Green Thumb in Training!

My new Primula ... potted to "perfection" and brightening my kitchen window!



There's a lot of thinking you can do when you're off work for months on end. Evenmore when you're housebound and bed-ridden. Not being able to do anything soon has you dreaming when you're fighting fit and back in the "land of the living".

As the days passed, I would dream about travelling or redecorating or new hobbies. So much so I started writing a list.

Be a gardener. Be passionate about gardening.  These two small things surprisingly wheedled their way onto my list. Where did they come from? In 36 years, I've never shown an interest (besides picking the one lone daffodil Mum painstakingly grew for five years in Australia ... by the head alone! It's STILL a sore spot...)

Fortunately I come from a long line of accomplished gardeners and before I knew it, I was surrounded with magazines, books, planners and a whole host of tools ready for when I can hit the ground running! It could be part "cabin fever", part "frustration" (at not being able to do anything at all) and part the yearning of a secret gardener inside of me. Whatever it is, I am REALLY excited to tackle this new hobby and as for right now, well I can't to snuggle down tonight and read more about pruning roses and preparing soil in this month's Gardener's World!

Kindle

Who would have thought but I have gone to the dark side. I got an Amazon Kindle for Christmas and I love it (to a freakish level!) (The picture, BTW, is not me but from the internet).

I LOVE IT (have I mentioned that?) and have already read 1.5 books on it.

HEAVEN!

What a Thoughtful Gift!

My friend Marleen sent me this fantabulous personalised gift of my favourite men - Elvis, Richard Armitage and Stephen Moyer from True Blood! Didn't it come out fabulous?! I have hung it in my bedroom near my Trent Willmon picture and autograph. I loooooooooooooooooooove it!!!

My "new" PJ pants

Not the most flattering picture and Lord knows what I am doing with my feet (LOL) but my Mum and Dad got me Elvis PJ pants as part of my birthday (back in April) and I love them. I already had Graceland PJ pants which I bought at Graceland but these are sooooooo my favourite!

WEENIE ELVIS!

Mum surprised me with two Weenie Elvis coasters! (or should that be two Weenie Elvi coasters?! LOL!) I looooooooooooooooooooooove them. I am going to use one for work and one for home. Cute, Cute, CUTE!

George gets some presents!

My car (BMW Mini), Gorgeous George, has gotten some goodies lately. Mum bought him the "Mini" bulldog from the showroom - I've named him Max - as well as an ELVIS SMILEY!!!! Eeeeek!! I love it and have hung it from my rearview mirror. She also got me an I Love My Mini aerial topper (in blue matching my car) which is on my aerial. I also have an I Love My Mini tax disc holder (no photos of the last two yet).

Last Day!

Yesterday I finished work and was given some beautiful gifts from my bosses and the girls in the office next door. I got a big bunch of flowers and a beautiful Sheaffer Pen & Pencil set. It was a really nice last day actually. Now I have nearly a full week off before I start my new job at the College. Yippee!

Aren't they BEAUTIFUL?!

My friend surprised me with a beautiful floral delivery last week when I got my new job (Yup! I have a new job! Squeeeal). I found out and told her via text and the next day these flowers were waiting for me when I got home - which is really sweet, thoughtful and IMPRESSIVE since she lives in America and I live in England. They are just BEAUTIFUL! I feel so special and it just makes this really exciting phase (new job), all the more exciting!

Thanks Karen!! You're one in a million!

Two delights of my weekend

Like any good girl, I have an unhealthy love for shoes and bags! I got a treat this weekend when Mum bought me a new handbag (see below). Scumptious! I love it and have been putting all my goodies in this arvo. Second unexpected delight of my weekend was the movie Penelope. Mum and I had a DVD-watching-fest and one movie stood out for me. Penelope. It was made by the same people who created Pushing Daisies which is one of my favourite shows and this movie was just fantastic. I really loved Christina Ricci, James McAvoy and Reese Witherspoon. In fact I liked it so much, I ordered it. (I was watching a rental copy).

A wonderful, fun, romantic adventure! Loved it!

Things I Love

My friend back home gave me a linen teatowel featuring the Gumnut Babies (by May Gibbs) as part of my Christmas present.

They are a really famous Australian childhood icon and story and I was so thrilled with it, I decided to frame and display it. A little piece of home here in my "new" home.

I bought the frame and framed the teatowel last week and I hung it today. Here are two pictures of it in place. As you come up the stairs, it's above your head (where you can't see it) but when you come out of my bedroom, it's directly in view (I took the pictures from my bedroom doorway). I wanted it somewhere I could see it alot as it's just so cute. I love it and it's nice having something so Australian too as I've been homesick.


Since we're talking about things I love, I am totally loving Hugh Jackman (which Mum and I called Huge Ackman because that's what his name sounds like ~ I know ... we're odd).


I'm still loving James Dean (have done since I was about 12!)



and I LOVE Elvis Presley, the King! This started when I went to Graceland last year and hasn't stopped (if anything my love is only growing). (I am drinking Elvis Mint Hot Chocolate out of an Elvis mug as I type!)

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Rock on 2009! I am really excited and enthused about the new year. It helps that I had a really lovely break over Christmas (finished at lunch on Christmas Eve and returned to work on 5th January). When I read my "stars" in the Sunday newspapers for 2009, I got a pleasant surprise. 2009 will be my year ;-) It said I will get a new job, meet someone while on holidays and get married quickly and by the end of the year. Oh WOW! It also said that I have been constantly battling the last few years but I get a break from this in 2009.


I don't actually literally believe in my "stars" but it is nice to read something positive at the beginning of the year ~ gets your mindset right!


By the way the new blog layout is thanks to Gena by the way. I love her work. Don't forget to check out her designs at http://knottymoosedesigns.blogspot.com/


Santa was VERY good to me this year! I GOT A NEW TV!! A flat screen, High-Definition, LCD Samsung TV (see picture below).



I bought my original TV from a supermarket and the picture was fading. Despite this I offered it to my Aunt (as a second TV) and she happily accepted. However when I took it over and plugged it in, it blew up! LOL! I guess it really WAS on its' last legs and I was even MORE thrilled to have gotten a brand spanking new TV from Santa.


Santa also bought me some UGG boots (genuine Australian Uggs). Not only am I Australian but I live in FUGGS (faux Uggs) so I was surprised (to tears!) to open a parcel and find brand new genuine Uggs waiting for me. I wear them ALL the time! (I am even tempted to sleep in them).
As well as Uggs and TV, I got some perfume (Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel), new iPod speakers (with a LCD screen built in so I can watch all the videos on my iPod), slippers, PJs, CDs (Amy Grant Christmas & Billy Currington's new one), DVDs (new X Files movie, Lost in Austen, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and Grand Ole Opry at Carnegie Hall), a gift voucher for Marks & Spencers (I bought two pairs of shoes for work), books ("Pottery Barn Storage & Display", "The Pirate's Daughter", "Marley & Me", "Plantations of the Low Country" plus more), jewellery and so much more. I can't recall them all right now. I was overwhelmed and humbled and I loved absolutely everything.


I also loved seeing the faces on my family as they opened the presents I got them. I bought heaps and loved spoiling them! Mum went especially mental over her beautifully carved angel wings (below) and her metal detector and Dad loved all his Top Gear goodies and electronic gadgets I bought him.


So since I had a new TV and some new DVDs to enjoy, I spent my Christmas break watching A LOT of TV. (I do mean a lot - I even got a migraine the first day!)

The movies / shows I loved the most were "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor".

I love the whole Mummy series and this didn't disappoint. I also ordered "Iron Man" off Sky (through my TV) on New Year's Eve and really enjoyed it.

So much so that at Mum and Dad's the next day, we rented it and watched it again.

I am also totalling loving "The 4400" and am almost finished Season Two. I have Seasons Three and Four to go!

I have organised to upgrade my Sky package to the HD (High-Definition) package so I make the most of my new TV. They are coming on Saturday 24th January and I can't wait! I've paid for everything now (the new Sky box and installation) so it shouldn't cost me anything extra on the day!

That's all I have to report for now. Haven't had much time for reading with all the TV watching but I am about halfway through "The Witching Hour" by Anne Rice.

Again, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I love this mug!

As it so happens, I am already a fan of Emma Bridgewater (I love her "Daniel Craig" teatowel) but this is one of my favourite mugs. I first spotted it for a friend of mine (a bookworm) and have been waiting for an excuse to buy it for myself ~ but Santa beat me to it! I absolutely love it .... and it's so true!

My Little Girl

Thanks Carolyn!!!! I love it!

Sunflowers

This weekend my neighbours asked if I would look after their cats while they went away. Of course it wasn't a problem (their cats are so easy to look after). When they came back, they brought my this lovely bunch of sunflowers. Aren't they lovely (both the sunflowers and my neighbours).


I actually took it easy this weekend as I'm full of cold. I caught up on my Sky+ and watched the last ever episode of Third Watch.

Sniff. It was really good too!! I loved that show and I thought they wrapped it up really well. It's sad knowing there won't be any new episodes.

A Day Of Goodies!!

Pleasure is spread through the earth
In stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.
~William Wordsworth, 1806~

Stray gifts have made their way to me over the last 24 hours. Life is wonderful that way. Let me backtrack for a moment.....

...... I work for a small organisation and at present have two (soon to be four) bosses. My office is in a beautiful country estate and I overlook peacocks, rabbits and an array of beautiful birds. It's peaceful and beautiful. The work has always been challenging and interesting but lately has become more and more stressful.

The company is going through a transition and one of my bosses has asked me to take on some work that at present, his PA does (who works for another company). I was told it was going to be seldom and low priority. She was told it was going to be urgent and all-encompassing. Perhaps she was having a bad day of her own but she approached me with guns blazing and everything went from bad to worse.

I came home, bedraggled, stressed and wondering where I go from here .... and found not only my wonderful cat ready to let me pat him (a cure for stress in itself) but a surprise parcel from a friend filled ....

....this book by Val McDermid. She's a bookworm like me and really enjoyed the story and knows I also like thrillers. The thrillers I normally read are set in America so it will be a nice change to read one set here in England!

She also included some Dove Dark Chocolates (individually wrapped). (Now you know she knows me really well - I LOVE chocolate!) With the day I had under my belt, I scoffed them pretty quick and was surprised to find a lovely thought written into every wrapper! I have added these to my list of things to buy when I am next in America - not only was the chocolate lovely but I really like the idea of the promise in every chocolate. It's like a surprise gift.

As well as the book and chocolate, she also sent me a really cute I Love My Cat magnetic photo frame (which is already on my 'fridge, just waiting for a picture of Marshall).

It was such a surprise and a real boost to boot! The gifts were all wonderful and I loved them but knowing I have friends who care is worth so much more.

Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things.

~Author Unknown~

A good friend is cheaper than therapy.

~Author Unknown~

So feeling lighter and loved, I had a lovely long soak in my bath listening to Big & Rich's "Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace" and vowed not to let myself get bogged down by stress. After all, everything works out in the end. So I chilled out, in my PJs and watched JUMPER.

A genetic anomaly allows a young man to teleport himself anywhere. He discovers this gift has existed for centuries and finds himself in a war that has been raging for thousands of years between "Jumpers" and those who have sworn to kill them.

Let's just say it at least passed the time ;)

I knew my other boss, Steve, was coming into the office today and bringing his brother (one of my new bosses) and I needed to stop at the store on the way to work to get essentials (milk etc). While browsing the aisles, I stumbled upon the same DAB (Digital Radio) and iPod docker that my Dad has (and is awesome) .... and reduced in price.....
Hello people?! It's a sign, right?! I HAD to get it...... never fear, I DID buy it. Eventhough I bought it for home (to use as my clock radio / alarm clock) I have it plugged in and turned on now and can I say ..... it's the new love of my life ;) It's fabbydoo! I love it.

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
~Berthold Auerbach~

You'd think that was enough for any gal .... but the gifts keep coming! My boss Steve arrived (introduced Andy who was really nice) and then gave me a belated Birthday present!!!!
Dr Hauschka's Daily Body Care Kit!!! In it is Quince Body Moisturiser, Rose Body Moisturiser, Hand Cream, Blackthorn Body Oil, Rose Body Oil, Lemon Bath, Rose Body Wash and Blackthorn Body Wash. How nice is THAT??! He hasn't given me a Birthday Present since my 30th (which is more than OK) but it just meant it was a complete surprise .... He said he thought it would come in handy on all my travels but I plan on trying it out tonight :)

There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure,
but I don't know many of them.
~Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar~

So all in all, in spite of the stress, it's been a wonderful 24 hours!

P.S. I also applied for a new job today that sounds really amazing.