Post 156

I have had considerable problems with layout and font size in this post - apologies in advance for  inconsistency.


This morning there seemed to be a pause in the building work around 9.30 am - probably what my father would have referred to as Smoko. It was enough for Turtle to visit for the first time this week.


Once I put out some seed, Myrtle turned up as well. They did a good job of putting away most of the seed in less than 10 minutes and were gone before work recommenced.

When it did, it was right on the boundary of our building, drilling out cores of soil (one can be seen lying on the right edge of the photo near the base of the wall).

This action was followed by the insertion of a wire core. At the end of the day cement was being added from a cement mixer.





The owl bag had dried overnight  and didn't look too bad after it had been ironed. The Inktense pencil had bled a little, but, as Jennifer said, it gives the impression of being tie-dyed. Jennifer has followed the making of the bag and it had her name on it.  We had lunch today at Grange, so relaxed and enjoyable that I forgot to take photos.

Jennifer has another test on Tuesday and is booked for her Bronchoscopic Tracheal Dilation on Thursday. This morning she had a call from a researcher in Perth requesting that Jennifer participate in ongoing research into the long-term impact of Covid on those who have been infected. She is very pleased to be involved and agreed. 

In her email yesterday, my friend Christine in Watford commented that there are many similar stories here and the specialists are looking to set up specialist hubs to deal with the virus survivors and the complex problems they have been left with - but with the ongoing serious complications only now being discovered it's not good news.

Australia, of course, has a much smaller population pool from which to set up hubs, but it is good to know that research is being undertaken. With the recent increase in cases in Melbourne, and, to a lesser extent, Sydney, there is a growing number of affected 'long haulers'.


Christine also wrote of the impact on her community. Depressing news of closures here continue - our last department store in Watford is not reopening - we have lost our John Lewis’s- a great loss so no where to buy a cotton reel now and lovely Christmas decorations etc. Also heard that the WI college at Denman isn’t going to reopen so no more residential needlework courses there for me - not many place left to go and stay now  - others of course may yet bite the dust. Watford's football team this week also managed to get its self regulated down from the Premier League in the play offs in empty stadiums  so a cloud of gloom hangs over the whole town!

At the moment we are very fortunate here in South Australia. Netball has started up again, with restrictions and limited, modified football games are occurring. Junior Embroiderers are meeting tomorrow for the first time since March.  We are all conscious, however, of how fragile these arrangements are. and dependent on continuing vigilance.



There was a fabulous, wide-open sky as I drove home after dropping Jennifer at her place.

Very late in the afternoon, a parcel arrived, a large box from Hampers with Bite. Inside were a range of goodies, from tea, chocolates, marshmallows, and a lidded glass mug. The enclosed card simply said "Josh". I only know two Joshes, one is my plumber, who I haven't seen for 12 months, the other is the youngest child of a family for whom I recently made a set of face masks.

It was, of course, the family who had sent the parcel, but the company lost the message that was meant to accompany it, along with the names of the other 4 family members.! So glad we were able to sort it out. I'm grateful for the generosity and pleasure of the gift - and for the story that now goes with it!





As we solved the parcel mystery the sun was setting in a spectacular fashion over Adelaide

and the building work was silent.














I spent the evening progressing the cube bag. I've finished the four-sided stitch border on the first square and partially on the second square. This is not fast work, but looks good.

Altogether, a eventful and privileged day.

Post 148 : Mostly masks on my mind

Before having breakfast this morning I constructed two more masks and threaded one with a cord discarded from a trouser waist, and an elastic loop designed to go around a head. I packaged these up with those finished yesterday and mailed them to Canberra later in the day on my way to Pilates. .

I have changed my Pilates class from Friday to Thursday, because on Thursday there are only 4 students using the equipment, whereas there are 7-8 on Friday. While the studio practices strict hygiene, I feel more relaxed with fewer people.

From Pilates I went to Spotlight to buy more elastic. I had a good supply and have not yet used all of it, but since mask-making and adjusting is likely to continue for a bit, I thought I needed a supply. I met two other women buying elastic for their daughters - both buying it to send to a daughter in Melbourne, where shops have run out of elastic. While we had a discussion about which elastic would be better, we all agreed we will only know by testing by the user.

It seems that elastic might be the new toilet paper. At least elastic buyers have specific projects in mind!


Since I was more than half way to the beach and it was lunch time, I phoned Grange Jetty Cafe to see if they had a table for one and took myself there when the answer was positive.












It was a lovely winter day. There were plenty of people there, but appropriately distanced. It was warm enough to be outside and enjoy some seafood.


Although the photos don't show it, there is a canvas canopy over this outside section on which I was fascinated  to watch the the silhouette of a seagull.



More embroidery ideas.



























I was very glad I had taken the time out.










Back at home I made four more masks, but without adding elastic. I think I need  to test out the elastic in the existing ones before adding more - even though I now have a good supply.

This morning I also contacted the Guild about a class I thought I had booked into this weekend. There was no record of my enrolment. We are not sure what went wrong - it could well be my mistake. The good news is that there is room for me and I can attend while we sort out what happened! I'm really looking forward to it.







I have just, with great difficulty, blocked the shawl on the floor - the best I could do. It is huge - and ungainly.I don't have an open space to fit it - and I can't get down on my knees to crawl along and pin it properly.

In the meantime I'm relaxing with the owl.