a little christmas slideshow for you to enjoy

musical accompaniment this year by:

The Wombats: "Is this Christmas?"

[give it time to load]

ENJOY!

photostory friday - christmas overexposed

we finally got around to taking our christmas photos last night.

this year however, we have a rather large fixed-in-an-Lshape-configuration leather lounge suite that we couldn't move - that we didn't have last year

where to take the pictures?

sitting down?
standing up?
side by side?
two-by-two?

in the end, we did ALL of the above and i kept forgetting to change the angle of the flash, so some of the photos ended up like this...

i 'equalised' it in photoshop, and VOILA
- a not so crappy photo after all!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Hosted by Cecily

wordful wednesday - a post for chris

when i posted on friday, chris commented that he needed a glossary every time he came to my blog!

so before i launch into a post CHOC-A-BLOCK full of kiwi slang, i'll let my north american readers take in this picture.

it was taken 3 days ago

this is what christmas is like where i live

this is a pohutukawa (po-hoo-2-ka-wa) tree
aka the new zealand christmas tree
they only bloom at christmastime, hence the name

and this is just for fun after i joined the facebook photoshop fan page

i learned how to turn a pic into a classic painting
so, back to the beach

because it was a sunny day, the FOOTPATHS were fit to busting full of PUNTERS heading for the beach where they were going to don their TOGS and FLIP FLOPS, JANDALS AND THONGS.

some may have brought BANGERS for lunch, others may have just brought tea and BISCUITS. some may have come empty-handed and will end up BLUDGING off others. either way, you don't need much in your CHILLY BIN, before BOB'S YOUR UNCLE, you've got yourself a CORKER little sunday afternoon picnic.

if you forgot to bring a rug, don't worry, you can always sit on the BONNET of your car while it's in the CAR PARK.

the last thing you need of course, is for someone to accidentally kick sand in your SAMMIES, coz that would really cause a BUN FIGHT and you might have to tell the offending foot to NAFF OFF. just make sure you have plenty of SERVIETTES to clean up the mess.

..and don't stay in the water too long and get cold, or you might end up with the DREADED LURGY and you'll have to PIKE out of the next fun night out

so now i'm HOME AND HOSED, go RATTLE YOUR DAGS and see angie @ seven clown circus for a TIKI TOUR of wordful wednesday

photostory friday - some random thoughts from a tired working mum 7 days before christmas

...i only have 2 and a half days to work before christmas. that's a mere 13 hours, but it's 13 too many as far as i'm concerned!

being at work while the girls are out of school is hard.

...i gave today. i gave a bunch of christmas gifts to the women's refuge and i gave myself some treats: a massage, then a trip to the movies to see 'julie and julia". even though i'm not a fan of meryl streep, i love, love, LOVED this movie. i'd see it again tomorrow.

...i also received....from shirliana! some tootsie rolls for miss 18, a beer bread mix and a minnesota passport full of fun facts. thanks shirliana! much appreciated :)

...i'm very excited about my 2010 365 project. i already have the photo album and inserts ready to go!

...i wish the wind would stop blowing. even just a little.

...a letter to all the stupid people:

dear stupid people... why must you insist on walking behind me while i'm REVERSING? do you not see me? my car? my reversing lights? ...do you have a death wish? are you blind? do you think i have eyes in the back of my head? ...and why do you feel it appropriate to give ME the stink eye? was it not YOU that walked into the path of a reversing car?

love, sue

...christmas dinner is here this year and i've done nothing about it. mr scrappy is taking off for 2 days on a motorbike thing and gets back late on the 23rd. i can hardly complain about not getting away (hello, 2 and a half weeks in new york!) - but honestly, i resent how easy it is for guys to just take off like that - and return on christmas eve eve!

i feel like it's all being left to me and my inner 4 year old just wants to stamp her feet and pout and drool and not do anything to make it happen!

...we went to carols by candlelight was on wednesday and it was lovely. just lovely.

tara's miss 11, "J" and miss 11

tara's mr 7 and mr tara
tara came up with this very cool idea to use chippie cups to hold the candles
...this girl finished intermediate (middle school, well - our version of it) yesterday. she had her leavers' dinner, a sleepover and a big next day and slept FIFTEEN hours last night.
fifteen. being 13's tough.

...these girls will be at college next year (high school). i love that they took this picture. if i'd been there, i so would have suggested the same thing.

next PSF - Boxing Day!

Hosted by Cecily and Honey Mommy

wordful wednesday - the christmas candle

this candle sits on my 'china cabinet' from january until december, at which point i place it in the middle of the christmas table runner on the dining room table on christmas day.

after that, it goes back on the china cabinet for another 364 days!

it manages to gather quite a bit of dust during the year and the top is a little white-ish as a result!

we bought it at a shop in underground atlanta back in 1994 when we were living in georgia. it was one of those amazing candle places, where they dip and dip and dip and layer all the coloured wax on, then peel it back to craft the wonderful shapes and effect.

it's been burning every christmas day since 1995 and we gave it an extra outing last saturday night at our christmas party.

i don't think it'll ever burn out!

for more wordful wednesday, visit angie over @ seven clown circus

ummmmm, about that giveaway...

on november 30 i said the giveaway would be open for 7 days, and anyone who can do math knows that i'm more than a little late, so here's the giveaway winner announcement...

i asked for commenters to say something random, and that i'd randomly select a winner (for the gorgeous necklace, made by the lovely mandy)

it was a toss up between:

auntiegwen, whose eldest beautiful daughter wants to set up a pirate society at uni next year; and

hannah, who almost got run over by a book mobile. i'm assuming she means a mobile library? either way - RANDOM!; and

teri, who was pondering whether to clip her toenails or not...

AND THE TOENAILS WON!!! (very random indeed)

teri, send me your addy and i'll get the necklace off to you before christmas (or not) - coz it's a busy time of year!

photostory friday - belles of the ball and adventurous kiwi teens

i'm pretty sure i won't ever tire of seeing these two dressed up, heading off to celebrate yet another milestone of their teenage years.

sunday was their year 13 leavers' dinner. these two have now left college (high school) and start university (college) here in town next february, studying design innovation and textiles and business.

i'm reminded to tell you also, that miss 20 is responsible for the fabulous hair and make up you see before you...

these two MADE their dresses
the one on the left is having a gap year next year and will be working at camp america in texas - keep an eye out for her ok!

this dress belonged to her GRANDMOTHER!
how cool is that and how gorgeous does she look

full length goodness

in this shot, they're making room for this chicka

she's in venezuela studying for a year

...and this one's in austria on an exchange

that's austria EUROPE, not australia, our nearest neighbour!

..and THIS dude (who's now a rake thin 6 foot 3) is teaching kids to ski near lake louise in canada

yep - when kiwi kids spread their wings and take off, they spread them far and wide.

Hosted by Cecily

merry sitsmas!!!

oh dear - how late am i to sitsmas?

....and i couldn't find any willing family members to pose in front of the tree

so here's our tree - sans people!

i couldn't even find one of the cats to pose - we have 3 by the way.

so, i live in new zealand where we have christmas in the SUMMERTIME!

yes we do. cold ham, barbeques, sun hats, beach umbrellas, it's a weird concept if you're not used to it, but we are! i've only had one north american christmas (in atlanta) and it was a lot of fun.

here - it doesn't get dark until 9pm, so carols by candlelight runs a little late!

anyhoo - stop back in a week or two and i promise to magic my 4 girls in front of that tree for y'all.

merry sitsmas from new zealand!

wordful wednesday - learning to love the wrinkles

on sunday night i went to my scrapmates dessert evening. kris was our host. she's our email [scrapmates] group 'leader'. she poses thoughtful questions each day, sends great links, funny stories and organises lots of fun activities.

she's a giving gal.

she also takes a lot of photos. a LOT. more than me! WAY more than me!

kris has a fixed 50 lens on her SLR - i have decided that this is what i want from santa mr scrappy for christmas this year!

these are two pics kris took of me on sunday night

when i opened up my email and saw them, i had a revelation

i'm learning to love my crows feet
my smile lines
my memories made lines
my wrinkly proof of happiness
the lines on the face of a 46 and 3/4 year old woman

i may not be as fresh faced as these two young gals
(and BOY is there any other word to describe this shot!)

and that's ok

just thought i'd share that with you


for more wordful wednesday, visit angie over @ seven clown circus

the silly season

FROM: Pauline, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: 21st October 2009
RE: Christmas Party

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23rd, starting at noon in the private function room at the Grill House. There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols...please feel free to sing along. Don't be surprised if the MD shows up dressed as Santa Claus! A Christmas tree will be lit at 1.00p.m. Exchange of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $20.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone's pockets. This gathering is only for employees! The MD will make a special announcement at the Party. Merry Christmas to you and your Family.

Pauline

FROM: Pauline, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees DATE:
22nd October 2009
RE: Holiday Party

In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Chanukah is an important holiday, which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on we're calling it our 'Holiday Party'. The same policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians. There will be no Christmas tree or Christmas carols sung. We will have other types of music for your enjoyment.
Happy now? Happy Holidays to you and your family. Pauline.

FROM; Pauline, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: 23rd October 2009
RE: Holiday Party

Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table...you didn't sign your name. I'm happy to accommodate this request, but if Iput a sign on a table that reads, 'AA Only', you wouldn'tbe anonymous anymore!!!! How am I supposed to handle this? Somebody? Forget about the gift exchange, no gift exchange allowed now since the Union Officials feel that $20.00 istoo much money and Management believe $20.00 is a little cheap. NO GIFT EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED. Pauline.

FROM: Pauline, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees DATE: 24th October 2009
RE: Holiday Party

What a diverse group we are! I had no idea that December 20th begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs, perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party - or else package everything up for you to take home in a little foil doggybag. Will that work?

Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Weight Watchers to sit farthest from the dessert buffet and pregnant women will get the table closest to the toilets. Gays are allowed to sit with each other; L*sbians do not have to sit with gay men, each will have their own table. Yes, there will be flower arrangements for the gay men's table too. To the person asking permission to crossdress - no cross dressing allowed. We will have booster seats for short people. Low fat food will be available for those on a diet. We cannot control the salt used in the food we suggest those people with high blood pressure taste the food first. There will be fresh fruits as dessert for Diabetics; the restaurant cannot supply 'No Sugar'desserts. Sorry! Did I miss anything?!?! Pauline.

FROM: Pauline, Human Resources Director
TO: All F****ing Employees
DATE: 25th October 2009 RE:
The F.. Holiday Party

Vegetarians - I've had it with you people !!! We're going to keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the 'grill of death', as you so quaintly put it. You'll get your f**** salad bar, including organic tomatoes, but you know tomatoes have feelings too; they scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream. I'm hearing the scream right NOW!!
I hope you all have a rotten holiday. Drink drive and die. The Witch from HELL!!!

FROM: John Benson, (Acting Human Resources Director)
TO: All Employees
DATE: 26th October 2009
RE: Pauline Lewis and Holiday Party

I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Pauline a speedy recovery, and I'll continue to forward your cards to her. In the meantime, the Management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and instead, give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd December off with full pay.

John Benson.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

(we're still allowed to call it that here in New Zealand)

photostory friday - scrappin' at the beach

so tara and i went scrappin' last weekend. we were without scrappy michelle who had to work (blah), and scrappy sara - who, after organising the whole thing, wasn't recovered enough from her foot surgery - DOUBLE BLAH!!

but the show must go on - there's scrappin' to be done, and it's not like we're not going to organise another weekend in the near future!

so this is where we stayed. your typical "A" frame kiwi bach - right by the sea.

and it was the perfect weather for scrappin...

ie - bleeping miserable

but we didn't care, coz we had EVERYTHING we needed inside

vodka...

check.

good lookin' and well-dressed chef?

near enough...

tunes.....can i hear you say retro?

if you go back up to the photo of the vodka, you'll see my new GEN 5 ipod in miss 20's ipod speaker dock on the windowsill

it wasn't until i went to play my 862 songs that i realialised the two weren't compatible, but that LITTLE SUCKER played out its TEENY TINY speaker for EIGHT AND HALF HOURS.

all hail the mighty apple

...until it died half way through a westlife song

and you KNOW i was singing at the top of my lungs when it happened...

and of course we had food (made by that well-dressed chef)

and more food

so i stayed in my pjs

ALL WEEKEND

coz i can

this is layout i'm STILL working on (a week later!)

and this is a chipboard album for miss 20
and this is a VERY cute layout by tara
i'm working on a similar one

it's a lift. i'll try and find out from whom
there'll be more show and tell in due course

by sunday lunch the weather had cleared enough for a walk along the beach

i thought these wildflowers were pretty cool

and all this driftwood tossed up on the beach
looks like a tsunami hit!

and here are the scrappy chicks!

Hosted by Cecily

wordful wednesday - spanish steps

so this is me getting my portrait sketched at the spanish steps

i didn't think the chin was quite right until i looked at photos of myself and noticed that i actually DO hold my chin like that sometimes!

i think he did a great job with my hair, given that it hadn't seen a blowdryer in over 20 thousand miles and a week!

i don't remember how much it cost, but it did take a while and he didn't like me figetting (i'm a fidget)

i DID get it home in one piece and really should think about getting it mounted and/or framed!

i googled my heart out but couldn't find out why there are so many artists at the top of the steps, but i did discover the following:

the spanish steps are also known as 'the stairs of the trinity of the mountains' and were built in 1723, and rise from the piazza di spagna (spanish square)

in 1985, crowds thronged the piazza to protest the opening of italy's first mcdonalds
(and so they should, i mean - does maccers have to be EVERYWHERE? really?)

oh, and one more thing...

when a bunch of red roses is thrust into your hands and you're told they're free...

don't believe him...

COZ THEY'RE NOT!!!

for more wordful wednesday, go see angie over @ seven clown circus