tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80644756873354735192024-03-14T08:25:01.865+13:00Fantail Digital ArtWelcome to my blog! Based in NZ I create photographic and digital artwork as well as the occasional paper crafts and digital scrapbooking freebies.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-60646387268593205412012-01-19T16:49:00.000+13:002012-01-19T16:49:39.346+13:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mBKO-9w_Q4E/Txcr4raRFAI/AAAAAAAAAyI/ll3KLNexJX4/s1600/Liebster+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #4f48a0; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mBKO-9w_Q4E/Txcr4raRFAI/AAAAAAAAAyI/ll3KLNexJX4/s1600/Liebster+Blog.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.199219) 0px 0px 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: transparent; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: transparent; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.199219) 0px 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times;"><br />
</span></span></div><br style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">Oooh! I have been given a Blog award by the lovely Ann at </div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://wwwanniebhandmade.blogspot.com/">Annie B Handmade</a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
I am passing this award onto the following fabulous blogs ( in no particular order)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f48a0; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.wildflowerdesignsnz.blogspot.com/">Wildflower Designs</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f48a0; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://pallinad.blogspot.com/">Pallina Designs</a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><a href="http://katiescowsudderthings.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #4f48a0;">K</span>aties Cows and Udder Things</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://my2monstershokitika.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #4f48a0;">M</span>y 2 Monsters</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><a href="http://feelathomenz.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #4f48a0;">F</span>eel At Home</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">The award goes to lovely blogs with less than 200 followers, the rules are:</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Reveal your top 5 picks for the award and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">3</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Post the award on your blog.</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">4</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Bask in the love from the most supportive people in the blogsphere - other bloggers.</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">5</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And, best of all – have fun and spread the Karma. :)</span></div></span></span>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-8281383191736692502011-12-24T15:33:00.000+13:002011-12-24T15:33:09.428+13:00MERRY CHRISTMAS!A very Merry Christmas to you all, and a prosperous New Year!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Thank you for all your support over the past year. Whether you are celebrating in the sunshine or the snow have a wonderful family time!! xxooxx<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P0qwUPzGDzI/TvU5m77hzPI/AAAAAAAACw8/1dNqVQGwAYk/s1600/kiwixmastoggle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P0qwUPzGDzI/TvU5m77hzPI/AAAAAAAACw8/1dNqVQGwAYk/s400/kiwixmastoggle.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-18444507000018730182011-11-21T15:15:00.001+13:002011-11-21T15:16:35.412+13:00SALE!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 10px;">Tonight 8-10pm (NZ) I'm having a Christmas Sale on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FantailDigitalArt">Facebook</a>! Most items will be at or below cost price! Sale items will be loaded into a new album on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FantailDigitalArt">facebook</a> page around 7pm and sale will start at 8pm </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 10px;">so you have a chance to take a look and pick out your goodies. :) From 8-10 it will be first to comment SOLD under a photo AND email me before 10.30pm tonight to confirm, then I'll send you payment details (Direct deposit or Paypal) See you then! :)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NMZWuWlUsxQ/Tsmz_CjA8HI/AAAAAAAACwk/VFvmDcYU1ig/s1600/dreamstimefree_2655418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NMZWuWlUsxQ/Tsmz_CjA8HI/AAAAAAAACwk/VFvmDcYU1ig/s320/dreamstimefree_2655418.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 10px;"><br />
</span></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-9533814416247434742011-10-30T23:12:00.001+13:002013-04-28T13:44:51.951+12:00WINNER!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A little later than planned, due to Live Aid on TV transporting me back to 1985, but here are the results of the Giveaway! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"> I let random.org choose the winner...and it chose...Number 5! Which turns out to be...Jenna from </span>Jenna Young Photography Design<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"> !</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"> Congratulations Jenna! I will be in touch soon, you can start thinking about what you would like on your cards...remember any 12 cards and any personalisation. :)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who entered, I wish you could all be winners. :) </span></span><br />
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</span></span>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-47814844532055494052011-10-23T14:18:00.000+13:002011-10-23T14:18:03.601+13:00500! THANK YOU!It's time to celebrate! WOOHOOO!<br />
This week my Facebook page hit 500 'likers' (I wish there was a nicer word!) I want to thank every single one of you, especially those that find time to comment on posts, it is very much appreciated, I love the feedback and interaction! Life gets so busy it is easy to skim down our notifications/new posts on Facebook, see something we like but not find the time to comment or hit 'like' because there is just so much else going on at the same time. I know I am guilty of that every single day, so it really does mean a lot when I see you have taken the time to stop, read, and leave a comment. :)<br />
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As a little thank you I'm having a give away. With Christmas fast approaching I thought maybe you would like a set of 12 Christmas Cards, personalized just for you? These can be any of my card designs, and each personalised with whatever you like on the front, "Happy Christmas Grandma", "Seasons Greetings from the Smiths", "Luv ya Snugglebum!" ? You tell me! If you don't celebrate Christmas, don't worry, you can choose from any of my other card designs, and still get a set of any 12 personalised.<br />
SO to enter, just leave a comment here, with your name and email address, or if you prefer email me at fantaildigitalart@yahoo.co.nz.<br />
If you would like a 2nd or 3rd entry, just share this give away on Facebook, Blog, or Twitter and leave me a link in your comment.<br />
Next Sunday 30th October at 8pm (NZ) I will let random.org pick a winner.<br />
Here are the cards you will get to choose from, I'm working on a couple of new ones so hope they will be ready soon too!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F8m2eF9Vero/TqNpvuToVRI/AAAAAAAACwY/NZwL9LANDvE/s1600/xmascards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F8m2eF9Vero/TqNpvuToVRI/AAAAAAAACwY/NZwL9LANDvE/s320/xmascards.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br />
GOOD LUCK! :) xxPamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-42844770097117694472011-10-15T22:43:00.000+13:002011-10-15T22:43:13.068+13:00Pre-Writing Skills PrintablesI've been having fun this evening making some pages to print and laminate for the girls I look after to try out this week. This sort of thing is great for fine motor skills, pencil control and left to right eye tracking which is so important in preparation for reading.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?mcg4skudtm2r4vd"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XNg5HfIvrVU/TplUp-qqekI/AAAAAAAACwQ/a1ktxXKQMF8/s320/prewritingskills.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
You can download and print these <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?mcg4skudtm2r4vd">HERE</a>. then either laminate or slide into plastic page protectors and use white board markers to take the rabbit down the path to the carrots etc.<br />
Some crayons also work, but test them out yourself first, as I have found some just don't wipe off again, and others are very hard to write with on the surface, which is SO frustrating, especially if you are 3 or 4 years old!<br />
If you do use them please let me know, I'd love to hear what you and your children liked/disliked about them! Thanks. :)Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-91337068672456154432011-09-25T14:39:00.000+13:002011-09-25T14:39:50.008+13:00"My First Weather Chart" Free Printable :)To celebrate having my laptop back, repaired and good as new,(YAY!YAY!YAAAAYYYY!) I finally finished the "My First Weather Chart" that I was working on a couple of months ago.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6U6CBkuecc/Tn5_M7-JoAI/AAAAAAAACwI/lfJbjye_jSE/s1600/firstweatherchartpreview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6U6CBkuecc/Tn5_M7-JoAI/AAAAAAAACwI/lfJbjye_jSE/s320/firstweatherchartpreview.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a simple first weather chart/calendar designed for pre-schoolers. Print, cut, laminate and use with magnetic strips or velcro strips. If you have a Xyron or similar machine to run it through to laminate the front and add magnet to the back, then it's even easier! Any other ideas or ways you think of to use it I'd love to hear! I have included 2 versions of the Seasons page, so you can choose to use "Autumn" or "Fall".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can download here - <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/miy3408fbiv5tx9/Fantailweatherchart.zip">My First Weather Chart</a> Please read the TOU file enclosed, for pattern credit and info on use. Feel free to share, but please link to this original post, thank you! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here it is filled in for today - </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U78MhDbEtwU/Tn6EzEIkPrI/AAAAAAAACwM/5_qQ0lNSVak/s1600/myfirstweatherchartinuse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U78MhDbEtwU/Tn6EzEIkPrI/AAAAAAAACwM/5_qQ0lNSVak/s320/myfirstweatherchartinuse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I plan to keep mine on the fridge, and use it with the children I look after. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you download and use this, please consider sharing a photo of it in use, or drop me an email, I'd love to hear about it. :)</div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-30342703178535126832011-09-20T11:05:00.000+12:002011-09-20T11:05:57.457+12:00Oooops!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hellooo....? Is anyone still there?!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">HOW can almost 3 months have gone by so quickly?! I knew I had not written a new blog post for a while, not through lack of trying, more through lack of laptop and extra hours in the day, but 3 months?! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Well, having failed miserably at keeping up with Just a Minute, just pretend you read June July and August ages ago, and here is September!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: medium;"><b id="">Just a Minute...September 2011</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Reading..</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"> Leonardo's Swans by Karen Essex.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pi5cxlJt-i0/TnfA6jzMyAI/AAAAAAAACv4/Wr5JmQvaLsg/s1600/9780099493068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pi5cxlJt-i0/TnfA6jzMyAI/AAAAAAAACv4/Wr5JmQvaLsg/s1600/9780099493068.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">The first half I was really enjoying it, but now I'm just wanting to finish it, maybe as I know I have "The Help" waiting for me at the library!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"> Watching... </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">The crazy weather outside today! Big white horses out at sea, wind howling round the house, trees bending and recycling bins blowing down the road! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; line-height: 20px;"> Loving... </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">My other job, child-minding again. I have a 5 month old 4 days a week, a 16month old 3 days, and 2 sisters aged 2 and 4 one day a week. Wednesdays they are all here, pretty frantic but fun!</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p7bsOkdI9dI/TnfKyU24pmI/AAAAAAAACwE/OU0uL0P40BI/s1600/porse-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p7bsOkdI9dI/TnfKyU24pmI/AAAAAAAACwE/OU0uL0P40BI/s1600/porse-logo.png" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Craving... </span> My own computer again! The intake fan stopped working on my laptop and it is still not fixed. Sharing one laptop with 2 children who both need it for homework, and one who needs it for school as well is driving me nuts! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ik0UMd2-ikA/TnfKWO4UsbI/AAAAAAAACwA/B11X-1W4g0A/s1600/laptop-toshiba1_07031748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ik0UMd2-ikA/TnfKWO4UsbI/AAAAAAAACwA/B11X-1W4g0A/s200/laptop-toshiba1_07031748.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Learning...</span> Te Wh<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">ā</span>riki and how to include examples in the children's daily journals. It's basically the same things as I learnt studying for my NNEB in England, but grouped as 5 'strands' each with several goals, which actually makes it easier to relate them to the children's learning and development. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GIEMwsxrkpM/TnfG5uhq1QI/AAAAAAAACv8/g3DhT_A2h5E/s1600/Te+Whariki-124x164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GIEMwsxrkpM/TnfG5uhq1QI/AAAAAAAACv8/g3DhT_A2h5E/s1600/Te+Whariki-124x164.jpg" /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Planning... </span>To combine my Fantail graphic design work with my Childcare and produce more children's artwork, charts, cards and educational items.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> If you have any ideas or things you would like to see, please let me know! Some will be freebies, some for sale, but if you suggest it and I do it you will of course get the download for free.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> My first new item is a Weather Chart, watch out for that one soon, it's almost finished and will be free to Blog and FB readers to print first. :)</span></div><div><br />
</div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-20843142122870650332011-06-13T21:36:00.002+12:002011-06-13T21:41:55.003+12:00Well this is all a little scary....!I am the featured seller on <a href="http://craftme.co/">Craftme.co</a> I knew it was coming, of course, but still a little scary to see it up there for all the world to see! Eeek! ;)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-48BUgsClUNk/TfXbTSdN-iI/AAAAAAAACvY/DB--KfsVO-Q/s1600/fantailcraftme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-48BUgsClUNk/TfXbTSdN-iI/AAAAAAAACvY/DB--KfsVO-Q/s400/fantailcraftme.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-11947007858654885542011-06-06T22:36:00.001+12:002011-06-07T10:42:28.714+12:00Markets!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This weekend was the second of a new market at Milford, run by the lovely Annamaria who also organises the Orewa market. You can find more information about both on the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1c2a47;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Craft-Market-Bazaar-Orewa-Milford/167844503261021">Craft Market & Bazaar Orewa & Milford</a> </span> facebook page.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The weather was dreadful, but that didn't put off the determined shoppers, who were all so cheerful and friendly, even though they were dripping wet and blown sideways! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The market location, Milford Primary School,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #252525;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"> has a wonderful outlook, over Lake Pupuke and we were kept entertained by the many windsurfers that were taking advantage of the strong winds. </span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VooLybi8EpM/Teyj6oH_2VI/AAAAAAAACu8/mUalyn1fX4Y/s1600/fantail1+%255BHDTV+%2528720%2529%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VooLybi8EpM/Teyj6oH_2VI/AAAAAAAACu8/mUalyn1fX4Y/s320/fantail1+%255BHDTV+%2528720%2529%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My table, shared with my daughter who was selling her handmade hair accessories, bags, hats and scarves to raise funds for an upcoming school trip.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a small selection of the other stalls attending the market this week....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-syJ5DF7YynA/Teyj9pyhXfI/AAAAAAAACvE/pdIl_cQOQLs/s1600/mozart1+%255BHDTV+%2528720%2529%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-syJ5DF7YynA/Teyj9pyhXfI/AAAAAAAACvE/pdIl_cQOQLs/s320/mozart1+%255BHDTV+%2528720%2529%255D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> The talented Lin's Moz-Art table was next to ours and we fell in love with these adorable little bunnies, soft crocheted hats and beautiful clothing!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jDz01NQFB2s/Teyj_NKQ4FI/AAAAAAAACvI/xTmZq2SZHks/s1600/mozart2+%255BHDTV+%2528720%2529%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jDz01NQFB2s/Teyj_NKQ4FI/AAAAAAAACvI/xTmZq2SZHks/s320/mozart2+%255BHDTV+%2528720%2529%255D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WAmkukdGTs0/Teyj8KYcfII/AAAAAAAACvA/-rd80Ol_uFc/s1600/jibbajabba1+%255BHDTV+%2528720%2529%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WAmkukdGTs0/Teyj8KYcfII/AAAAAAAACvA/-rd80Ol_uFc/s320/jibbajabba1+%255BHDTV+%2528720%2529%255D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Claire of Jibba jabba with her gorgeous creations.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-snjaKKofdJU/TeykA0zd_0I/AAAAAAAACvM/_NHrl8LkW74/s1600/RJ1+%255BHDTV+%2528720%2529%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-snjaKKofdJU/TeykA0zd_0I/AAAAAAAACvM/_NHrl8LkW74/s320/RJ1+%255BHDTV+%2528720%2529%255D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ruth of <a href="http://www.waiknot.co.nz/index.htm">RJ Photo art</a> had a beautiful display of her wonderful photographic cards books and magnets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uLy8WUdoB2w/Teyj4yAEQYI/AAAAAAAACu4/9-Blqbxu0RY/s1600/beanz1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uLy8WUdoB2w/Teyj4yAEQYI/AAAAAAAACu4/9-Blqbxu0RY/s320/beanz1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These soft and snuggly bean bags from <a href="http://beanzforbubs.weebly.com/">Beanz for Bubs</a> made me wish I had a little one again!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvlO1jxY1tc/TeyjZEp0_nI/AAAAAAAACu0/tOkVVnww4uU/s1600/fantailwalldecalsonboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvlO1jxY1tc/TeyjZEp0_nI/AAAAAAAACu0/tOkVVnww4uU/s320/fantailwalldecalsonboard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My wall decals had a lot of interest, and lots of lovely comments!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></span></span>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-37100411923035011982011-05-29T14:06:00.000+12:002011-05-29T14:06:06.898+12:00Just a Minute - MayJust squeezing this in at the end of the month again...how does time go so fast?!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;"><b>Just a Minute...May 2011</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Reading..</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">. </span>The Handmade Market Place by Kari Chapin. I have heard several good reviews of this book so decided to order it. There are some great tips and ideas in there.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FpdRFeDCBwo/TeGftExSz7I/AAAAAAAACuk/zyYsE8bZUhs/s1600/handmademarketplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FpdRFeDCBwo/TeGftExSz7I/AAAAAAAACuk/zyYsE8bZUhs/s1600/handmademarketplace.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"> Watching... </span>Photoshop tutorials on You Tube, and feeling a bit guilty! ;) Most of the month I try not to watch many videos etc as it uses up our internet, but then at the end of the month, when we roll over to dial up and can use as much as we want, it takes forever for them to load...! Oh for unlimited broadband! :)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"> Loving... </span>The chill in the air, that almost 'English' feeling to the weather as Autumn comes along. Sunny days and chilly evenings. Snuggling up under the fleecy throw in an evening to watch TV, and digging out the fluffy BagPuss socks! If only Winter could stay like this, and not get colder and wetter, and colder!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mKjYIfIFNWg/TeGpAFA2rEI/AAAAAAAACuw/Myi_-iwZWJc/s1600/P1270833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mKjYIfIFNWg/TeGpAFA2rEI/AAAAAAAACuw/Myi_-iwZWJc/s320/P1270833.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Craving... </span>Cups of tea and gingernuts!<br />
I'm usually a coffee girl, but since having this cold and cough I've been craving cups of tea. The gingernuts are purely medicinal, of course.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Learning...</span> that I need to find time to enjoy other crafts, do more sewing and altered art projects. Recently I've been helping my daughter make some hair scrunchies etc for her to sell to raise funds for a school trip, and I'd forgotten how much I used to love sewing. We are using my faithful sewing machine that I had as a 13th birthday present, it's not a flash computerised thing like you can get now but it does the job, if straight or zigzag is all you are after. The needles seem to have shrunk though, I used to get the cotton through no problems, now I can't even see the eye!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4yUtTntGMp0/TeGnJlpMrgI/AAAAAAAACuo/o5abuxdKdMI/s1600/DSC08313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4yUtTntGMp0/TeGnJlpMrgI/AAAAAAAACuo/o5abuxdKdMI/s320/DSC08313.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Planning...</span> My daughters 21st birthday party. Not that I should be, how can she possibly be 21 when I'm only about 28?! It's going to be at home, and everyone has been asked to dress as their favourite childhood character. I can't decide between Florence of Magic Roundabout, or Weed from Bill and Ben. Come to think of it tottering around in a flowerpot trying to serve up food may be a tad akward, so maybe it will have to be Florence!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NVf9_qI1Z9I/TeGoNfRs_xI/AAAAAAAACus/Dy3IAEMcpN0/s1600/becky18+005clown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NVf9_qI1Z9I/TeGoNfRs_xI/AAAAAAAACus/Dy3IAEMcpN0/s320/becky18+005clown.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-7220176484302636342011-05-06T12:23:00.002+12:002011-05-06T19:52:31.694+12:00FREE Printable Colouring card for Mothers Day!Are you wondering if your children/ partner have remembered the significance of this coming Sunday?!<br />
They might have some amazing surprise planned, or...maybe not!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fLuRHGofMtI/TcM-6CUUl_I/AAAAAAAACuc/YuK4_SKVvGI/s1600/owlcolourcardmdyfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fLuRHGofMtI/TcM-6CUUl_I/AAAAAAAACuc/YuK4_SKVvGI/s320/owlcolourcardmdyfront.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>Just in-case, print off this <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?mw2rbq79bpl1wxp">FREE Printable Mothers Day Card</a></b></span> and set the littlies (or hubby?!) loose with the crayons!<br />
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For those of you in parts of the world that are not celebrating Mothers Day this coming Sunday, why not download and save the card so you are prepared for next year?! Or, even better (and something I try to get away with on 'English Mothers Day'!) announce to the family that you deserve a second one! ;)<br />
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Just Click the link above or<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?mw2rbq79bpl1wxp"> HERE</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">W</span><span class="Apple-style-span">hen the page pops up just click "Click here to start Download" </span>then save to your chosen location ready to print as many as you need!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span">Have fun, and if you would like to share your creations I would really LOVE to see, flick me an email at fantaildigitalart@yahoo.co.nz with a photo! Thank you! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.mediafire.com/?mw2rbq79bpl1wxp<br />
</span>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-50336672870909524752011-04-27T23:16:00.000+12:002011-04-27T23:16:49.991+12:00Just a Minute - AprilTime for another 'Just a Minute'<br />
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Reading...<br />
'Gentlemen and Player's by Joanne Harris. My sister lent me this at Christmas, so I thought it was about time I gave it a go. I must say I'm not overly impressed yet, but only a few chapters in, so will persevere. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fvrfq23L81k/Tbf0FhZLclI/AAAAAAAACuI/5AKH8Th7peQ/s1600/%257BA52B2AB1-8157-4AE1-84ED-4E6D67F99A6D%257DImg100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fvrfq23L81k/Tbf0FhZLclI/AAAAAAAACuI/5AKH8Th7peQ/s320/%257BA52B2AB1-8157-4AE1-84ED-4E6D67F99A6D%257DImg100.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />
Watching...<br />
The year slip away...how can it be almost May?!<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Loving... </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Easter holidays. Having 2 of my children at home and friends visiting from Australia. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zzM5pFsfqlk/Tbf1V0GYUgI/AAAAAAAACuM/pxpj-fKWR58/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zzM5pFsfqlk/Tbf1V0GYUgI/AAAAAAAACuM/pxpj-fKWR58/s320/IMG_0055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> My eldest daughter took this photo of one of the Easter ornaments our friends brought us over from Australia, isn't it cute?!<br />
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Craving...<br />
A big bowl of Birds Custard. Nothing like it. YUM! :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GVR-JGc4HS4/Tbf2v61u_9I/AAAAAAAACuQ/Kbm3SgS9hr8/s1600/custard.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GVR-JGc4HS4/Tbf2v61u_9I/AAAAAAAACuQ/Kbm3SgS9hr8/s320/custard.jpeg" width="267" /></a></div><br />
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Learning... Some new tricks in Photoshop CS5 thanks to a friend who has bought it and kindly lets me play with her on her computer. Sigh.. One day I will upgrade my faithful CS3....I can dream!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MyiGbWDRhWw/Tbf67ngeE0I/AAAAAAAACuU/IfHOLjDx-7g/s1600/ps5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MyiGbWDRhWw/Tbf67ngeE0I/AAAAAAAACuU/IfHOLjDx-7g/s320/ps5.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br />
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Planning... to keep all my accounts neat and tidy this year! Hmmm, wish me luck!<br />
I have monthly folders for receipts etc, and have drawn up a book to keep all the individual totals in under headings. (Power/phone/petrol etc)<br />
I attempted this last year, but it didn't exactly happen quite as I meant it to...rummaging through a years worth of receipts, credit-card bills, statements and other paperwork to gather figures was not only time consuming, but about as enjoyable as pulling my toenails out.<br />
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If you’d like to do 'just a minute' on your own blog, or already do, please leave the link in the comments I'd love to see! :)Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-29159112607902144862011-03-31T00:47:00.000+13:002011-03-31T00:47:16.103+13:00Road Trip!For months I'd been meaning to make a trip to Hawkes Bay to visit relatives, so when I was invited to supply the Photographers' Gallery Hawkes Bay with some prints and cards for their shop, I decided I had a good excuse for a road trip!<br />
So it was that on Friday morning I set off, with Stanley (aka top of the range in car stereo system) in the passenger seat.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PtPAWTCa_No/TZL_i2_WDNI/AAAAAAAACqU/WsHPQpXrpI0/s1600/napierstanley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PtPAWTCa_No/TZL_i2_WDNI/AAAAAAAACqU/WsHPQpXrpI0/s320/napierstanley.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and my fancy pants GPS all ready... (see now why I don't have a car radio? Where else would I tuck my printouts?!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FDTinOB6PDE/TZL-ykpLnAI/AAAAAAAACqI/2X3uk-8X7GI/s1600/napiergps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FDTinOB6PDE/TZL-ykpLnAI/AAAAAAAACqI/2X3uk-8X7GI/s320/napiergps.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First stop was for lunch, at a lovely little picnic spot, somewhere between Hamilton and Tirau.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dv5HiNejilY/TZL_AR8wvJI/AAAAAAAACqM/88007SSrLdE/s1600/napierlunchstop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dv5HiNejilY/TZL_AR8wvJI/AAAAAAAACqM/88007SSrLdE/s320/napierlunchstop.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then onwards, stopping a couple more times along the way. Just outside of Hastings, was the only time I got a bit lost, so Stanley tried to help out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jSMXhfmsBvg/TZL_SmgmtCI/AAAAAAAACqQ/HRXOJKy9e-c/s1600/napiermap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jSMXhfmsBvg/TZL_SmgmtCI/AAAAAAAACqQ/HRXOJKy9e-c/s320/napiermap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I made it to my relatives just in time to be taken out for dinner! Fish and Chips in a place called "Breakers." Yum!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the Saturday I went to visit the gallery, left my work there and had look around. It really is a lovely place. The cafe has a lovely atmosphere too, and the coffee is well worth popping in for. Best flat white I've had in ages! There were some rather scrummy looking cakes too, but I managed to resist those, not sure how though! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-efrkOYJ6Ews/TZMEw4TwDHI/AAAAAAAACqw/P3Rd3JLvwWI/s1600/napiergallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-efrkOYJ6Ews/TZMEw4TwDHI/AAAAAAAACqw/P3Rd3JLvwWI/s320/napiergallery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My cousin showed me around the town, and we had a good look in some of the antique shops, galleries and other crafty shops as well as a stroll along by the sea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_RzpaOrsPQQ/TZMDwbfgtrI/AAAAAAAACqg/I8c8CJOWnxI/s1600/napier6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_RzpaOrsPQQ/TZMDwbfgtrI/AAAAAAAACqg/I8c8CJOWnxI/s320/napier6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XQZlTuxJdlI/TZMEFpc7_rI/AAAAAAAACqk/gOHmpKg56BY/s1600/napier7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XQZlTuxJdlI/TZMEFpc7_rI/AAAAAAAACqk/gOHmpKg56BY/s320/napier7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QJN32uHGVR4/TZMDgK45jXI/AAAAAAAACqc/lEPyILV4la4/s1600/napier2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QJN32uHGVR4/TZMDgK45jXI/AAAAAAAACqc/lEPyILV4la4/s320/napier2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tsKZY6jY2EY/TZMDMvUNr1I/AAAAAAAACqY/lxjPZJwd1cU/s1600/napier1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tsKZY6jY2EY/TZMDMvUNr1I/AAAAAAAACqY/lxjPZJwd1cU/s320/napier1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wtjqBgPAcoc/TZMESvtyFeI/AAAAAAAACqo/YKuqiwcM5PQ/s1600/napier8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wtjqBgPAcoc/TZMESvtyFeI/AAAAAAAACqo/YKuqiwcM5PQ/s320/napier8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you aren't familiar with Napier, the town is famous for its Art Deco architecture, which is regarded as being one of the finest collections of Art Deco in the world. Following a devestating earthquake in February 1931 much of the city was destroyed, and as the architectural fashion of the time was Art Deco central Napier is almost entirely built in this style. If you would like to know more read <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1931_Hawke's_Bay_earthquake">HERE</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tz-7f4S9g3Q/TZMFRMhf_aI/AAAAAAAACq4/oL-StHRJBKY/s1600/napierstatue2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tz-7f4S9g3Q/TZMFRMhf_aI/AAAAAAAACq4/oL-StHRJBKY/s320/napierstatue2.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This bronze sculpture in the town is beautiful. Named "A Wave in Time" it was made by Mark Whyte and is modeled on 'Miss Sheila Williams', the daughter of an architect of the era. She led the "New Napier Week Carnival" in 1933 to celebrate the towns recovery from the earthquake. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3I8nSTchFaw/TZME99YLvWI/AAAAAAAACq0/n8YuRtdv1yM/s1600/napierstatue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3I8nSTchFaw/TZME99YLvWI/AAAAAAAACq0/n8YuRtdv1yM/s320/napierstatue.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3I8nSTchFaw/TZME99YLvWI/AAAAAAAACq0/n8YuRtdv1yM/s1600/napierstatue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BZ4T-r5_uC8/TZMFgh3dQjI/AAAAAAAACq8/gvLku0QUf2w/s1600/napierstatueclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BZ4T-r5_uC8/TZMFgh3dQjI/AAAAAAAACq8/gvLku0QUf2w/s320/napierstatueclose.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I stayed Saturday night in <a href="http://www.archiesbunker.co.nz/">Archies Bunker</a> Backpackers, a great little place tucked around a quiet corner. It was very clean and comfortable and at $35 for the night amazing value! </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Sunday morning I was out early and headed up a path I had spotted, hoping that I would get a good view from the top. Sadly it was so foggy all I got to see were the trees, and the houses at the top, but it was a nice bit of Sunday morning exercise!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RlPi1pW_aMU/TZMOY7zX3zI/AAAAAAAACro/Txg351PoTD0/s1600/napiersunday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RlPi1pW_aMU/TZMOY7zX3zI/AAAAAAAACro/Txg351PoTD0/s320/napiersunday.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gotsbuzfWIQ/TZMOMHzz6EI/AAAAAAAACrk/kRgV9xJztNc/s1600/napiersundaam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gotsbuzfWIQ/TZMOMHzz6EI/AAAAAAAACrk/kRgV9xJztNc/s320/napiersundaam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7fJgVx3g9fI/TZMNjOHTTFI/AAAAAAAACrY/pTNAV9-IYlk/s1600/napier4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7fJgVx3g9fI/TZMNjOHTTFI/AAAAAAAACrY/pTNAV9-IYlk/s320/napier4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> Also on the Sunday I was lucky enough to be able to go along to the "Made it Here" meeting with some wonderful Hawkes Bay members of <a href="http://www.newzealandhandmade.co.nz/">New Zealand Handmade.</a> After coffee we headed out to wander around some of the lovely galleries and crafty shops in the area. It was so nice to meet some of the people that I 'know' online in real life, to share ideas and discuss our work together.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-21T44I5fP0Q/TZMOvJ2CGmI/AAAAAAAACrw/8HC-H7K4Bt8/s1600/NZHMnapier+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-21T44I5fP0Q/TZMOvJ2CGmI/AAAAAAAACrw/8HC-H7K4Bt8/s320/NZHMnapier+copy.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We found these adorable kiwis outside one of the shops.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vpRaRPd4ZEo/TZMN80j5P6I/AAAAAAAACrg/JCNDk54NKJ4/s1600/napierkiwis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vpRaRPd4ZEo/TZMN80j5P6I/AAAAAAAACrg/JCNDk54NKJ4/s320/napierkiwis.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we said our goodbyes, I set off for the drive home. One last look at Napier beach,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mTKplaxdWoc/TZMSESa2idI/AAAAAAAACsI/_OA88TZvht8/s1600/napier5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mTKplaxdWoc/TZMSESa2idI/AAAAAAAACsI/_OA88TZvht8/s320/napier5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a quick side trip to the Huka Falls View point </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPxb7Y90eX0/TZMQPw5rQaI/AAAAAAAACr0/2eVD6dtMe_Q/s1600/napierhukafalls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPxb7Y90eX0/TZMQPw5rQaI/AAAAAAAACr0/2eVD6dtMe_Q/s320/napierhukafalls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and a brief stop in Tokoroa</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H7LRtmT32UQ/TZMRI1cBrMI/AAAAAAAACsE/_TRisixO7YE/s1600/tokoroa1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H7LRtmT32UQ/TZMRI1cBrMI/AAAAAAAACsE/_TRisixO7YE/s320/tokoroa1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then my next stop was Tirau, where I arrived ten minutes after the public toilets closed...! I took my mind off the 2 coffees and 500ml bottle of water I had consumed since breakfast by taking some photos around the town </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oS_F-qzpt6w/TZMQ6PUSCwI/AAAAAAAACsA/CCjnaq_kkQ8/s1600/tirau2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oS_F-qzpt6w/TZMQ6PUSCwI/AAAAAAAACsA/CCjnaq_kkQ8/s320/tirau2.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ME4UY9SErk/TZMQuZq65LI/AAAAAAAACr8/p2fM-nu4vQc/s1600/tirau1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ME4UY9SErk/TZMQuZq65LI/AAAAAAAACr8/p2fM-nu4vQc/s320/tirau1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">before heading onwards, to the services at Pokeno. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I arrived home at 9.30pm, and slept like a log! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-43765788973556126382011-03-28T15:24:00.000+13:002011-03-28T15:24:40.425+13:00Just a Minute - March<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Reading... </b>Still ploughing my way through a novel I picked up for £1 in Brighton for the plane home, yeah, it's not that thrilling!</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b>Watching...</b> The trees bending in the howling wind outside, birds being blown sideways as they frantically try to fly in a straight line, and the clouds speeding across the sky. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Loving...</b> My weekend away in Napier! I caught up with my cousin and family, visited the Hawkes Bay Photographers Gallery to deliver my cards and prints, and met some of the lovely New Zealand Handmade ladies for coffee and a look around some local arty/crafty shops and galleries. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WpAlbIZP_wo/TY_lABhH0PI/AAAAAAAACqA/7gYK5ff5TRQ/s1600/P1320261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WpAlbIZP_wo/TY_lABhH0PI/AAAAAAAACqA/7gYK5ff5TRQ/s320/P1320261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photographers Gallery is a beautiful space, and the coffee was wonderful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p8yR_QnVVHk/TY_wgAnEq_I/AAAAAAAACqE/2U2UEYL4Z_Q/s1600/NZHMnapier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p8yR_QnVVHk/TY_wgAnEq_I/AAAAAAAACqE/2U2UEYL4Z_Q/s320/NZHMnapier.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Love how we are all standing under the 'Antiques' sign! ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b>Craving...</b> time to create, and sleep! After the 8 hour journey home yesterday, I'm torn between trying to catch up with things around the house, wanting to get on with some new ideas, and the overwhelming desire to give up and have a nap! </span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b>Planning... </b>Things to do and places to go with our Easter holidays visitors from Australia.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More greeting card ideas, and new prints. So far just sketches in my notebook but hoping to get on with them soon.</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you’d like to do 'just a minute' on your own blog, or already do, please leave the link in the comments I'd love to see! :)</span></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-72431850167755236232011-03-18T20:53:00.000+13:002011-03-18T20:53:15.311+13:00Giveaway Winner!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">OK it's time to announce the winner of my giveaway! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">First let me tell you how I allocated numbers.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For a comment here you got 1 number, for saying which of my items you like best you got a second number.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For re-posting/blogging/FB linking etc you got one more number</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Starting with Miss Delerious who had numbers 1 2 and 3 I continued allocating numbers to everyone ending with Greta at Topography<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 35px;"> who had numbers 23 and 24. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 35px;">Random.Org chose number 13.... </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 35px;"></span></span><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JlV5gXenRBI/TYMOx69_EiI/AAAAAAAACp8/RwAW_W9VwJM/s1600/fantaildrawwinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JlV5gXenRBI/TYMOx69_EiI/AAAAAAAACp8/RwAW_W9VwJM/s1600/fantaildrawwinner.jpg" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 35px;">Which worked out to be AMANDA DICK who had numbers 12, 13 and 14. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 35px;">CONGRATULATIONS Amanda, and THANK YOU so much to everyone who entered for your support, I wish you could all have won! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #826c55; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 30px; line-height: 35px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-43444789944471757062011-03-11T11:51:00.000+13:002011-03-11T11:51:40.705+13:00GIVEAWAY TIME!!It's GIVEAWAY TIME! My Facebook page has reached 400 likers, thank you so much to each and every one of you!<br />
It makes me all warm and fuzzy the level of support, encouragement and love shared through Facebook page interactions, I really do appreciate each and every like, comment and view. :)<br />
<br />
SO what am I going to do to prove it? Give one lucky liker a set of my brand spanking new (so new in fact they are still at the printers, and the envelopes don't arrive till today!) Greeting Cards, that's what!<br />
Thats 6 different designs perfect for any occasion. Each comes with a matching envelope. Of course that means you will have no excuses when you forget that special persons birthday/anniversary etc! ;)<br />
Here they are ;<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vUh9WFAQO1g/TXlPfBGxhSI/AAAAAAAACpw/arzgn-uBn-k/s1600/cardspreviewall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vUh9WFAQO1g/TXlPfBGxhSI/AAAAAAAACpw/arzgn-uBn-k/s400/cardspreviewall.jpg" width="332" /></a></div>You can see them individually, and read the info behind each one in my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150120614422705&set=a.158007232704.116264.156050957704&theater">Facebook album</a><br />
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<b>SO what do you have to do</b>? Well you have to be 'in it to win it' as they say, so leave a comment here, including your email address so that I can contact you if you win.<br />
For a bit of extra fun, and to earn an <b>EXTRA ENTRY</b>, take a look at my new tabs at the top of the page, Shop Wall Decals and Shop Prints. Have a browse and tell me which is your favourite and why.<br />
Feeling greedy and want <b>3 ENTRIES</b>? Then re-post, twitter, blog, Facebook-linkie or anything else you can think of to promote my giveaway, come back and let me know here and you'll get a big smoochie smacker. OR alternatively, you can take that as an extra entry. ;)<br />
If you can let me know which you have done in one post that will help my poor brain out when I'm counting entries, but if its 3 separate comments, then thats all good too. I love comments, who doesn't! :)<br />
I'll let Mr Random.org choose a winner in one weeks time, thats <b>Friday 18th March, at 8pm</b> (New Zealand)<br />
Open worldwide, including free shipping.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-44513935843631026502011-02-27T15:44:00.000+13:002011-02-27T15:44:14.619+13:00Christchurch...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have been trying to write a new blog post for almost a week. Since last Tuesday, 22nd February. The day of the devastating <a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/christchurch-earthquake/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502981&objectid=10709101">earthquake in Christchurch. </a> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Every time I decide to start, I stop. Before I have even started. It seems so pointless, so trivial to even try.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> No matter where in the world you are, you will have heard about the Earthquake in the news, seen the heartbreaking <a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/christchurch-earthquake-photos/news/image.cfm?c_id=1503036&gal_cid=1503036&gallery_id=116954#7384504">images</a>, read the stories that make you weep. Here in New Zealand everywhere you go flags are at half mast, it is all anyone is talking about, everyone is stunned, wondering what they can do to help. Shops, churches, volunteers in the street all collecting donations to try to do just a little bit.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">What can be said? Nothing I or anyone does can bring back those loved ones lost. To sit here safe in my home, the sun shining, my kids playing, the worst of my worries what to cook for dinner tonight...seems so unfair, and I feel so helpless when others are homeless, suffering, coping with the loss of loved ones, homes, historical buildings. The city will recover, the people will rebuild their lives and their city, but nothing will ever be the same again. I cannot even begin to imagine what it must be like. Nobody can, unless they are there or have lived through a similar situation. Seeing blog posts and Facebook updates from the people I follow who live there, with photos and descriptions of their experiences make it all so much more real.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday I came into my lounge to discover a puddle on the carpet, a dark line on the ceiling where water was dripping through and wrinkled bulging lining paper. Something in the bathroom above must be leaking through. For a few seconds I felt like bursting into tears, another thing to deal with, the cost of a plumber, the repair, the worry of the damage done... Then I stopped. How trivial! This is nothing, nothing at all. It is so insignificant it is laughable. I have a house, working sewerage, running water, power, phone. I, my family and friends are all alive and well. It suddenly put everything into perspective for me.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There are lots of organisations and charities doing their bit. You can of course donate through the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.redcross.org.%20nz/donate">Red Cross</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"> or the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> Salvation Army by calling 0800 53 00 00. All ANZ Bank branches are accepting donations through the account number 01-1839-0188939-00</span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Vodafone customers can donate either $3 by texting 'Quake' to 333 or $5 by texting 'Quake' to 555. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There are many others raising funds, but please, please be careful, it is sickening but true that there are those out there that would take advantage of the goodwill of people at this time, and scam emails, fraudsters and fake ids are all over the place. I can't say what I think should be done to people like that, they are the lowest of the low. It makes me feel sick and so, so cross. </span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here are a few ideas,if you want to help out in another way. There are of course many more legit charities and groups out there doing their bit too.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">If you make handmade items you could consider donating something to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/handmadeforchristchurch">Handmade for Christchurch.</a> This is being run by the most amazing group of NZ women, all freely giving their own time and expertise to run fundraising auctions on </span><a href="http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=3720030">Trade Me</a> Regardless of whether you have anything to donate yourself, you are sure to find something there that you would love to buy, and with no guilt as you know every single cent of the purchase price will be going to the Salvation Army and Christchurch Womens Refuge.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Li'l Magoolie is running a fundraiser <a href="http://lilmagoolie.com/contact-me/chch-fundraiser/">Here</a> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/chchcharityauctions">Charity Auctions for the Christchurch Earthquake 2011</a> are also running auctions on Trade Me, with all proceeds going to the Red Cross. </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For those of you in the Christchurch area, know that the rest of us are all here behind you, sending prayers, strength and love, just wishing there was more we could do. Stay Strong. <3</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-75647963696181755182011-02-15T15:35:00.000+13:002011-02-15T15:35:09.296+13:00Paris in Canada!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recently I sold one of my 'Paris je t'aime' prints to a lovely lady from Canada, Kathy, of <a href="http://katiescowsudderthings.blogspot.com/">Katie's Cows and Udder things</a>. (Don't you just love the name?!) who told me she had plans for it as part of a mixed media canvas. Well, I always drool over anything like that, so was really excited about seeing the finished piece... and here it is! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mX-8w3wAZes/TVku3GIBPcI/AAAAAAAAAKY/Pg1bmveP1EI/s320/eiffel+tower+canvas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mX-8w3wAZes/TVku3GIBPcI/AAAAAAAAAKY/Pg1bmveP1EI/s320/eiffel+tower+canvas.JPG" /></a></div> I took the photograph of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Created the print with it in New Zealand,(with the fan going full blast in 90% humidity/28 deg heat) sent it to Canada where Kathy created this (in colder than I can begin to imagine temps!) No doubt the other lovely things she used to create the canvas came from all over, so it really is a worldwide creation! You can see it properly and also more of the amazing work she does on her <a href="http://katiescowsudderthings.blogspot.com/">blog</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/CowsandUdderThings?ref=ls_profile">Etsy Shop</a> I'm in love with her painted signs and bottles!Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-76344537523884115212011-02-09T15:32:00.000+13:002011-02-09T15:32:09.742+13:00Felt Faves!It's been ages since I updated my <a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/">Felt</a> Faves, so long in fact that all items were related to Christmas!<br />
So after a lovely browse for new 'got to have it' things here is my new Felt Faves, featuring works by Studiok, Whiteleaf, Sweet William, Poetry and Cloth, greenwarenz, Messagemark, waltzzz and me :)<br />
<!-- Begin felt showcase --><!-- Urban Rhythm by Walter Logeman --><br />
<div style="float: left; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0; padding: 0 0 13px 13px; width: 132px;"><div style="width: 100%;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/1857/Urban-Rhythm-by-Walter-Logeman" style="color: #5c5559; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Urban Rhythm By Walt...</a></div><div style="height: 108px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 132px;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/1857/Urban-Rhythm-by-Walter-Logeman"><img alt="Urban Rhythm by Walter Logeman " border="0" class="" src="http://www.felt.co.nz/media/itemuploads/195-1211492368/195-t-92368-0926_pattern_420.jpg" style="margin: 0; padding: 0;" /></a></div><div style="float: left;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/waltzzz" style="color: #bfbdbf; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">waltzzz</a></div><div style="color: #5c5559; float: right; font-weight: bold;">$95.00</div></div><!-- Mend and make do - print --><div style="float: left; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0; padding: 0 0 13px 13px; width: 132px;"><div style="width: 100%;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/5662/Mend-and-make-do---print" style="color: #5c5559; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Mend And Make Do - P...</a></div><div style="height: 108px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 132px;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/5662/Mend-and-make-do---print"><img alt="Mend and make do - print " border="0" class="" src="http://www.felt.co.nz/media/itemuploads/691-1238055798/691-t-55798-sunbtractlo.jpg" style="margin: 0; padding: 0;" /></a></div><div style="float: left;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/sweetwilliam" style="color: #bfbdbf; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">sweetwilliam</a></div><div style="color: #5c5559; float: right; font-weight: bold;">$17.00</div></div><!-- Wild Strawberry: nature-inspired cluster necklace with ladybird --><div style="float: left; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0; padding: 0 0 13px 13px; width: 132px;"><div style="width: 100%;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/32071/Wild-Strawberry-nature-inspired-cluster-necklace-with-ladybird" style="color: #5c5559; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Wild Strawberry: Nat...</a></div><div style="height: 108px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 132px;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/32071/Wild-Strawberry-nature-inspired-cluster-necklace-with-ladybird"><img alt="Wild Strawberry: nature-inspired cluster necklace with ladybird" border="0" class="" src="http://www.felt.co.nz/media/itemuploads/7470-1282292686/7470-t-55609-Wild-Strawberry-1.jpg" style="margin: 0; padding: 0;" /></a></div><div style="float: left;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/whiteleaf" style="color: #bfbdbf; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">whiteleaf</a></div><div style="color: #5c5559; float: right; font-weight: bold;">$31.00</div></div><!-- Tree Print by Messagemark --><div style="float: left; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0; padding: 0 0 13px 13px; width: 132px;"><div style="width: 100%;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/40897/Tree-Print-by-Messagemark" style="color: #5c5559; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Tree Print By Messag...</a></div><div style="height: 108px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 132px;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/40897/Tree-Print-by-Messagemark"><img alt="Tree Print by Messagemark" border="0" class="" src="http://www.felt.co.nz/media/itemuploads/980-1295159083/980-t-59091-LWA03L.jpg" style="margin: 0; padding: 0;" /></a></div><div style="float: left;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/messagemark" style="color: #bfbdbf; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">messagemark</a></div><div style="color: #5c5559; float: right; font-weight: bold;">$20.00</div></div><!-- Pukeko --><div style="float: left; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0; padding: 0 0 13px 13px; width: 132px;"><div style="width: 100%;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/41088/Pukeko" style="color: #5c5559; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Pukeko</a></div><div style="height: 108px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 132px;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/41088/Pukeko"><img alt="Pukeko" border="0" class="" src="http://www.felt.co.nz/media/itemuploads/13692-1295396186/13692-t-02829-pukeko.jpg" style="margin: 0; padding: 0;" /></a></div><div style="float: left;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/greenwarenz" style="color: #bfbdbf; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">greenwarenz</a></div><div style="color: #5c5559; float: right; font-weight: bold;">$30.00</div></div><!-- wild fennel 8x 16 inch nature screen print --><div style="float: left; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0; padding: 0 0 13px 13px; width: 132px;"><div style="width: 100%;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/41345/wild-fennel-8x-16-inch-nature-screen-print" style="color: #5c5559; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Wild Fennel 8x 16 In...</a></div><div style="height: 108px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 132px;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/41345/wild-fennel-8x-16-inch-nature-screen-print"><img alt="wild fennel 8x 16 inch nature screen print" border="0" class="" src="http://www.felt.co.nz/media/itemuploads/7611-1295766603/7611-t-66603-navy-fennel-1.JPG" style="margin: 0; padding: 0;" /></a></div><div style="float: left;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/poetryandcloth" style="color: #bfbdbf; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">poetryandcloth</a></div><div style="color: #5c5559; float: right; font-weight: bold;">$50.00</div></div><!-- Je t'aime --><div style="float: left; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0; padding: 0 0 13px 13px; width: 132px;"><div style="width: 100%;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/42513/Je-taime" style="color: #5c5559; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Je T'aime</a></div><div style="height: 108px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 132px;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/42513/Je-taime"><img alt="Je t'aime" border="0" class="" src="http://www.felt.co.nz/media/itemuploads/6392-1297140287/6392-t-40646-vintagevalentinefelt-HDTV-720.jpg" style="margin: 0; padding: 0;" /></a></div><div style="float: left;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/fantailDA" style="color: #bfbdbf; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">fantailDA</a></div><div style="color: #5c5559; float: right; font-weight: bold;">$25.00</div></div><!-- VINTAGE 100% NZ WOOL CUSHION - 'I HEART HAHEI' --><div style="float: left; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0; padding: 0 0 13px 13px; width: 132px;"><div style="width: 100%;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/42522/VINTAGE-100-NZ-WOOL-CUSHION---I-HEART-HAHEI" style="color: #5c5559; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Vintage 100% Nz Wool...</a></div><div style="height: 108px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 132px;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/42522/VINTAGE-100-NZ-WOOL-CUSHION---I-HEART-HAHEI"><img alt="VINTAGE 100% NZ WOOL CUSHION - 'I HEART HAHEI'" border="0" class="" src="http://www.felt.co.nz/media/itemuploads/7156-1297144280/7156-t-44280-haheiyellow-pastelcheck.JPG" style="margin: 0; padding: 0;" /></a></div><div style="float: left;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/studiok" style="color: #bfbdbf; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">studiok</a></div><div style="color: #5c5559; float: right; font-weight: bold;">$65.00</div></div><!-- End felt showcase -->Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-6006641837050450992011-02-08T13:05:00.000+13:002011-02-08T13:05:03.465+13:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Just a Minute - February</b></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Somehow I managed to totally miss January?! Not sure quite how that happened, but here is <b>Februarys 'Just a Minute!</b>' Once a month quick summary of events. If you are doing this too, or would like to start, please share your posts, I'd love to see!</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Reading...</b> A girly novel I picked up for £1 in Asda the day before we headed home! (Can't even remember what it's called, and it's too hot to go upstairs and find it! :)) </span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And my most favourite cook book right now, Annabel Langbein's The Free Range Cook.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TVCDqvIgpFI/AAAAAAAAClo/vm0K0Sl-QWg/s1600/20100930-cookbook-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TVCDqvIgpFI/AAAAAAAAClo/vm0K0Sl-QWg/s320/20100930-cookbook-cover.jpg" width="239" /></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> My children clubbed together and got me this for Christmas. I'm not totally convinced that there wasn't a slight element of "maybe NOW we'll get something decent for dinner" behind the idea! Either way we are all happy, I'm getting to try out some wonderful new recipes, and they are more than happy to be guinea pigs!</span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So far we have had Spicy Chicken Skewers, Creamy Moroccan Cucumber Salad, Baked lemongrass and chilli chicken and Ultimate Chocolate Cake. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TVCF7fx1OwI/AAAAAAAACls/u5zmNl23ZhI/s1600/choccake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TVCF7fx1OwI/AAAAAAAACls/u5zmNl23ZhI/s320/choccake.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was also the attempt at Crusty Flat Bread, but we won't go there. Suffice it to say, always check you actually have 1 1/2 teaspoons of yeast left before you start...!</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b>Watching...</b> Border Patrol (or is it Border Security?!) Piha Rescue, Big Bang Theory. Rented the dvds 'Letters to Julliet' and 'The Blind Side' at the weekend which were both enjoyed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TVCDGymE74I/AAAAAAAAClk/_Z2VnTy3VFM/s1600/NEGbgKHGry16JL_1_1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TVCDGymE74I/AAAAAAAAClk/_Z2VnTy3VFM/s320/NEGbgKHGry16JL_1_1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="238" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Loving...</b>Being home! Although we loved being away, had a fantastic time, and never wanted it to end, there is nothing like coming home after a long holiday. </span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b>Craving...</b> An ice cold strawberry and watermelon smoothie. Mmmmm. I've got the watermelon, might have to pop out and find some strawberries! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs261.ash1/18843_1349851788571_1299643362_2517141_4842303_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs261.ash1/18843_1349851788571_1299643362_2517141_4842303_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b>Learning...</b> That buidling a website is not easy, even if the software/templates etc try to fool you into believing it is!! Anyone out there with experience of Joomla? I'm seriously at the end of my tether with it all, and ready to scrape around in the bottom of my bag for some cash to get it done once and for all!!</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b>Planning...</b> The future of Fantail. Whether to take big scary steps or plod along happily in my little groove! Also planning for my daughters 21st birthday in June. I have a few ideas up my sleeve. ;)</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you’d like to do this on your own blog please leave the link in the comments I'd love to see! :)</span></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-32147240159418508942011-02-02T12:29:00.000+13:002011-02-02T12:29:08.283+13:00ParisOK, so I know I've been really slack at keeping up with this blog while we were away, but now we are home it's catch up time! We had a fantastic time away, it was so great to catch up with family and old friends, see all our old haunts and just generally live life back 'home' for a couple of months. One of the things we did was spend a couple of days in Paris, so I thought I'd share a few photos ...<br />
First stop was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">Sacré-Cœur </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh0zLdiTTI/AAAAAAAACjo/FdJT8uh8DtQ/s1600/sacrecoeuradj+%252816%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh0zLdiTTI/AAAAAAAACjo/FdJT8uh8DtQ/s320/sacrecoeuradj+%252816%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then the Louvre</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh_xm1n0dI/AAAAAAAACkQ/xUyen4IoQCs/s1600/louvreadjP1310195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh_xm1n0dI/AAAAAAAACkQ/xUyen4IoQCs/s320/louvreadjP1310195.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">It was amazing!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiHf0vaRCI/AAAAAAAAClY/ksS4XYXmm84/s1600/Plouvreadj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiHf0vaRCI/AAAAAAAAClY/ksS4XYXmm84/s320/Plouvreadj.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> So much to see, it was just incredible actually being there! Here is the Vénus en armes, 'a marble statue dating to the 2nd century in Italy, discovered in Rome in the 16th century. She originally belonged to the collection of Tiberio Ceuli, and was bought by the Cardinal Scipion Borghèse in 1607, where she decorated one of the niches of the large living room at the Borghèse villa. The Collection Borghèse was purchased by Napoleon I in 1807 and brought to Paris.'<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiAAxAQ0qI/AAAAAAAACkU/EwsObAJtJOg/s1600/louvreadjP1310239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiAAxAQ0qI/AAAAAAAACkU/EwsObAJtJOg/s320/louvreadjP1310239.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The Wedding Feast at Cana. I had no idea how HUGE this really was in real life!<br />
'In 1553, Veronese was summoned to Venice where he gave free rein to his decorative talent in vast canvases that blended masterful composition, splendid contemporary costumes, and luminous colors. The Wedding Feast at Cana graced the refectory designed by Palladio for the Benedictine monastery on the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore. With masterly freedom of interpretation, Veronese transposed the biblical episode to the sumptuous setting of a Venetian wedding.'<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiARxdYYlI/AAAAAAAACkY/93AsSsYsbpY/s1600/louvreP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiARxdYYlI/AAAAAAAACkY/93AsSsYsbpY/s320/louvreP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Venus de Milo statue of the Greek goddess of love, discovered on the island of Melos in 1820</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiAjByvCgI/AAAAAAAACkc/opa7ZY514vw/s1600/louvrePadj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiAjByvCgI/AAAAAAAACkc/opa7ZY514vw/s320/louvrePadj.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiA0O7poEI/AAAAAAAACkg/Iio7qZ7kDkw/s1600/louvrePadj2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiA0O7poEI/AAAAAAAACkg/Iio7qZ7kDkw/s320/louvrePadj2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> And of course we couldn't go to the Louvre without saying hello to Mona..!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiBVyY6QJI/AAAAAAAACko/vbg19npuj5Q/s1600/monalisa2aadj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiBVyY6QJI/AAAAAAAACko/vbg19npuj5Q/s320/monalisa2aadj.jpg" width="238" /></a></div> Just a little security around her, a glass case (making it hard to get clear photos) and a wooden barrier! I always imagined this painting to be bigger than it is for some reason.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiBj0T5hOI/AAAAAAAACks/E5kP2qjTJrA/s1600/monalisaadj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiBj0T5hOI/AAAAAAAACks/E5kP2qjTJrA/s320/monalisaadj.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My children thoroughly enjoyed absorbing the culture...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh7otv_kzI/AAAAAAAACjw/HqUj_K8u6xE/s1600/DSC02221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh7otv_kzI/AAAAAAAACjw/HqUj_K8u6xE/s320/DSC02221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next stop was the Eiffel Tower</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh81xKwb4I/AAAAAAAACkE/NjAnSHqYtt8/s1600/eiffeltowerr+adj%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh81xKwb4I/AAAAAAAACkE/NjAnSHqYtt8/s320/eiffeltowerr+adj%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh84I6892I/AAAAAAAACkI/KNQvb1qpe4k/s1600/eiffeltowerradj+%2528195%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh84I6892I/AAAAAAAACkI/KNQvb1qpe4k/s320/eiffeltowerradj+%2528195%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Where we briefly considered the iron staircase, then opted for the lift to the second floor. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh8JKMdzjI/AAAAAAAACj4/GfGfuK9WqxA/s1600/eiffeltowerP+adj%252842%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh8JKMdzjI/AAAAAAAACj4/GfGfuK9WqxA/s320/eiffeltowerP+adj%252842%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh8l_AwVRI/AAAAAAAACkA/SNeO143zQuM/s1600/eiffeltowerPadj+%252844%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh8l_AwVRI/AAAAAAAACkA/SNeO143zQuM/s320/eiffeltowerPadj+%252844%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After booking into the hotel we went for an evening stroll to see the Eiffel Tower lit up. This was when I really wished I'd taken a tripod!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh76vW_QlI/AAAAAAAACj0/pKacZHp_quk/s1600/eiffeltowernightadj+%252835%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh76vW_QlI/AAAAAAAACj0/pKacZHp_quk/s320/eiffeltowernightadj+%252835%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div> The view from our hotel window. There is something about French shutters and flowers on the windowsills!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh_petA-TI/AAAAAAAACkM/zzXa5iHKtrE/s1600/hoteladj+%252831%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh_petA-TI/AAAAAAAACkM/zzXa5iHKtrE/s320/hoteladj+%252831%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next day we took a bus tour. Hopping on and off all day to see different things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh7cUmyNSI/AAAAAAAACjs/hi2A9CwSmrM/s1600/arcdetriomphePcropadj+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUh7cUmyNSI/AAAAAAAACjs/hi2A9CwSmrM/s320/arcdetriomphePcropadj+%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I'll never complain about SH1 again! The traffic up the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Avenue des Champs-Élysées hasn't got any better since last time we were there.</span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiD1pf-ZnI/AAAAAAAACk0/LZS9cfOI86M/s1600/P1310366+%255BHDTV+%2528720%2529adj%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiD1pf-ZnI/AAAAAAAACk0/LZS9cfOI86M/s320/P1310366+%255BHDTV+%2528720%2529adj%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiEc2f7wKI/AAAAAAAACk8/oUtquyQChPI/s1600/parisadjDSC02030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiEc2f7wKI/AAAAAAAACk8/oUtquyQChPI/s320/parisadjDSC02030.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Place Vendome had the most amazing Christmas lights and decorations. We weren't quite sure the Ritz would let us in for tea though, so we saved a few Euros there! This photo is the moment I had to finally give in and admit it. My son is now taller than me.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiELQ6YlYI/AAAAAAAACk4/e3XyKiMRFJ8/s1600/parisadjDSC01696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiELQ6YlYI/AAAAAAAACk4/e3XyKiMRFJ8/s320/parisadjDSC01696.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Awesome display in a ballet shop window.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiFqzAWNgI/AAAAAAAAClA/OIshuGs37XU/s1600/parisadkDSC01680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiFqzAWNgI/AAAAAAAAClA/OIshuGs37XU/s320/parisadkDSC01680.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Notre Dame in the evening. Again, I should have carried that tripod around!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiDyiZVJuI/AAAAAAAACkw/xG-uWch64D8/s1600/notredamePadj+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiDyiZVJuI/AAAAAAAACkw/xG-uWch64D8/s320/notredamePadj+%25285%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And of course, what trip to Paris would be complete without a few croissants and a pain au chocolat?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiF-P1MKuI/AAAAAAAAClE/jFi7_QjC4rQ/s1600/parisbreadadj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiF-P1MKuI/AAAAAAAAClE/jFi7_QjC4rQ/s320/parisbreadadj.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiGFJlGuyI/AAAAAAAAClI/bO4_b9NwC-w/s1600/parisbreadadjP1310197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiGFJlGuyI/AAAAAAAAClI/bO4_b9NwC-w/s320/parisbreadadjP1310197.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had a wonderful meal at a restaurant recommended by our hotel. One look at the prices and I decided it must be owned by the receptionists brother and we walked on by! However, after investigating all other options in the area, this restaurant suddenly seemed quite reasonable, so with the excuse that it was a good cultural experience for my children, and $120 NZ later, the 3 of us had eaten! No entrees, no dessert just a main course each, tap water and one glass of house red for me.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiGsOUamFI/AAAAAAAAClM/jYOzsexvp4U/s1600/parisdinneradj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiGsOUamFI/AAAAAAAAClM/jYOzsexvp4U/s320/parisdinneradj.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> But oh was it Gooooood!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiG9I3AKkI/AAAAAAAAClQ/TPkGfmX1eiI/s1600/parisdinneradjDSC01810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiG9I3AKkI/AAAAAAAAClQ/TPkGfmX1eiI/s320/parisdinneradjDSC01810.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Here is the restaurant, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;">L</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">e<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"> Septième Vin,</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"> 68 avenue Bosquet.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"> I</span>f you ever find yourself in Paris I'd highly recommend it! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;">The menus are on blackboards, and an English version is available too, if your school days French is a bit rusty, as mine certainly was!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiHQAwayzI/AAAAAAAAClU/I31tc9cfSlE/s1600/parisrestaurantadj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TUiHQAwayzI/AAAAAAAAClU/I31tc9cfSlE/s320/parisrestaurantadj.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All in all a fantastic couple of days, which we will remember for years to come. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-79593601206038900062010-12-27T00:23:00.000+13:002010-12-27T00:23:50.978+13:00Just a Minute - December<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here I am again just about squeezing this in at the end of the month...it's time for 'Just a Minute!' Once a month quick summary of events. If you are doing this too, or would like to start, please share your posts, I'd love to see!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Reading..</b>. Just a little Run around the World by Rosie Swale Pope. This was one of the library books my mum had ready for returning when we arrived, so I renewed it, got stuck in and am really enjoying it. It's so real I almost feel like I have experienced it, but all without getting out of my warm snuggly bed! ;) Lol!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TRcgbg-jNmI/AAAAAAAACjU/RMU_SGZv6Ao/s1600/run_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TRcgbg-jNmI/AAAAAAAACjU/RMU_SGZv6Ao/s1600/run_.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <b>Watching...</b> All the English TV we don't get at home! 'Come Fly with me' and 'Black Adders Christmas Carol' last night were particularly popular with the whole family, giving us all heaps of laughs. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <b>Loving..</b>.SO much! Being with my parents and sister again! Seeing my children enjoying the winter, as they experience real snow, make snowmen, roll around in it, and bury each other. Catching up with old friends, central heating! Coming in from the freezing cold to a wonderfully warm house, roaring fire and hot mugs of tea!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TRcjUFQaKMI/AAAAAAAACjY/cUsBi7O3Gpk/s1600/P1300555a+%255BHDTV+%25281080%2529%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TRcjUFQaKMI/AAAAAAAACjY/cUsBi7O3Gpk/s320/P1300555a+%255BHDTV+%25281080%2529%255D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b> Craving..</b>. Nothing edible thats for sure, unless it's a fruit! We had such a huge traditional Christmas dinner yesterday I don't know whether I will ever want to eat again! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b> Learning.</b>.. All sorts of new possibilities with this book a friend gave me! Now I just need to take the plunge at get CS5 so that I can make use of the things I'm learning!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TRckl84tY9I/AAAAAAAACjc/tMuv0UzlI5s/s1600/cs5_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TRckl84tY9I/AAAAAAAACjc/tMuv0UzlI5s/s1600/cs5_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b> Planning..</b>. Fitting in all the things we want to do before we leave England to return home at the end of the month. So many places to go,friends to catch up with, and of course, shopping to be done!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">If you’d like to do this on your own blog please leave the link in the comments I'd love to see! :)</span></span>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-84646395037407566062010-12-18T23:04:00.000+13:002010-12-18T23:04:34.101+13:00London!A couple of days ago we took the train to London to play at being tourists.<div>First stop was Buckingham Palace.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyB6Tr9scI/AAAAAAAACio/TppYjNyWRDI/s1600/DSC00810+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyB6Tr9scI/AAAAAAAACio/TppYjNyWRDI/s320/DSC00810+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Where we were just in time for the changing of the guards.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyBlAbt_MI/AAAAAAAACig/xtesylGY4bE/s1600/DSC00805a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyBlAbt_MI/AAAAAAAACig/xtesylGY4bE/s320/DSC00805a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even the Policemen looked cold!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyBr9gDEKI/AAAAAAAACik/FW1CgAfAsj4/s1600/DSC00806+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyBr9gDEKI/AAAAAAAACik/FW1CgAfAsj4/s320/DSC00806+copy.jpg" width="216" /></a></div> We walked through Hyde Park, where this little squirrel posed for us, changing position, holding it, then changing again, making us all laugh!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyCDkzGP2I/AAAAAAAACis/Vi4UwpMWdw4/s1600/DSC00839a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyCWHP1vPI/AAAAAAAACi0/lkRByrgjSIY/s1600/DSC00843a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyCWHP1vPI/AAAAAAAACi0/lkRByrgjSIY/s320/DSC00843a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Past Marble Arch </div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyCDkzGP2I/AAAAAAAACis/Vi4UwpMWdw4/s1600/DSC00839a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyCDkzGP2I/AAAAAAAACis/Vi4UwpMWdw4/s320/DSC00839a.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div>Then on to the Science Museum, where the kids had great fun pushing buttons, and exploring.</div><div>I wanted to take this gorgeous red Beetle home!</div><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyCgZXVY6I/AAAAAAAACi4/2Qj2JwboOLI/s1600/DSC00858a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyCgZXVY6I/AAAAAAAACi4/2Qj2JwboOLI/s320/DSC00858a.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By the time we came out it was dark. After an attempt to get a bus, which got stuck in the city rush hour traffic, we jumped off and waked the rest of the way to "Forbidden Planet" a shop my son wanted to visit to check out their Anime selection.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyCq9Hkb_I/AAAAAAAACi8/vtmoCCP9e6E/s1600/DSC00868a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyCq9Hkb_I/AAAAAAAACi8/vtmoCCP9e6E/s320/DSC00868a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Past Piccadilly Circus</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyC0ZgNaxI/AAAAAAAACjA/hJIHofzRR60/s1600/DSC00871a+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyC0ZgNaxI/AAAAAAAACjA/hJIHofzRR60/s320/DSC00871a+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> and loads of pretty Christmas lights<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyC-DISVQI/AAAAAAAACjE/oJV0BdtyMYQ/s1600/DSC00901a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyC-DISVQI/AAAAAAAACjE/oJV0BdtyMYQ/s320/DSC00901a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> To Covent Garden, where Rudolph was standing guard.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyDKNzbEJI/AAAAAAAACjI/d-k8NkI2qq0/s1600/DSC00912a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyDKNzbEJI/AAAAAAAACjI/d-k8NkI2qq0/s320/DSC00912a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Giant baubles hanging from the ceiling!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyDR9kWTpI/AAAAAAAACjM/GVzsZbhAlLs/s1600/DSC00922a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyDR9kWTpI/AAAAAAAACjM/GVzsZbhAlLs/s320/DSC00922a.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next stop was Trafalgar Square, where some carol Singers were performing under the enormous Christmas Tree. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyDYcJpVHI/AAAAAAAACjQ/tw07EeX_2yI/s1600/DSC00937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQyDYcJpVHI/AAAAAAAACjQ/tw07EeX_2yI/s320/DSC00937.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>. We caught the train home, and found that my parents had got the foot bath out for me! (I could get used to this pampering! ) Perfect end to an exhausting but fun day!</div></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8064475687335473519.post-31614916689212192392010-12-10T09:07:00.000+13:002010-12-10T09:07:19.315+13:00Dubai!Everything went smoothly with the trip from Auckland to Dubai.<div> We spent a wonderful couple of days discovering Dubai and soaking up the last we would see of the sun for a while. Before we left home I had booked tickets for us to go up the Burj Khalifa tower, luckily a friend who used to live in Dubai had advised us to book in advance as if you turn up on the day to buy tickets its 3 or 4 times the price!! Something to remember if you ever visit! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQEpbrBFK5I/AAAAAAAACiA/ZCUHGwm0wjw/s1600/burj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQEpbrBFK5I/AAAAAAAACiA/ZCUHGwm0wjw/s320/burj.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Burj Khalifa from the ground</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The tower is the tallest building in the world, at over 828 metres high. The observation deck, on level 124 is where the high speed lifts whiz you up to from the ground. At a speed of 10m per second, so we were told. Now I must admit, that as someone who has trouble standing on a chair to put up the Christmas lights, I was slightly nervous about going quite so high! The odd thing is though, that when you get to the top and the lift doors open, the views are more like those from an airplane than from the top of a building, and it was strangely calm and not at all scary. We wandered around, taking photos and video for quite some time before heading back down to solid ground. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQEtKncfWhI/AAAAAAAACiE/jQpMihaik4E/s1600/DSC00112+%255B640x480%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQEtKncfWhI/AAAAAAAACiE/jQpMihaik4E/s320/DSC00112+%255B640x480%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Views from the observation deck </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQEtVBpHeII/AAAAAAAACiI/whnmQbwPtwU/s1600/DSC00132+%255B640x480%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQEtVBpHeII/AAAAAAAACiI/whnmQbwPtwU/s320/DSC00132+%255B640x480%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQEth6_g6_I/AAAAAAAACiM/eACPiHDKsiw/s1600/P1300187+%255B640x480%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQEth6_g6_I/AAAAAAAACiM/eACPiHDKsiw/s320/P1300187+%255B640x480%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On our second day we headed for the beach, a free bus from the hotel dropped us off at the gates to the beach park. There is a small fee to enter the park grounds which lead to the beach, all beautifully kept, clean and tidy. Soft white sand, clear blue sea. Bliss!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQExAHOIeOI/AAAAAAAACiQ/ZjL4T1YGHuo/s1600/DSC00403+%255B640x480%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQExAHOIeOI/AAAAAAAACiQ/ZjL4T1YGHuo/s320/DSC00403+%255B640x480%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On our last afternoon we went on a Dune Safari. Jeeps take you out into the desert, and if you try not to think about all the fuel being used, the pollution and the 'tourist trap' side of it, it really is an amazing experience! :) Bouncing over the dunes, the drivers take great delight in showing off their skills tossing their passengers left and right as they skid sideways down dunes covering the car in sand before flying up the next one. We only saw one car that got stuck, but it was soon free and on it's way again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQE1My_qivI/AAAAAAAACiU/oHHXAYBojAE/s1600/P1300322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQE1My_qivI/AAAAAAAACiU/oHHXAYBojAE/s320/P1300322.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQE12C-oihI/AAAAAAAACiY/VdIE-X6fdrM/s1600/gazelles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQE12C-oihI/AAAAAAAACiY/VdIE-X6fdrM/s320/gazelles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQE17Ji_58I/AAAAAAAACic/x348pszslSY/s1600/P1300347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_viJ4kuexUmo/TQE17Ji_58I/AAAAAAAACic/x348pszslSY/s320/P1300347.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> After watching the sunset over the desert we were taken to the company's camp, where tents were set out with cushions and tables for us to sit at to eat. A free bar, henna painting, Shisha or Hubble bubble, camel rides, and belly dancers added to the atmosphere and made for a very enjoyable evening. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We really enjoyed our time in Dubai, it is such a different place, not like anywhere we have been before. Where else can you find enormous tower blocks and luxury hotels, right beside camels and gazelles gliding past in the desert? Very odd, and strangely compelling, I'd love to return and explore more one day. </div><div><div><br />
</div></div></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853409155590608280noreply@blogger.com2