Venice memories

San Marco, Venice

Christmas 2008

Christmas memories 2008 - Alessandro with his gran.

Sydney to Hobart yacht race

Repost:
The 26th of December is Boxing Day in Australia. Future travelers might like to keep in mind two very important sporting events that commence on this day each year. The first is the traditional Boxing Day cricket match at the MCG, Melbourne Cricket Ground. Secondly, and of interest to me, is the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

My father participated twice in the race in the past for a Gosford yacht owner and Australian tall poppy, Peter Rysdyk on a his boat called Onya. I remember how two years in a row, we drove him to the train station at the end of Christmas Day, and then he sat up all night on the train down from Brisbane to Sydney. He went with two mates and all three of them crewed for Peter.

Australian maxi Wild Oats XI won it last year in an amazing 21 hours and 24 minutes. They had good conditions last year. Not like 1998 when a 115-strong fleet set sail from Sydney into the worst storm in the race's history. Five boats sank, six sailors died and just 44 yachts survived the horrendous conditions.

Black Cockatoo

Merry Christmas

Tis the season to...

Merry Christmas from my house to yours (with Giancarlo, Alessandro, Tigger, Trixie and Pyewacket).

My lemon tree

Journaling:

I stayed with my sister for a weekend recently and was enchanted by her lemon tree in a pot at her front door. When the boys asked what I would like for Christmas this year I thought, “Yes! I know exactly what I would like!”
Giancarlo and I spent the morning together yesterday picking out the perfect tree and a beautiful glazed pot.
We got punnets of petunias to go in terracotta pots in front, and we put my geraniums on either side and the effect, on my front porch, is just charming.
When I look at it, I see... scented blossoms on the lemon tree and cascades of pale purple petunias...

PhotoHunt: Wide - Trixie

Deck the halls with barfed up holly,
Fa la la la la
La la la la.

Trixie and Pyewacket were playing thundering herd of elephants last week, and they knocked the tree over. Bent branches, downed ornaments, bits of tree all over the carpet.... oh my!

The vet said to put her on a diet as she is getting quite wide, but she didn't take kindly to the idea.

This is my latest PhotoHunt entry.

My first Christmas

In Marysville, California.

Prom Cars

Alessandro and Giancarlo - off to the Prom.

PhotoHunt: Favorite - Daybreak in Venice

Venice at daybreak - there's magic in this moment.

This is my latest PhotoHunt entry.

Portofino Views

Positano memories

Under 18s State Champion again

Congratulations Alessandro!

PhotoHunt: Breakfast - Sorrento

Can you guess what my favorite appliance is? Yes - my Breville cappuccino maker.
Do you know, I think 7am is my best time of the day because that's when the scent of Vittoria Espresso wafts through the house.

This picture is from Il Fauno Bar in Sorrento. I've been there a few times now. Looking forward to going back, too.

And Giancarlo goes to a Prom too!

Alessandro goes to the Prom

Double click on the picture to make it larger.