seems to die there. Fingers crossed.


Have to go and do some more shopping tomorrow. Ordered in a copy of one of the Moomin books. Thought my grandchildren might like them as the characters look cute.

Day around the Bay part 2

This is one of the newer houses at Merricks. And as you will see a bit of a contrast with our familyhouse.


Not sure how much you can see but this is the property that belonged to my grandmother. After she died the house had to be demolished and a smaller place as built for my Step-grandfather and my uncle.




This is one of the new buildings at Merricks, but not sure if it is a house or a storage area. Looks like a lot of packing cases put together.



From Merricks we went around the coast towards to what is know as the heads. Which is the opening into Port Phillip Bay. We stopped at Flinders and had lunch that my sister had prepared.



The seagulls decided they would share our meal with us, are they a menace in Finland too?



As you can see they come really close and actually took food out of our hands. Then at the end when we were having cake, they almost took the food out of Gwynne's mouth. As Fiorella was laughing at her, they took her cake out of her hand too. We sure had a laugh. Obviously they like sweet things.




This is at Portsea which is closer to the Heads.








This is a really pretty spot and the beaches are beautiful, but the water is very treacherous. During the summer they are patrolled by Lifesavers and you must swim between the flags that they put out each day.

Day around the Bay

This the beach at Merricks, which is where my grandmother had a house. We spent all our holidays there from the time I was 5. This is looking east.

Merricks Beach is on Western Port Bay, and you look across the bay to Phillip Island, which is home to the fairy penquin.











This is still the same beach but further along. My sister Gwynne is the one on the left and Fiorella is her ex-husband's sister. You can just make out Phillip Island in the background.

















This is from the same point as the first photo and is looking to the west towards Flinders, which is our next stop.














Behind Grandma's house is this lovely walking path. Lots of pine trees which some of the property owners recently wanted to take out because they werent native to the area, but as you can see they are very well establised and were large when we first starting going there 60+ years ago.










This is me on another part of the same track.

A walk around the Golf Course

Have decided that I need more exercise, so have walked around our local golf course which is just 5 minutes walk from home. This is the entrance to the walk.











This is the first part of the walk. The fence is around the golf course and there a some houses on the right. Not many people on the walk today. Probably passed four others walking.


































There are many native trees along the walk. The red bottle brush is just coming into bloom, likewise the yellow one. Though you cant really see the flower unless you look hard. Liked the different coloured leaves too. Also lovely golden wattle or acacia as is the proper name.




Also some lovely gum trees (Eucalypts)

I am still having trouble positioning the photos, sorry. When I upload a ne photo is goes to the top so then have to try and reposition is is not always easy.


This is the view of our Mt. Dandenong which , as you can see, houses the TV towers. This is looking towards the road from where I entered the walk so therefore looking to the East.

Then back to the beginning. The walk used to take me 40 minutes but seem to have slowed down in the 5 to 10 years since I last did the walk, as it now takes me 50 mins to an hour.

Sunday

the time has come for a new camera I think. Again took the camera but wouldnt work. Even took it to a couple of camera places but they couldnt help much.

Meet a couple of girlfriends in the city today for lunch. We all had trouble with the public transport system. On my line, they are taking the train under a major road to try and eliminate traffic problems and of course have to shut down the trains whilst they work on the tunnel.. Therefore have to catch a bus from one station to the next station past the tunnel. So a longer trip.

My friends live on the other side of the city and because of works on the major freeway they decided to come by train too, but there is a new station going in on their line to their service was replaced by buses too. So we were all late.

Eventually met and went to a park for lunch but the sun didnt come out, so a little chilly. Never mind good to catch up with old friends. We only meet a three or four times a year, so lots of talking.

Two Christmas's ago I gave my elder son a rally drive experience. This involved driving a rally car on a enclosed circuit. He always wanted to compete in a rally. He finally did it yesterday and said it as truly awesome and brilliant. Nice to give present someone appreciates and is a little out of the norm.


I still have a few problems positioning photos, but hope you can follow.

My clever sister

This is my sister's latest creation. You have have noticed the gold one on my bed. Gollywoggs are coming back into fashion here, though we are supposed to just call them Golly to be politically correct.

Dont know if you read the Gollywogg books.