A Baptism and a little Gilbert & Sullivan

Springtime in Sydney - oh how I miss those blossoms

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT getting straight back on the saddle when you fall off, but for us it was straight back onto the plane just days after Jet Lag Recovery. The purpose for the (thankfully) short flight was to attend our youngest grandchild's baptism.

Daniel blissfully slept his way through the whole ceremony, even when the christening gown was hurriedly donned half-way through the process. The gown was made by my mother 39 years ago and it has been worn by our children and grandchildren. And perhaps it will last into the next generation - my late mother would be chuffed. Mind you, Daniel wasn't the only one asleep - Big Brother also found it hard to keep his eyes open.

It was a joyous occasion, with family and friends gathering later at the guest-of-honour's home, where a veritable feast was laid out before us.

Big Sister was intrigued with the puzzle Mr Fudge and I brought back for her from The Louvre...

... but the favourites were the masks from Hanover.

Ah, bliss.

It's hard to believe that the chubby, healthy four and a half month-old baby who greeted us in Sydney not that long ago looked like this.

I have been a Gilbert & Sullivan fan since my teen years, when I took part in a high school production of The Gondoliers, fresh out of copyright and straight into just about every high school in the country. Imagine my delight then when my brother advised that he had tickets for the three of us to see Opera Australia's production of The Mikado at the Sydney Opera House. Everyone should have a brother like mine.

The theatre was packed to the rafters and I couldn't resist sneaking a quick picture during interval. Naughty. It was a brilliant production and fully deserved the sold-out performance - pure joy.

So now here we are back to reality in warm, sunny Brisbane and it's time to hit the ground running. With our BrisStyle Christmas Market looming alarmingly close and being away from the sewing machine for such a long break, it was time to get cracking.

Amongst the fabrics which I purchased in Paris (ooo ... the Paris textile district ... oooo) was this adorable fabric which was begging to be made into a sailor suit.

It will be up in my Etsy shop later today, but methinks it will be a one-of-a-kind, as it took AGES to complete.

But at least one thing is for sure - I'm back in the saddle again and it feels great.