THE GOLDEN YEAR CONTINUES

What a fabulous look for Duchess Kate, in gold for the premiere of the latest James Bond film, 'No time to Die'...

On the Red Carpet at the Royal Albert Hall, she glittered alongside husband Prince William, and Prince Charles and Camilla, also in sparkles...

Doesn't she look happy?

It has been 18 months since we saw the Duchess in a formal gown, and this Jenny Packham creation is a wonderful choice.  Film star glamour, and regal elegance ....

My goodness, she keeps herself slim...

Stars of the movie..

    
and a chat with James Bond himself, Daniel Craig.

Apparently he said 'You look jolly lovely' -

and she did..

  The Festival of Gold continues....

As mentioned previously on the blog, we are celebrating our Golden/50th Wedding Anniversary later this year.

Last Saturday, we joined a host of other couples wed in 1971, at a Golden Anniversary Mass and Renewal of Vows:

The Cathedral was packed, and it was a touching and lovely occasion.

The music was beautiful, sacred hymns popular at the time of our weddings, and finishing with Mendelssohn's Wedding March from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

I felt a little like a bride again....

I wore my best Golden linen dress, carried my favourite Camilla clutch:

and wore a beaded yellow headband...

I'm off for a tiny bit of surgery.

See you on the other side.

Be safe and take care

XXXXX

GREEN GLASS CANDLESTICKS AND OTHER ATTRACTIVE THINGS

Hello

Last week I returned to the house of my childhood, where I lived until I was sixteen.  It has been a rental property for a long time, and will be sold as part of my father's estate. It was recently the first anniversary of his passing - how time flies...

My parents built the house as their family grew, eventually having six children.

I was amazed to see the same bench-tops were still in the old kitchen.

My mother chose this design, and I remember it was called 'Parasol'..

Grey was chic then, as it is again now.
I stood in my old bedroom, and one wall is still painted in the same pale pink/lilac shade I chose for myself all those years ago, the little room where I studied for those high school exams...

I had forgotten the light switches - quite Art Deco in style..

Our Garden of Neglect surprised me with a pink gerbera -

well done...considering we did not even plant it there...

Bought myself a little reward gift from Lady Chatterley's Affair.

Her earrings are spectacular - I love the idea of a different posy for each ear..
If you would like to see her cute jewellery and homewares, look at ladychatterleysaffair.com.au

My 'prize' was for achieving the five-year mark as a cancer survivor, and I have 'graduated' from my oncologist/surgeon.  Of course, any worries and I can go back at any time.  It is a good milestone, and I am very grateful to be alive and in good health.

You knew I'd love Kate's rose pink dress and hat, didn't you?

Look at HM making eye contact with little Prince George.

She is amazing for 91, chic in pale blue..

Loved this white lace and frothy hat for Ascot too.

Such sad times in the UK, particularly London.  The world is in shock, but they carry on bringing some happiness and joy in dark times.

One would need nerves of steel, hoping nothing will go wrong.

Children's Art Centre, GoMA

We Cardinals have been enjoying 'Genius', the biography of Albert Einstein on National Geographic.

The series stars Queensland's own Geoffrey Rush brilliantly playing the mature Einstein...

I never studied science at school, more is the pity, and certainly could not explain the Theory of Relativity - but at least I am learning a few things.
I have downloaded the book onto my Kindle and am enjoying that too.

Have you seen it?

XXXX

LET'S DO CREAM

Hello,

I think it's time I took you on another trip to the GoMA...

Pinaree Sanpitak, Thailand, Womanly Bodies, 1998

Thai artist Pinaree Sanpitak has been obsessed by the female form, ever since she gave birth to her only child.
'Womanly Bodies' [1998] is both monumental and extremely delicate in form.

The organically shaped tubes, slightly bigger than 'lifesize', evoke non-specific perceptions of the womanly body.

They are made from rattan and soo paper, sourced from the paper mulberry bush found in Northern Thailand.  Its beautiful natural colour and texture, in delicate fibres, is emphasised by lighting from within.
The effect is very dramatic and feminine.

Apart from the idea of the female form as a vessel, giving life, carrying you through life and ultimately to death, 
one can also sense a Western idea of femininity:  the paper looks to me like white lace or petticoats, a crinoline, or a lacy umbrella.  
It is quite translucent, which does not really show in photos.

When not on exhibition, the installation is kept in frozen storage to prevent deterioration of the delicate fibres from insect damage.
Currently on display at GoMA, Brisbane.

Due to my own neglect, and a long hot Summer wearing flimsy and non-supportive sandals and heels, my feet have decided to complain.
They are now banished into sturdy flat shoes and orthotics, for most of the day.
So what does a girl do?
Go out and buy a new, pearlised pair of Noats, that's what.

They look nice with this new jersey dress I conjured up (Simplicity 1168 for those who are interested.  It has a very nice two-piece sleeve).
And I can run around the vast art gallery very easily in my new Grannie shoes...

Last week I went with M to the Queensland Opera -
Madama Butterfly...

So beautiful, so poignant,
the music is wonderful....

We were reduced to tears by the tragic tale of doomed love...

Here is a 2008 recording of the exquisite love duet, with Renata Scotto and Placido Domingo.  I like this one even more than 'One Fine Day'...

I'm going to miss Michelle Obama, here stunning in cream,

and Kate wore cream to yesterday's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.
But first, look at William's black silk top hat - I'd love to see my sons wearing something like that...
Kate's lovely outfit is a repeat from George's Christening;
and I still like it very much.
Wear a peplum while you still have a waist, I say...

Some kind readers have asked about my father:
he is continuing to decline, and it is sad to watch.
Sometimes the old Dad reappears - last week I showed him a picture of the Little Bebe of Canadian fame, now a most incorrigible three year old.
Dad gave me a beautiful big smile - it made my day.

Cherish the moment

XXXXX

A TOUCH OF PINK AND A FLOOD

Hello, lovely readers...

Duchess Kate has gone to the hospital - the world's attention moves to London..

and my new Geraldton Wax shrub had its first two tiny pink blooms today.

Could it be a sign?

These are my neighbour's roses..

and these are mine.  She wins!

I see the punters are predicting a girl, and the favoured name is Alice.

Princess Alice sounds pretty.

We chose Alice for one of our children, who turned out to be a boy.

That was back in the day when you never knew what you'd get until your baby arrived...

By the time you read this, we may already know!

Made these lemon crunch muffins today.

They are mouth-watering.

The recipe was featured on Shane's beautiful blog,

Roses, Lace and Brocante.  

Pop over and have a look - I'm sure you'll love it as much as I do - the recipe appeared 3 days ago.

Brisbane has been inundated by an abnormal rain deluge with violent storms over the past two days.

Flash floods everywhere, and high winds.

We are fine, but shockingly, there have been five people lose their lives in separate incidents in floodwaters.

There were dozens of rescues in just a few short hours - so sad.

Our creek has flooded overnight and remains high and swift-flowing.

I saw debris up to 4 metres above the current water level.

Nature can be harsh in Australia..

Last week we took my Dad (94, and still loves an outing)

to view a dam in the hinterland...

It is Autumn, so some trees are skeletal, and striking to see in the bright sunlight..

We found this interesting, rounded, sculpture...

which on close inspection turned out to be:

An Eagle!

I'm not doing a capsule travel wardrobe post..
done it before, always take the same things, and the only real decision made is which scarf to take.  Or beret, purchased in Paris for fun in Quebec.

However, I have been working on my system of packing the other essentials for a month of living out of a suitcase.
Inspired by a post on Tamera Beardsley, last year, I have followed her system, 
necessarily adding another couple of bags for medicals and the clear plastic on-board baggie for liquids required on international flights.
I like to be organised, and maybe, just once, I won't come home to find that something has disappeared somewhere along the way...


Wolf Hall is on TV tonight - we are still enjoying it.

Happy weekend 

XXXX