JDH

Hi all, am recently returned from a short break in New Zealand and am concentrating on catching up at work and preparing for our busy season which will restart in July. Swapping will be kept at a manageable minimum until work slows down later on in the year.

40'something professional business owner. My partner and I live in Cairns, Australia and we love living in the tropics. We are empty nesters - my son attends university in Sydney and contacts me from time to time (generally when he needs more money :) and my partner's children are all grown up and live in Sydney also.

I am part of our local outrigger canoe paddling club. Work prevents me from paddling year round but I did win a medal last year as part of a team effort in the one regatta that I did attend. I enjoy the teamwork involved in paddling outrigger canoes and the Pacific nations culture that surrounds paddling is simply enchanting.

You might think it tragic - but I love country music - Tamworth or Tennessee I love it all.

I am a bit of a dag - I love English history - fiction or non-fiction. My favourite period of time spans from 1066 until the end of the Plantagenet reign.

I enjoy reading cooking and craft magazines as well. I prefer mags that are pitched at everyday people (especially for cooking mags) as its annoying to read a recipe that requires ingredients that are not readily obtainable.

Primarily I am a mad cross stitcher - love small patterns and adore French style redwork style patterns.

Since joining Swapbot I have had a go at a lot of new things, ATC's chunky pages and my new (almost) favourite matchboxes. I love to collect stashy stuff - buttons, ribbons, paper, glitter'y things, interesting "stuff",. beads, markers, needlework notions, boxes, tins - you know all that stuff that is great to have but may not necessarily have an immediate use.

Love to watch Australian sport. Rugby Union, AFL, Field hockey, even a bit of netball.

on weekends I like to ... go geocaching, go outrigger canoe paddling, do some stitching, go for a drive up the coast in our weekend car, watch some footy on TV, chat to my son on the phone, chill out,

While my profile makes me look like an outdoorsy sort of person I also enjoy spending quiet time indoors stitching or trying new crafts or doing girly stuff. I have a quirky sense of humour and don't mind receiving something that is a bit off beat.

• Colours: shades of green, pink, purple.
• American motoring memorabilia
• shoes (real ones, charms, images, love 'em all)
• Outdoorsy themes
• Wild nature
• Farm scenes/memorabilia
• Pacific nations cultural icons
• Anything to do with the Angevin/Plantangenet era of history (English or French origin.)
• Craft and cooking mags.
• French style cross stitch patterns.
• Lizzie Kate, LHN, Bent Creek, Prairie Schooler, Just Nan cross stitch charts.
• Moleskine journals and notebooks
• Stationery, pens, paper, clips (actually stationery is becoming a bit of a fetish :P )
• Boxes and tins
• Hearts
• Candles
• Postcards
• Magnets & Woven patches
• Unusual or seasonal/holiday themed fat quarters - the selection I have here is pretty limited and I use fabric to finish needlework smalls.

I have removed a lot of stuff from this section because I have discovered the most people make such an effort to put a lovely parcel together that I really appreciate the effort made regardless of what is inside.

I suppose that the only thing that could put me off would be any items relating to your faith. We respect your right to practice your faith please respect our right not to practice ours.

Australia's quarantine laws are very strict and a lot of items cannot cross our borders - these include plant material, seeds, soil, rocks, fresh food and produce to name a few. All untreated items are intercepted at the border and destroyed so please don't send anything that may compromise the natural beauty of our lovely country.

Please don't send chocolate - we live in a tropical climate which is a natural enemy of lovely chocolate. Believe me, it ends badly.