happy new year...

Happy New Year! Looking forward to another amazing year. If 2013 is anything to go by, 2014 has a lot to live up to. I can't wait to get started.

festive friday facts...

Not long now until Christmas day is upon us so I thought another batch of festive fun facts was in order.

Christmas pudding was originally a soup made with raisins and wine.

In Britain, the best-selling festive single is Band Aid's 1984 track, Do They Know It's Christmas?, which sold 3.5million copies. Wham! is next in the same year with Last Christmas, selling 1.4million.

The bestselling Xmas single ever is Bing Crosby's White Christmas, shifting over 50million copies worldwide since 1942.

The word Christmas comes from the Old English "Cristes maesse" meaning "Christ's Mass".

56 percent of Americans sing holiday carols to their pets!

Jingle Bells was the first song broadcast from space when Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra sang it on December 16, 1965.

The holly in a wreath symbolises Christ's crown of thorns while the red berries are drops of his blood.

Many parts of the Christmas tree can actually be eaten, with the needles being a good source of Vitamin C.

The world's tallest Xmas tree at 221ft high was erected in a Washington shopping mall in 1950.

The abbreviation Xmas isn't irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.

Jesus was probably born in a cave and not a wooden stable, say Biblical scholars.

Nearly 60 million Christmas trees are grown each year in Europe.

According to a survey, 7 out of 10 dogs get Christmas gifts from their doting owners!

Happy Friday everyone.

fun festive finds...

I really like to get into the festive spirit and this year because I am in Australia where it's not as cold and winter like as we are used to, I feel even more compelled to be as festive as possible.

Here is a list of a few festive finds that I love and instantly put people into a jolly mood.

Christmas socks

Keep those toe toes toasty in some jolly Christmas socks. You may even be lucky enough to find some with bells.

Christmas Jumper

Nothing says festive fun then a group of people laughing and joking in their Christmas jumpers.

Christmas Jewellery

If you don't want to go all out with your Christmas clothing why not accessorise with some jewellery. Little Christmas tree shaped stud earrings will give that subtle hint of Christmas cheer.

Christmas Hat

When I was younger I loved wearing my Christmas hat at the horse riding school. Not only did it spread a bit of festive cheer but also kept my ears nice and toasty too.

Christmas comes but once a year. Go out and spread some festive cheer.

funny friday...

It's Friday again... where does the time go.

Guinea pigs and rabbits can't sweat.

The porpoise is second to man as the most intelligent animal on the planet.

Skunks can accurately spray their smelly fluid as far as ten feet.

The duckbill platypus can store as many as six hundred worms in the pouches of its cheeks.

There are more than fifty different kinds of kangaroos.

Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland because he doesn't wear any pants.

A tiny amount of liquor on a scorpion will make it instantly go mad and sting itself to death.

Astronauts are not allowed to eat beans before they go into space because passing wind in a space suit damages them.

The word "queue" is the only word in the English language that is still pronounced the same way when the last four letters are removed.

Have a fantastic weekend everyone. x

penguin parade...

As it was Billy's birthday on Thursday I decided to plan a fun filled weekend for us both to celebrate. We have kind of decided that while we are away travelling we would much rather spend our money on enjoying things rather than buying each other gifts. How very practical of us but it means we really are having the most amazing time away.

On Friday we kicked off the weekend with dinner at a mexican restaurant, one of our favourite types of food to eat and then we went to see Captain Phillips. If you have not seen this movie you must go. It is based on a true story and honestly I don't think I took a proper breath from the moment I sat down until after I had left the theatre. It was fab. Seriously gripping stuff and so well filmed too. Tom Hanks is as always outstanding in this roll.

On Saturday we were up early and went for brunch in town and then went to meet a bus tour. We hopped on the bus at one and headed off down south to Phillip Island. Our first stop was at Churchill Island to see a working farm. We saw a working dog display and also a blacksmith display. There was loads of animals to see here including some wallabies and guinea pigs. There was also a beautiful old house to see too.

From here we went to a Koala Conservation centre. The koalas are just so chilled out, sleeping high up in the trees. They sleep for about twenty hours a day. How crazy is that? We saw about ten Koalas here. Some were pretty big too. I was quite suprised by that.

We then went to see the Nobbies rock formations. The view was spectacular and we had a lovely walk along the boardwalks there. It was pretty windy but so fresh. The air comes straight off the Antartic so apparently some of the freshest air you will breath.

Our final stop on the journey was to see the penguin parade. This was absolutely amazing.

Firstly you visit an information centre where we saw these Penguin nests. Some had newborn babies in them too. You can just kind of see the little babies wing peeking out from under it's mother here.

We also got to learn some interesting facts about the little penguins. Tough love in the penguin world.

You then get to sit down by the beach and watch the little penguins coming home for the night. You see them all as they cross the beach and head home to their nests. It takes them a few goes before they pluck up the courage to make the dash but when they do it is fab. There were hundreds of penguins. As you head back up the boardwalks afterwards you are within touching distance of them all as they waddle home. They were just so so cute. It was a pretty full day so needless to say we snoozed for the whole bus journey home.

On Sunday we met my brother Pete for brunch. As usual Pete was over half an hour late, nothing new there at all. We had a delicious brunch at one of our favourite restaurants called Phamish in St Kilda before heading to town. There was an open day on at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) so the boys were dying to head there. We have already been there to see some footy games so this was their chance to actually get to go onto the pitch. We went and bought two footy balls on the way there too. The place was packed but it was so much fun kicking the ball about. The stadium looks so amazing from the pitch. We had a nice cool cider afterwards to bring us back to life and then Pete headed off to work. We were feeling a little lazy so decided to eat out instead of facing the cooking when we got home. I can't believe it's Monday already. Roll on next weekend.

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