21 today......

...actually, that should read 21 <i>years ago</i> today, as today is my wedding anniversary.<br /><br />On a hot and humid Saturday afternoon, all those years ago (and it goes without saying that I was <i>very</i> young when I was married, some might say a child bride!) the adventure began. And it has been an adventure, which I should have guessed, judging from how the day panned out.<br /><br />To give you some background info, Sydney was in the middle of a heat wave, and temperatures had been in the mid to high 30's all week (Celsius, that is). We'd chosen one of Sydney's oldest churches, the Garrison Church at The Rocks as our venue, and it really is such a beautiful place:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWayJ75M0jvIBBdL88RY3rR5TNafdza3ESFglWIHEIVMwAOnyNNkjyNBaS4bUj_qMO5W0N7TozoCh9OsZdqQQ0_FMcM623FpKiMmROKUweXFs36AbtXu2aNKOvOFSKLcoTz5UhHC4bSM/s1600/anniversary+work.1748005.2.flat%252C550x550%252C075%252Cf.convict-stone-the-garrison-church-the-rocks-the-hdr-series.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWayJ75M0jvIBBdL88RY3rR5TNafdza3ESFglWIHEIVMwAOnyNNkjyNBaS4bUj_qMO5W0N7TozoCh9OsZdqQQ0_FMcM623FpKiMmROKUweXFs36AbtXu2aNKOvOFSKLcoTz5UhHC4bSM/s640/anniversary+work.1748005.2.flat%252C550x550%252C075%252Cf.convict-stone-the-garrison-church-the-rocks-the-hdr-series.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://redbubble.com.au/">source</a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN-v9AgdWJ6QDL6yXGvdSRaD3OkmYE9DuMwLvOmWMtgmdSosWvwcH3h-GKtvTRSFA2K8LqQX34pTEqFXOUFnBT8-cg-fZRO4QnBvGpPDcI2JMSGBIHTGiNYtrzK0SpkNXt9bcDp6FT98/s1600/holy-trinity-church-sydney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN-v9AgdWJ6QDL6yXGvdSRaD3OkmYE9DuMwLvOmWMtgmdSosWvwcH3h-GKtvTRSFA2K8LqQX34pTEqFXOUFnBT8-cg-fZRO4QnBvGpPDcI2JMSGBIHTGiNYtrzK0SpkNXt9bcDp6FT98/s400/holy-trinity-church-sydney.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>As we girls prepared early for the big day, starting with at the crack of dawn with a hairdressing appointment, the boys were still in bed. Of course.<br /><br />In spite of organising a trial run, my hair looked more like this....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ5q7JGyTZch95KbtwTn1LRv9m5pRiKURR72J1PjajNj1nRfR6Tbp-CeQpHU8Ceh8mOlmm7kTITqi3u7Sar0MWSx5rVKBlAQjq-yOl5NtyRKWbbQ_AeFwDG95gFVvSKTG8LqujyDS8ow/s1600/Shirley-Temple-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ5q7JGyTZch95KbtwTn1LRv9m5pRiKURR72J1PjajNj1nRfR6Tbp-CeQpHU8Ceh8mOlmm7kTITqi3u7Sar0MWSx5rVKBlAQjq-yOl5NtyRKWbbQ_AeFwDG95gFVvSKTG8LqujyDS8ow/s400/Shirley-Temple-1.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://onaired.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Shirley-Temple-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://onaired.com/2010/07/shirley-temple/&usg=__DogB06uoKZ7pvkONPD7VJt-jVoA=&h=450&w=349&sz=34&hl=en&start=0&sig2=l8DLvWJAn6ZgnYu_ejDSwA&zoom=1&tbnid=DEwX_bAiH9O1QM:&tbnh=151&tbnw=113&ei=6cT2TPrjI4-qcZOyjMoE&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dshirley%2Btemple%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D642%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=126&vpy=91&dur=930&hovh=255&hovw=198&tx=86&ty=141&oei=6cT2TPrjI4-qcZOyjMoE&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...than this:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbUzk5G6Msh-eYTSzh0TrfD6ezymfV4huQbbBeLQIz3vt-is2P9ixRp7eXRN99Eaq4ZkGujapv_mdFZvA07ee89TGsrj4z2W9LKR0Q3k3UZxgxM5N8ziA20XsmbwMBk8r5qMdqAWglQA/s1600/WEDDING+HAIR+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbUzk5G6Msh-eYTSzh0TrfD6ezymfV4huQbbBeLQIz3vt-is2P9ixRp7eXRN99Eaq4ZkGujapv_mdFZvA07ee89TGsrj4z2W9LKR0Q3k3UZxgxM5N8ziA20XsmbwMBk8r5qMdqAWglQA/s640/WEDDING+HAIR+1.jpg" width="361" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hXhgC_YKeRO1SsBVIVzcZANcyX5_ePjxbvcC_-3rMZFedBPIT0KFfyP4H-5pNsfmwM2tY-9M1Fn9g022tRuMYQhTRiBZV3cbV0-Ky0RFVTd1o77ieYg2hOc__VJNCKRj7lWfbxVoAwdu/s1600/WEDDING+HAIR+1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://liparazzi.blogspot.com/2010/06/hair-extensions-update-wedding-makeup.html&usg=__ElbrTlK6JhXz71432L9CTfF4w9Q=&h=600&w=341&sz=59&hl=en&start=50&sig2=jBhRw2kilUm_OgRJ8g3sgw&zoom=1&tbnid=uQvHcZzRU1yw9M:&tbnh=146&tbnw=88&ei=LsX2TIamJY-6vwOqx8XjBg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsoft%2Bwavy%2Bhair%2Bfor%2Bwedding%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D642%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=756&vpy=84&dur=10218&hovh=298&hovw=169&tx=96&ty=168&oei=EMX2TLHMOoSXcfPZtckE&esq=3&page=3&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:50">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">..so after much angst, it was back to the hairdresser for a second attempt. Meanwhile, the boys were swimming in the best man's pool, eating pizza, and generally having a wow of a time, without an ounce of stress or worry.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once my hair was somewhat presentable, and our makeup done, it was time to get dressed and wait for our cars to arrive. As I had four bridesmaids, I'd organised to have two vintage Rolls Royce, like this:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yn7L5QUkbtuHFtccbq1r-TpAzrCJpGf5cYkCnjjmNMVrca0j_kjl04a0_svCYT_o9TjRQX0Y4zffDtp6GrWoYA7XXNsWedreIOypfUP_tBGHwHcc-BVaWB4k0cWKQr2Ntmni6yhHvhE/s1600/anniversary5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yn7L5QUkbtuHFtccbq1r-TpAzrCJpGf5cYkCnjjmNMVrca0j_kjl04a0_svCYT_o9TjRQX0Y4zffDtp6GrWoYA7XXNsWedreIOypfUP_tBGHwHcc-BVaWB4k0cWKQr2Ntmni6yhHvhE/s640/anniversary5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...but as the weather was so hot and humid, one of the cars - the perfectly colour-coordinated black and white car, broke down five minutes from my house. We had but one option - the girls had to drive themselves in a hot pink, 1964 VW station wagon...very similar to this one:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQ2INwjGw1KJncEc8kEhPvjGCBz7NS__KRKR6r-B4BCHVkNtwfzF8xUM7rkE7j8IyVQPEp2gck25uVyozwfvV-rO7xeRcpbRJkK5QwcXtPDgn1ufrKXh_KjAXXrD-L2b0kvbQ6L1xjHQ/s1600/anniversary7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQ2INwjGw1KJncEc8kEhPvjGCBz7NS__KRKR6r-B4BCHVkNtwfzF8xUM7rkE7j8IyVQPEp2gck25uVyozwfvV-rO7xeRcpbRJkK5QwcXtPDgn1ufrKXh_KjAXXrD-L2b0kvbQ6L1xjHQ/s320/anniversary7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.philseed.com/images/vwvariant64-jr.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.philseed.com/taxonomy/term/39&usg=__SkpVCDhAuPSqMK81W02WtU6luu4=&h=247&w=350&sz=20&hl=en&start=50&sig2=C8EGixWD9Ex5DkImjNWi1w&zoom=1&tbnid=u9oGl0g2OCfMXM:&tbnh=154&tbnw=208&ei=fb_2TOSKFYG8vwObnMTjBg&prev=/images%3Fq%3D1964%2Bvw%2Bstation%2Bwagon%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D642%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=337&vpy=239&dur=432&hovh=162&hovw=230&tx=147&ty=101&oei=Z7_2TPesEJz9cPqUrboE&esq=4&page=4&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:50">source</a></div><br />I'll set the scene for you:  four girls, dressed entirely in black (which was very daring for 1989 and quite unheard of), complete with Ray Bans, running to the car so we could make the 45 minute trip to the church on time. I'll never forget the look on the guests faces as they screamed around the corner, looking like four Penelope Pitstops. Priceless.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeYBcW2HN3osr882cijMZpYwnVopOG6c5d0ppbJv3KBub7w4GDDRESv4OPrHHQ2ZS6_mr9N2vOIya87fy7pWaIhNkpHmO3FgL9fHk0f2fnAkI-VCG4foRK0Up58ojLZfFQhL1oWu5jkI/s1600/anniversary11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeYBcW2HN3osr882cijMZpYwnVopOG6c5d0ppbJv3KBub7w4GDDRESv4OPrHHQ2ZS6_mr9N2vOIya87fy7pWaIhNkpHmO3FgL9fHk0f2fnAkI-VCG4foRK0Up58ojLZfFQhL1oWu5jkI/s400/anniversary11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/2736660/.html?image=9">source</a></div><br /><br />Meanwhile, let's check back in on the boys......<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2FJgBc0JTgegPsd8GoAkU434a-RdFrB4uXyDeDqqFfApS0cPznFegjDisj4vj05IrYRn62iedoA45h9W0Gjc4-gGdLwmAWNADxgdEBAP9rKU0Tmb1Tg-W0ph22W8skV9UWBVBpYjRTY/s1600/anniversary9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2FJgBc0JTgegPsd8GoAkU434a-RdFrB4uXyDeDqqFfApS0cPznFegjDisj4vj05IrYRn62iedoA45h9W0Gjc4-gGdLwmAWNADxgdEBAP9rKU0Tmb1Tg-W0ph22W8skV9UWBVBpYjRTY/s640/anniversary9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://lh5.ggpht.com/_mRHah54NlCE/SgTmEOaUb2I/AAAAAAAAAZc/vDL_sBmgPqg/100_1463.jpg&imgrefurl=http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XtwCC0k4qVQ_d08FOUyW3A&usg=__p0tkAiNTrorPc97JUpXKKZkpmhk=&h=1199&w=1600&sz=400&hl=en&start=0&sig2=jk2qQ4jKlGUbSkfEUt15RA&zoom=1&tbnid=2F0IecsFUu9IzM:&tbnh=162&tbnw=216&ei=fr72TMG6JcLMcJyGjLoE&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Blord%2Bnelson%2Bhotel%2Bsydney%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D642%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=546&vpy=359&dur=709&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=144&ty=190&oei=fr72TMG6JcLMcJyGjLoE&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:0">source</a> </div><br />...oh look, here they are, having a few drinks at The Lord Nelson. And I have it on good authority (relayed with great relish by a few of the grand dames in attendance) there were a few last minute wardrobe changes, which took place out of the back of our campervan. Apparently in full view of said grand dames. Secretly, I think it was the biggest thrill I think they'd had in a long time.<br /><br />After a lovely, (and thankfully non-eventful) ceremony, we finally made it to our reception venue - Dunbar House at Watson's Bay, on beautiful Sydney Harbour:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0FNgFv4fnn1rZ5oH6AJOwckCypfUKaxfTqsyfMsF5ptd8Jbq87CH74rTCZvnWPwghJUbQBhWM-J3On2uC-Dvfhfk6JaJrrVF_vXonKytpMYMvkPCyXy06BNoD6Xiau7f3_JwTVNabtU/s1600/anniversary+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0FNgFv4fnn1rZ5oH6AJOwckCypfUKaxfTqsyfMsF5ptd8Jbq87CH74rTCZvnWPwghJUbQBhWM-J3On2uC-Dvfhfk6JaJrrVF_vXonKytpMYMvkPCyXy06BNoD6Xiau7f3_JwTVNabtU/s640/anniversary+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://sydneywebcam.smugmug.com/photos/89070407-M.jpg&imgrefurl=http://sydneywebcam.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archive.html&usg=__vTQyNwq5HiGcmAZv48w3wmdDUNs=&h=399&w=600&sz=129&hl=en&start=0&sig2=Dx4xHH6qVvTQzUM7ntLfGg&zoom=1&tbnid=CDQz52GPJ4d82M:&tbnh=120&tbnw=167&ei=L7z2TLuDDYjtcLK7vLYE&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddunbar%2Bhouse%2Bwatsons%2Bbay%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D685%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Divm&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=831&vpy=76&dur=325&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=116&ty=99&oei=L7z2TLuDDYjtcLK7vLYE&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0">source</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFdF3NJQd7fHYuMMqII0ocb4NnmoVsdkXVkDDUzud8dllAwLyxT6ZovcdIXRwPv63EYHhvFprxhfDo4HWpF_YPAecc9zX0X0ElHBViOK60XNFrWAy_iwMn1EAopECoTZWu1F54C0c_7I/s1600/anniversary3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFdF3NJQd7fHYuMMqII0ocb4NnmoVsdkXVkDDUzud8dllAwLyxT6ZovcdIXRwPv63EYHhvFprxhfDo4HWpF_YPAecc9zX0X0ElHBViOK60XNFrWAy_iwMn1EAopECoTZWu1F54C0c_7I/s400/anniversary3.jpg" width="357" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.alannahrose.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/watsons-bay.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.alannahrose.com.au/blog/sunday-find-new-venue-the-tearoom-dunbar-house/&usg=__n4clf9x6Y2HkMAhwnSwq_jkrfAs=&h=473&w=423&sz=116&hl=en&start=0&sig2=tyC9FEqYGEhHxiHjEgavGA&zoom=1&tbnid=1ce4ss-7BGmnpM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=106&ei=L7z2TLuDDYjtcLK7vLYE&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddunbar%2Bhouse%2Bwatsons%2Bbay%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D685%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Divm&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=1027&vpy=187&dur=1242&hovh=237&hovw=212&tx=149&ty=114&oei=L7z2TLuDDYjtcLK7vLYE&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:0">view from the entry foyer</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...where we did enjoy a great night, in spite of the soaring temperatures. I'm told my wedding cake was delicious:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieh48YysOC7Q3cGhsclOU9FQR2vhywB_r2RuKGvW1ndspr8APt4LOgdABgg0jDODD9jChrJLW2A8z1edMX2OtdM3sQUcCAybjSJmrOMak5pOCKtC3xisK0OeJff4lDLd1K8UqaknhkiEs/s1600/anniversary10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieh48YysOC7Q3cGhsclOU9FQR2vhywB_r2RuKGvW1ndspr8APt4LOgdABgg0jDODD9jChrJLW2A8z1edMX2OtdM3sQUcCAybjSJmrOMak5pOCKtC3xisK0OeJff4lDLd1K8UqaknhkiEs/s640/anniversary10.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.alons.geomerx.com/grfx/MediaVault/croquembouche_web.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.alons.geomerx.com/index.cfm%3Ffuseaction%3Dproduct%26productID%3D188&usg=__sGYHw4ymsfxrFHWshEc3xflqr2M=&h=500&w=500&sz=164&hl=en&start=0&sig2=poHORdZ7va88CXr34k77GQ&zoom=1&tbnid=N0MODL4_eSb_VM:&tbnh=152&tbnw=156&ei=98z2TMGuC4uKvQPA59njBg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcroquembouche%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D642%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=142&vpy=117&dur=349&hovh=156&hovw=156&tx=110&ty=91&oei=6Mz2TOL4FcKdcezypccE&esq=3&page=1&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0">source</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...it's just a pity I didn't get to have any. It was very popular, so I'm glad all those many months, searching for the perfect sweet confection to round off the perfect day didn't go unappreciated.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After so much madness, drama and mayhem, wrapping up our big day was very bittersweet - for the very next day, we packed up all our worldly belongings and headed off to Queensland. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkwbVjD-18G8gZ7xbKfLRlA76Xi-QzFAtu645UlxMyp5NWS2gm-nvmo50TktawwbdPQdo2ih_ukJUY-CsI3G_LfhV5pxYs04p4toQBxbw_0_GgVNFvmYoF3T5xqpkaF-nSlxDvFDYDbE/s1600/anniversary8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkwbVjD-18G8gZ7xbKfLRlA76Xi-QzFAtu645UlxMyp5NWS2gm-nvmo50TktawwbdPQdo2ih_ukJUY-CsI3G_LfhV5pxYs04p4toQBxbw_0_GgVNFvmYoF3T5xqpkaF-nSlxDvFDYDbE/s640/anniversary8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZnOvroovztx9XYGyUxnARhLlNTcn0u7e8FftvK8KqrFwwL2diSsXL7ksjDMxRtk9A8ED68Gg9jb6RYtNJLY153KAtiL_ZenUdDDPW9_9bzJkvBYBK_HuSc7LzGi5brx75a4j-9woAeY/s1600/day-time-view-sydney-observatory-hill.jpg&imgrefurl=http://blog.shabbyapple.com/2010_05_01_archive.html&usg=__ub32valkjLmBx4hKHlZW3dUTThg=&h=270&w=450&sz=47&hl=en&start=0&sig2=XP9HvH81ubcAcKQlfj2_7w&zoom=1&tbnid=wFckh6c-bOMuDM:&tbnh=163&tbnw=253&ei=isD2TNq4HsSPcb7-7boE&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dobservatory%2Bhill%2Bsteps%2Bsydney%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D642%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=141&vpy=97&dur=352&hovh=174&hovw=290&tx=139&ty=110&oei=isD2TNq4HsSPcb7-7boE&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0">source</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Looking back, I wouldn't change a thing. Those little mishaps, dramas and things that didn't go quite according to plan made the day so memorable, and we still laugh over them today. A bit like married life really - all those twists and turns usually turn out to be the things you remember the most. It's been a fabulous 21 years, with lots more 'adventures' along the way, and I'm looking forward to many more to come. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hope you all have a great day, and as it's our anniversary (and my birthday too in a couple of days) we've got a big weekend ahead. What have you got planned?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>

21 today......

...actually, that should read 21 years ago today, as today is my wedding anniversary. On a hot and humid Saturday afternoon, all those year...

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Finally back!

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm <span style="font-size: large;">finally back</span>!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks heaven Mr. Telecom yesterday fixed all the problems</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and now...voilà! I've come back!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And how I've<span style="font-size: large;"> missed all of you</span>!!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now I have to catch up with every one of you amazing ladies!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Sì!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Sono <span style="font-size: large;">finalmente tornata</span>!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Grazie al cielo ieri il sig. Telecom ha risolto tutti i problemi</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>e ora...voilà! Sono tornata!!!!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>E mi <span style="font-size: large;">siete mancate da matti</span>!!!!!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Adesso devo venire a salutarvi tutte voi, fantastiche donne!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxN3HqJehyphenhyphenTF6xudE_A2PA-pmAp0USHk98dsMlhWY8vtc3GHfGRhr7E3h1lv1vGQO-cIsYWAOsrfMu-c-kjSEFMVK8r9z08vWnMYmAM8r7CT0Ey1UQf5iHV7LH5gGcvv9X1fNZpE48PA/s1600/1291196989.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxN3HqJehyphenhyphenTF6xudE_A2PA-pmAp0USHk98dsMlhWY8vtc3GHfGRhr7E3h1lv1vGQO-cIsYWAOsrfMu-c-kjSEFMVK8r9z08vWnMYmAM8r7CT0Ey1UQf5iHV7LH5gGcvv9X1fNZpE48PA/s640/1291196989.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://brunchatsaks.tumblr.com/page/1#/1981493515">credits</a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">By the way, I've noticed that <span style="font-size: large;">Christmas</span> is here in the blogland!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I've seen amazing Christmas trees and wonderful decorations!!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Mmmmm I've to hurry up and decore my own home!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>A proposito, ho notato che il<span style="font-size: large;"> Natale</span> è già scoppiato qui nella blogosfera!</em></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Ho visto bellissimi alberi di Natale e fantastiche decorazioni!!!!</em></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Mmmmm devo sbrigarmi a decorare anche casa mia!!!!</em></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72xaIfx4_qK97TAxUimxbYZ3gVUQTXxyerr6ML5XbvNLfE2OrmXfevonNaXq_u_slC2GzwvRA-6gsbERClP1yhFL9NNXwk3HIZobk-6eFmjFy8Mn-QC4zW9fO-qNcKt8AH_AmRbtGUao/s1600/1291196838.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72xaIfx4_qK97TAxUimxbYZ3gVUQTXxyerr6ML5XbvNLfE2OrmXfevonNaXq_u_slC2GzwvRA-6gsbERClP1yhFL9NNXwk3HIZobk-6eFmjFy8Mn-QC4zW9fO-qNcKt8AH_AmRbtGUao/s640/1291196838.png" width="478" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://brunchatsaks.tumblr.com/page/1#/2054396191">credits</a></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WQaHY-Og0d9b0_620NihIAiv7SwoIv2ehkqffeG-G2SXcqviihAnC-ulG4cmYASHTsofJ03E-bc-sYQ4kVQl9PH2fcFF8Qwj6EpLXOr9Zq48u6C_axVHLaUCFdqIbfKW1RnfRpyiiOE/s1600/1291197258.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WQaHY-Og0d9b0_620NihIAiv7SwoIv2ehkqffeG-G2SXcqviihAnC-ulG4cmYASHTsofJ03E-bc-sYQ4kVQl9PH2fcFF8Qwj6EpLXOr9Zq48u6C_axVHLaUCFdqIbfKW1RnfRpyiiOE/s640/1291197258.png" width="493" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hooraydesign.tumblr.com/post/1983444793/this-is-glamorous-holiday-inspiration-silver"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">credits</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpetR-H2OjlTmIwZCRX13s95hB3p7TNIWJw5RJyp4z-K5_zqZ3Pd18iAOGIJCtSppLNWPS2TFQnYxSBjwY3pWyBi8NLuPwcN7fipwi6wcp0Tp3LLbQ2Hznywfflut3n8154aueUpTNfmc/s1600/1291197037.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpetR-H2OjlTmIwZCRX13s95hB3p7TNIWJw5RJyp4z-K5_zqZ3Pd18iAOGIJCtSppLNWPS2TFQnYxSBjwY3pWyBi8NLuPwcN7fipwi6wcp0Tp3LLbQ2Hznywfflut3n8154aueUpTNfmc/s640/1291197037.png" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.evalindh.se/">credits</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This will be a <span style="font-size: large;">very special Christmas</span>:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">the first one in a home I can call "mine"!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Questo sarà <span style="font-size: large;">un Natale speciale</span>: </em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>il primo in una casa tutta tutta mia!!!!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC0sVbJZ_trkSg9dr7_lLWXJA707bqoGa5hrHspGo-I9wYf1OKHK4Ajsxid3emqt9b6xnLzVYd7CRuiF2SHEucJzJJPGZ46PFnunYE_Do1qQlyqvpZ5Te909iQYGroPo40PLWhuJyfV8/s1600/1291198072.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC0sVbJZ_trkSg9dr7_lLWXJA707bqoGa5hrHspGo-I9wYf1OKHK4Ajsxid3emqt9b6xnLzVYd7CRuiF2SHEucJzJJPGZ46PFnunYE_Do1qQlyqvpZ5Te909iQYGroPo40PLWhuJyfV8/s640/1291198072.png" width="534" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hooraydesign.tumblr.com/post/1983904452/design-sponge-blog-archive-attik72-window"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">credits</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJ67_5RNTsRHud3TiLhci7A0G6FsMpqXoYZtJZ6AxXZ4t6745sPAcjEaNcJrir3_2tBU7Cj4TLyBb7PBWbny1r7KHGgtAq2pI4nhbD6i1yF-KykO7DDxNdgyDipTwXNkk7XHDBKl1Pt8/s1600/1291196876.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="576" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJ67_5RNTsRHud3TiLhci7A0G6FsMpqXoYZtJZ6AxXZ4t6745sPAcjEaNcJrir3_2tBU7Cj4TLyBb7PBWbny1r7KHGgtAq2pI4nhbD6i1yF-KykO7DDxNdgyDipTwXNkk7XHDBKl1Pt8/s640/1291196876.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://brunchatsaks.tumblr.com/page/2#/1661662372">credits</a></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3A58as10XrK920Izpvcr6ZteMMkaamfLJL3Uft98ROQlKqK4u32BpaWVsu2HroM2V53dD3iZeyFQbTyKcEukDatHQF-bJb7XLm_rz4Rp5-2G9RqtjrJ7T6kqHaD0PV4h68N52ey4MiY/s1600/1291197646.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3A58as10XrK920Izpvcr6ZteMMkaamfLJL3Uft98ROQlKqK4u32BpaWVsu2HroM2V53dD3iZeyFQbTyKcEukDatHQF-bJb7XLm_rz4Rp5-2G9RqtjrJ7T6kqHaD0PV4h68N52ey4MiY/s640/1291197646.png" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.evalindh.se/">credits</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now I have a <span style="font-size: large;">lot of blogs to read</span>, a lot of<span style="font-size: large;"> post I've missed</span>, a lot of <span style="font-size: large;">mails to write</span>... Don't worry I will come to say hello to each and one of you!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And also I want to thank the new followers and everyone who has write to me during this month!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Adesso ho un <span style="font-size: large;">sacco di blog da leggere</span>, una <span style="font-size: large;">marea di post</span> che ho perso, un <span style="font-size: large;">bel po' di mail</span> da scrivere....Non vi preoccupate, verrò a dire ciao ad ognuna di voi!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Einoltre voglio ringraziare i nuovi follower e tutti quelli che mi hanno scritto in questo mese!!!!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ6P7rZhjRGVqNGqfS9SlrPJLid6pJzyzUcWyUYRoG5Oe9MS2pGKySO9TdMjXi83fWUyWMeFugGka1Ze8m60MLrnPSJVrkrDvm84Jk7jjiXqX2Chwhz_1bNq6rJIi8MA2ULrjJVZBO48/s1600/firma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ6P7rZhjRGVqNGqfS9SlrPJLid6pJzyzUcWyUYRoG5Oe9MS2pGKySO9TdMjXi83fWUyWMeFugGka1Ze8m60MLrnPSJVrkrDvm84Jk7jjiXqX2Chwhz_1bNq6rJIi8MA2ULrjJVZBO48/s1600/firma.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Finally back!

Yes! I'm finally back ! Thanks heaven Mr. Telecom yesterday fixed all the problems and now...voilà! I've come back! And how I've...

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New painting...at long last!

As I get ready to fly out the door for what seems like the millionth time today, I thought I'd pop in and share my latest painting. After sending myself almost blind trying to get this finished last night, I realised that:<br /><br /><ol><li>I cannot paint at night, unless I'm happy for coke-bottle goggles to be a part of my wardrobe in the not-too-distant future.</li><li>Rushing a painting like this means blobs of blue paint appear in places they shouldn't. Which leads me to...</li><li>Painting at night only ends in tears...see number two above.</li></ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">**Edited to add: I think I should clarify that, after making a mess of my first attempt, I started from scratch with this one. Just in case you were thinking I was trying to pass off a patched-up, less than top notch painting!**</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>So after all that, here it is:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L83yO1wfIOrXQsUlTdK8BwtRQqtHFku2LjcbPUtFWombwzPwuSjFPDZK6uAaaOowf-MrkRRqPc8PBi8z5MQxm-XINWBaQHpgauFnkt7NB4sfq_IFzpCcOWXLYTTmf3s15F0ixp8zc6M/s1600/ginger+jar+in+ming+2+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L83yO1wfIOrXQsUlTdK8BwtRQqtHFku2LjcbPUtFWombwzPwuSjFPDZK6uAaaOowf-MrkRRqPc8PBi8z5MQxm-XINWBaQHpgauFnkt7NB4sfq_IFzpCcOWXLYTTmf3s15F0ixp8zc6M/s640/ginger+jar+in+ming+2+resize.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Ginger Jar in Ming"</div><div style="text-align: center;">original watercolour on paper, 210mm x 297mm<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At the moment, this one is on hold for a client, otherwise I'll list it on Etsy later today.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'll try very hard to pop in to all your lovely blogs today as well, I'm having serious withdrawals! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">See you soon,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Kerri </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

New painting...at long last!

As I get ready to fly out the door for what seems like the millionth time today, I thought I'd pop in and share my latest painting. Afte...

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