Post614 To hear the Angels sing.

It's been a rainy week again here in Adelaide.  We had almost three times our average November rainfall this year, but the first two days of December have been fine enough for the birds to visit and the coming week is shaping up as washing friendly! I have sheets ready to hang out tomorrow.

Last week I  concluded with a comment that I looked like spending this whole week waiting for service people and deliveries. Au contraire, it all happened on Friday!

It wasn't raining when Shane arrived at 8.20am with an apprentice. to locate the roof leak I  had heard last Saturday. About 3 hours later, after removing my temporary manhole cover, inspecting the roof cavity by sticking his head through the hole, teaching the apprentice  to do the same, then working up on the roof for an hour or so, he reported back to me. He had found and repaired a roof capping and a capping on the top of the cement wall of our lift shaft inside the ceiling cavity (which has to be done from the roof as the ceilings are not load-bearing). He wasn't convinced it was the whole culprit. He was right. In the afternoon it rained and the drip was back! It only lasted about 20 minutes. He is recommending installing an evaporation tray in my ceiling, which should stop my drips. It won't, however, ensure the roof is waterproof. I wrote up a report for the Strata Committee and sent it off on Sunday.

No sooner had the roof repairers gone around 11, than the bathroom scales I had ordered arrived. They are certainly solid - and a bit larger than I expected. The tiles in the photo are 12" square. All the instructions assume they are for a doctor's surgery. I'm hoping they really will be reliable. The scale is marked in half-kilos and a bit hard to read when standing on them, and, of course, it doesn’t stay when you step off, but I can just manage it it with glasses on.

I was meant to go out to lunch when the repairers left. I was looking forward to it, wearing a dress, earrings, tights- even a change of handbag to match the dress. At 11.45am, I found a message from FedEx saying they were delivering a parcel between 10.20am and 2.20pm. This I knew to be the Bishops bags I had ordered from VistaPrint and I was anxious to get them.  I attempted to redirect the delivery to the nearby Pack and Send but got nowhere. Neither could I find out what they would do with the parcel if I was not at home.  I have had some bad experiences with couriers taking parcels to difficult-to-access depots. After several unsuccessful phone calls, answered from who-knows-where, and drawing a blank on their website, I cancelled my lunch attendance. The courier didn't turn up until 3.40pm. I could have gone to lunch.  Grrr.

At least, when the package arrived, the Bishop bags were very good and will serve the purpose I had in mind. The story of all the merchandise is in my embroidery blog. 

Also on Friday, B&O negotiated the delivery and installation of my new television on 12 December. In the various spells of waiting during the day I worked on another tote bag featuring a Kasia Jacquot panel, finishing it in the evening.

I find a lot to like in her designs. The stitches she suggests are simple and limited, but because she uses a full 6 strands of cotton, they give texture and dimension. She also has an eye for colour. I was sceptical about the idea of white around the heart - but it works.

I also had another call from my neighbour to check an email she feared was a scam. We spent a good half hour catching up. A lot was ticked off on Friday (at the cost of my lunch!)!

My hairdresser did go ahead and add my Santons to her window display. She sent me these photos on Thursday. I'm chuffed.

Plants on my back balcony enjoy the rain. I left the Vergola open for the early part of the week and closed it for much of the latter part. I paid a bit of attention to the indoor plants and those on the front balcony, which is covered and not reached by rain. I have a few plants I've struck from cuttings, growing in a range of odd glass jars or glasses in clay balls.  I'm especially pleased with this spider plant that I struck from a pup.

On Saturday I acquired more plants from Maggie’s Market at St Margaret’s. It was the last one for the year, so I dropped off some empty pots and came away with 5 plants, all varieties I’ve bought from them before and managed to grow. 

On the way to St Margaret’s I called at the Guild Stash sale. It was good to be there, catch up with a few friends and see the scope of members’ work. I found the basket in the photo above - good for a pot plant. Immediately after explaining I am not buying any more wool until I’ve cleared my stash, I saw these three odd balls and added them to the basket. It is acrylic, which I never buy, with a twist of metallic sparkle. Suddenly, knitting Christmas beanies was back on my agenda. I found a pattern. and began knitting that evening. After knitting about an inch of the band, it occurred to me I might be able to knit a coronet, rather than a beanie. I’d never seen a knitted coronet, but went looking and found a pattern that made use of the beanie band I was knitting.

By Sunday morning I was right into it. Knitting the peaks takes a bit of getting used to, and I made mistakes. I was planning to go to the cinema for a 2pm showing of The Choral, part of the British Film Festival. I was once a regular film goer, but haven’t been since Covid. I wanted to see The Choral, and I wanted to overcome my attendance reluctance. The Strata committee had planned a lunch picnic in the park which I had thought to attend for about an hour before heading to the film, but I ended up trying to master the peaks. I could see from the balcony there were only about 6 people at the picnic - most likely the committee. In the end I just went over and said hello before driving to the cinema. 

The cinema was crowded. Clearly most Adelaideans my age got over their COVID fears before me. The film was excellent, a bit more serious and thought-provoking than I expected. The music was as I hoped, and it was a tribute to determination, spirit and resilience. It did not gloss over the cost of war and its relentless machinery. That’s, I think, as it should be. 

I had intended to go to the 6pm carol service at the cathedral, but the film somehow left me with no appetite for it. I returned home and finished the test-run crown. The photo doesn’t show the sparkle.

It was good enough to wear, and work out improvements. I've been working on the second one, above in the photo. It works much better in a number of ways. I will repeat this one, but I also want to try a variation.

I’m enjoying knitting, especially when there’s a creative edge, but I hanker for an embroidery project, so I framed up another Kasia Jacquot panel, this time Veronka, which I’ve worked before. This time around I mounted it in snap frames so I could see most of the whole, using the Elbesee clamp in a seat stand  So far that’s working well. I haven't done much of it, but it's there to give me a change from knitting. 

I’ve ordered a couple of Kasia Jacquot’s stick-on embroidery patterns for tops. I want to embroider one to go with the pants I embroidered. Yesterday I went looking for a simple black cotton shirt.    I searched online and narrowed my choices down to a chain store that seemed to have several possibles. I wore the pants and tried on quite a few tops, including some men’s. Only one really fit the bill. It’s a cotton/viscose mix. I've also got a pale green linen shirt that might work.

Since it is now December, and Advent, I got down the box of Christmas decorations, made a selection, and hung them on the tree I bought last week. It is neither colour-coordinated, nor themed.

I also hung the Wise Men, star and bird in the mesh of the western fly screen. I don't have a hanging Holy Family, so have sourced one today from Melbourne. It may not be the best crafted, but it will arrive in time for Christmas. I didn't think the blank space was appropriate!

I had some tinsel ropes that now adorn the balcony rail in a haphard fashion. I haven't been down to the Square to see what they look like from below. I’m still finding and trying to remove the prickles in my hands and arm frombrushing on the cactus.The bendy Santa is climbing through the Snake Plant. You may be just able to see the Christmas Spider clinging to the leaf above his head on the right.

It's fairly restrained. I've been selective in choosing ornaments, just enough to capture a bit of history, memory, strength and hope.  There's not much bling.

Until I turn on the candles.

Post 461 A way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert

One way and another it has been quite a week, even though much of it was spent at home, on my own. I photographed this little flower on a walk around a nearby block - so cheery. The jacarandas , including

the one behind our building, are now in full splendour. I love the combination of colours, especially when the sun is out, as it has been much of the time. I've had occasion to close the Vergola roof on a couple of days, but also to have it open to enjoy some sun.

It  now seems the painting of the Eastern side of our building can't happen before April, and, since that isn't the best weather for painting, we will probably delay until Spring, in September-October. So I have put the planters back on the balcony rail, replaced the chair and replenished the plants.

The chair could do with a repaint. It was originally black. I painted it white and upholstered  armrests and cushions in the late 70s, then removed the upholstery and repainted in the 90s. I'm not sure I have the space (or the energy) for another makeover. 

The doves seem to sense something is afoot, and come back to explore, casting long and interesting shadows.  

I bought portulaca, alyssum, petunias and coleus to fill in spots where annuals or spent plants were thinning. After all the rain, it is surprisingly dry and I'm trying to keep them watered daily.

The Unley Village Shopping Centre also had a bonsai nursery pop-up stall. This ficus caught my eye and I bought it.

It's elegant. I'm not sure what I will do in 2-3 years time when it needs repotting. Maybe the shop will pop-up again and I can ask them to do it for me. If push comes to shove I could probably learn.

The Adelaide 500, an annual (except for Covid) 4 day Supercars event has been on this week. It is a street circuit, so roads are closed on the Eastern side of the city and traffic diverted. There are lots of people heading towards the venue at various times, and plenty of noise. The cars themselves provide a kind of background drone, and the nightly concerts would probably keep me awake if they didn't finish abruptly at 11pm. There are a lot of helicopters - probably both news photographers and safety monitoring- and a daily jet fly-past. It was manageable for a non-car enthusiast resident, but I might consider going away for those 4 days next year. 

On Sunday I decided to take a break and find somewhere out of the city to have a (very) late lunch. I had the same thought on Saturday, while my Adelaide family were at a very long and special wedding, but got distracted.

It was very warm but I took a risk on driving to the beach around 3pm, thinking I'd have a walk and late/early meal at the Grange Hotel. I hadn't reckoned on the parking - which was impossible. Eventually I drove back home and had a 4pm meal at the pub on the Square, sitting outside and ignoring the helicopters.

The squid was good, the salad a bit too much chilli for me. The chips were fine, but I limited myself to half of them.

There was a 6pm Evensong at the Cathedral on Sunday to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women in the Anglican Church. The first Adelaide ordination of women was on 5 December 1992 when 5 women were ordained priest. While I had followed the work of the Movement for the Ordination of Women at the time, I was not a member. I was, in those years, heavily involved in affirmative action for women and change within education and couldn't fight on two fronts. I had friends in Sydney who were members, and I kept my eye on it.

It was very much part of my development - and my disconnection from the church -  so I did want to celebrate the achievements of 30 years.

The Cathedral wasn't packed, but it was a decent crowd. I joined Katherine, Anthony and the girls. On display were some of the original banners (or replicas thereof) celebrating the long line of women leaders in the church.

Four of the original five ordinands were at the service, 

One, Susan Straub, spoke graciously of the time - and those in Adelaide who supported the struggle.

Bishop Denise's sermon was the gentle and useful perspective of one who, as a New Zealander, did not claim the same struggle as those 5 women and pushed us to 'go and tell' - essentially 'get on with the job'.

The anthem, music by Rachel Bruerville was a powerful rendition of Isaiah 43:18-19 Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old, I am about to do a new thing. Make way.

The Diocese had produced a 32 page booklet to commemorate the event, outlining the history and reproducing photographs - a sensible and creative thing to do. 

There's still a way to go, but it is encouraging and timely to mark progress. Adelaide and Sydney were the hold-out dioceses in relation to ordaining women. It is a privilege to be in Adelaide to celebrate 30 years on.   I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

When I got home, not hungry after my 4pm lunch, I watched Pilgrimage to the Scottish Isles on ABCTV. It seemed appropriate - six people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs trying to understand St Columba's original journey from Ireland to Christianise the Scots - well before Augustine was sent by Rome. Adoption and adaptation, recognition of connectedness - interesting themes in belief as they are in education or embroidery. 

Last Friday I took 7 knives to the Guild, carefully wrapped in a tea towel inside a wine-bottle bag. I wasn't going to make it to yesterday's general meeting when Mr Knife was coming to sharpen any scissors or knives for members. My knives were in need of sharpening and I didn't want to miss the opportunity, so I dropped them in with the money. As a consequence, I gave up my plan for roast pork for Monday night's dinner, since I would not have a carving knife. Chicken Maryland had to do. I joined the Tuesday stitchers today and collected the knives. I'm almost too scared to unwrap and wash them. As if the warning isn't enough, the band aid is really putting me off!

While waiting for family to arrive yesterday, I got out the Christmas decorations and decided to adorn the large ficus on the front balcony. There are a few historic items - the decorated felt boot made at playgroup sometime in the 70s, wooden soldiers and sparkly stars - as well as felt figures of gingerbread people and Wizard of Oz characters I've made in the last decade (relevance to Christmas? seemed like a good idea at the time.)

The Yukka branch now hosts an angel and a Christmas Cactus, given to me by a dear friend in Tucson after 9/11, while the pewter horn and reindeer acquired  at a Christmas Fair at Mt Vernon, now make shadows from door handles.

I'm quite pleased with the UNESCO snowflakes and Katherine's suggestion for one of the lovely paper fold-out balls works best of all above the etching of a melancholy former Treasurer, Paul Keating.            

I really love these balls, which seem to have sold out, so I can't provide a link. 

I've always been a bit of a sucker for fold-out paper shapes. In any case there was  a bit of a touch of Christmas about the place by dinner time yesterday. This is the last week of term and I am unlikely to have visitors between now and Christmas, but I like the touch. The pennants, somewhat faded, proclaim the season to the street. After dinner, Anthony and Veronica tightened the legs on all my dining chairs. Many thanks!

I've been stressing for more than a week about the fact that the medical for my driving licence, duly filled out and sent registered mail to the appropriate department 3 weeks ago, had not arrived. The tracking information said it was delayed. My query to Australia Post resulted in a response today that basically said 'we don't know what happened to it but it probably arrived' so I bit the bullet and rang the department. After only about 15 minutes of listening to messages I spoke to a pleasant woman who checked. Lo! it has reached the department! It has not been assessed and added to my record, but yes, they have it! I am absurdly pleased and relieved. I will follow her advice to ring in a week's time to check it has made its way into my record. My contingency plan of organising a new form and repeating the process is on the back burner!

Finally, I got my Christmas cards organised in November this year, since last year, some posted in the first week of December did not arrive until February! I'm pleased with this year's card, and posted the overseas ones a week ago.  Each year now I spend more time checking that friends I haven't heard from are alive and able to receive cards, especially since Covid has made communication really difficult for some. A long newsy email from my friend in Watford had me on a high for days.

I held the Australian cards back until today, taking them with me to post on the way home from the Guild. Unfortunately, the coffee cup I took with me was not properly secured and leaked on the cards. I cleaned up as best I could. One card needed replacing. I think the others are OK.  My mother's voice says for an intelligent child you can be very stupid at times but I'm ignoring that in favour of no use crying over spilt coffee.