Christmas Day Is Over and Done With

First of all a belated Merry Christmas to every one

This year Miss 22 and I also got our first Santa picture together.  Took us all these years to get one.  I do remember as a youngster she did not like Santa, my have times changed.

December has been a busy month for me, working and then going away to another concert .... Shania Twain this time ...... then doing a roadie with Miss 22 from Christchurch to Gisborne over 3 long days.

Shania was awesome and now I have only two more concerts on my list to go to.  One in January and then another in March.  I am concerted out now.

Down in Christchurch I got to go to the best Christmas shop called The Christmas Hut and bought my first Lemax Village item which is in its box till Christmas next year.

This Santa was huge in real life and at $3950 a bit out of my price range.

And also Miss 22 took me to a great Christmas light demonstration.  This is just a small collection of the lights and so dedicated we went in the rain.

Finally after travelling for three days we got home on Saturday just before the bad weather hit and had a days relaxation before I started the preparations for Christmas day including shopping at the supermarket and I must say I struck it lucky as it was not that bad the four times I went (3 because I forgot something).

I had a fail with my non-fail pavlova (a KIWI icon) so made another and only done a basic topping but it was still yummy

And what sewing have I done this month ...... only a block for QBSA.  The block is called Card Trick

Can't believe it is 2019 next week.  Where has the year gone?

I Went to Lef Leppard

As a teenager in the late 80's early 90's, I loved a few teen boopy bands like A-Ha, New Kids On The Block, Bros, however I also loved Def Leppard and loved and had played over and over their album Hysteria.

So when I heard Def Leppard were coming to New Zealand I snapped up a couple of tickets and counted down the months and finally headed to see them last week

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Me and my friend Mereana before we headed of to the concert.

First up was the Scorpions.  I knew some of their songs and they were great from start to finish.  Very energetic as most are near on 70 years old.

And after the waiting, Def Leppard were finally on and they played from the start to the finish of the Hysteria album plus a few more afterwards from other albums.

I can say one thing ....... I have never been to a concert where I could not hear well after it for a while, but it was all worth it and another concert of my to do list.  Next month roll on Shania Twain!!

I Have Been on a Roll

Yesterday I showed you my placings I got at our local A&P show last month in the craft section.  While most things placed, some did not.

The premature article I donated to the local hospital so didn't get a photo of it before they whisked it away, but here are my other items.

This baby quilt pattern I found off Pinterest and is now going to my daughters friend for her first baby.  I really enjoyed making it and was an easy pattern.

My sprocket pillow I finished at the last minute

and knitted baby vest which I cursed a lot over as kept dropping stitches

So out of the fifteen articles I entered in the craft section only four did not place, so am a happy chappy.

More Craft Winnings

Earlier I showed you my baking and preserve winnings.  Now get ready for my sewing, knitting and cross stitch success.

Again I entered plenty of items and am quite chuffed with my results, one especially.

I got Best Overall in the Handcraft section with this table runner I made which also got first for a table center piece.  All points were perfect I was told and the sewing was great.

Here are all my craft placings this year. The most I have had and probably the most I have entered.

My first placings included this bag where I got the pattern from Gail Pan's Patchwork Loves Embroidery Too

A double-handed oven mitt

A premature baby quilt (no bigger than 1m x 1m)

The first Christmas stocking I also came first in.  The second John Deere stocking I came 2nd with

I finally framed this cross stitch and entered it, and it came 2nd in the cross stitch section

My wall hanging also got 2nd 

along with this knitting.  I hadn't knitted any baby stuff for 20 years until now

This scarf also got a 2nd

as did this beanie

And finally this cross stitch I finally framed came 3rd

I was quite happy with all my placings I got and placed for most things.  

What this space for my other entries which I never placed for but still got good feedback.  There are many talented people where I live.

Roll on 2019

Just some Flowers

Spring is half way over and my new tulips I loved this year.  

along with my freesias that flowered better this year.

The Tui's loved my Kowhai tree while it flowered. I have to entice them back now somehow.  I think I may get a bird feeder and wildbird seeds.

I Went On Holiday to Noumea

A couple of weeks ago I went on holiday.  Now my plan wa to go back to the Bathurst 1000, but the other half didn't so I compromised and went to New Caledonia and stayed at the Chateau Royal.

Noumea is a bit different than the other island we have been to previously and I must say Fiji is still my number one island destination but the ocean was gorgeous here.

We spent the day in the main town center and had a look at all the touristy things and went to the museums.  My French is near non-exsistant so it was hard to know what you were reading but you soon got the gist of it all. 

Loved the Choo-Choo Train and had an excellent guide telling us all about Noumea

The cocktails though very nice were for us Kiwis with the exchange rate very expensive so didn't drink many.

We spent the day on Amdee Island and it was gorgeous.  Swimming was put off when I saw the snakes so i just sat in the loungers and read while watching those snakes come out of the water on to land and slither past me .....eekk!

A nice week away, but Noumea was not a holiday destination I will be rushing back to anytime soon.