Happy Anniversary

Its been three years since Warren and I got married. It was such a perfect blissful day, one of the happiest in my life so far.



Our family and best friends came all the way to Thredbo in the Snowy Mountains for the wedding, and even though it was spring, it began to snow just before the ceremony, which turned the landscape into a winter wonderland. Of course Warren got out his cross country skis for this photo - I just love it.



We decided to do a lot of things ourselves, so I had fun learning how to make bouquets and centrepieces, and we got up early to buy our native flowers at the markets the day before (I think I 'd love to be a florist, if it wasn't for the early morning starts!)



Warren planned out all the music, and we made the decorations together, and I iced a mini wedding cake for each guest. We were rushing to get it all done the day before, but it all came together at the last moment, and I think the handmade touches added to the special feel of the day.



Our lovely friends also helped out in so many ways - I think I had the best bridesmaids in the world, and John took the most beautiful photos for us. We walked down the aisle as Cathy and Lamorna played clarinet and flute, and Anne came all the way from London to be Warren's best 'mate'.



Although it was such a cold day, I felt completely warm, I think with love and excitement, and the warmth and generosity of all our friends and relatives who shared the day with us.



It feels like just yesterday, but also like a lifetime ago, as we have moved to Canberra, made more friends, taken on new jobs, and have become a family with the birth of Thomas. Life with a baby has taken on a whole new dimension, lots of ups and downs, but mostly ups, and I have seen a new side of Warren as he has become a wonderful caring father to our little boy.

Looking forward to many happy anniversaries to come.

A wonderful week away

We have just got back from our trip to Great Keppel Island. We had a few mishaps getting there and back (the ferry to the island didn't go out when we arrived because of a storm, and then we managed to miss the first one the next day - don't ask), but once we actually got there the weather cleared and we had a fabulous time.



Thomas was remarkably obliging, and was very happy to go for long bushwalks in the backpack. He really loved looking around, and laughed every time he managed to grasp passing leaves and flowers.



We took him to the beach, and Warren and I each took turns snorkling in the clear (but still a bit chilly) water while the other played with Thomas in the sand. He also loved hanging out in the spa, and it had the helpful effect of making him very sleepy too. I wish we had one at home.



On our last day we managed to get a babysitter for a couple of blissful hours while Thomas slept, and we went snorkling together at the coral reef at Shelving beach. The fish were quite incredible - such variety and colours, and there was some pretty coral out there. I even saw a huge turtle swimming right in front of me, but when I turned to show Warren it disappeared, and he keeps teasing me that I imagined it.



There were lots of starfish about. This one had just been washed ashore - I took it back out to the sea, and hope it might still be alive and well, doing whatever it is that starfish do.



Our room was pretty basic, but it was hard to beat the view from the porch, especially at sunset, with a glass of wine in hand, and Thomas napping peacefully inside.



I have to confess that I got no knitting done at all, because I discovered that I'd taken the wrong needles, but I wasn't too sad about that really - it was refreshing to have a complete break from the works in progress, and to soak up the natural beauty, and enjoy the family time.




My mum and dad picked us up from the airport, and Thomas basked in an evening of doting grandparents' attention and lots of cuddles and toys, and also finally got to meet my brother Steve who was staying over too.

All in all, a wonderful week indeed.

Spring in the air

Spring has suddenly arrived in Canberra with glorious sunshine and a profusion of blossoms, bursting from branches in all shades of white and pink.





It reminds me of some of the beautiful iznik tiles I saw in the mosques in Turkey, as well as all the wonderful Japanese designs based on sakura cherry blossoms.



Warren has just got a new job, which is long overdue, and very exciting. We decided to take a quick holiday (with Thomas) to Great Keppel Island in Queensland for a week, to celebrate. We're leaving tomorrow and I can't wait.

This meant that I had to face buying a new swimsuit - very daunting post baby, but I managed to find one which wasn't too dreadful, and I finally got back on the sewing machine to whip up two very simple wrap around skirts to cover up out of the water.



This photo is pretty awful, because I didn't have time to take it in daylight (and couldn't face modeling them right now!)

I'll take some knitting, and hope to have lots of lovely photos to show when I get back