Perfect Ending II

One of the joys of life is to spend time with members of your family, particularly when they live interstate and you don't see them as often as you'd love to.  So what has this to do with a headless skater?  Let's go back a few hours.



The perfect way to end a Twilight Market is to pack up and spend the evening in a city hotel, courtesy of your daughter.  Bliss.

Vegemite fingers for breakfast - luxury.

 

A quick look at the Myer Christmas windows

The Gallery of Modern Art has a brand new exhibition, 21st Century: Art in the First Decade which opened that morning and was top of the list of things to see and do.  Admission is free - hard to believe in this time of consumerism.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The first thing to greet us was this gigantic double slide, which had to be tested.  We older Fudges chickened opted out.
 



We noticed a room full of purple balloons which called for immediate investigation. 





 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 



 
 
 



 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ideal way to swim - no need to dry off.  We meandered through room after room of brilliant exhibits which were such fun for a five year-old, and her elders.  We stumbled upon a room full of hand-made bird's nests.

 

 

Fudgelet's contribution

What a marvellous inspiration this wall of ribbons is.  Children are encouraged to take one to wear on their wrist ...

Fudgelet randomly picked one which said, "I wish I had school every day", which was so appropriate for a little girl who had just finished her first year of school and told her parents a few days earlier that she wanted to start her new school year as soon as possible.

The children were asked to leave a wish of their own in the wall and our munchkin's wish was to be a fairy, which just beats being a princess, apparently.

We walked past the silver balls and the headless skater ...

... into the outer space room,

which does strange things to your dress!

It was time to go home to meet the cousins,

and open some early Christmas gifts.

One of our local little granddaughters was so proud of her sparkly red shoes.

As Dorothy would say, there's no place like home.

Perfect ending

I don't know about Miracle on 34th Street, but there was sure a miracle on King George Square on Friday evening.  Somehow, in the midst of the most appalling weather, a little window of calm descended on us as we set up for our final BrisStyle market for the year.

Mind you, the day wasn't without its traumas.  We had picked up our daughter and granddaughter from the airport and deposited them at their city hotel and were driving home to pack the car with Hot Fudge merchandise, clothes racks, lighting, etc, when the car threw a hissy half way home and had to be towed to the nearest repair shop.

Naturally, there was not a rental car to be found within coo-ee.  With a couple of hours to go to set-up time, panic didn't nearly describe it.  To cut a long and painful story short, our daughter came to the rescue with a hired car from the city - what an angel.

Even before the BrisStyle stalls were set up, the crowds started to gather.

Then the fun began.  Who could not love the roller-skating Christmas Tree decorations?  I believe that later in the evening the blue bauble was knocked off its feet and was seen rolling slowly down the square. 

In no time the serious shoppers dropped by and so the beautiful evening rolled on.  There was one slight hitch when some gusty wind blew in, but it didn't last for long.

The atmosphere was brilliant as happy shoppers mingled with the wandering musicians,

decorations (bauble back on its feet),

and the giant Christmas Angel, who held the children in awe.

My five and a half year old granddaughter strutted her stuff around the markets wearing her Hot Fudge Christmas knot dress, drumming up business.  What a trouper.  Together with her mother, they did some serious shopping and just about completed their Christmas list, as well as buying the odd adornment for themselves. 

So all's well that ends well.  We had another two wonderful days with our interstate visitors, but that's another story.

Put on a happy face

We had been warned, but at the back of our minds we didn't think it would happen.  The Brisbane Summer Mega Storm.  It happened.  Big time.

Early on, it wasn't too bad - just a lot of rain accompanied by lightning and the usual thunder.  The back looked a little water-logged, so we thought we ought to check the front.

Hmmm ... but not too bad.

Five minutes later - eek!



Then it became a tad dark and windy.

I was in the midst of preparing for our market tomorrow evening, but had to turn off the computer, iron, sewing machine, washing machine and dryer.   I was particularly upset that I couldn't continue ironing.












At least I had earlier finished the last of the Christmas Tree garlands.

No matter what the weather the BrisStyle Indie Twilight Market will take place, so don't let a little rain, wind or lightning deter you.  This will be the most wonderful market this year.  Promise.

Does anyone have the Drought Whisperer's mobile number?

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

Is it true that Hugh Jackman will be making a flying visit to the BrisStyle Indie Twilight Market on Friday evening?  Knowing my luck he will land smack bang into my marquee.

Someone else who is flying in on Friday is my interstate house model and logo, who will be swanning around the market modelling the Christmas dress seen here:

I hope she didn't see Hugh's effort on the news last night - I'd hate her to lose her nerve as she waits to launch herself from the City Hall clock tower.  No expense spared.

Four more Twilights

That's how many twilights are left before the Big T - the BrisStyle Indie Twilight Market and I'm at the breathing into a paper bag stage.  So many things to do ... so little time.  However, some things have been accomplished, thanks to a very willing and hard-working husband.

The wreath is on the door

The tree is up and lit

 


The Christmas Tree Angel has adorned the top of our tree for the past 35 years - wish I could hold my age as well as she has!



 













The house is ready for the invasion of the Fudge grandchildren next weekend.  All that is needed now is to finish off the Christmas Tree Garlands for sale at my stall at the Twilight Market on Friday evening. 

Now where's that paper bag?

If it's December it must be ...

PANETTONE.  We Fudges are serious panettone tin collectors from way back.  I don't know, we just love the look of them.  Of course, we are rather partial to the contents as well.  It's getting harder each year to find the tinned variety - most these days come in the ubiquitous cardboard packaging, which not the same.

Yesterday was our luck day.  We found this delightful tin which we brought home to join the rest of the panettone family, once the contents have been consumed.

To complete a very happy day, I joined some quilting friends for our annual Christmas lunch at a local restaurant. 

My Secret Santa just happened to be a gourmet cook.

Put your nose up to the screen and take a sniff.  Mmmm ...  How happy am I?  I don't have to make a Christmas cake this year - very happy!