I spent quite a bit of time this week looking at the sky. It has rained a lot. On Thursday night I drove home from friends' place at about 9pm. It was raining and the streets were awash. One stretch of suburban road was a sheet of water from one side to the other, my tyres spraying a wall of water into the air as I made my way. Fortunately there wasn't much traffic around. Adelaide drains are not built for torrential rain. 
The rain also delivered rainbows, and a few bursts of afternoon sun.
I have largely stuck to my knitting, but ventured out on Wednesday to my periodontist, who gave me a good dental clearance, but wouldn't venture an opinion on my jaw problem. Instead he referred me to a Orofacial Pain Clinic. I rang them straight away and got the next available appointment - on 21 December! It seems there is a bit of an outbreak of jaw problems, perhaps attributable to raised levels of stress in the community resulting in jaw clenching. My problem is manageable, and I have registered for cancellations.
On Thursday, after Pilates, I took my Hap Stretcher to a friend's place and helped her stretch a lace shawl she has just finished. It looks fabulous - and we got the hang of the stretcher. Each time will be easier.I also visited The Yarn Trader, and bought a copy of Kate Davies' Yokes book.
The pattern I am interested in (left) doesn't have a traditional yoke but I get why it qualifies. The book also has a lot of background on the history of yoked garments in Shetland, Iceland, Greenland and Norway - all grist for a WES session later this year. When I've finished the knitting projects I have lined up, I hope to knit this one for myself. 
Friday was the quarterly lunch with a group of friends, this time at Fugazzi Cafe & Bar in the city. We chose the tasting menu, which turned out to be a good move. The food was really good. These were the main course plates, Ricotta Gnocchi, a pork and fennel sausage pasta, wood-grilled southern calamari with Cannellini Bean & Caper Gremolata salads and straw fries.
We took our time. I caught the city loop bus and got there and back before the late afternoon rain
It was the King's Birthday long weekend for most Australian States, including South Australia, so no school on Monday and no family dinner for me to cater for. I used the time to progress St Brigid and catch up on some reading.
I've been reading Salonika Burning by Gail Jones, a fictional account of Macedonia in August 1917 drawing on the documented experiences of four medical volunteers, Australians Miles Franklin and Olive King, Grace Pailthorpe, an English surgeon and Stanley Spencer, a medical orderly/painter. I was drawn to read it because my maternal grandfather was posted to Salonika with the Royal Fusiliers from December 1915- May 1917. Although I am wary of fictionalised accounts of fairly recent lives, I'm very glad I read it. It is a powerful evocation of a surgeon and well-intentioned volunteers trying to make sense of a war that is destroying lives they are trying to restore.
Today roofers were meant to be redoing the flashing on the southern wall of my back balcony, but weren't evident - perhaps put off by the wet and windy conditions. The postman delivered my latest indulgence - a heavy (in all senses) book in preparation for a WES session later this year on cruelty-free textiles.
At the moment I am half way up the second sleeve of the St Brigid jumper. Unless something goes wrong, I should have it finished before I post next week. I'm pleased with it - and striving to finish it before our Winter solstice.
I also booked myself in to a half-day class on steeking at the Yarn Trader in August. In for a penny.....
