Princess Watch

For those of us who are crazy Kate watchers - we got a lovely surprise when Kate attended an awards ceremony last night.  After weeks of missed appearances due to her illness, Kate thrilled everyone by attending the SPOTY Awards (sport) to present an award.  she only stayed for 45 minutes but that was enough to keep us going for a bit longer!

Kate is wearing -  an Alexander McQueen bell sleeved floor length gown and Jimmy Choo heels

Festive Van

 One of my favourite vans - Mr Jenkins - has had a Christmas makeover.  I couldn't resist sharing it with you.

 

Princess Watch - She's Going Home

Will picked Kate up today after 4 days in hospital.  It's lovely to see her looking as smiley as usual.  She'll be resting up at home until the New Year - Doesn't Will look happy to have her back.

 

 

Princess Watch - Kate's Having A Baby!

What wonderful news to wake up to although it has been tempered by the fact that Kate is very unwell and has been hospitalised necessitating the need to announce the pregnancy early.

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE ARE EXPECTING A BABY

Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby.
The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry and members of both families are delighted with the news.
The Duchess was admitted this afternoon to King Edward VII Hospital in Central London with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. As the pregnancy is in its very early stages, Her Royal Highness is expected to stay in hospital for several days and will require a period of rest thereafter.


 “The Duchess was admitted this afternoon to King Edward VII Hospital in Central London with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. As the pregnancy is in its very early stages, Her Royal Highness is expected to stay in hospital for several days and will require a period of rest thereafter.”
Clarence House Website

 

 Kate and Will at their last joint engagement at Peterborough Hospital

“HG is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease marked by rapid weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration due to unrelenting nausea and/or vomiting with potential adverse consequences for the newborn(s).”

I thought playing hockey in heels was impressive - but doing it while suffering from HG adds a whole new level of stoicism. 

Kate has cancelled her next couple of engagements and Will spent the day with her at the hospital - here he is leaving last night.  Hopefully Kate will be able to successfully manage her condition and enjoy the rest of her pregnancy.

Princess Watch - 3 in 1 Post

Kate visited her old prep school - St Andrews and after spending time with the kids couldn't resist joining in a hockey game.

 Kate is wearing - Alexander McQueen coat dress in Black Watch tartan - a nod to St. Andrews Day.  This is my favourite outfit in a long time.

Kate and Will were also out and about last week - they visited Cambridge - their namesake.

 Kate wore - MaxMara coat.

The night before this outing Kate attended an event at the National History Museum on her own.

She also bebuted a hair cut which had everyone in a flap!

 Kate wore - her jade green Mulberry dress.

Our Stairs

Hello Mr Jones

 I stumbled across the delightful Mr Jones and thought I'd share him with you.  A clever couple in Byron Bay have rescued this beauty and given him a new lease on life.
This 10ft caravan was originally built in 1952 but is now seeing a new life in 2012.

 The original Mr Jones.

Mr Jones has had a complete makeover to begin his new life as a mobile bar, 'with the interior being completely gutted and refitted with an insane solid wood bar, two large ice sinks, 2 small bar fridges. And for those whole like to experience the VIP side to life, Mr Jenkins has his own leather seating area, fitting up to 4 guests at a time. With the hanging crystal chandelier and the back bar that looks out, this is a perfect space for some glamourous photo opportunities.' (Mr Jones website)

It is refreshing to see a caravan makeover that does not include anything 'cute'.  Mr Jones is extremely stylish and is wearing his new incarnation with aplomb.
You can visit Mr Jones here and perhaps book him for your next function.

Blackbird Cafe - Bright

This is the prettiest Babycino I have ever seen....

Smudged Pussy Cat

Lovely Lorelai

 

Poor old Lorelai - she took a back seat while the house was being built and even though she has now been moved off the front lawn where she has been squished for a year, she is still waiting patiently for us to spruce her up.  All the hard work was done before the move and now all she needs is prettying up.   The sun came out last weekend and Surfer Boy decided to start on her exterior paint job....

We got as far as the blue stripe before it clouded over and more pressing jobs on the house called for his attention.  

She still needs a jade stripe added above and below the blue - to tie in the upholstery, and we need to paint the body with a top coat - off white, white, or cream - I haven't quite decided.  Hopefully she wait have to wait too much longer.

Braces For Gidget

My gorgeous girl had to get braces a couple of weeks ago - yep, I know, she's very young for braces but the reason she is having them at 10 years of age is also the reason she needs them in the first place. 
Gidget starting loosing her teeth very early on and kept on loosing them steadily.  When her new teeth came through they didn't have much room as her jaw was still little.  So what did they do?  they fitted themselves in where ever they could and in the case of one tooth - he made himself a whole new row behind the others!  Now that all her baby teeth are gone and her jaw has caught up we are able to rectify the situation.  Apparently her mouth is about 2 years ahead of most kids her age - would have preferred her maths to be 2 years ahead but you can't have everything.

My little poppet was actually excited to be the first one of her friends to have braces as she teemed with jealousy when her two besties had to get plates earlier in the year.  I tried to gently warn her that it wouldn't be all beer and skittles but I don't think I really got through to her.  She had great fun talking to a couple of teenage friends who'd had them and getting their advice on colours - apparently these days you can change the colour every month if you want to! 
 

Her wonderful Orthodontist and his gorgeous dental nurse made the experience such a positive one for which I am very grateful, and within an hour we walked out with a spanking new set of braces with PURPLE inserts.  (Her Gymnastics Club colour is purple so this was the deciding factor).  I thought she'd be happy to have the afternoon at home but no, she wanted to go straight back to school.  
She felt great and couldn't wait to show her friends.  Unfortunately she didn't feel great for long and by the next morning the pain had set in but for the moment the whole experience had been as good as it possibly could be.

 

I'll update you with the traumatic reality of the first week with braces soon.

Princess Watch

Sorry I've been a bit slow on this update - Kate helped out the Queen this week at a function at the Palace to celebrate Team GB.
She wore ALICE by Temperley which has had very mixed reactions... what do you think?

Here is the dress in detail....

Surfer Boy's Big Day

My gorgeous man celebrated his birthday yesterday, very low key although he did take the day off work to spend with the kids.  I'm not sure they really appreciated that it was his day - in fact they probably promptly forgot after I initially reminded them in the morning.

We had decided to keep the presents very low key too.  Surfer boy subscribes to the theory that the house is our present for Christmas and birthdays for the next decade or two.  I had the best of intentions but then I stumbled, literally, across this lovely, cast iron lady and I knew she had to come home with us.

Somewhere along the line someone in Surfer Boy's family (his grandfather I think) had something to do with the original installation of the famous Skipping Girl sign and as we needed a door stop I felt she was just perfect.  I will find out the proper story and for those of you not from Victoria... here is the real Skipping Girl, an icon of the Melbourne skyline.

Skipping Girl Sign or Skipping Girl Vinegar Sign, colloquially known as Little Audrey, was the first animated neon sign in Australia. She has had a checkered history but has recently been restored and has been listed by the  National Trust.  The power to the sign is currently being paid by AGL power company to ensure she skips for many years to come.

To finish off the day we had S.B's best mate and his gorgeous wife over for dinner and they presented the birthday boy with his own brand of beer....

He was thrilled and I imagine that the now empty bottles will be displayed somewhere prominent  for a long, long time to come. 

Happy Birthday Surfer Boy! xoxo