Happy New Year!

2010! It's here!

Wishing you all a wonderful 2010 and if you're in the Northern Hemisphere like me, hope you're keeping warm. If Down Under, enjoy the sun!

Another weekend of Craft Fairs

Mum and I had another weekend of Craft Fairs. The photos above are from the one in the stables of a Stately Home - it was an awesome craft fair and we did really well! I really love our Christmas Craft Fairs as I love Christmas so much and it's nice having Christmassy music playing and being surrounded by Christmas trees etc.

Two Craft Fairs two days in a row was brutal though.

The saddest news

Yesterday I found out the tragic news that my cousin, Patrick, had passed away aged 41. Patrick had a very aggressive form of MS, such a horrible disease.

When I first found out his diagnosis several years ago, I remember the shock. Unfortunately I never saw him in person after that moment although I was shown a photo which still haunts me. There literally wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think of Patrick, praying for a cure, for peace, for comfort. That day I also started supporting the MS Society and Stem Cell Research.

His family is amazing and as devastated as I am - and I am completely heartbroken - my heart hurts for them the most.

He was a fantastic person and he is sorely missed.

Clipper!

Me (with Australian flag), Mum (with Finnish flag), my aunt Christine (with Union Jack & St George's Cross)

My Aunt Christine, Mum and Dad (Dad in his Australian Rugby Shirt) all holding the Australian Flag.

The Red Arrows - Spectacular!
The Hull and Humber Yacht

The Australian Yacht in the middle

Today was the start of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race (leaving from Hull). Oh it was a FANTASTIC day. Perfect for sailing - all nice and blustery! And I think we had nearly all the Yachts covered between my Aunt, Mum, Dad and me (as we had the Finnish, Australian and English flags!) LOL!

It was fantastic and an amazing turnout - about 100,000 they thought. A really nice atmosphere too. The Red Arrow display was absolutely out of this world and lasted for ages too (we're so used to them doing a fly-by as they train up the Humber, it was nice to see them do so many tricks etc).

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! Can't wait to see all the boats back in ten months! (By the way ONLY the Skipper on each Yacht has any sailing experience ... the rest are complete novices!)

Walking with Dinosaurs - the Arena Spectacular

On Saturday night, Mum, Dad and I went to see Walking with Dinosaurs: The Arena Spectacular at Sheffield Arena and it was, in a word, SPECTACULAR!

The audience was filled with kids, families and adults alike and there was something for everyone. It was so much fun!

I thought it would be quite a static show but it was absolutely fantastic and I can't recommend it enough. The show is travelling the world and if it comes to your neck of the woods, I would recommend going.

The pictures I posted aren't the ones I took (I've yet to download them) but are from the internet and show the scale. You can't get it from the pictures but each dinosaur was awesome! Quite realistic!

Introducing Millie Grace

My cousin Steven and girlfriend Helen, had their first baby - a beautiful girl - on Friday 3rd July (at 1.12pm). A beautiful baby girl called Millie Grace. She was 7 pounds 4 ounces and she's just precious.

I know I am biased but I think she's adorable and such a good-natured baby. Here are some photos that I took of her today (aged 2 days old).

Millie with proud Dad, Steven

My Aunt Christine (Steven's Mum) with her new granddaughter Millie