Rome 'n Roses [or I'll Be Bloggered!]

Well I'll Be Bloggered!!!

You might need to be an aussie to understand that humour.. but never mind.. I'm sure the overall meaning isn't lost on most of you..  Last week proved to be a bit of a debacle.. so I'm taking the opportunity to have a do-over..  Why the heck not!! Still a bit under the weather but my postponed birthday celebrations are rescheduled for this week [so hopefully I'll get my cake and eat it too] and .. as the great blogger mishap of 2011 ate my birthday post.. [and all your lovely comments]  it seems a do-over is in order... Important to get those wishes back out into the universe .. although I've revamped the images for your viewing pleasure... Don't won't to totally bore those of you who turned up for the first event..

Three Coins In The Fountain

For a bit of luck, I thought we could all have a virtual tossing of three coins in the fountain...  La Fontana di Trevi.. A must visit on any Roman adventure .. A majestic tribute to Neptune and the oceans he commands, one can't help but be mesmerized by the fountain's  baroque beauty.. Neptune takes centre stage, standing tall atop his watery chariot and is flanked by the goddesses of Abundance and Salubrity. 

Managing to snap a shot without someone's head, arm or camera blocking the view can be a challenge.. The place is constantly buzzing with tourists from every corner of the globe hoping to chance a glimpse of the baroque beauty immortalized in Fellini's La Dolce Vita.. Of course they may also be hoping to replicate that other film.. by tossing their 'Three Coins In The Fountain' ...

On my last visit,  not only did I manage my wish and coin toss, but was also delighted with a little midday entertainment.  An embarrassed gentleman crawled out onto the fountain in a valiant  attempt to retrieve an errant watch, inadvertently flung from the arm of a vigorous coin tosser!! It was one of those always hoped for but not often found moments.. Straight out of film.. a little bit patzo.. a little bit italiano.... The crowd lapped up every moment.. Audible gasps could be heard with every slip and slide that distracted him from his goal..  jovial laughter greeted the shoes & socks removal.. and cheers of applause brought a nervous smile to the worried face of our humble hero when finally he returned the errant watch to his tearful son ..  Of course the polizia also got into the act and I suspect enjoyed the spotlight as they 'orchestrated' the moment.

I couldn't have asked for a better memory of Rome. Life imitating art.. you would have thought Marcello himself had waded  into that fountain...  One of those moments when you felt connected to the strangers around you.. united in the childish joy of the moment.. Like I said.. a little bit patzo.. Somewhere I have a photo showing a bit of the days events.. Hopefully I will unearth it one day.. but for now I have the memories.. and this shot above.. thankfully free of tourists..

More Re-News

For those of you who didn't make it across before the blogger clobbering.. another post item that bit the dust  was the giveaway winners announcement.. Selected by Random Generator, the winners were;

The lovely Yvonne from La Petite Gallery

& the ever witty JG from Fatscribe

Have  A Lovely Week Everyone

I'll be back [sometime] later in the week with my Full Moon Post..

Arrivederci &

Image Source & Credits

All Photgraphy, Text & Artwork [BeingRuby©]

Tropical Dreams: It's Fruity

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Tropical Dreams

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With summer coming to an end I'm in the mood for a tropical escape. Some years back I took my first trip to Bali during the easter break, then a few years later it was Phuket, so my mind is headed in that direction ...or maybe Fiji? Anywhere as long as it is tropical.. Warm balmy nights, the sweet scent of frangipani ... Daily massages.. oooh.. it's a hard life.

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One thing I loved about both Bali and Phuket was the daily offerings of thanks. Small rituals to give thanks for health, wellbeing and perhaps all that beauty. The smell of incense and spices filling the air and embracing my senses. I still cannot smell sandalwood without being transported back to that feeling of relaxation and calm. Of course there is also the people. Friendly gentle people who welcome you like like a friend, or family member returning from a long journey. Yes.. there are many reasons to fly away to a tropical island.

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Well my lemons, limes and peaches aren't quite a tropical vacation, but it's a starting point. A point of inspriration and inspired my cockatoo images. All adventures begin with dreams. I think tomorrow I might burn some sandalwood, lookup some holiday destinations and start dreaming. I was going to take more photos.. but I ate the props..

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Oh and the light bulbs?

The beginning of a new idea.. or quite simply.. I just like them.

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..I hope your new week is filled with dreams and inspiration..

.. tropical or otherwise..

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Thanks for all the lovely comments on my last post

.. and if yours isn't there .. sorry.. blogger seems to be eating my comments lately

Also .. I've added a translation button to my sidebar ..

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IMAGE SOURCE: Photography, text and photo editing by me - [Being Ruby]

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I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside!

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Oh I do like to be beside the seaside ...

I do like to be beside the sea!!

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I have always wished I could paint. Family members can paint, but not me. I long to be able to paint dreamy seasides, awash with pungent greens and dark smudgy blues. I would sit all day in my dream cottage looking out to sea, watching sailboats glide by, fishermen spreading their nets. I'd laugh at the gulls swooping and darting across a dark thunderous sky...

yes I wish I could paint

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I must admit I did paint something last year which I gave to friends.. It was a seascape. If you let your eyes become all blurry... it was a seascape... if not, it was a pretty blue green streak!! So in the absence of talent, the best I can do is play around with photos I have taken of the sea. I like to imagine I'm painting the smudgy greyish blues and seaweed greens washing across the canvas. I'd also imagine that is my sailboat drifting by.

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And when the sun went down, I'd paint the skies with fiery pinks and burnished amber, the swirling clouds dancing in the glow.

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I'd wrap it in a bow and give you the gift of the sea

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Maybe I'll get inspired this summer and try my hand at some painting. 

What talent do you wish you had?

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IMAGE SOURCE: photography and artwork [Being Ruby] Location Sans Souci

Birthday Wish List

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME
I woke up this morning and your presents weren't here!... I'll help you out with a few 'little' things on my wishlist......

a home of my own ... preferably with a view of the ocean

this is what i call backyard bliss!

or maybe a poolhouse... complete with pool of course!

or... if you can't get one with a pool

... i'd settle for a nice yard!

out in the garden ...

I like to sit around and enjoy the scenery

(whilst Jeeves mowes the lawn)

so of course I will need some new tolix chairs

and if a house is a bit of a stretch... maybe a little shack

it would be great if the shack could come with this bed, bath and view !!!

and finally..

i will need a compact camera to record the many memories of life in my new home

Oh why be shy! ... how about this?

If this is all too much

how about the Eiffel Tower? this pretty card case will do

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IMAGES: 1. Notebook Magazine 2. Nancy Price, 3. Max & Co, 4. French-Chateaux.net 5. Notebook Magazine, 6. Wallace Cotton (brochure cover) 7. Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa 8. Leica C-Lux-3 black 9. Canon EOS 50D Premium Kit 10. Amazon (via Tongue In Cheek)