Been a little busy...

Sorry I haven't been around much lately! I've been a bit busy doing some of this...

some of this....

and some of this.

Holidays and crafting - two of my favourite things! 

Christine xx

The Gallery - A beautiful city

Joining Sticky Fingers for The Gallery... the theme this week is Green.

This is the city in which I live. 

It's a stunning view of Canberra, taken from Mount Ainslie and overlooking the Parliamentary Triangle. 

Straight ahead at the bottom of the photo, you can see the Australian War Memorial, with the red gravel median along Anzac Parade leading to Lake Burley Griffin. 

Across the lake, the grassy area of Reconciliation Place leads up to Old Parliament House, and behind you can just see the tall flagpole atop Parliament House. 

Along the lake foreshore is the National Gallery, The High Court, Questacon and the National Library. On the left is Kings Avenue Bridge, with The National Carillon beside it on Aspen Island. 

On the right is Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, with the Captain Cook Memorial Jet shooting high in the air. 

I took this photo eight years ago in 2005, and the view hasn't changed a bit between then and now. It is truly a beautiful city. 

Come and visit! 

Christine xx

The Gallery - Mmmmmm.... Butterbeer!

Joining Sticky Fingers for The Gallery... the theme this week is Drink.

Here is a picture of me, scoffing Butterbeer outside the shops of Hogsmeade. It was absolutely delicious and I couldn't let all that yummy froth go to waste!

This photo was captured by my ever-loving (ever-laughing) husband on our trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, Florida. 

Christine xx

The Gallery - Walking along the Walk of Fame

Joining Sticky Fingers for The Gallery... the theme this week is Walks. 

One of Miss Julia's most memorable places from our 2011 US trip is the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She loved the stars along the footpath, the night lights and the many souvenir shops, but most of all she loved the characters who lined the path just waiting for the chance of a little cash in exchange for a photo or two. 

There was Woody from Toy Story (who quietly whispered to me "I work for tips" as Julia rushed into his arms), Tinkerbell (who I'm sure was dressed for a night on the town), Batman (whose ample girth made me think that he had seen better days), Spongebob Squarepants and Darth Vader. 

But the best was Spider-Man. He really knew how to play a role. Julia was delighted when she spotted him perched up on a ledge one night, and she was thrilled when he jumped down and posed for this picture with her. After that, it became a game each night to walk along the Walk of Fame and see if we could find Spider-Man! 

Christine xx

The happiest place on Earth!

School holidays have been busy as I have just returned from a family trip to Florida, USA where we visited Walt Disney World. It was another fabulous holiday with so many wonderful memories.

Julia had a wonderful time meeting Disney characters...

 ...and Disney princesses.

We all had a great time visiting the four theme parks within the Walt Disney World complex - Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom.   

Each park had its own magic and charm, but our favourites were Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

Magic Kingdom may be the happiest place on Earth, but it really is true... there's no place like home.

Christine xx

The Gallery - 8pm

Joining Sticky Fingers for The Gallery... the theme this week is 8pm.

Nightfall looking along the Salzach River in Salzburg, Austria. Salzburg is one of the most beautiful cities I have visited and I would love to revisit some day.

Christine xx

The Gallery - Movies

Joining Sticky Fingers for The Gallery... the theme this week is Movies.

When we visited Hollywood last year, we looked at all the hand and footprints in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Julia was very happy to find that a movie star had hands that were just her size.

Christine xx

The Gallery - Sky

Joining Sticky Fingers for The Gallery... the theme this week is Sky.

I think this photo is all about the sky. 

Sunset over the Aegean Sea in Greece. Taken in March 2003 at the end of a wonderful day cruise to the Saronic Islands of Poros, Hydra and Aegina. 

Christine xx

The Gallery - Street Photography

Joining Sticky Fingers for The Gallery... the theme this week is Street Photography.

Photos of public places like streets, parks and beaches, also known as social documentary and environmental photography.

San Francisco is alive in the streets of Chinatown.

The day may be grey but the brightly coloured decorations strung festively across the road can be seen all the way up the hill. There are so many people, all moving along the footpaths; it's very easy to get moved along with the wave or cause a jam just by stopping to look in a window.

Christine xx

The Gallery - Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Joining Sticky Fingers for The Gallery... the theme this week is Planes, Trains & Automobiles.

When we visited Austria in 2005, we used quite a few modes of travel to get around the country. Some of my favourites were the Fiaker traditional horse carriages in Vienna, a Danube boat ride, funicular railways, cable car and quite a few bus trips. Here are some snaps of our journey by plane, train and automobile...

One of our first views of Austria, taken from the back seat of a taxi. Travelling into Vienna from the airport. 

Beautiful green views travelling by train from Graz to Vienna.

A patchwork view from the plane as we ascend for the journey home. 

Christine xx

The Gallery - Picture Postcard

Joining Sticky Fingers for The Gallery ... the theme this week is Picture Postcard. Congratulations Tara on 100 weeks of The Gallery - I am so happy to be a part of this photographic journey of memories!  

I like to take photos. I especially like to take digital photos because I can take 5 or 6 shots of the same thing and usually one will turn out OK. But it is still most unusual for me to take a photo that could be considered picture postcard perfect. Amazingly I have managed to fluke a few beauties in my travels and this is one of my favourites. 

This photo is taken overlooking St Gilgen at Lake Wolfgang (Wolfgangsee), a lake in the Salzkammergut area of Austria. We visited in 2005. Although the day wasn't sunny and warm, to me this picture captured the iciness of the perpetual snow on the peaks, and beautiful succulent greenness of the landscape.

Christine xx

The Gallery - Morning

Joining Sticky Fingers for The Gallery ... the theme this week is Morning. 

The beautiful colours of dawn over rooftops in Inverness, Scotland.

Taken in 2003 through a little window in a B&B. My Mum and I were catching the early train to London that morning, hence the early start. I am not really a morning person!

Christine xx

Spot the Difference

This is me on my first visit to Disneyland in 1969.

This is Julia and me visiting Disneyland in 2011.

How many differences can you spot?

Christine xx

Then and now

My Mum and I went on a fantastic holiday together a few years ago. Our first stop was England, where we stayed in London for a week, then hired a car and travelled a bit of the country. One of the first places we visited outside London (once we managed to get OUT of the city) was Stonehenge. 

This is my photo of the eerily beautiful stones. 

And this is me. I am listening intently to the audio tour. This is about as close as you can get to the stones. But it wasn't always like that... 

Here is a picture of me and my mum visiting Stonehenge in 1969. How fascinating to be able to walk amongst the stones! 

Unless your name is Griswald. Have you all seen European Vacation? This movie still makes me laugh every time I see it! 

For anyone who is stonestruck, I recently stumbled across a somewhat unusual little blog that you may enjoy... Clonehenge: A blog about Stonehenge Replicas. Take a look at this post about a miniature replica Stonehenge at Cockington Green, in Canberra. This place is well worth a visit if you are travelling through my neighbourhood.

Dare I say it?... rock on!

Christine xx

Getting away from it all

After a week of rain in Canberra, it was a wonderful feeling to be going away for the weekend. We flew to Brisbane to see Mary Poppins at the Lyric Theatre.

We had fun walking along the South Bank Parklands...

riding the Wheel of Brisbane...

and indulging in delicious ice cream.

And the show was wonderful!

Christine xx

Gooloogong... a traveller's oasis!

On our recent family car trip we took a break in a little village called Gooloogong.

The park was such a lovely place to stop.

It was so beautifully maintained with a great playground, clean toilets, barbeque facilities and a wonderful display of town history.

The town is located midway between Forbes and Cowra in NSW. If you are travelling that way, plan on a stop here!

Crocheted goodies handmade by me
Available now from Mini-Me Handcrafts.

Personalised Children's Books
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.

God Loves Me - Follow that star to Parkes!

On our recent family holiday we drove to Orange to visit our cousins and Dubbo to visit the zoo. We took the route through Parkes on the way home. Here is a snippet of a conversation with Julia (Miss nearly 5) whilst travelling:

Me: "We're on the road to Parkes now. Someone very special that you know was born in Parkes." 

Julia: "I know... Jesus!" 

Me: "Ummm.... no. Your grandmother."
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Crocheted goodies handmade by me
Available now from Mini-Me Handcrafts.

God Loves Me
Deluxe Personalised Children's Book
$21.50 each with free shipping for delivery within Australia only.
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.

My Day on Sesame Street - The eyes of a four-year-old

This travel blog post belongs to Julia (Miss 4). She took a few photos during the trip on her little vtech kids camera.

(clockwise from top left) The view from the roof of our hotel in San Francisco; a favourite on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood; Mummy on the steps of the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood; a fabulous pattern on the sidewalk (also Hollywood I think).

(clockwise from top left) Our hotel in San Diego; pretty flowers in San Diego; the shuttle bus to Disneyland; postcards in the hotel lobby shop in Anaheim.

Our family trip to California through the eyes of a four-year-old.

My Day on Sesame Street
Deluxe Personalised Children's Book
$21.50 each with free shipping for delivery within Australia only.
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.

My Day on Sesame Street - Dreaming of Disneyland...

The last stop and probably the highlight of our USA trip was Disneyland. Six fun-filled days at the happiest place on earth. It was fantastic! Julia (Miss 4) loved meeting the Disney Princesses and her favourite rides were two rollercoasters - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad & Space Mountain. Actually, those were my favourite rides too!

(left) At the Disneyland entrance.
(centre) The Mad Hatters tea cup.
(right) Sleeping Beauty's castle.

(left to right) Meeting some Disney favourites - Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy.

(left to right) Meeting the Disney Princesses - Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel.

(left) Having fun with Alice in Wonderland & The Mad Hatter.
(centre) Posing with the White Rabbit.
(right) Thinking in "Pooh's Thotful Spot".

(left) Mickey's Fun Wheel at Disney California Adventure Park.
(centre) Meeting Donald Duck.
(right) Posing with the Green Army Man from Toy Story.

(left) Riding on the Astro Orbiter.
(centre) Outside It's a Small World at Disneyland.
(right) Travelling with a 4 year old, sometimes you wish this was real...

Disneyland was so much fun! By the end we had seen just about everything and we were ready to come home. After a long flight back to Australia, it was so nice to be home.

So this is the end of my travels in the land of Sesame Street - thanks for travelling with me!

My Day on Sesame Street
Deluxe Personalised Children's Book
$21.50 each with free shipping for delivery within Australia only.
Available now from Jelly Bean Books.