Post610 Feels like Progress

Still feeling chuffed with the result, I spent time on Wednesday writing up the account of my needlecase finish. On a roll, I tackled the remaining 40% of the needlepoint cushion cover, making good progress until interrupted by a phone call from Will, asking if he could call in to assess my rangehood cover request. He arrived half an hour later with his young daughter in tow. While he measured and muttered, his daughter and I explored boxes, display cabinets, puppets, earrings - anything that caught her eye. It was a joy to see such a lively mind.

Even more astounding was the phone call 24 hours later asking again if Will could call in. This time he was accompanied only by the box he had made. After a couple of trips to his van to make adjustment he left me with a finished cabinet and more useable storage! Before on the left, after on the right. Amazing.

My luck ran out with the Jura coffee machine on Sunday. On Saturday I called at my coffee supplier and bought three kilos of coffee beans. The machine has been telling me for several weeks to descale the watertank, but not allowing me to do it. Last week it told me to change the filter, which I did, three times, but it would not continue. Yesterday I once again returned it to the Jura service agent. The receptionist is hopeful, but who knows if I will ever see it again. 

After leaving it I took myself off to buy a coffee grinder and a metal drip filter. I need backup coffee making methods, and I might as well grind the 3 kilos of coffee. Yesterday I made my breakfast coffee with a Vietnamese Phin filter (above). I used to travel with this and have not used it in 15 years. The new larger filter (right, front) makes up to four  cups. The coffee pot has not seen use in years, but will keep several cups warm - a better proposition than using a plunger. Today I ground enough fresh coffee to fill the filter and poured enough water over it to half-fill the pot and give myself a couple of refills throughout the day. Getting the hang of it!

I’ve been working  on the bluebirds cushion through all this excitement, reaching, on the weekend, the point of filling in the remaining white background. On Thursday I got fed up with the roller frame continuously loosening and went searching for locally made slate frames. Create in Stitch are now contacting their local carpenter to order me one. It won’t help with Bluebirds, but I have two more in the queue. 

This evening I finished the white background. I have ordered 3 zipped cushion backs that are a 44cm square. The embroidery is 37x37cm. I therefore have to work a white border all around to cover the difference. It won't be interesting stitching.

The steady rhythm of half cross stitch in a single colour is conducive to thought and last Saturday as I stitched I began to plan my Christmas cards. Before heading to bed around 11pm on Saturday night I thought I’d just check out my photos in readiness. When I did go to bed at 1pm I had the design in my VistaPrint cart, along with some stickers and bookmarks. I did have the good sense not to press order so spent Sunday morning refining and adding to the order. Life has taken its toll  on Christmas cards in general. Mine are not exempt. The list is now down to those who don’t get my blog, live across the planet, or have  got them since childhood, This year’s front photo is of the flowering gum over Jim’s grave.

Sunday was All Souls Day, and friends and I went along to St Peter's Cathedral, where St Peter's Music Foundation sang Faure's Requiem as a Mass at Evensong. I love Faure's Requiem. Although I have sung it and heard it many times as a performance, I have never heard it in context as a Requiem Mass. It was a very remarkable, calming and thought-provoking experience. It surprised me. We had dinner after at A Prayer for the Wild at Heart. A very special evening.

Today it is cold again. I even have the heating on! We had a couple of  fairly warm days and it has  been raining for a couple of days. The new geranium  has benefitted, opening up and developing buds.

The technology surprises kept coming. On Friday I had a call from Internode Support, in response to an email I had sent enquiring about my modem. After answering many questions, and many holds, I was transferred to Customer Support (more questions and holds) who eventually informed me they were sending me a free WiFi6 modem in recognition of my long loyal service!  It was delivered today and installed this evening by Sean the Geek.  It took two hours and I was very pleased I hadn't tried to do it myself. It involved information and processes I did not know. A lot was different since I installed the last one some 8 years ago. I can't hope to keep up with the tech changes. The new TV, now predicted to arrive in two weeks time, will hopefully connect to and work smoothly on the updated network. 

I'm grateful to have access to friends and helpful experts. I'm feeling less anxious about it all - and grateful. 🙏