Post556 Farewells and Welcomes

Not only is my coffee machine home and working, but as of Thursday my old bed is gone, and the new one in place. The old base had to go down the stairs, but the old mattress and new bed went in the lift. The photo is the deliverers taking the old, and the packingmfrom the new, to their truck, which they managed to park in a loading zone two doors down. I had reserved a parking space for them right outside, but they were concerned they might damage a tree! Fabulous service. 

I made up the bed with one set of double bed linen I had from way back when and the summer quilt, which works fine. There is about 30cm of extra space beside the bed, so I swapped a bedside cabinet for a slightly larger one in another room. I had a big pile of washing  to do over several days. I also discovered that some companies are no longer manufacturing double bed linen! Queen size is now standard. I got the last pair of double bed high thread count cotton sheets at Adairs. The saleswoman told me to buy a lottery ticket!

I had cancelled my Pilates class when the contractors informed me on Wednesday that delivery would be the next day, probably late morning. In fact they were gone by 10.30, having rearranged their schedule so I wouldn't miss Pilates! My spot was still vacant, so I did, indeed, get there, even buying the spare sheet set on the way! In the evening I went out to dinner with friends - a really delicious Feed Me menu at Noi. So quite a day.

On Friday I was home for a delivery of rose quartz earrings and stitch markers - a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness Day. I wore mine to the first Sit'n Stitch in several months that afternoon. We had a great time catching up and eating Susan's fabulous cheese scones. Luckily she gave me some to take home. My brother phoned as I finished bringing the washing in and we talked for the best part of an hour, after which, since I was into my fasting time,  cheese scones seemed like the best dinner, which they were.

Our apartment block is made up of four pods, each with its own entrance. Apparently other pods have plants and/or art works in their foyer, so we have followed suit with a new pot plant, there when I got home on Friday.

On Saturday morning I picked up the necklace I had taken for repair - costing less than quoted because it turned out to be threaded in sections, only one of which needed to be replaced. I took more in to be fixed, ranging from replacement of hooks or clasps to a remake of a pair of broken earrings and a broken garnet necklace. 

The replaced fittings were done on the spot, but the remaking has been left and will take a couple of weeks. I'm likely to find some other broken jewellery in time, but for the moment I think that's it. I'm glad I got organised enough to get these done.  They can now be put to good use.

Last night's dinner was a bolognese pasta bake, which I haven't made for a long time, mainly because I have cut back on my own pasta intake, and Fionn was also, at one point, avoiding carbs.  There were only 5 of us, so there is a lot left over, ironically divided between Fionn and I - the two who stopped the pasta menu!

On Sunday I did Carol Stacy's pulled thread work class at the Guild. The project is a lovely little leaf sampler. While I love the project, I had difficulty by the afternoon with my back and my eyes.  I was using magnifiers, and a seated hoop, extended so the work was close to my face, but I still had eye strain and a very sore back by the afternoon. I left a few minutes early, came home and rested a bit in a supportive chair. 

Once my eyes recovered, I picked up the Chaffinch. It’s an interesting contrast to the counted work. Although I was using the same size seated hoop, it didn’t need to be so close to my eyes, so my posture is better. I was by then past the detail of the bird itself, which might have required closer work, but only for very short periods. I finished the Chaffinch and mounted it the next day. It now hangs on my door and the full story is in my embroidery blog.

I returned to the counted sampler on Monday, limiting myself to about an hour at a time. Even though I can get more comfortable at home, and avoid the back issue, my eyes feel the strain and need frequent rest. Three hours at a time is out of the question.

I spent the best part of today at, or focused on, the 1pm funeral of my friend Lorraine. On Monday night I was asked to read Psalm 121 as part of the service, which took me by surprise but oddly made it easier for me. Nothing like a sense of purpose. I learned afterwards that she had, at one point in her illness, threatened to write her eulogy herself and get me to read it!  

While the photo of her on the order of service was very much Lorraine the Burnside matron, the photo on the screen throughout the service was the one I had taken of her in her Frida Kahlo outfit when we went to lunch in December last year!  There were singable hymns and  a beautiful rendition of Faure's Pie Jesu by a member of the congregation,

It was clear that I wasn't the only one puzzled about Lorraine's early life.  It was equally clear that we all  respected her, and valued her friendship, too much to intrude.

After the service, Lorraine’s friend who had accompanied us to Ukaria late in April took me to her car to give me the Christmas present Lorraine had left for me, a Morgan and Finch tote bag containing two scarves and a bottle of wine! Not even I am that far ahead on Christmas presents, and Lorraine had left them for six of her friends.

The church yard was full of stories and energy. The funeral processed the 20 minute drive to Centennial Park where, at 3.45pm, her body was interred in the same grave as her 11 year old son who died of cystic fibrosis in 1977. Stayers returned to St Theodore’s for afternoon tea!  

I came home to let my cleaner in. He, however, was delayed and is now coming tomorrow. It was too late to join the interment and a bit strange to turn up again at the Church Hall for a very late afternoon tea! The spirit of the occasion, however, was such that I was tempted. Her funeral service did her proud, and left me grateful to have been part of the community that called her friend.                          

Finally, an update on my blackbird nest. On the weekend I glimpsed the male putting food into the mouths of three upturned chick faces before flying away. Since then, both adults have been absent a lot. The male has been back often, but until tonight, I had seen no further sign of young. This evening I once again saw an open mouth being fed before the adult flew away. 

The photo I snapped of a chick wasn't good enough to be of use. This is the best I can do of an adult. As young fledge within two weeks, I should have better evidence next week.