England - the driving bit.

With a friend's GPS and the AA road map book of England, we were able to drive ourselves around some very beautiful parts of England without getting too lost.
I was able to see the things I learnt about at school.


Anyone would think we ate our way around England. My waistline is certainly telling me we did!
The black stuff in the above photo, taken at Jamie Oliver's Italian Restaurant in Oxford, is squid ink risotto - delicious my husband said.
We enjoyed the afternoon tea in the top photo in Windsor at the Crooked House.

We were lucky to be able to stay in a 17th century National Trust cottage at Stouton, the home of Stourhead Gardens and House. This is an absolutely stunning garden. At the house, we took a 'cellars to attic' tour for a unique view of backstairs life in a large country house.



Hadrian's Wall has always fascinated me. Although it is a treasured part of Britain's history, they are not precious about it. We were able to touch it, hug it, sit on it and walk all over it. Seeing it was very much on my to-do list.
Something different was the pencil museum at Keswick in the Lake District. Yes I know I find enjoyment in some odd things at time, but it really was interesting to see how pencils are made.


The famous white cliffs of Dover did not disappoint.

We took many more photographs. They will be used to keep our memories alive of a wonderful trip. DH is currently putting together one of those computer generated photo albums. But don't worry, I won't bore you with any more.

We hope to get back one day. Now isn't there a big Lotto draw next Saturday; must get my entry in!!!!!

Take care, everyone,
Kayly

London Part 2

That was a quick but delicious pasta meal. There was a Jan Power's Farmer's Market today at the Powerhouse. So we had fresh pasta, yummy heritage tomatoes, olives, hot sausage and baby octopus.
Several years ago, we went to the old Sydney Observatory. We found it fascinating, so a visit to the Greenwich Observatory became a must. Here's hubbie with one foot in the East and one in the West.
St James' Park was an oasis in the middle of London - peaceful, green.

Went shopping at Harrods, of course. It turned out my perfume was cheaper at Harrods, than duty free!
The one breakfast we didn't eat at the bed-sit was spent at 'Fifteen' - Jamie Oliver's restaurant. It's the restaurant he set up to train homeless/disadvantaged youth. Our waitress told us the 10th group had just gone through.

We had nearly a week in London. We will have to go back as there is still so much to see.
This is the little car we hired for the remaining 2 weeks of our holiday, but that's for another post.
The dishes are calling for their wash.
Take care,
Kayly

London

Well, we have been home a week after having enjoyed a 3 week holiday to England. The flight over was way better than the one home. I was able sleep and arrive in London ready to hit the sights. We flew over Tibet and Europe in daylight which was an extra treat. Yes, it was my first trip to England, so I was a tad excited.
We were typical tourists trying see as much as we could -tick all the boxes, as my husband said.



This is where we stayed. Cartwright Gardens in Bloomsbury contains hotels, guest houses and B&Bs. We stayed in Studios2Let. I can recommend it. The only problem was the 58 steps up to our bed sit, no lift. See the windows at the very top. Two of them were ours. We had a kitchen, and ate breakfast there, but the area around us had heaps of cafes and pubs so we ate out every night. Transport was a breeze with 2 Underground stations nearby.

The hop-on hop-off bus was an excellent way to get our bearings.



A highlight was a visit to Buckingham Palace - the Palace, the Queen's Gallery and The Mews. It was a good day. The organisers have it all down pat. We were even able to get lunch, sitting on the back terrace looking over the garden. Check out the coffee art.



There were so many 'old' places. We were a bit awe stuck. Here's some contrast with the new architecture.



I had fun looking for all the typical British icons - these phone boxes and the red double decker buses for example.



Blogger won't let me put up any more photos, so I'll do another post after I cook dinner.

Back soon,
Kayly

OPAM Win and Thank You.

We're back from our trip to England. It was great!

I'll be blogging about it as soon as I can edit my photos. I've just realised we (read - my personal IT specialist) have not transferred over the photo editing programme, I use, to my new laptop.

Still I can show you these.
I was lucky enough to win the August OPAM draw. This prettily wrapped parcel arrived at start of the week. Notebooks are always needed here and the cute little sharpie has already been put to use. The book from Art to Heart contains great projects.

BIG THANK YOU TO KRIS AND PEG FOR RUNNING THIS FUN AND MOTIVATING GROUP!

The only downside to my holiday was a 3 week craft drought - no stitching and I only saw 2 wool shops and no quilt shops! So I was glad to get back Sisters of Stitch this week for a good dose of craft talk and to do some work on my woolly needle book.

Take care everyone,
Kayly

Waiting, waitng.......

For QF 97 to start boarding. Then my darling hubbie and I are off on our holiday to England. I've been wanting to do this trip for ages.
Sorry he's side ways, but here he is enjoying Qantas Club . Our son took us to the airport early. I think he wanted to be rid of us.


Next stop Hong Kong then a quick plane change and onto London. Now I'm starting to think we really are going. I'm excited!!!
More later,
Kayly

New Bag

I have surprised myself. Last week, I went with friends to a sale day at The Patchwork Tree. First surprise - I only bought one piece of fabric (and it was not on sale, unfortunately). Second surprise - I used it to make a bag for my upcoming holiday. Started yesterday and finished tonight. That has got to be a record for me!!!!!!
The pattern is 'Romantic Rose Bag' by QH Textiles (Studio Mio). It nearly looks like the photo on the pattern. To anyone making it, I would recommend a jeans needle. It helped when the going got thick.
Catch you later,
Kayly

Catch Up!

Well, it has been awhile since I last blogged!

I have a new laptop. While I have been transferring files and programmes from the old one to my new baby, I have been cleaning up and deleting a lot of accumulated rubbish. It is a baby compared to the old one in both size and weight.


This last month saw my father turn 80. We gathered up in Gympie so the brand new baby was not travelling on the highway. Dad didn't want a big family gathering, just his immediate lot. This photo show our mob plus a couple of ring-ins. We had a pleasant day and a delicious lunch at Gunabul Homestead.
The trip north meant I could deliver the little quilt I made for Miss S.
Another finish is this little bag - 'Precious Things' by Leanne Beasley. It has been a WISP, for along time. In 2009, Heavens to Bettsy and I went to Melbourne for a Girls Day Out at Glenharrow with Leanne Beasley and Rosalie Quinlan. It was a wonderful day- lovely company, fabulous and very 'atmospheric' location, good projects and scrumptious food. I finished the project I started on the day shortly after coming home. This one lingered, part done, ever since.

I have a new system now. Six projects of varying types, written up on cards and stuck on to my craft cupboard. I can work on any one of them. A new project or a WISP can only be added if one gets finished and its card taken off the cupboard. So far so good.

Now for the exception to the rule. Yes, it didn't take long before I broke my own rules. LOL.
Knitting and I don't get along - bung arm and too slow. But I can crochet. I have always wanted to make a cardigan or similar. Crochet patterns for garments are not common. The lovely ladies at Yarn Over put me on to some American magazines.


I made this! I'm rather proud of myself as it didn't end up a UFO and was done in fairly quick time. The pattern is from 'Crochet Today'.

I have replaced the small bag's card with GDITC Nundle's wall hanging. I have told myself I cannot go on another Girls Day Out or similar until I have completed all the projects I have accumulated from the 3 I have been on. Let's see how long that resolution last!

Catch you all later,
Kayly