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This piece of palm debris has been hanging from a tree in the front yard for about a week. Paddys pathetic attempt to salvage it for me resulted in a seven-months-pregnant woman hanging off the front stairs with a broom outstretched trying to shake the it loose. Well, where there's a will there's a way - and half an hour, later I began some festive decorating in the dining room. I'm quite pleased with my efforts - a dead branch never looked prettier.

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Op shop finds. Pity I have the most enormous feet in the world... and these brogues would fit a muppet. Oh, well... my good friend Miriam will be very pleased to slip her petite tootsies into these bad boys (provided they aren't in some engorged state of disrepair after having cycled about six billion kilometers across Europe).

As for the cute vintage tricycle - well that's headed straight for the nursery.

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A little peek into the nursery. It's a work in progress... we don't know if the little one is a boy or girl so we're trying to create something playful and gender neutral. These Moroccan style floor cushions create a perfect little play area/reading nook/ makeshift bed for Mama and Dada when sleeping arrangements get complicated. I am totally obsessed with them, and evidently I'm not the only one - the special dogs seem to be convinced I am setting this room up just for them... their very own puppa palace. Are they in for a shock whn the real baby comes to town!

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It's poured rain all day and the flowers that Paddy sent me last week have started to decay. I guess this might sound glum but I find it strangely calming. The light is glowing and the sound of tropical rain on our tin roof is just heaven.

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Bedtime for the belly and me.
NB: The extremely large body pillow has been removed for reasons relating to the overall composition and aesthetic of the photographs. It didn't leave the bed for more than three minutes though, when the canon got booted and the daggy pillow was welcomed back with open limbs, one very happy belly... and one slightly disgruntled husband.

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On Monday I scored some wannabe bamboo armchairs from the op shop. They're perfect for the back deck. We have been unable to sit out there in the evenings so I had never really noticed how gorgeous the sunsets can be. It was lovely just sitting out there watching the day slide away, with the special dogs by our side (or rather, just about on top of me and bump).

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The girls just hanging out while I waste a whole day of my life sorting out tax. Ugh. Those dogs don't know how lucky they are. Not a worry in the world.

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Paddy and I took two very excitable dogs for a walk down by the beach... okay, so they took us for a walk. Either way, we all walked.

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Scenes from yesterday. The special dogs waiting eagerly for Paddy to get home from work; the lush tree canopy at the front of our house; our messy room; the half finished nursery.

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Millie and Dot. Also known as 'the special dogs', 'the sweet dogs', or 'Dottie Mae & Millie Spesh'. Dot is the shaggy one who can barely see, poor thing. They make excellent subjects for me as I learn my way around my new Canon SLR. I expect, however, once the baby arrives, you might be seeing a bit less of the special dogs. Poor things.

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So, after two failed attempts in the blogging sphere, here I am again. I have moved back to my small(ish) hometown with my husband to start a family. I am 30 weeks pregnant with our first child. It's fantastic to be back with our families, but we do miss Sydney and I hope that this blog can be a way for me to record my new life and connect with old friends (and hopefully new ones) in faraway places.

Lets just hope I can see it through this time.