eclipse day

In Far North Queensland this morning there was a total eclipse of the sun.  Down here in Briz we apparently had a part eclipse but it must have happened while I was in the shower.  Anyway, it was all of much interest to many people and apparently Cairns had 60,000 extra travellers staying there for the night.
Talking of things shiny, Jana and Ibrahim, the young Bosnian couple who have accepted responsibility for keeping my house clean, came yesterday.  They use a lot of vinegar and soda bicarb but everything looks very sparkly...

I didn't know that this sink could be silver and shine!!!

and, as for the windows, I think I might have to put warnings on the sliding doors to stop people trying to walk through them.....  It's hard to see where the room ends and the outside starts.

I went to the Court of Appeal the other day in our new and very expensive court complex in George Street.  No photos inside of course but how about the outside?   What are all those eyes doing there?

 Perhaps it's the State's way of advising those coming into court, that they are being watched.

 Th inside is very vast and cavernous and in the Appeal Court, there is a very nigh concrete ceiling with lovely to look at timber floors.  The accoustics are appalling - if anyone walks in, you have to stop talking until they sit down.  I think there might be some carpet happening there sooner rather than later.

Went to the opera on Tuesday night and saw this

which I really enjoyed.

Cleaning up

I have new cleaners starting this week.  After 18 years Kris has decided to retire and while i'm working full time, I need some help.
So if the inside is going to be nice and clean, I thought I would make things look a bit better outside and spent an hour or so with the high pressure hose machine yesterday - it is very good but can't get the rusty iron stains off my concrete.....nothing will do that.

I turned this ....

Into this - can you see that I also painted the timber fence purple?  I won't be able to do the side fence but I still like this.

And then continued on with the rest of the pool surrounds

on Friday, I went through my cupboard of overseas delights.  Every time I go overseas, I put souvenirs in this cupboard and when I look through them, I remember all the happy times.  Anyway, I found these two cushion covers I bought in Jaipure three years ago and put them on the front verandah.  They are so pretty and bright, can't help loving them.

My neighbours across the road are adding a family room and a carport where Alan had his sunroom and garage.  It's great to see that they are doing it in keeping with their cottage and the rest of the street.  I wonder if Mr veryrichbuilder is learning anything from living here - perhaps he'll come to realise that he made a mistake?  He lives in his monolith and is completely separate from the rest of the neighbours.  Everything happens behind his very high concrete walls and the electric sliding gate.

I have replanted some baskets for the front verandah - probably not a good idea as I will be in Melbourne/Tas for 12 days later in the month.

Things to do when feeling sick

I have an infection and am on very strong antibiotics so am feeling quite tired.  Inner Health Plus is also making it's way down my throat, so that might cancel out the problems caused by antibiotics.
BUT I have been putting in some work around the house while I am staying home from work - too embarrassed to go in case I fall asleep on my desk.

The tagine came out of the cupboard in celebration of my recent trip to Morocco and chicken, spices, olives and lemon got cooked with cous cous (served in a saucepan).

I bought some new orange and pink suede shoes....

and then had to sit down and have a cup of mint tea to recover!!

In the afternoon, I went to my favourite spot to listen to some music, read a book and drink some tea
... picture me here!

 I love this tea set and the lovely red tray which became beautifully red when  I gave it a clean!!













I went to Toombul Shopping Town to buy some paint.  The reindeers have been let out for Christmas but were looking rather lonely...

Having bought purple paint - I still had the chart from when the walls were painted 11 years ago - I started improving the look of the swimming pool surrounds

The wall looks great and it has been embellished with a very rough Jordanian mosaic tree of life.  The Ikea stools that have been making do as side tables by the pool have been tossed out and there is a smart new table from Freedom that matches the flower pots.  The table was already scratched so they let me take it away for $29 - it it lasts a couple of summers I'll be happy.

I also decided to cover up the raw and mouldy wood with some purple.....  this is just the beginning.....

out and about

Pete and I went to the Concert Hall on Thursday to see a documentary about Paul Kelly and to listen to him sing some of the songs on his new album.  Both levels of the Hall were full and the film was very personal and interesting.  The last time I saw him he was singing with the Dots in a pub and wearing skin tight jeans and a very small animal print shirt.  His black curls were long.  He is now nearly bald and wears quite conservative clothes but the singing and the songwriting is still there.

We went to the Cultural Centre on the ferry - the city looked lovely at night and the weather was mild enough for us to sit outside on the deck.

The jacarandas are all looking wonderful at the moment.  I expect we'll get a storm soon which will blow them all off (that's usually the way it is).  I took this picture on the way to work - it reminded me of our last house which had a picket fence,  jacarandas and a flag pole.

This weekend was a quiet one - I have been far too social lately and just wanted to stay home.  Marg and I went to the craft fair and a did buy some fabrics so have been having a play with baby quilts - now that I have a godson and a daughter about to produce babes.

The garden is SO DRY - haven't had any proper rain since July.  I hope we don't revert to the dreadful DROUGHT!!!  However, the pots are getting watered and the smelly things are making it all smell delicious.

tea and gardens

I made mint tea in my Moroccan teapot for the first time yesterday and drank it out of the beautifully decorated green tea glass.

The handle gets very hot so I was able to use the 'gift with purchase' - the robed black wise man pot holder!!

Last week we had some rain and now everything growing looks very refreshed.  I'm always pleased when the first gardenia comes out in the hedge - this one has now been joined by several others which came out last night

The red hippies are very happy

 as are the geraniums

 and Max, the neighbours cat is thoroughly enjoying his pretty garden.

 The wisteria has grown lots of leaves - pity it only had one flower!!

the bridal tree is blooming again

the mulberry has got over it's very heavy pruning and has produced fruit, leaves and branches and I have eaten two pawpaws from the front garden tree.

And the jacarandas at the USC (and everywhere else in Brisbane) are in bloom.

a nasty experience involving balls

I brought home a leather pouffe from Morocco and today was the first chance to stuff it!  Instructions on the bag of beans is to do the deed in the bath:

little balls have escaped and just about filled up the whole bathtub.  I tried to wet them to make them easier to gather up but they reject water and then all tried to get down the plughole and block up the drain!




























Then I got the nearly full pouffe into the study and opened it up to put in  a few more balls and about half of what was in there escaped again!

So it's going to stay as a semi stuffed pouffe and I sincerely hope that no one ever undoes it's zipper.....
Up until today, I was sorry I hadn't bought more of them.....

murder in the suburbs

I live in a suburb of leafy trees and fairly quiet and respectable people.  You don't expect to hear about violence nearby.  I have a security door, but it's probably more useful for keeping dogs in or out of the house.

Last week the news reported that a couple and their dog had been found dead in their house in C.....d.  I have now heard the story.  They were in their late 30s - 40s.  The man went to school with Niall C at Terrace and has been working in the city.  The women worked at Cake Star as the cake decorator.  After they broke up, she came back to collect some of her belongings.  Unfortunately, she didn't make it past the front steps where someone she had obviously cared for once, shot her and her dog and then turned the gun around and shot himself.

The extreme arrogance of a person who does this type of thing is astounding!