Pot 591 I dared

I was up early on Wednesday, cutting out and stitching the bag for the infamous screen so I could transport it safely for our trouble-shooting session. I got the basic bag made in time to leave home at 10.50, only 10 minutes later than I’d planned. 

I had made a protective slip cover for  the screen. The slip-covered screen fitted in the bag and the bag strapped up. It didn’t have  pockets and the front flap was loose, but I could carry it securely by the handle. At Margaret’s, after a cup of coffee and delicious Italian honey dunking biscuits, we connected my Mac using the HDMI cable had I purchased for the purpose, Margaret recording each step as we performed and checked it. The first trick, as Fionn had picked up, is that the connecting HDMI cable must be the only thing using the two ports on the Mac. Navigating to the external screen then takes several steps.

We disconnected my Mac and connected Margaret’s PC laptop using the HDMI cable that came with the screen. Two navigation steps and it connected - plug and play in action! Were we surprised? Yes. Were we triumphant? You bet! We inserted my WES Group USB, selected a PowerPoint presentation and were in business! If all else fails, we know Margaret’s laptop connects quickly and works. A baseline!

That called for a celebration of Margaret’s excellent minestrone .

At home I found bias tape and a zip, ready for stitching. The next morning I began before breakfast, adding a small pocket inside for cords and instructions, and a large, zipped pocket on the outside for a laptop. As the fabric is backed with wadding I used bias tape to cover all edges. 

I also added a third clip in the middle of the flap.

By now I had to rush to Pilates. No sooner had i got home than I had a call from the Coffee machine shop, to say my machine was ready.Back out again.

The two technicians came out to talk to me. They don't really understand what happened, but had descaled it and it was working. We discussed several possibilities, none of which make sense to me (and not a lot to them). They haven't had this problem with other customers. I seem to be having trouble interpreting the symbols on the screen. They have offered to visit my home if I have another problem, to see it in situ. I'm pleased to have it back, but I'm wary. Older machines have more direct instructions. If I continue to have problems I think I'll give it away. For now, however, I'm enjoying coffee.

           

I drank a couple of cups while working for about 16 hours on my presentation on Celtic Embroidery for WES. I've postponed this several times because of the sheer volume of reading required. I was scheduled to give it in October, but Margaret, scheduled for July, has had cataract operations and can't read to prepare hers, so we've swapped.

In addition to websites, I have 18 books, and needed to read them, or substantial sections of them, to find the big story thread. 

It took most of Friday and much of Thursday night, but I found it and now have a presentation with 34 slides, on my laptop, two USBs, my iPad and in the cloud, plus a bag with 18 books and  a few embroidered examples.

 

I am now ready to try the presentation on the new screen and hopefully use it on 9 July at the Guild. Unfortunately I'll need to manage the tech on my own on the day, as the Office Manager is on leave and Margaret has a medical appointment. I've worked out a back-up plan involving my Mac, two iPads and 4 printed copies of PowerPoint handout!

To give my head and eyes a rest I have knitted three more beanies. They are relaxing to knit and don't make great demands on my eyes.

On Sunday I skipped Book Club to go to a concert at Ukaria with Katherine. This meant I was home when the postman (presumably a contractor!) delivered my latest batch of 16 ply wool - another 1.2kg. Even in the 1950s there wasn't a Sunday postal delivery!

The concert, preceeded by soup and bread, was the result of a week long workshop that brought together an Adelaide choir chosen from The Festival Statesmen, Aurora and Adelaide Chamber Singers with Nobuntu, a 4 woman aCapella group from Zimbabwe.

It was an extraordinary performance -  Nobuntu's skill energising the combined choir and audience.

The winter solstice was just after midday on Saturday. 90 minutes later I took a photo of this Kangaroo Paw about to open on my balcony.  I haven't managed to grow one here before. It's a non-traditional  mark of the shortest day of the year!

Yesterday I risked hanging out washing. Although rain was forecast, it was sunny in the morning. I was in luck. The clouds had gathered but the wind was up by the time I hung it out. I tried to capture the vigorous movement. It was (just) dry when I took it in around 5pm. The rain has now set in for several days. Again, I promised myself I’d take a photo of the cooked meal, 

but when the time came my mind was preoccupied with carving and serving. There were five of us and this 4kg roast was the smallest piece of pork available in the cut I wanted, so Fionn will have plenty of cold meat to snack on today. The girls are buried in exam preparation, so an early night.

Today would have been Jim's 78th birthday. I'm grateful to family and friends who shared photos, memories and messages on Facebook. He loved sharing his birthday.

 

After picking up new orthotics from my podiatrist  I went to Haigh's chocolate outlet to stock up. I have finally finished what I bought for Easter. 

It has been a cold, wet day, so good to be home and warm.  I settled for soup for dinner. 

I haven't unpacked the chocolate, although I can hardly say I'm saving it for a rainy day!