Thursday, April 29, 2010

Don't know if you guys in Oz get the Pineapple Dance Studios show yet, but it is hilarious....  Here is Louie, creative director, and new national treasure.....  Claerwen, I thought you might appreciate his creative genius, as I do!


We went skiing in Sierra Nevada for 3 days, got back late Tuesday night.  Was hubby's birthday present to himself.  He has been dying to get up there but not had a chance until now, and fortunately there was enough snow to extend the season by a few weeks.  It was incredible weather....  clear blue sky, sunshine, hot, hot, hot....  a beach day down on the coast.  But we were skiing 3ooom above sea level.  Weird really.  Willow loved being in the snow, particularly eating it.  She had a turn on skis, on the chair lift and skiing down the mountain inbetween my legs.  She just wanted to go straight down.  As i started to meander down the slope she said mummy big one, which translates as go faster!







Cool cats... Bianca, Fulvia and me at Bianca's birthday party

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Rustic Supper

I made wholemeal bread today and we had it with pea, broccoli and asparagus soup.  It's amazing what you can whip up even with nothing apparently in the pantry...  frozen peas.... how often have they saved the day!  And unusually Willow will eat green soup, but not touch a green veg in it's natural state.  


Nerja Weekend

Last weekend we visited friends Nikki, Guy and Monica in Nerja.  Fulvia, J.M. and Bianca came too.  We had fun.  It was extremely windy.  I made strawberry daquiris and passed out.  Was very sick.  How embarrassing!  Anyway, Willow had a ball with the girls.  She has grown up so much so quickly.  She's a little girl now , very independent and full of life.  And can she talk!

Willow and Monica

The girls hangin out in Nerja



Sunday, April 04, 2010

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you are all happy, healthy and enjoying some family LEISURE time! I know I have been off the radar for a long time but I am so pleased to be back in blogland! If you don't know, I have been travelling in Australia, Malaysia and the UK since before Christmas. I enjoyed a fabulous family reunion in Melbourne which happens every 2 years and lasted for 3 weeks. As you can imagine it was all too short and sweet. Then I moved on to an island in Malaysia called Langkawi. It was amazing. I have to say that the Malaysian people in general are the the nicest, kindest and most pleasant people I have ever met. Then I spent over a month in the UK where I (underwent) a cycle of IVF treatment. The treatment unfortunately was unsuccessful which came as a big shock to my husband and I as the first time we did it resulted in our beautiful daughter Willow. We assumed it would happen for us again so we were very upset and disappointed. However it didn't last long as we realised how fortunate and happy we already are. Que sera sera.... etc.. etc...


Homemade hot cross buns..... delicious!



Willow's nursery had a gallery of decorated eggs. We had a go but unfortunately Willow was too sick with a bad cold on Wednesday to be there for the prizegiving. Somehow I don't think we were in the running. You should have seen some of the pieces the children/parents displayed! Works of art!!


This photo was taken by Willow, and she decorated the cupcakes too. I was trying to tell her that less is more, but at Easter time I guess it doesn't matter!


The weather has been glorious! Thankyou Mother Nature! x



The Hello Kitty Birthday cake and cupcakes I made for Bianca's 5th birthday party. Happy Birthday Bianca! She had a wonderful kitty cat birthday party.



I took the time to swap Willow's bedroom into the spare room so now she has a full on playroom/bedroom. It's so much better as now there are no toys in the loungeroom


She really loves her new bedroom/playroom



You know they are up to something when it goes very quiet for at least a few minutes...



This is a photo that Willow took of one of her paintings. I love it!



Easter (Semana Santa) in Spain is such an important religious and family time. Marbella goes from being basically a sleepy village to a bustling international town. Fortunately the weather gods shone down upon us and gifted us with sunshine and warmth. It has been a very pleasant holiday period. Willow is now in bed asleep, which is a blessing in itself considering the amount of chocolate she has eaten. We are not long home from a wonderful lunch which turned into dinner.... the best ones do don't they..... We dined at Fulvia and JM's apartment, overlooking the sea, on the terrace, in the sunshine.... delicious Italian food, fresh, tasty ingredients and amazing flavours.... Burato mozzarella, tomatoes and pesto, Saltimbocca, pasta, plenty of white wine, coffee and chocolate. Willow and Bianca played together nicely, mostly...



Good Night and Sweet dreams... xxx