Self-isolation Day3: friends, family, food and another finish

It was good to hear the bells of Adelaide's Catholic Cathedral ringing today. It's a lovely city sound - and a way of knowing what day it is, since it's otherwise hard to tell in isolation!  Our governments have tightened lock-down today. I'm not yet clear what this will mean in South Australia, but it won't get any easier to move around.

Today a friend baked pasties and banana/date bread and dropped some in to my apartment door. I was able to wave from my balcony, and talk to her by phone through the process.


While we were talking on the phone a neighbour was calling to drop off a treat for me.  

This turned out to be fresh bread and hot cross buns. 

I had a delicious lunch of pasties, a banana and banana bread thanks entirely to friends.

I'm about to have a fresh egg roll for dinner!




I also had a long phone conversation with my immediate neighbour. It's great to know they are OK and to share our circumstances. I don't see how we could set up the Italian singing routine here - but being in touch and encouraging each other is critical. My brother called again. So good to be in touch.


In the afternoon I got to work on turning my Kate Barlow black and goldwork piece into a pouch. The black fabric from the RSC proved to be perfect as lining.







I'm getting better at inserting zips into pouches and was very pleased with the smooth line I achieved with this.

I haven't decided whether to use this to keep my goldwork tools, or my metallic threads.


I now have two of my Stratford projects finished and am working at a relaxed pace on the third.

I have registered for home delivery with Woolworths and constructed an order. Their delivery options however are currently closed. I am assuming once they approve customers, myself included, for home delivery, the delivery options will open up on their website.


I have also managed to order a paperback copy of Martha Grimes The Dirty Duck from England. Martha Grimes writes crime fiction centring around English pubs, this one the Black Swan in Stratford-on-Avon.  It isn't available electronically to Australia and my interest was aroused with a reminder from Melody in Stratford. I gave away all my Martha Grimes books when I moved.  Goodness knows how long it will take to arrive! In the meantime I managed to borrow her The Knowledge from Overdrive, so I'm well into that.


















It was a bit chilly this morning, so I am here today in the top that Genevieve helped me choose at the Edinburgh Woollen Mill. By late this afternoon the sun was out, so I've included these shots taken around 6pm rather than the sunset.

My egg roll is nearly ready. When I've eaten I'll continue on the Muncaster Orange.


I hope my readers are safe and busy. Stay in touch when you can.  Friends and family are what keeps us all going.

Day 18: By the Avon

After breakfast this morning I worked for about an hour on the Muncaster Orange until my room was serviced. Not, regretfully, in my chosen corner of the lounge which was occupied by strangers having breakfast. There was, however, a good spot in the window in the bar.

It is Saturday, and the place is buzzing. I listen to two elderly men teaching a third friend to do the cryptic crossword. He wants to learn. In between teaching they discuss the horses running today at Cheltenham.

Once my room is serviced I empty my bag all over my bed and repack it with some care and wash some smalls. Wouldn't do to pack dirty clothes. It fits quite nicely.


I walk down to the river. It's overcast and cool but there are plenty of people about.  I had a look in the RST shop. It's an interesting collection, and includes some packs of small fabric squares from costumes made for the 2019 season. Of course I buy one. There were also packs of larger pieces from the Winter Season- almost fat quarters,  in muted Winter colours.

Along the river the swans are out in force, cadging from the parents who have brought their children to be terrified by feeding them.

I love the swans - but they are pretty fearsome. There is nothing in their expressions to suggest they are friendly.

They are nevertheless photogenic.

Further up the river there's another group of them being fed. My original lot sense a better deal and paddle furiously to compete











only to be disillusioned.

Swans are not the only birds hanging around for their chance.



















The canal lock is deserted. It fell into disrepair but was reopened in 1968 by the Queen Mother.



I'm sure it gets more use in Summer.









I didn't check if this is actor or bard stepping up to speak.




I was distracted by this piano man, playing and singing Music Hall songs as he pedalled his piano in a circle along the river, collecting donations in the hat attached to  the side of the piano.










There were plenty of people out and about, holding hands and showing no signs of Covid19 panic.










This tree was my the most beautiful thing I saw on my walk




especially when the birds were wheeling.

Back at the hotel I did more stitching in the bar, had my soup for late lunch (along with a ham, cheese and pickle sandwich instead of scones - how good am I!).  This time my companions were couples, English and European. Manners, I notice, dictate they whisper so as not to disturb others. Larger groups usually feel free to talk loudly.


As I contemplated my morning's purchased, it struck me that the fabric packs I had rejected might make really appropriate lining and backing for the pouch I intend to make from Nicola's Midsummer Pillowe. So back I went, and indeed, I think this pack has at least three possible pieces. So the Midsummer Pillow may be constructed with the Royal Shakespeare Theatre's 2019 Winter Season costuming! There's a task to keep me occupied if I have to self-isolate when I return home!



As I walked back to my hotel, the bicycle piano man was just turning into Sheep Street and passed me by with a rendition of "It was just one of those things".



I finished my stitching in my room. The bar on a Saturday evening is not conducive to solitary stitching.

I finished the first orange, which pleases me no end. I shall put this away now until tomorrow. It will become my Mitre Project. I have my travel project to keep me happy until then.

I've picked up my wallet from the hotel safe, the washing is nearly dry and bags ready to receive the last of the toiletries, cords and devices.


Tomorrow is Mitre day!

Day 9: Blackwork and King John

Today's post is a bit short. This is because it is the first day of our second project, and my concentration was on my stitching until we finished at 4.15pm. Our evening meal was at 5pm so we could be at the Theatre for King John at 7.30.  This left little time for blogging.

Our room for this project is not as pleasant as Nicola's room but we have excellent lamps and plenty of room to move. It is a small, pleasant group and Kate Barlow is an attentive and well organised teacher.



The kit is lovely and the instruction booklet very clear, supplemented by a large, clear and detailed diagram.

We began on the Blackwork. The linen is 32 count which I don't usually work, but it was lovely to work with and fine with magnification and light.

There is much hilarity about the Australian toilet paper crisis. During this afternoon's session I received an email from the CEO of Woolworths explaining how hard Woolworths and their suppliers are working to replenish supplies of toilet paper. It seems it's a boom for a couple of rural towns, with the Kleenex factory in Millicent working 24 hours a day 7 days a week to meet demand. My fellow retreaters are offering to fill my suitcase with toilet paper to help out.

The world really seems to be off-kilter.

We had pre-theatre dinner at 5pm, I only 4 hours after our very substantial lunch - so we can be at the Theatre just after 7pm.  It's a 2 minute walk from our hotel. There was a lot of atmosphere and anticipation in the foyer.

We had very good seats. It was fairly full - though not a sellout house.

I thought it was an excellent production, directed by Eleanor Rhode, with King John played by Rosie Sheehy.

There is a food fight in the first half which takes most of interval time clean up.

I was not familiar with the play, but neither Shakespeare nor the production disappointed. I liked the modern costumes and sets carrying the words of Shakespeare, The stylisation of costume and use of dance movement carried the message of power, corruption and self-interest as universal. It left me, at least, feeling strengthened even in the face of such evil - a far cry from the impact of reading news reports every day and emails explaining shortages.

I'm very glad I went and grateful to Phillipa for thinking to organise it.

Our world seems less awry - or no more so than other times- after the play.