Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb!

OMG! I am so very excited ....

I received a gift voucher from Russ and the girls for my 50th last December to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and I've just booked it for the long weekend in October .... a Twilight climb, starting at 3.45pm - duration 3.5 hours! What!!! I better start going back to the gym to get fit!!!



There's around 1050 stairs to climb, but I'm sure the view will be worth it, and I'm sooo looking forward to it! We'll get the best of both worlds - a brilliant Sydney Harbour sunset and of course, the famous harbour lights at night on the climb back down.

Newcastle Doll & Bear Show - More Photos!

Have just returned from trading at the Newcastle Doll & Bear Show last weekend. What a fantastic day! I met so many interesting people - in fact one elderly gentleman was telling me about his sister who had a storage shed they had cleaned out and found 'lots of Steiff bears in boxes' - what a find! I don't think he realised the value of what they discovered!

I also met the indomitable Mary Hickey, who has one of Australia's largest bear collections - a true arctophile!!! And such a marvelous wit and humour - I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation ... my clown bear Bongo even made his way with Mary off to his new home!

Of course, remembering that this was also a doll show, I took this photo of one of the prizewinning entries - this doll artist certainly is an inspiration - just look at what her imagination has created! Superb, and very whimsical!


Didn't get much opportunity to whiz around and take many photos, but here's a few more (my table plus some other competition entries - yes, even bears!)

Hottest Tickets in Town!!!!!

... and I have them!!!!

Yay! Russ and I are off to see the gorgeous Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20) on his Cradlesong '10 tour in February when he performs at Bowral's beautiful Centennial Vineyards on Valentine's Day next year.

Can't wait ... am seriously counting the sleeps already!!!

It's the small things that count ....

We've just enjoyed the best weekend ever ... no big plans, just a fabulous family weekend at home. Of course, there was the usual housework and washing to be done, and we had our almost 2 year old granddaughter Mikaela stay over while Mum & Dad enjoyed a dinner out with friends last night before coming back to our place for the night.

Dad went off to work and Poppy 'played' out in his boat while us girls got stuck into our crafty things - me with my bears and my 2 daughters putting together another scrapbook page. Mikaela was kept busy with her new toy clothes line and cooker, and we spent the morning blowing bubbles outside.





It's the small things in life that mean the most.

Home Sweet Home

I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz - there's really no place like home!

After spending 4 days in hospital last weekend undergoing radiation, I've never been so glad to be home. Although I had a room with a view over the escarpment overlooking Wollongong and the beach it was very lonely. My only visitors were the nurses to bring my food. Worst of all, THERE WAS NO INTERNET and no phone and the TV didn't work. Lucky I took my mobile phone so was able to call Russ and the girls while I was incarcerated!

This is the view from my window: as you can see I had a bird's eye view of the helicopter landing pad. Such a busy place - 4 helicopters landing with patients in one day!



Looking on the bright side however .... I read the novel I took from cover to cover, watched all the DVD's on my laptop that I brought and sewed up 4 new bears ready for the TBACA Spring Challenge!!!

Off the Air

Well, it finally had to happen. The day has come for me to undergo my radiation therapy tomorrow. Not sure what to expect, except that I know I'll be living in a lead-lined room in hospital for 3 days.

On a positive note, this treatment should eliminate any straggler thyroid cells which have been trying to re-establish themselves, and that of course, will greatly reduce the risk of any carcinomas returning - now that's gotta be good news in anyone's language!

Even better, I've cut out and started airbrushing a number of new bears - including a couple of new designs so will have plenty of time to sew to my hearts content! I'm also taking along the new Robin Hobb novel I bought today and my laptop (I'm hopeful there's an internet connection in THE ROOM). Think that should be enough to keep me busy!

2009 URSA AWARDS!!!!

I'm so excited! I have two bears in the 2009 URSA Awards - little Mocha, who you have seen here on my blog and Sleepy Time Joe, a really sleepy guy I made earlier this year, and who now lives with his new mum.



I can't believe the high standard of entries - I am very honoured to be considered among such esteemed and wonderfully talented artists.

I'm hoping you can drop by the Bears & Buds website to have a look, and cast your vote. My bears and I appreciate all of your votes. Thankyou so much.

http://www.bearsandbuds.com/URSA2009