Smy burfday! (edited to re-insert the picture -sorry 'bout that)

And because my beauty is as timeless as nature let me share with you a favourite picture from our travels.

It is begging I know but please leave a comment as my kids have challenged me to get as many birthday wishes as possible.

Why is finding a puppy so difficult?

We are desparately trying to fulfill our birthday promise to Princess Curly-Wurly and it is soooooooooooo difficult.

Who would have thought that locating a young dog to offer it a good home would be so fraught with mishap? They are either not suitable to CK (spaniels), not suitable to me (fussy on coat texture and colour) or not suitable to Pr.C-W (fussy on letting a chinese-crested dog) into her life.

Dear inhabitants of the innernets - please help! Send good puppy finding thoughts winging their way up the hill because this is beginning to drive me CRAZY!!!!!!!!!

More holiday pics!

This was one of my favourite days in December.

After leaving the farm we drove along the Great Ocean Road, CK and I were both very excited about seeing the magnificence of the sights again. The terences sat in the back seat creating some crazy small person pretend game and paying scant attention to the behest of their parents to admire 'the amazing scenery mostly obscured by scrub before them'.

Until we stopped here. The Blowhole.

For nearly half an hour we stood watching the sea come rolling in along this rock shelf before bursting up over the edge.

I could have stayed longer.


When we got back in the car the childer were suddenly interested and looking out of the windows ;-)



Loch Ard Gorge. A famous spot along the shipwreck coast and one of the places CK has most fond memories of from his first trip. destructoBoy had a great time chasing and dodging the waves as they rolled up the sand.

Until one caught him.

His bravery dissipated just a little.



We drove on to the 12 Apostles and considered each grown-up tying a child to their waist to stop them being blown away!

The upside to such a breeze is it made for great breakers in the sea

Thanks for being my willing victims audience for my holiday debrief.

I hope you enjoy the scenery.

This is somethiong ALL crafers should be aware of ( and this still ISN'T a craft blog!)

I tried to post this Wed. night but the innernets were NOT my friend. However it was saved to drafts (a little unexpectedly) so I can share this with y'all now.




Why have I posted this? I don't sell things on ETSY. I am not American. But I do feel this impinges on an individual's rights to choose handmade, hand-crafted objects over mass- produced, plastic blah!



Don't get me wrong, I like mass-produced, plastic blah. We have a piece or two of it up here on the ;-) But I also like handmade products, things that incorporate the integrity and love of the craftsperson for their field. So, getting all political on you now, please read this because it has impact on us all.







Wednesday, 28 January 2009

TODAY! THE CPSIA BLOG-IN - R.I.P HANDMADE
Today is the CPSIA Blog-in. So far, today, 241 blogs carry an article. If you would like to join you can either copy the blog post below (taken from KITSCHY COO'S BLOG) or write you own. Make sure you add you blog to the list in the Etsy forums. HERE



.................................................................................................................................................................................Less Less than two weeks to go now to the crucial date of Feb 10, when the CPSIA comes into effect.



This far-reaching act is starting to be noticed by more than just the sellers it affects directly, with coverage in some news programmes and the US national press. I agreed to do a CPSIA post today as part of a group of Etsy sellers that are affected by this law (thread is here). As it currently stands, the following extract of text will be posted on 165 blogs today, but the number is growing rapidly."





As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.





Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too. How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:




To the Parents of Young Students:Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project.



This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.To the Avid Reader:Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all. Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322





To the Lover of All Things Handmade: Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.





To the Environmentalist:Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.





To the Second-Hand Shopper:Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.To the Entrepreneur:Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.





To the Antique Toy Collector:Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html





To the American Economy:Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.





To the Worldwide Economy:Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses. If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.htmlAnd for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law: http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.htmlDid you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

The Joy of Blogging (it is safe - no beards in sight ;-)

OH! MY! STARS!


I won a lil' giveaway over at Pumkin Patch Primitives just recently and how lucky am I??

Not only did this creative (and highly descriptive and appropriate) piece of fabulousness turn up at my house last week.

But came with teh wonderfullest quilting magazine - it is upstairs by my bed so I cannot give you the actual, real published name but it was a McCall's one and I love it so much I have already used one of the patterns!

Thank you so much Brenda. You made me smile.

Seriously! This is NOT a craft blog!

I was given a present when I was at home.


Well, actually I was given quite a few, what with it being Christmas and all...... however .... I was given a present by Missus Proprietress at Ballaarat Patchwork! I think she got me off to a head start with a few squares predone, realising if I had a plan to follow and a swift kick workwards it was unlikely to join my fabric collection.

Aren't those some pretty colours? And chenille!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday afternoon I had a can of Pepsi. Is it a higher %volume than the other brand? Because in the space of four hours I had drunk my third can. Not drinking tea or coffee MAY predispose me to a slightly unusual reaction to such things, the nett result was me being awake until 0215 this morning ;-)

However I used my time productively - I got the sewing machine out of its cage about 2300 hrs last night and pieced a few more squares and then blocks! I have two more blocks to complete and then BAM! I have nearly a quilt.

OMG! Get me doing all this sewing thing!

Pah! Who says this is a craft blog!!!

Despite what some in the cheap seats down the back may say this blog remains my 'online not-so-secret diary'. And as such I shall use it to document the adventures and excitements of TGTH.


Some of you may be aware an internationally recognised and attended 'Trash & Treasure Meet' took place while I was back in Australia. What some of you Johnny Foreigners (Why yes! That would be anyone not from or not living in Australia! It is Australia Day today so suck it up and let's move on ;-) may not realise is that a 'Trash & Treasure Meet' is what is known in the UK as a 'Car Boot Sale' and I believe in the US as a 'Swap Meet'. Sadly neither of these would have worked as cleverly as the pun Jodie fashioned so it is fortuitous I was headed back home for Christmas!


The first collage shows what happens when you put a crafting of bloggers into a delightful shop frontage - much chatting, laughter and purchasing (but obviously not from me as I was mid-car windscree/running away from home saga!) .

1. Beautiful shop windows and bloggy heads and bodies.
2. Lovely wee quilt and chatty bloggy heads and bodies.
3. A little of the loveliness available at Ballarat Patchwork.
4. The other side of the loveliness at Ballarat Patchwork (plus bloggy body).


And once the car was all fixed by the nice man I made my way back to the second stage of the Trash and Treasure Meet in the hot Australian sun.

1. Missus FlowerGarden with that naughty little Lucy Locket.
2. Ricrac coming toward me brandishing said naughty Locket.
3. View of a collective bloggers' picnic.
4. Locket being the recipient of bloggy love.
5. RicRac lightly tossing the salad prior to my pedicure ;-)
6. That naughty Locket girl sitting quietly and giggling at all the grown-up chat going on around her!


And after Stage Three of the meet-up at Jodie's house (with the beautifully washed floors and a quiet nana nap for those in need) we ventured up to the delights of Annie's Flowergarden for Stage Four. But do you know? That naughty Locket child pushed her way to the front AGAIN! So much for only being 'seen and not heard'. That child needed to learn a lesson about grown-up time and start to make herself 'not seen and not heard'! She only had herself to blame when things started to turn a bit lairy!

1. we tried to put her in her place but Locket just fell over and scared the chickens!

2. So then we fed her and hoped that would send her off to sleep - it was getting late by this point and well past her bedtime, even in the Summer holidays.

3. It all got a bit much when the real grown-up talk began. Ricrac had to block up Locket's ears to preserve her innocence!

4. So we snuggled her up with a mutant Magoo to try and get her to settle. It didn't work.

5. The last ditch effort involved sending her out to the garden to run off some of that energy but she simply chatted with Bob & Fred. It was a one-sided conversation.

6. So in the end Jodie strapped her in and took her home!

More stash accumulation - these ones I need help with. published 25.01.09

Not that I am offering to share you understand but tech help.



I went and played at the fabulous 'HobbySew' in Echuca (can't get a link to fire up but I have a photie somewhere I shall post when I find) and I bought a pack of squares.

Two packs actually. One was a Moda pack and possibly the other one was too. I can't remember and have thrown the wrapper out but they are very beautiful, non?

My problem is - what do I do with them?





Do I join them all together randomly? Sash them with plain coloured strips? Cut them up along the lines of a traditional pattern?





Are they ready to use straight away or must I wash them first? I just don't understand!





Although DestructoBoy and I had a pleasant evening laying them out in different patterns :-)





Sylv was quite impressed, she returned home the next day with a present for me! These clever small people living a sweet little retro life

and a pack of squares to match!

If only I knew what to do!

Stash increases NOT purchased. (actually posted on 25/01/09)

Not content with offering one of the door prizes during Stage One of the Trash and Treasure meet-up the rather lovely Ballarat Patchwork shop also played host to a free-for-all of ex-stash laid on by both Emma Scrapbag and Jodie Ric-Rac. The bits I managed to spot and liberate during my damaged windscreen brain fog are shown in the middle picture.

The top picture is the result of my raiding Ric-Rac's bag of scrap (I had to fight of one of those four wise monkeys but it was worth it ;-) I have actually begun to make scrappy log cabins out of these bits.

And the bottom one is another pic of the wonderful prize I got from Ballaarat Patchwork. Gorgeous fabric, non?

so.... then we got home. (or Bad news, good news and some Aust. stash pics!)

Did I mention at any point that my b-i-l (father of the alien child) was staying here to look after my boys while we were away? Well (so graciously), he followed through on his Summer promise to do so.

He arrived a few days before we left and the childer and I trailed him as he walked both dogs together at the same time for the first time ever. Halfway through I asked him how it was and he said (promise this is an exact quote) "Like I am walking with my arms stuck out in front of me." Right away I knew it was going to be a hard row for my dogs to hoe (metaphorically typing of course) because he took no joy whatsoever in them, his surroundings, the fresh air, nothing! However I closed my eyes and mind to it all and off we went.

We heard very little from him at any point. He didn't answer when CK rang him with Christmas or N.Y. wishes. He replied to one text. Would you not also take this to mean everything was well? We did. Oh silly, silly us.....

During CK's 'Hi, I'm back home and safe.' phonecall he mentioned that the grey dog was a little wobbly but that b-i-l figured it was a slipped something sustained during one of their long walks in icy conditions plus, y'know he was greatly improved since it had first happened a few days before CK came home!!!!!!!!! WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!

My old dog of pushing 15 years has had trouble standing for a few days and you haven't even spoken to the vet????? Of course CK played the whole thing down over the phone and the full extent of the situation wasn't revealed to me until I saw him for myself a week later. My poor faithful old grey-haired boy had some serious balance issues and was looking a little like a pretzel. His left ear was flicked up and there was something amiss with his left eye, not to mention the serious list to his head.

Friday evening was my only chance of a vet appointment and we took it with gratitude (by we I mean the dog and me as CK had been home for a week and not taken him - do not start me!). Having now watched him for 24 hours I could see all the things that were not right and had a horrible feeling the word 'stroke' may be mentioned. However our lovely vet said that

a) strokes are extremely rare in dogs.

b) for a dog of his age my grey one was in fabulous physical condition (except for the pretzel state and weird eye movements).

He diagnosed 'Vestibular Syndrome' (which I say is akin to Labrynthitis in people and the vet likened to the worst bout of seasickness EVER. )It may be down to a tumour, a brain lesion, an infection or just because and since it seemed to be getting better in the nearly TWO WEEKS since it had happened he would suggest it was just because.

Nice vet man likened it to being an 'anti-stroke' - rather than a burst of blood in the brain there had most likely been an occlusion and insufficient blood got in - and it was all in the area of brain linked to balance and muscle control and such. So he drugged him up with steroids, gave him pills for the next 14 days and we take him back next Friday to see where we go from there. So far he continues to improve, his appetite is back, his mobility is more free every day and this morning for about half an hour his head wasn't even a little bit twisted.

Apparently it could be he goes back to completely as he was before or he could plateau at any point but the vet assures me he is in no pain and the dog assures me he is hungry and ready for a walk anytime I want to take him. So I am happy with that because when you are nearly 15 in people years (= ~100 in dog years) it has to be about quality of life.

Did I mention that for nearly two weeks there was very little eating going on? Certainly on the grey dog's part. And no exercise for either dog? What neither CK nor his brother seemed to notice was the size of the black dog. My 11 y.o. black dog has gone from being a fit, healthy collie to a fluffy black-coated oompah-loompah in the space of two weeks. Quite sensibly my b-i-l has run away to Crete b/c when I next see him there may be some words said!

Enough of my hound sagas. Wanna see SOME of the stash supplies I purchased (won, was given) in Australia????

First up we have two balls of emotional saga displacement activity. The day of the great blogmeet I drove to Ballarat and less than halfway there a stone flew up and chipped my windscreen. In a slight panic about the $2500 (£1250) excess AND the potential explosion of the glass I drove the rest of the way wondering if I could get a quick flight to Paraguay. Lovely Emma at Ballarat Patchwork and Jodie fixed it all for me with a copy of the yellow pages, a phone and a guide to find the Windscreens O'Brien place. The nice man took my freely, gladly given $70 and told me to come back in half an hour. Luckily there was a Lincraft right next door so in I went. And brought out the these two knobbly yarns - very excited about trying to knit with cotton wool on a string!

The third pic is of a ball from the Wool Museum in Geelong. Geelong was THE seaport for wool export and so is now home to The National Wool Museum (Australia being built on the sheep's back and all!). We didn't go into the Museum, just the shop ;-) I asked the lady at the counter if the wool was Australian as the label only said hand-dyed in Australia. Just about bothering to tear herself away from the conversation with co-workers she said to me 'All our wool products are 100% Australian and 100% wool!' 'Except for the 7% nylon in this skein' I suggested. (Snooty witch, don't start with me!)

I may have to repost this picture - I tried to be clever and blend the pattern with the fabric but I think it may just be a jumble, let me know. The lovely Emma (again) at Ballarat Patchwork offered a door prize for any bloggers who left their blogname in a hat on the table. Even in my frantic car windscreen saga state I knew it would be a good plan to write my details on a piece of A4 embossed and embellished cardstock that vibrated and sparkled when touched - I was bound to get a prize ;-)

So now I have to actually MAKE a quilt! Do any of you know how long a process that is for me??? But it is very pretty isn't it? I can see Princess C-W snatching this one and snuggling with her new puppy some time soon. (when we get one - anyone?)

And for this post finally we have the fabric I found and fell in love with. Hands up who <3s Spotlight? (all of you non-Australian dwellers just put your hands up anyway because you WOULD love it if you could see it!)

While at home my oldest friend sent me an email to say her new boy had arrived into the world safely. And I was unable to stop myself on seeing this turtle fabric from having to bring some home because it will make the sweetest wee cot quilt. I think I bought the spots for the back and the orange for a border and binding. Or vice versa. But how gorgeous?!

Did I tell you we went to Echuca? Princess C-W took her project, we went on the Murray, we touched the Murray, we got extremely hot, we booked two hotel rooms and slept in one, we ate the worst meal EVER in Moama and while they mooched the main street I went and played in a lovely patchwork shop! The nice lady even offered to lock the doors as they walked away to give me enough time!

1. I bought this fat quarter of the housework fairies for a) the irony and b) the chartreuse background (apologies Wonderwoman ;-)

2. This is Australian designed fabric from the nice lady wot organises the quilt thing down at Lock. I did know her name but now cannot remember!

3. the dogs just had to come home with us, I thought Pr.C-W would love it.

4. Spots again by that Victorian designer. I will hunt out her name, promise.

5. And a metre of this fabulous fluffy ball ribbon. I will think of something one day but right then it was just beautiful!

There is more but I figured you could just enjoy a little bit at a time, I wouldn't want to rot your eyes with all that deliciousness!

15.12/31.12 Holiday pictures Part Six

After these pics there will be a short interlude before anymore holiday ones are displayed. This will give the management time to download them from their various hiding places and weed out the ones that are beyond boring to see - did I mention there were over 1000 pics taken?

These were all taken down on the farm on 29.12

1. Heading out to feed the racehorses.
2. Farmhouse still life (or as Giovanna's m-i-l would call it - firewood)
3. Is it mutual love? Princess Curly Wurly and a racehorse foal.
4. Feeding the racehorses.

I just flew in from Singapore and BOY are my arms tired!

We have now completed the return journey and our first full day of jetlag.


I was done with sleeping by 0400 and up at 0500 and then the terences were up and moving by 05:30 so not too bad given that we were all asleep before 20:30 the previous night.


With all my heart I am in love with the transit hotel in Changi, it made the looooooooong leg of the flight completely bearable.


Leaving at 0900 meant we travelled back to the UK following daylight so there was very little sleep action going on in that 14 hours in a tin can. Except for d/Boy. He fell asleep for half an hour as we taxied to the runway at Changi and then again as the pilot informed us we would have to circle for a bit (30 mins plus!) before we could land at Heathrow.


I always try to be one of the last people off the plane. I see no point in standing in that narrow aisle for the 20/30 mins it can take before the crew even open the doors. So we just sat and let him sleep. His sleep was so deep and so long and sooooo0o not wanting to be disturbed that the crew were waiting to disembark while I was struggling to get his sleep-filled feet back into trainers.


However we got there and he dragged his sleepy body through the corridors at LHR, remained standing while we collected the five bags from the carousel and then swayed gently as I let him go to jampack the trolley with the luggage AND the seven pieces of hand luggage we had accumulated in our trek.


by the time we got to immigration there were no queues in the EU line so the nice official had plenty of time to look through our passports while he waited for d/Boy to catch up with us. Eventually we were let through and despite Pr.C-Dub's desire to go through the Red lane (because that is what I needed at that point - bored customs officials completely emptying all 12 of the bags I had with me while I held up a dozing seven y.o.!) we were out and free and heading home towards our very own hilltop town.


What waited me on return? Oh the fun is just beginning!

Part the First over and done

It is 05:58 here in Changi and both the terences have had a solid six hours sleep in a v. dark and relatively quiet hotel room. I have to say I think it was the BEST money I have spent all holiday. Having the sleep tanks half-full will go someway to making the next 16 hours slightly more endurable.We still have hree hours until our flight actually takes off - which means two until we head to the boarding gate but I know that for the next six to eight hours at least everyone should be in some kind of cheery mood. After that I may just pretend I don't actually know them ;-)

Keep a spare thought in your minds for us if you will be so kind, I would hate for the pilot to evict us at 35,000 feet!

Is Mr. Blogger psychic?

Have just left a commment on a blog (Missus Moog, I think) and the word verification was 'ANTSY' and that just about sums us up now.


After a month exactly since we left frozen, grey old Blighty the terences and myself begin the epic journey home. It took CK 40 hours from take-off to arriving back ontop the hill but I have a horrible feeling ours will be some many years longer. My best guess at the moment is 6.38 years.


The bags are mostly packed, I have found my sunglasses and my new shoes (was wearing both on Sat. if those in attendance would like to fondly remember my footwear - you didn't see them? Oh! I suppose most of the time I was barefoot but it is the only way to enjoy a Ceasar Salad Pedicure, don't you know ;-) and after a very sleepless night last night this morning the nice man confirmed the existence of my passport on their system and booked me and the terences in!


Princess Curly-Wurly has been in tears because she wants to go home now please and also because she doesn't want to have to say goodbye to her cousins and beloved Grandmother.


destructo-Boy is ready to go home because he misses his daddy.


I just wish someone would invent a teleporter because I have a horrible feeling the time it takes to get home will just keep on rising!


Thanks for being with me on The Great Trip Home.

OH! MY! STARS!

I can't believe how many people turned up to Ballarat Patchwork on Saturday!

And while I don't fool myself for a second it was to see me it was rather thrilling to be in the company of so many talented and clever and crafty (in a nice way) blogging women.

Huge thanks to Ric-Rac for being head honcho organiser person and chief salad thrower-arounder. Emma for being hostess for the first part of the event and graceful giver-awayer of such fabulous door prizes (Oh! And guess who is taking one home??? Heeee). Annie FlowerGarden for being such a kind hostess and opening her home in the evening to a loud and hungry rabble and finally to Silly Gilly (oo lala!) for being my companion in staying on.

I had a great time and when (IF!!) I ever get home I shall post pictures.

15.12/31.12 Holiday pics part six

After these pics there will be a short interlude before anymore holiday ones are displayed. This will give the management time to download them from their various hiding places and weed out the ones that are beyond boring to see - did I mention there were over 1000 pics taken?

These were all taken down on the farm on 29.12

1. Heading out to feed the racehorses.

2. Farmhouse still life (or as Giovanna's m-i-l would call it - firewood)

3. Is it mutual love? Princess Curly Wurly and a racehorse foal.

4. Feeding the racehorses.

15/12-31/12 holiday photies part Five

This one is all down on 'the farm' and heavily features Giovanna and Paolo as well as CK and the terences.

L-R

1. 28 or 29/12 Trees on the farm

2. 29/12 destructoBoy (having picked up an AFL ball for the first time a few days previously) manages a pretty good Peter Busustow banana kick.

3.29/12 tasting the lucerne in the back paddock.

4. 29/12 leaping around on freshly cut and placed hayrolls.

5. 29/12 destructoBoy being taken for a ride on the 'Quaddie'.

6. 29/12 Princess Curly-Wurly coming into her own as a full-on rev head.

Holiday Photos 15/12-31/12 Part Four

1. 28.12 Skippy. (Hall's Gap Wildlife Park)

2. 28.12 A real live dingo. (Hall's Gap Wildlife Park)

3. 28.12 PK feeding 'Wobblies' (wallabies - she loved winding up the other tourists. Hall's Gap Wildlife Park)

4. 28.12 Hall's Gap, Grampians.

5. 29.12 A real live wild emu at Tower Hill.

6. 29.12 Tree Bark.

7. 28.12 My 'Deer' destructoBoy

Holiday pictures 15/12-31/12 Part three

this one reads left to right from the top corner.

1. 27/12 The soldiers who defeated the miners during the historic battle of the Eureka Stockade (google it if political history interests you - or not) - or rather their painted bollard personages.

2. 28/12 Our very broken down car just past Lake Burrumbeet en route to the Grampians from Ballarat.

3. 27/12 Artwork of the Southern Cross (again - google it if pol.sci or astronomy speak to you) in the Eureka Park. (Waves at someone living near here;-)

4. 28/12 Fence post beside road where we sat for 2.5 hours aiting for new (even crappier)car to be delivered!

5. 27/12 Two pale English children wondering why Australian horses are wooden?

6. 27/12 Mahoosive example of the Eureka flag (politics/history/astronomy -I'm just saying for those interested)

7. 28/12 Pale Englishman pacing up and down side of road for over 2.5 hours b/c he can't sit down just onto the ground! By the time the 'new' car turned up even his watch strap was white with sunscreen.

holiday pictures 15/12-31/12 Part Two

Top left across
1. 25/12 destructoBoy whacking the ball for all he is worth. (about 9pm by this point!)
2. 25/12 Christmas Tree as decorated by all the kids under the tutelage and watchful eye of Giovanna
3. 25/12 Playing cricket out in the oval near Granma's with all his boy cousins and two uncles and LOVING IT!
4. 25/12 Christmas decorations at Giovanna's house.

holiday pictures 15/12 to 31/12 Part One

Reading top left corner across
1. 24/12 Princess Curly Wurly at the National Gallery of Victoria Water Wall.

2. 24/12 Princess Curly Wurly playing @ approx.7pm on ST. Kilda Beach.

3. 24/12 Pr. C-W & DestructoBoy at Luna Park, ST. Kilda. Beach.

4. 21/12 Two of the five BBQs in action during Sylv's party.

5. 24/12 Pr. C-W and D/boy 'under the clocks' on Christmas Eve (please note his apparel!).

6. 21/12 Sylv opening party presents with Pr.C-W observing.

7. 24/12 D/boy and young cousin with a desperate greeting!

8. 22/12 Photograph of family en masse.

9. 22/12 Pr.C-W all dressed up for professional pictures.

10. 22/12 All the grandchildren bundling in on Granma.

11. 16/12 D/boy all snuggled up about four hours into his sleep of sixteen.