Cushion and other updates

 So my new flamingo cushion arrived and I've placed it pride of place as promised....

I've also put matching books on my side table and changed some pics in the bedroom to match the pinkness.    I have heaps of books I haven't read so these pink ones are fine to be placed on the bedside table to grab when needed.

A colleague and I went to Guzman y Gomez in Albert Street the other day.  They do burritos, nachos, and fantastic taquitos.  Plus it's really groovy.  It's next to the Timezone if anyone's wanting to check it out. 

 

So this house is two blocks from mine and was for sale in late 2010. 

 I looked at it but obviously didn't go further.

Now check out the pic below.

Not sure if it's being moved or renovated.  I'll go back and take more photos as time goes by.

That front window is lovely - it was the main bedroom - check out this pic of how it used to be:

Pictures courtesy Space R/E on realestate.com.au when I was looking at the house to buy.

Anzac Day

So post-Anzac Day, I looked up my Grandfather, and two Great Uncles' war service records.  My Grandfather Paddy was in WW1.  Paddy's brother John was in WW1 and WW11.  And my Grandmother Ruby's brother Les was in WW1.

What a treasure trove is to be found on the National Archives' Service records.

Amongst 111 digital records of Ruby's brother - Les Makin - is this letter above from Ruby's mum (my Great Grandmother Marion Frances Makin) to the war office after they got the telegram saying he had been injured, but no other details.

Marion said "It is so strange that one cannot put word as to the hospital he is in or the nature of wounds, after serving four years without a break."

This was dated three days after his death in France.  In the final telegram to my great-grandmother, they said "This officer was leading his company in the attack on 23-8-18 when he was struck by a shell."

How tragic - he joined up in 1914 at the age of 20, went to Gallipoli, survived, contracted typhoid in Lemnos, was sent to recover in England in 1916, then sent to France and died two months before Armistice was declared in November 2018.

There's also letters from Marion asking about the whereabouts of a 'valuable trunk' that fifth batallion has in London because "I don't fancy he took it to France".

Plus, another letter dated 1967 from my Grandmother Ruby to the war office requesting one of his medals that was never sent to the family.

Incredible stuff.  Paddy's service record revealed he was sentenced to two days confinement and a day's pay docking due to his late return from leave on day........

Go to below link if your're interested in searching for your family - in any war / service. http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameSearch/Interface/NameSearchForm.aspx.

What a beautiful day!

Today Brisboy88 and Brisma88 took themselves go-karting for a friend's 7th birday so I got to get on my bike. I rode to Bulimba to watch my nephew play U8 rugby and then rode along the river home.

It was such a beautiful day!





There are new mangroves coming through on the north side of the river at QUT after the floods a year ago. Can you see them?



Look at these perfect clouds!






And then a reward at the end of the ride....I forgot to photograph my scrambled eggs - I was too hungry! But here's the aftermath....

I might get Brisboy88 out on his bike tomorrow and go to Southbank.

Hope everyone's having a good weekend.

New lamp

Yay! Finally got my new yellow lamp off layby from Target. Took some photos but they're not great. Too poor at the moment to get a side table so I used my home magazines and some books. I love it - it's metal and quite sturdy.



Here's a before in case you forgot.......


And after......


Also got the graphic throw and yellow graphic cushion.


I know, the pics are terrible, but you get the idea.

I'm very happy with how they turned out.

Flamingo love

I have a thing for flamingos. A few years back I started giving some garden ones to my friend CMF. She had a resort-style house and I did not.


(she's a mary-middle-name, just like me).


I gave her some wind-powered ones where the bodies are material and blow in the wind.


And I gave her some ones like this (photo courtesy Bourke's Backyard).

However I don't think she ever fully appreciated them.

Now I see that there are a few cushions available for purchasing. This one is from Linen House:

And this one, which I purchased, is from actionqueen.com.au. $17 bucks plus delivery, and it's 40 cm!

Not sure where I'm going to put it yet, but it's going to have pride of place somewhere. I absolutely love it! Art deco plus pink plus flamingo. What else could you want?

When too many holidays are never enough

Holidays abounded last week with a trip to the Sunshine Coast meaning no house work done at all.....

Brisboy 88 and Grandad loved the beach. Whilst Brisman88 went cycling to his heart's content.

I have become addicted to the Pixlr-o-matic app for android phones.

All in all we had a great time, but back to the grindstone now!

Easter bits and pieces

Hope everyone's had a good Easter. Four days off is a gift!

Straddie dreamin'

I'm very jealous of my friend Lou who is camping at Straddie for Easter. It's one of my favourite places in the world.

We are going over on Saturday for the day - we'll set up at Cylinder Beach where Brisboy likes the smaller waves. I can't wait. The weather is still beautiful, so it should be a fantastic day!



These are two pics of our last visit to Straddie - another day trip - when we took MelbAunt83 (my auntie from Melbourne). She'd never been there before and we were rewarded with a fabulous dolphin display, great weather and some perfect bodysurfing waves at Home Beach.

Yes, my aunt is 83 and still bodysurfs.

I'm hoping I'll be just like her when I grow up.....

There were some turtles down there having a great old swim in the swell.

The whole family - me, Brisman88 and Brisboy88 (but not Briscat88) are also heading to the Sunshine Coast for a few days after Easter.

May the Easter Bunny be kind to everyone.....

Phase 1 complete

Anyone know what kind of flowers are in my garden?

Are these weeds?

(we moved in less than a year ago and I'm now only paying attention.....)

This weekend Brisboy 88 and I went to Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast to watch the Gold Coast Suns play the Adelaide Crows.

It was a beautiful day, and Brisboy had a great time, having his picture taken with the Suns' mascot and picking up the ball when it got kicked through the goals at one stage.

We also went to a friends' house on Sunday for a barbecue - she had the tables set up in the garden and it was so nice sitting there amongst the trees and flowers.

So.....only phase 1 has been completed on my chairs - cleaning. Next phase painting. I think I can get this done tomorrow. Here's what my front verandah looks like so far.

Those cushions and lanterny things are from Target ($20 on sale). The lanterns are solar. I'm not sure yet if I will hang them up or leave them on the floor. You might be able to see that I've got some icicle lights already hanging over the window. Ideas welcome.

Inspiration

Stuart Membery inspiration for my weekend project.

New cane table

Bought this table for $20 from someone on ebay on the weekend to go with my two cane chairs. Now to just get them painted.......

You can see where I'm headed, anyway.

This weekend, I swear....

Yummy Fun-ness in the Valley

Went to Harajuku Gyoza yesterday for lunch with a colleague - yum!

They do Japanese dumplings and Asahi beer on tap. It was fabulous.

They have a number of dumplings to choose from including chicken, duck, pork, vegetable and Moreton Bay Bug! And the dessert of apple gyoza with fabulous vanilla icecream is to die for.

The staff are all lovely. What a great place to go.

It's in Brunswick Street, next to the old Dooley's pub, if you are wanting to get some Gyoza goodness.