I Went On Holiday to Noumea

A couple of weeks ago I went on holiday.  Now my plan wa to go back to the Bathurst 1000, but the other half didn't so I compromised and went to New Caledonia and stayed at the Chateau Royal.

Noumea is a bit different than the other island we have been to previously and I must say Fiji is still my number one island destination but the ocean was gorgeous here.

We spent the day in the main town center and had a look at all the touristy things and went to the museums.  My French is near non-exsistant so it was hard to know what you were reading but you soon got the gist of it all. 

Loved the Choo-Choo Train and had an excellent guide telling us all about Noumea

The cocktails though very nice were for us Kiwis with the exchange rate very expensive so didn't drink many.

We spent the day on Amdee Island and it was gorgeous.  Swimming was put off when I saw the snakes so i just sat in the loungers and read while watching those snakes come out of the water on to land and slither past me .....eekk!

A nice week away, but Noumea was not a holiday destination I will be rushing back to anytime soon.

Reboot In Place

Ok ok ok ....... I have been so slack with my blog this year but I am going to try and post at least once a month now.

I haven't been doing nothing though.  Recently I entered a number off items in the local A&P Show here in Gisborne ..... over 40 entries to be exact and I done quite well.

Last year I entered baking and place nowhere but this year I had 3 placings.

My sponge cake aced it and came first, along with my cheese muffins and my brownie second

Off the 16 preserves I entered, I had 11 placings.  Not enough points to get the silverware but roll on 2019

I still have to take photos of my sewing and knitting so watch out for that.

The show weekend was a miserable weekend .......cold and wet, so the second day, I instead, at the last minute joined a footstool upholstery class and made this foot stool. I love it!!

The other two were made by a couple of other ladies.  It was a great day.

Now if you want more regular updates on what I am doing follow me on Instagram HERE 

West Coast New Zealand Trip

I had already been down in the West Coast area a couple of years ago so this time took hubby over to have a look.

We spent some time in the Hokitika area and were lucky it did not rain on the day we were there as the West Coast is known for their wet weather

We also went to the West Coast Tree Top climb which is something amazing to do

And then headed into the old Goldmining town of Ross afterwards

TransAlpine Rail Trip

I have just got back after a week in the South Island and while down there we spent a few days over on the West Coast and to get over there we caught the TransAlpine Train.  This trip around 4 hrs and we were lucky it was a relatively fine day, though cold if you went out on the viewing carriage which I did, but hubby did not.

We headed out at 8.15am on the first day.  This was our first big train ride with other just being commuter rides in the Wellington area previously

Going into the mountains it was a fine but cold morning

Once in the mountains you noted the low cloud

The stop at Arthurs Pass was a quick 5 minutes and yes cold 

This was the how close I got out on the way home ..... looking at the sign.... haha.  On the way back a few days later I wouldn't get out of the train as it was only 1 degrees celcius - to cold for this East Coast gal.

The view was clearer too, on the way home

A French General Table Runner

Earlier last year I was informed one of the girls in a Christmas swap did not received her gift, so I planned on sending her one.  As a lot of you probably know I was also in the middle of finishing my Thesis so was also put on the back burner.  I then planned on sending it to her for Christmas just been but again got delayed, then I though Lets Get Stitched Brisbane as a surprise.

I made my favorite table runner pattern again and this time with French Generals Pondicherry range

Also for Lets Get Stitched last month we had to make a needle case for our games night and this is the one I made and filled with goodies

Lets Get Stitched 2018

Last month I again headed over the ditch to join some girls for a fun weekend at Lets Get Stitched.  Again this time it was held in Brisbane.

I met up with a lot of the girls I had met over the previous three years and we had lots of fun.  Now what happens on Lets Get Stitched stays on Lets Get Stitched but here are a few photos of me with friends.

One of my highlights on the Friday bus trip was going to Nikki Tervo's shop and getting a photo with her too

I also brought my self a couple of her Mandala designs after seeing some of the girls ones

On Friday we had games night and lots of fun and prizes

On Saturday we had a free day to do what we wanted so myself and three girls went fabric shop shopping and then went and had a yummy lunch at the Salisbury Hotel

Sunday was then stitching day.  I seem to have a lot of pictures with the lovely Cheryll from Gone Stitchin'

And here is my room buddy De