Bula, Bula

Hi everyone, we're back from beautiful Fiji.  It was so much fun and hot and sunny (well there was that one day of torrential rain and cyclonic winds).  Lots of magical moments with our family and the two families we went with.  I highly recommend holidaying with family friends, especially if they have children of the same or similar ages, it just works really well for both adults and the kids.

While the trip wasn't without its challenges given our little one's aversion to being away from his home comforts, all of us had a wonderful time doing wonderful things like ...

Family snaps with both Mum and Dad.

A bit of Kava drinking for Dad.

The boys "got jiggy with it" Polynesian style.

Looking at "fishies" in a glass bottomed boat (don't recommend this if you suffer from claustrophobia)

Dad and the other dads caught us dinner one very early morning, it was delicious.

Of course there was plenty of pool work.

Followed by some Sudoku with Dad.

Lots of sitting here where we read and enjoyed the following view:

Wherever you love, I hope you are having a lovely day. See you soon.

Dear Santa ...

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I have been pretty good this year and have almost completed my gift buying and have begun the wrapping stage as well.

I am often inspired by Gift Lists in magazines and now of course in blogs,.  In fact a few lucky people in my life will be the recipients of gifts found on blogs as far away as Paris and New York.

I thought I would do something a bit different and put together a list for you, the wonderful woman that you are.

I have listed things that are predominantly Australian as there are plenty of overseas blogs that have other nations covered (my faves this year are Simple Lovely, A Cup of Jo and Design Sponge) and my apologies to non-Sydneysiders, there are a few things found only here, but you can find similar things in your neck of the woods.

So herewith my Chrissie list and happy shopping!

***

You are a mum, nan, sister, girlfriend, no matter who this lady deserves some special stuff

Like a bit of silver and classic pearls

This calfskin shopper

An annual subscription to one of these companies

Some delicate smalls

This beautiful silk linen jumper

A degustation here or any other excellent restaurant

A day spa in the country

A subscription to your favourite magazines

Special letterpress stationery (not Australian, but Suann ships to Australia and I think this is the most beautiful stationery I have seen and deserves to be on my list)

And finally, my favourite way to be spoiled, a sleep in and brekkie in bed - pure bliss*

No matter what you receive ladies, I hope that it makes you feel special.

Have a happy day.

* Image from here

Next Stop: Auvergne Region

We are fortunate to have friends in who holiday every year at the family farm house in central France (she is Parisian and married one of my hubby's schoolfriends, the now live in the next susburb so we see each regularly).

We timed our holiday with theirs and met up with them for a week. It was divine: a bit of site seeing, lots of delicious eating, reading and sleeping.

The beautiful farmhouse owned by our friends' family for a few generations.  "A Year in Provence", eat your heart out.

A typical day of eating wonderful locally sourced food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, reading in the afternoon sun, the kids loved checking out the local cows in the backyard and after a long day (this photo was taken around 10pm) the kids would all chill out in front of the TV before crashing for the night.

A bit of site seeing in the nearby town of Herisson.  France just has the most picturesque towns, my boys loved the medieval castle (once lived in by the kings of France) which is currently undergoing restoration.

Our friends were married in one of Herisson's medieval churches, L'eglise de Chateloy.  It has stunning frescos and sits on top of a cliff overlooking the town.

And they had their reception at this chateau, a moat and beautiful gardens (with a cute garden shed - last picture) included. A local family owns this chateau and they still live in it and rent out the grounds and some rooms for functions such as weddings. A medieval church and chateau, a dream wedding come true I think.

Of course no trip to France would be complete without a trip to the local brocante (flea market). After our week in central France, we drove back to Paris where we caught the TGV and the Sud Express for the next stage of our holiday, four sunny, hot weeks in Portugal.