Post 302

 

Today's excitement was a fire alarm in our apartment block at about 7.50pm. It got progressively louder. I met my neighbours outside our doors and we went down the stairs, meeting up with the first floor tenants on the way.

The fire brigade was there and all the residents on the street. My immediate neighbour was barefoot in a nightdress and dressing gown - we were all in good humour. After checking, the fire brigade decided it was a fault in the external control box for our fire alarm. They have isolated the faulty part and will replace it tomorrow. 

I had been eating my salad and lamb cutlets and watching Dolly Parton's Christmas in the Square. I grabbed my handbag and keys, hesitated over the briefcase that contains my passport and birth certificate, but left it. Somehow, rescuing my passport didn't seem important at the moment. When I got back Dolly was still dispensing angelic wisdom. 

It was quite nice to meet my neighbours in a brief encounter that ended well.

Last night, after my blog post, I called my friend Christine in Watford. She had to turn down Once in Royal David City on her radio so we could hear each other. We had a good old catch up. When we had finished I scanned a pamphlet I'd promised her, put in my eye cream and got to bed about 12.30am. This morning I followed up on the Shetland Virtual Wool Week 2020 , subscribed to their newsletter and ordered a copy of their 2020 Annual 

I also finished another square while waiting to get through to Christine.

Christine had attended her Zoom church service, and was about to have her lunch and listen to the Queen's message.  I went to bed full of Christmas blessings.

I missed the sunset tonight between the fire alarm and Dolly Parton restoring order to the town. This was the sky at 6.40 pm. Strangely grey, but quite special - a bit reminiscent of Dolly Parton's version of an angel.

I worked on Lady Anne's leaves this morning. Much of the afternoon and evening has been spent playing around with photos for a powerpoint project. 

There's not a lot to show, but I'm pretty happy with it.

Post 301 Christmas Day

My friend Christine in Watford was inspired by my Wise Men to get out her Christmas decorations. I woke to find photos of her hearth and this fabulous Lorna Bateman ornament Christine made a while ago. I really like it. 

Blush joined me for breakfast then spent a long time sitting on the lower rail. 

  

We gathered at Katherine and Anthony's place around 12.30 - Anthony's mum Carol and I, plus the six of their family. We had some catching up to do, and then presents. I didn't take many photos. Everyone was pretty happy. The girls all got queen sized beds and all the linen to go with them for Christmas - hence the secrecy on Wednesday while these were delivered and stashed in the shed.  Moving the old ones out and new ones in will take, I think, a few days. Fionn got an addition to his gym equipment. Part of Anthony's bee suit can be seen in the left corner in front of Niamh and next to the box of cherries. The bee suit goes with the hive Anthony needs to construct from the contents of the box under the suit.

Veronica spent quite a bit of time working out a Japanese puzzle box I had been unable to do. She persisted until she got it out. After lunch both Fionn and Niamh did the same.

These are the presents I received. I need to pot the philodendron into it's pot tomorrow. The bag at the bottom was made for me by Carol. She comes up with great designs. This has a terrific shape - like a bishop's mitre, a lot of room inside but folding absolutely flat. I can see myself taking a pattern from it.

Katherine took this photo of us all at lunch. 

                 

We had an entree of ham, eggplant parmigiana and salads, followed by roast pork and potatoes. This was topped off by the two desserts on the right, the pavlova made by Katherine and the chocolate yule log made by Carol. The photos are not very good but do show the sun protection cream that is an inevitable accompaniment to Australian outdoor meals! 

Back at home I had a lovely long conversation with Alison during which the two young doves visited. While writing this blog and wresting photos from one device to another I've watched the Queen's message and the part of the Royal Variety Performance -  very spirit raising. 

I'm now on to Midsomer Murders: The Christmas Murders, of course. 

I've never been fond of 'Merry' in association with Christmas because I associate it with excess alcohol and triviality rather than peace and goodwill.  

I notice, however, that the Oxford dictionary gives "happy and cheerful" as the definition, in which case, I can say I have had a very Merry Christmas - something to be cherished in these times. 

I wish the same from Hurtle Square to all family and friends.

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.

Post 299 Mystery Day

 First up today I did a bit of cleaning up in the kitchen, and mixed my next batch of muesli. I have settled on a mixture of Carmen's classical no-fruit muesli and 2 packets of Nature's Own Low Carb Mix- plus about 21 teaspoons of Psyllium. The mixture lasts me about three weeks.

The plan today was to entertain my granddaughters away from their home from 12 until sometime before 6pm - more secret Christmas business that required they not be at home in that time. I booked us in to lunch at Grange Jetty Cafe.

I was too busy playing host to remember to take photos. It was fairly busy, but well distanced and organised with QR code check in and sanitiser. I had Fritto Misto.

We then drove up to Sterling, in the Adelaide Hills to Aptos Cruz Gallery. They specialise in contemporary art, contemporary furniture, homewares and books, oriental antiques and artifacts, as well as tribal  art from around the world.

I wanted to take the girls there because they have a line of soft leather handbags that I thought they might like. Niamh and Brigid found ones they wanted. Veronica couldn't be tempted. 

They had a large Jeff Mincham vase similar to this one which I thought was very interesting in terms of both shape and glaze.

Less than a kilometre from the Gallery, on the way up, and again down the Hills, we hit a road block, with traffic being held up while a large tree was being removed.

It turns out that this was the tree from which a branch fell on 11 November, killing the driver of a car.

These photos were taken by Veronica through the window of the car. This is the where the branch broke off the tree. Really enormous.

It was a major operation, removing the canopy, then cutting the substantial trunks into blocks.

By the time we left Aptos Cruz and queued to be waved past the site, there was only the single trunk left. By now that too will be gone. Locals will be glad.  There has been a lot of controversy about the failure of the local council to remove trees locals regard as dangerous.

We all thought this was a pretty significant thing to witness. Many thanks to Veronica for the photos. 

                       

From Stirling we came down to Norwood, where I picked up the necklace Beads on Parade had restrung for me. They had done a good job.

We then visited the Cold Rock Ice Creamery. As we were preparing to return to my apartment I got the all clear message from Anthony, so I took the girls home. 

It was a very relaxed and, for me at least, fun day.

I missed a couple of phone calls today from Sydney friends. I'll try to return those tomorrow. 

I managed one more crocheted square. I'm still not getting the join on the circle component well.  I'll work on it. 

I've done a little on Lady Anne's Flowers. I'm not happy with it yet. The inner set of petals need darkening. It will, however come good. 

I have an optometrist appointment at 2pm tomorrow. Need to have a careful look at anything I don't have for the long weekend and can afford. If I can't think of anything I can stitch most of the day.

Post 298 Aesop arrived!

Last Friday I had notification that DHL had my Aesop Frame Kit and the estimated delivery date was 30 December.      No worries.

This morning I had a message to say it was to be delivered today! Fortunately, I had nothing I absolutely had go out for today, so could make sure I was here to receive it. There is nowhere to leave a parcel outside the apartments so it is a great nuisance to miss a delivery.

It arrived about midday. A substantial box, which, when opened, contained another box, wrapped in deep blue tissue and packed around with paper and tissue. Inside that was a beautifully packed set of boxes, a book and a roll - along with a wonderfully clear list of contents of each package.

I unpacked ever thing except the linens. Inside the blue tissue they are rolled in acid-free tissue. I'm not ready to start this yet, so they are better left like this. Underneath are the colour diagrams - printed on large sheets, so easy to read. On the right is the full kit. 

So beautifully prepared and explained. 

Phillipa, you've outdone yourself!

Such a fabulous thing to arrive before Christmas.

The midday arrival meant I could go to Unley Village to get some eye wash and supplies for the long weekend and then to Barrow and Bench to find a replacement for the sunflower on my balcony which has been looking on its last legs. There was not a great deal to choose from a few days before Christmas. 

I did find some purple petunias and a very attractive Mandevilla that looked as if it might work on my balcony.

I bought a pot to stand it in. I was worried it would blow over without a heavier pot to anchor it. I think wind is what I will need to watch with this rather attractive plant.The petunias work really well.

I do hope the doves approve!

I worked another two blanket squares this afternoon. Katherine came here after work for Secret Christmas Business. We had a good, productive couple of hours.

I also had a message from the bead shop to say my necklace is fixed! I wasn't expecting that for a couple of weeks.

I managed to do a bit more on the crewel flower tonight. It's not huge progress but every bit helps. Tomorrow I'm taking my granddaughters out to lunch and a bit of an excursion. I should get plenty of time to work on Lady Anne's Flowers over the Christmas weekend.

Lots of good things to do.

Post 297 Shopping, doves and frangipani.

 This morning I sorted out my Christmas presents and then went to Norwood to drop of my soft plastic recycling, and get a couple of small items including a few bits at the supermarket. I also went to the bead shop and dropped off a coral and turquoise necklace that has been waiting to be mended for several years. I intended to learn how to mend it myself - but recently decided to just get the bead shop to mend it. Somewhere I think I have a bag of necklaces to be mended. If I find them I will take a class on necklace repair.

Coles had this little fir tree for sale. It was the only one they had. I had looked at larger versions of these at Barrow and Bench a couple of weeks ago. On impulse today I bought this one. I need to keep it out of full sun, which might mean keeping it inside in Summer. If I manage to keep it (and myself!) alive for 10 years, it should reach 1.3 metres.

I came home via Jenny McWinney's shop to buy a copy of Margaret Light's new book, A Fine Tradition. It is a beautiful book with some lovely projects. Every one is appealing. This needle case is my absolute favourite. I certainly don't need any more projects, but you never know....

When I got home, and sat to look at Margaret's book, Black Tips took up position, alert to some sounds of building on the site next door. It makes such a great image, I can't resist photographing it.

I managed another square while catching up on the latest news of border closures and virus spread.

Today would have been my mother's 95th birthday. 

In Sydney this afternoon my brother visited the resting place of our parents' ashes. The magnolia tree has grown quite a bit. The frangipani blooms are from a a tree my brother has grown from a cutting we took from one of the huge frangipani trees our mother nurtured in our Botany home. It in turn came from a cutting given to her by her sister in about 1955. 

I took it into my head this afternoon to make some more large gift bags. I have had some pieces of batik on my sewing machine for some time, intending to make myself more Summer pull-on pants. I've now decided that fabric without stretch is bad news for pants for me, so on impulse I cut a couple of the batik pieces into quarters and turned them into large bags. I have quite a few large bags waiting to be used, but these bags are bigger still. I have a feeling they are going to be in demand. 

From my sewing machine I can see on to my back balcony. While I was stitching the bags, Blus arrived and had some seed. Within a few seconds Black Tips was there . They then went through the dove courting ritual - looks like kissing. it went on for a while, followed by mating and a kind of silent companionship before they resumed eating seed and exploring. Pretty extraordinary. At least I now know that Blush is female and Black Tips is male!

I spent the evening adding the drawstrings to the batik bags. Now I'm prepared for all contingencies - and ready for bed!

Tonight was the Summer Soltice. This is about as far south as the sun gets at sunset. 

Unfortunately I didn't get any Crewel work done today. A shame, but there was quite a bit going on.