Post 443 Invested in Vests.

In a rain break on Friday afternoon I walked around the Square.  Our winter rain has helped a mossy blanket form on at least one tree.  

In a week when both Judith Durham, of the Seekers, and Olivia Newton John died, I have cherished these signs of growth and life. 

   

It was  also, joyfully,  Katherine's birthday on Sunday and lovely to be able to celebrate with all her family at Osteria Oggi in the city. I have undertaken to knit her the Fair Isle waistcoat from Rowan magazine No 70. The wool, on its way from Mascot, next to Sydney airport, did a bit of a dance around the Sydney suburbs, then turned up in an attempted delivery here this morning while I was at the Ophthalmologist. Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the PO this afternoon, so I'll have to wait till tomorrow to pick it up.

Meanwhile, Anthony found a decent home with a colleague for the Arne and Carlos neck warmer! Yeh! 

Another cause for celebration is the news that my friend Robin in NSW is now in rehab after a successful major operation.  It has been a painful and difficult time - but a positive outcome. Another Yeh!

I had a long call from my brother and  agreed to knit him a vest too! We discussed patterns and styles.     Right is the current favourite, possibly using this Bendigo wool (left), but the sample swatch I knitted and posted on Saturday hasn't arrived in Sydney yet, so the jury is out.  I'm looking forward to knitting it, whatever it is.

There have been a few sunny afternoon when it has been pleasant sitting on the balcony, knitting, reading or writing. I love the play of light through the leaves of the balcony plants and the shapes and colours that emerge. There might be another embroidery in there.

Monday evenings get more interesting by the week. This week Fionn, who got his driver's licence last week, drove Niamh to her football training in the family car that had been parked in one of my parking spaces, then returned for dinner. Veronica worked after school at a shop in the city then came on here after work. Brigid was at a Netball Committee meeting and their parents arrived after work. The diners left together to pick up Niamh on the way home. Neat!

I've now finished the second Shetland hat, this one in the medium size, and more cream background, rather than beige. I've embarked on a third, in the small size.  

I've become a bit obsessed with Fair Isle and Shetland knitting. I've now ordered two of Alice Starmore's books from Booktopia.

and two more from the Shetland Times Bookshop.

I think I might be knitting Fair Isle and Aran for a while yet!

In contrast to the last one, this week was low-key. I nursed my pulled muscle for much of it, cancelling Pilates. I knitted, and finished St. Cuthbert's Way,  a handbook for a Pilgrimage to Lindisfarne. I really enjoyed the history components of this - and the melding of landscape with story. I am getting great satisfaction out of returning to the history of Iron Age Britain  - a major area of study in my BA some 55 years ago. So much has been learned in those intervening years and it still fascinates me. 

The results of all my tests for the ophthalmologist today provided no explanation for my eye problem. There was a single marker of auto-immune condition - but not enough to help with a diagnosis. My eyes are functioning quite well but there is damage. The next step is a biopsy in September. It was a long drive to see her today, which is how I missed the wool delivery. 

This afternoon I was expecting Nelly's Bulgarian Embroidery collection to be dropped in, so didn't try to pick up the parcel of wool. I'll get it tomorrow morning on the way to the World Embroidery Study Group. 

Pat is talking to us about sequins - should be good.