Post 512 It's Advent!

My breakfast meeting on Wednesday morning was postponed for a week, so I was able to focus on preparing for cleaners, begin the preparation for writing Christmas cards and take a couple of phone calls. One was from the tradie who has been assigned the contract to fix the roof above the window of my spare room, and one from a Sydney friend insisting I rush out and buy a copy of Hilary Mantel's A Memoir of my Former Self. The roof fixed is booked for two weeks' time, and on Thursday I did as I was told and bought the book.

Also on Thursday, before Pilates, my carpet shampooer arrived. It is still in the box, unopened. I've had a lot to do this week, without shampooing carpets. I will get to open the box soon. 

A book on buttons also arrived. This is written by Lucy Godoroja, a Sydney woman who owns a button shop in Newtown, Sydney. I will see if the Guild Library team want it for the Guild library. If not, it will be another resource for WES Group. 

After Pilates I visited the Queen St Cafe for a very late lunch (and lime milkshake) before running some errands.

Friday saw an early morning dash to the Credit Union to sort out some financial transfers of a kind I haven't done for several years. I was nervous and put in a lot of checks, more than most people do, according to the most obliging young woman who got it sorted. Today I had confirmation it has all gone through - a relief, well worth our joint effort, and a boost to confidence.

I then had a long, leisurely lunch with my friend Lorraine. She has been isolating for a skin treatment that involved avoiding sunlight for several weeks. We had a most relaxed and companionable 3 hours. In between I began the business of writing Christmas cards.

That took up most of the weekend. I needed to check addresses, remind myself where each one was up to when we last communicated (frequently, I'm afraid, a year ago!), reply to neglected emails, write on the cards, and, in a few cases, check death notices. I was shocked and very sad to find a June death notice for one friend. I don't, as my neighbours do, regularly check obituaries. At Christmas, however, it is a necessary ritual. Just after, the intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana  came on the radio. I found its overwhelming sweep uplifting and comforting.

My 50 cards were posted yesterday. I would once have sent three to four times that number, but now restrict myself to friends at a distance, with whom I am not regularly in touch and who like to get them. It's a bit of a quaint custom in an age of social media and I continue because I like using my photos, and keeping the communication thread alive is important to me. I've already had a response from two friends.  I hope the photos don't act as spoilers. It has been a rich and sustaining exercise.

Last Sunday, Advent Sunday, was my signal to sort out the various Christmas presents I have been buying throughout the year, made checklists and order a couple of extra bits. I am pretty much on target. I need to do a bit more work on Christmas crackers (the reusable kind). 

This afternoon I added a few Christmas decorations to my plants and the reindeer is sitting back on the bookcase. 

My very washed-out bunting is back along my balcony rail. I made it 12-15 years ago, and only the horror of landfill keeps me using it.

I will add a few more decorations during the week.

There were 4 of us, and a lot of pork, for dinner last night. School is over for the year, uni exams are dragging on, football practice doesn't stop, and it's the time of the year for making a bit of extra money with casual work.

The books keep coming. Some are Christmas presents, but yesterday the first of my books on the Evil Eye arrived. I'm interested to see if this turns into another WES Group session. My problem seems to be that I can buy books faster than I can read them - especially when I have a queue of knitting and embroidery projects.

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A third season of Sister Boniface is now on BritBox, a big boost in the end of year TV famine. I watched the first episode last night while finishing off the second Buggieflooer beanie.  I need to switch to some Christmas projects rather than using the remaining Smith and Jamieson wool to create a third Buggieflooer beanie, but I have ploughed right on.  

I fear that if I stop now I won't come back to it, or will lose the rhythm. 

                                     

Today I had a podiatrist appointment and went dressed ready for Aquafit, in bathers and the coverall I had ordered. It was a strange outfit for podiatry (or being out in public!) but worked  well for getting to and from the pool.  It kept the car seat dry!

My podiatrist offers gap-free (meaning no charge above your health cover)  orthotics in December. I have searched everywhere for my moulds. They are clearly in that safe place, along with my 3 Guild name tags, so I've made appointments to be fitted again next week. It's about time I had another pair.

December is fast filling up with  a rush of appointments, concerts and commitments. That's OK. January is looking pretty quiet. I might need it to finish my Christmas projects!