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Doctors & Deadlines

I have had a mad week and I am really glad it is Friday today.  Nothing like a little bit of pressure to add to the mix!

Firstly, our team at work decided to enter our Tour Guide Training Program into the 2014 Tourism Awards in the Education and Training Category.  This submission – a mere 5 questions totaling 30 pages in length was due in at 3pm on Wednesday.  I had been working on it for the past three weeks in between my teaching commitments and part-time capacity, but we had left it rather late due to our team’s existing work demands.

On Tuesday morning, James woke up very upset and was too unwell to go to daycare.  Off we went to the doctors in South Hobart … might I add to the best designed doctors I have ever seen!  The General Practice Plus Mountain Retreat surgery has even won a National Award for Commercial Architecture.

Mountain Retreat

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Mountain Retreat

Unfortunately James was deemed unfit to go to care for the week as he had conjunctivitis.  I was quickly seeing our submission unraveling – ah the juggles of being a parent.  I stayed with him at home all morning with numerous phone calls bouncing between Nick, my sister, a babysitting agency and our godsend – Barb, James’ Grandmother.  She travelled down from Launceston to look after him for the next two days.

I whizzed into work and was overwhelmed by how much we still had to get done in less than 24 hours (and feeling guilty about leaving James).  My colleagues and I worked late on Tuesday night and then I continued at home until 11pm.  Wednesday was a very stressful day as I collated all the information received from our team – trying to get the formatting ‘just right’!  It was certainly down to the wire but we got it in … with 10 minutes to spare!  I don’t enjoy working under that amount of pressure – my perfectionist nature felt very compromised!  Ha ha!

Submission

James is now on the mend and I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend at home, enjoying spring flowers and wine!  X

Flowers and Wine

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Dad ♥

Fathers Day

Hobart’s weather certainly turned it on for Father’s Day yesterday – it was such a beautiful day.  We went for a spin in the Speedy Boat with my sister Cath and the crew, where we stopped into Kings Pier Marina for takeaway coffee from T42.  We sat in the sun basking in the glory of these Tasmanian spring days and true to form, Jamesy Boy fell asleep in my arms for his morning nap – bless!

Fathers Day

Fathers Day

Fathers Day

Fathers Day

Sleeping Beauty

Fathers Day

Fathers Day

Fathers Day

Fathers Day

Fathers Day

On Saturday night, Nick and I went to the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania’s Blue Water Ball.  It was fun to don the high heels, my Alannah Hill ‘bunny’ bolero which I wore to my wedding and enjoy bubbles, conversations and a boogy.

Poppy told me I looked like a ‘Super Beautiful Cinderella‘!  I would have turned into a pumpkin because we didn’t get home until 1:30am – 4 hours past my bedtime!!

Blue Water Ball

Blue Water Ball

Blue Water Ball - Amanda, Larni & Leesa

We also enjoyed a breakfast cook up of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon over the weekend.  On Friday we popped into town where Poppy enjoyed a baby chino at Villino Cafe, and James destroyed some takeaway Sushi – a very messy affair!

Mmmm ... Breakfast

Breakfast

Villino Cafe

Villino Cafe

Villino Cafe

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Miele ♥

Miele

Miele

Ah – my life has changed forever!  Last month we bought a Miele Dishwasher and I cannot believe that I went for so long without one!  Ah ignorance is bliss I guess, but I definitely had dish pan hands!

We now have the dishwasher and the washing machine in our pantry for all my washing needs!  Ha ha … how the simple things in life really do bring a lot of pleasure.

James loves the dishwasher so much, he keeps climbing on in!  I am sure he is just trying to help, which is a good thing because he is a messy little tyke!!

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Messy Tyke

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Miele

Meile

Washing Wonders

Finally, I was given the best Pancake recipe from my friend Jo:

Banana Pancakes

2 Eggs

1 Mashed Banana

Mix up and cook – serve with fruit, yoghurt, maple syrup or Pomegranate Molasses.   YUM!

Banana and Egg Pancakes

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Pizza Perfection

Pizza Perfection

bottega-rotolo-logoBarb (my mother-in-law) and I went to a Pizza Perfection class last Thursday evening at Bottega Rotolo in Hobart.

This great hands-on class is always a hit!  This course is for those who have a passion for freshly baked pizza and the taste of handmade pizza. Learn the secrets to making the perfect pizza dough, the importance of yeast and choosing the right toppings.

Regardless of your current skill level, this course will instil confidence & inspiration in the kitchen.

I was out the door in mid witching hour at 6:15 pm, leaving Poppy and James in the safe hands of their Dad and off to blaze the pizza-making-trail!

On arrival there was the obligatory awkward chit-chat with fellow pizza lovers but by the end of the class, conversations were flowing as we shared kneading know-how, glasses of bubbles and our home-made pizzas – made to perfection!

Pizza Perfection

Pizza Perfection

Pizza Perfection

Pizza Perfection

Pizza Perfection

Pizza Perfection

Pizza Perfection

Pizza Perfection

Bottega Rotolo

Pizza Perfection

Pizza Perfection

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Dombo ♥

Dombo CupI recently came across this adorable cup via Thirteen Red Shoes and immediately ordered one for James (or was that for me?).  Bec even hand-delivered the Dombo directly to our door, beautifully wrapped.  Now that is service for you – thank you!

Dombo (a.k.a. Domoor) by Richard Hutten for Gispen is a happy cup with big ears for handles.

Dombo’s design refers to the human ear; the only part of the body that keeps growing during a lifetime.  The big handle offers grip, which suits young and old.  This decorative cup can also be used as a pen holder or herb container in the kitchen.

Dombo Cup - White

James and his Dombo

Dombo

Dombo

Dombo

Dombo

Dombo Cup

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Random Musings

Toybox Explosion

Another beautiful weekend in Hobart – it really does feel like Spring now!

Our weekend included an explosion of the toy box;  my sister’s birthday celebration;  our 6th Wedding Anniversary and James being entertained by a simple orange colander!  Xx

Toybox Explosion

Cath's Birthday

Magnolia Tree

Mr Colander

Mr Colander

Mr Colander

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Baby Chino ♥

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Poppy captured James’ first experience with a Baby Chino this morning, on my iPhone.  Here are the results with no editing!

James loved all that froth, but boy oh boy it was a very messy experience!  Sorry Tricycle Cafe.  X

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photo 1

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Sneaky Peek : A Book Picnic

Book PicnicI heard the sweet sounds of chatter from Poppy’s room this morning at a very respectable hour of 7am and on entering, I noticed she had laid her ‘blankie’ out on the floor with all of her favourite books displayed proudly.  It looked like a book picnic and Madam Constance was even invited (in her knickers)!  Poppy must have realised it is Children’s Book Week this week.

What a delightful sight – Poppy loves her books and they all looked so beautiful laid out, ready to devour!

Poppy and her book picnic

Madame Constance

Maisy

Animals

Mama Loves Me

Playful Poppy

peppa-pig

Peppa

First Pet

Little Library

Hairy

Hairy Maclary

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Out and About

IMG_4937James was in good spirits after his operation on Friday and so we were out and about, enjoying the winter sun over the weekend.  We went out for breakfast, hung out at Nick’s parents and went to the beach.  I also made a delicious Cauliflower and Prawn Soup in the Thermomix!

James even said “Poppy” for the first time as he hung out with his new mate Rex Dinosaur!

James in his trolley

Poppy

Cauliflower & Corn Soup

Smolt

James and Rex

Rex

Rex

Toast lover

Big Bear & James

Big Bear & James

Long Beach

Long Beach

Long Beach

Long Beach

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Little Grommets

BSM-&-GrommetsOur brave little man had an operation this morning for treatment with ‘grommets’ (middle-ear ventilation tubes).  After numerous ear infections, rounds of antibiotics and months of unsettled nights it was time to call in the big guns.

Arriving bright and early this morning at the hospital he was the model patient – smiling and charming all the nurses.  I felt so helpless as they administered him with the anesthetic and I felt his little body go limp.  An anxious twenty minutes later I was called up to recovery where the magic of a mum’s cuddle and some breast milk did wonders (as did more drugs)!

On the plus side, he experienced green jelly for the first time and received a Bravery Certificate.  We are home now and he is back to his cheeky self.  X

James in hospital

James in hospital

James in hospital

I don't want to have an operation!

Surgery

Recovery and toast!

First smiles

Green jelly

Certificate