Post 525 In my little corner of the world

Still a lot happening. My windows were cleaned beautifully on Wednesday. Malcolm, the team member doing insides of individual units had the best job. The outside team varied their routine to avoid being in direct sun as the temperature rose to 39C. 

I now have clean views of the very pleasant landscape from the inside, both East and West.  

I will make good use of these over the coming week when the daily maximum is not forecast to drop below 30C.

                       

I visited OfficeWorks and bought a cork board and stand to hold the collage for Brigid’s birthday (photos are in colour, I have camouflaged for privacy), then stayed inside until 4.30pm when I headed off to friends’ place for dinner and a long catch up in the cool of their home, a really welcome and renewing interlude.

The main focus of my week has been Brigid's 21st Birthday party on Saturday night. A party is a very rare event for me these days and I admit to nervousness. Everyone was going. Alison and Karl came over from Canberra. There were, of course, related catch-ups. I had a pantry to stock for any  visitor contingency, and, because there had been a leaking window in the guest room weeks ago,  beds to make up.  My haircut on Friday was coincidental, but useful, and I managed to keep it reasonable for the necessary 36 hours.

The party was a huge success. The venue, the Semaphore Surf Lifesaving Club, was perfect, with plenty of indoor space and a stunning outdoor and boardwalk area of which photographers took full advantage. Again, for privacy reasons, the only photo is a screenshot silhouette, which, I think, demonstrates the potential.

Brigid, her friends, siblings and parents are to be congratulated on an event which was enjoyed by so many, went so smoothly, and created so much enjoyment. My pleasure and enjoyment were extended through Sunday and Monday, with family around and rare time to share and reflect. It's a timely reminder of the importance, on many levels, of such occasions.  Jim would have loved it.

Last week in the midst of party preparation, I realised I needed to get organised for my Certificate Course Workshop on Glazig Embroidery in April as the looming deadline for a notice in the Guild newsletter couldn't be met without the detail of what I am going to do.  I managed to grab moments and meet the deadline. Details in my embroidery blog.

One of the moments grabbed was a visit to Spotlight around midday on Saturday. On my way back I  was caught in a long stream of traffic held up at a level crossing, where we waiting expectantly for a train to pass. Instead, two men in safety vests appeared on foot from either side of the boom gates, walked to the two reflector lights, wiped them with a cloth and retreated to one side where they activated the lifting of the boom gates. 

A Jacques Tati moment.

Today I skipped Aquafit. I needed a day of no commitment as a pause, to catch up on blogging, stitch a little, sit and stare.  Family are safely home. Jennifer has reached Northern NSW on her Queensland journey. I ran into Panayoula who did get to the Looms of Greece Exhibition and has joined the cause. Tomorrow is a catch up with friends who've driven over from Sydney for Writers' Week, the fridge is full of food; there's a growing pile of books to read and the cockatoo bag is progressing. 

Deo Gratias!