Homecoming

Home.  Four little letters that mean so much when your loved one has been in hospital with major heart surgery.

Last Monday week Tony underwent triple bypass surgery which took over six hours.  Our two girls and my brother helped so much through the stressful time and the phone never stopped ringing with an anxious interstate son and friends near and far wanting to know how he was progressing.  Much to the amazement of the medical staff, he came through it so well that six days later I was able to pick him up and bring him home.  It was Australia Day - how appropriate was that?  Of course, he is still a little fragile and there are weeks of rehab ahead, but he has made such wonderful progress.

We have had a steady stream of visitors and telephone calls since Tony's return home.  Yesterday he had the first visit from our Sydney grandchildren who came with their Welcome Home card. They were so happy to see him, although the beginnings of a white beard threw them a little.

Later in the day some dear friends arrived briefly with the most beautiful bunch of Summer Red Eucalyptus. We are indeed blessed to have such wonderful and caring family and friends and we never take them for granted.

Next week I will get back to sewing, but for now I am content to have Tony slowly but surely getting stronger.  It will be our 44th wedding anniversary in a few days and we will happily celebrate quietly.  At home.

Australians all let us rejoice

It's Australia Day.  It's our favourite sort of day, a public holiday.  It has been raining for days over the eastern seaboard, causing flooding to many areas, only a short twelve months since the devastating floods of 2011.  Despite the unfriendly weather, the nation came together as one to celebrate Australia Day in style.

We spent the day with some good friends, starting with a traditional Aussie lunch of delicious barbecued lamb.

After dessert, it was time to work it all off with a game of backyard cricket.

Hats were thoughtfully provided as the sun started to break through the clouds.  After a drawn match, it was time for that other traditional game ...

Boules.  Boules?  Well, it's traditional in some parts of the world and that's all that matters.

Mr Fudge used his baseball toss, which wasn't quite cricket, but very effective all the same.

The tape measure was called for ...

... and the winner congratulated.

Wherever you are, happy Australia Day!

Australia Day

It's Australia Day and once again my name has failed to appear in the Honours List.  Quite disappointing.  Still it's a public holiday, so that's some consolation.

To celebrate our national day, the Sydney Etsy Team has organised a nationwide Australia Day promotion.  Teams from all around the country are participating - the Down Under Street Team (DUST), the Sydney Etsy Team, the MadeOnTheLeft team from Perth, and our own Brisbane team, BrisStyle. 

This is one of the dresses in my Etsy shop which sells for $US50, but with the Australia Day promotion is discounted 20% to $40.  All items in my shop will be on sale at 20% discount between 26 and 31 January, so now is a good time to get some bargain shopping done.  To receive the discount, simply enter the discount code ausday20 in the coupon code space during checkout between 26th-31st.

The only items in my shop which I would prefer the code not to be entered are the two dresses which are headed BRISSTYLE HANDMADE ARK FLOOD APPEAL, as the proceeds of these sales will go directly to the Handmade Ark Flood Appeal and I would like them to receive the full amount.


You can read full details on how to get some really fantastic bargains here. 

No matter where you are, have a very happy Australia Day!