Monday 31 December 2012

Christmas 2012 is over now...

Oh, Christmas, you were such a joy!


The kiddies and parents at school gave me all these goodies.


My colleagues gave me these pressies:


I turned this pile of my favourite books into a bookish Christmas tree. 


Favourite decorations could be found around the house.




Christmas dinner was delish!



Mum's trifle was divine!


 We had fun in the shade.


We visited  with family.


I got more Christmas loot!


And now...onto 2013!

Happy New Year to you all!

xx

Sunday 30 December 2012

Film Love - The Hobbit

So excited about the Hobbit! We loved, loved LOVED the Lord of the Rings series, so going to see the Hobbit gave us the chance to step back into that magical Tolkien world.


Things you need to know :

1. The end of the movie is not really the end - there will be two more films to make a Hobbit trilogy. The second one will be released in December 2013, the third in June 2014. 

2. Some favourite characters are back, like Gandalf, Galadriel, Elrond and Saruman. Gandalf plays a huge role and has some of the best lines. 

3. Billy Connolly plays one of the dwarves - didn't know this until later because he is so unrecognisable!

4. Barry Humphries plays the Goblin King, and although the character is pretty much an animation, he actually looks somewhat like Barry Humphries!

5. You have to see this film in the cinema because the landscape is amazing and you are able to appreciate the full scale of the monsters.

6. The troll scene is hilarious. 

7. The Grey Orc is way ugly.

Just thought I'd prepare you! 

Also, the previews for upcoming movies are so cool! I cannot wait for this one:


Heaps of famous faces, including James Franco, Mila Kunis and Michelle Williams.

And this version of Jack and the Beanstalk, called Jack the Giant Slayer, stars the lovely Ewan McGregor:



 The beautiful scenes in Life of Pi:


And although I've never seen a Cirque de Soleil show, I would love to see this film:


Magical movies!

Have you seen any movies over the Christmas holiday?

xx

Thursday 27 December 2012

A Snap, A Set and a Song - Family

So....I've been gone for awhile, because life was crazily busy, and I had to step away from the computer to get everything done! Although, really, the last couple of days have been truly lazy with lots of napping! Christmas food and hot, hot weather will do that to you!
I have heaps of blog catching-up to do now, so get ready for some belated posts.

First of all, I'm joining in with Thea at A Snap, A Set, and a Song for the first time in AGES!
This week's theme is FAMILY, so I'm heading right back to the beginning of December, when we celebrated three birthdays in the family by heading to a park in Joondalup for a picnic.

Lily turned 3.


Jack turned 14, and James, my nephew, (in the background) turned 22.


My set is a collection of more pics from the day:





And my song is a cheery tune about birthdays:



Go visit Thea to see some more SS & S posts about families!


xx

Tuesday 4 December 2012

Tuesday's Tune - The Presets

Just popping in quickly to share a new song from The Presets.


There is no dramatic video, or complicated lyrics, but the melody is so sweet, and the high notes are so angelic. When I hear this song, I am transported back to the New Wave pop of the 80s, like Phil Oakley's Together in Electric Dreams. Anyone who plays against me on Songpop, knows how much I love my New Wave music!



I've thrown the Phil Oakley song in too, for an 80s flashback:




That movie was so cute!

Join up with Thea at A Snap, A Set and A Song for some more Tuesday's Tunes!


xx




Monday 3 December 2012

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?


Hello to my bookish friends!


This week's reading has been:


What a funny book this was! It reminded me of a dark comedy movie like Weekend at Bernie's or 
Pulp Fiction, except with a whole lot of famous world leaders and scientists thrown in for good measure!
The book pivots between the life of Allan Karllson in the present, which is the story of him travelling around the countryside with a group of criminals; and his past, which is the story of him travelling around the world meeting political leaders. I am not usually into reading about politics, but Jonasson makes it interesting and not at all dull. The scenarios are often quite ridiculous and unbelievable actually, but there is something lovable about this band of characters. It is a very amusing book, which I have found to be a rare thing. The ending is a little sudden, but not disappointing; I think I just wanted the story to keep going!

Not sure which book is up next, but Christmas is in the air and it might be time for some Christmasy reads. Any books you can recommend?

Popping over to Book Journey now, to find out what has got everyone else turning pages.



Have a fun week!

xx


Wednesday 28 November 2012

Our Boy's Birthday!

Happy 14th Jack! 


Still as cute as ever!


Love you!

xx

Tuesday 27 November 2012

Tuesday's Tune - She-Wolf

This song is so good! David Guetta and Sia have done it again.


I love that the video follows the same theme as their last hit, Titanium,
in that the hunted becomes the victor. Soul-stirring stuff.



I'm joining up with Thea at Tuesday's Tunes, because when I hear an amazing song, I just have to share it!



xx


Monday 26 November 2012

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Hello, out there! 
I'm chained to the computer at the moment writing school reports, 
but I thought I'd take a moment to post about the books I've been reading lately.


Last week I read this enthralling book:


about two sisters - one whom is very controlled and aware of society's values, the other who is flighty and free-spirited. This one, Esme, gets the raw deal from her family again and again. Growing up in colonial India, she experiences the horror of the typhoid outbreak and its devastating consequences. As a teenager she is still thought to be too airy fairy, and is taken off to an asylum, where she spends the next 75 years of her life, abandoned by her family. In steps Iris, her great niece, who is contacted as Esme's next of kin when  the asylum closes. While at first shocked at the revelation she even has a great aunt, Iris realises the old woman's plight and agrees to let her stay with her until they find new accommodation for her. What she learns about her Grandma and Aunt along the way is unsettling, and leads to a shocking conclusion.

I found this addictive reading as I am fascinated by stories of sisters, having two myself! I am also quite intrigued by stories of uncaring parents, as I was raised in a loving family, and cannot imagine parents taking drastic measures to promote one child and not the other. There were a few moments in this book where I literally gasped and covered my mouth, because I was appalled at the way Esme was neglected, but I like to be moved by a story. I'm sure many readers will be disappointed by the ending because it is quite unexpected and abrupt, but it gave the story a good twist. I really enjoyed this book!

I also read this one:


which was sent to me from Aunty Ann, my husband's aunty, who shares my love for books!

This book made me realise how differently people deal with death. In fact I could barely stand to read it at first, because the mother, Zoe, was so removed from the death of her baby, and I just couldn't relate to that. However, as more characters were introduced, including her sons, her husband and her new psychiatrist friend, Lillian, I became more interested in how the characters related to each other. By the time the narration swapped to Zoe's husband at about the midway point of the book, the pace goes into overdrive, and the book becomes a real page turner. By the last few chapters the book becomes absolutely chilling, and you can hardly believe what you're reading!  

This is not a fun book. But the emotional stories of the characters, shared through diary entries and letters were intriguing to read. A psychological thriller, this book is really something different!

Now I am reading this book:


which I won in a comp run by Shelleyrae, at Book'd Out. Thanks so much, Shelleyrae!!

Set in Sweden, this book tells the tale of Allan, who escapes from a nursing home just before a party is held to celebrate his one-hundredth birthday. Allan takes off to the bus station, still wearing his slippers, and proceeds to make a getaway. Meanwhile, through a turn of events involving a suitcase, he becomes involved in an adventure which is worthy of being made into a hilarious comedic film. The characters in this book are over the top, but believable, and the narration shifts continually between the present and the past of each of the characters. Funny, quirky stuff!  I'm not even half way through the book yet,
but already I am having a great time!

I'm still in the midst of writing reports,
but I hope to get a chance to come and visit you soon via Book Journey.


Have an awesome week!

xx

Tuesday 20 November 2012

Tuesday's Tune - Battle Scars

You won't see much of me at the moment on here, even though I have heaps to share, because it is report writing week! I need to keep my head down, and bum up, so please forgive me if I don't visit you this week! Just quickly, I will share a song that I've been enjoying. Guy Sebastian's voice is truly awesome in this:



I don't mind me a bit of rap when there is a pretty melody and soaring vocals to go with it.


Join up with Thea at A Snap, A Set and A Song to see some other songs people have shared.
You never know what you might find!


Friday 16 November 2012

A Snap, A Set and A Song - Red

The theme for this week's A Snap, A Set and A Song, is Red. We have been talking about gardens at school recently, and noticed a few interesting things about ladybirds. Some of them are yellow, and some orange, some have lots of spots, some have only a few spots, and sometimes they have stripes, or even splodges! 
This isn't a snap taken by me, but this is what the ladybirds look like where we live:


Splodgy! With a big line down the centre!

Here is my polyvore Set, with a red ladybird theme:

Red



Pinup Couture red mary jane
$76 - topvintage.nl


J by Jasper Conran tote handbag
$88 - debenhams.com


Lanvin
$565 - nathalieschuterman.com


Swarovski charm jewelry
swarovski.com



Marc jacobs fragrance
nordstrom.com




And this is the Taylor Swift song called Red - I love it! I don't think it's the official video but there are clips from the movie The Vow, so worth looking at for the eye candy factor! 





I'm linking up with A Snap, A Set and A Song  to see how other people have interpreted the red theme. See you there!




xx