Sunday, March 10, 2013

There's no place like home

Hello from the sunny shores of Australia! Well, it would be sunny if it would stop raining, but that's what you get when you live in a sub-tropical climate.

I hope you've all been keeping well over the past few months (and sewing and eating and travelling). Thank goodness for blogs - I feel like I've been able to stay up to date with the world even though I haven't been participating.

We've come home to the lovely city of Brisbane, Australia. The climate took some adjusting to after a European winter, but we are loving the outdoor lifestyle again.

Brisbane River, Australia
Brisbane River

Our house is in need of a little TLC after many years of tenants. If we think about what needs doing we get a little overwhelmed, so we're taking it one job at a time.

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Weeds are the easy part.

I managed to break a bone in my foot, which has slowed me up a bit. (No funny story there  unfortunately, I just accidentally kicked the doorjamb.)

I caught up with Marg, in real life, and it was wonderful. It even stopped raining while we were together. Behold the power of blogging!

We have been delighted to have two members of our family returned to us, looking as young as the day we left them at Chez Grandparents before our voyage to France.

I read somewhere that a cat's memory only spans 18 months. I don't believe it though, as these two have picked up right where we left off (lots of snuggles and purrs). Not that you'd believe it from the photos.

Blue point Birman cat
Nothing says I love you like disdain.

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Not impressed. This was what I got after calling his name at least 5 times.

Our household is currently running on the quarter of our belongings we were able to bring by air - the rest arrives by sea sometime this month.

Of course, I could fit the sewing machine in!

I've even managed a bit of sewing - I tried to make a cushion cover to enter in the 2013 Pantone Quilt Challenge: Emerald, over at Ali's blog.

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Problem is, I don't really like how it turned out. Will have to try this pattern again on a different scale with different colours.

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We haven't had much chance to travel since we've arrived, between working on the house, back to school (kids), back to work 2 days a week (for me) and the record-breaking amount of rain we've had this summer. Hopefully the sun will pop out again soon and we will get to take a day trip.

Until then, you'll just have to put up with sewing posts and a bit of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong skyline by night
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Bless my husband, he spotted this one for me.

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Yum Cha in Hong Kong. Dumplings!
Yum Cha: no dumpling left unturned.

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What?? They ate all the dumplings?

I can't wait to tell you all about it - Hong Kong was fantastic!

Until next time, keep safe and dry.
A bientôt!  

43 comments:

verobirdie said...

So nice to see you back online.
Beautiful cats.
Can't wait for more of Hongkong.

Marg said...

Great to see you back blogging, I've missed you!
Maybe we should meet more regularly to try and stop the rain!
Love your cats, my Lulu has that same look of disdain.
As usual, great photos, hope you have some more of Hong Kong to share. Can't wait to see Brisbane through your eyes too.
The cushion is still nowhere near as bad as the aqua/grey quilt I made!!!!!!!! I think you are being too harsh.

Susan said...

Oh, how lovely to have you back Kirsty! There is always something to have a LOL about on your blogposts! (And as usual MrPnP wants to know what I'm laughing about!!!) You should have considered a little side trip to Melbourne- we are still experiencing 30+ degrees temperatures and no real rain for months! Maybe I need to come up to Brissie to help you pull weeds! I agree with Marg, you are being far too critical about your cushion! It's great!

Susan said...

Your blog comments are still on French time- are you sure you are not still there??

deedee said...

Good to see news. It's been rainy here, too.
Love the sign your husband saw :)

Miriam said...

Welcome home Kirsty!!!

Beautiful cats!

I would love to trade you some of your rain. Its hot and dry here.

Eva said...

Great to see you're back! :-) Your cats are gorgeous! I'm looking forward to more Hong Kong, though I'm not sure I want to know what that in-store demo consisted of ... ;-)

beatrice De said...

Hong-kong ! Love it. I have been there twice, after Vietnam or thaïland, to buy stones beads to make my necklaces.

Un petit bonjour de Lausanne en Suisse.

beatrice De said...

That is a patchwork pattern that whe do not see often in work.
If you like patchwork, please go the blog * la chambre des couleurs*. You just go to my blog, en lien, *le japon que j'aime*. clic, please on the picture on the right hand side. Vous serez émerveillée.

beatrice De said...

Before, I had given lot of matérial to the next door school.
But now i sell colors paquets to patchwork ladies, and bricolage on brocantes. That gives me some monney for travelling.

Sorry for my brocking english !

Anne said...

So good to be able to read your blog again! And to discover you live in Brisbane, where we were on holidays 6 months ago. We loved the town, and the many many sushi bars :-)

Lauren said...

Great to hear from you. Didn't know you are a fellow Queenslander. I live between Townsville and Cairns but visit Brisbane as often as I can to visit my adult kids. Have been telling my husband for the last 10 years that I want to retire there, and we are finally starting to look at real estate. It's a city with a country town feel - heaps to do but not too fast-paced. Mind you, I am also looking forward to travelling to Europe next year. Love it too, but Queensland is home.

Teresa said...

Welcome back! It's been only a few months since I found you but I've missed you! If you've had it record rainy we've had it record cloudy in Northern Europe this winter. And I love the cats AND the quilt. Just can't see why you don't like it.

helen said...

Welcome (belatedly!) back! Wish it would rain down here (melbourne) - not THAT much, but just a bit to help get this hot weather to bugger off. the cushion looks great - very techy even. you have to love how cats dont even have to raise an eyebrow to get that "oh yeah?" look across.

Liene said...

Vibartion, eh?

Seems odd to hear about all the rain, when on this end of the world we mostly hear about the heat and drought (and wildfires) affecting other portions of Australia. Good luck with your projects!

Katy Cameron said...

Welcome home! Looks like the little old ladies in Hong Kong are feistier than the European ones ;o)

Omma Velada said...

I look forward to hearing more about Hong Kong, the photos look amazing. And loving your cats, what great personalities!

joanchicago said...

So great to see your first post from Australia! I've missed your photos and your quilting projects.

Camilla said...

Welcome back! Be glad you're not in Adelaide. No rain and far too hot for autumn...look forward to seeing more of your various adventures, sewing, travelling etc again!

Poppyprint said...

Cats: I simply do not understand the allure. Vibrators wielded by geriatrics, on the other hand.....

Maaike said...

so good to have you back here in blogland Kirsty! Good to hear all is getting back to normal again for you and your family.
The rain sounds very tough, I hope it will stop soon. Can't wait to see your homeland here on the blog! Still feels like travelling to me, haha.

lots of love from Canada,
xx

Anonymous said...

I recognise that little old lady poster ... made me laugh every time I walked past it on my way to work!

Hope you had a great time while you were here in my adopted city ... can't wait to see what stories you come up with - hopefully my information was a help too and if I remember correctly you ended up having great weather for your visit?

Cheers

Jo

Anonymous said...

Wekcome back home! We are in Melbourne - its hot - so hot, om sick of it, cant do anything, would gladly have some of queenslands rain xxBrenda

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

It's nice to have you back. Take care and when you are ready I will be here to read what you have to say.

Betty said...

It must be good to be home, surrounded by people all speaking YOUR language.
Say hello to your husband from me: cleanliness is next to godliness!

Kirsty @ Bonjour Quilts said...

Brenda, I reckon all of Brisbane would gladly send the rain down south if they could. I see you on track for record heat levels, you poor things! Stay cool x

Kirsty @ Bonjour Quilts said...

Thank you, Joan! I hope to appear here a little more frequently now ;)

Kirsty @ Bonjour Quilts said...

Wish we could send you some rain Helen, I really do!

Kirsty @ Bonjour Quilts said...

Bonjour Beatrice - your English is fine. After living in a non-English speaking country I will never, ever complain about someone trying to speak my language! Thanks for dropping by x x

Cath said...

Welcome home! to "not so sunny" Brisbane (also my home). I will miss your French travels but look forward to a new chapter of blogging for you. Maybe you will give me some ideas about what I am missing out on. Funny how when you live near things, you never seem to visit them as much.
Cath @ Bits 'n Bobs

dee -@ The Old Fat Hen said...

Welcome home.i have missed your posts and beautiful pictures.maybe i will see brisbane in a new light now-love dee x

Jenny M said...

Welcome back to Oz. Hope things aren't too strange here for you and that you aren't missing all those stunning old French villages too much. Had to laugh at the sign that your hubby saw...AND you can have a demo in the store??
Yes,here in Melb we would love some of your rain!

Sara Louise said...

I missed seeing you here! I missed your snarky, sarcky, naughty humor. And I miss YOUUUUUUUUU! x

JoeinVegas said...

So, from a French winter to an Aussie winter. It will probably be sunnier.

Annie Cholewa said...

You've landed! That's another of my favourite bloggers in Brisbane :D

Gorgeous cats!!! Good luck with the repair work :)

Kelsey said...

Ahh I'm so glad that you're back! I've really been missing your blog. I'm sure it feels great to be home again (minus the rain of course). Welcome back :)

Hitch and Thread said...

Welcome home! I was hoping you'd keep blogging from Aus. I've enjoyed seeing France through your eyes looking forward to seeing Brisbane.

Anonymous said...

Like everyone else I'm so glad you're back blogging! Welcome home! Sharon

midge said...

welcome back miss k. hope everyone is settled and happy. the puddies are dancing on the inside, i can tell. i wonder how they figure out the memory span of a cat? do they lie on little cay psychiatrist couches talking about kitty memories of a sardine that they ate this time last year, baffling. anyhoo, looking forward to more giddaymate posts. love your work

Nicola said...

Hey! Glad to see you safely back home for real and in Blogland. You have been missed! Looking forward to hearing all about Australia. Sorry about the rain. It keeps snowing in France so you're not missing much. Love your Hong Kong photos, especially the night time skyline. Hope you have time to show us some more.

Mslaurelsimon said...

I only stumbled onto your blog a few months ago, just about when you'd stopped writing. I felt this strange connection to you since we have so many things in common. I just started sewing again after many years and quilting is a new "passion". I love Paris and will be there in August again. I started learning photography as well. And now I find that you also have a Birman! I have two little devils. You must be my younger, more talented alter ego!
Your blog has inspired me in many ways and I can't wait to see what you come up with next. Brisbane was a little closer to NJ!

Ali said...

I love how you're all like "Not much traveling. We went to Hong Kong, no big deal. Oh and I sewed an awesome pillow that would have won the contest, also no big deal." You! I've missed you!

Kirsty @ Bonjour Quilts said...

Thanks for finding me! I am more than a little jealous of your August trip, I really miss France. Enjoy your newfound love of quilting and lots of Birmany snuggles!

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