Adventure

The Last Few Days

Posted on April 22, 2012 by ghotiindustries

Let’s step back in time to last Tuesday. The movers arrived, packed everything, and took it all away.

Wednesday in the rain, we began early and shoved everything left over into a skip to head to the dump. Then we had final inspection of the property (passed with flying colours!). Then we completed final errands in town, and met up with our ride to the airport.

Quality time was spent, and goodbyes said.

Then began the first leg of the flight. 14 hours to Dubai.

After a lay over of … I forget how many hours, enough to get through security and find a wifi hotspot, we got on the next leg of the journey. 7 hours to Amsterdam. This flight was going to have some turbulence so they headed us over Iran, Turkey, and Poland.

Then there we were.

It’s kind of reassuring to know that tourist souvenirs are the same the world over.

In a taxi we headed to our hotel where we would reside for an indeterminate amount of time.

Stashing our bags and determined not to be done in by jet lag we went out for a walk and found our first canal!

We discovered quite quickly the need to be constantly aware of your surroundings, as the highly prevalent bikes move at speed and can be unforgiving!

Then I found the floating Bloemenmarkt. After having read so much about it, I was in heaven!

There is so much to see and do, and suddenly all I want to do is have a garden! I guess I’ll need a house, and at least some window boxes first …

Stay tuned for our next exciting episode!

Maps

Posted on April 18, 2012April 16, 2012 by ghotiindustries

Something I had wanted for a long time was a huge world map on the wall.

When I finally got one, Himself and I had the brilliant idea that we should mark it all up with all the places we wanted to visit. Keep our goals in plain sight as it were.

So we began putting little labels all over it of where we wanted to visit.

Quite quickly a pattern became evident as to where we really wanted to get to, and what part of the world held the most interest for us.

Can you guess where we’re moving to?

We’re boarding a plane tonight! All our things are already on their way by sea and will reach us there in a few months. The kittuns are in boarding and will follow us in a few days.

We’re off on a grand adventure!!!

But don’t worry, I’ll still be updating here and there’ll be photos. Boy will there be photos! 😉

See you on the other side. Of the world!

The Long Weekend

Posted on April 10, 2012 by ghotiindustries

The Easter long weekend will always be a special one for me. It is a time to spend with friends both old and new, renewing old friendships and forging new bonds up in Lawson. We spent a fair amount of time catching up with our ANZAC who is heading back to the sandpit just in time for ANZAC Day this year … but more on that later!

This year there were special guests that arrived all unobtrusively and invaded. Like good ninjas should! This one is the coffee ninja.

As with all great Aussie back yard BBQs, it ended in a backyard bonfire. I’m glad it was cool enough and there weren’t fire restrictions!

On Saturday night we were again with a friend, catching up over heinous amounts of meat on swords.

The carnage was rather epic.

I’d like to point out that the first person to turn over the little stick from green (I’m up for more meat) to red (stop with the meat) was Himself. I think it just goes to show how unwell he was with his cold the poor blighter!

The only other thing that could truly make my weekend complete was knitting. And boy did I achieve that! I’m finally nearly finished the socks that I began WAY back in April last year! (I can’t believe it’s taken me a year to finish these socks. I wonder where my mojo went?)

I only have to kitchener this one closed, and decrease the toe and kitchener the other and they’ll be done! Just a little something to keep Himself warm and snugly!

I guess I’d best drink my coffee and get on with the week! What did you get up to over the weekend?

Adventure is out there!

Posted on March 28, 2012 by ghotiindustries

Yesterday I wended my way on down to the Quay and hopped on the Narrabeen over to Manly.

I was a truly beautiful day for it! The water was crystal clear!

Coming back I was moved (as always) by coming ‘round the corner to see Sydney all spread out before you, just like in the postcards!

Of course the Opera House looks best from the water!

But the Bridge is pretty spectacular as well!

Not that you can make it out so well in this picture of the Quay, but the ferry on the left is the Charlotte, who I used to regularly take to work! (A few years ago now!)

Then it was everyone off, and I was whisked away by a Sydney bus to dinner at the RSL. Yep, I’m livin’ the dream! *grins*

The Powerhouse Museum

Posted on March 20, 2012March 21, 2012 by ghotiindustries

There are places you go when you’re feeling a little flat. When your life needs some direction. When you just feel the need to connect with something inspirational again. For me, one of those places has always been the Powerhouse Museum.

I took myself off on a little excursion over there today. Decided to give myself a treat, and go and see the Harry Potter exhibition while it was still on. I may have reached the conclusion that a weekday, now that school is back on, and early in the morning, was the most sensible time to go for a visit. And I was right!

The session I went in with (yes, you go to a timed entry session), was the first of the day, and I was one of five adults. No screaming children. No queues. No obstructed views. AND I got to be sorted! *giggles* Oodles of fun!

I was enthralled and mesmerised by all the details in each of the costumes and all the props! Truly mind-blowing, and utterly inspiring!

But, being owned by Warner Bros, no photography allowed.

So whilst in the building, I navigated my way around the construction work (and they are doing quite a bit of it at the moment it seems!) and headed off down to my favourite space; the Lace Study Centre.

In there I was able to chat with the wonderful volunteers who are so knowledgeable and who obviously not only love, but have an all encompassing passion for their craft. It’s catching! I showed them some of my work, and they showed me the basics of bobbin lace (I’ve always wanted to do that! *adds it to the list*).

They opened all the drawers for me, and we discussed this history of some of the older pieces, the methods of construction, and then the procedures of some of the newer pieces, like Catherine’s wedding gown and the Royal School of Needlework’s part in its construction.