Waiting for Spring in Christchurch

It was freezing cold yesterday, wet and gloomy. I spent the whole day indoors creating some jewelries . I call it the" Garden of Eden" the spring range. Proceeds from the sale of this range will given to CANTEEN New Zealand- (Cancer For Teenagers) supporting young people living with cancer. Below a re a few of my handmade creations . They are mostly made of pearls, Czech glass bead and crystals.




















Brazilian Sodalite and cultured pearls

Rosedale Book Club

Sheila Johnson a good friend of mine had wanted to join a Book Club for sometime however she decided to have a go at starting one up. The aim is to share books that have been read in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. We had 7 members for our first meeting. We decided to give our club a name- it was not difficult to decide on Rosedale as we had our first meeting last Thursday at her house in Rosedale place. As such we all decided on “Rosedale Book Club”.
We meet once a month, every 2nd Thursday @ 7.30pm of each month. Each member is to take a turn hosting the evening (glass of wine/juice/water to begin with then later cake and coffee/tea).
I will be hosting the second meeting next month at my house! Really looking forward to it.
We also had an arrangement whereby each member is to contribute $10 each month towards next set of books. The person hosting the next meeting will buy books of their choice.
For our First Book Club meeting each of us brought one or two books that we could it lend to our members.
I selected “The Bonesetter’s Daughter” By Amy Tan highly recommended by our member Rosa-Jane French.

It’s a dramatic tale of love, loss and betrayal in provincial China. I am now half way through the book and my mind kept flashing back to my own grandmother’s tale of her life in china as a child bride and how she escaped in the middle of the night with my mom who was then only 7 years old on a horrendous boat journey to Malaya. I really have to sit down and write down her memories before I forget them!

Thank God for heat pump, under floor heating, double glazing and thermal curtains and a cup of hot Nescafe!

Last Saturday I sat down with hot cup of coffee on a lazy boy and watched the scenery unfold from my window.
Hail stones as big as marbles, sleet, snow, gale-force winds and rain fell in a polar blast.
In the morning we had a couple of hours of sunshine. At midday thick and heavy clouds took over and the whole scenery was grayish, and then came the strong gale –force winds followed by rain, hail and snow. It snowed and snowed and the violent gale wind kept blowing the snowflakes. I felt like I am in a glass bubble with snow flakes circling around me, spoilt by the haunting sound of the wind creeping through my garage doors… its so creepy !!. Then blizzards, rain and more rain throughout the night... Christchurch never had so much rain and snow in one day for a long time.

Well four cups of coffee in the glass bubble in the middle of polar blast ……… I created sunshine, snow and wind

Sunshine

Snow

Wind

The day after the Polar Blast........................................................

A taste of beading

Last Month while in London I learned the art of Beading from Cousin Peng . I was so thrilled when I managed to created my first coral necklace and ring. It was indeed a great feeling . I am the "buy and wear" type of person. Never in my wildest dream , that I will think of making my own jewellery as I am not a creative person. Now I am hooked. I have discover a new hobby and passion. I share some of my first few designs. Thanks Peng for sharing your skills. You are indeed a great teacher.


Red Coral Necklace

Golden pearls and Swarovski crystals

Swarovski Crystal necklace and earring set

Swarovski Crystal ring
Cat's eye necklace and earring set
Pearls and Crystal necklace and earring set
Glass bead Swarovski crystal earring
Pearl necklace and earring set



Adventurine Earrings



Necklaces

Winter wonderland in Christchurch

Its simply magic watching the snowfalls from my window.Its equally amazing to watch the whole landscape transformed into a "white winter wonderland".

Spinal Surgery @ the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital, London

Months of fear and anxiety over my precious son’s spinal surgery are finally over. Today is exactly 3weeks after the successful T5 vertebrectomy and spinal reconstruction from T3 – T8 surgery. This highly skillful surgery was performed by the talented and brilliant Dr Stewart Tucker a spinal consultant at the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital (RNOH) without any incidence.
This month is a year since the diagnosis of osteosarcoma, as a mom hiding away my tears and fears were really very taxing. Finally I feel so relived that all is over and Richard can go on and live his life to the fullest. He is such an amazing young man after going through chemotherapy, serious infections (3 X), operating theaters (9X) Blood Transfusion (10X) Hundreds and hundreds of pokes and two major surgeries (his beads of courage speaks for itself), he has not at one time ask “WHY ME”. He took it all as his challenges in his life and conquers all his hurdles with triumph. Truly “Richard the Lion Heart!”
One week after the spinal surgery he was discharged from RNOH and has started to plan for his university studies. I just know (mother’s instincts that he will be great man and he will touch and inspire millions of people as he already has. I thank my god, my creator for all the healing and the miracles for my son. My prayers `were answered at every stage of my son’s treatment and recovery process. God works in miraculous ways including directing the right doctors and surgeons.
There is one very special person that we are very fortunate to meet in our life’s’ journey. He is Mike Sullivan a brilliant pediatric oncologist (consultant) @ Christchurch Hospital. His professionalism and his willingness to listen and consult with other medical experts to get the best cure facilitated the highly successful treatment and recovery process. He is indeed a simple man with a heart of gold. He told us that he will search the whole planet for the right spinal surgeon. He not only did that, he went all out to get the necessary approvals and funding for Richard’s surgery. How many doctors in Malaysia will do that in fact not many in the world? There is no wonder that his patients under his care are so strong and positive.
To us he is not just a doctor but one of god’s chosen healers as well. It is just amazing how our life were directed at the right time to be in New Zealand.
Last year's Mothers day is like doomsday to me. This year is one of the best days I ever had. I am so blessed with three great sons and a wonderful husband. Happy Mother’s Day!

Leaving on a jet plane.... in London for six weeks.