This photo of her newly erected tree was sent to me by my Penguin Passionate Pal Pat. I'm sharing it because it so cheering and quirky. Thanks Pat.
On another cheerful note, our apartment block solar project won the Achievement in Energy or the Built Environment Award at the Carbon Neutral Adelaide Awards on Tuesday night. The news item for In Daily featured a photo of our panels, taken from the roof. It was good to share the news and have a long chat with a Guild friend later in the day.
Thursday I went to optometrist. The reminder asked patients to wear P2 masks, so I bought a box at Bunnings. My eye is much better. I need to reduce steroid cream to zero over a month, continue with heat pack and Hylo-forte drops and see her again in a five weeks. I have received a self-assessment form for my driver's licence so tested my eyes for driving while I was there - all good. I haven't yet had my annual eye test, but we've put that off until my eyes are completely clear. My medical condition means I need to get my GP to fill out the licence form, so I've made an appointment.
After Pilates I met with a neighbour from my previous home. He was one of my interviewees for the Baby Boomer Book and I needed to give him a copy. It was good to catch up on his news.
The Mary Hickmott Lagartera booklet arrived and I decided straight away to try out one of her designs on a bookmark. I kept it simple. There are errors which a sharp eye will spot, but in general terms it worked. I might try more, although I think the Celtic designs are more effective (and challenging!).
I had to take something to our bookclub end of year morning tea meeting on Sunday at Pat's place.
It needed to be something simple, even dips are too complicated (as I discovered last year). I hit on gingerbread biscuits. I haven't made them in a few years. I picked a simple recipe and made a batch on Friday - angels (large) and trees (small). I decided not to ice them - there's enough sugar in the dough. There was plenty to eat. I allowed myself one scone, with butter only. It was lovely sitting in Pat's garden talking about books.
The abseilers have been hard at work every weekday. It's not a job I envy but they take great care.
On Friday I had lunch with friends at Aurora on Light Square. A lovely meal and good company. I caught the city loop bus around, noting when I got there that there was two hour parking outside and several spaces. On the way home as far as I could see not one other person checked in with the QR code. A shame. I think it needs reminder messages broadcast over the bus's PA system.
Walking to the bus gave me opportunity to photograph the new building in relation to ours.
I missed a parcel delivery while out on Friday. It was a plant pot and a plant stand I had ordered from Adairs in their sale. I got a message to say there was a delivery of 2 items to be picked up at the PO, so I went straight out again to collect it when I got home. At the PO there was only one parcel. The young man who served me looked twice, then told me both must be in the one box! I knew this couldn't be the case but he insisted this was all there was, and I needed to follow up with the vendor. I didn't believe him and lodged a query with Australia Post - took me 3 messages to make my point. The label clearly says '1 of 2'. A closer examination of the tracking App indicates item1 'picked up at Post Office', item2 'arrived at depot'. I also sent a lengthy message to Adairs. Today I got a message from Kayla at Australia Post Customer Service to say it has been located at a Melbourne depot and should be here on Friday. I'm glad I managed to avoid stressing over this - and all power to Australia Post detectives.
Saturday was the Guild Christmas Market. I went along to get some plants. Peter and Gay Sanderson do a good job of propagating pelargoniums and succulents. I bought three this time and also got a couple of bags of Appleton's wool in the colour I forgot to get for the Viking workshop. Pleased with that. I did look at the books, but didn't find anything that tempted me.
From there I went on to Elder's Auction rooms to look at what is on offer for their Sunday auction. I thought it was a better than normal offering. Today I picked up a painting my brother bought at the auction.
Our Saturday family dinner was at Grange Jetty Cafe. The two who had been on lifesaving duty at Semaphore just made it after being called in to a rescue from a boat that sank off Outer Harbour. On Monday, school holidays meant no family dinner at my place, so I took the opportunity to catch up with another old neighbour at Queen St Cafe for lunch.
Today I picked up the painting my brother bought at Sunday's auction and settled down to finish off the Natural Wonder Catherine de Medici embroidery I've been working on this week. This is the Maria Rita Faleri design from Inspirations 111 that I began in July. I had found it difficult. The fabric was not only loosely woven, but had a finer thread in the warp than the weft. It kept slipping. Nevertheless I persevered. Is is imperfect and I am not planning on undoing it. I also left the border in running stitch. The second row of Catherine de Medici stitch reduces some of the distinctiveness of the the shape.
I'm now working on the hem, antique hemstitch with a blanket stitch with picots over the top. There was not a lot of point in ironing it yet, since it is worked in the hand.
In South Australia we are now 82.9% vaccinated over 12 years of age and our borders are theoretically open to fully vaccinated people. There is quite a bit of tension because of the presence of the Omicron variant in other States, 45 active cases (2 locally acquired in the last 24 hours), limits on our hospital resources, 98 current exposure sites, many resulting from a school 40 year reunion last weekend. This is not different to other places. We have been fortunately spared much Covid spread here but the bell tolls for all of us.
I'm grateful for this week.
