Meanwhile....

Back at the old people's home...

A little Quiz...

Hello Dhaaarlings...

One of these things is not like the others...

Can you tell me which one it is before 

the fat lady sings?

A Lovely Birthday Adventure...

It was a lovely winters Sunday. The birds were singing in the trees... The sun shining warmly with nary a cloud in the sky... a chilly breeze swirling about and insinuating itself upon ones nether regions...

"Rug up Princess... We're Off!" Announced the Empress. "I'm taking you for a "Devonshire Tea" over at Maryborough for a Birthday treat!"

"What? they don't do Tea's at one of the cafe's here in town?" I enquired.

"Just shut up and get in the car Princess... You'll see... Oh... and by the way... You're driving"

So we set off. Rugged up in coats and scarves for the hour long drive to Maryborough a large country town known for it's now closed woolen mills of a 

by-gone era...

Across rolling fields planted with crops of wheat and canola. Winter lambs frolicking and gamboling about in the chilled air but remaining within a bleat their mother's listening ear.

Pulling the car into the long sweeping driveway my eyes met with this sight...

Maryborough Railway Station

Read more about the Station and its History Here

and Here

It is an imposing yet elegant building and could be considered the

 "Grande Old Dame"

 of  Victoria's Railway stations as far as railway stations go.

The Platform itself is undergoing repairs and so did not lend itself to a pretty picture, yet it is purported to be one of the longest platforms in the State measuring a total 1.3 kilometers in length...just over 1 kilometer of that is covered with a verandah which has a central glassed skylight running its full length....(that is the bit that is currently being re-furbished)

Some of the tessellated floor tiling at the entrance

The old dining hall now a modern Cafe/ Restaurant

See the double window on the back wall?

The Empress and I shared a table just beneath that window... 

Where we managed to consume these...

Fresh Baked Scones with lashings of Strawberry Jam and Fresh Cream

The Empress Decided on a Hot Chocolate While I had my usual Latte

 I think the waiter may have left his rubber Cock Ring on the Latte Glass!

Ewww...

I sat right beside a very nice lady that played Her Golden Harp for me all afternoon.

I ended up buying a CD from her... and after that she stopped playing and partook of her own refreshments....If I had known that she would stop... I would have bought a CD from her sooner. There are only so many times that one can listen to "Stranger on the Shore" played on the Harp Solo.

Close up of  Harp

And i did have a very nice conversation with a gentleman that thought that I was quite brilliant for being able to explain some of the history of the Harp dating back to Egypt and its relationship to the Lyre and that that is how 

One of Australia's Native Birds

 the Lyerbird got it's name...
Clickerate the Play button and let Sir David tell you all about it and then
read more about the Lyrebird Here  if you like...

 Its tail... when opened during it's courtship display is shaped like an ancient lyre and male lyrebirds are able to mimic the sounds of over 20 other bird calls and noises that it hears in it's environment...

But I digress... 
Oh... and I forgot to get the nice gentleman's number... Bummer!

After a wander through the antique and collectibles gallery and store... 

Oohing and Ahhing at all the lovely items and laughing at the highway robbery prices... it was time to bid farewell to the "Grand Old Dame".

 No... not the Empress... She followed me back to the car.

It was a lovely Birthday Adventure....

On This Day...

Hello Dhaaarlings...




Today I celebrate surviving another year...


Why I couldn't have been born a "Summer Babe" I'll never know...
Middle of winter... cold, wet, and foggy days don't oft give cause for celebration...


But Princess always makes an exception...

And this year is no different...

There will be Cake...

Cocktails...

Good Company...

And did I mention Cake?...

Go on... Grab a piece Dhaaarlings....

Bottoms Up!...

Colour Me Happy...

Knitting Scarves...

Writing Cards and Letters...

Working in the Garden...

What are you planning for your weekend? 

Colour me Confused....

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Being the talented Quilter and designer that I am... I am always working with 

COLOUR...

Sometimes I get to thinking about how COLOUR  impacts on people and what favourite colours say about peoples personalities

[via]

What does COLOUR say about you?

Here are some excerpts...

Pink: This color embodies the gentler qualities of Red, symbolizing love and affection without passion. Women who prefer Pink tend to be maternal. Pink desires protection, special treatment and a sheltered life. Pink people require affection and like to feel loved and secure, perhaps wanting to appear delicate and fragile. Pink people tend to be charming and gentle, if a trifle indefinite.

Orange: This color of luxury and pleasure appeals to the flamboyant and fun-loving person who likes a lively social round. Orange people may be inclined to dramatize a bit, and people notice them, but they are generally good-natured and popular. They can be a little fickle and vacillating, but on the whole they try hard to be agreeable. Orange is the color of youth, strength, fearlessness, curiosity and restlessness.

Yellow: The color of happiness, wisdom and imagination, Yellow is chosen by the mentally adventurous, searching for novelty and self-fulfillment. Yellow usually goes with a sunny and shrewd personality, with a good business head and a strong sense of humor. It is the color of intellectuality and all things to do with the mind. Yellow folks are usually clear and precise thinkers who have a good opinion of their own mental capacities and who have lofty ideals. They may at times tend to shun responsibility, preferring freedom of thought and action.

Green: The color of harmony and balance, Green symbolizes hope, renewal and peace, and is usually liked by the gentle and sincere. Greens are generally frank, community-minded people, fairly sociable but preferring peace at any price. Green people can be too self-effacing, modest and patient, so they may get exploited by others. They are usually refined, civilized and reputable.

Read More HERE

Because I'm a kaleidoscope sort of guy... I get quite Confused...

My Favourite Colour...

More of the same but different!

Read More About The Artist  "Here"

What is your favourite colour Dhaaarling?

A Little Musique If You Please...

something to chillax with...

Where's Wally????....

[Via]

The cause of Designing Wally's delay in getting to Infomaniac HQ?

Aus...tra.. liana....

Yes... We have the Winning Envelopes Dhaaarlings....

Hello Dhaaarlings... 

And welcome to the 2011 Winter Ball at "Palais de Steff"

I've been putting the final touches to some lovely ice sculptures

And please help yourself to the Gin Fountain

And I must say how totally impressed that I am with all your entries this year. Princess certainly had her work cut out for her with so many eager participants.

It seems that most of you have been viing for winning the obviously much coveted

"Most Appalling Frock" 

 Giving last years winner Petra a run for her money.  

Several of our entrants gowns looked positively hideous even though they had been entered in the "Most Appealing Frock" category...


Really people!!... Where is your taste?... All in your mouths I suspect! 

As I rummaged through my slot... some of the entries caused me to become quite bilious...


Several of the houseboys claimed to be so frightened they ran off into the snow... 

But I think that was just an excuse...

to avoid working on the preparations for the ball...

 Then... when it came to having to to handle the frocks... well.... some of the Organising Committee screamed and ran from the room in horror.

(The Empress and her friends may never recover)


Although their little eyes did light up at the sight of "Petra's Pride" outfit.

"What an awful waste Maud" I heard the Empress say...
"Just think of all the loofah/body mop/nylon netting shower pom pom on a string thingamie's we could recycle this into for the next jumble sale.... Remember to "hide" it after the show won't you Maud"

Ladies Gentlemen and those of you who profess not to be...
 Without further ado.  After much tabulating, counting and re-counting  and waiting for the fat lady to start singing...






I can now announce this years winners.


The Prize for the 2011 Fabulous Frock Competition


"Most Appealing Frock"


Goes to...


Oh Fuck!.... Fuckity Fuck Fuck Fuck!


We have a Tie!

Contestant #8 Savannah            

And

  

Contestant #1 Mistress MJ

Savannah and her "Beautiful Balenciaga" and MJ with her "Butler Baiter"  

  

"MOTHER!"... 


"I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE"...

(That's me Crying darlings not our winners)

"What is all this wailing Princess? What do you you wan't now?"

"I want you to pick the most appealing gown Mother" 

"But haven't all your  bogger friend people in that machine voted Dear?"

"Well they have Mother but... Savannah and MJ have tied...again!"....

"Didn't they tie last year darling?"

"Yes they did Mother"

"Well...I don't want to choose darling. They are both lovely and have gone to so much effort..." 

"And Maud said"...

 "I'd put money on both them two frocks Empress... if I was a gambling woman"

Didn't you Maud?... while we were sorting through the entries"...

"Savannah knows a winner when she sees it... that Mr Balenciwhatsit is quite a dish for a foreign type...and look at the knife edge pleating..." 

"And we all know what happened once Mr Butler saw MJ's heaving bosom in that gown... He couldn't wait to fondle her swathes of ginger velvet."

"If Savannah and MJ have tied again... then they obviously have Style.

A quality that is not given but one that one is born with... and sadly a quality that seems lost on you Princess..."

"Stop weeping, next you'll be blaming Miss Scarlet's cute little doggie for leaving puddles all over the Palais....

Just give them a hip flask each and be done with!" 

Well.... Congratulations Savannah and MJ!

You have held on to your crowns for the second year running!!

And both of you will receive for your effort

This Lovely Hip Flask... or one just like it!
(As soon as I can find another)
Thank you Empress..




A big round of applause for our joint winners if you please...


Savannah and Mistress MJ


I hear the fat lady warming up again....






And now folks we move on to our most coveted award...
the


 "Most Appalling Frock"


And this year the runaway winner on the runway is...




Contestant #12
Miss Mitzi

and her appalling homage to  "Beef Curtains"


Congratulations Mitzi...


People... will you please refrain from vomiting on the floor the Houseboys are standing by with buckets for your convenience...

This Appropriately Appalling Cocktail shaker and matching straws will be cumming your way...


(as soon as you send me your postal address)


That concludes this years awards darlings.
 So please join me for more cocktails at the bar to celebrate our victors and comisserate with the vanquished


The dance floor is also fully prepared for your enjoyment














































That's All Folks!

Now Showing at "The Palais".....

It's Movie Clip Wednesday again!


Pick a movie that fits with your take on the weekly theme 
Find a clip from the movie and post it on your blog...
Write a little blurb about how the theme links with your clip and how you came  by it and what it means to you. Pop over to the current Hostess/ Host's of the Meme's blog and leave a comment saying that you are up and Hey Presto! You're playing MCW.


Our current hostess is Joanna Cake


This weeks theme is...


"Best Gunfight Scene"


I can honestly say that I'm not a big fan of the genre but...
Hands Down, although it's brief I don't think I've ever laughed so much in a movie theatre before or since I first saw this scene on the big screen.
It just cracked me up... I almost wet myself I was laughing so much...

Apologies for the over dubbed music...

And here are a couple of extra little recreations...



 

I said it was brief!
Happy MCW...

Have Your Vote Count....

..

Voting so far has been fierce..

Princess would like to remind you all that Voting for our contestants in the

2011 Fabulous Frock Competition

will Close at Midnight Tuesday 14 June 

where ever you happen to be in the World Dhaaarlings..

The winners will be announced at the


"Palais De Steff" Winter Ball

On Thursday 16th June..

And here is what's up for grabs!

"Most Appealing Frock Prize"

"Most Appalling Frock Prize" 

This Tastefully Subtle Cocktail Shaker and Matching Straws...

Our operators are eagerly awaiting your call

Haven't Voted Yet? Go HERE!

I'll see you all with the results on Thursday...