Post 654 A lot going on

. 

Umbrella in hand, I managed to get myself to the ASO concert on Wednesday morning, meeting neighbours, who also happened to be going, at the bus stop. We were in plenty of time and parted company to go to our respective seats. My usual seat is in the front row but this time was half way back, on the midway aisle which is also an exit row. I enjoyed the wider, holistic view. 

The conductor was Nicholas Braithwaite and the highlight of the performance was the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E Minor Op.23, with soloist Tienyou Ma. It was superbe. The sound was excellent and my seat was certainly good for exiting at the end! ! I was home for lunch.

Thursday began well with notice from the Festival Centre Foundation that Jim's plaque had been corrected and was ready to be installed.  While the grammatical error had been corrected, unfortunately the plaque now read " Donated by" instead of "Dedicated to". It has gone back again to be redone.

On to Pilates where the light plaster cover I still have on the two biopsy sites on my cheek  presented no impediment. My knee didn’t take well to the first 10 minutes spent exercising on the vibrating platform so the program was modified to accommodate. It seemed to work as my knees improved considerably.  

Friday was a regular lunch with friends, this time at Jolley’s Boathouse Restaurant on the riverbank. I hadn’t been there since it underwent some renovation with new management and I was keen to visit . I arrived early because parking is uncertain and the city loop bus currently doesn’t stop anywhere nearby. I needn’t have stressed . Parking was easy. The food was really good. The only negative was the noise level - better once we convinced them to turn the sound system right down. When the weather warms up they will open the doors on to the riverbank and conversation noise from the inevitable birthday groups will dissipate. We managed, nevertheless to have a really good catchup.

The rain has continued on and off.  While it has delayed me washing clothes, the back balcony has benefitted. The large Flapjacks Kalanchoe has suddenly shot up a stem and is about to flower. The wall garden is also filling out nicely.

There was a lot happening on Saturday.  In the morning there was a Thanksgiving Eucharist at the Cathedral for the ministry of Chris MacLeod as . National Aboriginal Bishop over more than a decade. Chris’s part time ministry in addition to his role as Dean of the Cathedral, is being replaced by two full time positions, one National Aboriginal Bishop and one National Torres Strait Island Bishop - a testimony to the hard work Chris has done.

 

During the ceremony Chris was presented with a carved walking stick and the cathedral was presented with the Stolen Generation Cope, a gift from the Archbishop of Canterbury (photo from Susie McLeod's  Facebook page). It is handpainted on silk.   

 

In the afternoon I attended a concert at the Cathedral while family members were at a bridal shower for a cousin/niece. The combined choirs of Queen's College Melbourne and St Peter's Cathedral sang responses to each of Haydn's Seven Last Words of Christ played by a String Quartet. 

It was an interesting concept which did, for me at least, elevate the Haydn piece.  The highlight for me was the Faure In Paradesum  sung against the Quartet's rendering of Today you will be with me in Paradise.

Once again the concert coincided with a football match at the Oval, making parking a stressor. I was fortunate to find a single parking space outside and to get away well before closures around the Cathedral.                                         Brigid and I both made it to dinner that night and it was fabulous to see her. She has finished and cast-off her first complete blanket square - another milestone amidst the demands on her time from Uni, work and the end of the netball season. 

On Sunday I turned the Gardener embroidery into a pouch before helping with a neighbour's lost keys and shopping for Monday's dinner.  The pouch has already found a home. The three  kits I bought over the last 6 years are now finished! To give myself a break I have briefly returned to a knitting project - from a hexipuff quilt  pattern, that I bought and  started, I think, in 2019. 

You knit little pockets in the round on 3 dpns, stuff them and join  them up. I had made six before putting it aside. I've now added 8 more. It's great for using up odd bits of wool. I have no intention of making a quilt. but have identified a use for a cushion. While I don't yet have the measurements of the seat, I suspect I'm about half way there.

We had a full 7 for dinner last night - a great time even though my attempt to recreate the icecream cakes I used to make for children's birthdays by tipping 2 litre of icecream from its container on to a plate and pouring melted chocolate over it was not as neat, tidy and easy as it used to be. It did, however, get eaten. 

This morning was a bit of a rush to get ready for cleaners, followed by a long phone catch up with my brother who is just back from 6 weeks in, mostly, Britain, before getting to the surgery to have my facial stitches removed. That bit went well but unfortunately the pathology results on the biopsies were not back. The surgeon will ring me when he has the results, so patience is called for. 🤞. 

Tomorrow is WES group. We have a few fine days forecast so I have a load of washing ready to hang out before I go. 

Around 3.30pm this afternoon the painters contracted to paint our shared areas arrived on our floor, laying and taping plastic ready for an early start on our foyer tomorrow. It will probably be good to be away.

One foot up and one foot down....

Post 643 Mainly Music and Knitting.

Another enervating ASO concert, the second this year in their Matinee series. From my seat in the front row l’ve recovered from examining the shoes of the performers and moved to watching body movements and facial expression. It’s really interesting that most violinists  really move their bodies into the music. Elizabeth Layton in particular uses every muscle in her face as well as her body, to signal both her joy and signals to the other players.

I enjoyed the program, especially the first item. It's a pleasant way to spend a morning, with and easy ride each way on the city loop bus.

It was raining enough for me to carry an umbrella, something I rarely need to do in Adelaide.I didn't need to use it. 

Rather than compete with those heading to the Art Gallery for lunch I headed for the bus and when I got out stopped at A Prayer for the Wild at Heart for Yellow Fin Whiting. It was warm enough to sit outside. The rain returned with a vengeance around 5pm.

I had been up early that morning to finish the Berwick cardigan, so I could wear it to the concert. At the last minute I decided I  would be too hot - a wise decision. You can read all about it in my embroidery blog if interested.
The temperature has dropped and I have worn it almost every day since. It's very big, wraps around, is easy to take on and off, and stays with the help of a brooch.

I was, however, determined to use up the left-over wool, which included a full 50gm ball of the dark green, 43 gm of Pale Oak and around 25 gms of Blossom and Russet. I figured that might make two JusticeNet beanies so began with the full green ball. 

It worked well, using up all but about 60cm of the green yarn, which went into the pompom. This result meant I would need to improvise to use the Pale Oak for another beanie. 

                          

I managed it by knitting the band in the contrasting Blossom. As you can see, this is a subltle contrast and will only appeal to someone wanting to blend in! The pompom is made from some 4ply in the same colour that I had left over from a previous project. The scales are clearer in reality than the photo - but they don't stand out boldly.

To further the clean-up of left-over yarn, I finished the beanie from the yarn spun for the first Chapter and Skein Book Club. There is still a bit of yarn left which I am working that into a small bag. I'm now thinking that this set of items might make a raffle prize for a charity.

In the early part of last week, over three nights, there was a close alignment of Venus, Mercury and the Moon, visible to the north-west just after sunset. I looked out for it but each night there was complete cloud cover. As I parked for dinner on Saturday evening I glanced up and saw it! They had moved farther apart but were in a straight line. Venus is just disappearing towards the horizon over the roof of the house on the far left (a tiny dot level with the top of the pink marker line), Mercury is the clear dot about an inch above and to the left and the blurry moon is in the top corner. It's not a spectacular photo, but I'm very pleased to have seen it. 

On Sunday Katherine and I had an Adelaide Chamber Singers concert, a program of folk music at Ayers House. I caught the City Loop bus there and back.  We had front row seats in what proved to be an intimate experience with the conductor within touching distance. 

Much of the early program was familiar, although I hadn't heard Gravedigger. The Ingrian Evenings  nor Three French Chansons. We both enjoyed the concert. I liked the liveliness and sense of fun as the program progressed. A lot of work had clearly gone into creating a very integrated presentation.

I have kept up the antiseptic spray on my re-opened ear piercing and refrained from swimming. I'm considering going to the pool on Friday to walk up and down a lane, which I can do without getting my head wet.  

Today, in the time I would have been swimming, I visited the Mac Centre at Norwood to discuss replacing my iPad Mini which is on its last legs. A Book Club member had said they offer trade-ins. They were very helpful, but I left in a quandary.  They are carrying no stock of Minis, because there is a new version due in September. They will offer no trade-in. I can go to the main Apple Store in the city and buy a current same-capacity model, with trade-in, or I can wait for the new model (the Mac Centre staff recommendation). I could probably get higher storage if I do that. I doubt my current one will last another three months. I do have a regular size iPad as well. Thinking about it.

Later in the day I walked to the Post Office and back rather than waiting to call in when I was out driving tomorrow. A small gesture of exercise replacement. Ironically, the parcel I picked up is a cake of shampoo and one of conditioner, which I bought to use when showering at the pool!

These evening I have given myself a break from knitting and begun stitching a Corinne Lapiere mouse.  It's nice to hold something completed in an evening. There are, however some accessories to come.

There's more music to come this coming weekend - and, no doubt, knitting! 

Post 605 Slow but Steady Progress

After the busyness of my last post, it was a treat on Wednesday to take the city loop bus around to Elder Hall, next to the Art Gallery,  for an Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Matinee Concert. 

I was drawn by the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, but enjoyed the whole program. It was fabulous. 

I breathed a bit easier as the sun went down on Wednesday. 

It was back to business on Thursday. The B&O technician arrived about 10.15am on to assess my TV. While there is work that could be done to retune, even I, the great repair advocate, think it is time to move to a proper Smart TV. We discussed B&O options. My initial thinking was to move to a model that sits on a cabinet, rather than my current floor stand. 

When the technician left I moved furniture and rugs around to measure for cabinet possibilities, before rushing to Pilates. By the time I returned, the technician had sent two options, one with an integrated sound bar, one with it separate.

Also in my inbox was a draft of my Income Tax return, ready for me to read, check and amend or sign. I gave priority to tax, which took some time. It’s the first time I have done it online. Pleased with my success, I then spent some more time shifting furniture and measuring, before replying to a email from a friend wanting me to check his memory of a meeting I chaired in 1967, before he submits a motion to Synod! Fortunately, I had stopped at Queen St Cafe for a late lunch, so didn’t need to cook dinner. 

By the time I went to bed, having played with TV measurements, I was changing my mind about a cabinet. I slept on it.

In the morning I graphed them up and settled on a floor stand. No matter how I configured it, a cabinet model blocked part of the painting, even when the cabinet is only 18” high. I could move the painting, but I don’t want the screen to dominate the room. On a floor stand the replacement will be about 3”higher and 3” wider than the current one. I can live with that. Maybe a cabinet to fit behind it?

The hardest part of living alone is having no one on hand with whom to talk over these decisions. They are normal, inevitable decisions well within my capacity, but the benefit of a sounding board in immeasurable.

In the course of finding a ruler to graph the space, I found the missing Swift! As I had begun to suspect when the new one arrived, I had been looking for the wrong shape box. It was in plain sight. It is possible, of course, that the elves have been at work. Whatever the explanation, I now have two. Unfortunately I can't manage to wind two balls at once, so I now have one to lend out.

On Friday morning  my copy of the newly released Richard Osman Thursday Murder Club Book 4, was ready to be picked up in store and two parcels arrived, the completely indulgent Ehreman tapestry around 10, and the environmentally-friendly Leprosy Mission Christmas bonbons around 11. 

Once they were stowed I headed west to the Brickworks to pick up the book, then back across town to B&O to discuss the TV.  I have ordered the 48” floor standing version.  An installer will visit tomorrow to inspect and confirm an installation cost. I’ve paid a deposit. While there are cheaper options, this one hopefully gives me peace of mind. That evening the quote for my network backup came through from Sean the Geek (my spelling amended now I have it on paper!) and I’ve accepted that too. I'm still waiting to hear from Will about a panel to cover the exhaust box. I fear he is not interested. And the coffee machine techie hasn't been. I continue to use the machine.

After so many big decisions and transactions in a few days, things went quiet on the weekend. Saturday was the AFL grand final, followed by the girls’ 18th birthday party. I don’t follow football and 18th birthday parties do not need to accommodate 78 year old grandmothers privileged to celebrate on the actual day, so I had a quiet time at home reading Richard Osman, readjusting furniture and knitting. It's also school holidays, so no Monday dinner. Several days, therefore, on my own for stitching, reading, gardening - and losing track of which day it is. 

Since I indulged in another tapestry kit, I needed to get on with the one barely started  on my Lowery stand. I've now worked a section.

I've also knitted 65cm of the back of my cardigan,  finishing two balls of the yarn. The two extra balls arrived yesterday, neatly wound by the shop, bringing my number to 9. The yarn is going further than I anticipated. I'm now planning on 80cm length. For that I will need at least 8 balls. As knitters know, there is always a risk of too much or not enough. I don't want left-over yarn, but not enough is worse. I might be able to add pockets. And yes, there is a discernable colour difference between the two balls even though they are all from the same (I suspect only) dye lot. Part of the interest and charm.

Today the beaded silk/wool yarn I ordered from WA arrived. Here it is with  silk I wound last week and the pattern I found for it. I think it's going to work really well. The  top and bottom edges are worked in the beaded yarn with plain in the middle. First I need to finish my cardigan!

I dropped a couple of things today at the Guild where the bottlebrush is in full bloom. I still love the unfurling stamen.

I finished  Julia Baird's Bright Shining. The first quarter aided my thinking. The rest I found repetitive without adding much understanding. Richard Osman's The Impossible Fortune was a lot of fun, though with rather too many strands and characters to keep track of - a risk with series as they progress - a bit like life. 

Post 224 Music and Art

  

Converging Currents: Bark Paintings from Arnhem Land 

I had seen photos of Chihara Shiota's Absence embodied.  
It was something else to be in the midst of it, surrounded by fibres.

After 30C last week, today's forecast was 15C and rain. It certainly began in line with the forecast. No birds around this morning. It only made it to 14C.

I was to meet a friend at Elder Hall, in the grounds of Adelaide University on North Terrace in the CBD, at 11am to hear the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in their lunchtime Mozart at Elder concert series.

I had intended to catch the free city loop bus. While I used this bus frequently pre-Covid, I haven't ventured on board since it resumed service a couple of months ago. This morning, in the face of the rain, the footpath being blocked off by the building work, and consideration of whether I needed to wear a mask, I hesitated. I checked out the car parking option opposite Elder Hall and discovered there was an option to book parking online for less than half the normal drive-in cost. I went with this option.

The next debate was what to wear. I settled on layers, a black skivvy, a new top, and eventually a waterproof jacket. It still felt cold, so I added the lovely soft white scarf Vivienne gave me for my birthday. It served me really well - feels fantastic and kept me toasty warm in the neck area. 

The necklace made for me by a granddaughter matched brilliantly.

The parking arrangement worked well, very easy and convenient.

This concert series has been rescheduled because of Covid. To socially distance the audience on a chequerboard pattern, we were offered either a morning or afternoon performance. This is the first live concert I've been to since February and it was fantastic. I had not heard either of the first two pieces and loved them both, especially the Anton Webern.   

Carolyn and I had lunch at the Art Gallery. It was a bit odd. They are limited, under their Covid Safe Plan, to 20 chairs in the cafe. Staff had to juggle with other tables to find our second chair. We were also told we'd need to leave before we had coffee because someone was waiting for the table, but that was not enforced when someone else left and freed a table.  We were just happy to be able to catch up safely. 

After our lunch I visited two of the exhibitions, both spectacular. The Bark Paintings are from the permanent collection, and well curated.  Really interesting.

It's still cold and raining, but today's excursion warmed the cockles of my heart, as my mother would have said.

I have spent the evening on the last section of the second Rabbits panel. There are a few bits to finish, but it's getting close. It will be very exciting to block the two panels and put them together. Tomorrow.