You have to start somewhere....

or Life's ups and downs.

I wasn't sure what the title of this post should be. This week has been a bit of the ups and downs. I returned home from holiday and had scheduled a plumber to come and look at the flooding problem in my garage. I knew it came from the toilet and imagined the whole yard dug up and $$ flashed in front of my eyes (down) then all that needed to be done was for a new valve to be put in the cistern (definitely UP).

I then checked my credit card online only to find it had been fraudulently used (down) luckily only one payment had been charged to me but I still don't know what is happening with that. I am so careful with it too, I never use it online.

Next I discovered a blood clot in my leg and now have to have an injection each day for the next fortnight.

So the title really needed to focus on the good I think...

I started sewing again last night..looked through all my unfinished 'stuff' and found some stitcheries I had traced from patterns by Lesley Boost over at Sew Happy Me

one piece had already been finished:

one piece was half done - so now finished:

 And started on the third! Only 3 more to go!

I have also washed and ironed all the fabric for a new quilt...more on that much later I guess!

No more procrastinating off for my injection *sigh*

Home again

It is lovely to be home, fantastic holiday but home is always where the heart is.

My holiday seemed to go so quickly but what a lot I did and saw. I will try and get some photos up in the next week or so as I sort through them all, why did I take so many!!

Tasmania greeted me with the most perfect day on Monday - clear blue skies; the days in winter that you are so pleased to see as it makes it a bit easier to cope with the cold. The weather the last week in Prague prepared me a bit, not the best summer weather but I console myself with the thought that the shortest day has passed and the countdown to Spring is on!

The garden also greeted me with a cheerful face. Look at these beautiful tree dahlias against the blue sky, and to think I was tempted to dig them out! Now about 8' tall and a mass of flowers.

Another cheerful shrub blooming prolifically and positively shining in the sun. Can't remember the name (I struck it from a piece from my brother's garden) but it is a mass of flowers at the moment.

Must get my sewing out, almost forgotten how to after  a month away!

Scenes from Prague

Just a few of my favourite photos from Prague. Nearly go home time when I will be able to post some more. I have loved being here and have walked all over Prague ....... more than once

For Roseanne

My blogger friend. Roseanne, must have been very busy. I went to Cesky Krumlov yesterday and saw some scarves. I recognise those!!! Roseanne sure gets around!

Happy birthdays from Prague

Happy birthday today for Rob and Dave. Their birthday is over in Australia but still the 9th here so we are not tooo late. Did have a picture to add but looks like it is blocked at this hotel. Will try again later...
I thought the ticking of time very appropriate. This is the Astronomical Clock in Prague.

The Allies secret weapon

Born two days before D Day, we celebrated Marie's nnth birthday and what fun we had and with what fantastic company!
First of all dinner in the exclusive Erlebnis Restaurant with Catalin and his superb team along with some great friends we have made on this trip. What a night, birthday cake and all.

Well two cakes, if you count the marvellous towel creation on Marie's bed,

more of towel creations in later blog, just can't have you miss the photos of those special little items.
Then off we went with our trusty penguin torch (thanks May) to find the wine tasting that was somewhere in Durnstein, ably guided by Michelle and her map given to her by Peter, our tour manager {well we were having too much fun to leave the dining room)(we did find it AND the way back to the boat in time for departure to...........VIENNA, whooo hooo!)
We really had a fun night, best birthday!! thanks to everyone!!
This last composition is of a few more moments during dinner, including an impromptu dance by Catalin and Michelle.

As MBBIM would say FANTASTIC.

Franconian moments

 

Tonight we went to an ancient cellar (everything is ancient in Europe) to indulge in tasting 5 different wines. Although we were encouraged to say "Prost" 5 times I only count ed 4 wines, maybe they were hoping we wouldn't notice....but then again we were too polite to mention....

We had the wine queens to explain and serve the wines as well as Thomas who gave us all a cork when we left.

Nevertheless it was a fun night and we all managed to get back to the boat and it is now sailing onward to our next adventure.

Hazard ahead!

Cruising down the Main River (pronounced mine) is not without its hazards. Sitting enjoying the view from the top deck we suddenly had to duck for a low - and I do mean low bridge. Most of the infrastructure on the top deck has been lowered and the bridge goes up and down as needed, in one of the photos here it is right down and the captain has his head out of the sun roof!! We were sitting quietly but as the bridge got closer and closer the heart rate got faster and faster and I DUCKED!!!!!

Castle spotting

Castles,

Castles 

And more castles

Cruising and Floriade

There is such a lot of traffic along the Rhine - so many ships carrying all sorts of goods; gas, coal, containers, gravel and iron ore.

Our visit yesterday was to Floriade at Venlo in the Netherlands. First we left the Netherlands and went into Germany on the boat, then off the boat onto a bus and back to Holland - are you confused because I am. Floriade is only on every 10 years so how lucky can you be! Sample of vegetables, so yummmm and the flowers were beautiful. Obviously far better looked after than mine that grow half the size.

Canals, flowers and locks

Amsterdam, the Venice of the n orth and this morning we went on a canal and bus tour before stopping off at the floating flower market.

What fun......a safety drill, god help us all. Then the exciting journey through a couple of locks,only 67 to go

Kant maken in Brugge

Stumbled across a shop with fantastic antique Belgian lace, Just glorious. Later in the day while wandering around just happened to see this lady making lace, how skilled was she!

We zijn aangekomen in Brugge

What a delightful, small town. Everything seems to radiate from two facinating town squares. The guy at our hotel assured us we couldn't get lost in Bruges and I think he is right! Everything is so different from Paris, very low key although obviously still orientated towards the tourist.
Great train trip from Paris to Brussels but the 'provincial' railway to Bruges was a bit of a free for all. Where to put our bags, where to sit, is this the right train??? but we made it and are in love!

Dehors de Paris

Last day out and about in Paris today.

We walked through parks.

  

Looked at lots of buildings

Visited the patchwork shop

Gazed longingly in lots of windows AND yes I did have ONE macaron!!!

P.S. Took the car photos in the showroom especially for Mike and Dave

And were amazed by the spectacular views.

Mount Saint Michel

I had a very long day today, down into Normandie to see Mount Saint Michel. From Paris it is about a 5 hour journey but boy was it worth it!
The first view is breath-taking.
I will let the pictures talk for themselves.

12:45 am

Woken out of a deep sleep by what sounds like a siren - put my head out the window, nothing
out there. Open the room door and notice fire door is closed and yes the alarm in this building is going off!!!

Rouse Marie - we have to get out of here! no passport, no clothes (but I did grab my contact lens, get my priorities right here) and we are on the 6th floor! Down the stairs we go, reach the 3rd floor, people appearing from everywhere when the alarm stops. All clear! but can I go to sleep now?

False alarm however no fire brigade arrived - not really instilled with confidence in the system. Hmm wonder if I can change my room to the ground floor.....

Stop press:Thylacine sighting in Paris

While walking through the Jardin des Plantes, I was drawn to the sound of a carousel and what should I spy but ........

The carousel animals were weird and wonderful and all extinct.

Une journée à Paris

Walked over to the Île de la Cité early this morning to queue to go into Sainte Chapelle....only to find the queue quite long! It didn't take long to move though and the wait was worth it. I did visit last time I was in Paris, on the advice of MBD who said it wasn't to be missed, and just had to go again.

The second visit was to Cluny, and what a treat! Sensual overload on the most gorgeous tapestries you have ever seen. Not to be missed if you are ever in Paris.

After wandering around Paris for a while, it was back to the hotel to rest up for tonight's visit for dinner and show at Moulin Rouge!

C'est aujourd'hui tout à propos de nourriture

well when you have to be ready at 6:30am and your hotel won't give you any breakfast, is it a wonder that thoughts turn to

We visited 3 lovely chateaux today.

First was Chamborg. Then on to Chenonceau where we had this fantastic lunch - not to mention very nice local red and rose wines.
The castle at Chenonceau was very interesting - although there is no way I would live in it in winter - the wood bill would be enormous.

Amboise was our last stop - much smaller but some great features, including the long 'tunnel' out where we thought we might be banished to the dungeons forever.....

de ma fenêtre

First thing this morning I looked out my window so guess  what today's theme is!
First photo of the day is from the 6th floor of Hotel la Demeure.

Then off to Versailles!

Then Monet's garden - what a delight

Now just a few composites - not out of my window this time