Chocolate Mousse From Butler's is Yum

This Raspberry Chocolate mousse was good

Raspberry gave it just enough tang

And balanced out sweetness to perfection.

Now and then a little indulgence is good for the soul.

And this was a very sweet and yummy indulgence.

~ Suzy's Ilation

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Check out some great posts at these links:
#ABCWednesday 25-C
#SixWordSaturday 6WS
My Corner Of The World MCoW
Wordless Wednesday at Esha's


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Buddha Reminds Us To Stay Zen

At work, this Buddha fountain sits on the window sill beside my desk.

Very calming and watching the water flowing is very peaceful especially when I'm having a stressful day.

Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace. 

~ Buddha

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Check out some great posts at these links:
#ABCWednesday 25-B
#SixWordSaturday 6WS
My Corner Of The World  MCoW
Our World Tuesday
Wordless Wednesday at Image-in-ing and Esha's

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An Aerial View Is Quite Amazing

And this is Auckland New Zealand taken from Air New Zealand.

The big picture brings the little things into perspective ~ Suzy's Ilation

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Check out some great posts at these links:
#ABCWednesday 25-A
#SixWordSaturday 6WS
My Corner of the World MCoW
Our World Tuesday
#WordlessWednesday at Image-in-ing  and  Esha's

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Enjoying journaling with Sprocket and Zink

This year I decided to do something creative but different from the usual arts and crafts. And so I started journaling combining aspects of "bullet journaling" "memory keeping" "scrapbooking" using photos and different forms of arts and crafts.

To kick start my journaling, I bought an HP Sprocket, a pocket photo printer. The Sprocket uses Zink paper (Zink = zero ink) which is a misnomer because the device has no print cartridges but the paper contains the ink.

This was inspired by two things - my daughter's pocket photo printer and her gift of a gelli plate for Christmas - but that's a post for another day.

Absolutely loving my Sprocket, Zink and journaling.

The true purpose of illustrated journaling is to celebrate your life. No matter how small or mundane or redundant, each drawing and little essay you write to commemorate an event or an object or a place makes it all the more special.” ~ Danny Gregory. 

My posts on Instagram   Journal  HP Sprocket

Check out some other great posts at these links:
#ABCWednesday  Letter Z
#SixWordSaturday  #6WS
My Corner of the World  MCoW
#OurWorldTuesday
#Wordless Wednesday at:  Image-in-Ing  and  Natasha Musing


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Many shades of Yellow at sunset

I love sunsets and sunrises. They both make the sky and the scenery so spectacular. This photo was taken in Nelson, New Zealand.

"When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, 
my soul expands in worship of the creator." 
~ Mahatma Gandhi

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Check out some other great posts at these links:
#ABCWednesday letter Y
#SixWordSaturday #6WS
#OurWorldTuesday
My Corner of the World  MCoW

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Missing my Xtremely sweet grand furbaby

With Chappy in Nelson, New Zealand

Loved spending time with my little Chappy. Will look forward to spending more time with him again. Brought back memories of my dogs in my young days and my little guinea pigs. Animals give back so much love.

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."  

~ Anatole France

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Check out some other great posts at these links:
#ABCWednesday letter X
#SixWordSaturday #6WS
#OurWorldTuesday
My Corner of the World MCoW
#Wordless Wednesday - at Natasha's

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Early Morning Looking Out The Window

I love looking out the window in the early Wellington morning sipping my cuppa. It's always so quiet and the hills look so serene. This picture was taken a few months ago in the late Summer - early Autumn. The hills are looking greener now in Winter with the rain falling often.

"I look out of this window and I think, this is a cosmos, this is a huge creation, this is one small corner of it. The trees, the birds, and everything else and I'm part of it.
I didn't ask to be put here, I've been lucky in finding myself here." 
~ Morris West.

Check out some other great posts at these links:
#ABCWednesday Letter W
#SixWordSaturday #6WS
#OurWorldTuesday
My Corner of the World MCoW

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Vintage Photograph - Going Back In Time

I've been away from my blogs for a long time now and enjoying the Instagram experience instead.

But it is time to blog again. Thought I would change the format of my blog - share my instagram posts and weave them into themes.

I have changed the way I post on instagram by adding a quote that I hope will provide inspiration to others. So will follow the same here.

Sharing a photo of my great grandmother, my grandmother and my great grandfather. Taken in Cairo circa 1910-1915.

Photography for me is not about taking the perfect picture, it's about capturing a moment in time that you can remember forever.

While I had the pleasure of meeting my great grandmother, I did not get to meet my great grandfather but this picture brings him to life for me and brings back fond memories of my great grandmother and grandmother.

"Looking at my own prom photograph reminds me of how significant that moment was - and how fleeting life is." ~ Mary Ellen Mark

Check out some other great posts at these links:
#ABCWednesday Letter V
#SixWordSaturday #6WS
#OurWorldTuesday
My Corner Of The World

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2017 In Photos ... #SixWordSaturday #WordlessWednesday

My top three 2017 Instagram photos 

Blogging took a backseat in 2017.
It was a mixed bag year.
Some memorable moments and many challenges.
I'm glad it's done and dusted.
One of the highlights was Instagram.
And I have truly enjoyed that.

So here are my top three 2017 Instagram photos.

Nelson, New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand

Wellington, New Zealand

Wishing you all a happy and peaceful 2018.

Linking to:
#SixWordSaturday
WordlessWednesdays at:
         WordlessWednesday
         Juliejewels
         Image-in-ing
Our World Tuesday

Check out my photos on Instagram at  Suzy.Ila


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No eXcuse to skip eXercise

Can't make eXcuses to skip eXercise

Friday before last I was thinking I really need to get back into serious and regular exercising. I do some yoga and stretching but I felt I needed to do more. So I sent a prayer up heaven asking what I should do - continue at the gym, do some power walking, or something else.

The next day on our way back from the Saturday morning market my friend asked if we could drop by a fitness store as she wanted some hand weights.  There was a sale on and as we walked around I spotted a cross trainer on sale and I impulsively bought it. It was delivered on Thursday and I am just loving it.

Wow, the Universe just lined things up for me. So now I really can't make eXcuses to not eXercise.

Linking to:
Letter X at ABC Wednesday
Six Word Saturday



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Visualising a Varanasi Vacation

I could do with a vacation

The first half of the year has been quite interesting. I've gone through many anxious and stressful moments, long hours at work, and yet there have been many achievements too.

I have however neglected my blog and seemed to have taken a vacation from it. But I hope I will be more regular.

And speaking of vacations, I could definitely do with a proper vacation. A break away from home.

I've always wanted to visit the holy city of Varanasi (also known as Benares or Kashi) on the banks of the River Ganges. I've been watching an Indian TV serial based in the city of Varanasi and the desire to see it has definitely grown.

I hope someday this desire will be fulfilled. But until then, visualising a Varanasi Vacation is the best I can do.

So here are some pictures of Varanasi - to help with the visualising.

Ghats on the River Ganges

Gaay (cow) Ghat

 Evening Ganga Arti (venerating the River Ganges)

Images from hotstar.com

Linking to:
Letter V at ABC Wednesday
Six Word Saturday
Blog-A-Rhythm
Sundays in my city


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Peace is the way

Why is it we never learn?

April 25 is ANZAC Day in New Zealand and Australia. It marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings of 1915 where New Zealand, Australia, British, France, India, and Newfoundland troops battled the Ottoman empire. Approximately 8700 Australians and 2800 New Zealand soldiers died.

ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) is a day we honour those who died at Gallipoli and also in many subsequent wars. 

This year was the 100 anniversary of those landings.  100 years on it is sad that we haven't learned from the past. Wars don't bring peace only destruction.

Peace is the way to peace.

Each year there is a dawn ceremony in the capital Wellington. I didn't attend the dawn ceremony but watched it on TV.  As a picture speaks a thousand words, the 100th ANZAC day ceremony is best shown in pictures (taken by my trusty camera off the TV).

Dawn Ceremony in Wellington

New Zealand War Memorial

Australian Memorial gifted to New Zealand

Air Force Salute

Governor General of New Zealand

The Last Post

Tomb of the Unknown Warrior

Gallipoli, Turkey

R.I.P 

All who gave up their lives in wars. 

Linking to:
Letter P for ABC Wednesday
Six Word Saturday
Wordless Wednesday #82 at Abracadabra
Friday Fragments #351
Sundays in my city

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Interesting and International

Armchair travelling can be interesting too

So many International events have taken place in the last couple of weeks.

On February 20 1000 bloggers came together to speak for compassion via their blogs. Compassion the Soul Connection was my contribution.

March 1 was World Compliment Day and March 8 was International Women's Day. Bloggers across the world celebrated with blog posts complimenting someone (mine at World Compliment Day) and honouring women respectively. Let Her Light Shine On was my tribute to a young soul who died tragically but bravely in 2012.

And here in New Zealand we are in the midst of the International One Day Cricket World Cup which is so exciting and so much fun to watch especially since NZ is hosting jointly with Australia and has qualified for the quarter finals.

As part of the match coverage so many beautiful cities across New Zealand are being showcased. Armchair travelling can be interesting and fun.

So here is a glimpse into my beautiful capital city as seen on TV.  Love my city and love my camera.

Wellington sign in the Miramar hills depicting Windy Wellington

Bucket Fountain at Cuba Mall. Buckets fill up with water and then tip over.
Kids love to stop and watch.

A closer view of the buckets

The Cable Car that runs from the Botanical Gardens to Lambton Quay

A fun and scenic ride up and down.

The beach at Oriental Parade on a hot day in Welly.

Some interesting building architecture around with blend of old and new

Linking to:
The Letter I at ABC Wednesday
Sundays in my city
Six Word Saturday
Wordless Wednesday #75 at Abracadabra
Snap Your Week #11 at Eloquent Articulation
Friday Fragments #344
Love my City at The Kiwi Diaries


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