Post 566 Here's a hand, my trusty friend

Like Bilbo Baggins' road in The Hobbit, this blog, originally for a single journey, goes ever on. I am now in the weekly rhythm and it helps me reflect, not only on auld lang syne, but on my here and now. I try to keep both the blog and my actions on a comfortably shaded path, not unlike this one as I entered Pakapakakanthi, or Victoria Park, this morning for a walk.

It was very quiet. The usual flocks and families of birds were elsewhere, leaving a lone Rosella to forage undisturbed.

The carpenter ants, however, were busy on the native Blackthorn bushes and there were park rangers, dog walkers and a few families about. I paused for a while on a log. 

It was, I suspect, more comfortable than the elegantly carved chair that I haven't noticed before.

Back at home, the letterbox held more lovely, newsy cards and I hung out the last washing of the year, a clean start to 2025.

Christmas morning brought photos and messages from family in Canberra before I thoroughly watered plants inside and on both balconies, closing screens and blinds before heading to lunch as the temperature hit 34C.  It was a relaxed (for me at least!) and joyful time. As you can see, we ate inside, where the temperature was pleasant. Outside it reached 37C, remaining well above 30C into the night. 

This was the centrepiece for our Christmas table, carefully arranged by Niamh and Veronica for the feast of lamb, pork, potatoes, carrot, parsnip, broccolini, beetroot, eggplant, pavlova & Yule log. 

The crackers from the Leprosy Shop were (apart from paper hats, which I doubt were naturally dyed!) eco-friendly and met with approval. The ‘favours’ were wooden. A spinning dice (Yes, No, Maybe, Never) got a good run. My scoop (1 teaspoon) now has a home in my Psyllium as my morning measure).

Fionn made a stunning focaccia with a complex dip for us to enjoy while opening presents. I limit my bread, but had 3 pieces. 

Everyone enjoyed their presents. Cookbooks and cooking equipment seemed to be the most popular.

I did well with hand and lip cream, amazing earrings and a book about Vietnamese costume, which I can already see as a hit at the Guild. The bag in which they came is a lovely example of Vietnamese embroidery. Best, however, is a hat! I’d planned to buy one of these, sponsored by the cancer council, but hadn’t braved the parking at the one shop I know sells them.

Yay! I've been wearing it whenever I go outside.

I got home around 5pm, in time to watch the Together at Christmas service at Westminster Abbey, which I really enjoyed, singing along to the carols and getting teary at the stories. The temperature remained high all night and was 31C when I woke on  Boxing Day. Oddly, it cooled down around 9am, after which it was deliciously cool and overcast with occasional bursts of sun. It remained thus for a couple of days.

While most of my balcony garden has done well through the heat, the Almanda I ‘saved’ from the blackbird did not make it.

The one given to me (left of the blue pot) is thriving as is the remaining one taken from it (right of the blue pot). I shall now start another for the friend to whom I promised one.

Over the last few weeks I’ve had a bit of trouble unlocking my letterbox. I have several keys, all cut from the 2 originals given to me by the previous apartment owners. I figured there was some wear on the one I use most regularly and swapped them around. On Boxing Day not even the original I used would work. I was mildly panicked. At this time of the year my chances of getting a locksmith are diminished. I had one original untried so overnight devised Plan A and B. On Friday morning I went downstairs armed with all keys, pen, paper and a large tape dispenser. Plan B involved taping over the letterbox slot with a note to take mail to the PO. 

After a couple of failures, the original key opened it. I have now locked it open. Whew! I can get mail! Yes, anyone else with access to our apartments can open it.  That’s a risk I can live with, unlike the risk of not getting my mail. I can now work out with our Strata rep how to get it fixed.

This slim volume arrived last week from the Book Grocer.- another one for passing around WES group. Imagine if it were stuck in my letterbox, its wrapping visible through the slot, out of reach!  

Shopping hours in South Australia over this holiday period are complex. Most businesses are closed on Christmas Day with the exception of convenience stores and a few hospitality venues. The day after Christmas Day is officially Proclamation Day, the day Governor Hindmarsh disembarked his shipload of free British settlers at Glenelg and declared a British Colony in 1836. 

In other states, this is Boxing Day. Under peculiar  and frequently amended restrictions, supermarkets are not allowed to open on this day, but other shops are, so Boxing Day sales go ahead, even though we don’t have Boxing Day! 

I did not venture to the shops until Sunday, when I replenished my butter supply and a few extras. The mince pies and Christmas puddings had disappeared, replaced by, yes, really, hot cross buns. I can only shake my head.

This is a very quiet time for me. The Guild is closed, families are on holiday and most services suspended. I take the opportunity to catch up on reading, trying to make up the gap in my Goodreads goal for the year. I began December nine books short but made up the shortfall. I am now one book ahead, having cleared up The Serpent and the Goddess, a couple by Ann Cleeves, and been captivated by new series by Abbie L Martin, set in the Adelaide Hills, beginning with The Ghost of Lilly Pilly Creek. I'm not a fan of ghostly cosy crime, but I loved these. There are four in the series. I read all four and want more!

Yesterday I took myself on a walk around the Square. The Sulphur crested cockatoos were out in force, silent for a change as they extracted seeds from the fallen pine cones. 

They shared the space peacefully with a couple of unusually coloured pigeons, while further away, in the sun, an ibis dug for insects.

I was home in time to take delivery of my order of 3 embroidery kits of Evil Eye deterrents. My WES talk on Evil Eye embroidery is not until the last quarter of 2025, but I thought I’d get started on an example or two. They look like fun. 

                                                       

It’s also a spur to finish the Aquile, which is coming along slowly. I'm planning to do more tonight, but can't finish it this year. It's quite challenging, and far from perfect. I hope to post the completed photo next week.

As I finished writing this, I could hear the 9pm Adelaide New Year's Eve fireworks but couldn't see them. This year they are back on the river, and Calvary Hospital blocks my view. 

I can only offer the view from my balcony. The white dot high in the centre of the sky is Venus, the Evening Star, associated with harmony, love and beauty.  What more could I wish for?

Post 532 Balcony, bags and books.

On Wednesday I had my annual audiology check up. There has been no change in my hearing since last year and my 9 year-old hearing aids are still working.  There have, of course, been technological advances in that time. I'm still pretty happy with the status quo, so I'm sticking with what I have. If something goes wrong, I'll upgrade - and I'm thinking 10 years is  probably the limit!

Afterwards, I went to Kmart at Kurralta Park looking for drawer organisers and a Book Club book. With a bit of help from staff, I found both items in the barn of a shop.  I bought drawer organisers in two sizes and early the next morning cleaned out three drawers and inserted organisers loaded with jumpers, trousers and scarves.  They are so promising I plan to go back for (lots) more! I even had a bag of clothes to take to the charity shop on Thursday.

The bobbins I had ordered following Janet’s talk  on braids at WES last week arrived - a packet for me and 4 packets for WES friends.  These open for winding the wool, then clip closed for use. As well as keeping the yarn untangled they provide weight when  braiding. They are not easy to find in Australia, but I found a source in Victoria.

On Thursday I skipped Pilates to take Veronica to Aptos Cruz Gallery in the Adelaide Hills. The Hills were in full Autumn glory which I didn’t manage to photograph as I was driving. I should have asked Veronica, who is a good photographer, to  oblige but didn’t think at the time. That evening I went to friends for dinner and had a great time . 

The Sheepjies blanket is now out as an extra layer on the bed as needed.

On Friday the upholsterer came and picked up the chair. It was a very quick and smooth operation without parking hassle. As the chair that's gone is my favourite for stitching, I rearranged so I can now use my Men of Skyros chair before heading to Frewville to shop for Monday night. I always enjoy shopping there, and ended up with a few bakery items to keep my spirits up while I put in a few hours proof-reading in the afternoon.

I grabbed a shot of one of the honeyeaters through the flyscreen on the balcony. They certainly love those flowers. 

I finished the Flannel Flower bag I mentioned last week.  I'm very happy with it and have lots of ideas to vary it. Detail  of this one is in my embroidery blog.

I'm also progressing the Kaffe Fassett Andes cardigan. At the moment I am knitting 5 rows that use two brown shades. It is hard enough to tell them apart in the ball, but when they are side by side as a thread it is nigh impossible.

The colour marked in red triangle is different to that in the blue triangle!

I have worked out a way of keeping them apart as I knit, so one is on my right and one on the left, but it requires concentration and vigilance!

Today our Strata maintenance team came to regrout my back balcony in an effort to stop a water leak on the balcony below. Leakage through my worn grout is likely to be a contributing, rather than a causal factor. Apparently the drainage pipes running through the ceiling below are worn at the joins and will be replaced - from below. 

The tilers were professional and considerate, agreeing to do half the floor at a time, moving my plants from one side to the other. It took about three and a half hours. The floor needs to dry overnight so there will be quite a bit of plant moving for me to do tomorrow. My cleaner helped me move the marble-top table back into place this afternoon - a job I struggle to do on my own.

I took the photo while sitting at my sewing machine,  making up a second Flannel Flower bag. I don't think the faces are clear enough to require me to seek permission to use the photo!

I began the Flannel Flower bag in the Fennel and Saltbush  colourway as soon as the Spice one was finished. I completed the embroidery yesterday. It's been fun experimenting with embellishment and it makes a decent bag. Detail, of course, in my embroidery blog.

I also sorted out the various Ink and Spindle linens I have and worked out how I will turn them into tote bags. Looks as if I will be busy with bags for a while. I have at least a dozen in mind. I've ordered another metre of plain Spice coloured linen for linings. 

The weather has varied considerably from several warm, sunny days, when the Ibis moved in and out of shade in the Square, to overcast, stormy skies. temperature drop and sudden showers this afternoon. I guess it is not only the colours of the leaves on deciduous trees that is changeable in Autumn.

It was lovely yesterday when we gathered here for a meal. Although it is still school holidays and Niamh is in Indonesia, Veronica was working her usual late afternoon shift in the city and the Uni term has started, so it was convenient for five of us to eat here.  

I really enjoyed the Richard Coles book I began last week and have ordered the second in the series. I've been trying to reduce the pile of books I have acquired. I  read Margaret Hickey's Broken Bay, set in South Australia. Next weekend is my Glazig Workshop at the Guild - so I need to spend a bit of time refreshing my understanding. Between this and moving plants back into place, bags and books may take second place this coming week.