Tangent: Choose

I loved the abo art I saw in Oz in December, and drew a few myself.

This one came to mind for the theme this week.

'Mmmmmmmm, what shall I choose to eat today?'
IF: Choose

Tangent: Abo Senita

I was fascinated by Aboriginal Art while in Oz, so decided to do an 'Abo Senita' for today.

Happy Cactus Monday everyone.

Tangent: Oz Holiday

Wedding - intimate, personal, beautiful, loving, memorable

Wild beaches - wet, rough, grey, white, crashing

Weather - wild, warm, sweaty, cool, humid, wet, wet, wet

Statues - interesting, large, modern

Koalas and kangaroos - cuddly, warm, firm, woolly, cute

New memories - wedding, koala, beaches, rain, flight, cities, airports, people...

Tangent|: Gorilla Ocean

hahahahahahahahahaha, this one is soooooo funnnnnyyyyyyy.....

While in Oz, I saw a postcard of a magnificent ocean sort of melding into the surrounding areas of trees and sand, so decided to copy it in my own inimitable way (okay, okay bold way!)

Imagine my surprise when this huge gorilla eating a banana emerged?

Well, I just couldn't stop giggling, and my 'gorilla ocean' painting was born!

TGIF: Thank God it's Friday!

Tangent: Meet Avon

This is Avon. She was handed to me, and pissed all over my dress. Luckily she only eats eucalyptus leaves, so I smelt quite fragrant.
They apologised most profusely, and after cleaning myself up she was handed to me again for a cuddle. This is her in my arms. Isn't she too precious for words? Her two thumbs are very strong, yet she holds on very tenderly.
I left a bit of my heart with little Avon back in Australia.

Tangent: I AM BACK

Arrived home with a sigh of relief.

This pencil drawing took quite a few attempts. The Opera House is tricky, looks so straightforward, but I found it hard to draw.

THIS is how my holiday actually felt (to me). Don't know if I will ever be able to explain it all. Maybe it's just jet lag?....

Enough said for now.

Happy 2008 to you all in blogland.

Watch this space for my final 60b460 posts, as the birthday is drawing near now!

Tangent: Off to Oz

Finally,at last, I'm off to Oz to see the wizard (NOT). There were (lots of) times I never thought we'd get there.
(Did this picture a few weeks ago in preparation for this day!)
I leave tomorrow morning and after circling the globe three times, arrive in Brisbane, something like Christmas night, which is like 4 am in my stomach and 22 past 37 in my head!
Neil is only leaving here on Boxing Day as he still has a temperature, and I will wait for him in Brisbane getting over my jet lag, exploring and buying something to wear for the wedding (been too sick to care).

We will get to Byron Bay just in time for the wedding which is on 29th December at 5pm on the beach.Then we will have the next 12 glorious days to relax, unwind, refresh, recharge our batteries to enable us to face everyday life once more. The last 'real' holiday we had was in Thailand in 1997, so it's our decade anniversary!

I wish you and yours a wonderful festive season, and a very HEALTHY , happy 2008.

I wrote my first post on 6/7/07 and the last 6 months have been an incredible journey as I wend my way to 60. I have made new friends, been able to help a lot of people along the way, and 'grown' myself.

Big hugs to you all till we meet again in 'Blogland'.
FY

Tangent: Packing

With less than 24 hours till take off, we have had to make a decision. I (thank heavens) am well now, due to the correct diagnosis and steroid inhaler which has at last given me back an almost normal voice, energy and the desire to travel.

However, Neil is still ill, and had a high fever just 24 hours ago, is very weak with flu.
After lengthy thought and weighing the pros and cons, which is almost more exhausting than travelling itself, we have decided to pack anyway (slowly, to give him time to rest in between) and aim to be ready to leave for Heathrow by 7am tomorrow.
If he succumbs to yet another debilitating temperature, or worsens very suddenly, then all is in place for me to go alone (not my choice, but unaviodable).

When I said 'it ain't over till the fat lady sings', I thought she had sung her last aria for us, but it seems she has still more 'singing' to do.

As you can see, Snuffles is not very happy. She loves messing about in our half packed suitcases but gets this 'hangdog' expression in her eyes, woebegone and mournful. (Now I realise the origin of this expression, very apt.)
She will be staying with Steve (Mr P) and I know they'll have great time together, whether mournful or happy, walking in the park or lolling around at home, as long as she is fed and gets lots of cuddles, they will both benefit. (Confucious said ' he who cuddles, gets cuddles in return').

I'm sure he said that, didn't he?

Tangent: IT AIN'T OVER TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS

I have always liked the saying 'it ain't over till the fat lady sings'

IT AIN'T OVER TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS

We ARE going to Oz.

We HAVE managed to find two tickets on the 24th December.

We WILL be at our son's wedding.

We WILL get well in the sunshine!

IT AIN'T' OVER TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS

Tangent: Post Viral Bronchial Hyperreactivity

You may wonder why I painted a wishy washy watercolour of an African shepherd for this post.
The reason:
His dogged persistence, his unwavering faith in the weather, his sheep and his usual routine day in and day out.
He asks for no more than what he has.
He is solitary, firm in his beliefs, unchanging and reliable.

With my latest diagnosis (of course it's weird and wonderful, as I am a weird and wonderful person), I now have a steroid inhaler and a vague suggestion from the Doctor that I could (possibly) travel in 10 days time.....

That's too late for the wedding, but there are now 2 new tickets available in 6 days time....if I were preparedto take the risk....hubby is getting stronger, and won't go without me.....aaaaaaarrrrgggghhhh

Calm, calm, stay calm, think of that shepherd, breathe in and out calmly (no not like that, you're coughing and hacking again).......... think of the shepherd, one foot in front of another...one foot in front of another................

Tangent: Raw cough

After 8 weeks my bronchitis has changed to a raw burning throat, with difficulty in swallowing (since yesterday morning), a worsened cough and persistent laryngitis.

Having had 2 doses of antibiotics, 4 bottles of cough mixture, used an inhaler, dozens of paracetamols, and remedies such as steam inhalations, salt gargles and echinacea, I am worn down and worn out.

In less than 48 hours we take leave for Australia

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk