~Girls Day Out~ and a surprise package from The Netherlands~

Pancakes with maple syrup it was!!!

Every 2nd Monday JoJo doesn't go to her programmes...

she loves a trip into town to have a cuppa and something to eat followed by a walk around our shops...

Seeing the kitchen floor (post below) was in it's last drying stages yesterday morning we headed out for breakfast on the waterfront...

And here she is outside the cafe with the Clyde River in the background...

work is being done due to storm damage hence the barriers in the foregroud

'Devonshire Tea Pancakes'......a bit full on with the jam and cream though!!!

Yesterday's purchases...

Music runs through JoJo's blood as does appreciation of movies and musical theatre...

her tastes vary greatly......Pink Floyd......Michael Crawford......Dean Martin......instrumental......Big Band

There is music in the family background which has helped her so much and if she could that's all she would do all day!

Other Mums of children with a disability have commented how much it must help with her having that interest......and it sure does, more that I can ever say
It gives Mr Armchair and I time whilst at home, especially on the weekends

All finished off with a nice new haircut in readiness for her upcoming birthday which is the talk of the household at the moment...

I came home to parcel for my belated birthday and geeeezzz it was like a birthday all over again...

From my dear Blogging Friend Simone

And all wrapped in this gorgeous paper......even including the Eiffel Tower...

the card......Simone often sends me food related cards...

the message...

the goodies...

Zakka style etui......small ornamental case

It could even fit my glasses in but I might put pencils in in as a lovely pencil came with the gift...

Pincushion...

I thought this little cushion might be a magnet but it is filled with dried rosebud and has a lovely scent!

Goodies all together...

and a pack of tissues with tulips on them...

this made me think of the song Tulips from Amsterdam which I hadn't thought of for many years...

Now I think I will be singing that tune all day now!!!

And for fun a Blast from the Past from You Tube Max Bygraves singing 'Tulips from Amsterdam'......Enjoy, Dzintra

Thank You/Bedankt so much Simone......I had a birthday all over again!!!

Floriade 2011...

A couple of weeks ago JoJo and I went up to Canberra...Australia's Capital City to see the magnificent Floriade...Australia's largest flower festival...

Beautiful tulips in the sunshine...

Amongst it all a Ferris Wheel...and yes, we had to go on it!!!

Surprising the ages of people lining up for a turn...

older people...youger...couples but I loved seeing the older ones...

made me think perhaps they were revisiting days gone by...

The view from up high...

Lake Burley Griffin in the background...named after Walter Burley Griffin the American Architect who designed Canberra...

Telstra Tower also known as Black Mountain Tower...

The hit of the day!!!

The Concert Street Organ 'Australia Fair'...

whose roots lie in Europe where they were developed in the 19th century...

They are known as Dutch Street Organs because The Netherlands is where these instruments were most successful and they are still in use today.

The historic street organ works Verbeeck Orgelfabriek survives today and Australia Fair,

built by them in 1992 is a direct link with history.

(Info from pamphlet)

JoJo with Rick and one of the 'books' that is played...

she is just mesmerized...

Some of the 'books'

Rick asked JoJo what she would like to hear and she responded with

'Phantom of the Opera'...good choice JoJo!!!

The 'book' is playing from left to right...

And of course we had to get a CD...

'Australia Fair' music from YouTube playing Que Sera at Floriade 2010...

this video also shows the workings at the back...

After all this fun we had to have morning coffee...milkshake for JoJo  and cheesecake...

and a Macaron or 2 for me!!!

I think Floriade will be an annual event for us now...

for the Ferris Wheel...catch up with Rick and Australia Fair...

and of course the flowers!!!

Thank you so much Rick for taking the time to show us 'Australia Fair'!!!

Local Amateur Theatre - The Woman in Black!!!

'The Woman in Black' adapted by Steven Mallatratt from the novel by Susan Hill...
This play commenced  playing in London's West End in 1989 where it still runs today...as well as currently being on a UK National Tour...it is the second longest running play in the history of the West End (after Mousetrap)...
and was recently put on by Bay Theatre Players...my local Amateur Theatre Group!!!

As a young Solicitor Arthur Kipps is sent to an isolated house in the North of England to attend the funeral and sort out the private papers of an elderly female recluse....there he encounters a pale young woman with a 'wasted face'...

Middle aged Kipps enlists an Actor to help re-create those events, in the hope that re-telling the tale will finally secure him peace of mind...

I did some front-of-house work for the Preview afternoon...

here is the stage before starting...

seats ready for our Patrons...

Still of 'The Actor' and 'Arthur Kipps'...

Above are various scenes from the play...

 This play is going to be made into a movie for release next year...

that will be a chilly one but one certainly worth seeing...

at least I won't be as scared (I hope) having seen the play, but they can do amazing things these days with movies!!!

And here are the front-of-house gals for the Preview...Victoria, Asta and me!!!

Here's the official teaser trailer...looks spooky enough I think...prepare to be scared!!!

Next up at The Playhouse is a Music Hall style entertainment...and I'm interested in a walk-on part... perhaps a bit of chorus...I'm going along to the Theatre on Monday night to see what's happening...

should be loads of fun!!!