top ten pictures from the week ~ 31 May 11

<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have my grumbly-bum pants on as I'm writing this.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_ZSDOPh0nC7m_DplnskFS8hGtn3SXvs1xaswwTqEgQC51m5WBjPmNz7vGHeZy_A3Cn4_N_8HFS8dCxBvU5tQionjZeG1sfnkSh-f3__LSC3t-P_FSL1WTTw-wswC9LrypwOH22jtcVpr/s1600/via+bohemian+hunter2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_ZSDOPh0nC7m_DplnskFS8hGtn3SXvs1xaswwTqEgQC51m5WBjPmNz7vGHeZy_A3Cn4_N_8HFS8dCxBvU5tQionjZeG1sfnkSh-f3__LSC3t-P_FSL1WTTw-wswC9LrypwOH22jtcVpr/s640/via+bohemian+hunter2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">via <a href="http://bohemianhunter.blogspot.com/">bohemian hunter</a></span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I worked all weekend...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcqfhiUsXj9NJ-xyjJEGSRA3Nc__ShP7PAJnTEtMXorRKIbdzJjmvr9qwSh75uTSr-M1W-Hn7BuPoh_FKMhFhO81P2c42Yj3L-Lfhfe72MXTliGwQFhgb9xi5WhU4XjTWz5oenmt4AKDT/s1600/via+the+seventy+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcqfhiUsXj9NJ-xyjJEGSRA3Nc__ShP7PAJnTEtMXorRKIbdzJjmvr9qwSh75uTSr-M1W-Hn7BuPoh_FKMhFhO81P2c42Yj3L-Lfhfe72MXTliGwQFhgb9xi5WhU4XjTWz5oenmt4AKDT/s640/via+the+seventy+tree.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">via the seventy tree</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">yes really...all weekend</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKQCJw2XR9z_X3t8ztoE7gMX8cmuYgMl02LmiVRKCD0AFcXIPO8CFyJAifj0i3QsMoW_SAwoABCaoucNpKFbVeXCEhY2PeGlVHvGPbKCjqV8dvLnMmEPBhwmaErarry30LESjsZhFlzHO/s1600/matthew+patrick+smythe+via+if+the+lampshade+fits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKQCJw2XR9z_X3t8ztoE7gMX8cmuYgMl02LmiVRKCD0AFcXIPO8CFyJAifj0i3QsMoW_SAwoABCaoucNpKFbVeXCEhY2PeGlVHvGPbKCjqV8dvLnMmEPBhwmaErarry30LESjsZhFlzHO/s640/matthew+patrick+smythe+via+if+the+lampshade+fits.jpg" width="530" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">matthew patrick smythe via <a href="http://ifthelampshadefits.blogspot.com/">if the lampshade fits</a></span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From 10 am till 5.15 pm on Saturday.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfOdtBPfSkMmlxzpwO4HNPtKT9DIGYdvZuHAvY7wxPRA_cZEbVQP0lTdzK-2FdaRuQnLlmf8CNhjQrFAguVoEtm9gOB0foduMOgvqeq-29yqkYQlD2a0E_qBxF0q1mRlSFEOQ_OqhqR31/s1600/by+naomi+at+design+manifest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfOdtBPfSkMmlxzpwO4HNPtKT9DIGYdvZuHAvY7wxPRA_cZEbVQP0lTdzK-2FdaRuQnLlmf8CNhjQrFAguVoEtm9gOB0foduMOgvqeq-29yqkYQlD2a0E_qBxF0q1mRlSFEOQ_OqhqR31/s640/by+naomi+at+design+manifest.JPG" width="406" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">naomi from <a href="http://designmanifest.blogspot.com/">design manifest</a> (her place)</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">stopping only because the fella was coming for dinner and there was no food in the house so I had to go and get some.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgELOP5Y32pfBFQ7Px-O2V0dVW0Y-BdXvR0mLiNl-awF7G2sygrzGbkp4KQSyDMDbIJp46v4UvW8KCev9gOkEwYenL9vcOdTtMw9_pNi7eEiaJwdsrqN9zI-csH3Li-s9GANQ5kVDXTwS/s1600/by+janis+nicolay+pinecone+camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgELOP5Y32pfBFQ7Px-O2V0dVW0Y-BdXvR0mLiNl-awF7G2sygrzGbkp4KQSyDMDbIJp46v4UvW8KCev9gOkEwYenL9vcOdTtMw9_pNi7eEiaJwdsrqN9zI-csH3Li-s9GANQ5kVDXTwS/s640/by+janis+nicolay+pinecone+camp.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">by janis nicolay, <a href="http://pineconecamp.blogspot.com/">pinecone camp</a> </span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">then from 7.30 am till 5 pm on Sunday...ludicrous, absolutely ludicrous!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDar8w_V66Pe5d7IBM2J-zTey3kOAfAPHjAIi1iyjcCwwkNO-hcLbHyb7KGP8osD6r2Ed5W7XymLEL6j0nfmUe1mCVN4AVx4NgwsFkzKn9K-nD-Ncz3-WzhMUFDvL3jUXT2iOBIPzIHas/s1600/via+bohemian+hunter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDar8w_V66Pe5d7IBM2J-zTey3kOAfAPHjAIi1iyjcCwwkNO-hcLbHyb7KGP8osD6r2Ed5W7XymLEL6j0nfmUe1mCVN4AVx4NgwsFkzKn9K-nD-Ncz3-WzhMUFDvL3jUXT2iOBIPzIHas/s640/via+bohemian+hunter.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">via <a href="http://bohemianhunter.blogspot.com/">bohemian hunter</a></span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a very full on working week. Consequently I don't have ten pictures.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimVDZWDU2lCiIyXEZvOF51PKhtg6Kr-MqDE3hokfonOjc49DZ_kMHdlLB4NbkNHspBdNRVrrDA2z5_7xVR_UGWTnKB9UdHcH6aKpWXgXC863lNmMtBFd2gA_JSPuVtH1mYqv-8pcZbgyv/s1600/via+design+junkies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimVDZWDU2lCiIyXEZvOF51PKhtg6Kr-MqDE3hokfonOjc49DZ_kMHdlLB4NbkNHspBdNRVrrDA2z5_7xVR_UGWTnKB9UdHcH6aKpWXgXC863lNmMtBFd2gA_JSPuVtH1mYqv-8pcZbgyv/s640/via+design+junkies.jpg" width="614" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">via <a href="http://designjunkiesonline.blogspot.com/">design junkies</a></span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...nor have I done anything remotely crafty, creative or relaxing. Not happy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps next weekend.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, grumbling done...thanks for listening :)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div>

top ten pictures from the week ~ 31 May 11

I have my grumbly-bum pants on as I'm writing this. via bohemian hunter I worked all weekend... via the seventy tree yes really...all ...

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see ya...I'm off!

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well bloggy peeps...today is the day. Hope it's a flight in this groovy one...but I suspect not :)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj80vuf4CgqMgKcjnXqZGhTxFxpU81Iv1ULaqXahyphenhyphen1vLVC89-BhINCo8Jrx__AsZGfjepd_7cB8NXKmHGh76JtFG_VOQh8yu_xmbN1zbi21rl6qkySmp26b5ZQRoe0FxljDw7oBh52oD5/s1600/Boeing+747-400+Qantas+Wunala+Solo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj80vuf4CgqMgKcjnXqZGhTxFxpU81Iv1ULaqXahyphenhyphen1vLVC89-BhINCo8Jrx__AsZGfjepd_7cB8NXKmHGh76JtFG_VOQh8yu_xmbN1zbi21rl6qkySmp26b5ZQRoe0FxljDw7oBh52oD5/s640/Boeing+747-400+Qantas+Wunala+Solo+3.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And depending what time you're reading this...I'll either be:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a. running around like a chook with its head cut off trying to get out of the door and make it to the airport on time;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">b. rummaging in my bag making sure I've got the essentials: passport, credit card, phone and iPad...because after all what else could I possibly need where I'm going;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">c. in the air on planes of various types and size;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">d. navigating my way around different airports...two out of four that are completely foreign to me (pun intended!); or </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e. several of the above.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This first week, while I'm working in Washington...(and earning my right to the second week swanning about in NYC)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJc5dVQpuKJfcrIwgMz4mNfmauUJaNuHb_m4edrF9oxIfoCNeIDcCMwK82U_JkCGonyW6D58a1t9gKxk8cQOxaQ2_Dr6miFiFEvgNjH_4ny8VUHRkxuxS4IhdzSgpWoZSV5b1qcbHt0ma/s1600/swan+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJc5dVQpuKJfcrIwgMz4mNfmauUJaNuHb_m4edrF9oxIfoCNeIDcCMwK82U_JkCGonyW6D58a1t9gKxk8cQOxaQ2_Dr6miFiFEvgNjH_4ny8VUHRkxuxS4IhdzSgpWoZSV5b1qcbHt0ma/s640/swan+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...I won't be posting but I've left the virtual townhouse in the very kind and capable hands of these lovely people:</span><br /><br /><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lonadeanna.blogspot.com/">Anna</a> (Tuesday)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://therubieplace.blogspot.com/">Tina</a> (Thursday)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://driftwood-interiors.blogspot.com/">Kerri</a> (Saturday)</span></li></ul><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">City girl, country girl, coastal girl...clever travelling metaphor huh? Thanks. I thought so :) Watch out for their posts. I'm so grateful that they've taken time out of their very busy lives to do this, and you'll be pleased to know I've resisted the urge to throw in a few wisecracks in their posts...they would have been at my expense of course, but still! I'm sure you'll be as lovely to them as you always are to me. Hopefully I'll have some time this week to pop into your blogs...but it sort of depends on how hard the Yanks make me work :) </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See you when I get to New York (in my head it's always, but always said like Oprah would say it!)</span><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></span></a>

see ya...I'm off!

Well bloggy peeps...today is the day. Hope it's a flight in this groovy one...but I suspect not :) And depending what time you're re...

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the art of mixing work and pleasure...

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those of you who pay attention to the detail will know that I'm part owner of a HR company here in Canberra. I don't write about work much because I like to keep things separate. Plus a lot of my work colleagues read this blog and I therefore always have to keep it nice...which as we know with work...is not always possible :)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiwRufI5ocL1j4vK0-Qg0gJVYIpVRopyOCjqBgwRLAV7f9dj9zE_iErbZSlq9TLY6l_bc78HPK8O02NEu-KHbdWjzzh9QvMaUpP0RfAD_ar9mpkqjd2w5Tuw9zDD-OjqZiJf0ms5Q45Xm/s1600/work+hard+and+be+nice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiwRufI5ocL1j4vK0-Qg0gJVYIpVRopyOCjqBgwRLAV7f9dj9zE_iErbZSlq9TLY6l_bc78HPK8O02NEu-KHbdWjzzh9QvMaUpP0RfAD_ar9mpkqjd2w5Tuw9zDD-OjqZiJf0ms5Q45Xm/s400/work+hard+and+be+nice.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/4939917">here</a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, sometimes I get so proud of who we are and the way we roll that I have to share.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5tKBs_FZIpbQP2shSRJyAo-cWPHG4YwR_GjWanPSLMrXt7uS_uNH9mr6KLLIcGlj-UaboOdMldmf7k4jFsB2hzslTPLNDUjnXvXMEpEYbYtGEK2edN2aq9CXoDV-IshExWbkBvkMbWv2/s1600/no+success+without+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5tKBs_FZIpbQP2shSRJyAo-cWPHG4YwR_GjWanPSLMrXt7uS_uNH9mr6KLLIcGlj-UaboOdMldmf7k4jFsB2hzslTPLNDUjnXvXMEpEYbYtGEK2edN2aq9CXoDV-IshExWbkBvkMbWv2/s400/no+success+without+work.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/4580158">here</a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Friday we took the company on a bit of a magical mystery tour. We started off on a bus at 6.15 (at least it wasn't a Monday) to go to Bowral to do a bit of planning. And we did...I have the good old butcher's paper to prove it!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4fyPQO7Bl3uGJ0CON2Ows0_m1kvE9cmeQvdCm6VJ2TdHCbQBjs9LUlfjcIgiE56QnQ37q2rIcHfeOxtHjKRDI70M2DM58H_lOXk21coNPMUxR-nwLEejNNHMxxiXe11T4E8dLPscPoPo/s1600/planning.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4fyPQO7Bl3uGJ0CON2Ows0_m1kvE9cmeQvdCm6VJ2TdHCbQBjs9LUlfjcIgiE56QnQ37q2rIcHfeOxtHjKRDI70M2DM58H_lOXk21coNPMUxR-nwLEejNNHMxxiXe11T4E8dLPscPoPo/s640/planning.gif" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/6632027">here</a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then, back on the bus and we were on our way to the big smoke for a bit of a surprise (mind you, it was the worst kept secret in company history, but we managed to keep it from a few). </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FrOl-lGxVppYtHrdAl_k5E1s7N0pEAPBpXF1vm0y3EXKEQNLLzZJoplj4v1NjWlteFQo3v_pyZ_UvpJ6aiOtk-cVofn5TmW76QRmchEu3ZU5bgIrmpl2GsiERPc1LoWSIFLDY9MD4W3n/s1600/sydney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FrOl-lGxVppYtHrdAl_k5E1s7N0pEAPBpXF1vm0y3EXKEQNLLzZJoplj4v1NjWlteFQo3v_pyZ_UvpJ6aiOtk-cVofn5TmW76QRmchEu3ZU5bgIrmpl2GsiERPc1LoWSIFLDY9MD4W3n/s640/sydney.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/6439930">here</a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the surprise was going to see Jersey Boys...the musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_FV1ifKUSWXXmwmh9Z6cCUZfjtsZc4UpUuTL8iRfYW739yaFipmw8n0ussyMRQOZASkAYdMLU5po3xFQp0PxxHuuzCji_WMT-_iVViqX1qNzsDNjzsFx-UOX4TmdFij1tWtbGYWL_i0Y/s1600/jersey+boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_FV1ifKUSWXXmwmh9Z6cCUZfjtsZc4UpUuTL8iRfYW739yaFipmw8n0ussyMRQOZASkAYdMLU5po3xFQp0PxxHuuzCji_WMT-_iVViqX1qNzsDNjzsFx-UOX4TmdFij1tWtbGYWL_i0Y/s640/jersey+boys.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was an absolute blast...especially of the 'from the past' kind. Although not quite old enough to remember the early songs, I definitely remember the 70s stuff. In fact, some of it takes me back to particular places in time really easily...</span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nDxhugRKZ8g" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...that boat trip party on the Brisbane River in 1977 especially! A boy called Justin. But that's a whole other story ;)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, it was really nice for the owners of the company (there are four of us) to do something for our very hard working staff. They enjoyed it. We enjoyed being able to make it happen. And it just goes to show that work can be a bit of ok when all the stars are aligned :)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I also got to make a brief trip to Newtown on Saturday morning to see the first born's new digs (v. nice) and a saunter up King's Road. Where most of the shops I wanted to go into weren't open until 11 a.m., which alas was the time the bus was heading home. Still, I did manage to buy a new cushion...where there's a will and all that :)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here's one of my favourite old time songs to finish off with...Frankie Valli's first solo hit...it's just beautiful. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And if everyone's not happy at work on this Monday, I give up!!</span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_HJ7w9MTCqs" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

the art of mixing work and pleasure...

Those of you who pay attention to the detail will know that I'm part owner of a HR company here in Canberra. I don't write about wor...

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Star City...what a pity

<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm here for the next two days...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesh7Fs4Ob07Q4Y5_oELx61xSK0UKJsess7ZFmFV-c7MkbKAsAfGWKhZN3_qEwX7BBavn4GC71yE2Gbzuxu4kSeJqURUH7O8L1Eh9ZdWJzYDkAUuk2Bf8MeKTraTr42rQcf6LocGSRR9ej/s1600/star-city-casino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesh7Fs4Ob07Q4Y5_oELx61xSK0UKJsess7ZFmFV-c7MkbKAsAfGWKhZN3_qEwX7BBavn4GC71yE2Gbzuxu4kSeJqURUH7O8L1Eh9ZdWJzYDkAUuk2Bf8MeKTraTr42rQcf6LocGSRR9ej/s400/star-city-casino.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">yep...a casino</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM6X1XOtXj1D3PRYt40gwkKRqjiY9odsjIMIFA6dyxGmBBM2L_MM4peWSoah60h4O-FjgNtcAkGLC9Begp7aDGsyZpKujQW_17vnS0AKludy4td_5mJyD_gGL6oSo5DS1dm40dfYMmBe0/s1600/Star-City-Casino-Limousine.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM6X1XOtXj1D3PRYt40gwkKRqjiY9odsjIMIFA6dyxGmBBM2L_MM4peWSoah60h4O-FjgNtcAkGLC9Begp7aDGsyZpKujQW_17vnS0AKludy4td_5mJyD_gGL6oSo5DS1dm40dfYMmBe0/s1600/Star-City-Casino-Limousine.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">working with a client...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">with connections to this place. For.no.other.reason. Nope. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At least I don't have to sleep here...the first born's putting me up.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not doing this...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavTAcSrCCxeobx03q9TsnPo-JUSSX8SRUCh1FE30DRQYVa1R4fs4l5ZQdVxSlAAxr0p56TGXzXzH-kKc6sHoz-3BYpbCg05ExUsbA0dwyIQKuo5MQYQ7_Yn8L6mwgq_SaqgfhQVDVZJer/s1600/StarCityCasinoroulette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavTAcSrCCxeobx03q9TsnPo-JUSSX8SRUCh1FE30DRQYVa1R4fs4l5ZQdVxSlAAxr0p56TGXzXzH-kKc6sHoz-3BYpbCg05ExUsbA0dwyIQKuo5MQYQ7_Yn8L6mwgq_SaqgfhQVDVZJer/s400/StarCityCasinoroulette.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or this...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfZwFtFNVKrizcFo1eu8gSXqrIbg5kmPWjMlW8K7SI0-tej3CWpZEyxwHyoLxBTbxRKfyEtuhAOmWmKAn5UYmnNCoJbVhlPAe5UC7aL1uKtOzFo2AUSjK1pwXWfWQIz77hS_P7FIbxFXh/s1600/blackjack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfZwFtFNVKrizcFo1eu8gSXqrIbg5kmPWjMlW8K7SI0-tej3CWpZEyxwHyoLxBTbxRKfyEtuhAOmWmKAn5UYmnNCoJbVhlPAe5UC7aL1uKtOzFo2AUSjK1pwXWfWQIz77hS_P7FIbxFXh/s400/blackjack.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or even this...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16SoefuB2DFScu4lIUsJyMzN2z-AJpewSYqmmJ3yi4Iedq585TPPhyphenhyphenxS_1hrkNWaqIw3Ar_s2-qToWBKzsXV-DgkcZkr-zv0dIftkgUxuWVFZC19vb7RZOwKtwS_0VKjRBveArvHyRhdX/s1600/gambling-420x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16SoefuB2DFScu4lIUsJyMzN2z-AJpewSYqmmJ3yi4Iedq585TPPhyphenhyphenxS_1hrkNWaqIw3Ar_s2-qToWBKzsXV-DgkcZkr-zv0dIftkgUxuWVFZC19vb7RZOwKtwS_0VKjRBveArvHyRhdX/s400/gambling-420x0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">because apart from anything else, I doubt that this would go very far...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6IfaRQ56VQencq2vZQBpIVtynrNpVWYRjriv80we1PH2utBa1qJOTLlcTsLZxhKJOanon0AaZVPKhm0Kdj3bietHzX0qf93mqar2KPBAhMnMiBrm-Vmv1ADcKVmxiHXEd1dFMCr17DYF/s1600/_2.50_Star_City_Casino__Sydney_Austrailia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6IfaRQ56VQencq2vZQBpIVtynrNpVWYRjriv80we1PH2utBa1qJOTLlcTsLZxhKJOanon0AaZVPKhm0Kdj3bietHzX0qf93mqar2KPBAhMnMiBrm-Vmv1ADcKVmxiHXEd1dFMCr17DYF/s320/_2.50_Star_City_Casino__Sydney_Austrailia.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As it's Wednesday, I should be at home doing a bit of this...I've been asked for a blue and white <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-creative-spacesome-finished-things.html">pincushion</a>...bit excited about that</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0d1OWaw6XaotWvu9G1Q2nB2jHi4a5ixpqVfZaFphAZo2urVcZDGdjPZt2POpQNU8vYE3JPyaKApS03UEiJ_He9a2mWMj_q57e6bZfge_4r1tpoQXJ2gILagU9TjUPTblUVmjquxq9KDHg/s1600/blue+and+white+pincushion+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0d1OWaw6XaotWvu9G1Q2nB2jHi4a5ixpqVfZaFphAZo2urVcZDGdjPZt2POpQNU8vYE3JPyaKApS03UEiJ_He9a2mWMj_q57e6bZfge_4r1tpoQXJ2gILagU9TjUPTblUVmjquxq9KDHg/s640/blue+and+white+pincushion+002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But instead I'm working. Work work. Seriously.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wish you could have come with me</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...casino </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'decor' is in definite need of you blogstar decorators. Which makes me wonder...is there such a thing as a chic casino?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been to this one...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPdmEsBNXBLGR4-hpoD_-ZcsOzOd2hr3JfPUg-64kSNyIr98CaLQAn1EJpDkJ-rFFpJDMmhC7hdsg-5j-vaAyimJ1efFUZnA6ENPD1GeZIAsVh-eS8gMt59ZWGLi2a94Wz38rg5EKEGui/s1600/Real_Monte_Carlo_Casino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPdmEsBNXBLGR4-hpoD_-ZcsOzOd2hr3JfPUg-64kSNyIr98CaLQAn1EJpDkJ-rFFpJDMmhC7hdsg-5j-vaAyimJ1efFUZnA6ENPD1GeZIAsVh-eS8gMt59ZWGLi2a94Wz38rg5EKEGui/s640/Real_Monte_Carlo_Casino.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monte Carlo...I thought it was so glamorous...I was young...I didn't know any better :))</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back some time on Friday bloggy peeps. Till then I'll try and stay out of trouble in the big smoke...shouldn't be hard. I'm much less adventurous than I used to be!</span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Star City...what a pity

I'm here for the next two days...   yep...a casino working with a client... with connections to this place. For.no.other.reason. Nope.  ...

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chinascapes ~ as in dishes, not the country...

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There I was...minding my own business...when all of a sudden I had an urge to arrange some china bits 'n pieces yesterday and play around with photographing them...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbQEiUAOtmsv9D4tPf8Aie8Mw8bBQYStcxPS88UYEV6Pdkb6U_pCiTpPKTX4IRp52fRIe9HbuR2c_n9V9h8jhLmvtzoVeQpjVkRh-hc9UGgJOnfvvzfZF6mfKdompnoVnDCkYtT4Q5oM/s1600/tea+cup+and+sea+urchins+study5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbQEiUAOtmsv9D4tPf8Aie8Mw8bBQYStcxPS88UYEV6Pdkb6U_pCiTpPKTX4IRp52fRIe9HbuR2c_n9V9h8jhLmvtzoVeQpjVkRh-hc9UGgJOnfvvzfZF6mfKdompnoVnDCkYtT4Q5oM/s640/tea+cup+and+sea+urchins+study5.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've found that it's as good a method of procrastination as any other...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNA_I56mV5hvt88u3xS_1x0uQWpSHnWZc1yXn9-7xLQ10MBHgMwA4JEVXFx35LdWmZbDYnsyE396v5-ZmGRkrqklp5LOU4wlAZ7B9cJ1WsXjrBu3-Rn2qSz4a4EX_oDzdjuoS7-rPPwlU/s1600/teacup+and+sea+urchin+study3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNA_I56mV5hvt88u3xS_1x0uQWpSHnWZc1yXn9-7xLQ10MBHgMwA4JEVXFx35LdWmZbDYnsyE396v5-ZmGRkrqklp5LOU4wlAZ7B9cJ1WsXjrBu3-Rn2qSz4a4EX_oDzdjuoS7-rPPwlU/s640/teacup+and+sea+urchin+study3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The plasterer came, did a good job and left a slight mess, but I'm not complaining...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8nVolGXZ5YVNlEmhhz_-kG1hcVqH6zPghdwGLnYoHr5siO9luEHJ73PGeAmKYTkownr4q9vwWWPXjFPaqAYxnwQ5AudPg2aZ7RvapK1D_A9JcpaBLzI-HsXVnt-7PsiF7cP1P4p7J7g/s1600/blue+and+white+china+study5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8nVolGXZ5YVNlEmhhz_-kG1hcVqH6zPghdwGLnYoHr5siO9luEHJ73PGeAmKYTkownr4q9vwWWPXjFPaqAYxnwQ5AudPg2aZ7RvapK1D_A9JcpaBLzI-HsXVnt-7PsiF7cP1P4p7J7g/s640/blue+and+white+china+study5.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Turning up, working and recommending a painter to come and paint my 5 metre high wall in the living room means I'm more than happy to vacuum up a few odd bits of plaster!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttPf4xN52IJsvYVVFdxGFGZPHARJTJcbB7HW7bjIMKhP2lIh0PeCIK_Gn6sh5a_0hF4cUTfcTQ4-FS2I01wJtSuOu3iEBnAnXjr7YwvFRNtR0-BZMYoo-7chfK8c_r5V8pO_wVn-BRwI/s1600/blue+and+white+study1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttPf4xN52IJsvYVVFdxGFGZPHARJTJcbB7HW7bjIMKhP2lIh0PeCIK_Gn6sh5a_0hF4cUTfcTQ4-FS2I01wJtSuOu3iEBnAnXjr7YwvFRNtR0-BZMYoo-7chfK8c_r5V8pO_wVn-BRwI/s640/blue+and+white+study1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and this was fun...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuH-iHqke6hDobaK2OmpW3X3KRTYmHjv5JDPAFCSn9Wz-hAY2gL24-FLVlcesSaKrLVedX5Dmjg4rteFiMyyu-eBVDXDHDrWlz7DNnLOlXMXERa6U1GCjfEz0yLxXTx0iIPdapNKxpdg/s1600/blue+and+white+china+study2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuH-iHqke6hDobaK2OmpW3X3KRTYmHjv5JDPAFCSn9Wz-hAY2gL24-FLVlcesSaKrLVedX5Dmjg4rteFiMyyu-eBVDXDHDrWlz7DNnLOlXMXERa6U1GCjfEz0yLxXTx0iIPdapNKxpdg/s640/blue+and+white+china+study2.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0zMh8WMMaR7D7Pw8XkVMdhEbSDCLZaIGU1uLGaBFqRDjKqS7_ekRhwlNiZzcFYnSCmH3dX3kRpxyJo6dnkQVPPsWkYrOTY9oMpXDDyYzSoRwTjbaExRwUj7BnH0azInaxCTzqRA2wDY/s1600/blue+and+white+china+study4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0zMh8WMMaR7D7Pw8XkVMdhEbSDCLZaIGU1uLGaBFqRDjKqS7_ekRhwlNiZzcFYnSCmH3dX3kRpxyJo6dnkQVPPsWkYrOTY9oMpXDDyYzSoRwTjbaExRwUj7BnH0azInaxCTzqRA2wDY/s640/blue+and+white+china+study4.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">especially since I may have been avoiding doing something...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JD77wgbgZPaDoyoJiaajXYXjyflHKH5NHvAJYfJbLzW7gW6PDafYCsxe7c-dTT1qK6Vxb0tZxPHFzEcsSzcwTTo_g70UpaIVGbxiqUShgjwaLq4Wrrik_bHMOBBE8HA00q4nvt0WQ6E/s1600/blue+and+white+china+study3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JD77wgbgZPaDoyoJiaajXYXjyflHKH5NHvAJYfJbLzW7gW6PDafYCsxe7c-dTT1qK6Vxb0tZxPHFzEcsSzcwTTo_g70UpaIVGbxiqUShgjwaLq4Wrrik_bHMOBBE8HA00q4nvt0WQ6E/s640/blue+and+white+china+study3.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...what do they say about having to make a mess before you can get really organised??</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeEcY78gOLExZ4vzJ7k2qKVuLDcMXzjX9_UVnxl0xx23tHK1jkkNCyS34Gte_ESsLsTjo-k__SBFM5RM3AUbCctPGAqAhL42iA6-NSESFn_hLqQeF1m8YxsOFQqVWH-GZN_NlzuctYo8/s1600/dishcloth+china+study+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeEcY78gOLExZ4vzJ7k2qKVuLDcMXzjX9_UVnxl0xx23tHK1jkkNCyS34Gte_ESsLsTjo-k__SBFM5RM3AUbCctPGAqAhL42iA6-NSESFn_hLqQeF1m8YxsOFQqVWH-GZN_NlzuctYo8/s640/dishcloth+china+study+007.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...you'll be pleased to know the study is all better now...but alas, too late in the day to take a decent photo to prove it. And I've decided to paint the bookcases. Hello...wouldn't it just have been easier to buy lighter coloured ones in the first place...always go with your instincts bloggy peeps. How about the steam coming off my cuppa though!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My day off this week is today (which I'm not all that pleased about, but clients needed me on Wednesday and who am I to argue). I'm going off to the optometrist to get new glasses...multifocals I suspect! Who ever thought I'd be needing those? Sheesh!! Better leave you with a pretty picture.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzGI3Jx02gRNxv0xweG2qQ1IbuOW5C3I1vjEHRYJ2sXCAZpAMv83Sf3PX_loI8LUd6QwDbVM0XiK40mms6_ctUU6B_2DPy8I22IcbBBhPLIElTkh2VGEeoY7JrgHpdOY8b_zGt2s9Vu8/s1600/china+and+sea+urchin+study1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzGI3Jx02gRNxv0xweG2qQ1IbuOW5C3I1vjEHRYJ2sXCAZpAMv83Sf3PX_loI8LUd6QwDbVM0XiK40mms6_ctUU6B_2DPy8I22IcbBBhPLIElTkh2VGEeoY7JrgHpdOY8b_zGt2s9Vu8/s640/china+and+sea+urchin+study1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a lovely week everyone and welcome new tranquil-ites...nice to have you in the townhouse...promise not to make you clean up the study if you drop in!</span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

chinascapes ~ as in dishes, not the country...

There I was...minding my own business...when all of a sudden I had an urge to arrange some china bits 'n pieces yesterday and play aroun...

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it's lovely to be home...and a giveaway reminder

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi everyone. Back safe and sound from my brief stay on Magnetic Island and I am happy to report that the...well...the report that I went there to write is well and truly almost done! I am convinced that it's easier to work in a beautiful location...and this may, or may not have been the view from where we were working. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-7qP-Lw440bx8gdDmXgfVK2gLH9v8hXhi0mcreicqc683pa4taQB-eWS3zV0WcsDwzShg8xO0TaIXtKkCczBHAgVt1hAdSfXTVFQXDulPUMh9beDUgHGOf5qubmK2Vu2ApXXxtuDtig/s1600/davids+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-7qP-Lw440bx8gdDmXgfVK2gLH9v8hXhi0mcreicqc683pa4taQB-eWS3zV0WcsDwzShg8xO0TaIXtKkCczBHAgVt1hAdSfXTVFQXDulPUMh9beDUgHGOf5qubmK2Vu2ApXXxtuDtig/s640/davids+pool.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the outdoor table...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">that's Enzo the deaf and blind beagle...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in a beautiful 26 degrees Celsius temperature...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7Dy5_soO_2tKgJ46AGQBccyNc6UxnLSgiSRMsjBBsD7vYKhcm8nZhGPvp57S1MHJ0T3xvmDXJD9gZg_t43ErptGJXiqatw9VzahjSljWuDE-rlGvuVzkgII9fpuh1QQId0gFdMq_A64/s1600/pool+with+enzo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7Dy5_soO_2tKgJ46AGQBccyNc6UxnLSgiSRMsjBBsD7vYKhcm8nZhGPvp57S1MHJ0T3xvmDXJD9gZg_t43ErptGJXiqatw9VzahjSljWuDE-rlGvuVzkgII9fpuh1QQId0gFdMq_A64/s640/pool+with+enzo.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which was not the temperature when I stepped off the plane in Canberra this morning. No, that was a mere 8 degrees! And yes, I know I will get absolutely no sympathy whatsoever. But despite that, I thought you might like to see a few pics of the island...it is a very lovely place, no doubt about that, and I'm very envious of my colleague and friend David and his lovely wife Kim and their family who are happily living their dream there. Thanks so much for having me!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbumKA9-1s68CnHDuNRiW0HRZrzkZzQVkJf9xOnl_yV7hzlPRdsfN2B7h79Dc5iLQ02o_A_7Nc0RWiYz6ZIRA443FFpDCjfro4bMhS2SFZyJD_nxlF2B5L-8OTWjNTkMrM3KtD-xwLQH8/s1600/magnetic+island+with+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbumKA9-1s68CnHDuNRiW0HRZrzkZzQVkJf9xOnl_yV7hzlPRdsfN2B7h79Dc5iLQ02o_A_7Nc0RWiYz6ZIRA443FFpDCjfro4bMhS2SFZyJD_nxlF2B5L-8OTWjNTkMrM3KtD-xwLQH8/s640/magnetic+island+with+boat.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRQ_RM854TKw1eSXoTjcI30CKthh6lkiqu4uNRMPEZ4JhefJXXPCERm3Ha3ME78-ln6gxWdAhpohzaAKaOI3fDNujCkxOjkzWeE0fj_8yI_U1Ujxm7ndNh9lrymQAkuX5CVT5W34Be4Q/s1600/magnetic+island+bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRQ_RM854TKw1eSXoTjcI30CKthh6lkiqu4uNRMPEZ4JhefJXXPCERm3Ha3ME78-ln6gxWdAhpohzaAKaOI3fDNujCkxOjkzWeE0fj_8yI_U1Ujxm7ndNh9lrymQAkuX5CVT5W34Be4Q/s640/magnetic+island+bay.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTui0jbY_qPlUVIgVY-ydd33JUQlwscKQmWUQRMvwjBW3ElYMv_QgGEbP6fEOjSL-H98TqUSj7Whx8yQGoB0by3sfB3pT3fl1nkaPqPc1wAsk-ynowq0EiSHUDobsy2EtFtphgtEntlbc/s1600/magnetic+island+jetty+short+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTui0jbY_qPlUVIgVY-ydd33JUQlwscKQmWUQRMvwjBW3ElYMv_QgGEbP6fEOjSL-H98TqUSj7Whx8yQGoB0by3sfB3pT3fl1nkaPqPc1wAsk-ynowq0EiSHUDobsy2EtFtphgtEntlbc/s640/magnetic+island+jetty+short+view.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarQeZZ-aL2TvEdmMMp0IKDZW49fBbk1UgSFPR8U05qx9WH8lC5jzrL1ha9PtQj1b3W6nidSIJ7CUjGY1wEVYdbkBbXfPwC-N5hg9RAqZULXooKTXyZZWzl3KrLYZKtZ9r4dU38PuwNvA/s1600/magnetic+island+fig+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarQeZZ-aL2TvEdmMMp0IKDZW49fBbk1UgSFPR8U05qx9WH8lC5jzrL1ha9PtQj1b3W6nidSIJ7CUjGY1wEVYdbkBbXfPwC-N5hg9RAqZULXooKTXyZZWzl3KrLYZKtZ9r4dU38PuwNvA/s640/magnetic+island+fig+trees.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALwuVXGjwi9DKGvjtPQwO54dcLYaMlHIcd7reeAuip5Rix2oO0nwGW9p1r7rDrhz-3Y-CICK83p3e1DxsdiYia4AwdJpeNa-UP2apjlWs9N5W-733GSEHPLA96Nvq72vEPjQuR-cSKwg/s1600/magnetic+island+figs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALwuVXGjwi9DKGvjtPQwO54dcLYaMlHIcd7reeAuip5Rix2oO0nwGW9p1r7rDrhz-3Y-CICK83p3e1DxsdiYia4AwdJpeNa-UP2apjlWs9N5W-733GSEHPLA96Nvq72vEPjQuR-cSKwg/s640/magnetic+island+figs2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MIW3aLkuqDGsG7XFYyJ9cKHQFz1G5WiGsmAFBTG6DzFVyX2TfxzRS7BPuKTitG-IVLAo9WNqP5Z_nnO1WlC9ntAd0DVmM6KySyQ4oR9S1Tpf2nG1xkPb2sBRqv3YVOvNS8FCfiiPs_g/s1600/magnetic+island+rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MIW3aLkuqDGsG7XFYyJ9cKHQFz1G5WiGsmAFBTG6DzFVyX2TfxzRS7BPuKTitG-IVLAo9WNqP5Z_nnO1WlC9ntAd0DVmM6KySyQ4oR9S1Tpf2nG1xkPb2sBRqv3YVOvNS8FCfiiPs_g/s640/magnetic+island+rock.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of the wildlife...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmC0eJFwhPhNS2KgKpZ1ivxYitmGQFSSDInBv4YJm7jkmpepTgDIdwBaqEhHRkOz7Dennlhj78uq6yeylvLc-H6PvBb5DEc9A9VaJMk8K84Dfu_naJLLEzaUweyJ3e7EPcGkFiVqTw18/s1600/magnetic+island+wallabies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmC0eJFwhPhNS2KgKpZ1ivxYitmGQFSSDInBv4YJm7jkmpepTgDIdwBaqEhHRkOz7Dennlhj78uq6yeylvLc-H6PvBb5DEc9A9VaJMk8K84Dfu_naJLLEzaUweyJ3e7EPcGkFiVqTw18/s640/magnetic+island+wallabies.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...although I think there may be wildlife of a different kind when the backpackers descend en masse!</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was the Friday night RSL markets...a funny little collection of food and craft stalls...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuSxQZiXKYpSdeTv6S3vyiN6TOOcac84dsqo-JO-PMGcPWUtQnq1f4hSAEW7UDgS7i4lE04t7wjtzDO_UvdqsUTzbVmPnwcp8z_t0efCddZqKJ1QOpo2xiDAawJgVS1QBVgCOIhhWORw/s1600/magnetic+island+rsl+markets+food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuSxQZiXKYpSdeTv6S3vyiN6TOOcac84dsqo-JO-PMGcPWUtQnq1f4hSAEW7UDgS7i4lE04t7wjtzDO_UvdqsUTzbVmPnwcp8z_t0efCddZqKJ1QOpo2xiDAawJgVS1QBVgCOIhhWORw/s640/magnetic+island+rsl+markets+food.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji506gpdWvB6XhAanveIUUu19PuwNxzNPiTn5WpwUwrkCrsEyA77Xi1gPJ-0p7nqUmy7av1ig5m234f-y97maWJ0xRrWBTgbAfom2xl6srxfZDjT4hLlbiRjC8IWZIXqECdHmyISh5EwE/s1600/magnetic+island+rsl+markets+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji506gpdWvB6XhAanveIUUu19PuwNxzNPiTn5WpwUwrkCrsEyA77Xi1gPJ-0p7nqUmy7av1ig5m234f-y97maWJ0xRrWBTgbAfom2xl6srxfZDjT4hLlbiRjC8IWZIXqECdHmyISh5EwE/s640/magnetic+island+rsl+markets+1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJatqiJ3Q8eYPnMZeeW_kQoOmMuT_dkgCrAF3I-T6eUuRo23ILXnP1p2UpUuA_m3XnMrGvO-ebBA66EAkN82laI_5SF54TyCXlG_FjlWLz_5yu9-6HZfyAh5K-rbHF-WsGLp1GgqSMS1I/s1600/magnetic+island+rsl+markets+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJatqiJ3Q8eYPnMZeeW_kQoOmMuT_dkgCrAF3I-T6eUuRo23ILXnP1p2UpUuA_m3XnMrGvO-ebBA66EAkN82laI_5SF54TyCXlG_FjlWLz_5yu9-6HZfyAh5K-rbHF-WsGLp1GgqSMS1I/s640/magnetic+island+rsl+markets+2.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A couple of things made it home with me...a ceramic tag and fridge magnet...I really like the messages on them...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRISbLcgWQVYkTovpLY4poeNaN-HvPupRtWqIEorw_bwqybqz4hBEHDB57vmqfYuN_6rrfcuB9e_eEJx1zG140BAji7Alg_l5SBHii5t3j6IJ7Cs6KOHZCCOVVB6V6zbUp-RtlJWO2DA/s1600/magnetic+island+tags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRISbLcgWQVYkTovpLY4poeNaN-HvPupRtWqIEorw_bwqybqz4hBEHDB57vmqfYuN_6rrfcuB9e_eEJx1zG140BAji7Alg_l5SBHii5t3j6IJ7Cs6KOHZCCOVVB6V6zbUp-RtlJWO2DA/s640/magnetic+island+tags.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and now I'm going to delight in the very last rose from my garden that graciously hung on until I got back and make this lovely warming paella</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and share it with the MGM with a nice glass or two of red...there are some benefits of not living in the tropics it seems. I think these two may  have been pleased to see me as well, just quietly! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUmF_NPav-ytxi1d8sdpoTGjg_qwMAT5KzpkwceFOEEiWu4h1Tfl3FLBvEMVgjmkC4ENV6Vh_bDvUl0_GyTut5Wv7uGsh-oxReh-qKLMqFhpK7FJueJy2MSI-d4bUn5n7VTlZHioGhKw/s1600/ben+and+buffy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUmF_NPav-ytxi1d8sdpoTGjg_qwMAT5KzpkwceFOEEiWu4h1Tfl3FLBvEMVgjmkC4ENV6Vh_bDvUl0_GyTut5Wv7uGsh-oxReh-qKLMqFhpK7FJueJy2MSI-d4bUn5n7VTlZHioGhKw/s640/ben+and+buffy.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And tomorrow...a day of catching up with you lot...couldn't think of a better way to spend some time! See...I really was working, and I've missed you :)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you haven't already, don't forget your chance to <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/2010/06/any-excuse-for-giveaway.html">"bag" a great leather tote</a>! Very bad pun...sorry...just happy to be home! Even though this was rather nice...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit533nwZxI9N1DOrCf1BVDaMZbiIJFgChLJ340tE0leI0zThT7WNzDUnzPHDZbwkXCwuhAyamh4-8qk0H2TbcmSfDVLEkdcN9Q3Lz1-oWESpAY5mlf3oLkMh3X3gO3W2Q6UAekQnLp9WQ/s1600/magnetic+island+sunset2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit533nwZxI9N1DOrCf1BVDaMZbiIJFgChLJ340tE0leI0zThT7WNzDUnzPHDZbwkXCwuhAyamh4-8qk0H2TbcmSfDVLEkdcN9Q3Lz1-oWESpAY5mlf3oLkMh3X3gO3W2Q6UAekQnLp9WQ/s640/magnetic+island+sunset2.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/tranquiltownhouse/6aa76c55681784d717c463ecc754d7c5.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

it's lovely to be home...and a giveaway reminder

Hi everyone. Back safe and sound from my brief stay on Magnetic Island and I am happy to report that the...well...the report that I went the...

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