Post 481 Dinners, delays and repairs

Wednesday did not go as I had expected. I was part of a small Guild team booked to teach a 2 hour Come & Try embroidery class at the Prospect Library at 10.00am. These classes have been suspended during COVID and this was to be our first resumption. As I opened my door to leave, I found a notice on the doorstep to say the abseiling painters would be using high-pressure hoses today to wash down the back balconies ready to start painting. The notice had apparently been there for 24 hours, but I hadn't opened the door on Anzac Day. I had to rush back in to shift the cane chair, pegs and tools back inside off the balcony. Fortunately I had, for once, allowed sufficient time to find the library (recently moved) and park, so still arrived well before 10. 

We were well organised - kits, needles, scissors, threads, instructions all set out and ready. When no students had arrived by 10.10, library staff were apologetic, mildly critical that we hadn't charged anything ("if they have to pay something, they turn up") and promised to look back in before 10.30, the time we had decided we would give up.  At 10.25 we packed up, and at 10.30 vacated the room and headed for a coffee shop. As we were leaving two girls turned up with their mothers - they had bookings for our 10.30 class!  Crossed wires somewhere along the line. We gave the two girls kits with instructions to take away. Looks as if we need to establish better communication with library personnel for the future. 

I arrived home just before the abseiler wielding a hose landed on my balcony. I had a good conversation with him before he set to with his hose. Because my balcony is the most complex (=Vergola), it will be the last one painted - probably in a week's time. He also told me they are the only abseiling painting team in Adelaide at the moment. It has rained on and off all week so more delays likely.

Thursday also had a couple of twists and turns. I had a hairdressing appointment at 11, which went well as far as hair goes (it even turned out to be a free cut on my loyalty card!) but the receptor on my hearing aid broke as I went to put it back in my ear before leaving so I drove straight to the audiologist and left it to be repaired before heading to Pilates. It was ready to pick up on my way home - relieved, $85 poorer but able to hear properly and relax over a long and exceedingly pleasant dinner at friends' place that night.

Autumn is now really here. On Friday I worked on the St Brigid jumper as much as I could, stopping only to walk around the block around 2.30pm and calling in at the local pub for a quick, slightly disappointing meal. I eschewed chips.  The calamari was OK but the salad too chilli and inadequate.   

Still,  I did get 14 rows of the jumper done - the most yet in one day.

I slept well that night, but woke to find I had rolled onto my glasses during the night and broken the arm. Luckily I have a spare pair but I took them to the optometrist later in the morning. They needed a new arm, and there are no longer spare matching arms in Adelaide, though there was one whole frame (now discontinued) which the supplier offered at half-price. In the end I accepted that and I picked up the revamped pair this morning.

Since the optometrist is not far from Centennial Park, after dropping off the glasses on Saturday, I went to walk around and to visit Jim's gravesite. It is always restful, bird noise and native blooms. The grevillea are out and attracting bees.The succulents I planted are spreading beautifully. 

 

A couple of weeks ago there was  a reunion of the first Year 12 students he taught in South Australia.  It seems they talked much of him. 

I am finally able to look at photos of him. I have thought a lot lately about mortality, how our lives are shaped, the relationship of the living and the dead. I don't have answers  (I'm not sure I'm looking for them) I still mourn and the loss remains. I am also, however, aware of Jim, my parents, my grandparents strengthening me on my journey.  Deo gratias. 

Meantime, it was fabulous to catch up with family for dinner on Saturday night and hear all about their Sydney trip, which, by all accounts, was a resounding success. I later heard my brother's version - which accorded in every detail. He is now busy with an upcoming exhibition of some of his paintings of Sydney Harbour.

My new cleaner was meant to start today but there was a glitch. Hopefully tomorrow. 

I spent 3 hours this afternoon at CMI Toyota while my car was serviced. Their excellent coffee machine was not working. I count on drinking their excellent coffee while waiting, but had to make do with flavoured milk. I had taken some lunch, so got by - and did about 9 rows of a St Brigid sleeve. I finished the back yesterday and wrote it up in my embroidery blog . The sleeve is an nice change in its shaping and pattern management. 

I finished today with a thanksgiving dinner with my neighbours. Theo is recovering well from his pacemaker operation, and tonight he and Di took Maureen and Russell from the floor below, and myself, to dinner to thank us for our help in Theo's hospitalisation - quite unnecessary, but a pleasant, happy and joyful occasion. And Theo's looking great. As I suspected, he is chaffing at the 6 week ban from playing tennis. Given he will be 87 later this month, that's worthy of thanksgiving.