Today is my grandson's 15th birthday. No party or activity with friends, no extended family gathering. I do hope that, nevertheless, he had a contented and satisfying day with his parents and siblings - and lots of friend engagement without physical contact. I don't think he'd mind me including this photo.
My day began with the arrival of my cleaner for the first time since I left for England at the end of February. I have, of course, done some cleaning, but I was keen to have a thorough professional clean. I was not disappointed. I know there is a good argument against having a cleaner, or any other service worker, come into my home at the moment. For the moment the advantages of the alternative argument outweighs my estimation of the risks. Friends have gone the other way.
I got myself organised to do a moussaka run. I haven't driven out in nearly 6 weeks and wondering if I would have forgotten the way! The streets were quiet, even for Adelaide, especially around the Central Markets on a Saturday.
As I was driving out of the apartments, I had a phone call from Jennifer, one of my friends from the Costa Victoria, now in isolation in Perth.. They were tested for Coronavirus last Wednesday. While Jennifer tested negative, the other friend tested positive. They can obviously no longer share a room. The symptoms are not bad enough for hospital admission, but it is still bad news. They are undoubtably worried but bearing up.
I delivered the moussaka to three doorsteps, making a phone call once I was back in the car, to let them know it was there. At my first stop, at my daughter's home, my dashboard told me the battery on my car key was getting low. My daughter dropped the spare they keep through the back passenger window to get me through until I can get it replaced. We could all wave to each other!
Back at home, I reconnected with Jennifer on FaceTime. I mentioned 6 days ago, that she was working on one of the Jenny McWhinney panels. We discussed it today and decided that she was missing some mauvy-pinky-cerisey thread for a couple of the blooms. I agreed to find them for her. On reflection, I was not sure that my posting them to her from Adelaide was the quickest way. I checked out Dale Rollerson's Thread Studio in Perth. She has a fabulous range of stranded cotton floss . In spite of it being Saturday afternoon, I took a punt and rang. Ian answered, listened to my story, took my order and agreed to express-post them to Jennifer's hotel on Monday to arrive Tuesday. It was a pretty small order, but he didn't hesitate.
An hour later he rang me back to tell me the package was at the hotel. He had driven it there and handed it to the concierge with instructions! Before I could get hold of Jennifer by phone, she called to say she had it! Such service and kindness. It doesn't alter the seriousness of their situation - but it makes it a little more bearable. I hope to have a photo to show you as the panel progresses.
I also put in an order at Marino's Meat and Food Store which is now offering home delivery. They have added Fleurieu milk to their repertoire. Should arrive Monday. Coles is now offering an Online Priority delivery service and I have registered, awaiting confirmation.
I got myself organised to do a moussaka run. I haven't driven out in nearly 6 weeks and wondering if I would have forgotten the way! The streets were quiet, even for Adelaide, especially around the Central Markets on a Saturday.
As I was driving out of the apartments, I had a phone call from Jennifer, one of my friends from the Costa Victoria, now in isolation in Perth.. They were tested for Coronavirus last Wednesday. While Jennifer tested negative, the other friend tested positive. They can obviously no longer share a room. The symptoms are not bad enough for hospital admission, but it is still bad news. They are undoubtably worried but bearing up.
I delivered the moussaka to three doorsteps, making a phone call once I was back in the car, to let them know it was there. At my first stop, at my daughter's home, my dashboard told me the battery on my car key was getting low. My daughter dropped the spare they keep through the back passenger window to get me through until I can get it replaced. We could all wave to each other!
Back at home, I reconnected with Jennifer on FaceTime. I mentioned 6 days ago, that she was working on one of the Jenny McWhinney panels. We discussed it today and decided that she was missing some mauvy-pinky-cerisey thread for a couple of the blooms. I agreed to find them for her. On reflection, I was not sure that my posting them to her from Adelaide was the quickest way. I checked out Dale Rollerson's Thread Studio in Perth. She has a fabulous range of stranded cotton floss . In spite of it being Saturday afternoon, I took a punt and rang. Ian answered, listened to my story, took my order and agreed to express-post them to Jennifer's hotel on Monday to arrive Tuesday. It was a pretty small order, but he didn't hesitate.
An hour later he rang me back to tell me the package was at the hotel. He had driven it there and handed it to the concierge with instructions! Before I could get hold of Jennifer by phone, she called to say she had it! Such service and kindness. It doesn't alter the seriousness of their situation - but it makes it a little more bearable. I hope to have a photo to show you as the panel progresses.
I also put in an order at Marino's Meat and Food Store which is now offering home delivery. They have added Fleurieu milk to their repertoire. Should arrive Monday. Coles is now offering an Online Priority delivery service and I have registered, awaiting confirmation.
After the activity I settled down to work a few more leaves. I am very grateful to Melody for pointing out to me that if I turned my roller frame around so the leaves were at the bottom, I would not have the stretching problem I described yesterday. Duh! One of my mother's recurring comments to me was "for an intelligent child you can be very stupid at times".
I turned it around and bingo, no discomfort. And yes, the support bar is upside down. I will change it over before I start working on it in the morning.
It had rained most of the day. but cleared a bit late in the afternoon. The light was briefly good, directly through the window on to the linen.
As the sun went down the cranes looked like pointers to the light.
Daylight saving finishes tonight, so clocks back and an extra hour! I usually cherish this extra hour. Somehow it doesn't seem to matter this year.
I'm using the chatelaine I bought at the market day at Stratford while working on the parrots. It works well - if I can make a habit of putting the scissors back in it after I've used them!
It's been a roller-coaster of a day. This is where I got to before writing this.
Definite progress - but perhaps not the most significant of the day.
I hope when Fionn tells his grandchildren how he spent his fifteenth birthday in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, it is a happy story.
It had rained most of the day. but cleared a bit late in the afternoon. The light was briefly good, directly through the window on to the linen.
As the sun went down the cranes looked like pointers to the light.
Daylight saving finishes tonight, so clocks back and an extra hour! I usually cherish this extra hour. Somehow it doesn't seem to matter this year.
I'm using the chatelaine I bought at the market day at Stratford while working on the parrots. It works well - if I can make a habit of putting the scissors back in it after I've used them!
It's been a roller-coaster of a day. This is where I got to before writing this.
Definite progress - but perhaps not the most significant of the day.
I hope when Fionn tells his grandchildren how he spent his fifteenth birthday in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, it is a happy story.