The Wedding!

We went to Phuket for 'The Wedding' and it was the most beautiful setting on the beach at Kata Noi late in the afternoon. The sky wasn't as serious as it looked, it was hot but not scorching, and the whole occasion was wonderful; so beautiful, so peaceful, so joyful and happy and very, very memorable. There was family and there were dear friends, some without whom it wouldn't have been the same.

tuk tuks, coconuts, sunsets and family

The kids loved the little tuk tuks........

and they love the fresh coconut drinks........

and the amazing sunsets.......

but best of all they love playing with uncles, they don't get to see them often enough!

Phi Phi island trip

On the next island you find this 'camp' where these people live and wait for the bird nests (I think that is what we were told), obviously valuable.

And at the next island the monkeys know the boats come with food, slices of watermelon were thrown to them. I hope they get a variety of fruit, as each boat visited with fruit to bring them down close.

Snorkelling. Mal and Tim in the middle of pic.

Umbrellas and deck chairs. Very much needed in the afternoon sun. You had to pay for them of course as well as the toilets. The islands are national park so nothing is allowed to be permanent. Rubbish has to be cleaned up and removed every day.

Phi Phi islands

We set off on a trip to the very beautiful Phi Phi Island and surrounding islands. You've guessed already who this is I know. He might look ok, but his head wasn't feeling quite that good after a very late night!



Our boat reversed into this beach and we were all able to swim. The water was warm (it was quite horrendously filled with plastic bags as well, (and I have quite a horror of things touching my legs in the water) so I swam up the other end a bit further away from the hundreds of people who were all here because the tide was right.

This was a spot of dreams, and tv shows of course! There is an island a little further away which is called James Bond Island as it was used in one of the movies. The beach is very sheltered by the rocky outcrops, and the water really is aqua.

Let's establish just who I'm with

Before I go any further, let's establish just who it is I'm here with. MY FAMILY!
First day at breakfast, here are my sons.........and the world's tiniest banana! That's son no2 with the banana, and probably just as well, son no1 is hiding behind the quickly produced paper. I had the feeling many frustrating photo scenes were likely to follow.

We took a bus into Phuket town to the market, and had lunch across the road........you've guessed it, with sons again!

........and again, and yes he knew I was taking the photo.

So did the other son who could only manage a surprised look.......he's slipping! I should say here that from the time he was very little he's been 'the clown' in photos!

The lunch however, was delicious and the company enjoyable. Then we went to shop!

I'd never dreamed..................

I'd never dreamed of taking a holiday in Phuket..........Thailand just seemed way too hot and............jungley! My aunty (a very 'proper' lady) had been there several decades ago and didn't seem to be very impressed at all..........that's a whole story that you have to have by word of mouth! But as you can see, here we are, in Phuket and shopping at Kata Beach, so those of you who have been there will recognise the area.

The resort where we stayed, Katathani, was further along the right fork in the road, at Kata Noi Beach, but this is the spot where you turned left to climb the mountain for a FABULOUS view and some interesting restaurants.

Having lived a little while in Singapore and visited a few other countries, we are always fascinated by the infrastructure, especially the electrics. How can you not wonder about systems like this???

This villa is on the way up the hill from the bay with the most stunning view..........maybe it will be available next time ;)

A real square

I have a passion for making squares. I've been in several Crochet-a-longs to make squares and also several swaps. These are all squares which went to swap partners.

This one was done as a washer.

Indigo swap from my partner

This is the absolutely beautiful parcel I received from my partner. There was a card with old buttons, a skein of pure cashmere from ArtYarns and two lovely bags.



This little bag is beaded and sooooo tiny. It can certainly be worn as a necklace.

The larger project bag is made from wool blanketing with the most beautiful stumpwork embroidery of an owl in the moonlight.

This has indeed taken a lot of work and I love it all.

Indigo swap parcel for my partner

You may think, after all the swap parcels you see on here, that I should join a swapaholics group. It can become a bit of an addiction, I admit. But there are many swaps that pass by without my joining in, I choose carefully so that I am well able to fulfil my commitments. Taking my commitments seriously is a virtue I was taught, one I value, and one I have tried to teach my kids, and grandkids also. I just wish that's how it was with everyone.

This was a 'luxury' swap, meant to spoil one's partner. For my partner I made a project bag as she said she liked them, and not having much in her stash I included some commercial Zara yarn, sock yarn and some handdyed by me silk and wool. I had to do the dye process twice because of the silk to achieve the depth of colour, but in the end I was very happy with the colours and my partner loved them.

This was my first try at making stitchmarkers, I was quite pleased with the result.

I made a pair of Fetching fingerless gloves. This is a great pattern.

The Japanese-fabric project bag had special bear buttons on the ends of the ties as a special embellishment for my partner who said she loved it all.

Laceweight

This is the laceweight yarn I spun from some beautiful Pear Tree fibre I bought at Bendigo Woolshow. It was for one of the ladies in my birthday swap group.

I was thrilled with the result.

Square fever and Albury HWSG birthday

More swap squares, and a quick pic of the 'Sharing Day' and Albury-Wodonga's 40th birthday bash.