Thank You

Thank you one and all for making my first blog anniversary special.

The lovely comments you posted made my heart sing.

Annie xx

Happy 1st Birthday Red Roses and Crystal Hip Hip Hooray!

Well my dear lovely readers I made it!
Today is exactly one year since my foray into this blogging biz and can I just say..I have learnt stuff I never ever realized I could learn!
Blogging has taught me very valuable skills and brought insight into human nature. The blog love swirling around me is amazing (now if I allowed anon/unmoderated comments it may be different but I don't have the inclination to deal with nasty folk). This is my Happy space.

Blog Love...the friends I've made are exceptional women, both in real life and online and for this I'm truly grateful. Another thing I've learnt is that fellow bloggers/readers 'get it'. They understand the appeal and what keeps us churning out our thoughts in this crazy world of technology. Now I've experienced many thoughts of 'why why why am I writing a blog'? To this day I'm not totally sure and have no idea if this foray is going to be a permanent part of the rest of my life but for now it's a hell of a ride and when I look at my little blog I see something I've created and feel just a tad proud.
On the whole this caper has been a thoroughly enjoyable hoot but I have witnessed the vicious side of blogging when a dear real life blog friend endured cyber bullying over many months. Nasty vile vicious stuff. A valuable life lesson...be mindful of wolves in sheeps clothing.



Now for something especially wonderful, as well as my bloggy birthday this weekend my family celebrated my dear Mum's 84th Birthday. Love my Mum to bits because she is a real trooper and she taught me the meaning of stoicism. My little family spent the morning visiting at her care facility with cake (only one candle, thought 84 might be overdoing it and set off the smoke alarms) and presents.
Family is very precious.

So once again thank you one and all for tuning in to my ramblings.
To my family and blog pals who give me encouragement.. you Rock!
Reaching this milestone has made me Happy.

Hugs
Annie xx

A Birthday Celebration

My darling son has celebrated his 25th birthday.
Birthdays are a big deal in my family and cake plays an important role in the celebrations.
Cake is Mandatory.
Complete with candles until one reaches the age when the amount of candles run the risk of burning down the house.

I rehearsed in my mind the post I would dedicate to my boy but truly no words can convey my love for my son. And my daughter.

Why is the number 25 a big deal to me. I can't answer this, it just is.

I love them both more than I could ever convey here.

More than life itself.

Mum xx

Dining Out and Celebrating

Our dining out experience the other night for darling daughter's birthday was lovely. The choice of restaurant was a casual Japanese eatery. Here are a few shots of dinner..

My little family can eat their body weight in Japanese delicacies

The only time I drink beer is when the temperature hits 34C here in Australia or I'm staying in Tokyo during summer. I tell you, in those conditions there is nothing so refreshing as an ice cold beer.
Don't pearls and beer make a nice combo?

Pity the pic is blurry, my sheath dress is the most delicious emerald green linen & cotton by Veronika Maine.

I love this photo I snapped from the back seat of the car...our daughter is driving. Our son is riding shotgun. The birthday girl was the only one who chose a non alcoholic beverage instead of two glasses of Hokkaido, so she drew the short straw to chauffeur us safely home.

The irony was not lost on her parents. How the tables have turned!

Home to our fairy lights runway after a truly wonderful evening celebrating another milestone.
I do believe Mr red roses and I are finally starting to relax after 24 years of parenthood. Our children are forging ahead with their careers and so we are breathing easier.

Annie xx