The week began well with a great meeting of the World Embroidery Study Group. Janet talked to us about Tablet Weaving. This was my request as a result of my delving into Viking Embroidery. Janet was fearful that I would be the only one interested but all 9 of us there were riveted. Three key members were absent, one, unfortunately nursing her 91 year-old mother through Covid, one teaching in Canberra and one touring the Kimberley. They have the notes and PowerPoint. These are some of the pieces Janet wove in her preparation for the presentation. I arranged them to show the two very different sides of each piece. The cards you can just see underneath are the 'tablets' . Thread passes through several of them. One end of the threads are anchored to something fixed, the other passes around the waist of the weaver. It is extraordinary.
I was blown away. Brilliant session.
Balcony clean
On Thursday Formex, the company responsible for building the apartment block next door, sent a cleaner to remove the paint and plaster spots on my balcony from the early part of the build. He was an hour later than planned, which made me late (again) for Pilates, but he did do a brilliant job.
On Friday the lift broke down on the first floor with me and my shopping in it. I had entered the lift on the ground floor along with a 1st floor resident. He got out on his floor and entered his apartment but the lift doors did not close. I knew there had been some issues with the lift and a service call had been lodged. After several minutes I got out, with my shopping and called our Pod rep. In the end, she reported the problem, I knocked on a door and a generous and helpful young woman helped me carry my shopping up two flights of (fairly narrow, metal) stairs to my apartment. A bit scary - but I'm very grateful for the help I got. The lift was working three hours later, but the problem recurred on Saturday morning and the service provides was called back in. They were working on the problem when I went down via the stairs just before midday to meet a friend for lunch at Unley Shopping Centre. It was declared fixed before I returned.
I wore my warming stripes scarf to Unley - and asked the florist to take my photo outside her shop - part of Tony and Mark's Greengrocery - so I could meet Sandy's request.
On the way home I stopped at the Hameji Garden to do my 3rd 20 minute walk this week. It's lovely at every time of the year, and there were people enjoying picnics, or discussing clearly serious matters, 
as well as families with kids in prams, people sitting quietly - and visitors taking photos. It's well loved and used. I asked one of the photographing family groups to take my photo, which they were happy to do ('we are photograph experts!'). 
When I called the lift to go to Katherine and Anthony's for dinner, the lift did not come. After 5 minutes I reported it, Maureen recalled the serviceman and I cancelled going out. Going down the stairs at 5.45pm is fine, but I did not want to risk coming home after 9pm and finding I needed to go up 3 flights of stairs relying on the sensor light. At 7.30 pm Maureen reported it fixed. I didn't try it out until Sunday morning - when it worked.
My phone - iPhone7 - has not been charging smoothly. The connection point is evidently worn or dirty. I've tried different cords but it is quite likely to disconnect on any of them. After being connected all night, on Sunday morning it had not charged at all. For months I've been getting new phone offers from my provider - originally high end phones, gradually becoming more modest. I've been putting off replacement, partly because I like my red, comfortable, adequate phone, partly because I believe in extending the life of tools as long as I can, partly I'm avoiding the inconvenience of change-over and partly I covet the camera on the iPhone13Pro which is an extravagance.
On Sunday I decided the time had come. My phone is a lifeline - I can't afford it to fail. It connects me to others; it's a safety mechanism. I carry it at all times unless it is charging. I have bought most previous phones online, but didn't want to wait even days for delivery, so took myself off to an outlet for my provider and bought an iPhone13Pro. I don't need all its features and it's expensive. However, I use the camera on my phone extensively. I have 28, 511 photos on my phone, 11,768 taken on my iPhone7, 8,311 taken on my previous phone. The limitation is the zoom - which is the feature of the iPhone13Pro that I am after.
It took about an hour to buy. It was the Queen's Birthday long weekend. There was only one person managing the shop and two couples ahead of me, but I had time to look at the phone and wasn't in a hurry. When I got home, with the 'bundle' deal ( There is no point complaining about new chargers, cords etc. It is what it is. An annoying First World problem.), I got the phone set up quickly but couldn't connect it to my provider. I went straight back. The shop had just closed but he let me in when I knocked on the window.
I had not realised I needed to put the SIM card from my old phone into the new! He had told me, but I had not understood his accented English through his mask. I've done this before, but had it fixed in my head that you can't take a SIM card out of an Apple phone. There was no instruction to tell me. I still feel stupid.
I'm glad I went back. He was helpful - and my phone is working well. I'm getting old and forgetful - but I managed it. I'm now adjusting back-ups and iCloud storage.
I spent Monday morning - the public holiday - making a big pot of ham and vegetable soup as the basis of Wednesday's lunch, assuming it can go ahead. Around midday I thought I should check whether my two friends had any dietary requirements. One replied that his only restriction was not eating pork! Very glad I asked. I rejigged - digging out a recipe for tomato and orange soup - and I can always freeze some of the original! Just as I was about to head out to get a couple of missing ingredients this afternoon, the other friend, who has rheumatoid arthritis, messaged that she is now a Covid close contact and not feeling too good! Tomorrow's lunch is now off! I do hope she's OK.
On Monday afternoon I made up for the missed family visit on Saturday night, and visited for the afternoon. I tried a little slice of Katherine's fabulous orange cake, drank coffee, caught up on news - and got some oranges from her tree for my soup (they'll keep!).
The roofers worked all day today on the roof above my apartment. The carpark roof remains untouched. Looks as if their back-up day tomorrow will be needed. 
My afternoon was to have been for shopping, baking and a visit to the podiatrist. I kept the podiatrist appointment and paid a quick visit to a local supermarket. At home again I took another plunge and bought some photo management software to manage my digital photographs. I had owned an Android version before I moved to IOS when I moved 7 years ago and the program didn't transfer. It is a daunting task to organise my library of photos, in folders, discs and apps all over the place. However, without the help of an organising system there is no hope it will happen - so I've bought hope!
It's been a challenging and to some extent, lonely week. Tonight I've settled in with a large bowl of my ham and vegetable soup and my pretty little horses.
