Wednesday, December 31, 2008

A day trip and Happy New Year!

I have been suffering a bit from the "cant-be-botherds" over the past week or so...it is such a surreal time of year.....in a way it will be nice to get back to "normal"...(whatever that is)....following the Christmas/New Year holidays...I will still have a week or so left of my annual leave and hope to achieve some "finishes" in the sewing room.....because I spend most of my time working to timelines and having to be very organised at work when I have time off I tend to putter about here and there in what seems to be an aimless manner but I think it is just my mind and body taking time out from the usual routine...I just need to accept that and go with it...for a while..... time now to snap out of it....soon!....for now I will enjoy not having to be at the gym at 7am so I can be at work by 8.30...it's ok to go a bit later.....it's also ok to enjoy reading the paper cover to cover with a cup of tea and toast in bed.....listening to music....and deciding to get up whenever!....doing the jigsaw puzzle the Prince gave me for Christmas....and indulging in other "frivolous" activities....like doing absolutely nothing while watching the cricket on TV.....even having a little nanna nap now and then..LOL...so as you can see I have been enjoying my down time from work! The Prince is also on holidays but spends his time much more productively....gardening and trying to work out the watering system which it seems was installed with little or no plan...a bit here a bit there...still it has given the Prince something to work on!...and anyone who knows him also knows he has two speeds....full and stopped(which is when he sleeps!)....we have spent a bit of time over the past week playing Scrabble and UNO which has been fun.....and yesterday we set off on a day trip to the Yorke Peninsula a couple of hours drive from home......the Prince hardly ever takes the direct route anywhere and yesterday was no exception....there were lots of dirt roads involved and a bit of backtracking but we weren't on a tight schedule (actually we had no "schedule" at all....!)....and we had a really enjoyable day....! The only plan we had was to have fish and chips at the beach...and we accomplished that.....Here are a few pics ...............

Much of the Yorke Peninsula is devoted to grain growing and the large paddocks now devoid of their crops are quite different from the vineyards in the Barossa........

Silo storage at Ardrossan......this was taken from a lookout built on the top of a quarry......

...more of the wide open spaces.......


which way?????
I also "found" a patchwork shop in Moonta....and some great ice cream!

About ten km's from home the Prince informed me the fuel light had been on for a while and he was "hopeful" we would make it home....I was hopeful too as it would have been a bit of a walk for him if we didn't!

One of the jobs I would like to accomplish today is to de-Christmas the house and give it a good clean...I got into the sewing room the other day and found the floor which had previously been covered with bits and pieces from previous projects...I even "found" my ironing board and iron....LOL.....the room is now ready for some sewing activity!!....

2008 is almost gone.....and one of the best things I did this past year was start this blog.....the friendships I have formed and the people I have "met" have been inspiring, informative and most of all - fun! I wish everyone in blogland a Happy and Healthy New Year!

See you next year..........Lorraine

20 comments:

The Patchwork Apple- Jane..... Visit www.patchworkapple.com said...

Your blog is always a laugh. I gather you made it home with some petrol left or did the Prince have to walk while you guarded the car!
Happy 2009!

Unknown said...

A Lovely Day out with even some Retail Therapy thrown in for good measure.Bliss!!
Glad you are taking it easy while on your break....Thanks for your Blogness is that a word..Is Now.!!
Happy New Year to You and your Family.
cheers

Pat said...

Sounds like a wonderful day. You even found a quilt shop! What more could one ask? Love you pictures. Lovely flat land. There are only mountains around here. Happy New Year to you and yours.

Shepherd Family ACALPM said...

My husband used to live in Adelaide and Whyalla, and has been out to Moonta, and the Yorketown so I showed him your pictures and he was so excited to see them. He lived there almost 8 years ago so it was very cool for him to see! Thanks for sharing your fun trip!

Anonymous said...

Time off work during the holidays always made me feel good when I was still working, if I was lucky enough to have it. I'm still taking down decorations at my house. Today I got one tree's decorations removed, organized, and boxed with another one to do.
Enjoy the rest of your break and have a joyous new year.

Mary said...

I understand "the taking it easy" while on vacation. I have had a few days off and had a long list of things I wanted to accomplish . . . didn't actually happen but I have enjoyed the time away from the office. I am enjoying your blog and am glad we found each other through the Polka Dot Swap. Happy New Year!

Daisy Jayne said...

I gather you made it home with some petrol left or did the Prince carry you home and go back for the car? Sounds like you had a nice day.......Any show and tell from the quilt shop ???? All the best for 2009

Kris Meares - Tag Along Teddies said...

Hey Lorraine! Holidays are meant for taking it easy and not making complicated plans, so just enjoy it all! Sounds like your day trip was a blast - and a patchwork shop thrown in! You do patchworkers everywhere proud! Tee! Hee! Hee! All the best for the new year - would have to agree that starting your blog was one of the best things you did - oh, and becoming a grandma!! Bear Hugs! KRIS

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

Happy, happy new year to you my friend! May it bring you only good, good things!

Kris said...

Sounds like a highly successful trip. (With great photos too!) We did the Whispering Wall today because Miss 11 and Mr 8 couldn't remember ever having been. They were most impressed. (My Bradley filled up with fuel before we left so we were good in that department!) Happy New Year Loz! Hope 2009 is a great year for you.

Red Geranium Cottage said...

Happy New Year to you Loz!!! I hope it's a wonderful year for you.

Leanne said...

What a good lad that Prince is a trip via Moonta ...did you buy any patterns. The peninsula is very brown at the moment.

Levin said...

happy new year.
hope your clean up is successful. i think i will do it next monday when david has returned to work and we are back from our camping trip. what do you think my chances are of getting the kids involved??? louis is a dab hand at cleaning windows providing he can use as much windex as he likes!!! lol
have a great weekend
l
x
ps driving into the barossa valley is rather surreal with all those green vines after km's of dryness. beautiful!

Kellie said...

I just love that shop Lorraine. We usually holiday there this time of year but seeing our trip to the USA is still hitting the credit card we will be staying home this year :(
I stopped by to let you know that you won my Flower Garden Pillow! Congratulations! I hope you will like it. Email me your details and I'll send it off to you. Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Nothing wrong with a nanna nap. I think that having a nanna nap (or as my friend calls it... a power nap) is one of life's civilised little pleasures. Now that I'm on holidays I'm having one nearly every day. Pure bliss!

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean about having all that time to finally do the things we want but I too find myself aimlessly pottering from one thing to another achieving very little. It's the time of year and I guess we have to just accept it for what it is. I too are looking forward to 'normal'. Happy New Year to you. Keep blogging and inspring. Best wishes. Sue

OzRose said...

Happy New Year Lorraine. Hope you enjoy your time off work and have lots of lovely nana naps!!! I took that saying back with me to the UK last year and they thought it was terrific!!!
Hugs Val

Lulabell said...

Have to love a road trip! Congratulations on winning the Dont Look Now cushion! I also love your Christmas stockings.

Suzanne said...

What pretty country...looks a little like the midwest of the USA with the grain and silos.

To celebrate my 100 post I am having a giveaway starting Sunday...come by for a look-see

Anonymous said...

So pleased you did start your blog. I love looking at what you are up to, and I can always get a laugh or two from it. Funny how us quilters can always find a Patchwork shop when we are out and about for a drive...do you pack the newspaper for DH to read while you shop? Love the pictures of the country side over your way, we do live in such a diverse country. Happy new year!