laughter, linen and princesses...

I can’t begin to imagine a life without friends, and I count myself lucky to have some very good ones around me.  And I still...even after over two years, continue to be amazed by the friendship that blogging brings. I just spent a fabulous weekend in the truly wonderful company of one of those people...Jules from One Pink Chair. She wrote about it here.

If I dared to forget it, I was reminded in no uncertain way that laughter really is the best medicine. 

Jules made me laugh. I made her laugh too. We did a great deal of it...mostly at my expense though...now I think about it! 

Jules set me up in the 'princess bedroom'. Princess? Me? No way! 

And I slept on monogrammed linen...isn't it beautiful.

Jules fed me. 

I got her drunk. 

Fair exchange.

Jules taught me how to play words with friends...not very well as you can see by this...

I didn't beat her but I WILL one day. She may look sweet, but she shows no mercy when it comes to games...not a bit :)

Jules took me out for coffee with her fabulous friends and I could have sat there all morning. 

Hmm, perhaps I did.

 (I haven't quite worked out how to get the photos off my new camera, so this generic coffee shot I took will have to do for the moment!)
Breaking news...I worked it out...sort of. I still have no clue where they go on my laptop...but one step at a time hey?

Jules introduced me to four legged friends - not the feline variety. 

I sneaked Winnie food under the table when the mistress wasn't looking. 

Pooches are ok it seems, but don't tell the vampire slayer I said that.

It's such a wonderful thing to get away for a bit, out of your own space, away from the familiar. The time went very quickly, although the road trip home seemed to take forever. Not that it mattered. I was feeling good. Thank you lovely lady for such a soul enriching 48 hours. And thank you Souki for tolerating me. 

Now that one really is a princess!!

all images: a tranquil townhouse using the iPhone

how instagram is helping me cope with depression...

Well there's a blog post heading I never thought I'd write!
This is just a short post...dipping my feet in to see how it feels. But first I want to say thank you so very, very much to the people who've been in touch with me...by email, on FB, by phone, sms....you are so generous and I appreciate your kindness. I'm sorry that I haven't been back in contact...I'm not quite ready yet to respond in the way your kindness deserves, but one day for sure...I will be :)
So....instagram? I've been doing Fat Mum Slim's April photo-a-day. It's given me something simple to concentrate on each and every day, and something to look forward to...although some days have been harder than others. Case in point; Day 14: how you feel today...

There were many other words I could have used but this felt the most appropriate, and one that was at least publishable!

I've always loved images and I'm enjoying taking more of my own...here's a smattering. I was in Sydney last week for a meeting and when it had finished I took myself off for a wander in The Domain...this sculpture is a tribute to Speakers Corner...

Day 16: flowers...

Day 13: something you found...memories of happy days on beaches or walks...

Day 5:tiny...a silver buddha on a bracelet...gifts from friends...

Day 9: younger you...much younger!

So there you go. I've also signed up for a 6 week photography course starting this month...that should be a bit of fun!

all images: tranquiltownhouse on instagram

why I'm not here at the moment...

This is not overly easy to write. I've been struggling with what to do about the blog for a few weeks now. It appears, that for me at least, “lost my mojo” actually equals “I have depression”.  It’s diagnosed, I’m getting help and I know that others are a hell of a lot worse off than I am, but nonetheless I’m doing it a bit tough at the moment. I have people in my life who love me, are gentle with me and who wrap me literally and metaphorically in their compassionate arms, so I consider myself lucky. And in a funny way, hitting rock bottom is not so bad; it's allowing me to reflect and really consider what I want from the rest of my life. So that is a good thing, and who knows...I may reinvent myself!

But I can’t devote any energy to blogging right now. I did contemplate giving it up altogether, but it’s given me so much pleasure over the last few years that I thought doing that would be a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to what I'm going through at the moment, and very short-sighted. But nor do I want to make this place a diary of my depression. So until I can be a bit more upbeat (heavens I can’t even look for pretty pictures at the moment and I have stacks of unread magazines!) I’m going to bow out for a while. I hope you hang around, but I'll understand if you don't. I’ve had nothing but kindness, care and laughter on this little blog of mine from day one and I’m extremely grateful for that. Thank you, take care and bless J

photos: tranquiltownhouse on instagram

lost mojo...and my site is safe

To be honest, I’m not 100% sure what mojo is exactly…but whatever it is, it’s deserted me. I need to take a bit of a break to recharge, and part of that will be stepping away from the computer in my non-work time. I know you’ll understand if I don’t visit for a while. I have another trip to Newcastle next week…this time for mum’s eye surgery. Sigh.

In the meantime, do you like my new necklace? Red Phoenix Emporium…pretty in instagram J

I know my site is coming up with a malware warning. I have checked it out and it's not me! We're all protected here so please continue to visit while I try to get it sorted.

Take care and I'll see you in a week or two... 

image; tranquiltownhouse on instagram

instagram has got me...

After a couple of years being wedded to the Crackberry, a few days ago I hooked up with Mr iPhone again...

And there’s a new baby as a result (who would have thought at my age!)...welcome instagram J I’m a bit besotted.

If you’d like to follow...and goodness knows what you might find from time to time...I’m tranquiltownhouse...no surprises there! And how about you? Can I find you there too?

I'm still avoiding pinterest, though I'm not sure how long I'll be able to hold out!

Have a great week...I'm still recovering from Richard's 50th birthday party! Don't worry, just tired...couldn't possibly be any other reason could there Mr Tequila J

At least it's stopped raining...for the moment!

this week's top ten...29.2.12

 Happy leap year day...if there is such a thing J

No time for too many words today possums

Just pretty rooms

Or unusual ones...

You decide

that one above is the waiting room of a hair salon...cool huh!

aren't these flowers spectacular?

Let me know which one you like best J

images seen on: from the right bank, a perfect gray, design manifest, design sponge, parlour, designing home, summer house, the brick house, the style files, tiny white daisies

p.s. thanks for agreeing with me on my last post...and for letting me in on the whole white spined french book thing...who knew! Not me....although the reason they do it still eludes me J

promise me you'll never do this...

This, dear bloggy people is a travesty...

An all white bookshelf. It's just plain wrong. When I first saw this picture I thought all of the books had been covered with white paper, and I wrote quite an impressive rant about that!  Which I had to delete when I realised that they weren't covered...that they were in fact books with only white spines. Which, I concede is not as bad, but it's still wrong. 
In my book J
You know I'm a book lover...and this just makes me wonder if these books are really loved for what's inside their covers, or if they're only in those shelves for their decorative appeal. Call me odd, but that makes me a bit sad.
Would you do this?  Would you, in the worst case collect, or if not collect because you already owned them (in which case I'm prepared to cut you some slack)...would you only display certain coloured books to fulfil a room vision? Could you? Should you? 
I really, really hope there's another room in this home with a bookcase full to the brim with books in every colour of the rainbow. But not colour coded...no, not that.... even though I will confess to having done it myself once upon a long time ago. Before it became a trend! 


Thank you for the kind comments on my last post and welcome to a few new readers...it's lovely to have you here in the townhouse, where the books are colourful and placed by height and sometimes category...so I know where to find them!