The year certainly has flown by. Where have the 5 months disappeared to since I last put my virtual pen to paper. It is hard to believe that it was July since my last “goodbye and see you soon” post. Now it is the day before Christmas.
In this tropical summer climate the Poinciana tree is in full and glorious colour…
And the delightful, sweet scent of the frangipani drifts around the garden.
Have I done all I planned???
Well sort of.
I’ve let my creative juices try to flow, trying to connect to my right brain. I’ve spent a lot of time watching “how to” videos on you tube. Deciding I will never create that masterpiece, but having fun trying. I’ve always known I am a left hand brain person. So the latest craze of “Zentangle” suits me.
It has been a magnificent growing season and the garden is flourishing. So lots of time spent pruning and creating large heaps of steaming mulch.
I’ve read more books in 5 months than in the past 5 years.
One short 4 week house sit to satisfy my “gypsy genes”, and a glorious weekend at the Grafton Jacaranda festival. (will post about that soon).
So I will wish all my “blogging buddies” a very happy and peaceful Christmas, where ever you are in the world.
gypsy life 
Oh. I wish I lived in your country. I am so happy here. Everyday out and about with the birds, a bustling echidna, an adorable wombat and a fig parrot! Paradise. Hope you and Jack are well.
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Even with our extreme weather I wouldn’t live anywhere else Cindy . Pleased to hear you are enjoying your stay here. We are both keeping well. The floods not affecting us at the moment. But Uesi creating spectacular swells along the coast
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Pauline, I haven’t heard from you in ages, just popping over to say hi, hope all is well with you and Jack. xxx Ailsa
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Some how this post passed me by – probably too busy having Christmas with the grandchildren! Well four out of seven! Lovely to catch up with you and I hope you will start blogging more this year, I really miss your lovely photos and travels in Australia. I know I am being selfish – of course you have a life to live outside of blogging. Have a lovely time in NZ and happy travels in 2017. Love to Jack ❤ 🙂
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Weird! I was thinking about you. I went to snippetsandsnaps to indulge in a bit of nostalgia, saw your image in my community, clicked, and found that you were back, although I didn’t get email notification. I’m looking forward to hearing more about time out and seeing more zentangles and other things. (Are there / is there zentangles for writers??) Your photos are sheer joy.
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Good to hear from you Meg. Zentangles is quite the in thing at the moment, lots of “how to” books out there and of course you tubes etc. I’m still on “time out” but the gypsy blood is stirring so nearly time to start blogging again
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Nice to see you here. I hope you and Jack are well.
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G’day Dawn lovely to get a comment, as you can see I don’t open my computer so often these days and when I did I found your comment. Hope 2017 is shaping up well for you.
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So far so good my friend. I hope the same for you.
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Happy New Year to you and Jack, Pauline. I think of you both often and its great to read that you’re doing well! The garden looks as if its thriving!
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G’day Jill, thanks for the thoughts, lovely to hear from you. Even though I don’t get onto the computer much these days I still think of all my blog buddies. I will pop over later and see what you are up to. We are toying with the idea of going to Cambodia later this year and will be going to NZ to visit family in March.
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Happy New Year Pauline and Jack.
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Thanks and the same to you. I wonder who you are as word Press just calls you someone!!!
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So lovely to hear you’re doing so well, and the garden looks wonderful! Happy New Year!
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Gosh just found your comment (I’m not on the computer much these days!!!) thank you and I hope 2017 is shaping up well for you.
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Oooh, how lovely, Pauline, I can almost smell that frangipani from here. Wishing you both a joyous, laughter-filled 2017. xxx Ailsa
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Just found your comment Ailsa and January has flown by, thank you for your wishes and hope 2017 is good to you.
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Nice to see you blogging again, Pauline. May the new year bring you nothing but joy!
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It is good to be back. Hope all is well in your corner of the world. Sending you best wishes for 2017
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Happy Christmas Pauline ! A blooming lovely garden 🙂 it’s no wonder you’ve been busy and also love your creative Christmas Card , lots of lovely elements in your abstract I like . Reading IS such a simple pleasure -really nice to hear you’ve taken time out to enjoy some new books . Look forward to more posts in the NY Pauline ! I’ve taken it easy these last few months on the blogging front , but I’ve not stopped snapping and playing with paints lol
Love to you and Jack and all the best for 2017 x
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Good to hear from you Poppy, I always look forward to your posts and next year I’m hoping to get myself organized to visit around more and do just the occasional blog. Blogging can be very demanding, but always a joy in the friendships that blogging creates. Best wishes to you for 2017 and may your creativity keep on creating… and may you keep sharing it with us…
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A hearty welcome back, Pauline. Wishing you the happiest of holidays.
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Thank you for dropping by Brenda, I have had a good break from blogging but hope to ease back into it next year. Best wishes for 2017 to you.
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How lovely to find you here, as I dip into the WP box of chocolates and wait for people to wake up! 🙂 Wishing you much joy in 2017, Pauline!
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G’day Jo, I love the thought of being a “box of chocolates” you’ll never know what you will find!!! Now I must find time to come around and check what you are up to. Best wishes for 2017
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Lovely to hear from you, and thank you for that beautifully drawn card at the end of your post! All best wishes to you & Jack, and hope to be seeing you more often in 2017.
del x
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Likewise it was lovely to see you pop up in the comments Del. Are you still busy sewing? Best wishes for 2017.
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Yes, still sewing when there’s a few spare moments. All the best to you both in 2017! 🎉
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Welcome back and have a wonderful Christmas.
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Thank you I hope to find time to do more posts in 2017. Gosh the time does rush by though. Hope you have a great year in 2017
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And a Happy New Year to you too.
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Merry Christmas! Hope to hear from you again soon, I always enjoy your posts!
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Lovely to hear from you, I appreciate your visit. Hope you had a happy Christmas and all the best for 2017
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Nice to hear from you again! Happy. Christmas.
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Thanks Anabel, I had a lovely Christmas, hope you did too. Best wishes fro 2017
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So glad to hear from you again, Pauline, and it sounds as though you’ve accomplished a lot! A very merry and blessed Christmas you and yours and thanks for the glimpse of Christmas that’s very different from our white one. 🙂
janet
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Hope it is not too cold for you Janet. Our weather has cooled down a bit and was perfect yesterday, even had some rain for the garden. Best wishes for 2017
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Dear Pauline and Jack, Think of you both often especially when I am out in the garden. Have a wonderful Christmas and may both of you have a happy and healthy year in 2017. All good here, both well and our feline family content. Miss you both. Enjoy your garden, friends and time together. Love Lyn
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One of the joys of blogging is getting to keep in touch with dear friends. Pleased to hear all is well with you and the tribe. We have the flat vacant now we are back upstairs, if you are over this way there is a bed for you. Wishing you health and happiness for 2017
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Happy Holidays to you as well. 🙂
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To you too Judy, hope your Christmas was a happy one. Best wishes for 2017
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All the best to you and Jack!
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Thank you, Looking forward to seeing more of my blogging friends next year. All the best to you.
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What a creative and fun time you’ve had! Have a lovely Christmas 🙂
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I have enjoyed the break Gilly, but I’ve missed my blogging buddies. I hope to see more of you in 2017. Best wishes to you for a happy and healthy year ahead
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Wishing you both a very happy Christmas, Take care and hope to catch you sometime next year.
cheers Toni
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Good to hear from you Toni. Where has the year gone? I only planned a few weeks break, don’t know how it slipped by into 5 months… Best wishes for 2017
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Oh I love those frangipanis!
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Thank you, good to hear from you.
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You’ve been busy, and we all need various options to keep our souls in balance. it’s smart to go inward and later emerge and share what we’ve learned!
On the coast, the rains have just resumed (slightly) – just enough to trigger the first blooming period of the Royal Poincianas! Two weeks ago I photographed some parakeets in the crown of a tree, and later when consulting the guide book, discovered they’re an endangered species! The ‘Gray-cheeked Parakeets’ were eating the blossoms!!!!
It’s good to see you back!
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You always inspired me with your art Lisa. Now I have more space to set up in I enjoy trying to create. What a lovely surprise for you to see the endangered parrot and rain is always a blessing in our hot climates. Having had a wetter winter than usual our Poincianas are glorious this year. Now there is a carpet of red under them. Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2017, I look forward to popping over next year…
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So glad to hear from you at Christmas so wishing you both a happy and relaxed one. xo
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G’day Marilyn. How are you? Are you all settled in by now? Maybe we can have a coffee together sometime next year. Until then best wishes for 2017
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Happy Christmas to you, Pauline. How nice to see your garden again. The best to you and Jack in the New Year! 🎄
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Hello Jane, so lovely to hear from you. I’m looking forward to coming around my favourite blogs next year, so will pop over soon. Best wishes for 2017
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Happy Christmas to you and Jack! It is a lovely Christmas present to see you here again~🎄❄️🌟🎄❄️🌟
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What a lovely comment Cindy, I was so pleased to see you. I’m sure you will have had lots of adventures since I’ve been absent from the blogging community. Look forward to catching up with your happenings. Happy and safe travels to you for 2017
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Merry Christmas to you and Jack.
Pauline, we really do hope to see you back in blogland sometime in the New Year, I miss your photographs and chats about daily life and travels.
Take care
Cathy
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Lovely to see you here Cathy. I really don’t know how those 5 months whizzed by. Hope to see more of you in 2017. Have a happy and healthy 2017
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I have missed you! ❤️ Welcome back Pauline! 🌸 Your flower photos are amazing and I envy your sunshine and exotic gardens.. I enjoy doodling too. Your patterns are beautiful! 😃🎨👍
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G’day Jill, your dedication to your daily art is very inspiring. Thank you for the lovely comment. I look forward to popping over and checking you out soon. Best wishes for 2017
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Thank you Pauline! 😍✨👍
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Best wishes to you and yours, Pauline. Ken
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Have a great 2017 and keep enjoying the wonderful place we live in, will look out for you at Burleigh
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Hello Joan lovely to hear from you, hope to spot you in Stocklands one day. Wishing you both a healthy 2017
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Thank you for popping over Ken, best wishes to you for 2017
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