MUMS 86th BIRTHDAY PREPS..WHAT DO u THINK??

WELL LADIES...IT IS MY MUMS 86TH BIRTHDAY THIS SUNDAY....SO I HAVE BEEN BUSY BUYING HER SOME GOODIES...

NOW...MY mum HAS EVERYTHING UNDER THE sun THAT
SHE WOULD EVER NEED!!..MORE SHOES/HATS/BAGS THAN IMELDA MARCOS!! SOOOOOO SHE IS LITERALLY THE HARDEST WOMAN EVER TO BUY FOR..

BUT...I KNOW SHE LOVES HER TEA...FOOD SERVED ON A NICE PLATE..LOVELY SOAPS...ETC..

SOOOO I WENT TO THE MOST GORGEOUS FRENCH CHIC SHOP.."PROVINCIAL HOME LIVING"...

THEY HAVE ABOUT 13 SHOPS THROUGHOUT VICTORIA..I DONT THINK THEY ARE INTERSTATE...
I LOVE THIS SHOP...(THE OWNERS ARE LONG TIME FRIENDS OF OURS FROM SCHOOL DAYS..WE HAVE THE SAME AGED BOYS...BOTH WENT THROUGH THE SAME SCHOOL...IN SAME YEARS..)...BUT SINCE SCHOOLING YEARS...SOME 4 YRS AGO..WE HAVENT BEEN IN CONTACT...SO i AM NOT PLUGGING THEIR SHOP FOR THEM...IT IS JUST THAT I LOVE IT!!).......

ANWAY I BOUGHT MUM SOME LOVELY GOODIES FOR HER...IN THAT SCRUMPTIOUS FRENCH CAFFE LATE TYPE COLOUR..

I AM GOING TO WRAP ALL IN RECYCLED BROWN PAPER...GOLDISH COLOURED RIBBON...MAYBE WITH SOME PINK RIBBON THREAD THROUGH..
WITH THE GORGEOUS FRENCH CHIC CARDS I HAVE BOUGHT..///

SOOOO FRENCH CHIC...THE POODLE..THE CHANDELIER..TRES BON!!

I AM GOING TO COOK SOME LOVELY CAKES IN THE GORGEOUS ROBERT GORDON CUPCAKE CONTAINERS FEATURED..

PLUS I ALWAYS BUY ROSES...CUT THEM DOWN TO FIT IN A LITTLE GLASS..AND PLACE THEM IN A CAKE STAND...(PER THE PHOTO)...FOUND THIS IN A MAG SEVERAL YEARS AGO...AND JUST LOVE THAT EFFECT..

OKAY...I THINK I AM GETTING THERE FOR MUMS 86TH...,I have already sent her the most glorious BUNCH of PEONY ROSES yesterday...,.and where from ,may you ask??

of all places....from "COLES"""...........they were delightful..

xx andrea

PREPARATIONS FOR MY MUMS 86TH BIRTHDAY!! WHAT DO YOU THINK??

WELL!! AS I SAID IN MY LAST POST..MY MUM TURNS 86 THIS SUNDAY...2ND NOV...

I GAVE HER A LOVELY SHABBY AFTERNOON TEA PARTY FOR HER 80TH BIRTHDAY...I DONT THINK I HAVE EVER COOKED SOO MANY LAMINGTONS..PETIT FOURS....CUPCAKES..SPONGES...AND THE INEVITABLE SAUSAGE ROLL (FOR THE MAN!!)...IN MY LIFE...
I WAS COOKING FOR 4 DAYS NON STOP!!

BUT MUM HAD A GREAT TIME..WITH HER FRIENDS...
IN BETWEEN TIMES SHE HAD A LITTLE HICCUP RE A MINI STROKE..THANK GOODNESS DAD FOUND HER KIND OF JUST SITTING THERE STARING AT THE PAPER..RUSHED HER TO HOSPITAL..
I ARRIVED AND HER BLOOD PRESSURE WAS SOMETHING RIDICULOUS LIKE 220/200!!

BUT WITH THE RIGHT MEDICATION..SHE IS NOW TURNING 86!! AND HONESTLY LOOKS FITTER/YOUNGER AND THINNER THAN ME!!

I JUST HAD TO BUY HER THE MOST GORGEOUS BUNCH OF (6)!! PEONY ROSES YESTERDAY ...FROM..OF ALL PLACES "COLES" IN WILLIAMSTOWN....BUT THEY WERE JUST SUPERB..

SOOO I WENT OUT THE OTHER DAY AND BOUGHT HER SOME NICE LITTLE GOODIES...(HONESTLY THERE IS NOTHING MY MUM DOESNT HAVE..SHE IS THE HARDEST PERSON TO BUY FOR)..but THESE ARE FROM A SHOP..."PROVINCIAL HOME LIVING"...THIS IS THE MOST GORGEOUS FRENCH CHIC HOME AROUND..
UNFORTUNATELY I THINK THEY ARE ONLY JUST IN VICTORIA...THEY HAVE ABOUT 13 SHOPS VIC WIDE..AND I DONT WANT TO GIVE THEM A PLUG..BUT THE OWNERS ARE FRIENDS OF MINE...WE BOTH HAD BOYS THE EXACT SAME AGE...AT THE SAME LEVEL AT THE SAME SCHOOL..FOR 15 ODD YEARS...(I HAVENT SEEN THEM FOR 3 ODD YEARS...SINCE OUR ELDEST BOYS LEFT SCHOOL..SO PLEASE DONT THINK THIS IS SOME KIND OF AD FOR THEM...I JUST ADORE THEIR SHOP!!!)..

ANYWAY..I BOUGHT MUM GOODIES IN A COFFEE TYPED THEME....PLATE/SIDE PLATE/CUP/SAUCER/TEA TOWELS/SOME BATH GOODIES...SOAPS..

I INTEND TO WRAP IN RECYLED PAPER...GOLD RIBBON...AND MAKE SOME CUPCAKES IN THE GORGEOUS ROBERT GORDON CUPCAKES FEATURED...

I SHALL THEN PLACE THEM IN A WIRE STAND..INTERMINGLED WITH PINK ROSES...(PER THE PHOTO TAKEN FROM A MAGAZINE LONG AGO....HOW GORGEOUS IS THIS IDEA...ROSES IN A JAR...IN THE WIRE STAND)??
I DID THIS FOR MUMS 80TH BIRTHDAY AND IT WAS A REAL TALKING POINT..

ANYWAY ENOUGH OF ME GOING ON ...

LOVE TO READ ALL YOU LOVELY LADIES BLOGS..IT INSPIRES ME TO KEEP GOING..

XXX andrea pink poodle...

HI GIRLS....YES i SAID I WOULDNT DO ANOTHER POST FOR A WHILE AS I THOUGHT MY POSTS WERE MAYBE A BIT ON THE BORING SIDE..
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SENT ME A LITTLE MESSAGE TO SAY I WASNT THAT BORING AFTER ALL..
SO YOU MAY HAVE CREATED SOMETHING YOU DIDNT MEAN TO.....I MAY GO PSYCHO AND LIST A NEW BLOG EVERY OTHER DAY!! JUST JOKING..

MUM TURNS 86 ON 2ND NOVEMBER...NEXT SUNDAY..SO AM BUSY GETTING HER PRESSIES READY...PLANNING TO COOK NICE CUPCAKES/SPONGE CAKE ETC...

I HAVE SOME GORGEOUS ROBERT GORGON CUPCAKE HOLDERS..SO SHALL COOK SOME NICE LITTLE GOODIES FOR HER IN THOSE.
I JUST WANT TO DEDICATE THIS POST TO MY WONDERFUL/GORGEOUS/SUPPORTIVE MUM AND DAD../.

THEY ARE JUST THE BEST.....AND STILL LOOK AND ACT HALF THEIR AGE

AND JUST ANOTHER LITTLE NOTE..THE BABY WITH MY MUM IN THE PHOTO IS DEDICATED TO MY GORGEOUS SHABBY CHIC COUSIN SUE...(sue passed away end of april this year...aged 60...looked about 40!!)...I think of you EVERY day dear sue..

CHRISTMAS WILL NOT BE CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR WITHOUT YOU...XXXXXXXXXXXXXX ANDREA

LOVE YOU SUE...AND MISS RINGING YOU EVERY OTHER NIGHT TO TALK ABOUT OUR DECORATING VENTURES!!

GORGEOUS SON IN JAPAN & CATH KIDSTON..HOW ARE THEY RELATED???

WELL LADIES...I PROMISE I WONT DO ANOTHER LISTING FOR A WHILE...I HAVE PROBABLY GONE OVERBOARD A BIT LATELY WITH LISTINGS..AND I WORRY THAT THEY MAY BE JUST TOO BORING !!

BUT I AM JUST SOOO EXCITED I HAD TO SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE..AS IT IS ONLY SOOTY AND ME AT HOME AT THE MINUTE..

AS A BACKGROUND...,

I SIT UP THE FRONT OF MY HOUSE (PER MY NEW LAPTOP..PREVIOUS BLOG)..DOING EBAY..CHECKING EMAILS & BLOGS ETC..AND OF COURSE I AM ACTUALLY KIND OF RIGHT ON THE STREET..SO I CAN SEE THE TRAFFIC PASSING BY..
I ALWAYS GET EXCITED WHEN I SEE THE AUSTRALIA POST VAN PULL UP OUT THE FRONT AS I KNOW HE HAS SOME GOODIES I HAVE ORDERED...BEING DELIVERED AND FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO OFFER FOR SALE ON MY EBAY SITE...

SO I AM SITTING THERE THIS AFTERNOON...THE AUSSIE POST VAN PULLS UP...WITH A BIG BOX OF STUFF...AND SOME OTHER BOX WRAPPED IN LOVELY SKY BLUE COLOUR WITH WHITE STARS ALL THROUGH???

MMMM WHAT IS THIS I THOUGHT...?? LOOKED AT THE WRITING AND IT WAS ALL IN JAPANESE..
THEN MY MIND CLICKED INTO GEAR...
MY SON IS STUDYING LAW AT UNI IN JAPAN...HE KNEW IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK..
HE KNEW I LOVE CATH KIDSTON STUFF..
HE KNEW I TOLD HIM TO SEE IF HE COULD FIND HER STORE IN JAPAN..WHICH I KNEW HE DID!!
HE FOUND IT IN THE CITY HE IS LIVING IN....HOW CONVENIENT...I SHALL JUST HAVE TO GO AND VISIT HIM NOW!!

AND HE HAS SENT ME THE MOST GORGEOUS BOX OF HER GOODIES..

THE ROSES APRON...OVEN MITT..KITCHEN BAG...

ALL BEAUTIFULLY PACKAGED..WRAPPED..WITH A LITTLE GIFT CARD WHERE HE HAS WISHED ME A BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN BOTH ENGLISH AND JAPANESE..

I AM JUST SOO STOKED!!

GORGEOUS 21 YO SON...WHOM I MISS TERRIBLY...BUT AT LEAST HE IS READILY ACCESSIBLE VIA SKYPE..

OHHHH ...THIS IS THE BEST PRESSIe I have probably EVer HAD!!

xx ANDREA

WHAT TO PLANT/DO?? ON MY BEDROOM BALCONY!!

WELL MY BIRTHDAY IS NOW DONE & DUSTED FOR ANOTHER YEAR...AND YES THAT WAS A LOT OF FRUIT IN MY DAD'S CAKE..1.5KILOS IN FACT...BUT THAT IS WHAT THE RECIPE CALLED FOR..AND DAD DOES LOVE HIS FRUIT!!

BOY YESTERDAY WAS MUCH HOTTER IN MELBOURNE THAN FORECAST..I THINK IT REACHED ABOUT 32DEGREES..AND OF COURSE I DID NOTHING MUCH ELSE THAN CLEAN THE HOUSE!! YES AGAIN!!

AND THIS IS MY DILEMMA LADIES...I HAVE INCLUDED PHOTOS OF MY BEDROOM...I HAVE A LOVELY LITTLE BALCONY WHICH HAS A WONDERFUL VIEW...BUT GUESS WHAT?? I NEVER EVER USE IT...

I USED TO HAVE LOVELY LAVENDER IN POTS AND PETUNIAS IN THE BASKET...BUT WITH THE WATER RESTRICTIONS...IT LITERALLY NEVER RAINING IN MELBOURNE..THEY ALL KIND OF CARKED IT!!

AND I HAVENT RE PLANTED OR DONE ANYTHING FOR A FEW YEARS AND LOOKING AT IT YESTERDAY JUST COMPLETELY GAVE ME THE YOU KNOW WHAT..
I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT REPAINTING THE CAST IRON TABLE & CHAIRS..BUT THAT IS A FAIR BIT OF WORK..SO I FIGURED JUST MAYBE A NICE POT OF FLOWERS ON THE TABLE AND THEN MAYBE JUST PLANT SOME HARDY TYPE OF FLOWER IN THE PLANTER ON THE WALL..OR JUST GIVE UP??

ANYWAY..SOOTY ALWAYS LOVES TO RUSH OUT ONTO THIS BALCONY..GIVE ONE BARK AND THEN RUSH BACK INSIDE..THERE IS A PICTURE OF HIM JUST PEEPING OUT BEHIND THE CURTAIN CHECKING UP ON WHAT I AM DOING..

HAVE A GOOD WEEK EVERYONE...XX ANDREA

THE DILEMMA OF THE BALCONY!! WHAT TO PLANT??

WELL MY BIRTHDAY HAS GONE & NOW DUSTED AWAY!! JUST GLAD MY DAD ENJOYED ALL HIS COOKING...AND YES!! THAT FRUIT CAKE WAS FULL OF FRUIT...1.5 KILOS IN FACT...BUT THAT IS WHAT THE WOMENS WEEKLY RECIPE STIPULATED...AND DAD DOES LOVE HIS FRUIT!!

HE HAD A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PRESSIE LAST NIGHT FROM ALL THE MUCH YOUNGER MEN/WOMEN HE SWIMS WITH EACH MORNING...THEY SUPRISED HIM WITH AN 85TH BIRTHDAY CAKE..PARTY...SO THAT MADE HIS NIGHT...AND MUST I ADD..HIS MORNING...THIS MORNING!

ANYWAY..AS USUAL I HAVE BEEN CLEANING TODAY..AND I AM JUST SOOO SICK AND TIRED OF THE WAY MY CUTE LITTLE BALCONY AREA LOOKS OUTSIDE OUR MASTER BEDROOM...
LOVELY LITTLE AREA..WHICH USED TO BE FULL OF PLANTS..BUT AS IT LITERALLY NEVER EVER RAINS IN MELBOURNE..TRYING TO PLANT LOVELY GOODIES IS A REAL CHALLENGE..

I COULD RE PAINT THE TABLE/CHAIRS...(BUT THAT IS THE LAST RESORT AT THIS STAGE)...i AM THINKING OF JUST GETTING A NICE BOWL OF PLANTED LAVENDER/OR OTHER FLOWERS TO PUT ON THE TABLE..AND THEN PLANT SOME GERANIUMS IN THE PLANTER CONTAINER ON THE WALL..SO THEY CAN SPILL OVER ETC..
THIS IS A GORGEOUS LITTLE BALCONY RIGHT OUTSIDE MY BEDROOM..WITH A DOOR ACCESSING IT..AND WITH A GREAT VIEW OVERLOOKING THE CITY SKYLINE...SOOTY LOVES TO GO OUT ON THIS AREA..GIVE A BARK OR TWO..AND THEN RUSH BACK INSIDE..!!

I USED TO HAVE TERRACOTTA POTS ON THIS BALCONY WITH FLOWERS GALORE...BUT WITH THE WATER RESTRICTIONS...NO RAIN..IT IS JUST SOOOOOO HARD TO MAINTAIN ANY SORT OF GARDEN/POTS IN MELBOURNE..

ANY SUGGESTIONS??

AND I ALWAYS JUST HAVE TO GIVE A LITTLE UPDATE ON MY LITTLE POODLE SOOTY...!! GAVE HIM A BATH TODAY...A BRUSH..AND HIS FLEA TREATMENT...AND HE RAN PSYCHO THROUGH THE HOUSE!! HE LOVES IT!! AND I LOVE HIM!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK EVERYONE...XX ANDREA

DILEMMA RE WHAT TO PLANT/SHOW ON MY BALCONY??

WELL MY BIRTHDAY HAS BEEN DONE & DUSTED..SO TO SPEAK...

SO WE SHALL MOVE ON FROM THAT DAY...ALTHOUGH I AM GLAD DAD HAD A GREAT DAY...LOVED HIS COOKING..AND HE TOLD ME THIS MORNING THAT HIS "SWIMMING MATES"..WHO I MAY ADD ARE ALL ABOUT HALF HIS AGE..GAVE HIM A SURPRISE BBQ LAST NIGHT.COMPLETE WITH A CAKE WITH 85 YO ON IT..AND A $350.00 MYER GIFT VOUCHER!!!
HE IS LOVED BY EVERYONE..AND HE WAS TOTALLY STOKED THIS MORNING WHEN HE TOLD ME...PUT MY COOKING EFFORT INTO 2ND PLACE!! just joking..

ANYWAY..AS USUAL I AM STILL TACKLING LITTLE BITS OF MY HOUSE THAT ARE REALLY REALLY ANNOYING ME..
AND MOST OF THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT LITERALLY NEVER RAINS ANYMORE IN MELBOURNE...

THE AREA OF CONCERN IS MY BALCONY...OUTSIDE OUR MASTER BEDROOM...WITH A GLORIOUS VIEW LOOKING OVER MELBOURNE...BUT I HAVE HAD NO PLANTS/GREENERY FOR AGES..AS ONE CAN ONLY WATER AT HIDEOUS HOURS..2 DAYS A WEEK..

BUT HAVING CLEANED MY BEDROOM ETC TODAY...,.THIS BALCONY IS NOW MAKING ME FEEL QUITE ILL!!

I COULD RE PAINT THE FURNITURE (LAST OPTION)...BUT I FIGURED I WOULD JUST BUY A POT OF LAVENDER...FLOWERS AND PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE...AND JUST PLANT SOME COLOURFUL ANNUALS..(PETUNIAS OR THE LIKE IN THE BASKET AFFIXED TO THE WALL)...OR MAYBE SHABBY PINK OR RED BEGONIAS?? (I THINK THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE CALLED)??

IDEALLY I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE POTS FILLED WITH LAVENDER AND ANNUALS...(LIKE IT USED TO BE)...BUT WITH THE DROUGHT/WATER RESTRICTIONS...THAT IS KIND OF WISHFUL THINKING.!!

ANYWAY...THAT IS MY PROJECT FOR TOMORROW (SUNDAY)..SO SHALL POST SOME NEW PHOTOS WHEN IT IS DONE.....

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...ALWAYS HAVE TO GIVE A SOOTY UPDATE...HAVE JUST GIVEN HIM A BATH...A BRUSH...AND HIS FLEA TREATMENT STUFF...AND HE SEEMS TO BE A VERY HAPPY POOCH!!

xx andrea

MY GORGEOUS DAD IS 85..and I am 51!!

I HAVE BEEN BAKING ALL DAY....(WELL MAYBE NOT ALL DAY..IN BETWEEN EBAYING..BAKING..SHOPPING WHATEVER).!!

MY GORGEOUS...WONDERFUL..VERY YOUNG FIT LOOKING DAD IS 85 YO TOMORROW (15TH)..I AM LISTING THIS A BIT EARLY AS PROBABLY WONT HAVE TIME TOMORROW..AND AM ACTUALLY DEDICATING THIS SITE TO HIM...
HE STILL DOES ALL THE SWIMS OVER SUMMER...PIER TO PUB..LORNE..ANGLESEA ETC ETC...HE IS A FREAK....HE SWIMS 3 KMS EVERY MORNING...GETS UP AT 4.30 AM...YES AM!! EVERY MORNING...AND SWIMS IN HIS LOCAL POOL..THEN GOES TO THE GYM FOR A WORKOUT..

MY DAD IS JUST THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL MAN ONE COULD EVER MEET..A PILOT IN THE 2ND WORLD WAR...THE BEST BEST FATHER EVER..AND THE MOST MAGNIFICENT GRANDFATHER....
IF THE WORLD COULD REPLICATE MY DAD OVER AND OVER AGAIN.IT WOULD BE SO MUCH BETTER..A LOT OF THE YOUNGER KIDS SHOULD TAKE HEED!!
ANYWAY ENOUGH OF THE SERMON..

I ALWAYS COOK DAD CAKE..NUTLOG ETC..(HE HAS ENOUGH BOOKS TO KEEP HIM READING FOR A YEAR..SO HE TELLS ME)..SO I BAKE STUFF FOR HIM. THROW IN A FEW BITS OF LOLLIES...
HE LOVES THAT...THEN I WRAP IT..WITH A LITTLE CARD TELLING HIM WHAT HE & MUM ARE EATING..PS..MUM IS ACTUALLY 86YO!!

AND JUST AS AN ASIDE..MY BIRTHDAY IS ALSO THE SAME DAY AS DADS..SO I AM 51 TOMORROW..BUT I DONT THINK DAD HAS COOKED ME ANYTHING!!

XX ANDREA

TABLE TENNIS TABLE IN MIDDLE OF HOUSE!! JUNK ROOM NEVER ENDS

WOW HOW TIME SEEMS TO BE LITERALLY FLYING BY SO FAST...IT WILL BE CHRISTMAS BEFORE WE ALL KNOW IT!!

AS ALL YOU LADIES KNOW I JUST LOVE DECORATING AND REDECORATING...BUT I NOW HAVE THE SITUATION THAT I HAVE A TABLE TENNIS TABLE SLAP BANG IN THE MIDDLE ROOM OF MY HOUSE..IT IS THE MAIN KIND OF WALKWAY ROOM BETWEEN THE BACK AND FRONT ROOMS OF THE HOUSE....

THIS IS THE PRICE ONE PAYS FOR TRYING TO KEEP ONES CHILDREN AT HOME AS LONG AS POSSIBLE!! WITH ONE SON LIVING IN JAPAN I WANT THE YOUNGER ONE TO STAY HOME..AND I HAVE LET HIM SET HIS TABLE TENNIS TABLE UP IN THIS ROOM...IT IS GREAT IN THAT HIS FRIENDS COME OVER AND PLAY..BUT IT ISNT QUITE MY IDEA OF DECORATING...
ANYWAY I HAVE TRIED TO MAKE THE ROOM LOOK A BIT BETTER WITH SOME BOOKCASES...MY TREADMILL (WHICH I HATE TO SAY I HAVENT USED FOR SOME MONTHS!!)...

THE OTHER GRIPE I HAVE THIS POST IS THAT I HAVE A STORE ROOM WHICH IS MEANT TO STORE ITEMS LIKE THE VACUUM CLEANER...GOLF CLUBS..TENNIS RACQUETS..ETC ETC...BUT NO MATTER HOW OFTEN I CLEAR IT OUT..IT COMES BACK TO BEING FULL OF "YOU KNOW WHAT!!" IS IT JUST ME OR DOES EVERYONE JUST SEEM TO ENDLESSLY GATHER STUFF???

SOOTY HAD HIS CLIPPING LAST WEEK SO HE NOW LOOKS LIKE A POODLE RATHER THAN "OSCAR THE GROUCH"...HE IS SOOO SKINNY I AM WORRIED HIS LEGS MIGHT SNAP!! BUT HE IS STILL MY LITTLE CUTIE...

I HAVE JUST BEEN BUSY LISTING EBAY GOODIES AS WITH CHRISTMAS SOON UPON US..I WANT TO SELL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE NOW AS I DONT REALLY DO ANYTHING OVER DECEMBER...

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST..I HATE TO SAY BUT I AM 51 NEXT WEEK..AND MY DAD WILL BE 85 (SAME DAY)...SO I HAVE HINTED TO HUBBY WHAT I MAY LIKE AS A PRESSIE...WE SHALL SEE WHAT EVENTUATES...IF ANYTHING!!

TAKE CARE EVERYONE XX ANDREA