Chinese New Year - 2011- the year of the Rabbit

I went into Fortitude Valley to experience the fun of Chinese New Year celebrations. This is always a fun noisy time. Between drummers, lion dancers, cabbage eating lions, fire crackers, thousands of Australians and not to forget the Chinese, the Valley was packed. It was such a hot February night it was good to finally escape to Oxford Street for a coffee.

Eating and drinking in the Victoria & Albert Museum - London

I took these photo's just after having lunch in the V&A Museum. We spent the morning looking at the fashion, the china collection, and the the Ballet De Ruses exhibition. By this time we were starving. What a fabulous surprise when we found 'the food'. Not only did the different buffets have great varieties of food on offer, but there were 3 options of dining rooms to eat in.http://www.vam.ac.uk/your_visit/eating/index.html
The surroundings make you feel as if you are dining in a fabulous restaurant.

Stained glass window

I love cathederals. Especially the stained glass windows. When most worshipers couldn't read or write this was the way to tell the stories of the bible and to teach the parables. This window is in St John's Cathederal in Brisbane. It is the Australian/American Friendship window in honour of World War 11 when General Douglas Macarthur was stationed in Brisbane.

As pretty as flowers

I bought these potted chillies in place of flowers this week. I love having fresh flowers for the weekend, but in such hot humid weather they only last a couple of days. These will last much longer.

The new tea tray

I bought this tray imagining pretty cups and a tea pot, little cakes and taking tea in the garden. Rexi had other ideas.

St Thomas and the 99 steps

I first read about these steps whilst doing research for a trip to St Thomas in the Carribean, March 2009. The 99 steps are part of an historic walk that I wanted to do. In the early January I tore the meniscus in my left knee. These steps were my motivation to work hard at my physio sessions and exercises. It paid off - I went up and down twice.

Saffron couscous salad with green olives and char grilled capsicum

I am on a constant search to find interesting salads to brighten my life. I found a good one on the weekend. Not only that, but I actually had all of the ingredients in the pantry/refrigerator. It is not often that you find something you want to make and you actually don't have to go shopping for ingredients first.