away in Japan

The Eldest is away in Japan.  She has worked hard in jobs she has not particularly liked, and for most of the time while studying full time.   She has worked and saved hard.  Learned Japanese through years 11 and 12 and she has gone.   Not for the year or so she originally thought she might.  That was the plan way back when.  But she will be gone for quite a few weeks all on her own and I think she is very brave and we are very proud.
She has been gone nearly 2 weeks now.  She got slightly lost a few times in the first few days, but is having a fab time non the less.   She joined a tour for a couple of days to see all the major sites easily like Mt Fuji etc
I am sure she will come home more grown up than before, more confident than before and hopefully with an appreciation of how wonderful her family and home life are!!!!   She is after all only 19 and lets face it, not many of us appreciated our families at 19, not as much as we perhaps should have.

I left Tassie for Melbourne at 19.  By myself with $100 and only knowing one person in Melbourne and was going to make a new life for myself, which I did.  That was very scary.  But I think going to Japan for almost a month by myself would be even scarier, 19 just seems too young for that.  But she is doing fine

a photo I copied from Zoe's Facebook Japan Album, these are Plushie Mt Fujis - how cute are they...adorable...the Japanese sure have the market cornered when it comes to cute.....

I have some strong feelings and opinions about some things the Japanese do, but I was very tight lipped.  I wasn't going to ruin The Eldest's trip in any way.  I think I did well, as for me, it is hard sometimes to keep my thoughts to myself about things I feel very strongly about.

We are missing her a lot now.  At first it just seemed like life as usual when we don't see much of her and a few days can pass and we don't see her at all.  But now I feel it's time she came home.  So I will be very happy in less than 2 weeks when I will have my other chick back under my wing, for now at least.

finally I have seen Harry

I have finally seen the final part of Harry Potter.   I find it too painful to sit in the cinema these days so even my fave films like Harry Potter I have to wait for the DVD.

I watched it on Tuesday night and I loved it.  It did feel a shame it had to be broken into two though. I realise of course there couldn't be a movie for four hours, but it felt...somehow....not right.  I really can't put my finger on it.  I just felt a little let down 

Warning some spoilers may be in this post.

It was very simplified though.  When I read book 7 I had to keep going back and reading some pages twice because so much was going on.  Sometimes I wasn't sure what was what at the end of a page or a chapter so I re-read it.

As of course everything can't be in the movies I thought it was done well and quite simply.  Some important things were skimmed over though. Some important things like the death of a Weasley.  I found that such a shock in the book and was very upset and yet it was so lightly touched upon in the film.  You could of missed it if you blinked.

I was however, very happy to see they put in the 19 years later bit, it made it feel like a happy ending, just like in the book.

All that aside though I did love it and am sad it's all over.

JK Rowling bought property here in Tassie quite some years ago and apparently has bought more recently.  I wonder why? Does anyone know?  Maybe she is going to lock herself away and right another epic.  But how could you ever top Harry Potter???

rosettes and macro

I have collected a little of this rosette trim over the last couple of years.  I seem to be hoarding it because I absolutely ADORE it.   I have put it altogether during my studio space clean out.  I love just playing with it and admiring it.   Just like I do with my vintage buttons....do you do that? Or am I  weirder than I thought maybe? I love trying to get that perfect macro shot of it too.  I could photograph it for hours.  It's sooo macro worthy

but I have made a promise to myself to start actually using it.  Now there's a novel idea!!!!   I can use it in sewing projects and mixed media projects.

There.... I have put it out there I own it and I will use it, now I have to.

Hello my name is Linda and I am a rosette trim addict.......

and I am scared to use it.......