Post534 Nothing went to plan...

This was a week of things going awry, or worse. My cousin Christine, in Gloucestershire England, died overnight on Saturday. I have 8 cousins, 6 in England and 2 in Australia. My brother and I  are older than our English cousins, followed by Christine. She was hospitable and welcoming to me, and to our parents when they were alive and visiting England regularly. She was a great Elvis fan -:so pleased she got to visit Gracelands in 2019. I am sad, and thinking of her family as well as the times I spent with her, the last when she and her husband generously drove me to Marsh Gibbon in search of family history in 2020. 

The rest of my news seems trivial in comparison, but some of it isn’t. I had invited friends to lunch on Sunday, but one of them was taken to hospital in the early hours of Saturday and operated on a few hours later. He is now home recovering and still planning to go on the cruise he has booked leaving next Monday. 

Wednesday should have been an adventure, my first day of being the Day Hostess (!!) at the Guild - a volunteer available to answer queries, show visitors around and help out our part-time employee. She, however, was ill. As there were no groups booked to use the premises a decision was taken to close for the day. 

I used the unexpected free time to visit Kmart, drop some items off to a friend and call at the Jam Factory to view their Mother's Day collection. At Kmart I bought more drawer organisers. At the Jam Factory I bought myself yet another mug. I like this a lot. The base is slightly larger than the rim so it holds heat fairly well, and the glaze is lovely. I tried it out later in the afternoon, on the front balcony in the sun, surrounded by plants, knitting.

I caught a glimpse of an Adelaide Rosella just as I was about to bring in the washing.

 

Thursday morning was the annual service of my airconditioner. It hasn't been used a lot this summer and all is well. I discovered, however, as the serviceman was cleaning the filter, that I have for years neglected to clean the vent over the filter. I'm ashamed to say it was really dirty. It was a bit like cleaning venetian blinds, a job I had as a child, necessitating checking every angle. The serviceman (and I!) finished around 11.30am, in plenty of time for me to get to Pilates.

Friday was a medical appointment, mainly Shingles and Flu shots.

This tree (left) is on the street outside the practice, which, unfortunately, had run out of Shingles vaccine. My GP, had she not retired, would have called me to let me know.

The stand-in GP was apologetic, thorough and pleasant.  so I had my flu shot and made an appointment in a month's time for  the Shingles shot. That's within the allowable effectiveness period and will  work well with blood tests and a specialist appointment I have scheduled, so all's well.  I left quite happy.

That afternoon Pat's Early Women of the Book bag arrived in Sydney and brought her pleasure. A second one is winging its way to Robin.

As well as a cancelled lunch on Sunday, Monday dinner was a nonstarter because it was parent-teacher night at the girls’ school between 6pm and 8 pm.  I got early warning of this, so only bought 4 chicken Marylands for (the now aborted) Sunday lunch, instead of the 12 I had planned to buy when including Monday. 

 With lots of freed up time, I plunged into reorganising drawers using my Kmart purchases. First priority was my scarf/shawl drawer, which presented quite a challenge. Success! (yes, the left side of the drawer has two layers).

The bigger challenge, however, were my drawers of fabric! That took quite a while. Without organisers, the drawers take more fabric but I can now see what is there without rummaging. I did some sorting and threw a little bit away.

As well as the drawers, which mostly hold lengths of fabric I have bought, I had several tubs of fabric scraps in varying sizes, mostly left over fabric from things I have made, or, from 1986 to 2004, my dressmaker made for me. The tubs were roughly sorted, but a jumble. The only way to sort it out was to iron.

Of course, I underestimated the time the ironing would take -about 8 hours over Saturday and Sunday in between helping out at JEMS and dinner at Kilkenny.

The tubs however, are sorted - one patterned cottons, one plain cottons, one ginghams, one silks and one satin lining fabrics - lots of the last thanks to the dressmaker I once had.  I also have a few more pieces set aside to make gift bags and a few for embellishments.

As well as being able to see what is there, I have refreshed my memory - including the memory (or absence of memory!) of clothes long gone. There were moments of sadness, but overall gratitude for all  the joy of making, wearing and sharing.

JEMS on Saturday was fun, a small group of creative, productive girls focused on their projects. I had to keep sitting down. My sciatica kicks in when I am on my feet for more than about 15 minutes at a time. I recovered at home with coffee before relaxing at family dinner.

I finished Paul Ceolho's Maktab and Simon Rowell’s Wild Card both of which I enjoyed. Just as Niamh was heading off to her parent-teacher evening yesterday, Fionn, unaware of cancelation, arrived for dinner, an unexpected pleasure. I had Sunday's uncooked Chicken Marylands. It was too late to bake them as planned, but I was able to pan fry two of them with potato and bokchoi -with a little bit of dismembering to ensure they cooked through. It was great to share a meal, and to have time to catch up on his uni news: so glad he came. 

Today I skipped Aquafit in view of a slightly scratchy throat, tiredness and sciatica. Swimming is usually an antidote to sciatica, but oddly that doesn't hold true for Aquafit, where, even with movement, we stand in the one place.  Because my cleaner was coming, I took the chance to clean the fly screen door onto to my front balcony. It was harder than I anticipated - and made a dusty mess both inside and out. I took a lot of trouble cleaning the runners and left it to the cleaner to vacuum the dust - and decided against doing the Eastern balcony screen as well today. In the meantime, as I opened a  cupboard, a pyrex dish fell out and smashed all over the floor. It took a while to clean up and dispose of safely. 

I am now very tired (and wondering if it is a side effect of my  flu vac) but have made some knitting progress. The rows are getting shorter and I only have 20 to go before the final decreases (I'm on the back. It's looking pretty good - and long! 

Vale Christine.❤️

Post 533 Long Post for a Full On Week.

Wednesday turned out to be busy as I set about restoring order to my balcony after the re-grouting of the tiles. The tiles needed washing, the pots and furniture returning to position. The first discovery was that my squeegee, the only mop I own, was broken. The sponge squeezing mechanism had come apart, and was missing a connector. I could still operate it awkwardly, holding the disconnected rod. 

I took the opportunity to clean the runners on the door and insect screen of their accumulated grime. The two water dishes were slimy. One contains shells, which in turn were covered in slime. I soaked the shells in a mild solution of bleach, then scrubbed each one with a nail brush. They now look clean and the water clear. I've moved the dish out of the sun in the hope the algae won't form.

I deadheaded flowers, tidied a few plants, swept up petals and reconnected the hose. 

I noticed that the zygocactus is about to flower - so the honeyeaters will be competing with the noisy miner for access before too long.

By the time the balcony was restored and clean I was exhausted. I made a coffee and explored potential replacement of my squeegee. 

I keep a short broom with attached dustpan on the balcony. The broom has nylon bristles, now misshapen and sticking out at all angles. An online search revealed the Frewville Foodland had suitable replacements, so I set off and found what I wanted, a squeegee with a more robust mechanism and a small, handmade broom from Vietnam. 

I already have one of these with a stiff bristle. The new one is soft, and very good at finding fine dust. One on each balcony

When I got home I returned the shells to their dish and finished the job. I decided to replace the hose as well, with one that is tidier and takes up less room. (Yes, this really is tidier!)

Around 3pm, as I was having lunch, a courier delivered the four printed tote bags I had ordered - the Early Women of the Book.

I am delighted with them . Two are for friends in Sydney - fellow students of Early English Literature and Language in undergraduate days, who are as excited as I am.  One is destined for a charity auction and another for the Guild SALA Exhibition - along with the explanatory booklet. 

This has been a very productive exercise. As with the earlier bag, one side has printed the photo as uploaded and the other has somehow removed the white background. It is obviously how the printing process works. I'd like to understand it, but, as they are printed overseas, I doubt I will. 

There was a fabulous full moon that night and I managed to get a decent shot through the slats of my Vergola using my phone. It's the best moonshot I have managed.  A Proud Titania kind of night.

Thursday was ANZAC Day, a public holiday, with Dawn Services and marches of Veterans and service men and women all around the country. I don't attend. I do, however, acknowledge the service of family members and remember their sacrifices - including the mental health issues that followed throughout the lives of those who survived. They needed to forget, but we need to remember.

I had decided not to bake Anzac biscuits. It is school holidays, so no one but me to eat them and  I already had a few left from last month's batch. The point about Anzac biscuits is their keeping capacity. They were developed to last for months on sea voyages to France and Egypt in WWI.  However, when I received this email from a cheeky friend  Dont forget the ANZAC biscuits are in the oven and they burn quickly. WE DONT want them burnt again this year, I got on my high horse and immediately made a batch. That'll show him! No fool like an old fool! At least they will keep.

I had bought fresh prawns on Wednesday, intending to have them in a salad, but in view of the chilly weather, stir fried them with broccolini and peas. A good meal.

On Friday I met a friend in Stirling for coffee and scones. It was busy and crowded, but we did a lot of catching up. She brought me another Alamanda Blue, one that is ready to propagate. Mine is doing well, but isn't old enough to be divided, and I promised one to another keen gardener. Cathy seems to have the Alamanda magic  touch. She has several plants, all excelling themselves.

A balcony isn’t ideal for plant division on this scale, and it has taken me several days over this busy week, but I now have three new plants from this giant, which will grow back over the gap. This is quite a rare local swamp plant and would be best in a pond. It’s important to keep propagating them.

When I arrived home from Stirling there were two parcels in my letterbox. One was a metre of Spice linen - the lining for several bags I am working on. The other was a total surprise - a shawl knitted by an overseas friend as a gift. I was so warmed in every way. An unexpected, personal, perfect gift. It went perfectly with what I was wearing. I feel wrapped in friendship and heather.  

And speaking of heather, Marie Wallin’s new collection was released, and yes, against commonsense, I have ordered a kit. This one is simply too beautiful to pass up. And, from the sublime to the ridiculous,

Even worse,  I also ordered an Uradale (centre) colour way kit for the newly released 2024 Shetland Wool Week hat. 

My Saturday workshop on Glazig embroidery for the Certificate Course went really well. The 12 attendees were enthusiastic, diligent and creative working right up to 2pm. 

I captured 9 of their efforts, thanks to Lee who prompted me to photograph the results before it was too late! The one that looks messy is because I photographed it too close through the plastic bag after it was packed up. I really liked the edging but didn’t want to ask the student to unpack it.

Niamh arrived home from her school trip to Indonesia with stories and gifts. Mine is a pair of lovely filigree silver earrings in a batik box, accompanied by a berry for cleaning the silver. I’ve been to Indonesia a number of times but never encountered these. 

I might just try following the instructions.

On Sunday I had a 2.30 pm concert at Ukaria. It’s a 40 minute drive with my friend Lorraine, and this time also  another friend of hers, in time to secure a convenient car park and enjoy a platter lunch beforehand. The Dudok Quartet of Amsterdam played Mozart String Quartet No.23 in F,K.590, Grazyna Bacewicz String Quartet No4, Tchaikovsky String Quartet No3 in E flat minor. The Ukaria garden is at its very best, and the music was great.

Although school term has begun, yesterday was a pupil free day so no family dinner. I needed a day to shop and recover after a pretty full-on week. Much of the day was spent in a panic, trying to find an example of embroidery a student had given me on Saturday for the next WES Group meeting. I had been too busy and tired on Sunday to unpack my Glazig teaching bag and when I got to it yesterday the example was missing. I searched the car and house and phoned the organiser. I was working out how I was going to explain the loss to the student. Several hours later I worked out where I had tucked it, to keep it safe. Phew! 

Today I had lunch with Panayoula, catching up and sharing our opinions on world problems. At home I finished off making a pot of soup to keep me going for the rest of the week.

I have now reached the sleeve cast-off on the Andes cardigan. It’s looking good. I'm looking forward to seeing the impact of shaping.

It has been a busy, productive week - thanks for reading to the end!

Post 532 Balcony, bags and books.

On Wednesday I had my annual audiology check up. There has been no change in my hearing since last year and my 9 year-old hearing aids are still working.  There have, of course, been technological advances in that time. I'm still pretty happy with the status quo, so I'm sticking with what I have. If something goes wrong, I'll upgrade - and I'm thinking 10 years is  probably the limit!

Afterwards, I went to Kmart at Kurralta Park looking for drawer organisers and a Book Club book. With a bit of help from staff, I found both items in the barn of a shop.  I bought drawer organisers in two sizes and early the next morning cleaned out three drawers and inserted organisers loaded with jumpers, trousers and scarves.  They are so promising I plan to go back for (lots) more! I even had a bag of clothes to take to the charity shop on Thursday.

The bobbins I had ordered following Janet’s talk  on braids at WES last week arrived - a packet for me and 4 packets for WES friends.  These open for winding the wool, then clip closed for use. As well as keeping the yarn untangled they provide weight when  braiding. They are not easy to find in Australia, but I found a source in Victoria.

On Thursday I skipped Pilates to take Veronica to Aptos Cruz Gallery in the Adelaide Hills. The Hills were in full Autumn glory which I didn’t manage to photograph as I was driving. I should have asked Veronica, who is a good photographer, to  oblige but didn’t think at the time. That evening I went to friends for dinner and had a great time . 

The Sheepjies blanket is now out as an extra layer on the bed as needed.

On Friday the upholsterer came and picked up the chair. It was a very quick and smooth operation without parking hassle. As the chair that's gone is my favourite for stitching, I rearranged so I can now use my Men of Skyros chair before heading to Frewville to shop for Monday night. I always enjoy shopping there, and ended up with a few bakery items to keep my spirits up while I put in a few hours proof-reading in the afternoon.

I grabbed a shot of one of the honeyeaters through the flyscreen on the balcony. They certainly love those flowers. 

I finished the Flannel Flower bag I mentioned last week.  I'm very happy with it and have lots of ideas to vary it. Detail  of this one is in my embroidery blog.

I'm also progressing the Kaffe Fassett Andes cardigan. At the moment I am knitting 5 rows that use two brown shades. It is hard enough to tell them apart in the ball, but when they are side by side as a thread it is nigh impossible.

The colour marked in red triangle is different to that in the blue triangle!

I have worked out a way of keeping them apart as I knit, so one is on my right and one on the left, but it requires concentration and vigilance!

Today our Strata maintenance team came to regrout my back balcony in an effort to stop a water leak on the balcony below. Leakage through my worn grout is likely to be a contributing, rather than a causal factor. Apparently the drainage pipes running through the ceiling below are worn at the joins and will be replaced - from below. 

The tilers were professional and considerate, agreeing to do half the floor at a time, moving my plants from one side to the other. It took about three and a half hours. The floor needs to dry overnight so there will be quite a bit of plant moving for me to do tomorrow. My cleaner helped me move the marble-top table back into place this afternoon - a job I struggle to do on my own.

I took the photo while sitting at my sewing machine,  making up a second Flannel Flower bag. I don't think the faces are clear enough to require me to seek permission to use the photo!

I began the Flannel Flower bag in the Fennel and Saltbush  colourway as soon as the Spice one was finished. I completed the embroidery yesterday. It's been fun experimenting with embellishment and it makes a decent bag. Detail, of course, in my embroidery blog.

I also sorted out the various Ink and Spindle linens I have and worked out how I will turn them into tote bags. Looks as if I will be busy with bags for a while. I have at least a dozen in mind. I've ordered another metre of plain Spice coloured linen for linings. 

The weather has varied considerably from several warm, sunny days, when the Ibis moved in and out of shade in the Square, to overcast, stormy skies. temperature drop and sudden showers this afternoon. I guess it is not only the colours of the leaves on deciduous trees that is changeable in Autumn.

It was lovely yesterday when we gathered here for a meal. Although it is still school holidays and Niamh is in Indonesia, Veronica was working her usual late afternoon shift in the city and the Uni term has started, so it was convenient for five of us to eat here.  

I really enjoyed the Richard Coles book I began last week and have ordered the second in the series. I've been trying to reduce the pile of books I have acquired. I  read Margaret Hickey's Broken Bay, set in South Australia. Next weekend is my Glazig Workshop at the Guild - so I need to spend a bit of time refreshing my understanding. Between this and moving plants back into place, bags and books may take second place this coming week.

Post 531Bags, Books, Birds and Braid

 

This little honeyeater has been zooming in and out of my balcony all week, attracted, it seems, mainly to the pink flowers. It spends a few seconds gathering (I assume) nectar, checks out a couple of other pots, before flying off.  I have no proof it is the same bird, but that's my working hypothesis.

There has also been a flock of white ibis feeding in the Square each day. I know they are colloquially known as bin chickens, but they have been nowhere near the bins and seem to be finding what they need in the grass.

 

WES Group on Wednesday was fabulous. Janet, who is a weaver more than an embroiderer, talked to us about Japanese braiding, backed up by an astonishing selection from her private collection of kimono, obis, silk panels and bolts as well as braids. She even brought along a marudai and demonstrated.

The box of braids on the right are some Janet has made herself.

There was a buzz in the room as people examined, commented, questioned - and tried braiding using threaded Kumihimo disks Janet had brought along, already  up. I was pleased to  grab lunch and debrief with a friend afterwards - I was on such a high. 

Back at home I had a parcel bonanza . The bags I had had printed as an experiment, using photos of the embroidered version, were waiting at the Post Office. I was delighted with them.  They are robust and clear. Interestingly, the photograph prints differently on the back and front (the white photo background is retained on the right, but not on the left). I prefer the left, but, hey, I'm not complaining. It was good enough for me to go ahead and order some for my Early Women of Books bag. I've written the project up in my embroidery blog. A second parcel is part of a gift for a friend, so remains a secret for the moment.

The third was from Shetland, a book and a Knotted Basket Kit. The book was the prompt for the order, but I couldn't resist the kit when it didn't add to the postage. I think tackling it  requires a friend and a pot of coffee! 

The bonanza continued on Thursday and Friday.  Thursday brought another book in the Early Books theme. Not to everyone's taste, I admit, but when you're on a good thing....

Friday, however, was the most exciting. The pants I had ordered as part of my ArteOtomi binge arrived. I knew when I ordered them, that I would need to alter them. They are wrap-around and I was expecting to have to let out the waist by moving buttons. I tried them on as soon as they arrived. The design is interesting, The front and back are separated above the legs. The back wraps around at the waist with long strap extensions that button in the front. The front has very long straps which wrap around the back, returning to tie in the front. To my surprise I had to move the buttons to tighten, not loosen, the waist. I could do with a bit more length from waist to crutch, but it isn't uncomfortable.

The other adjustment was leg length. I made a 7cm tuck above the embroidery - leaving the fold on the inside. I think one leg is marginally longer (or I'm lopsided!) but I'm not going to redo it. They are surprisingly comfortable, and they have pockets! However, for visiting the bathroom, I’ll take jeans any day!

Saturday zipped past catching up on some overdue proofreading for my brother. Sunday morning was Book Club in a Norwood cafe. We have been looking for a new cafe to meet in since our original one was consumed in a major redevelopment. While parking on Sunday was good,  noise levels weren’t, largely thanks to hoons in cars, so we’re back to meeting in homes. We still had a great discussion and sharing of books. I'm glad I read No 4 in the Jack Hawkesworth series, rather than No 5 which was set. Crime in reproductive medicine interests me more than crime in sport!

On Sunday evening Katherine was made a lay canon of the cathedral in a fairly simple service. Wow! I’m very proud of the title mother-of-the-canon bestowed on me by one of her local parishioners on the way into the cathedral! 

Anglican Canons are appointed to a cathedral, part of the Cathedral Chapter consisting of clergy and lay people appointed from the Cathedral and across the Diocese to foster the work of the Cathedral in its mission as the mother church of the Diocese, to provide advice to the Bishop and Dean in regard to the mission of the cathedral in the City of Adelaide, and the Province, and the State of South Australia; and to encourage support for the maintenance of the fabric of the Cathedral.

Niamh is now in Indonesia on a school trip. I do hope she is enjoying the experience, practising her Bahasa and having fun.  There was no Monday dinner at my place this week given school holidays. Veronica and I are headed up to Aptos Cruz later in the week for an adventure, but in the meantime she is studying and working.  I’ve made a huge pot of soup to keep me going.

I spent much of Monday finishing the latest Amanda Hampson, which began, I thought, slowly, but finished really well. Set in Sydney in 1965, this transported me back to the world of my adolescence.  My mother worked at the Qantas staff canteen at Mascot airport, which was eventually closed in favour of outsourced catering. I knew these women.

I'm now back to reading The Bone Chests.

I have finally finished the first 80 rows of the cardigan I am knitting and now begin repeating them. On the measurements, another 40 rows should take me to the sleeve decrease, so I am on it.

I've also cut some linen printed with flannel flowers to make two more tote bags.  I have a metre of each fabric, from Ink and Spindle. Each metre will make 4 tote bags with plain linen sides, base and lining.     

The linen is beautiful in its own right, so I’m not planning to colour it in with thread, just embroider the centres of the flowers to add texture.I wasn’t aware that one flannel flower variety has a pink tinge and pink centres. 

 They are one of my favourite flowers, but I’ve only ever seen the conventional white with green centres. I thought the pink would work well on the cinnamon colourway. I think I was right. 

I reckon it only needs one embroidered centre on each side of the cinnamon coloured bag.

Today on the way to Aquafit, I  dashed to Dymocks bookshop, a few blocks out of my way, to buy a copy of the first in a series I read about in The Guardian yesterday. The second and third are about to be released so I thought I’d test out No.1. I got the only copy in the shop and made it to AquaFit in time. Back home and showered, I sat on the back balcony with soup and began reading. The doves were idly curious, but not interested in the narrative, which, so far, is engrossing. I am at page 120 and the murder has now happened. When I post this I will keep reading.

It is the time of year when it's pleasant sitting in the sun, following it from the back to the front of the apartment. While I check the plants, they don't need the intense watering of a month or two ago. Electricity bills are down too. 

I got news today that my GP of some 20 years is retiring. As a result, the practice is merging with another and a 2009 medical graduate is taking over her patients. I like my GP, but she has the right to retire and the merger sounds positive. I'll know more after my next appointment in May.

Change is unsettling. I'll stick to my stitching and reading while observing the birds.