Happy New Year

Well here we are at the end of another year-one that I would rather forget to be honest with you.
What with my mojo going awol and a few health problems that have surfaced I just want to start anew and hopefully turn things around.
I am hoping to finish off a lot of my UFO's in 2013(I say that every year) but I really do mean it this time.
So until I finish some of them off I am not going to buy anything new (you've heard that one before haven't you).
I haven't counted just how many UFO's I have but I would think it is over 12--I will let you know when I have checked them later on today.
No this is not a new years resolution-this is common sense taking over.
Anyway I want to wish everyone a happy new year and I hope that you achieve all that you set out to do in 2013.

Merry Christmas

 I won't be posting again before Christmas so I would  like to take this opportunity to wish everyone who drops by a wonderful Christmas and I hope that all your wishes come true and that the true spirit of Christmas surrounds you all.
I will be back soon.

Craft Group Christmas Party

Most people get to sit on Santa's knee but I had Santa sit on mine--lucky me.
Last Wednesday we had our Christmas party at the craft group that I run at our church.
I asked Stephen if he would like to play Santa and hand out the gifts seeing as he has a Santa suit that belongs to the church.
After we had eaten our meal I phoned him to come down and surprise the ladies and they were absolutely thrilled to see him.
Everyone knew who it was but he just played along and sang carols to them and  handed out the small gifts that I had wrapped up for them.
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Everyone had a great time and now we will be having a break until late January.

God's Talking

When I was a little girl my mother gave me a Bible that had a lot of pictures in it-and there were a lot of pictures that had the suns rays shining through the trees in the forest and clouds in the sky.
These pictures usually had words underneath them that started with "And God said"--------
As a child whenever I saw the suns rays breaking through the trees and clouds I would always say "God's Talking".
And I still do even now.
In fact many of my friends now say it because they have heard me say it.
While we were on our cruise I woke up early one morning and went out onto the balcony  and lo and behold God was talking-telling me it was going to be a glorious day.
What a way to start a day.

Napier --New Zealand

When we were on our cruise we stopped off at Napier which was destroyed in 1931 by a massive earthquake that leveled the city to the ground killing 162 people.
The city was rebuilt in 2 years and was built in the Art Deco style.
It is a beautiful city and the surrounding suburban areas are lovely and very clean.
If you want to read more about follow this link.
We went on a bus tour around the city and we had a very informative tour guide from the Art Deco Trust who really knew her job.
 On the way around the city I took some photos of some of the buildings-not because they were of any great interest-but mainly because I have a feature on my camera that will take the photo in what looks like a pencil drawing.

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We also went to the old Napier Jail which was interesting to say the least--and again the tour guide knew her stuff.
Here is Stephen posing at several points around the jail.
Why they would need a detox centre is a bit amusing.

He has been going to the gym for the last 3 months but he doesn't do this sort of stuff there.

When we went to dinner that night we went to the Steakhouse.
Here is our lovely waiter posing with the pepper shaker over Stephens soup which was served in a Bread bowl that had a lid made from bread on it.

 And me ----I had finished my entree when Stephen took my photo

Akaroa New Zealand

On this trip around New Zealand we stopped at the port of Akaroa which is the port that has been replaced for Christchurch.
Since Christchurch had all their troubles with earthquakes the cruise ships now stop in the bay outside Akaroa and passengers are transported to shore by tender (small boats).
While this has been detrimental to Christchurch the small township of Akaroa is thriving on the tourist dollar.
We took a tour to a farm up in the hills which had amazing views and a history that was truly enthralling.
We were shuttled up in a couple of mini vans by people who were from surrounding properties and they told us about the land make-up and history of the area on the way.
The gentleman who owned the property and his wife (Murray and Sue) were the consummate hosts and Murray told us of the family history right back to his great great grandfather who was the first to settle on the land in his family.
We learned of the good times and the bad times and how they have survived to the point that not only Murray and Sue live on the property but their son and his family are there as well.
That makes seven generations in total.

                                              Murray and Sue in front of their house and garden

We saw a sheep shearing demonstration and it just so happened that one of our group had been a sheep shearer before when he had a property of his own(he was 77) so he gave us a demonstration.
It sure looked like hard work.

Then we went outside and were shown how the sheep dogs did their work and boy do they do their stuff well.
Murray gave his dog  a short quiet message and off he went like a rocket-down in the gully-up a very steep hill and rounded up the sheep and brought them back to where we were.
Truly amazing (well to me it was anyway)

We were then invited down to the house for morning tea.

                                          Isn't this a beautiful photo (I can see it as an embroidery

Scones with jam and cream--yummo.
That's Stephen's boof head in the top left hand corner.

I think this little shed was part of one of the earlier buildings--it now houses doves (I think that is what they were).

Thank you Murray and Sue for a most memorable morning that we will always remember with much fondness.

Our Lounge Room is all Decked Out

Princess Anorexia has been decked out in all her finest again.
This year it is purple and gold-my favourite colour scheme.
I haven't put any lights on the tree this year because last year we forgot to turn them on each night.
Unlike you people on the other side of the world from us it doesn't get dark here until around 9.30pm because we are in our summer and it is also daylight savings as well.

 So I thought I would just save myself the bother of taking them down after Christmas.

 Underneath the tree is our Nativity Scene-----------

I also thought that I would show you my collection of angels-some I have made the other were bought.
The white ceramic ones-----

The wire and silver ones

The two fluffy ones were a kit from the dollar shop about 7 years ago and the one in the middle was a gift from my daughter along time ago.

The one on the left was purchased in The Hague when my daughter was working there about 8 years ago.
I purchased the middle one at a craft market about 10 years ago and the green one is made from sequin waste and I got it around the same time.

And this trio were made by me probably 12-14 years ago.

They all surface every year and sit or hang around the lounge room.
I do have more but I didn't want to bore you to death.
So that's it for now------------

Home again

Here I am home again after another fabulous holiday.
We had great weather except for one day which isn't bad on a 14 day holiday.
I slept and slept for the first 2 days so I must have been in need of a break.
Not many photos at present but after I edit them I will show you a few.
I met up with Carole Brungar in Wellington and we spent a fabulous day together.
We walked and talked and shopped and ate and generally had a great time together.
My knees were so sore by the time I went to bed that night I was sure I would need knee replacements when I got home.
We exchanged gifts and it was amazing that we gave each other similar things-which just goes to show how we bloggers really do get to know each other and become friends.
Not a great photo but it is the best that I can do.

Blogger is giving me the "irits" today  he's probably upset with me for not posting earlier so I will try again tomorrow.