Sunday

It was well over 10 years ago when DH was sent to Christmas Island for his work for about 5 days.  I didn't have the responsibilities that I have now, so DH insisted that I come along for fun - only we had to pay for my plane ticket which was an amazing $1700.  But why was it so expensive?  The place is Australian territory (that's where we flew from and took about 5 hours to get there) and the plane was domestic but why that astronomical sum for a ticket?  

Somebody on the Island had mentioned that it was because they don't have a lot of flights to C.I. and not many people travel there (or here, as he then said).  Made sense that they should price the ticket the same as what one would pay to travel half way around the world or more! Ha!  We also stopped at the Cocos Islands on the way and got a glimpse of some fascinating things but we only got an hour worth of sight seeing.

We arrived at C.I. in the evening, twas hot and muggy and was greeted by a local man that drove us to our hotel room, which was in the Casino.  The Casino wasn't functional at that time and hadn't been for a while because of issues they had so it was quiet and serene AND we were the only ones staying there.  On the way to the hotel it started pouring with rain and it got even muggier, a type of mugginess that I had never experienced before.  

The next morning DH was given a vehicle with a tank full of fuel so we went to first find some food then did some serious sight seeing, as he had some time before starting work.  We saw C.I. in it's full glory ; lush, bright and tropical looking.  But the most interesting and odd thing was the fact that the place was covered in crabs.  Not little cute crabs, these were LARGE crabs and we'd find them crawling on the road, in the bushland, logically on the beaches and funnily enough, one crawled into our hotel room while we had the patio door open.   

And the beaches!  For one beach, we had to walk through the bush for a good 45 minutes as that was the only way you could get there; we encountered a lovely little waterfall, many crabs and some were intimidatingly the size of my head.  When we finally arrived, absolutely no people were to be found so I collected a bunch of beautiful shells without being discovered.  Hehe.  

We found another spot that one could only get there with a vehicle through the bush and after we discovered why, it was petrifying (although DH found it exciting) to me but I won't go into that because it gives me palpitations just thinking about it.  But boy was the danger worth it!   This small and desolate beach had no people and instead of sand, it was covered in little white and smooth coral.  Now and then I'd find a coloured one and grab it.  The water was crystal clear and it was all very magical.  This small beach was surrounded by tall and sort of concaved rocks and it felt like we were in some movie.  I have a little bowl in the bathroom with coloured coral and a bunch of shells that won't let me forget about those extraordinary, fabulous beaches!

For the great memory, DH gifted me a little gorgeous rabbit figurine in a souvenir shop before we left.  It's swarovski crystal and gold.... see photos below.

DH went again for his work a few years after that, but I didn't go because of the insane price of the plane ticket... and I was working at the time anyway.  But I've told DH more than once that I'd like to retire there one day when we're old and grey.  He hasn't said yes, but then again he hasn't said no to the idea.  ;)

I adore my tiny, sweet rabbit.  Terribly difficult to photograph and yes, it needs a good clean and polish.  I've seen lots of different ones at eBay (the cheap fakes) / the jewelry store / the crystal stores, but I've found nothing close to what mine looks like and I think it's way cuter than any rabbit figurine out there.  ;)

I don't know much about gold and I have no clue as to what this stamp mark is or means, but I'm guessing it has something to do with the gold.  

I very foolishly lost the original box and authenticity leaflet years ago!?! 

Saturday

Found for free...

80's Aussie Nostalgia

Some inside pages have come out, but at 

least it's a clean separation

Large piece of fabric, and there's 

plenty to make a dress

These metal squares are magnetic - heaps of fun designing stuff on the fridge! lol.

Thursday

Happiness is when you find your treasures for cheap!  Probably nothing very exciting, but they are valuable resources and information for me.  :)

Only 50 cents per book / magazine;

And circs for $1;

Sunday

A little pondering....

Life is scary and exciting at the moment.  And what would we be without a little of both to keep us on our toes?  Then there is the waiting game in life... waiting, waiting... and for what?  Something that you are waiting for may or may not ever come, so I've learned to just take one day at a time.  Tomorrow does not exist, so why do we fret over something that isn't there?  This way of thinking makes me feel better and much more relaxed.  :)

Free & useless (but interesting) stuff found:

 

3D movie glasses, the ones you have to purchase for a buck at a 3D movie.  We already had two pairs, but now we can take a third person to the flicks.

 

A metal heart magnet, which rests on our fridge.  Funny though, you can't really see those top scratches in real life.

 

I found this to be the most interesting of all - an old Scotch reel tape!  Interesting because it's old AND certainly older than me.

Inside the cover was this;

 

 

With a little research, I found out that 'Kapp Records' was started in 1954... then the label was sold to another record company in 1967 and somewhere around that time they recorded a bunch of music for American Airlines.  But don't forget people, I don't live in the U.S.!

Here is some interesting history as found on wikipedia:

1954: Kapp Records was created by David Kapp. 

1960: Kapp Records released one of the first cover versions of songs from The Sound of Music, which was running on Broadway at that time. The Pete King  Chorale was featured on the album.

1966: The record label released the original cast album of Man of La Mancha, perhaps their most successful cast album. 

1967: David Kapp sold his label to MCA and became a division of Universal City Records. 

1972: MCA released the last Kapp Record. The catalog and artist roster was absorbed by MCA Records 

2003: MCA Records is absorbed into Geffen Records, which currently manages Kapp's pop/rock/R&B catalogs. The country, jazz, and musical theatre catalogs are now managed by MCA Nashville Records, GRP Records, and Decca Broadway, respectively. Decca Broadway released a remastered version of the Man of La Mancha original cast album in 2001.

Then back onto more boring things.... board pins and a mauve metal can.  I have a pink one exactly the same.. so now I have two that look pretty together with pencils and pens in them.  :) 

Tuesday

Latest yarn found for $1 each;

One of my favorite yarns - Cleckheaton Country 8ply, but not for sweaters.  This is great for warm and cosy blankets.  Yes, I guess some people use it to make sweaters but the last sweater I made with this, I only wore once because I found it heavy and hot.  Hence, why it's great for blankets.  :)

Anchor Magicline Cotton.  

I'm loving the groovy colours!

Monday

Free magazines found;

A big bunch of Archaeological Diggings magazines

A British magazine

Some History magazines

And a couple of National Geographic magazines

Saturday

Just when we think the weather is getting cooler, another heatwave hits us this weekend!  I tells ya... I can't take it anymore!   38 degrees today and 40 degrees tomorrow.  How much more can I possibly stand?

Calvin Klein's Obsession Night mini scent (minus the dust) found for 99 cents;

Gorgeous glass perfume bottle with metal stopper, found for $4.99.  I'm not sure if it's vintage, but I'm going to say that it is.  Go ahead and sue me if it's not.  :/

Tuesday

Some freebies found...

This could be handy in the kitchen.

 Cute batik wrap skirt.

A plastic bangle, which is now at the op shop.

Someones Wedding Organizer.

The only interesting thing found inside was two 50 cents stamps!

Monday

I was browsing a pet shop back in the late 90's and at the counter they had a multitude of things for sale.  I noticed they had some small coloured glass eggs and I had assumed they were fake eggs that bird fanciers use to persuade hatching... or something along those lines.  

But then I started thinking, well why on earth does the bird need them all colourful and pretty?  Shouldn't they be white glass?  To this day I don't know why and I've never, ever seen them since.... AND the shop vanished over 5 years ago, which was a shame because I bought all my pet supplies there.  I ended up buying seven of them for 50 cents each but gosh I wish I had bought more;

Sunday

ooohhhh squeeee!!  Somebody was actually throwing away these lovely iron candle holders - and with the unused candles still in them!  Why oh why, I ask??  Never mind... they are my freebies now. :)