Australia Day

Yes, this is me and perhaps the only pic. you will ever see of me. Taken in central west Queensland a couple of years ago I had been on a very long very hot walk to see the billabong written about in 'Banjo' Patterson's Waltzing Matilda 1895. Some say Waltzing Maltida is Australia's unofficial national anthem.
It's a story about a swagman boiling his billy by a billabong under the shade of a coolibah tree.
Then putting a stolen jumbuck in his tucker bag. The squatter on his thoroughbred rides up with three troopers on horseback. The swagman jumps into the billabong, drowns and now his ghost can be heard. Fate of the jumbuck (sheep) not known. For translations or more details you will have to Google.
Meanwhile back to me. I had been told the billabong was not far from the road. Well it was a long way, off through those trees and I was wearing a hat but when I got back to the car I thought I would expire with heat hence the cool damp cloth on my face and the sunglasses to keep it in place. Don't know what I was searching for in that bag but it must have revived me as I'm am still here. This trip confirmed my opinion that I am NOT an outback Australia person.
The prescription sunglasses were lost somewhere soon after. I did not go back to search.
This is the billabong, now I can say-been there-done that and cross it off my bucket list.
There was a kangaroo at the billabong, he hopped away before I could get a photo.

Here is my son aged 2 many years ago cuddling a kangaroo. Not all kangaroos are so friendly but this one was in a wildlife park and very tame.
Son was at that lovely age where he wanted to cuddle everything.

I think this was taken the same day, my daughter - now the mother of my talented, good looking and perfect grandsons- patting a koala.

This pic. was emailed to me, perhaps that explains the size.

Today is all about Australia and this is one of our favourite foods. THE LAMINGTON. Sponge cake covered in chocolate and rolled in coconut, Delicious. I will have this one later with a cup of tea.

This cross stitch is part of a much larger piece I stitched for the Centenary of Federation in 2001. It shows Captain Arthur Phillip arriving with the First Fleet on 26th January 1788.

Australia Day was known as Anniversary day until about 1935 I think. This photo was in my late mother's album and on the back is written. 'The Mob' Anniversary day 1928. I recognise no one and this photo should be a warning to all to label photos properly. This mob has long departed and I wish I knew who they were. The background could be the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.

New Collection Additions

This scarf has to be my favourite recent addition. An ebay purchase it came from Donegal in Ireland and my first purchase paid in euros. The only item I have ever seen with the accession date which is also the abdication date for EdwardVIII. Lovely pictures of George and Elizabeth with emblems of commonwealth coutries around the edges. I think this scarf deserves a frame and a place on a wall-if I can find a space on my ever more crowded walls. This EdwardVIII coronation 1937 jug has to be close runner up for new favourite. Bought at an antique fair yesterday it is Shelley china and in perfect condition. I managed to beat the stallholder down in price but it still broke my budget, well worth it, one of those "had to have" items.

New arrivals from ebay and two seperate sellers, these Goss miniatures from the coronation of

GreorgeV and Mary in 1911. Goss miniatures are very collectable and usually say things like ' Souvenir of Blackpool' etc. I think other Goss collectors must have been out partying on New Years Eve when I snapped these up for a bargain price.

Another EdwardVIII jug for the coronation that never happened. Now I have three in my collection, I like jugs and will be on watch for more.

A Wade coronation dish from 1953, interesting because it has animals from Commonwealth counties around the rim.

Bought this brooch at the Antique fair yesterday because it looks Royal and has the usual

Dieu Et Mon Droit under the shield. I haven't seen the shield with 4 stars? before. Can't find it in my books or google, perhaps it represents a city. Does anyone know.

A Huge confession here. I know I have some descriptions on top of the pics. then a gap and descriptions underneath. But I only type with two fingers so I can't erase and do again or if there is another way to move the desc. around I don't know it. Also Charlotte is usually sitting on part of the keyboard or mouse. So you can see my life is sometimes very difficult But I do try to do my best.

William and Kate Wedding rumour

Somehow a rumour started in my house this morning. There was to be a Royal Wedding parade and it was going past my house. I tried to explain it wasn't possible, the wedding is in 3 months and a long way away in London. Too late, there was a rush to the barrier and even Charlotte was caught up in the rumour Emily was a bit more cautious, she just wasn't sure what to believe.

Charlotte promised to alert Emily at the first sign of horses coaches etc.

Not yet Emily, not sure which way the Parade will come but i'm keeping you a spot at the front of the crowd.

Oh no! I can't belive the Queen Mother is wearing THAT hat again, she should know by now I don't like it and won't leave it alone....but pulling at the hat fills in the waiting time.

Still waiting and minding your spot Emily. Yes, you have something to eat and drink and bring me a snack if you are going to the kitchen.

Royal Wedding HUGE disappointment

Announced on the news tonight, Kate will be going to her wedding in a car not a coach, how dissapointing. Next channel news said William and Kate will travel back to the Palace in a coach. Who and what to believe??? I want coaches and lots of horses and lots of bands and cheering crowds and me in the middle of it all. I mean, really, it must be just as easy to hitch a couple of horses to a coach as polish up a car. Also more difficult to see the bride in a car. I must take a deep breath, have a cup of tea, then write a protest letter to the Palace.

New Year Resolutions and Pink Bear

Happy New Year and a hope that 2011 is good to everyone. Resolutions? I've never kept one yet so this year is resolution free. Pink bear is eager to show off her Kate and William jacket. For a few days pink bear was worried there was no place for her in my crowded home but now she has become part of a Royal Collection and with a bit of shuffling of furniture has now secured her forever spot. With the jacket she is wearing pearls as all Royal Ladies do and on one wrist a coronation bracelet. Pink is sitting on a silk coronation scark from 1953. Here is a better view of the jacket, worked with more enthusiasim than skill. Cherubs on the collar, Queen buttons and Diana badges, the one on the left showing William as a baby with his mother. Charles and Diana wedding fabric on the edge and William and Kate and the wedding date cross stitched on.

I have yet to embroider Pink's paws as I am waiting for that rare day to arrive when skill and enthusiasim coincide.

The back has Charles and Diana wedding fabric and a guardsman cut from a piece of fabric.

The large bow on Pink's head is also made from C and D wedding fabric. The red hearts are stitched on.
I can see spaces on the jacket for a bit more sparkle so maybe it's not finished yet.

Below you can see the jacket before. It's a childs's size3 I bought at the op shop for only $1.50 so am very pleased with my bargain, everything else on the jacket I already had.

Nothing to do with bears and royals. This party boat drifted out of the channel and into shallow water 2 days ago, the tide went out and all the pushing couldn't move it. I don't know why it is flying the Scottish flag but the boat spent New Year's eve tied up to the edge of the lake in front of my house.

7am this morning a high tide came in and party boat was on it's way having missed the biggest night of the year.

But wait! I can see a problem with that party boat. No Ladies room. So no glass of wine or cup of tea for me at THAT party. Well I wasn't invited anyway.