Post 600 - Still going 5 years later!

My annual dermatology appointment on Wednesday morning went well. No change in moles and no reason to stop washing my hair every day. I wore the shawl I had finished the night before (need easy to remove clothing for dermatologist!). Another patient, then the receptionist, admired the shawl and asked where I got it, seeming astounded I had made it.

I missed a parcel delivery. After picking it up late afternoon I visited the Hameji Gardens, where an elderly man (about my age!) also exclaimed What a lovely shawl! to which I replied Thank you! I only finished it last night! He then asked if I’d mind him telling his 3 companions. He called out to them and explained. They asked what wool, and were full of congratulations. As we parted, the man thanked me and said I’d made their day!  There was much the same reaction at Pilates the next day.  It is cosy and easy to wear and to shed. I’m quite glad I kept it!

The parcel I picked up was  new detergent, made by an Australian company. The top box is full of laundry sheets and the lower one of dishwasher tablets made in Australia and naked  i.e. not encased in plastic. I figured them worth a try. The tin is designed to keep the sheets from sticking together. I’m currently using up a tub of laundry powder. The sheets I've been using for my dishwasher do stick together if they get damp. Here’s hoping.  

Left-over lemon chicken served me on Tuesday and Wednesday last week,  so I had lunch at Queen St Cafe after Pilates on Thursday. The Crispy Salmon is still  really good, as is the lime milkshake.  I had been late again to Pilates, having run into neighbours in the lift foyer as I was leaving. They wanted to discuss the top floor balcony inspections that took place on Tuesday morning to determine the cause of water leakage. Mine was the first inspected - squeezed in before my dermatologist. I was  delighted when the tradie doing the check decided immediately there was no waterproof membrane below the tiles and replacing grout would do nothing. A fix means clearing the balconies, taking up the tiles, inserting a membrane and re-tiling. Yes, it's inconvenient, but I'm all for fixing the problem, rather than bandaid solutions. I'm not sure my neighbour agrees. As we are on the top floor, leakage is not a problem for us, but it's a major problem for apartments below. It won't happen quickly. There will be quotes, budgets, approvals.

My second medical appointment for the week was on Friday with my very thorough periodontal hygienist. We have agreed I can return to two dental checkups a year instead of my current three. On Monday I was up early for a fasting blood test, in preparation for my GP appointment this coming Friday - part of the single kidney monitoring.  I am privileged to have a routine of medical monitoring - sometimes seems like a treadmill, but it keeps me connected to knowledgeable people and aware of my health, not something that comes easy to me. I am managing to keep my weight steady, so hope readings are OK.

I skipped the Certiricate Course Workshop at the Guild on Saturday. I didn't want to find myself with another project to finish! Instead I did my supermarket shopping and worked on my next knitting project, based on Water Lilies Tote, a pattern from the most recent Piecework magazine. Using up more left-over wool, and finding the instructions a little complicated, I adapted as I went, and working it flat, so I could have the pattern on one side only. I finished this main panel today. It's approximately 42cm square, deliberately larger than the pattern. Now all I have to do is knit a back, sides and handles, then construct and felt it! It's been a nice challenge so far.

I also wrote up the Sashiko tablecloth in my embroidery blog.

I had a bit of a scare on Sunday evening as I prepared to boil rice. As I pulled open the exhaust fan over the gas cooktop, there was a popping sound and no light or exhaust. The gas flowed but would not ignite. I eventually found matches to light the gas, but there was no exhaust fan action. The electician was supposed to get back to me after his Easter holiday about replacing the fan. In the morning I worked out the fuse had blown. Flipping it back on solved the gas ignition and the exhaust fan, but not the light over the gas burners. I eventually got on to the electrician, who has apologised and organised to come in 2 weeks time, conveniently on the day my Guild Hostess duty has been cancelled because of a change in Guild office hours. Another disaster hopefully averted!   

Thanks to the readers who have stuck with this blog for 5+ years. Quite a bit has changed since I cut short my UK visit to get home before flights were cancelled due to COVID.