Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas y'all



Just to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy (and safe) New year.
I'll be back ina few days, if I can get near the PC. We're going to my mother's for the break and she hasn't got a computer. The kids are in melt-down...how will they cope?? hahahahahahahahaha says me.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Tuesday Tipple

For a refreshing tipple let's have a Sidecar!

30ml brandy
30ml Cointreau
30 ml fresh lemon juice
ice

Pour all the ingredients into a shaker, shake, then strain into serving glass and garnish with a lemon twist. I use a martini glass for this one.
Actually, if you triple the recipe you could make a wee jug full.....

Oh and I found this clip, sorry it's one of the photo-flashing kind but I haven't heard this song for years. I used to listen to it all the time when I was a lot younger.

Monday, December 14, 2009

An hour down the road




Just an hour down the road is a work site I visit. In the space of the hour it usually takes to drive there, I decided to photograph the road-side reminders of lives lost. This trip took me longer than an hour because of the stopping (safely) and the photographing. It made for a sobering drive.




When you set out to start the day...



full of hopes and plans, things you're looking forward to, people you want to see and hug....



and your loved ones are at home waiting.....



planning what they will say to you, what you will have for a meal....



the kids excited about something great they did at school, about something ordinary they did at school but they know you will think it was great.....you start the day not planning for it all to....

STOP.

nb no Tuesday Tipple this week, another funeral to go to.


Thursday, December 10, 2009

Town and country



The 12 year old is really getting into photography. Part of this means that I rashly promised her we would go on a 'night shoot' around the city. We dug out my Dad's old tripod for her and she has been having a ball. I took this shot of the Catholic Basillica here in Christchurch, was about 9pm from memory. To me it looks quite exotic at night when it's all lit up and empty!


Back to Kaikoura briefly, the Ice Cream van can still tempt children out to sample their wares! And then there are the not so young children who also ventured out.....


Tuesday, December 08, 2009

On the road again...


This is a the view of Kaikoura from the Look Out, which is on top of the towns water tanks. We spent the weekend there with family and friends. It was a great get away weekend, and at just 2.5 hours drive from home it is not too hard to even get there.

Once you get there, what do you do? Well, some people go whale watching and hiking, fishing, relaxing was on the top of our list. Plus, we're cheapskates and tend to go for the family-friendly free stuff!

Don't forget to embiggen the photos to click on them. I shall take my giggles to another room.

We wandered about until we found some seals to take photos of. You might recall an earlier post I did on visiting Kaikoura, well here's another obligingly posed seal.




We also took time out to look for a holiday home for Owen over at the Magic Lantern Show. I think he would like the indoor/outdoor flow of this place....



On our last evening there, after a few bottles of Veuve and some red wine to boot, we had decided it would be grand to haul ourselves outta bed to watch the sunrise. Great idea at the time, but 3 of us managed to do it. 5.30am saw us down at the Seal Colony, and the promise of a sunrise in the distance.

A few fishing boats were also up and about and I think you will be able to see one of them in the photo below...breathtaking, I really should watch the sun rise more often!



Of course, once we had watched the sun come up we were on quite a bit of a high so I dragged my friends off to the local cemetery for the obligatory tomb shot. This one was already trying to shake off it's overnight shawl...



On the way home, passed a place where holiday makers store their caravans. And this cross for Chris, who won't holiday again.



We also visited the old Fyffe House. This place was great to visit, the kids were NOT impressed by the out house but it was a good way to show them how things have changed over the years. I also thought it would be fun to do this...

Tuesday Tipple



This week I am recommending this! Safety goggles optional but recommended if you're anywhere near my house! Salut.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

The morning after the night before

Well, aside from being hit in the eye with a flying champagne cork, I appear to have weathered yet another birthday.
The Stud outdid himself in the kitchen - we had Rare Roast beef and Butterflied Lamb with a wonderful gravy and mushrooms, as well as salad, fresh carrots from the garden, purple asparagus, new potatoes also from the garden, and couscous! Dessert was the double chocolate cake made by my two darling daughters, with whipped cream and ice cream.
I rather think that all that nosh contributed to my slow gait which in turn meant I was unable to dodge the flying corks with my usual agility.

The other morning I took this photo of one of our roses, I love the yellow ones and this one is El Dorado. It has the most wonderful scent and it looks so pretty after the rain (when the scent is even stronger).




Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Tuesday Tipple

Owing to having been ill for the past few days, the Tipple this week will be on a the medicinal side. And we have suddenly reverted back to winter it seems, with southerlies blowing and rain for Africa! I'm sure you will understand the following low-key refreshment...

WATER, add ice (and paracetemol) - collapse on the couch with either a great book (with big print if head ache allows) or put on the DVD of Harold and Maude....


Silent Sunday was very silent this week

I missed Silent Sunday - was it silent enough that way?