if kisses were colours

I gave this book to Isabelle for her name day.

Both the words and the illustration are so beautiful, they make me smile and cry.

I hope Isabelle and I will share lots of precious moments reading this book together. x

If kisses were colours...

If kisses were colours, you'd see every one

of the bands of a rainbow that shines in the sun.

If kisses were pebbles, your beach would be lined

with stones by the millions, of all shapes and kinds.

If kisses were comets, the sky would be bright

with flashes of fire that streak through the night.

If kisses were flowers, you'd have huge bouquets

of roses and daisies picked fresh every day.

If kisses were raindrops, a sea would appear,

created by showers that fall far and near.

If kisses were acorns, a forest would grow

of beautiful oak trees, in row after row.

If kisses were snowflakes, your world would be light,

sparkling with crystals of silver and white.

If kisses were blankets, you'd always be warm,

wrapped up from the cold during winter's worst storm.

My kisses are colours, and raindrops that flow,

and pebbles, and acorns, and comets that glow,

and flowers, and snowflakes that fall from above:

they're my way, sweet baby, to give you my love.

Words: Janet Lawler

Illustration: Alison Jay

Isabelle's name day

Celebrating name days is a very Hungarian tradition. Each and every name has a dedicated day in the calendar. Basically they are like birthdays, so each year everyone has one birthday and one name day. People get flowers, even at their workplace, go and have a drink, eat cakes, receive cards and messages (everyone knows when your name day is, it is in the calendar, but they might not know your birthday).

July 12 is Isabelle's name day for the Hungarian version of her name: Izabella. She was named after one of her great-grandmothers. 

This year we celebrated it with cute cheese biscuit bunnies and Little Red Riding Hood. Although Isabelle did not know what to think of her at first, the next day they were best friends. x

our pets

WARNING: If you have arachnophobia, don't read this post. If you don't have it, you might after reading this.

I am quite impressed with the range of animals that come and visit us regularly, considering the fact, that we live in a little beachside town and not in the forest.

There are the cute ones...

Possums came to visit us at night, sat on our deck (it was in our previous house), had fun. Often lying in bed in our bedroom we could hear their little steps running up on the roof,then sliding down on the other side and arriving on the deck with a thud. They were funny and adorable until they started to eat Dougal's herbs (they especially liked the basil) and overnight they turned into the most hated enemies.

We also have cute tiny lizards in the garden who enter the living room occasionally.

Then there are the beautiful ones...

Rainbow lorikeets, pink and grey galahs, cockatoos, kookaburras. There is a powerful owl living in one of the trees near our home who came (when I was still pregnant) and watched us when we were having dinner outside in the garden. He was big, looked very wise and calm.  We felt honoured that he came to visit us.

And there are the scary hairy ones...

Usually they sit on the wall close to the ceiling, are almost completely blind, harmless and big.

My first meeting with the huntsman was a very romantic one. It was one day after our wedding, when I noticed him, sitting comfortable on the air-conditioning mashine in our bedroom. With my scream I could have easily got the role in the shower scene in Psyco, I wanted to divorce and leave the country immediately. I kept repeating to myself that if Cate Blanchett and Princess Mary have been brought up here and they are still alive, I can do it too...

The next day I saw his son, a young one, outside on the window, we named them Istvan and Igor.

I am not saying that we have become soul mates since then, but I have seen so many I have stopped giving them names and my scream is not that loud any more.

Two days ago I was talking to a friend who lives in Europe about spiders, and I went to bed with this feeling that the next day is going to be the one. I hadn't met a huntsman for a couple of months, Dougal was away in Melbourne, the set up was perfect for it.

And there she was. Sitting in silence next to our front door on the wall. I had to ask the neighbour to save us and get rid of her. He took a kitchen towel and grabbed it. With his own hand. The brave man.

And then when I thought the danger had passed, I had entered Isabelle's room and there he was, in the corner, a young one, a kid, thinking that he'd got every right to move into a nursery.

He looked small and innocent, even cute, so I decided to leave him undisturbed until Dougal came home.

I have warned you, haven't I? x

pelican feeding

About half an hour drive away from where we live, at the opening of the lakes, the pelicans get fed at 3.30 pm sharp, every day.

They are well aware of it, 10 minutes before more and more birds arrive and wait there patiently for the fish to come.

'Just over twenty years ago, the pelican feeding started by accident when staff from a local fish and chip shop would throw out scraps. It became such a ritual that whenever the staff were late in throwing their scraps out, the pelicans would cross the road and come up to the shop to be fed.

Unfortunately there are often injuries caused to the Pelicans due to rubbish such as plastic bags, fishing lines and hooks. The volunteers keep a watchful eye out during the daily feeding and capture sick pelicans to remove tangled lines and ensure the birds remain healthy.'

We visit it regularly, and despite of the look on Isabelle's face, it is so much fun. x

birthday girl

Oh my, I got really spoilt today.

I received so many beautiful cards, messages and gifts from family and friends, I feel special.

Thank you all!

Isabelle was the cutest ever, gave me so many cuddles, made me a dub-a-dee (cup of tea) and she even showed me in the baby cook book what kind of birthday party food she would make me if she would have an hour (she is really busy nowdays you know).
We spent a mother-daughter afternoon together, went for our usual walk to our local cafe on the beach, and on the way there Izzie fell asleep in the pram, so I could read a magazine about sustainable and environmental friendly fashion while I was having a lemon scented scone with raspberry jam.

Dougal cooked my favorite for dinner (spaghetti al pomodoro e basilico), dressed like an adult and even washed the dishes. I got an orange and poppy-seed birthday cake with a candle on it and spicy ginger pieces coated in rich dark chocolate.

It was a perfect day, and even though the next one will be a big one (in numbers), I have decided to enjoy my last year as a thirty-something girl. x

it's Sunday again!

I know it sounds boring, but we've spent this winter Sunday afternoon on the beach again. This time we took a walk from Wamberal Beach to Jewfish Bay. On the hill we showed Izzie the house where we used to live when she was still in my belly,

Hope you are all having a great Sunday too! x