My Sydney Harbour Adventure

 Daughter Susan and family left for a 2 week cruise on Sunday night and I had to be there to wave them off. I am at the Opera House side of the harbour so I could see their cabins which are 2 balcony cabins just above the lifeboats on the left. One cabin for Susan and partner and one cabin for my grandsons aged 16 and 21.

 The ship left from the Overseas Passenger Terminal as it was too large to fit under the bridge. This terminal has seen a lot of history over the years and a lot of tears as ships left for overseas destinations and arrived carrying migrants. I left from here in the 1970's for a 5 week voyage to the U.K and returned in the same ship 5 years later. Then it was possible to have farewell cabin parties and bands played and hundreds of streamers thrown as the ship left.

Starting to get dark now and I am waiting for my emotional farewell. No crowds, no streamers and no bands.

 The ship is starting to pull away and there is no one to wave to. The small group of strangers waiting with me are joining in my phone call to Susan telling her to come on deck and wave.

There she is, that small figure on the far right. I am madly waving my cat scarf and telling myself not to cry as they will be back in 2 weeks. The rest of the family along with all other passengers are already enjoying themselves too much to come and wave.

 The ship has to pull out then reverse and turn around.

 The ship has taken so long to reverse it is now dark. I'm still waving.

 Still waving, the ship has now turned around and is going past the Opera House

 Too dark now and too late for me to return home to the South Coast. A few weeks ago I booked myself a hotel room only 2 train stops from the harbour. I needed a room that was safe, inexpensive and clean.
I didn't pay for a view and the hotel was very nice. BUT this was the view from my window, a bit of a change from the beautiful views I had just left.

I am looking after Fred, my grandson's budgie while he is on the cruise. Here is Charlotte telling me she didn't touch Fred last time he was here and she really can't be bothered now.

Prince George Cross Stitch and Doll houses

 Still dithering about which large Prince George Sampler to stitch. I do like the Riverdrift one and might buy it. Meanwhile I found this mini  Pr George ornament and the much larger Queen cross stitch on Etsy.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/AdLeones  I have started the Queen already, easy enough to stitch and should look impressive when complete. I had to hide a lot of UFO stuff away to start this one.

 Another mini cushion from Sheena Rogers. One or both the mini x stitches could be used in one of my doll houses, either as a floor rug, wall hanging or part of a bed quilt.

 A doll house portrait of the new parents with baby George.

 Remember this doll house? Sadly waiting to be renovated for at least 2 years now while others have come and gone or sometimes stayed. It somehow didn't inspire me and I could no longer 'see' what to do with it.
It went to the op shop this week, I hope it can find a happy new home.

 Then I found this one at the Saturday market last week and I feel inspired again,

 I've already removed the stairs to make it easier to paint and paper the stairs and room and the roof has been painted grey. I had thought I might put the stairs in a different place (as per Homes Under The Hammer). Or do I need stairs at all? I could block up the hole in the bedroom floor and so have a larger bedroom. Or the stairs could lead nowhere and be used for display only. I must keep reminding myself that I will not be living in this house and it won't be inspected by the council for safety.

 Stairs for display only. They did lead to the bathroom but I blocked the opening to fit the bathroom suite I wanted.

 This house has no stairs and never did, I haven't missed them.

 The stairs in this one still lead to the bedroom and are also used for display. There are no stairs to the bathroom because that was a later addition. I've also added attic space to this one for storage as I thought the bathroom ceiling too high. In my REAL house, the one I  live in I don't have a basement, cellar, attic or loft. I think I have loft envy so I am pleased to have one in a doll house.

This very pretty crocheted cloth, seen also in the house above is someone's UFO. It came from the op shop in a bag with cottons and the pattern. The pattern is from The Australian Woman's Mirror dated December 25th 1945. I'm so pleased I can find a use for it after all these years.