Post 482 Pass with a Push

Wednesday began with my experiment to get my Crewel chair into my car. Before breakfast (nothing but reading happens before breakfast!) I measured the chair and the hatch opening. When the results were promising I worked out how to put down the back seats in my car. This involved reading the manual (a first), turning the engine on, putting the car into Park, and pulling, not pushing, the buttons on the seat backs. Success!

I then found the old wheels we used to carry with us when travelling, to mount suitcases before they were conveniently made with wheels. The attached bungee cord didn't reach all the way around so had to be held in my hand, but the device worked well enough for me to get the chair down in the lift and into the car.

I'm grateful to Fionn and to Margaret, both of whom offered to help. The chair is now safely delivered and receipted, along with the reversible apron.

Before leaving home I had attempted to retrieve something dropped behind a cupboard and in the process knocked over a standard lamp, breaking the shade. After dropping off the chair I went to a light shop with the neck of the broken shade to find a replacement. They didn't have one that fitted, but directed me to an antique dealer. 

When I visited later in the day, she turned out to have the most extraordinary collection of light shades - thousands. She found 3 that matched the size. I chose one. When I got it home and tried it, I  it fits, but not snuggly. The rim on the original, I realised, had been trimmed with a glass cutter! Untrimmed it wobbles slightly, but won't fall off. I don't use the lamp much so I'm hoping it will pass muster (or, as my mother would have said, 'pass with a push').

From the antique shop I dropped into Create in Stitch, 10 minutes before closing time, and grabbed a packet of the appliqué pins they advertised that day. I then used my phone to book myself into a Covid booster at the Central Market Pharmacy. It seems the vaccine, which was approved as a fourth booster from this week, is in short supply, and only a few pharmacies have it. My regular one doesn't have it. It's a while since I used the Market Pharmacy, which has expanded. They were efficient, meticulous with checking, recording, delivery and follow up.  The temperature was by this time 37C so I went home, made a coffee and stitched, very pleased with myself. 

On Thursday morning I discovered that the vaccine I received doesn't cover the very latest variants. A vaccine that does should be available in a couple of weeks time! I am very annoyed at the poor public information. I had planned to begin swimming again. Now I'm not sure.

The temperature reached 41C on both Thursday and Friday. It was still 31C at 6.50am on Friday when I took this photo. Relief came around 6pm with a cool change off the sea just as I was leaving a friend's place at Grange. I arrived home in time to open up the apartment as the change moved through the city.

I had been to the Grange Hotel for a Salt & Pepper Squid lunch, so had a bowl of carrot salad for dinner and a long talk to my brother about one of his latest research projects. Most of Saturday was followup.  It's been lovely to have the place open again,  breezes through, less plant watering, more energy, reading, research and stitching.

I've finished another cushion for Brigid and another baby's cardigan for the Guild. 

Brigid's cushion has inspired me to start another for myself - using up the last Dijanne Cevaal panel I have.         I need to start the Glazig embroidery soon ready for WES in April.

I've also booked into two Guild classes later in the year - and to three Adelaide Chamber Singers concerts - a toe into the waters of pre-Covid activity.

I'm enjoying the  cooler weather - mid 20sC this week. Along with great company, it made for a pleasant dinner last night. 

I tidied my pots and replaced a few plants today, inspired by this morning's eastern sky, and perhaps also by the gardening theme in the cosy The Village Mysteries I am reading.  

Encouraged by the progress of the plants in clay beads, and the advice of a friend, I'm trying one in water - in a bottle Jim bought many decades ago.  

Here's hoping - and experimenting.

The western sky at sunset bookends the day.

Post 481 Tired but Happy.

Today I drove down to Encounter Bay, 90km and 90 minutes south of Adelaide to visit friends who are currently living in the UK, but are here to prepare their Encounter Bay home for their return later this year. While the temperature in Adelaide today was 35C, it was lovely to sit on their deck and catch the breeze off Encounter Bay - a good 10 degrees cooler.

There were seals diving out in the Bay.

The view to the right of their deck is of the Bluff.

We went into Port Eliot for lunch, and on the way back stopped at a bookshop with a remarkable stock of current books, including a good supply of Lisa Hannett's Viking Women which is being launched in Adelaide this week. I had been working out where I could most conveniently get my copy. Now I have it.

I drove back this afternoon. It's not a difficult drive, but requires concentration. There are also sections of extensive roadworks along the way. It's been a lovely day, but I am quite tired. The forecast for tomorrow is 39C and I'm looking forward to doing very little - except taking my embroidered chair to the Guild Exhibition. Maybe not entirely restful .

Earlier in the week I visited Barrow and Bench and bought some replacement plants. I'm watering my plants twice a day in the current heat. They dry out so quickly.

My eldest granddaughter was 20 last Friday, and, on a high from the 90th Birthday bag, I made another one with 20 sea creatures for her. Again, details in my embroidery blog.

I'm also making her a couple of cushions. I forgot to photograph one (which is not embroidered) but I'm working on another one that has an embroidered panel.

It's a bit of a challenge. Originally I planned to use beads to give texture to this panel, but that isn't suitable for a cushion. It's progressing, and will, I think, work well.

On Thursday evening I had dinner with friends heading off on a cruise. Katherine made her fabulous pizzas for Saturday dinner. On Sunday I had Book Club in the morning and helped block 2 shawls for a friend in the afternoon. Monday's dinner was a selection of cold meats, party pies and salads  in view of the 35C temperature. Fortunately there was enough left to feed me tonight when I got home to 38C.

This little fellow came right up to my feet as I sat in the Square before everyone arrived for dinner yesterday. Bold.