tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316723592024-03-14T15:44:31.600+11:00the grassy gardenPaulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.comBlogger576125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-31741451702516880822011-12-03T12:28:00.008+11:002011-12-03T12:41:53.240+11:00it has been a long time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jZrZ7Sj6iYcP9ahyphenhyphenszyIWevu-S6ZFytGHDjbqmDKNXSxgZiApm1We0sPTqVNED0Jc5hgwnvCEsyLB7oOAZ8HBX_nk4x11mvAiaPcE50vxgUyXnVIPd6X6mQJId6CNVEJmtg_tg/s1600/P8281577.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jZrZ7Sj6iYcP9ahyphenhyphenszyIWevu-S6ZFytGHDjbqmDKNXSxgZiApm1We0sPTqVNED0Jc5hgwnvCEsyLB7oOAZ8HBX_nk4x11mvAiaPcE50vxgUyXnVIPd6X6mQJId6CNVEJmtg_tg/s400/P8281577.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681709307173666466" border="0" /></a>Life can kick you in the ass and that is certainly what has happened to me lately. But it's all the day to day things that help resolve and soften pain, loss or disappointment, little things that just make life normal, balanced and reinforce the value of my good friends and family that I cannot live without. Tough times make these people even more critical in my life and I'm so thankful for them. Simple things like riding a bike and crashing, and losing a tooth.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTZEnX9z3rzoeJ5o38o4uFr_CHvnX_7IGBWYr8P49YXvOMVUvr6j3fvAlsfQkWoVZ8KMvk7ul3JTb744KYGw3lTFRFikdQ5b8bRXKc5Zrzeepjk13THxuqTqL94wxQKxdPmhtTg/s1600/P9181626.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTZEnX9z3rzoeJ5o38o4uFr_CHvnX_7IGBWYr8P49YXvOMVUvr6j3fvAlsfQkWoVZ8KMvk7ul3JTb744KYGw3lTFRFikdQ5b8bRXKc5Zrzeepjk13THxuqTqL94wxQKxdPmhtTg/s400/P9181626.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681709086055134194" border="0" /></a>enjoying the freedom of the open spaces on a clean and beautiful beach,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVmgv2cFyQAxP8usqlF6CkGQK-mHathKIUwixsT2GqFt6rZ9062-tPa4xosiqe82hsneB4ZGNTBm7bBUKWiqBdhTW9MOCjD9ufywJIfIlYtQHQeiRg6oNCNwvVhd3Igj6vkizzA/s1600/PA201668.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVmgv2cFyQAxP8usqlF6CkGQK-mHathKIUwixsT2GqFt6rZ9062-tPa4xosiqe82hsneB4ZGNTBm7bBUKWiqBdhTW9MOCjD9ufywJIfIlYtQHQeiRg6oNCNwvVhd3Igj6vkizzA/s400/PA201668.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681708876076991666" border="0" /></a>birthday celebrations,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-a7dU3BkGaZTwAF6G38w2GoGxJRazCXYX2LJsRWVqNMRkUGg17aTjYds4kofK4PK8rzAIznauCxpYNgrZgMPsaHrUEz9Ign5f8RyYHkEe0Ol4ve_SDn9PJQbCJH76TFTdGhmqw/s1600/PA231806.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-a7dU3BkGaZTwAF6G38w2GoGxJRazCXYX2LJsRWVqNMRkUGg17aTjYds4kofK4PK8rzAIznauCxpYNgrZgMPsaHrUEz9Ign5f8RyYHkEe0Ol4ve_SDn9PJQbCJH76TFTdGhmqw/s400/PA231806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681708608389162098" border="0" /></a>finding new places to explore,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQ7ImjJzIF2SNHFqRSgUS2vl1bbTvL-ElMHwrgEmQlooh1NGVWE7puYRIcphyphenhyphen63kTc97IwrRQUGo1R-jXDo3Wm6KQ9_lMCRgQc6jZp__g2aBr2VNu4gjxWv9pvvGh6HrdWOH_sQ/s1600/PB241849.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQ7ImjJzIF2SNHFqRSgUS2vl1bbTvL-ElMHwrgEmQlooh1NGVWE7puYRIcphyphenhyphen63kTc97IwrRQUGo1R-jXDo3Wm6KQ9_lMCRgQc6jZp__g2aBr2VNu4gjxWv9pvvGh6HrdWOH_sQ/s400/PB241849.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681708412497069058" border="0" /></a><br />graduating from kinder,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-2Xrf8MO0VI79IJQ3eDnmt-sZFxXhwIA8ppFgAPAavdMQj0blRrPjOAmNiIJ7NXqT5yyw5MKT6VeS4s5ygINfTFQccsCJEMJU2BWNlpfvDbE7xF7d90mTD6KeCClcTwxdTzJvQ/s1600/PB291895.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-2Xrf8MO0VI79IJQ3eDnmt-sZFxXhwIA8ppFgAPAavdMQj0blRrPjOAmNiIJ7NXqT5yyw5MKT6VeS4s5ygINfTFQccsCJEMJU2BWNlpfvDbE7xF7d90mTD6KeCClcTwxdTzJvQ/s400/PB291895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681708237597433378" border="0" /></a>making pasta.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-73113527062178680022011-08-13T14:40:00.005+10:002011-08-13T14:44:57.329+10:00normal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVsoqzHxgNsQSiR-LTaMrPCkRlJjLLym9rveksu5tn5zYO_nIzVZKGwZj-iSI3ach9nd9OQM6J6MH0ZE5y16fpivnSJeuh5d0sF1VqnyrhFmKckrM0zN4pe3b8TxbaH1ZJH6OTg/s1600/P8131456.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVsoqzHxgNsQSiR-LTaMrPCkRlJjLLym9rveksu5tn5zYO_nIzVZKGwZj-iSI3ach9nd9OQM6J6MH0ZE5y16fpivnSJeuh5d0sF1VqnyrhFmKckrM0zN4pe3b8TxbaH1ZJH6OTg/s400/P8131456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640196223897094658" border="0" /></a>Its important to do normal things to keep myself balanced, when other parts of life are chaotic, busy and uncontrollable...to eat a lovely homemade lunch of snapper sashimi, and a hand made soup stock made from mackerel, with soba noodles and spring onions....thanks to my love for that...
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0U9d0aq5zduy9rFLdDapYm9eYW54rRZXnwVG4kte3Q9MXeqJyPrJDT1Rkb5sNYXWnajSdiSY33rHwYoQx0LoWvyJVbG0lQ9J1Hi4UUaMx52997crIXuP8llohPMWpAnwpYL2N4w/s1600/P8071450.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0U9d0aq5zduy9rFLdDapYm9eYW54rRZXnwVG4kte3Q9MXeqJyPrJDT1Rkb5sNYXWnajSdiSY33rHwYoQx0LoWvyJVbG0lQ9J1Hi4UUaMx52997crIXuP8llohPMWpAnwpYL2N4w/s400/P8071450.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640196084860666386" border="0" /></a>slow brekky at a lovely cafe....
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrl9Fj3SrWTsIH4KqC28hgSSkS2U0eYJ_Cfe2-uxSRiS2GbOYp5-eHMQ6ToOgEpzyVnQB8bZleEMN_ItWu8D1fqix1u8Zt-DngsZcvS_2hDxnA4zb1-4OBdN09pnIpddRNKgHUw/s1600/P8131464.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrl9Fj3SrWTsIH4KqC28hgSSkS2U0eYJ_Cfe2-uxSRiS2GbOYp5-eHMQ6ToOgEpzyVnQB8bZleEMN_ItWu8D1fqix1u8Zt-DngsZcvS_2hDxnA4zb1-4OBdN09pnIpddRNKgHUw/s400/P8131464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640195927835989442" border="0" /></a>...and pretty poppies in season. This is enough. Happy weekend to you all.
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<br />Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-7276726981273500872011-07-29T20:20:00.005+10:002011-07-29T20:33:16.762+10:00slowpoke<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH175jFUvrmjXUNXHK-44iQV_IFFCdZgBxBCYtaq6P0-G-u9DcMfPOsVIGbL9wa7ss_jpFBhC_MzihdnYkhuy4X_BDMRI5FQgc111WLB53py8LfbWlFnT9PteQuC2vqCvDovdokw/s1600/P6261292.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH175jFUvrmjXUNXHK-44iQV_IFFCdZgBxBCYtaq6P0-G-u9DcMfPOsVIGbL9wa7ss_jpFBhC_MzihdnYkhuy4X_BDMRI5FQgc111WLB53py8LfbWlFnT9PteQuC2vqCvDovdokw/s400/P6261292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634718045232491394" border="0" /></a>A few weeks back we had a lovely brekky at the small and sweet Slowpoke cafe, 157 Brunswick St, Fitzroy. Its been a good 10 years since I have eaten over that side of town and it was really nice to be out there early on a Sunday morning while everyone started to wake up.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwnAMnTOk8qsbql5F8mUIBo2bKfyoXbXskhXlnmWpKbE2X18sZg96_EtGSB-f6OrC0nY5fne0CKLewlXLWXirYj5RzkAa-4cE4YNXZXaRwjLdXidsB_mboP7SoIJ78-EuCbjbdQ/s1600/P6261297.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwnAMnTOk8qsbql5F8mUIBo2bKfyoXbXskhXlnmWpKbE2X18sZg96_EtGSB-f6OrC0nY5fne0CKLewlXLWXirYj5RzkAa-4cE4YNXZXaRwjLdXidsB_mboP7SoIJ78-EuCbjbdQ/s400/P6261297.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634717820505573378" border="0" /></a>We scored the great front table which was bathed in morning sun and provided an opportunity for a few random street dwellers to ask for donations through the large window....this cafe was warm with share table and a few little tables at the front, a big open fire down the back and more seating as well as an outdoor part. Greeting us was smell of fresh coffee brewing and warm kitchen smells.....good morning!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUlTJe6qZT7XIpqXXkCnNWPslUFjkIKK39pafmHwW11Yj3j8i02v4OXrarZl7jF_hxdMiZ6UOCVb9cUYA0tflhOFOd50kstid_onsomMfDOvtfsdjI8aSNk_5zuuzOSPEhQf_EA/s1600/P6261302.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUlTJe6qZT7XIpqXXkCnNWPslUFjkIKK39pafmHwW11Yj3j8i02v4OXrarZl7jF_hxdMiZ6UOCVb9cUYA0tflhOFOd50kstid_onsomMfDOvtfsdjI8aSNk_5zuuzOSPEhQf_EA/s400/P6261302.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634717618743713266" border="0" /></a>Simple food of team friends avocado and feta with a squeeze of lemon and chilli twist....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xwv_YWAsu4kiToqQpHTJAeEKWebrGVnbMWW2vnK5SeV5lMv8w2WSntrXwrKNpTuDsEk-8PKmme-Z7YRr-mqrWB-zHvARJOuLwzwAIbQDhJY1lT9kEqKFqjuoDqvDFrInlvHO1g/s1600/P6261304.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xwv_YWAsu4kiToqQpHTJAeEKWebrGVnbMWW2vnK5SeV5lMv8w2WSntrXwrKNpTuDsEk-8PKmme-Z7YRr-mqrWB-zHvARJOuLwzwAIbQDhJY1lT9kEqKFqjuoDqvDFrInlvHO1g/s400/P6261304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634717484806709490" border="0" /></a>Ricotta with softly marinated cherry tomatoes, a touch a rosemary and s and p heaped on top of fresh tasty bread. Plenty of super smooth coffee, hot chocs and babychinos. A really nice cafe, friendly staff and a good place to take kids if you go early. They even have a copy of Mr Slow in the loo. This place gets 3 sugar lumps out of 5.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-79229901141849305262011-07-17T14:26:00.009+10:002011-07-17T14:42:33.268+10:00Beatrix cafe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuWqVSQO1334anGsZUdt8yuuCZ9ly39UzVuB5ltqBwZ4c1RJTkzgOAUrDnS8PG1T7w7SDskLTJPxJbBy1s66Hb9rTyEwZA8Ge58Jsy3KJaT-KYwWGndJZBO0z6TfvHEyzzNf6cg/s1600/P7171402.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuWqVSQO1334anGsZUdt8yuuCZ9ly39UzVuB5ltqBwZ4c1RJTkzgOAUrDnS8PG1T7w7SDskLTJPxJbBy1s66Hb9rTyEwZA8Ge58Jsy3KJaT-KYwWGndJZBO0z6TfvHEyzzNf6cg/s400/P7171402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630174184182216354" border="0" /></a>We had brekky at the very cute and lovely <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beatrix/150752181653411">Beatrix</a> in North Melbourne. The cafe was quiet and had the most tasty food.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIThvg12G-HWHgldoAiKNkGJTBtKSiq9pPgAA6QMddtWk7Sxu-YDBqiqjYGdEUlLrRrVBqmznlTOQb_dqHTu2wAR0iicnEWZFDW8ObpnZHlEDKHgHzbNfoZscIrqDkdex8c8Yeg/s1600/P7171380.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIThvg12G-HWHgldoAiKNkGJTBtKSiq9pPgAA6QMddtWk7Sxu-YDBqiqjYGdEUlLrRrVBqmznlTOQb_dqHTu2wAR0iicnEWZFDW8ObpnZHlEDKHgHzbNfoZscIrqDkdex8c8Yeg/s400/P7171380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630174024158657682" border="0" /></a>This cake was given the thumbs up, a flaky pastry roll with pecans and raisins....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FO7SxRknBVhlM83KKU79x4NSW0a12sq50otD_ypaSn3NQsF_4aAFv_Fq-kpb_rI8RwTvzgM4mnt8qKl0Yn7XozgQcwbwVY-LRFpchHdjhsrkSgqJkwzkQWJXBoQ8ptUOXUTvAg/s1600/P7171377.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FO7SxRknBVhlM83KKU79x4NSW0a12sq50otD_ypaSn3NQsF_4aAFv_Fq-kpb_rI8RwTvzgM4mnt8qKl0Yn7XozgQcwbwVY-LRFpchHdjhsrkSgqJkwzkQWJXBoQ8ptUOXUTvAg/s400/P7171377.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630173889460432194" border="0" /></a>...sweet decorations and cute utensils with big windows overlooking lovely Nth Melbourne streets..<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xMbtxWohYcD_4gmgrPXS-WgJrEc_5VfsTNGdl4MTqGOH10jDithmyWG5pzIbdneOkTgYwyygIgX-RL1NB0x2odX0G6IYOAqH02_nnndIPOn5XrxIiWXNn1DcqKNE8ZIkhWzBPQ/s1600/P7171381.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xMbtxWohYcD_4gmgrPXS-WgJrEc_5VfsTNGdl4MTqGOH10jDithmyWG5pzIbdneOkTgYwyygIgX-RL1NB0x2odX0G6IYOAqH02_nnndIPOn5XrxIiWXNn1DcqKNE8ZIkhWzBPQ/s400/P7171381.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630173748720666370" border="0" /></a>The kind of hot chocolate I like, not too sweet, milk not too hot and made from chocolate sauce not gritty powder....mmmmmmmm<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi37QFU8TZEi72LWncQVfGXKEUuuXPQ6sNbiXWg6xEdKoyBC-_NVkPeYW8cpoYyYUMvGNoGRRjiOdtgOd5geILwSRxQ53C0wFDpLXWkUj5pMf01cyun6ueod_hbf0wVTwtFEDzGw/s1600/P7171390.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi37QFU8TZEi72LWncQVfGXKEUuuXPQ6sNbiXWg6xEdKoyBC-_NVkPeYW8cpoYyYUMvGNoGRRjiOdtgOd5geILwSRxQ53C0wFDpLXWkUj5pMf01cyun6ueod_hbf0wVTwtFEDzGw/s400/P7171390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630173580255862258" border="0" /></a>This whopee cake with a hint of ginger and real cream was so soft and delicious. Eaten along with my hot chocolate, still wasn't too much of a sugar rush. I didn't take a photo of the beautiful mushroom ciabatta or the lemon slice with a buttery cookie base. A good reason to go back! <br /><br />This was a really nice place to go for a cafe catch up, I'm sure the coffee is good but I didn't have one today, friendly and prompt service, well priced, lots of parking and a great variety of sweets and savouries. I did notice a huge, fluffy lemon chiffon cake on the counter but resisted, another reason to go back!! Did I mention we got some handmade lamingtons to take away.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMuh-6QwPmO_Om5Y9T050im_FAnJJDSm2x9fPl22RUDGvW4GXKPoo5OjfNWMABd1Xmr9sbSA36gTncfW3DMnSSKcQpieCBMrLcZIypG1nwiPgvrxVKUv6URnVKbOhyN1t8tA3Rg/s1600/lunch.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bfUiHcUeblZBd4EBVc3wup_WcN35ktyH3WG3eO3jPX0NK9NVmYb3YrZ3zafUjH21QAhqIfbyQFA_qFrW1Ha7wSxL9gzfCYcosZCJYAGXXXpfI6dzNXnR5_ISBKaa4tMh6hfRxw/s1600/P7171390.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqCgYIGt5KBRpBnaCpNUGN8biVdcQt5zieh_RQ5524VYeqcthQIv6qQZ_W9ep0IeMD6dJuenzO0e3hIJPC2BOPP9xJyg6bM8h6VGvBD84dpQf8t_3E_6MTX8Zkn9XOcVB3-_r-g/s1600/P7171402.JPG"><br /></a>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-63148292332202243822011-06-15T19:40:00.006+10:002011-06-15T19:58:22.468+10:00fun stuff in no order<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu8z74Mg_NoT1_acG06AAW_IOtC-WnU79gEYj63iZJ1EbWXAbVyxlpH2KIW3Uc3rc5y4s92DCDWoJRQdRwLyjzbUU5YtP3wHfITcmP-10GIJqYjDGCRGefZocHY7_CQUWLkiB7w/s1600/P6121156.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu8z74Mg_NoT1_acG06AAW_IOtC-WnU79gEYj63iZJ1EbWXAbVyxlpH2KIW3Uc3rc5y4s92DCDWoJRQdRwLyjzbUU5YtP3wHfITcmP-10GIJqYjDGCRGefZocHY7_CQUWLkiB7w/s400/P6121156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618379969664634002" border="0" /></a>Every weekend we try to do something interesting. Go somewhere or do something....there's a lot to do! Snow already at Mt Donna Buang, according to locals, its going to be a bumper year. It might be time to invest in a toboggan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMmQFrfH85M-6SzH7BmIGCOSCBhoCJwjP_osvi05w2U7EUIFSwKXYdl3wALvnxICU05ZqQiRdXX1ySFQHqWMO5c0CVUVDmJEEWaxh-pkdkcmHir_UtivkvTC8io-82q4NG5iulQ/s1600/P6111130.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMmQFrfH85M-6SzH7BmIGCOSCBhoCJwjP_osvi05w2U7EUIFSwKXYdl3wALvnxICU05ZqQiRdXX1ySFQHqWMO5c0CVUVDmJEEWaxh-pkdkcmHir_UtivkvTC8io-82q4NG5iulQ/s400/P6111130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618379808428441442" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.yogabbagabba.com/">Yo Gabba Gabba</a> was so funny and clever, except the bit that had Hughesy..he is not very funny. High lights were appearances by the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nndHG0PO9CM">Biz</a> the beat box guy and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/littleredmusic">Little Red<br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfvy_3U7CLwxe7ecwMAuNPVY0OykS5DSdu9odnJdJuWYdx8ycp0uA4UQ1lfsfCoFIaaB0L7hyGq4R_JtnOkHCyYDOsXyYlmTSvzM0afvcbU9YxvhOmjEVBdx2LOVFh13tTNzhjQ/s1600/P6051101.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfvy_3U7CLwxe7ecwMAuNPVY0OykS5DSdu9odnJdJuWYdx8ycp0uA4UQ1lfsfCoFIaaB0L7hyGq4R_JtnOkHCyYDOsXyYlmTSvzM0afvcbU9YxvhOmjEVBdx2LOVFh13tTNzhjQ/s400/P6051101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618379632890209330" border="0" /></a>Another weekend we went to Daylesford and Hepburn. This is near the lake where we quietly watched the lovely blue wrens in the trees.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6PLt7H9uw2cPpcmA7eCLd3dEDaOlThuuxc9Rfn8mAJIjJyc6HyfawHtQtvB1KYk9FYOAqxA9duOjPSy0N_jAWGeDCkffUHEfXmnx-WLWnFk0t4gJbbt0YHxxeO-9qcNzJNiWPg/s1600/P6051076.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6PLt7H9uw2cPpcmA7eCLd3dEDaOlThuuxc9Rfn8mAJIjJyc6HyfawHtQtvB1KYk9FYOAqxA9duOjPSy0N_jAWGeDCkffUHEfXmnx-WLWnFk0t4gJbbt0YHxxeO-9qcNzJNiWPg/s400/P6051076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618379345027082674" border="0" /></a>Peaceful! Winter isn't so bad :)Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-74562747079260039302011-06-03T15:18:00.007+10:002011-06-03T16:12:32.762+10:00back home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51AMo6WiejPQuybf8r_PJgkfLugdnf8hetWRnbk_RGgmC43KZgbsoNwoUGAypMt4ZzawGrt2FWpKvZ3A6Sv96QdxhhfoHigy3LxnwkKREIn4G4BZZg-M22fPJiB9NBduvMBcKpA/s1600/P5160589.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51AMo6WiejPQuybf8r_PJgkfLugdnf8hetWRnbk_RGgmC43KZgbsoNwoUGAypMt4ZzawGrt2FWpKvZ3A6Sv96QdxhhfoHigy3LxnwkKREIn4G4BZZg-M22fPJiB9NBduvMBcKpA/s400/P5160589.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613860424905075250" border="0" /></a>We started the adventure just two and met the third in Singapore. We ran to catch the flight to KL. We made it. KL was great, busy, hot and interesting. Some nice food and shopping too...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaFWOSjQNytzAIlX4qcqQtID3nSnvwk5u663_Ut3zFz4zrrevAFbMYHXHPSbenHXcGsJ5dsLPjue8-kjfO6POHRGbQdQJU6OmEcsNueGQEmXmF08ZqQou0p0ZIoCOJ88RJGm_xQ/s1600/P5220854.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaFWOSjQNytzAIlX4qcqQtID3nSnvwk5u663_Ut3zFz4zrrevAFbMYHXHPSbenHXcGsJ5dsLPjue8-kjfO6POHRGbQdQJU6OmEcsNueGQEmXmF08ZqQou0p0ZIoCOJ88RJGm_xQ/s400/P5220854.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613860227988859202" border="0" /></a>Then, we made to our favourite little secret beach on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Redang</span> island. Beautiful, no people, plenty of sunshine and swimming, turtle sightings, fish, bombings off the jetty into warm, warm waters, kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, eating, drinking, eating, diving, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">snorkelling</span>, boating, massaging, talking, relaxing.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWsJTE54zLgYVwxf5MrkfPAZxui7MJPuvJoOHdkV2J42YMbBGT2ZWIrl3oIj-MMp-l_VFUgsLHaCiBhZR2W12YXL3d0mgEHTBVvkn06rkmQfr6f56UE-NXsNB4sMk4jqGivN09A/s1600/P5240914.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWsJTE54zLgYVwxf5MrkfPAZxui7MJPuvJoOHdkV2J42YMbBGT2ZWIrl3oIj-MMp-l_VFUgsLHaCiBhZR2W12YXL3d0mgEHTBVvkn06rkmQfr6f56UE-NXsNB4sMk4jqGivN09A/s400/P5240914.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613859770286144578" border="0" /></a>Back to KL after a week at the beach, finding some great and cheap places to eat....about $3 to feed 3 hungry tummies....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dGUIXh0rJea0O4SpbfJvOsDiuUCcSGyO4tdajcjtlCkitcWX0CHnlp35uxLC5VSaoFGokssyc3Y9amiZx8tLvjUPH26IEchDEz7pRSrNX4MrkK-HmLt-oOjQUGxOEF1yaaBolA/s1600/P5260975.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dGUIXh0rJea0O4SpbfJvOsDiuUCcSGyO4tdajcjtlCkitcWX0CHnlp35uxLC5VSaoFGokssyc3Y9amiZx8tLvjUPH26IEchDEz7pRSrNX4MrkK-HmLt-oOjQUGxOEF1yaaBolA/s400/P5260975.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613859600026580450" border="0" /></a>We took a day trip to see the great grandma, who grows peanuts amongst other things. Here is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">mooey</span> learning the finer points of peanut shelling, which soon turned into how many shells can be thrown around the place, which entertained everyone.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oHQGSxEDOe-EjbjWAbc4l5vieO2ydREhsNFfQh1_bZcU3VQr8sYperDupSxwVRw3FWfr3E4DVil0zXGRrtZeXbAfiJdZBHq5Tczsr6ZHYsGW6nqd9nXAyYWkdbio8woLLLfi7Q/s1600/P5261006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oHQGSxEDOe-EjbjWAbc4l5vieO2ydREhsNFfQh1_bZcU3VQr8sYperDupSxwVRw3FWfr3E4DVil0zXGRrtZeXbAfiJdZBHq5Tczsr6ZHYsGW6nqd9nXAyYWkdbio8woLLLfi7Q/s400/P5261006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613859097299520434" border="0" /></a>This was followed by a goodbye lunch at the very famous and very local beef balls shop....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEgec5hzgabtRqM9E1R-M_Ng8Q0_hOUJE_JPJJDY2v5Celfq6XAO2okHRGxZZw1JudpTO5_jOs3sGC2YgxyIOqsovxD5S8m9fFwSMAF-yiAYISkIjutwsCMCGDdv57Nci2bYxoQ/s1600/P5271027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEgec5hzgabtRqM9E1R-M_Ng8Q0_hOUJE_JPJJDY2v5Celfq6XAO2okHRGxZZw1JudpTO5_jOs3sGC2YgxyIOqsovxD5S8m9fFwSMAF-yiAYISkIjutwsCMCGDdv57Nci2bYxoQ/s400/P5271027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613858958030488642" border="0" /></a>We had dinner one night in the old town where my husband grew up as a kid, otherwise known as dodgytown.....a very special dinner of longevity noodles and crispy baby piglet for his Dads birthday party.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8x_DjAs-r-cJ3OXkNxMkawmCZy-wJKLpwwc6j2H95xwzotaCNSw23N3_2ew1Q-YXpV42tq4MVPtZQ1rfizygSRzAjkvjsd3ThhMqlJu8yH2MpRwakp4qcZ3vyOmX2cfkNpq3EA/s1600/P5281055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8x_DjAs-r-cJ3OXkNxMkawmCZy-wJKLpwwc6j2H95xwzotaCNSw23N3_2ew1Q-YXpV42tq4MVPtZQ1rfizygSRzAjkvjsd3ThhMqlJu8yH2MpRwakp4qcZ3vyOmX2cfkNpq3EA/s400/P5281055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613858732291466530" border="0" /></a>Here is a normal <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">brekky</span> place we had some noodles and stuff...no lattes here :(<br /><br />We had a great trip and did a lot of things but I always love to come back to Australia. I really do love Melbourne. I have had a few extra days off before returning to full time work. I have enjoyed these few days to do boring things like shopping and fun things like cooking, running, thinking and catching up with friends and family. With time or no time I still hate washing clothes. I still have 3 or 4 emails to write to lovely people far away. I have not done one creative thing, which I regret. I even bought a big, inspiring canvas and its still big and empty. I have also not done a creative projects with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">mooey</span>, I hope to do at least one this weekend. Making/creating stuff is so enjoyable, I do not know why I have not dedicated any time at all to engaging in free and playful thoughts, time to rectify this I think!!.....<br /><br />I have found a lovely work mentor and decided on 3 goals I would like to achieve/work towards this half year to help make my work life more meaningful and purposeful. I did just get a new job and worked in it a week before going on holidays so it kind of feels like a new year even though its June.<br /><br />Hope to keep this blog updated a bit more often, it has been much neglected. I have found quite a few new blogs this week and wasted quite a bit of time reading them, but that in itself has been pleasurable as its nice to know there are some really cool people out there with their own struggles and successes.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-82637115809446580432011-04-29T15:45:00.002+10:002011-04-29T15:51:37.734+10:00not much<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLn9t3ZDbRy4kPCLOUa__Z-WNKWLodRYxT-1LgRVBTcDZaQzQORqU2_FGvsoZaloVxiLy5H4RFpKRSpNpW0MpJhMV1rveg09VFiQJP21_URabXdAFN8Gf3wRG9yZWDGRPT1xxTw/s1600/P4160372.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLn9t3ZDbRy4kPCLOUa__Z-WNKWLodRYxT-1LgRVBTcDZaQzQORqU2_FGvsoZaloVxiLy5H4RFpKRSpNpW0MpJhMV1rveg09VFiQJP21_URabXdAFN8Gf3wRG9yZWDGRPT1xxTw/s400/P4160372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600877731961713778" border="0" /></a>A couple of days off seems enough, without actually going on holidays...its been good to do the daily drop off and picks ups and have dinner ready early and keep on top of the washing and wait stupidly long times for coffee and hang out with peoples, read many blogs, look at lots of nice recipes, think about work and life, go running when I feel like it, go every where without rushing, walk in the sunshine, avoid public transport. Time just to reflect. A nice few days!Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-4285268835606957512011-04-26T07:21:00.001+10:002011-04-26T07:23:02.102+10:00happy holidays<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OjgYYqRNbVfwv_dYaTdCVGcmtP2XS_-neKvWq4nn1tXtVElaaEeWzBaDSTWZfbHiWzWBfh80fZ-6mRycWRFWYdcWH1YwkGVyq3te6tQhH87qE0wmpze4boSGuJZ-DzxmgcsFZA/s1600/P4250418.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OjgYYqRNbVfwv_dYaTdCVGcmtP2XS_-neKvWq4nn1tXtVElaaEeWzBaDSTWZfbHiWzWBfh80fZ-6mRycWRFWYdcWH1YwkGVyq3te6tQhH87qE0wmpze4boSGuJZ-DzxmgcsFZA/s400/P4250418.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599634570089351938" border="0" /></a>We are having a ball and with the rest of the week as holidays and sunny days predicted, it couldn't be a better Easter!Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-49266934812410771342011-04-16T16:47:00.011+10:002011-04-16T16:58:53.115+10:00brighter days<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5Ed-aQP4ZahcYe2j-Yb5bFDIgxoBxjrGuskHE0BG3U6F2qvmMUAmH80MtEUX0JBSt9b795JFHJeI5tJpJpizWy32QiMGbJ0OwMWeKTnshvFBkGkjs1BReOtlFremDYs2-anp4w/s1600/P4160365.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5Ed-aQP4ZahcYe2j-Yb5bFDIgxoBxjrGuskHE0BG3U6F2qvmMUAmH80MtEUX0JBSt9b795JFHJeI5tJpJpizWy32QiMGbJ0OwMWeKTnshvFBkGkjs1BReOtlFremDYs2-anp4w/s400/P4160365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596071103217237922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Fo5_P3Z-fZFh2UTRBlxUAw8WJJmwcwZKEwFtg3D6fEkjqPnZf3bjeIuTteJSXW6q-NAfv-6apQ7xuJpyl3ZKfUC6VeSPPyumyk2P0ghryeCKo_anGF6IPDAhssEzt4UgiIOQ0w/s1600/P4160314.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Fo5_P3Z-fZFh2UTRBlxUAw8WJJmwcwZKEwFtg3D6fEkjqPnZf3bjeIuTteJSXW6q-NAfv-6apQ7xuJpyl3ZKfUC6VeSPPyumyk2P0ghryeCKo_anGF6IPDAhssEzt4UgiIOQ0w/s400/P4160314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596070795931850722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7shCkFliNYRsgWMVtG6uSGsFlm_zBcXH7Yl-scA8VNm_SWKvmicRQrK6cPf9BjLlMEKfRCaHRjgZj7OpRZLO4EGR2YW0BzRXPQp33sB2Ma_c_o8S56lv1-oBVdsiFkCZSXrHaw/s1600/P4160277.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7shCkFliNYRsgWMVtG6uSGsFlm_zBcXH7Yl-scA8VNm_SWKvmicRQrK6cPf9BjLlMEKfRCaHRjgZj7OpRZLO4EGR2YW0BzRXPQp33sB2Ma_c_o8S56lv1-oBVdsiFkCZSXrHaw/s400/P4160277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596070651147931698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsD9vhZ4s6qIDcSP3ourF30gItjWpltusJscTiPS0URZfnvbSu4lHqvfvvu-KnW8y3ZjoFttHTkIKsHw8sgi2EsZECG0h1es_5D0vm3NlYscqaU1Qd418XpfvEhCtMDsnFqXaSbg/s1600/P4160304.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsD9vhZ4s6qIDcSP3ourF30gItjWpltusJscTiPS0URZfnvbSu4lHqvfvvu-KnW8y3ZjoFttHTkIKsHw8sgi2EsZECG0h1es_5D0vm3NlYscqaU1Qd418XpfvEhCtMDsnFqXaSbg/s400/P4160304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596070488564631810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3T8zlDF76okRohQG6c4IcaxvS5tj09z9yO6sVF6D0ASECxeUCOOauu2Rj7eI8uj0HctJnV6eGkbMADqpC18cyK-tGf9owgu3rS8geQzELBi-FUvnsvZsN6we3D3cSTHYHRiveQ/s1600/P4160289.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3T8zlDF76okRohQG6c4IcaxvS5tj09z9yO6sVF6D0ASECxeUCOOauu2Rj7eI8uj0HctJnV6eGkbMADqpC18cyK-tGf9owgu3rS8geQzELBi-FUvnsvZsN6we3D3cSTHYHRiveQ/s400/P4160289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596070302316676434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiESISnq-CmwejTBNftPKTzVtwFQZQD89-5ZgbwCCnSJniGbjbe1aFYRUGWT4kMjw4_O6sutSUAfmzEeTqiBrCiN6TgPC012EfmApgHhMWeXfTZDV8EltZT4tYR0NJahO3JAYOXw/s1600/P4160274.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiESISnq-CmwejTBNftPKTzVtwFQZQD89-5ZgbwCCnSJniGbjbe1aFYRUGWT4kMjw4_O6sutSUAfmzEeTqiBrCiN6TgPC012EfmApgHhMWeXfTZDV8EltZT4tYR0NJahO3JAYOXw/s400/P4160274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596070184016898802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yVIJyjFbE0qRXMt1WjdW-A1G17Pj6g4Lq4dANmP-Vcc4r2JlSY3XkZC59O5lC7an9vR0CIF4HoumC9VGyc_9OsCsELvUKwjSJYxHz7eXXgU0UNIKwyRUP9jXwJhqO8cSpfrubg/s1600/P4160273.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yVIJyjFbE0qRXMt1WjdW-A1G17Pj6g4Lq4dANmP-Vcc4r2JlSY3XkZC59O5lC7an9vR0CIF4HoumC9VGyc_9OsCsELvUKwjSJYxHz7eXXgU0UNIKwyRUP9jXwJhqO8cSpfrubg/s400/P4160273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596069981245771858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArlnpoSk1ny8brXgmaJf2Nd8VSi2Q3HtvWXtZNBGJcNyxNyjHGod9gxySvO3YwSskmYmmEBCxlHgNwiN4EXepqFwWPzICeWVoFNjy_LdHRc2nrVeYwcR2C5GUQkReC-6D699FuA/s1600/P4160260.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArlnpoSk1ny8brXgmaJf2Nd8VSi2Q3HtvWXtZNBGJcNyxNyjHGod9gxySvO3YwSskmYmmEBCxlHgNwiN4EXepqFwWPzICeWVoFNjy_LdHRc2nrVeYwcR2C5GUQkReC-6D699FuA/s400/P4160260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596069828282363490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBuDCG3HLy4eUzBkW9Wg77jGeT2ZY2AOaDMfYb75LexnSi-UHQe4lHWbRmSjyZYvYn3phKb9drAICYmehm07xgJYwhYmrU18mwFAEiGZPCOMumg2Jv4WSZYuK0xzuwnGFffpapw/s1600/P4160258.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBuDCG3HLy4eUzBkW9Wg77jGeT2ZY2AOaDMfYb75LexnSi-UHQe4lHWbRmSjyZYvYn3phKb9drAICYmehm07xgJYwhYmrU18mwFAEiGZPCOMumg2Jv4WSZYuK0xzuwnGFffpapw/s400/P4160258.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596069526438407090" border="0" /></a>My 38th Birthday is looming so I received an early pressie, a point and shoot of the new<a href="http://www.olympusxz1.com/xz1.shtml"> variety</a>. I am so impressed at the clarity of these shots taken from various locations at Vic market. I played with all the settings but basically it is automatic, point and shoot. The first shot is in China town.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-12377874881874487422011-03-18T21:07:00.003+11:002011-03-18T21:26:25.152+11:00beautiful japan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIFYh00vWXKM8TMDQK0SHrfNgRlLWOR0wUPk3WVm2Gib-2DD_X-a5UBxy3QysE46sLORA4k97z602nyBSG2FsalZuAWE6eRRFJAMqeqE8bWLMqbh5AHvt6HJvEfKWu7GTRpZVSQ/s1600/20091025-IMG_4165.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIFYh00vWXKM8TMDQK0SHrfNgRlLWOR0wUPk3WVm2Gib-2DD_X-a5UBxy3QysE46sLORA4k97z602nyBSG2FsalZuAWE6eRRFJAMqeqE8bWLMqbh5AHvt6HJvEfKWu7GTRpZVSQ/s400/20091025-IMG_4165.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585359832791619538" border="0" /></a>I have never felt such sadness and so connected to an event, external to my little world, before this past horrible week of events in my beloved adopted country, Japan. I am glued to the news reports and images, of the beautiful, devastated people, standing in lines for hours, feeling dazed and completely shattered by the loss of their lives, jobs, houses, friends and families yet remain incredibly dignified. The piles of lives once lived simply, in those small streets with sliding doors and no locks and pretty flowers, all smashed up and covered in broken pieces of everyone's private lives, now all mixed together, is hard to comprehend. I cant imagine the smell. I read an elderly lady had been interviewed and she had accepted that this is part of the cycle of life. How amazing, amongst all of this, to have such acceptance. The images of snow falling on the already broken communities is heartbreaking, photos of families discovering loved ones dead under piles of rubble make me cry with sadness. I can only feel empathy as I cant ever understand fully such a loss at such a scale. I feel so helpless and useless to return the generosity of help and support that I have, time and time again been shown by so many Japanese people. So I can only be so thankful that those that I care for are safe and unharmed, and keep my heart and mind on those who need all the kind thoughts and support they can get. Thoughts are nice but they cant provide any tangible help so I hope warmth, food and safety will come soon. Helpless.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-15630737331673517892011-02-17T15:35:00.008+11:002011-02-17T15:45:41.269+11:00weekend delight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOvBVGSS-QPuyvjfo0VNQwRxV8mip5AhcUG7DHdEABAeMT66k-YxVPQYf_XFx1lP9tTrACJ_DeDwkyelEjpyJKij9aozE7b8-vIOR2O-dl9uy4nz-gNrKsb449nO0Be6VSyTOKQ/s1600/DSCN9745.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOvBVGSS-QPuyvjfo0VNQwRxV8mip5AhcUG7DHdEABAeMT66k-YxVPQYf_XFx1lP9tTrACJ_DeDwkyelEjpyJKij9aozE7b8-vIOR2O-dl9uy4nz-gNrKsb449nO0Be6VSyTOKQ/s400/DSCN9745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574514536195326162" border="0" /></a>warm weather and sunny days....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05nQeLAt3kLgrDBXC-9sUNQ-hRSrBFTNpdffECJLadOJkQOnqHqq4-Gqrd-3I6jSP6IQ2MfO9beMHD8tWCpEtSQNzM4giijfeBxmEqbVj6n2GjlhEB63ghEkkbh-yfoCWCC8nfA/s1600/DSCN9693.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05nQeLAt3kLgrDBXC-9sUNQ-hRSrBFTNpdffECJLadOJkQOnqHqq4-Gqrd-3I6jSP6IQ2MfO9beMHD8tWCpEtSQNzM4giijfeBxmEqbVj6n2GjlhEB63ghEkkbh-yfoCWCC8nfA/s400/DSCN9693.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574514284757143618" border="0" /></a>even a holiday for Long Long.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4REk3xzscVtnWZmSIvCYN13Sntmi2m5SGtcb5A_9nkwXw3_u_BVroNXbHlm2v3WsiU-Dr7MofBwpM6atS24fjsdWf6XgIya7LLDnVyK5pHyLGNe5TWPEH_O1hISlqFndFFJpkQ/s1600/DSCN9710.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4REk3xzscVtnWZmSIvCYN13Sntmi2m5SGtcb5A_9nkwXw3_u_BVroNXbHlm2v3WsiU-Dr7MofBwpM6atS24fjsdWf6XgIya7LLDnVyK5pHyLGNe5TWPEH_O1hISlqFndFFJpkQ/s400/DSCN9710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574514128622134866" border="0" /></a>Good food and wine at T'Gallant,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EUAiZpemlrfS7HfFEFOCi4wxyUvCP_ttAr5dN-GrmZjKJTriVJ8koLrzyfMzrp8mEo3FYABeSjp4rIg61xbwWNl07oGwWC_BdXp5FZ5lgxHMb67uZdqbeIlNnY8y-sBysZlHmA/s1600/DSCN9723.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EUAiZpemlrfS7HfFEFOCi4wxyUvCP_ttAr5dN-GrmZjKJTriVJ8koLrzyfMzrp8mEo3FYABeSjp4rIg61xbwWNl07oGwWC_BdXp5FZ5lgxHMb67uZdqbeIlNnY8y-sBysZlHmA/s400/DSCN9723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574514000759690194" border="0" /></a>mmm.....only some of the good food eaten over the weekend..<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIupKR5B1oxMaHjrfdZuhyOcOmW3JooU1g6UJqk13fGuKgxx9Z1eJGOXUmQjCRzKZ-QnhKCCrcriZnFOvkVjlLSkIRydFx5fqF-Ze72wCGVf_ncTojGE4YhCNJI_STMtzBPihdQ/s1600/DSCN9733.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIupKR5B1oxMaHjrfdZuhyOcOmW3JooU1g6UJqk13fGuKgxx9Z1eJGOXUmQjCRzKZ-QnhKCCrcriZnFOvkVjlLSkIRydFx5fqF-Ze72wCGVf_ncTojGE4YhCNJI_STMtzBPihdQ/s400/DSCN9733.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574513818834861346" border="0" /></a>lovely views....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeF2a2wXBmZf7_BYKHVINjKwVUiHSTuEdVWdIJEVLe5QGUMwt3t-nnOS_Lr3kFavmWQCxWXwImFXlsWXvSrKUZz-iMu5fmp_b8Bpdzy4pCSfiz7nOnBMXma_XxXVj4axdQtt6AA/s1600/DSCN9736.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeF2a2wXBmZf7_BYKHVINjKwVUiHSTuEdVWdIJEVLe5QGUMwt3t-nnOS_Lr3kFavmWQCxWXwImFXlsWXvSrKUZz-iMu5fmp_b8Bpdzy4pCSfiz7nOnBMXma_XxXVj4axdQtt6AA/s400/DSCN9736.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574513713165292082" border="0" /></a>relaxing walks,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xZL_9PFrr3YYqKVZqs6vyejirno426rr99seRh4Ly3Av8z8fWe0NUk0sCgRcgsG_oQCxFb5d4TIHqKebjvPlWiGdg0wQ2GYhgYhkdG7773qWMZRLDuSrjpASlIEq7oGL0Zc_rA/s1600/DSCN9768.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xZL_9PFrr3YYqKVZqs6vyejirno426rr99seRh4Ly3Av8z8fWe0NUk0sCgRcgsG_oQCxFb5d4TIHqKebjvPlWiGdg0wQ2GYhgYhkdG7773qWMZRLDuSrjpASlIEq7oGL0Zc_rA/s400/DSCN9768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574513422335476258" border="0" /></a>my favourite drink.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsNar_zUht_vt3IoJQ0wuKZezIbu3L3BaPuX_ZFRZAq0-1zGjKhv-5enOFUerSlXOXCC7icxR5TlpwKONuOBIE4vdGhjyRyv06rG52hdW4hDf3H14QfME9cLq9xVjLrWy36lt4g/s1600/DSCN9771.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsNar_zUht_vt3IoJQ0wuKZezIbu3L3BaPuX_ZFRZAq0-1zGjKhv-5enOFUerSlXOXCC7icxR5TlpwKONuOBIE4vdGhjyRyv06rG52hdW4hDf3H14QfME9cLq9xVjLrWy36lt4g/s400/DSCN9771.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574513342740803714" border="0" /></a>with my favourite people. I hope you also find some time in your busy days to take a breath.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-21119381011407572712011-01-15T13:38:00.002+11:002011-01-15T13:48:24.296+11:002011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucgkvAO1QgTYQRTMPNPXmKKodp2p6YpZnFOWTMRMngwK67ASwttPDUbiZMYUMauIyLXIv3xHWKlT4-Xv6C5mAg0Nbr6CWFQf-PLdS0kizX5ZhSGyaWw_C5mmfO2RGxlOL6KuVTg/s1600/DSCN9503.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucgkvAO1QgTYQRTMPNPXmKKodp2p6YpZnFOWTMRMngwK67ASwttPDUbiZMYUMauIyLXIv3xHWKlT4-Xv6C5mAg0Nbr6CWFQf-PLdS0kizX5ZhSGyaWw_C5mmfO2RGxlOL6KuVTg/s400/DSCN9503.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562236874738386066" border="0" /></a>I hope all of your 2011 days so far have been happy and productive. It has been a while since I dropped in so I would like to wish you all a safe and happy new year. I didn't do all that much, there was only one or 2 beach days and now work is back in full swing it feels like xmas and new year is a distant memory. I did enjoy the break in routine and we hosted a lovely xmas day lunch so that was fun. I have high expectations of what I can do in 2011, new things in my job, more creativity at home, a possible home reno project, a few more dates with my husband, a couple (!!) of holidays, more girlfriend catch ups, quality family time, less toys, more healthy living and eating and I can hope for less washing and folding of clothes, which I particularly hate, but that will remain a dream until I can afford a person to do just that job!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWq5JNJ0kxW_tncKi5u9p3YQOyO5i8eJqEGFaf2ONajK8D_oUYZUOYY4zFzJ_SJeafmNPhfp8hgLih8QlB9stSSA7Ik8fi3xzryBLNevBS0Hsu5pGYMoEXRPMP7H0Ut9YWdak1g/s1600/DSCN9552.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWq5JNJ0kxW_tncKi5u9p3YQOyO5i8eJqEGFaf2ONajK8D_oUYZUOYY4zFzJ_SJeafmNPhfp8hgLih8QlB9stSSA7Ik8fi3xzryBLNevBS0Hsu5pGYMoEXRPMP7H0Ut9YWdak1g/s400/DSCN9552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562236753091963842" border="0" /></a>I walked past this cool shaped elastic band and although Tassie is missing, I think, Australia as a whole is feeling the pains of those who have been lost and those who have lost their homes in the floods. Lets hope for the best and help where we can.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-35312002666965052042010-12-19T15:47:00.004+11:002010-12-19T15:58:20.317+11:002010 xmas cards<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZuDnUfupRNZ8CuzLrWOLpHNbJXfPOIktyQVUcS6XcVE-t67q3ylWKo_-FqP6p5T4UJqhSVBNx07e-ynxvhBKQ4yUCmh77K3-MyTJbJYkNCO3D7Xa_P_McmFtvTo3lGOHAk5lTw/s1600/DSCN9431.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZuDnUfupRNZ8CuzLrWOLpHNbJXfPOIktyQVUcS6XcVE-t67q3ylWKo_-FqP6p5T4UJqhSVBNx07e-ynxvhBKQ4yUCmh77K3-MyTJbJYkNCO3D7Xa_P_McmFtvTo3lGOHAk5lTw/s400/DSCN9431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552251038536221314" border="0" /></a>I couldn't bring myself to buy store bought cards since making them is so easy and so much fun!<br />A few simple ingredients meant a quick craft project and Christmas card problem solved. First part is a potato stamp with a random shape chosen, glitter and coloured, chopped foil....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtsNTZB3nKMrl4PtVceBSq2JXy_x5STlaNCh_KVVYFNzIxwmqwUap7hMJt87exbUxmRVrxXFQhBegO1b6RYQSrtvi8cBOCKW_UmCzs-8ypv4cbZyGvB-EfO1arzbfojUCqgdbsw/s1600/DSCN9432.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtsNTZB3nKMrl4PtVceBSq2JXy_x5STlaNCh_KVVYFNzIxwmqwUap7hMJt87exbUxmRVrxXFQhBegO1b6RYQSrtvi8cBOCKW_UmCzs-8ypv4cbZyGvB-EfO1arzbfojUCqgdbsw/s400/DSCN9432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552250951589027570" border="0" /></a>using the stamp for shapes and as a kind of glue.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7xfX0vsYgsF2zQ_f8i8DYgDabP4rxb8pD3B2-_yGIRvDhU7DaxnHGrpkoZCWiYvh6NHx8KQdTxdU-Rzlr-kHDDjGEZl3aEfL8ouZv7o861REwFLRPNEmKDkmKVzPMFiu_EsnUg/s1600/DSCN9440.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7xfX0vsYgsF2zQ_f8i8DYgDabP4rxb8pD3B2-_yGIRvDhU7DaxnHGrpkoZCWiYvh6NHx8KQdTxdU-Rzlr-kHDDjGEZl3aEfL8ouZv7o861REwFLRPNEmKDkmKVzPMFiu_EsnUg/s400/DSCN9440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552250806101733538" border="0" /></a>and sprinkling the foil to decorate....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9wdgzNaAO00C1pveVXRro6LWb7MOeK969XK4jrhXjtH7pUnQsfiW69-XWNx0v2ORT8eorRIOr-ihXgsOERHPcSoudcSDp1RAG2Soe1NkjVMcxWKI3L4DgyE7g0rb1-kdUb9AXQ/s1600/DSCN9458.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9wdgzNaAO00C1pveVXRro6LWb7MOeK969XK4jrhXjtH7pUnQsfiW69-XWNx0v2ORT8eorRIOr-ihXgsOERHPcSoudcSDp1RAG2Soe1NkjVMcxWKI3L4DgyE7g0rb1-kdUb9AXQ/s400/DSCN9458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552250634964753026" border="0" /></a>finished with a healthy dose of glitter...I must ensure the loose stuff is stuck down so when the envelope is opened, it doesn't look like out backyard did....heeellllooo sparkles!! I also made a simple illustrated version for 2010 which you can see <a href="http://paulasoon.blogspot.com/">here</a>, so now I have two choices.....I had better hurry up and put them in the mail or they will be for 2011.......Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-42640338757954480072010-11-27T14:21:00.004+11:002010-11-27T14:33:14.765+11:00summer project<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgtHpD61cvErFYC_5TPpj2BPBa8UwIPWPwT9I19U96TjzS0CWYJSDfbZrNGHoQO87gsKUs9hQobPCu6JNBnPTDjXxW9WZ3LXfFQ9ZR9BgE2NMzfMi9D6OXUuG3iMrBgsKbFiNMQ/s1600/DSCN9340.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgtHpD61cvErFYC_5TPpj2BPBa8UwIPWPwT9I19U96TjzS0CWYJSDfbZrNGHoQO87gsKUs9hQobPCu6JNBnPTDjXxW9WZ3LXfFQ9ZR9BgE2NMzfMi9D6OXUuG3iMrBgsKbFiNMQ/s400/DSCN9340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544064718059744002" border="0" /></a>I have a summer project in mind and its nearly summer and I haven't really made much progress on it. The goal is to have a nice garden environment to sit in, relax in and have dinner or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">brekky</span> or just hang out. We have a great yard but after all, it is a square of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pavers</span>, surrounded by pretty garden. I want to create a nice space using recycled, renovated or second hand furniture and to have a mixture of things to sit or lay on. Since my creativity is limited to cooking dinner at the moment, its nice to have a small creative project to focus on. The painted pieces above are a small daybed bought from the op shop. Its needs some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">tlc</span> and a few layers of undercoat finished with a bright red top coat should make it an outstanding addition to the summer project. The base of this daybed is the old spring type, so after some measuring and visits to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">bunnings</span>, I will replace the saggy springs with pine slats. The last thing to be added is the mattress. That bit is easy. I have visions of very nice matching handmade fitted sheets in blue polka dots or gingham...but at this stage, with constant rain, I will be lucky to finish the paint job by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">xmas</span>....I do love a project though so I'm happy about it and hopeful we can use it on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">xmas</span> day, since this year we will host the lunch.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2auW4J_ZeDoPagUROdlBsFlR-MdeU8zEsCGX8zw5R6reZQSVmYit0IO7P0-VTpNSJleNtX5Eupxa_lbqLp-ytqR-pecUfM5H5VpR80E5YvRIHQNUwAv96Pp92NI41j6NrSkJaGQ/s1600/DSCN9383.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2auW4J_ZeDoPagUROdlBsFlR-MdeU8zEsCGX8zw5R6reZQSVmYit0IO7P0-VTpNSJleNtX5Eupxa_lbqLp-ytqR-pecUfM5H5VpR80E5YvRIHQNUwAv96Pp92NI41j6NrSkJaGQ/s400/DSCN9383.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544064583042332306" border="0" /></a>This is Long Long enjoying his part of the garage sale haul from around the corner....a new $1 rug. I also found an old BBQ table and teaming it with the chairs we already had, I'm well on the way to having a great place to hang out. Now, if it will just stop raining!!Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-4460237430327269542010-11-14T17:16:00.002+11:002010-11-14T17:24:53.746+11:00mango season<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAbKa5iR_dvNrMkW16m1q_AsS3PaeholztRopU44SPO__WEIf90Hy4ciRXmSLsQHbSQ_3fdsPU70URipHK3pdUPb_-tSc7KhktqZX_DurlyYOdvsyizg3pKDMlQE7IjttaLr-1Q/s1600/20101114-DSCN9325.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAbKa5iR_dvNrMkW16m1q_AsS3PaeholztRopU44SPO__WEIf90Hy4ciRXmSLsQHbSQ_3fdsPU70URipHK3pdUPb_-tSc7KhktqZX_DurlyYOdvsyizg3pKDMlQE7IjttaLr-1Q/s400/20101114-DSCN9325.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539285546257649618" border="0" /></a>Mango season makes me very happy, not only because I love mangoes, but I love the onset of summer. This year, especially the Xmas shop assault, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">doesn't</span> seem to have happened too quickly, in fact, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">I'm</span> quite excited to see all the decorations in the shops. Its also getting warm, much rain, but also warm.....it seems like the blink of an eye since we went to Tokyo and now a few months has passed, life has returned to normal, a wedding and a birthday and other dates have passed....all the while keeping busy, still keeping up with my running hobby, which is now even more enjoyable for instead of running in the cold and pitch black of the morning, I can see pink and purple sunrises, lunchtime runs are now along pathways with fluffy, leafy trees.....life moves on, my little moo turns 4 in a few weeks, amazing, so he has instructed me about the type of party he wants, a small affair, with a karate kid theme.......since my time in now limited I'm not sure the party will be as well planned as some of the ones Ive seen others do, but the most important thing is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">that</span> the DAD of the house keeps to his promise of being Mr Han, the karate (or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">kung</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">fu</span>) teacher, then all should be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">OK</span>!!........Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-15664759981529767822010-10-24T17:14:00.019+11:002010-10-24T17:45:08.744+11:00tokyo report - food<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXS6C4hQFx9SlA8BUdMH64ESGw4WCa8TR2ISPX__2hGbs5od5j2xHcmec6ZSo8mjMyq_LGznI1gBKdPURTQbwLpsW_TkpQX4HelsVD-ZXcK7X89hsp_NGz-kPlEVqivTXLooNq7g/s1600/20100927-DSCN8923.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXS6C4hQFx9SlA8BUdMH64ESGw4WCa8TR2ISPX__2hGbs5od5j2xHcmec6ZSo8mjMyq_LGznI1gBKdPURTQbwLpsW_TkpQX4HelsVD-ZXcK7X89hsp_NGz-kPlEVqivTXLooNq7g/s400/20100927-DSCN8923.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531494811347314354" border="0" /></a>I have blogged about visiting this restaurant before, it IS a truly Japanese only experience and it was high on my list to go back to. As with all restaurants, for a first time visit, it can be hit and miss, so we didn't want to waste a dinner on an average meal, so we scheduled each night a favourite place. This is on the very top. We sat again, in front of the chef, and we were the only customers. The menu is laid out above, handwritten on washi paper....as each dish was placed in front, we went through it in the menu....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHszSoo14Zyr3PEWDPRi_1rd3FX90QG2nvkc336pxGjSQp9K1Bun-4aTwHiJZDiJx4xsO3BwfisRpboC3FiB3c7XqkZX6WPRARkFt7AL1Fogm-5mUlrhpQfDpNnwQ5Z6WU6NnnHw/s1600/20100927-DSCN8925.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHszSoo14Zyr3PEWDPRi_1rd3FX90QG2nvkc336pxGjSQp9K1Bun-4aTwHiJZDiJx4xsO3BwfisRpboC3FiB3c7XqkZX6WPRARkFt7AL1Fogm-5mUlrhpQfDpNnwQ5Z6WU6NnnHw/s400/20100927-DSCN8925.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531494416985801474" border="0" /></a>..appetiser was as follows starting with the spoon and going clockwise, yuba - the skin of tofu, with a sauce, sea urchin - which I cant eat, spinach with tofu, soft and skinned eggplant, renkon or lotus root.....beautiful mix of crunchy and soft, sweet and salty, slippery and dry....tonight has an Autumn theme, using the most ripe and fresh ingredients...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CUXehJACE9LH-TS9_pIarg3TVv2QFCr2vBDFL_bTCY3daPwGEQlYKZm9YnyUFh6QGo8cAw9Xyk9B2bqQWgxv2YzumaogdU4lYVDesQv_B9dIStlrNi_ligBvTcVL8UMw4R4LWg/s1600/20100927-DSCN8930.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CUXehJACE9LH-TS9_pIarg3TVv2QFCr2vBDFL_bTCY3daPwGEQlYKZm9YnyUFh6QGo8cAw9Xyk9B2bqQWgxv2YzumaogdU4lYVDesQv_B9dIStlrNi_ligBvTcVL8UMw4R4LWg/s400/20100927-DSCN8930.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531494277242202626" border="0" /></a>followed by very big and meaty soya beans or edamade...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQAwkoRmRKFo1wphPis7NpLhc2HdvwnE1k4MGzNdv6jyoY9wB6oPxXtXbCclCicUcsz7zmsA6k0mSL-Qxt9jjDbjOFfe6xAr7ONAdn408A8-c5RhjZtki74Md3F1Yz28_xysMNQ/s1600/20100927-DSCN8931.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQAwkoRmRKFo1wphPis7NpLhc2HdvwnE1k4MGzNdv6jyoY9wB6oPxXtXbCclCicUcsz7zmsA6k0mSL-Qxt9jjDbjOFfe6xAr7ONAdn408A8-c5RhjZtki74Md3F1Yz28_xysMNQ/s400/20100927-DSCN8931.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531494171173455362" border="0" /></a>...very slightly flavoured soup with the famous matsutake mushroom (the one that can cost upwards of $100 for one mushroom....), included, fillet of barracuda, which was skillfully prepared in front of us. See top photo and notice the spear in the eye to give stability while he fillets the fish....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QbzvHcB_a2Q8Jaup6LJ6YBEjyDZbpvCyN19RCmFRzpIloZnZbM_SnEeBCYzEBqMeccZ3MoAuGM8rID7EcaVg8QJoHDMeGcR9nCM8VbZJoTYAunObrllXqXM_7OoPKbqv-Ima4g/s1600/20100927-DSCN8934.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QbzvHcB_a2Q8Jaup6LJ6YBEjyDZbpvCyN19RCmFRzpIloZnZbM_SnEeBCYzEBqMeccZ3MoAuGM8rID7EcaVg8QJoHDMeGcR9nCM8VbZJoTYAunObrllXqXM_7OoPKbqv-Ima4g/s400/20100927-DSCN8934.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531493922243984498" border="0" /></a>...preparing the next dish of the most amazing sashimi...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOlw3CSSweb_QqJK2ilIRZK5DHe-4dUhNVGmN3aBjTmv7ShQRcp_zO-v75XovNmyhce1EhJntdp5Yw2LwQBTTlyb5e2ztjc92odXyP0-soMWyZOrx0jFIRXZiVGHjL_-X-C56vw/s1600/20100927-DSCN8938.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOlw3CSSweb_QqJK2ilIRZK5DHe-4dUhNVGmN3aBjTmv7ShQRcp_zO-v75XovNmyhce1EhJntdp5Yw2LwQBTTlyb5e2ztjc92odXyP0-soMWyZOrx0jFIRXZiVGHjL_-X-C56vw/s400/20100927-DSCN8938.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531493811588770050" border="0" /></a>...this is how you prepare fresh wasabi....when I lived in Shimane, it grew wild on the side of the road.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5E277ae0j_YV2em-TppFD6oUT1uWkvZ00gF81rjgpO1nO8EyfQb-xaVqFVNQpd6CDJnQYIEGiHisTEIWKa9oXDz9b7x42rCWCXMwKCTI9I5WwUXgiv3SFCUSwQ8SgHmrIXCWefA/s1600/20100927-DSCN8941.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5E277ae0j_YV2em-TppFD6oUT1uWkvZ00gF81rjgpO1nO8EyfQb-xaVqFVNQpd6CDJnQYIEGiHisTEIWKa9oXDz9b7x42rCWCXMwKCTI9I5WwUXgiv3SFCUSwQ8SgHmrIXCWefA/s400/20100927-DSCN8941.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531493673460011938" border="0" /></a>...there it is in the front, green and rich. I have never eaten the crispy garlic with sashimi but the flavour and texture contrast was just amazing.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9ETcI1Z2DaiWCEGIpTN-fJ-BOIhiUbWz-i0Qvkfa2cimr4iHLiWHmWPDCiHleBS_kWevUVuUMXgdRBagrOMb1Vv4EN4p9jm704Y7pEZgUiZyT3a_DQm2fZzKUBJb6O7ecc7MJw/s1600/20100927-DSCN8946.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9ETcI1Z2DaiWCEGIpTN-fJ-BOIhiUbWz-i0Qvkfa2cimr4iHLiWHmWPDCiHleBS_kWevUVuUMXgdRBagrOMb1Vv4EN4p9jm704Y7pEZgUiZyT3a_DQm2fZzKUBJb6O7ecc7MJw/s400/20100927-DSCN8946.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531493576213262594" border="0" /></a>this is the small area he makes his magic...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qYcXBDKxZ-s-sqv9w5X-Zbg_3CVu_SwZ8MUzgUHT5u4Y1iLMcAu8b_1KPchnZ16t266NDtti-wDmne3jHxXhjiT00i1vj7xu0d4ZHRhfboiMRs3xMSO1xHJgTjSJ9RnG5slPng/s1600/20100927-DSCN8947.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qYcXBDKxZ-s-sqv9w5X-Zbg_3CVu_SwZ8MUzgUHT5u4Y1iLMcAu8b_1KPchnZ16t266NDtti-wDmne3jHxXhjiT00i1vj7xu0d4ZHRhfboiMRs3xMSO1xHJgTjSJ9RnG5slPng/s400/20100927-DSCN8947.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531493469503137442" border="0" /></a>this basket contained, 2 kinds of grilled fish, more matsutake mushroom, chestnut, ginko nuts and small kind of lime, all served on seasonal foliage...this was my favourite dish.....it was hard to choose!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtsJLf_PWWpEspRsWnnuGB6S9ZU0Xm4rr2d5FqmdAqbM1F5EyGDYtkM9iCiMTzqTvu1mKLMMmgaNAWU2yWxnvdHmaV_73p8mQJMcOxK6cDJ3RGG5hyCVqiesPAxAeuAO3cDd52w/s1600/20100927-DSCN8949.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtsJLf_PWWpEspRsWnnuGB6S9ZU0Xm4rr2d5FqmdAqbM1F5EyGDYtkM9iCiMTzqTvu1mKLMMmgaNAWU2yWxnvdHmaV_73p8mQJMcOxK6cDJ3RGG5hyCVqiesPAxAeuAO3cDd52w/s400/20100927-DSCN8949.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531493347548187890" border="0" /></a>next dish...grilled chicken with a miso paste sauce and small grilled veges which taste a bit like capsicums..<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrPQ_oiqQO0vk5P_WAsCgR8It6ZLlxWu1GeGkypc-5Ua24aNDHrMEgrbvTc62oqS26UQ0BjfJN2aBaegkmzcAszqYmPHRhYtsSttLPYUP3eNyr1v4LVXWH3Oby-3EGvsOQ2ztZg/s1600/20100927-DSCN8955.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrPQ_oiqQO0vk5P_WAsCgR8It6ZLlxWu1GeGkypc-5Ua24aNDHrMEgrbvTc62oqS26UQ0BjfJN2aBaegkmzcAszqYmPHRhYtsSttLPYUP3eNyr1v4LVXWH3Oby-3EGvsOQ2ztZg/s400/20100927-DSCN8955.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531493244993560354" border="0" /></a>another incredible soup dish containing a slow cooked sweet mackerel, mushrooms, a kind of tofu make with flour, beautiful and delicate...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwolfzaNZSMprOyCi_HKqhE8kIS4q4g6itZIgyhwMOEvlMKdNgm1xm1AHlx9sXWPqnW8OhZZrCkrT9KCV9LfUFufzMkZ33pdCT1f9bC9Lt45WGvpjwncEAYNkxy-EAAdTSRE-jQ/s1600/20100927-DSCN8956.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwolfzaNZSMprOyCi_HKqhE8kIS4q4g6itZIgyhwMOEvlMKdNgm1xm1AHlx9sXWPqnW8OhZZrCkrT9KCV9LfUFufzMkZ33pdCT1f9bC9Lt45WGvpjwncEAYNkxy-EAAdTSRE-jQ/s400/20100927-DSCN8956.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531493142449339682" border="0" /></a>This was a beautiful noodle dish again with matsutake mushrooms, fish and green herbs....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-GPwk1dpBKbkar6TQU7c7Atraz02Efmoh-elYIKUtqfBuXrxM3Cbpe8whD_xQhZxmjICRl9y7HeHnv-htlcWRuEJwCXia2hcWhPS808jsdiyUjIzuhZB-ZlUKgRoYi0KsThV6A/s1600/20100927-DSCN8960.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-GPwk1dpBKbkar6TQU7c7Atraz02Efmoh-elYIKUtqfBuXrxM3Cbpe8whD_xQhZxmjICRl9y7HeHnv-htlcWRuEJwCXia2hcWhPS808jsdiyUjIzuhZB-ZlUKgRoYi0KsThV6A/s400/20100927-DSCN8960.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531493027626685490" border="0" /></a>the second last dish was fresh fruit of nashi pear and persimmon....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sAZMhszr1sKUP8_ugb-219ZGFUeHH8L_q9KOXjnUxtjLj-HhVFLdz40KVcxV0N19hO-Pb3pZG1x4ySvsbjzXN5dEaHgjj1tMLKezDMN65Uad1Q9_Aa_BMp-Z3PK54ds4lqSaYQ/s1600/20100927-DSCN8964.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sAZMhszr1sKUP8_ugb-219ZGFUeHH8L_q9KOXjnUxtjLj-HhVFLdz40KVcxV0N19hO-Pb3pZG1x4ySvsbjzXN5dEaHgjj1tMLKezDMN65Uad1Q9_Aa_BMp-Z3PK54ds4lqSaYQ/s400/20100927-DSCN8964.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531492925874446242" border="0" /></a>crunchy and sweet.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdw4KPOD9LpY9toyfbv-FlnGO6cwK85SysZguNC7I0PVw6LweJ252UQemZIYpnGngyv2OCu3acoxsf2EzPm6fqAjr6OeQjdlI8ThtnKLn5w_yCLJ4bHwqB-T3vLAg7acy3dsYk1w/s1600/20100927-DSCN8970.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdw4KPOD9LpY9toyfbv-FlnGO6cwK85SysZguNC7I0PVw6LweJ252UQemZIYpnGngyv2OCu3acoxsf2EzPm6fqAjr6OeQjdlI8ThtnKLn5w_yCLJ4bHwqB-T3vLAg7acy3dsYk1w/s400/20100927-DSCN8970.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531492810920278578" border="0" /></a>followed by the last dish....I couldn't fit it all in...but I did try...it is made from sweet potato and inside has sweet red bean paste and a chestnut in the middle. It is very sweet and beautiful served with bitter green tea. The dusting of cinnamon not only smelled beautiful but tasted amazing<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenIEGvTb5D1AfhfEyChtNecRsDFzjwiGJ6BBCfLGXwBhLII4b0cErsRxr1FRKQtumpDD-NSjz-RIVm5pDBTXJIoX6Niu0DOukTsp-Q8TBioPQLpuI0RntzCBV0TKH2FHXrOXbPQ/s1600/20100927-DSCN8966.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenIEGvTb5D1AfhfEyChtNecRsDFzjwiGJ6BBCfLGXwBhLII4b0cErsRxr1FRKQtumpDD-NSjz-RIVm5pDBTXJIoX6Niu0DOukTsp-Q8TBioPQLpuI0RntzCBV0TKH2FHXrOXbPQ/s400/20100927-DSCN8966.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531492625354048146" border="0" /></a>.....incredible!! This is truly a Tokyo secret! If you are going to Tokyo and you want the details let me know. This kind of food and the service around it is totally Japanese and totally unforgettable!!Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-60740858818039919102010-10-16T16:34:00.009+11:002010-10-23T15:02:24.786+11:00delayed - tokyo report 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QgZZ_Zxt3arIyNnJfyA3FPqWnHVUKnnyJGJER2eBHMP0a-_ELzZuwah_T2a7CeKJ3luUtCTrh4QzEr843ExE68hxL26pup2XLrIrrnHp_cdM_qlqxTPS7Qw7TGtG7vp_y1u9Dg/s1600/20100926-DSCN8905.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QgZZ_Zxt3arIyNnJfyA3FPqWnHVUKnnyJGJER2eBHMP0a-_ELzZuwah_T2a7CeKJ3luUtCTrh4QzEr843ExE68hxL26pup2XLrIrrnHp_cdM_qlqxTPS7Qw7TGtG7vp_y1u9Dg/s400/20100926-DSCN8905.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528513625914901138" border="0" /></a>Tokyo is a shoppers paradise, not only for its never ending supply of stuff to buy but the beautiful and clever way things are advertised, marketed and displayed...the icebergs created above are simply styrene foam......clever and breathtaking....a beautiful window display<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwJ_YmjBukXZ9Y95IAUVbV2rQhReIHAVO7es1w0_X_ye5Jq90TF29UQ_7BYau2GDnZQzaCMjaQZBvywEGyvkRFg9H82fT5Eale4PPzyqZHf7OEvRRwFJeD0kIZwnTYA_9bhlbvg/s1600/20100926-DSCN8900.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 397px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwJ_YmjBukXZ9Y95IAUVbV2rQhReIHAVO7es1w0_X_ye5Jq90TF29UQ_7BYau2GDnZQzaCMjaQZBvywEGyvkRFg9H82fT5Eale4PPzyqZHf7OEvRRwFJeD0kIZwnTYA_9bhlbvg/s400/20100926-DSCN8900.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528513422005377138" border="0" /></a>the always familiar subway symbols, don't let the simplicity trick you, even after a couple of years using the Tokyo system, we still managed to get lost at Shinjuku station.....Its easy to forget the confusion you often feel when faced with non stop torrents of people that swell in and outside of the station....peak hour at Flinders Street feels like a little country town by comparison...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDgFk310F6OSAfqVvuRJ_4P0Dk4EeaQ3e0EuaalEU6mtMvzvGlL7nWjHn476Hy3jhaZUZY0Aa6s3FLQxxm8VCDbzvVaowQ1SOGO-6wqwkmUKh8uq12HzORhzLCqVEq14hXsCRMg/s1600/20100926-DSCN8901.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 387px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDgFk310F6OSAfqVvuRJ_4P0Dk4EeaQ3e0EuaalEU6mtMvzvGlL7nWjHn476Hy3jhaZUZY0Aa6s3FLQxxm8VCDbzvVaowQ1SOGO-6wqwkmUKh8uq12HzORhzLCqVEq14hXsCRMg/s400/20100926-DSCN8901.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528513363646374386" border="0" /></a>I love the illustration style of many, many signs, it is always so refreshing to see loose texts, little drawings and cute characters...Tokyoites are very accepting of colourful and pretty signs that send the message and that are well outside of the standard text list that we come to expect from signage and advertising here in Australia...I also notice how very seasonal signage is, even the biggest of chain stores have different illustrations and signs to advertise their latest gear.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPbLOZ23aM2B5eidouGGgiqhGPKaJHhKtwEJ5CW7kIpD0OpmCYTGlznDUGZbgwKRaAYhY0xASQCkWDZk4vELq-V3i-Rw1UxELCB9ezx0O78oJfmiuxLj_ijF5Ghs_lqyoJP1_fQ/s1600/20100925-DSCN8855.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPbLOZ23aM2B5eidouGGgiqhGPKaJHhKtwEJ5CW7kIpD0OpmCYTGlznDUGZbgwKRaAYhY0xASQCkWDZk4vELq-V3i-Rw1UxELCB9ezx0O78oJfmiuxLj_ijF5Ghs_lqyoJP1_fQ/s400/20100925-DSCN8855.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528513290230987826" border="0" /></a>my favourite colours, this is for a very, very upmarket department store.....of course the standard LOFT, Tokyu hands and MUJI are always beautifully displayed but hopelessley overblogged....I did shop there of course, I LOVE those shops!! I love how in every store even the tape that is used on your purchase bag has a small illustration or thankyou message. It was a treat to return to Tokyo. It did rain, a lot, and the one pair of shoes I took with me took a hiding. Again I love the style of Tokyo peoples, rain hail or shine, they look so cleverly styled, beautiful objects, bags, umbrellas, rain boots......sorry for my delay, the next and final impression is of the food. Because I have spent a number of years in Japan, the funny things that I first noticed don't seems so funny or unusual any more, I found I didn't take photos of any of those things this time around....also, for the first time, we left Mooey with my parents. It was wonderful to have some time to be late, have a few extra beers if we wanted to and wander aimlessly... but this joy only lasted a couple of days, when a huge hole started to open up in my heart....it got bigger each day until I was left alone in Tokyo, my husband had moved onto the next country, my son was at home with my parents, my family and friends in Oz and I was by myself in a hotel room. I have not felt such depths of loneliness in a long time.......This was followed by a very long flight home...such joy to come home and see Mooey. What a wonderful trip!!Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-62812136706141305472010-10-09T16:08:00.004+11:002010-10-09T16:13:34.890+11:00tokyo report<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipajprUzBEd2D1epMDJc2V2Qc7wQ3BDvQ3U_tOU29EUdqbhRtOS38DBCumUqfVXwDyocsSGcKMpLBqZB7VAfVl2m1U2-h25nbC0AJ7vBGJse3tanpxo2hwI-cCekVe2duW9xIG2A/s1600/DSCN8979.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipajprUzBEd2D1epMDJc2V2Qc7wQ3BDvQ3U_tOU29EUdqbhRtOS38DBCumUqfVXwDyocsSGcKMpLBqZB7VAfVl2m1U2-h25nbC0AJ7vBGJse3tanpxo2hwI-cCekVe2duW9xIG2A/s400/DSCN8979.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525909047729118866" border="0" /></a>I have been back from Tokyo for a week and it was just so much fun! This is my last snapshot of the rice fields leaving Narita. It was wonderful to go back to a very familiar place, visit old haunts, see lovely people who don't change (who just get better) and eat and shop myself silly and experience real rain again!! Of course, returning home to Oz was ever so sweet to see my darling little moo who coped beautifully while we were away (mostly because of my awesome family effort, thankyou xxx).....more photos and sweet memories to share after I process my photos!!Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-77814936458043759312010-09-12T08:44:00.002+10:002010-09-12T08:48:40.427+10:00Dear Tokyo!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3n_R0x9k9HHFo6fZZHv57hajB-u2ANRt4JUDTCx398TQAJwt8rQnKKX43RLOZqY0cgsUzekwhahznuHSW010xiwVIAxQkf_AzMZoXQ9Zf7JFFzHiCANRq6H4iIsj9AZ8llWvQA/s1600/DSCN7858.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3n_R0x9k9HHFo6fZZHv57hajB-u2ANRt4JUDTCx398TQAJwt8rQnKKX43RLOZqY0cgsUzekwhahznuHSW010xiwVIAxQkf_AzMZoXQ9Zf7JFFzHiCANRq6H4iIsj9AZ8llWvQA/s400/DSCN7858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515791062547938466" border="0" /></a>Guess what? In the next few weeks I will be back to visit you! I'm so looking forward to catching up! I'm sure there are plenty of new things you can show me. Yippee!!<br />Love<br />PaulaPaulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-15519219774244003092010-09-12T08:36:00.006+10:002010-09-12T08:44:03.404+10:00smashed pinata!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIzruwUwsr7sUOBLESnhjAYLBlyUVqepT3aJMuLnOT2HRMRWWO5ULeh0_8I689yYGMwuYwa0lOtat-2YbSZd343VhoRJ9Sl9KFNoHC3heu7YfemmDYrf7qqss2Y5ipX8XK4lKFQ/s1600/DSCN8809.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIzruwUwsr7sUOBLESnhjAYLBlyUVqepT3aJMuLnOT2HRMRWWO5ULeh0_8I689yYGMwuYwa0lOtat-2YbSZd343VhoRJ9Sl9KFNoHC3heu7YfemmDYrf7qqss2Y5ipX8XK4lKFQ/s400/DSCN8809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515789520444770610" border="0" /></a>Last weekend we celebrated Fathers Day with the smashing if a pinata. The blindfold wasnt allowing us to progress so we just took the bat to the ball. It was fun! But a little difficult to smash open...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYOUOdRVLi7ZHWxNMQtNEjWN1T8lQTtYGq73v9t79zsvi4CUz_KZB1FZd-U8EUKHkXHfQRbfTQ2H2pu7fFnIHqJJdEOtpftIcKVqBTn1Zf0jbG3BCOzWlnRAK7rU6VY2hkKyTVg/s1600/DSCN8816.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYOUOdRVLi7ZHWxNMQtNEjWN1T8lQTtYGq73v9t79zsvi4CUz_KZB1FZd-U8EUKHkXHfQRbfTQ2H2pu7fFnIHqJJdEOtpftIcKVqBTn1Zf0jbG3BCOzWlnRAK7rU6VY2hkKyTVg/s400/DSCN8816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515789410891822834" border="0" /></a>Between the Dad and the boy, they managed to crack it open and all the coloured foil rained down onto us, and a few smarties....good times...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4SxcpSNAZAc4a0ElYBaLWsqHY6TL4k7NTPTB2LvNhVgGh0r9JazLUWSOgfQLDS4vIETFNCophSmTarXaXxH7M4p3mCamRFucyX4aqCy4dyidWaI0HJrjsltBwZatwMu28P7JTg/s1600/DSCN8818.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4SxcpSNAZAc4a0ElYBaLWsqHY6TL4k7NTPTB2LvNhVgGh0r9JazLUWSOgfQLDS4vIETFNCophSmTarXaXxH7M4p3mCamRFucyX4aqCy4dyidWaI0HJrjsltBwZatwMu28P7JTg/s400/DSCN8818.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515789218581481698" border="0" /></a>....laying sadly on the ground....a good party game indeed!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuv3uLG6iV2nTbuasKfIDLv8rV5dxc_63d2Haskqw1gBMkh6VmFVHYoCHngYTonqkJAxnnzsNY21KTyi2Jqs43ka9m0Wus3a1cLpwAFuFV-GdoX3X4PZcMCBJgQ_8KtZriQ-KwQ/s1600/DSCN8075.JPG"><br /></a>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-50227392097923607612010-09-05T07:46:00.003+10:002010-09-05T08:08:03.255+10:00design by kids<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJ75bQjRZRo8HDFMOHt5BoReYOV6VrMGd0XGrpnIF9B0tPpwee_2Km0vkAPECNSqsjMKp4A3A-HdXNB9yaTYYZEy0dmgmmmFTc_agd02LRV6Wp38n-ObpVlgMNy-nOetcmaLLVA/s1600/DSCN9989.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJ75bQjRZRo8HDFMOHt5BoReYOV6VrMGd0XGrpnIF9B0tPpwee_2Km0vkAPECNSqsjMKp4A3A-HdXNB9yaTYYZEy0dmgmmmFTc_agd02LRV6Wp38n-ObpVlgMNy-nOetcmaLLVA/s400/DSCN9989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513182093242639026" border="0" /></a>We are pretty happy to see the end of winter although the rain seems never ending. I ran around <a href="http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=38">Albert Park</a> lake this week for the first time. Its so nice with palm trees and many baby swans playing with their parents. Running in different places around Melbourne is such a fun way to explore new places and learn new routes. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOg0V0EixtHipNiyMG-Fc_-6j1AF4-1J3p05oCGCs_KzR6YtkXQ1jY7oxM14rkxqg1u7OlCQcTlWDdY7uSFmNMSP_-NPI-WcjKUtBH4J6L2YOV9XArr9sLy4_7JnbFSSoIH0ZDA/s1600/emailtag.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 376px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOg0V0EixtHipNiyMG-Fc_-6j1AF4-1J3p05oCGCs_KzR6YtkXQ1jY7oxM14rkxqg1u7OlCQcTlWDdY7uSFmNMSP_-NPI-WcjKUtBH4J6L2YOV9XArr9sLy4_7JnbFSSoIH0ZDA/s400/emailtag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513178616799920018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NsaDMPX_T3vlAUyhVlGe4yAa4dsrqnI5H4TakprAjQY04BiZXV3Pgi7U-9DSn39_WBim2w90ypjGwCj16IqenWQTtLFH4djd87NL3cAUJxuCd7IVWX-0uu60gXLTbwSuN2-H5Q/s1600/DSCN8705.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NsaDMPX_T3vlAUyhVlGe4yAa4dsrqnI5H4TakprAjQY04BiZXV3Pgi7U-9DSn39_WBim2w90ypjGwCj16IqenWQTtLFH4djd87NL3cAUJxuCd7IVWX-0uu60gXLTbwSuN2-H5Q/s400/DSCN8705.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513178464120155682" border="0" /></a>I copied a little drawing by moo onto a tote bag then stitched the lines. It is a good solution for a man bag needing some prettiness without being too girly.....<br /><br />Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads out there. To celebrate with the Dad in our family, moo and I made a pinata, which we are about to smash open.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-19874845387219414512010-08-29T18:56:00.004+10:002010-08-30T06:45:49.053+10:00time for the flowers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_jDYw8zPI3LHYDvby3Owe9NlAlZYDFsgOWkksUzTcadFzWOeji8n7PsbCFkN2XTN6cK5UekCpSrBi61OA5IseA7e70Qe6_MURv9fmW3f-jaqF42trBrtqpafTTNWZuaPWGNyFA/s1600/DSCN8726.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_jDYw8zPI3LHYDvby3Owe9NlAlZYDFsgOWkksUzTcadFzWOeji8n7PsbCFkN2XTN6cK5UekCpSrBi61OA5IseA7e70Qe6_MURv9fmW3f-jaqF42trBrtqpafTTNWZuaPWGNyFA/s400/DSCN8726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510753383972430210" border="0" /></a>It is time for the magnolias and blossoms to open and show their pretty faces. Unlike Japan, people dont go crazy for them here in Melbourne. The shops are not crammed with seasonally branded foods and drinks and there isn't anyone sitting beneath the trees having picnics and drink ups. In fact, there is no nightly weather map stating what will be blooming when and where! The trees say to me "here I am am", and they are on every corner and in every ones garden, but its only when I stop and look and smell and see that I can truly appreciate the moment. In Japan its more the people shouting "look at the blossoms"....... Either way, you can only enjoy them for about a week, a most magnificent and beautiful week, where they don't wait for you to make up your mind. I'm not sure which style of appreciation I prefer, maybe I like both in its correct context.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6ZqDxFitdxc8id2iy9_JelHN2IiL6s6zmI4bdbvtBu0QbfX8wPjziYb_JGhkGb8rHRL_dSJxHDHitrCgsqxa1hQxAH3YVS32CvQYnwrLQE7IEM71W0Cf6QKL0LZ5-Uxy_iJrqA/s1600/DSCN8772.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6ZqDxFitdxc8id2iy9_JelHN2IiL6s6zmI4bdbvtBu0QbfX8wPjziYb_JGhkGb8rHRL_dSJxHDHitrCgsqxa1hQxAH3YVS32CvQYnwrLQE7IEM71W0Cf6QKL0LZ5-Uxy_iJrqA/s400/DSCN8772.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510753280653728626" border="0" /></a>....as for Spring rain and the raising of a boyish boy, what can I say? What does he say "LOOK AT ME!!!"....just like the blossoms......luckily for me, I can look at him my whole lifetime!Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-19350262250239804562010-08-14T12:08:00.002+10:002010-08-14T12:15:27.598+10:00sky and ground<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfu7_DYL4l_XJYo6uaxdEwLQlivjOu5m_mQaKqf9m3ymFudHKxoTQTqXonITjlrTWzhtzSfN9hcNe0GL5_3H-j2PNFCLfygXgFoXTNMITidg3eZ8_9AsKoUhtYvALf3EEL5isxQ/s1600/DSCN0053.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfu7_DYL4l_XJYo6uaxdEwLQlivjOu5m_mQaKqf9m3ymFudHKxoTQTqXonITjlrTWzhtzSfN9hcNe0GL5_3H-j2PNFCLfygXgFoXTNMITidg3eZ8_9AsKoUhtYvALf3EEL5isxQ/s400/DSCN0053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505081907181390706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklf-EBMDwhe1Sl3rDZOl8FvqXvEIoALQ94MsiH9AFRNKuJYnGCFHq5j3LS_w5nQ3tMdymbY7htDRlLrlrx2nBRRflsrEcJqTxwtNaBa81LNWW7NVm9BBkQ5de-zx7Erp2hhBf8Q/s1600/DSCN0057.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklf-EBMDwhe1Sl3rDZOl8FvqXvEIoALQ94MsiH9AFRNKuJYnGCFHq5j3LS_w5nQ3tMdymbY7htDRlLrlrx2nBRRflsrEcJqTxwtNaBa81LNWW7NVm9BBkQ5de-zx7Erp2hhBf8Q/s400/DSCN0057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505081811765171090" border="0" /></a>Feeling happy in the middle....this week slowing down. I finished reading The Pact by Jody Picoult...a bit depressing I thought, now onto The Book Thief, much brighter. This past month I have bumped into a lot of old faces I have known, an old uni friend at the station from maybe 15 years ago, my step brother walking along a city street, an old boyfriend of my sisters at a restaurant, a person I helped recently, in his own workplace this time, him helping me. I really love that feeling of an unexpected surprise in seeing an old face, something very happy, unless its someone you would rather not see again as long as they lived....which is just as possible.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-26228222915747178112010-08-07T12:42:00.004+10:002010-08-07T12:56:27.058+10:00what a week!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KA5vXbmXD1q6cY2hN_I7khiOSh3jec9ZrlHqAT7HapkJ0gsZZCAWq3KzVpeBlLizOWMMIwdWFFLxj6vaqypEMtI8kTbn7Zcjnoq7yrP76uThfYow8i1l886Mf6zVyup-mjUwIQ/s1600/DSCN0013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KA5vXbmXD1q6cY2hN_I7khiOSh3jec9ZrlHqAT7HapkJ0gsZZCAWq3KzVpeBlLizOWMMIwdWFFLxj6vaqypEMtI8kTbn7Zcjnoq7yrP76uThfYow8i1l886Mf6zVyup-mjUwIQ/s400/DSCN0013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502493352847467922" border="0" /></a>This week saw my parents in law stay with us for 7 days. It feels like our duty has been done for another year. During that time, Mooey got sick, we took him to the doctors to find out he had ear infections in both ears and croup, sick and grumpy. On this day, while my husband went swimming, some lowlife took his shoes, leaving him without anything to wear. Why would someone do that? Pressure was rising.....Thankfully, we have survived the week intact, and today, a sunny day, after a miserable week of weather, adds to getting back to a normal week, and the thawing out we are all feeling, while Mooch is gets better everyday :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMlDf-gPWDtIraLOToLGCSA_HRF0fLx5pmGBYgajk1XY5JjxcCceEkaVEvLHsmL3LqGdRnAhqfC8e0ZBLQg8rD_K5Gwt355XXS1qd6HOA6DX_jTwmMDbP1jDdzqejKKpZ5UNA_w/s1600/DSCN0005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMlDf-gPWDtIraLOToLGCSA_HRF0fLx5pmGBYgajk1XY5JjxcCceEkaVEvLHsmL3LqGdRnAhqfC8e0ZBLQg8rD_K5Gwt355XXS1qd6HOA6DX_jTwmMDbP1jDdzqejKKpZ5UNA_w/s400/DSCN0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502493068990172754" border="0" /></a>This guy was the winner with the parents in laws affections, extra snacks, cuddles and walks!!...I'm sure he is feeling quite sad now there is no extra bacon 'accidentally' dropped on the floor!!.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWnmO2gBw78AQvQfnl_3CBDEq0OP36iVaOMv10JxX9snKHM4PTum91KD74YeEDpISb5yyEKi8I-u68Hh6KWC6Mrg_V0iHypClk1w_pjXgpWZNUt-KHBM7nb6LnZCjxvkHAbX16g/s1600/DSCN0008.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWnmO2gBw78AQvQfnl_3CBDEq0OP36iVaOMv10JxX9snKHM4PTum91KD74YeEDpISb5yyEKi8I-u68Hh6KWC6Mrg_V0iHypClk1w_pjXgpWZNUt-KHBM7nb6LnZCjxvkHAbX16g/s400/DSCN0008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502492921168502530" border="0" /></a>....and to warm our slightly dampened hats, this lovely, careful and kind table set up in a nearby street. There are bags provided in case you want more than 1 or 2. Not that this counters the bad-ness of the shoe stealing episode but is enlightening to know there are also good deeds done, wanting nothing in return, just or the sake of it.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31672359.post-48312869133923681892010-08-01T12:06:00.002+10:002010-08-01T12:16:06.334+10:00busy days and weeks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TR-Iewfo27vWSAhT7TSQVKYPrVO97uNM7OPQOS9UIBLAjLMJ4VQrYmhCZuFwVIZqDkhB6PB0g1zu5ODVH9qfPAUH9wtROlHVPZh3hkiqau7ypHvtqv03JJeUCtIoPE35h2vggQ/s1600/scooter.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TR-Iewfo27vWSAhT7TSQVKYPrVO97uNM7OPQOS9UIBLAjLMJ4VQrYmhCZuFwVIZqDkhB6PB0g1zu5ODVH9qfPAUH9wtROlHVPZh3hkiqau7ypHvtqv03JJeUCtIoPE35h2vggQ/s400/scooter.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500257175090607506" border="0" /></a>Already August?!...Isn't it amazing, this year has really, really flown. I am not sure of the formula of how to slow down time, to make every moment count. I guess it is impossible to count every single moment, just appreciate the special ones...like the sharing of the one marshmallow between three, the scooter bike riding in the smooth carpark, the very nice simple dinner, the trip to the Japanese grocery store and fresh sushi for lunch, the very sweet customer who bought me chocolate for helping him, the super colleagues who support each other through very busy days, the sister who cooks scones and jam and cream just for a Sunday visit, the brother in law who shares his job highs, the Mum who drives 100km to see all the family, the hug from the husband through thick and thin times, the impromptu 'I love you Mummy', the nuzzle and excited tail wag from the whippet, the call from an old friend, the new found therapy in running alone, the Nana who rings to tell me about the train delays...in fact, there really are a lot of moments I have savoured, now I look at it, each day is in fact well lived.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10873776194403937478noreply@blogger.com0