DECEMBER DOINGS

 Celebrations continue at the Red Cardinal nest, as we sail through the 'Most Wonderful Time of the Year', to quote the old song.

Yesterday was our Wedding Anniversary, and Mr. C surprised me with a potted Poinsettia plant, perfect for Christmas theming.

We went out for dinner and celebrated 53 years together... it seems an astonishing length of time, but we still feel young at heart and have lots of living to look forward to...

including a trip to Europe in 2025.

I had a birthday, not a milestone one, but happily enjoyed lunch with family or friends on not one, but three consecutive days.

Mr. C gave me this fun hand-held printer for instant photo prints to use in journaling.  I have always written travel diaries, often including sketches or small watercolours.  Now I can try something different, including a little photo with each day's diary notes.

Our son and his Irish wife recently took our small grandchildren to Ireland to meet their kinfolk.  They brought me these beautiful hand-crafted shamrock earrings, and sweet linen handkerchief.  Thank you so much...

Our lunch together was somewhat interrupted by a very heavy tropical storm, and to our amazement a flash flood occurred right outside the restaurant:

The water rose about knee deep in 20 minutes, such was the intensity of the rainfall.  The drains could not cope with the flow.  Several cars had to be quickly driven to higher ground.

Unsurprising, the two four-year-olds, wanted to go play in the water, bless them.  They had never seen a flood before.

This however, is out of the question.  The motto in Queensland is 'If it's flooded, forget it'... 

The rain stopped after about 40 minutes, and we were able to leave by the back entrance and walk back to our cars.

The staff were amazing, keeping everyone safe as the water surged into the restaurant whenever a car tried to drive past. 

I thanked them for the most exciting lunch I had had for quite some time...

Today I went into the city and the beautiful Brisbane Arcade, for lunch with my Sewing Sisters.  We have been meeting monthly for nearly 20 years to stitch and chat, seen each other through good times and bad, weddings, grandchildren, and loss of parents.

Old and good friends are so important.

Our dear friend D. brings a sweet tree and tiny Nativity to our Christmas lunch.  Always remember, the Reason for the Season...

There were Secret Santa gifts, cards, and special treats..

D. gave me the sweetest and most charming pink and bejewelled Fairy Christmas Owl.  Thank you so much, I love it!

Every year we remember our dear friend R. who made and gifted me the golden Angel hanging in our window.  She left us to join the Angels in Heaven just after Christmas seven years ago.  Never forgotten..

(Edited to add:  As requested by Kay G. below, here are two closeups of the golden Angel.  R. was a talented artist and enjoyed paper crafts.  The angel is collaged onto heavy card, and there are two fine wire wings over the paper lace ones.)

  Last year's Christmas Journal on the coffee table...

I have started another this year..

Le Giang, Vietnam. 'Majestic Mountains and Expansive Rivers'. Gemstone on acrylic.

 This work draws attention to illegal gem mining which ravages the landscape by open extraction mining.

The 11th Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art has opened this month at GoMA (Gallery of Modern Art) in Brisbane.

I work as a volunteer guide here every two weeks.

These are two highlights.  The exhibition continues until April 2025.

Kawita Vatanajyankur, Thailand. 'Shuttle' from 'Performing Textiles'

Interested in labour exploitation and infringements on human rights, Kawita presents videos of herself performing as part of the act of labour of women in the textile and agricultural industries.  She passes back and forth as a shuttle, a spinning wheel, and as a knitting needle.  The bright pretty colours are disarming .. and then you realise what is going on...

 I think we have now finished all our end-of-year Christmas gatherings for our various clubs and organisations.
It is time for the Summer holidays, which go until the end of January.
And I really do need to finish the Christmas shopping for the family...

Hope you are all well, and that your preparations are more advanced than mine...

XXXXX

NOVEMBER NOTES

 Time flies and it's already Mid-November ..

Summer heat has arrived along with a season of noisy thunderstorms.

Yesterday a storm rolled in around 5.30pm, and shortly after I took this photo we were plunged into darkness from the intense black clouds as heavy rain arrived, about an hour before normal Sunset.

Fortunately, we have not lost electricity from the almost daily show of thunder and lightning, but we always turn off appliances just in case.

A few years ago, lightning struck the house, and we lost computers, TVs, and even the iron which were plugged into the power.

Wasn't it lovely to see the Princess of Wales last weekend, at the Day of Remembrance concert and the military parade on Sunday morning.

She looks lovely, and so much healthier now following her cancer treatment.  Wishing her a happy and healthy future.

Happy Birthday to King Charles III who is 76 today.

He seemed to enjoy his recent trip to Australia, and also looks well after his year of treatment.

Agapanthus are in bloom...

Google image of a Wallaby

A few nights ago, our security camera captured a visitor to the porch:

a cute Wallaby (a small kangaroo) came up to our front door, had a look around, then eventually hopped back down the drive.

This is the first time we have seen one in our area, although there is bush about one km away.

Until we got the camera three years ago, we had no idea how many nocturnal visitors we have when we are fast asleep.

Cats are common, and there have been possums, reptiles, birds, dogs, and occasionally people! 

Yes, it is only November.

But I love an early Christmas, especially if I can entice the little grandies to come over and play around it.

Little Miss 2 loves a unicorn, and I found one just for her..

Tree memories of long-ago trips...

And gifts from lovely faraway friends..

Thank you dear Mary...

I have fallen away a bit on my junk journal obsession from earlier in the year, however am inspired to make a Christmas journal in Advent format, a daily page from December 1 to Christmas day.

I have collected a lot of cards and papers, hoping to show you when I manage to construct something.

Here's a rare pic of we two old Red Cardinals celebrating a birthday:

Happy Christmas preparations

XXXXX

Lego Christmas house ready to play

PRETTY LADIES

 This week Australia was host to special visitors.

 Our Head of State King Charles III arrived with Queen Camilla for a short visit on the way to a Commonwealth Conference in Samoa.

Sadly on this occasion the royal couple cannot visit Brisbane as originally planned due.  The King's ongoing Cancer treatment has meant he must curtail long and exhausting tours.

They arrived in Sydney on Friday night after the long flights from London, but still looked remarkably fresh.

Queen Camilla wore the Australian Wattle brooch, which was originally given to the late Queen Elizabeth II on her initial visit here in 1954.  The brooch came on each subsequent visit to our shores.

Back in 2016 I bought my own replica of the Wattle Brooch when we were in London.  Like many tourists, we went on the Buckingham Palace tour and ended up in their gorgeous gift shop.

Unsurprisingly, I ended up bringing home my own rhinestone version of this Australian designed white and yellow diamond brooch.

My mother told me about this piece when I was a little girl and I love to see tradition being maintained.

Sunday church in Sydney

Of course, I am always interested in the royal fashions.  Camilla has found her own style and always looks polished, understated and elegant, as befits her position.  The fact she is in my own age bracket makes me particularly interested in what works for her.

National War Memorial in Canberra

Parliament House, Canberra

National Botanic Gardens, Canberra

Greeting by Indigenous Australians

An Aussie Barbeque in Sydney

Cruise on Sydney Harbour

Final appearance at Sydney Opera House this afternoon.

There were numerous other meetings and visits over the five days: political and other particular interests for His Majesty, and several charities in which the Queen is involved.

The royal couple were well received by large crowds at designated events, and will need a rest day before the next leg of their tour.

From time to time, Camilla is seen carrying a Chanel handbag, lucky lady.

The occasional bottle of Chanel No 5 is as close as I get to touching on the amazing Chanel brand.

I recently went with a friend to see a new Ballet:

'Coco Chanel: the Life of a Fashion Icon', a performance by the Queensland Ballet.

We loved it, of course.

The Ballet was a full length production, covering all the major events of Chanel's very colourful life.

The following images are from Google Images:

The design of her logo

Another very enjoyable trip to the theatre was a 'date night' for the Red Cardinals.  

We went to see the lovely British actress and television personality, Joanna Lumley, live on stage talking about her life and travels.  In recent years she has been making wonderful documentaries as she goes to places such as India (where she was born), Japan, the Silk Road, the Spice Road, and many more.  Her charming personality was as evident on stage as in the series, and we loved every minute.  If you are interested in seeing far away lands, her travel shows make for very enjoyable viewing.

Hope you are all well.

Have a great week.

XXXX