Post 300 The Eyes Have It

I spent a couple of hours this morning working on the flower using the food natural light in my bedroom chair. At least three times I thought I had finished and took a photo only to find an area where coverage wasn’t total. That’s the trouble/advantage of taking photos in good light, it shows up every flaw. 

I’m now happy with the result.

Both Black Tips and Turtle showed up for seed. Black Tips came first, had a feed then took off. Several minutes later Turtle arrived.                                                                            Did Black Tips tip him off? That’s how it appeared,

I had my optometrist appointment at 2pm. My prescription was significantly changed last year, and seems to be working well, but I had a couple of issues to discuss, most importantly, my left eye gets bloodshot and weepy after I’ve read or stitched for an hour or so. This has been happening to a greater or lesser extent since February when I saw a GP about it before I left for England. All the COVID drama rather pushed it from my mind, except that I kept using the eye wash my doctor suggested. 

As I expected, my sight is pretty much the same as last year. The left eye issue is caused by damage to the layer of fluid over the skin, basically caused by dryness. I now have three things to do - cream to apply before sleep, drops to apply first thing in the morning and four more times during the day, and a wet heat pad to apply twice a day.  I realise that this were pretty much the recommendation from my GP in February, Travel, then COVID and lockdown, drove the detail out of my mind. I now have a specific eye mask and an appointment in two weeks time to make sure I follow instructions. I’m pretty relieved to have advice and a plan and have used the drops and mask this evening.

 

I also ordered an additional pair of glasses with a graded lens set for a computer screen - plus a clip on 3x magnifier for counted thread embroidery.  This is a bit of an indulgence, especially since I chose an expensive frame. I expect, however, to be able to use these for embroidery as well as for reading and writing. I probably won’t get them until I get back from Normanville. 

I had a long conversation with my Sydney friend Pat. She’s had a cold on and off for a couple of months, and several COVID tests, all negative. It’s frustrating her. She has also urged me to have a check up with an ophthalmologist. 

As we talked the sun moved into my Western balcony and lit up the poinsettia. I haven't put up Christmas decorations this year, apart from the bunting on my Western balcony rail and my wise men, who have lived on my curtain since last year. There is also, of course, my tiny fir tree.

Unexpectedly, the postman delivered a parcel this morning that I was not expecting until next week.. four garments from Taking Shape, two day tops, one PJ top and one pair of jeans. The jeans were the unknown  but are miraculously, a perfect fit. 

I’ve been working another crochet square because it doesn’t strain my eyes. I have been gradually undoing the squares I first did, assuming US terminology was intended in the pattern. I've been waiting to see how consistent my squares now are before I undo the old ones. Also, of course, I had a vague idea I could make something else from them. Because the old squares used more cotton I could get two circles out of one old external layer, hence the two white circles.

I had lamb cutlets and salad for dinner, treating myself to eating from the bowl with the  celadon-like glaze made and given to me by my friend Robin in the Blue Mountains. Delicious.l did finish two squares without much eye strain.           

I've been keeping an eye out but so far haven't seen any either reindeer or six white boomers pulling a sleigh through the sky, but of course my eye is not the best. I think it's time I put that cream in it and took myself off to bed. There is indeed something wonderful about Christmas Eve.