Post 607 It never rains but it pours!

 

I snapped this photo of what I think is the Peace rose at the Guild as I left on Wednesday. It was looking really good. Our meeting had, once again, gone swimmingly. We learned a lot about the English embroiderer Louisa Pesel, who organised, in the 1920s, the stitching of 365 kneelers and other works at Winchester Cathedral, where they can be seen today, many still in use. We are also well on the way to having our 2026 program in place.                          

 

Back at home, encouraged by the response of the group, I cut out a bag from my remaining piece of face-to-face fabric, and pencilled in the names of the current Australian female Anglican bishops and the Canterbury Archbishop elect, ready to stitch. I know I said I would wait until I'd finished the carrdigan and tapestry - but I really wanted to see if the female bishop idea would fly.

I did finish the back of the cardigan. As can be seen by the colour change (left, not as obvious in the garment as in the photo), it took the best part of 3 balls. I have left the remainder of the third ball attached (top, just left of centre) to add the band). I've started a front.

 

On Friday I prepared the project, notes and publicity for the Evil Eye Certificate Course Workshop I have agreed to give at the Guild in January. In the middle of it, my printer spat the dummy, giving me a series of instructions that I followed to no avail. I had fortunately managed to print the first draft of the notes for participants, so sent a final draft off to Officeworks to print. I also ordered some items from the Guild Museum to be delivered on the day of the workshop. This was a bit of a challenge as the expectation is that you will print the form, fill it our by hand, then hand it in at the Guild. I edited it online in Word by creating text boxes for every line -then emailed it.

I've also sent off the publicity for the Guild newsletter and created both paper and plastic templates for participants to use, along with stitch suggestions. They are ready in a tote bag, along with the relevant books and examples - a good job jobbed.

I seem to be dealing with technology breakdown on multiple fronts. My bathroom scales, an essential part of my weight management regime, have been giving me multiple and inconsistent readings across a 3kg range. The result differs from minute to minute and from bathroom floor tile to bathroom floortile. When I searched for an answer, battery failure was suggested. I thought this unlikely, and indeed, a change of battery made no difference.

The most likely cause was a need for recalibration. This requires a specialist service, whose charges are way more than the cost of a new set of scales. More research suggested the most reliable brand (not mine!) so I sourced one at OfficeWorks and bought it. To my horror, using it requires an app, a registration process, a set-up and a whole series of recording and reporting functions I do not want. I did the minimum required to stand on it and obtain a reading. When I did this, it, too, jumped around for a couple of minutes, trying to make up its mind. When it settled on a number, it was at the upper end of the old machine's fluctuations. On Sunday I returned the new machine to OfficeWorks - who were totally obliging. The old machine is now back in the bathroom, along with an even older machine I had stored in my wardrobe, so I can compare. So far there seems to be a consistent 0.5kg difference.

In the evening I finished embroidering the names of four of the Australian bishops. I find the Quaker stitch effective but a bit tedious. Getting the letters legible is difficult. Progress, however, is encouraging. One side of the bag is now embroidered.

Sunday was the first of a two day Carol Mullan workshop at the Guild, to make a canvas work needlecase. It was a lot of fun and both my eyes and my back held up. I was pleased with my progress, even though I left early to be home for the arrival of Sean the Geek to install my network backup, returning the scales on the way.

Sean installed and calibrated back up storage, gave me advice on the TV installation and also examined my printer. He located the problem. Replacing the problem part is likely to cost more than a new printer so I spent an hour or so exploring options. Do I need a printer? Does it need to copy? Does it need to be coloured? The answer to all three questions is probably no. It is, however, convenient to be able to print a page from a pattern book. Forms often have to be printed before filling in. Maybe a black and white laser printer would do the job if I photograph the book page? 

The back up disk is still loading data.

While all has been going on, I’ve been negotiating what seem to me exorbitant delivery and installation charges for the new television. In the end I have limited choice and need to accept the inevitable. I should have required these charges before I purchased. I can only hope the final product, when installed in November, lasts a decade.

Today I spent a pleasant 3 hours catching up with Panayoula and hearing about her very recent month-long trip to Greece to attend a family wedding, with side trips to Estonian and Helsinki. There were lots of photos to view.  While I was out, I had a message that a book I have been waiting for from the UK had been delivered - but when I got home I couldn’t find it. I spent an hour or so contacting Australia post who are now investigating, but it looks as if the address was incomplete - just "16 Hurtle Square”  Checking with PayPal it seems the error was on the order. 

I am now enquiring of my neighbours, however two of the 4 apartments at 16 are on the market and empty. The owner of a third travels a lot. It seems it never rains but it pours - or the universe is testing me in some way. So far I’m sticking with nil desperandum, but it’s an effort! 

I began this post with the Guild's Peace rose . I'm choosing to conclude with a pelargonium I admired at the Guild on Sunday. 

There is such joy, and peace, in family, friends and flowers.