Is anybody out there?

Hi I just got the urge to put something on my blog, and wonder if anybody checks it from time to time. It will be interesting to see how long it is before anyone leaves a comment. Personally, I don't blame anyone for not checking - it has been a while.....

Holidays, holidays, holidays

Well here we are in the suburb of South Brighton in sunny, HOT Adelaide. This mornign I went down to the Curves gym at Glenelg and undertook a good workout. Got there in the nick of tie, as their holiday closing time was 10am and I was lucky he girl let me start at 9:45. The boys are down the beach, having walked down there about half an hour ago.

We had a lovely Christmas with our families and are looking forward to catching up with friends this week.

I have just about finished my car craft, and so have made a visit to the local Lincraft to buy some more wool for my crochet. Although having a good time, it is with mixed feelings that I am here at the moment.

Our lovely neighbours had th job of minding the cat, chooks and fish. The dogs were put inot boarding on the Friday before Christmas, and are having a good stay there.

We do get annoyed with the dogs barking at possums in the night, but it also seems they keep the foxes away, as it only took two nights before the foxes came and had a lovely Christmas feast. Poor neighbours had to phone me tell give me the bad news on Sunday.

On Boxing Day, I received another call to let me know that my lovely puss "Spooky" was taken to the Emergency Vet that morning. To cut a long story short, he vet thinks that Spooky has a problem with her central balance system, but is improving each day and is now eating. She will stay in the 'hospital' until I get back to pick her up on Saturday 5th January.

I feel really sorry that my neighbour has had to do all this and none of it is her fault. Spooky could have got sick at anytime, and the fox could have taken a chance any night, as we usually tie the dogs up at night.

I look forward to seeing my friends here, and back in Ballarat when we get home.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

PS Annie: I promise not to SMS you at midnight on New Years Eve this year!

Pain D'épices - Paris - Pain D'épices - Paris

Pain D'épices - Paris - Pain D'épices - Paris

this is the web site for a lovely craft shop that found in Paris. I especially LOVE the wool felting things. I don't know if they will ship to Australia. Sob, sob.

Bonjour from Ballarat!

Well, we made it home safe and sound from our "Excellent Adventure". Dave and I had a wonderful time together, and saw a did lots of amazing things.

Europe is such an historic place, we really don't understand the ages here in Australia. An example of this is as follows: Part of our holiday took us to Cremona where the violin was developed as we use it today. We saw violins there in the museum which were 450 years old! That is much older than our nation!

We met lots of interesting and wonderful people, and even exchanged details with a lovely Belgium couple who we met at the end of a champagne tour in Epernay, France. Hopefully they will come and visit us here in Australia, or we might even see them again in Europe!(?)

Jet lag has taken its toll on Katie, but it seems that my friend Ric-Rac has been feeling jet lag too, and the furthest she has been in Sebastopol! By the way did you know there is a Sebastopol in Italy?

In looking ahead to the things I have to do this term, I am feeling a bit snowed under, so the housework may suffer, even though my wonderful Mum left the house sparkling clean...

Bonjour from Paris!

Hi friends!
Thanks for replying so quickly. Yes, I think I am having sensory overload!
The other blog is up and running now if you want to check that for our progress.

G'day all
Hope this gets into cyberspace. Kate is zonked out right now. A long flight but in her words 'not nearly as bad as I thought it would be'. Well I'd hate to see her after a bad long flight. Anyway she is also annoyed because we couldn't log onto the blog sight and update on our first big day in Paris. So while she sleeps at 8pm at night I reboot and wham oh we are in business.
In the middle of a long flight.

Got to our apartment at 18 Rue Moliere in Arrondisement no.1 just 5 minutes before the appointed hour of 8:40am courtesy of Malaysian Airlines and the Roissybus and some good planning on the net. Our greeter, Meseem, was a nice guy who made sure everything was set and apologised for being late. Our apartment is in a relatively quiet street smack in the middle of Paris (full report on the apartement after 1 week).

From our window, looking towards Rue de Richelieu.

Rue Moliere, looking towards the Ave de la Opera.

After a quick shower we went for an explore of the neighborhood. There is a restaurant directly across the street and a patisserie just 50m along Rue Moliere. As I found out today that is normal in Paris!

I have to say that this is just an incredible place. Everywhere you look there are fantastic buildings. I don't just mean the occasional nice old building, I mean everywhere you go in central Paris is just amazing. The only other place I have been that is comparable is New York but New York is an engineers dream. Paris is an architect's and historian's dream.

Enough about the buildings, Of course the Gardens, ie the Jardin de Tuileries, are immaculate and beautifuly laid out. Keep off the grass (or it will turn to dirt, due to the crowds).

Our first view of the tower. Kate saw it first, she won.

For lunch we veered off the main strip to get amongst the locals and save a few bucks. After walking past about 100 brasseries and restaurants Kate spotted a no smoking sign and we got ourselves a table. Kate started an ordering conversation with the waitress who shot back with rapid fire colloquial french which went over our heads but we managed to get our order through. In fact the waitress provided the entertainment as she was flat chat and I think enjoyed the fact she was all action and people were watching. She did put on a good show at one stage doing a nice Tom Cruise style skid (Risky Business) as she came back in from the table area to the serving area. After lunch she swiped both our credit cards with no luck but I noticed that everyone else paid by cash so I think she just wanted the cash. Anyway she got it.

The Ave Des Champs Elysees from the Arc de Triumph.

After walking along the Champs we went up the Arch De Triumph, commissioned by Napoleon in honour of his army. Over 250 steps in a tight spiral staircase was hard work and it was a very narrow staircase (lack of planning by Napoleon for tourists) so we were just able to squeeze past those that need a rest.

On the way back from the Arch we went down the Rue St Honore, a fabulous shopping street (if you are a millionaire). Kate will fill you in later on the shopping scene for Paris. It also rained which is to be expected for 35% of the days at this time of year.

We were looking for something easy to cook for tea due to jetlag and we were after a quiet night. The Boulangeries and Pastiserries are spectacular but are a dime a dozen and eventually we found a little general store and could not move due to the crowd. Got some Paella (George Costanza's Mom's favourite) and chicken.

So hope you have enjoyed my duty free enhanced rantings as much as I have enjoyed bringing them to you.

Post again soon.

Cheers DB

A Bit of a Spring Clean

Well, this weekend has not seen me occupying my time to anything else but a spring clean! (Besides a boys sleepover party on Friday night. It was nice to disappear to orchestra rehearsal at 7pm!)

All of this in to prepare the house for some exciting visitors!
I have successfully cleaned the following rooms; the front room, Lawries bedroom, the bathroom and laundry. Doesn't it feel good to get rid of a whole years dust?!

A deadline is the way to go!

Mum and Dad are coming on Friday to visit Lawrence for his birthday, which is next Monday. The house has to be ready, as they are bringing Dave's Dad (Dud)with them too! It is all VERY exciting! Lawrence loves his grandparents dearly, and we are very pleased that they will be here to help him celebrate his tenth birthday!

I can't believe it, but Dave and and I are off to Paris in 8 sleeps. I don't think that I believe it is happening! Mum will be staying to look after Lawrence, Spooky, Boof, Zelda, the chooks and fish. Mitch will have a holiday in Adelaide with Dad, when Dad and Dud return next Wednesday.

I still haven't got round to sending Auntie Shirley's quilt - this will have to be done TOMORROW!
The roses will have to wait until Tuesday to be planted into their new pots.
I didn't get round to cleaning my room for Mum, that will have to wait to Wednesday.
The kitchen will have to wait for Thursday.
Bathroom Friday, before our visitor arrive.

When will I pack?

Don't forget to check our NEW Blog if you want to see what Dave and I are up to in Europe! It's called 'Kate and Dave's Excellent Adventure' click on the link in the top right corner of this page.