Post634. Plenty to see and do.

 

Last Thursday I woke to this sunrise, taking the first photo from my bed. By the time I got outside for a closer look, the first flight out of Adelaide to Melbourne was visible -  it's the dot in the grey sky slightly to the right of the middle in the photo below.

The red sky didn't, I think, amount to trouble for either local shepherds or sailors. On Sunday morning I  took a series of photos of the plane as it disappeared Eastwards - here right at the top of the photo. The Sunday sky was more pink than red - and was grey within 2-3 minutes.

I spent much of the week indoors. 

On Wednesday Shane and his apprentice arrived at 8.15am and set to work to drape my living room with drop sheets, before the top half of one worker disappeared into the ceiling. I had a doctor’s appointment at 9.30, so left them to it. I had my flu shot, and a long conversation with my GP about my blood test results from the week before. He, like the nephrologist, is happy with the results. My kidney is in good shape. My sugar level is OK and my weight stable. He says if I were 15 years younger he would suggest further weight loss, but at my age lifestyle is more important! I’m not sure that’s a great rule to live by, so I will continue to watch my weight and work slowly on a reduction.

When I returned home,  Shane was convinced, as he has long suspected, that this leak is under the solar panels. 

They have now installed a drip tray in my ceiling.  Several hours was spent re-plastering and repainting, with several trips to paint shops to find the exact colour for both wall and ceiling, so it doesn't refllect or show when the light direction changes.

They finally cleaned up and left at 4.15pm and will be back to add a connecting drain pipe from the ingress point to the tray.

I sat in the living room and knitted or wrote for the entire time. I like to hear their conversation. Shane is a great teacher, constantly engaging, explaining, showing, instructing and tasking the apprentice in a clear and supportive way.

I also now have a neat and tidy manhole ready for future inspections.  

I had been toying with the idea of cooking quail one Monday night. We used to cook it fairly frequently a couple of decades ago and I had almost forgotten. It turns out, however, that it is no longer easily available in Adelaide.  I checked with my local supermarket on Friday, but contrary to what their website says, they don't stock them. I'll investigate further, but in the meantime, eggplant is in season, and my butcher had freshly minced lamb.

Saturday proved to be quite busy. I spent much of it making Moussaka, in between making phone calls for my neighbour who had lost her phone.  Turns out she had left it at the supermarket checkout in the city.  In the afternoon, from 2.30pm- 5.50pm there was a concert in the Square, featuring two bands and a soloist. Their music was more soothing and melodic than last year's concert. I could hear, but not see the performers. This is the back of the crowd, facing the stage out of sight to the right of the photo.

In the evening, dinner was at a restaurant, to celebrate the 13th birthday of a family friend. Really relaxed. I'm not sure if my gift of cricketing books will prove a long-term interest, but it is well worth a try.

I spent most of Sunday finishing a special knitting project I had decided on for an upcoming birthday. It was intense and slightly complicated work, but produced a good result which I will reveal in due course. I am now  back on the Chapter and Skein shawl, which is a lovely, gentle project. I am only just over halfway through the first skein, so rather think one skein will be sufficient.

Books keep arriving safely. Illuminated Knits contains four patterns: a blanket, two shawls and a top, all with Celtic knot patterns.  Food for thought, rather than a rush to execute.

The Embroidery of Mexico is, without a doubt, the best I've seen on the topic. It contains detailed information about the stitches and templates of the embroidery traditions of very specific geographic areas. 

It is a treasure trove.

Today another of the Kathleen Herbert lecture reprints arrived: again, really useful background for my August talk. 

This, I think, is the last Ive ordered, so now to get down to writing.  

Today I managed to swim - 700 metres in half an hour. It’s good to be back in the pool.  Fortuitously, the temperature today, the middle of Autumn, was 30C.

Afterwards I called at Barrow and Bench hardware store. Yesterday I called there to buy a screw for a door handle that has been hanging off the wardrobe on one screw for months. When the remaining screw gave way I finally took it to find a replacement. After an enormous amount of assistance from Karen, I bought a replacement handle that came with screws. 

The problem was, the screws had to be cut to the right length. We took a punt, and Karen cut and filed them, telling me to return if the screws were too long. They were - hence today’s trip. Another worker cheerfully cut them again for me - extraordinary service for a $4.50 purchase! I also bought a couple of plants. 

The handle is now fully restored and functional. 

This afternoon I went through the pattern books accompanying the embroideries I mentioned last week.

Most are vintage knitting books that will go to a good home. A couple are crochet patterns, including this book of crocheted swimwear. 

I wonder if any Guild members will be tempted to give them a try?