Weddings

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My Egyptian colleague is getting married in a couple of month’s time. He was sharing with me how expensive weddings are in Egypt. The cost involved with hairdressers and makeup and dresses and photographers is exorbitantly high. Weddings in Australia can also be very OTT (over-the-top). Overseas weddings held in exotic locations are becoming increasingly popular.

My wedding was a simple affair. My best friend styled my hair, and I applied my own minimal makeup (touch of mascara and lipstick). A friend of my husband’s did our photography. I bought my dress and shoes in my lunch hour. My dress was a cocktail dress that I enhanced to have the matching chiffon scarf attached as long, flowing sleeves. The dress was from a boutique store and imported from Canada. I loved it straight away and it fitted perfectly, so I bought it on the spot! It is a warm ivory colour, not ice-white.

My husband does not dance so we had a lunchtime garden wedding. It was held in January which is summertime in southern hemisphere land. The sun shone that day. We are still married and have happy, healthy children, so safe to say the sun is still shining!

wedding

Execution Night

In the next few hours while some of us are asleep, nine souls are going to be tied to a cross and shot. Dead. Amongst them, brothers, sons, husbands, fathers, a daughter and mother.

People will say they did the crime, now do the time. They are going to be doing the time. By paying with the rest of their lives.

Myuran Sukumaran, a reformed man (if only because he was caught), will refuse a head mask. He will be facing his executioners until he can no longer see. Hands and feet bound, there will be nowhere to go.

Nine cheap coffins have been delivered. White coffins to match their white clothes. White clothes with a target sign to mark their heart. Their dying day has already been engraved on a wooden cross to mark their lives.

They know the date, they know the time, they know the manner in which they will die. And now all they have to do is wait. Until their hearts are peppered with bullets. Ten shooters for each soul, three with live ammunition *so that no one knows who fired the final fatal shot*

And those that refuse mercy, will have dinner, and sleep, and live their lives. Perhaps watch with satisfaction the agony of the mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers and children left behind. Content with their hearts untouched by bullets, and untouched by mercy too.

http://m.smh.com.au/world/bali-nine-executions-myuran-sukumarans-haunting-final-paintings-20150428-1mv8qy.html

Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge: Shell Babies

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These Shell Babies are an example of Aboriginal children’s toys. The biggest shell on the right is Daddy Shell, Mommy Shell in the middle and Baby Shell on the left ❤

Cee’s Odd Ball Photo Challenge: 2015 Week #9

United States

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Tourist Trap.”

I was born in Africa
And met family in England
I farewelled my mother in Scotland
And danced in Hungary
I have worked in Germany
And holidayed in Fiji
I have lived in Australia
But I have never been to
The United States
Next stop!
With Canadian Rocky Mountains thrown in

Any travel suggestions?

This Land is My Land

As I was walking that ribbon of highway

Ribbon of Highway

Ribbon of Highway

I saw above me that endless skyway

Endless Skyways

Endless Skyway


I saw below me that golden valley

Golden Valley

Golden Valley

I’ve roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps

Following Footsteps

Following Footsteps


To the sparkling sand

Sparkling Sand

Sparkling Sand

Of her diamond deserts

Desert Sand

Desert Sand


And all around me a voice was sounding

Singing Voices

Singing Voices


This land was made for you and me.

This Land, Our Land

This Land, Our Land

Advance Australia Fair

Australian National Anthem

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We’ll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Australia, we thank you

Australia!

Birds and fishes
Horse and bridges
Ice cream cones
And kangaroos
World’s best pies
And fields of green
Sweltering heat
And seas to cool

Welcome to Australia!

Don’t Move!

One knows inherently
When one hears the words
“Just sit still
Don’t move”
That one needs to
Move very quickly
From where one is sitting
Because just a few minutes ago
I heard those very words
Spoken to an unsuspecting me
When a Huntsman nearly
Landed from the ceiling
Onto my head!

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntsman_spider

Hamilton Island

Hamilton Island

Hamilton Island

In the heart of the
Great Barrier Reef, lies a
Pristine isle of bliss

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Landscapes or Seascapes

Fragile

Flowers offered in peace
To do what flowers do best
Offering comfort
Offering relief
But none is taken
None is found
Because there is no balm
When three young hearts
Farewell their mother
And parents lose their son
New week’s morning transformed into a
Lifetime of mourning