Post 542 Plant-based post on new laptop!

I'm delighted to be posting this from my new laptop! I drove into the city around 10.15am on Wednesday with my old one. I'd have taken the bus but as I had Pilates 10km away at 1pm I  figured I'd need to go straight there. At Apple I waited about 15 minutes before my attendant arrived with the new laptop, asked a few questions, took some details, got my signature  - and told me I could go home and they would send a text when the data transfer was complete! I was stunned. It made a difference that I had backed up to a hard drive. While I was there I bought a new back-up hard drive. It seems risky to trust my 8 year-old hard drive to back up the new machine.  I also bought a stylus for my iPad Mini. It is taking some of the pressure off my left thumb, which I've used repetitively not only for knitting, but also on the iPad for word and number games. 

I was home by 11.30 and the crumb brush I had ordered was in the letterbox. It's neat, and a lot more efficient than the pokerwork one, which I will now dispose off. 

As I was leaving at 12.40 pm for Pilates the message arrived to say my computer data transfer was complete and I could pick up both laptops! I  collected them on the way home from Pilates. 

The new one operated flawlessly - all programs, passwords, content  operational- including those that had ceased working on the out-of-date operating system of the old one.  All tribute to the Rundle Mall Apple Centre!  (I have nevertheless chosen not to include a photo of a laptop!)

There were only two of us at Pilates - a good workout. While on the balance board I look out on the studio garden where an Agave is preparing to bloom. It looks as the one at the Guild did a couple of years ago.

I'm looking forward to seeing it bloom. 

To celebrate the laptop (and because, by 4pm, I was hungry) I went to the pub for a 4pm lunch  of whiting fillets. 

In the letterbox was a lovely little embroidered bag with hand lotion  - a gift from a neighbour from my old Hindmarsh home, who had presumably been passing while I was in the city. It all made for a magic day.

The sun shone on Friday as a neighbour from the floor below came up to ask my advice on her next knitting project. She wants something to knit while at a chatty craft group and to keep her hands busy while watching TV. She's tired of the blanket she's been knitting for months. I pulled out some fairly easy patterns for shawls and cardigans, and she's taken them  with enthusiasm to think about.  After she left I took myself of to Craft Alive at the Showground. It was on over the weekend and I figured Friday would be less crowded. 

It was fun to look around. I had a talk to the women on the Handknitters' Guild stall (after they plied me with questions about the cardigan I was wearing), and waved to the volunteers on the Embroiderers' Guild stall. I was tempted by some Sashiko threads, including metallics, and some beautiful turned wood encased stitch rippers and needle threaders but came away empty handed. It was a pleasant outing and good to get a notion of what's out there at the moment.

I spent the rest of the afternoon on the western balcony, soaking up sun and plant perfection.

The Euphorbia Trigonum I bought a few years ago as a ‘rescue me’ plant, about 12cm high is thriving. It had a growth spurt this year. The main stand is now about 90cm high and there are numerous new stems. the narrowed bit is where it regrew after it broke in transit and I put it together with sticky tape! 

 ' ' 'The western balcony is protected from the wind which raged all night and though Saturday. On the eastern balcony,  I found the yellow poinsettia I had planted (obviously not well!) several weeks ago lying on the tiles with roots exposed - lifted straight out of its container!  I've put it back in, watered it well, and placed rocks on top.

Although it is school holidays, with three family members working in the city and two without Monday sporting commitments,  dinner went ahead here yesterday. I cheated and bought family pies from the bakery, to serve with roast potato and veg, but it worked well. I am blessed.

This morning Michelle came to measure for my blind, and is now preparing a quote. It's going to look great - and improve insulation.  

When she left I took myself off to Bunnings to buy a strong metal plant stand. I had noticed on the weekend that the wooden one holding up a barbecue lid I had turned into a garden bed, was collapsing under the weight. The lid has a substantial handle which  means it won't sit on the ground. Bunnings have just the thing - a metal stand with a circular top in which the lid sits nicely. 

I also bought potting mix to pot up the plants from last week's church sale. 

In the late afternoon I got a bit of warmth on the Western balcony while adding to this post. The battery charge on the new laptop has lasted all week. It hasn't been in constant use, but the old one was barely lasting 3 hours! My current plan is to charge and back up each Tuesday night after posting this.

I finished the first sleeve of the coatigan and am working on the second. I have 35 rows to go to the decrease. I don't think the sleeves are roomy enough, compared to the body and have formulated a plan to adjust them.

I have set myself a goal to finish by the end of the month - so on with it!

Post 404 Stresses, fears and challenges

This week began with the monthly meeting of the World Embroidery Study Group and a presentation on Opus Anglicanum by Margaret, who had worked some lovely examples, which, focused on the running of the meeting, I failed to photograph.  It was fortuitous that Tanya Bentham's book has finally been published and we had a copy to peruse.

It's an active group, with lots of interaction, ideas and queries. Junette had brought along a scarf with maritime motifs she was hoping members could help her make sense of. Maria is hoping that next year we can help her learn more about Lagatera embroidery through a bedspread she has inherited. I am still following up on things members asked me after the formal part of the meeting.

On Thursday I had my follow-up meeting with the nephrologist. He is pleased - and I suspect, surprised, with my weight loss progress.  Unlike my GP, he will be satisfied when I have lost another 8kg. Statistics apparently indicate that as the high risk point for kidney donors.  I plan to have reached at least this when I next see him in April. He also advised that I am at high risk should I contract Covid, and need to have a Moderna booster shot as soon as I am eligible - which is early January.

My creatinine level, which alarms my GP, is, according to the nephrologist, below the alarm level for a kidney donor.  Diabetes is the big enemy and his focus.  If I continue to make progress and reach his weight goal in April, he will see me every 12 months.  

It is jacaranda time in Adelaide and the streets transforming.  By this time next year (Deo volente) I plan to be pretty close to my recommended BMI weight level - a lot more than 8kg lighter.

The nephrologist appointment was followed by Pilates, and capped off by dinner with friends at Louca's seafood restaurant.  I allowed myself a small glass of wine - the first since 27 June and a one-off.

Adelaide is not the only city with jacarandas in bloom. This one (left) is near my brother's place in Sydney, taken on Saturday evening from the roof of their apartment. He and my sister-in-law held a dinner to launch Conversations with Baby Boomer Teachers with some of their friends whose stories are in the book. 

They began the evening with drinks on the roof. At 8.30 I called in from the family dinner at Katherine and Anthony's place, and had a chat with them. They were having a good time.

I'm really grateful to their participation, their willingness to celebrate and to my brother and sister-in-law for their commitment to making it an occasion and the book a success. 

Back in Adelaide, on Sunday I did a little Christmas shopping and bought some more plants at Bunnings to replace the potted colour that had passed its best on my balcony.  I bought a punnet of six portulaca seedlings which I've spread in various places, a dark pink geranium and a sunflower to brighten up the back balcony. The sunflower is not yet in bloom, but will be soon.

There are two small but bushy poinsettias for the front and a lily for the living area. 

I also sorted through my box of Christmas decorations. I decided the 60cm  tree that lights up and flashes when plugged in was not working well and past its use-by date. I deposited it, and another plug-in decoration, at Bunnings' e-recycling.

I've been embroidering and knitting for Christmas. The one I can share is the completed Babushka fridge magnet. It has taken me a long time. I've found it hard going on the plastic canvas. Even adapting it to fit in a hoop it has taken a lot of effort to stitch through the canvas. 

The result, however, is very pleasing. So much so, I have decided to make another one. I think the gift requires two.  

I am not, however, happy with the magnets included in the kit. This (left) glue-on magnet is designed to be cut  in 4, and used for four designs in the kit.  This is not my idea of an effective fridge magnet, so this afternoon I took a trip to Officeworks  to see if I can do better. 

I now have a 3 metre roll of self-adhesive magnetic strip, and a packet of smaller strips -  enough for around 90 fridge magnets - just in case.  The strip on the right is now firmly attached. 

The adhesive strip seems to work and the magnet sat easily and firmly on the fridge when I tried it out.  I wouldn't don't want to give a Christmas fridge magnet that doesn't work, however attractive!

Monday was lamb shanks for dinner, with roast potatoes, broccolini and beans. Worked well. I've found a new brand of passata which I think works better than my old (more expensive) brand. I had left-overs for tonight's dinner.

I've also received and examined the plans for the two pieces of furniture I ordered. The bookshelves are too close together. I've measured and thought and discussed with K & A over dinner. I think I will need to settle for two shelves instead of three. A pity, and disappointing, but I don't think the alternative - raising the height of the unit - will work. I will visit Nordic Furniture tomorrow to finalise. 

Unfortunately, and much more disappointing, the new controller for my roller shutter, that I was charging when I posted last week, did not fix the problem. I requested service but hadn't had a response by this morning, so  chased them up by email today. This evening I had an apologetic call, and a time for a technician to visit next Monday. It seems likely the problem may be the motor - which requires a scaffold to access. The parts are covered by guarantee, but not labour, so, as I suspected, the cost of the scaffold will be mine. No point in crossing that bridge until I come to it. My stress is significantly relieved by having a time for it to be assessed.

As if to acknowledge my relief, the new poinsettias on the front balcony looked lovely in the afternoon light.

The second magnet is progressing. I've chosen one with more colours than the first one and this time I worked the outline first. It's been a little easier so far. 

One way or another I found this a week of stresses and challenges. At the end of it I am more at peace than at the beginning - and more confident. I've also clocked up the 15th kg weight loss.

Post 322. Home again, home again

I got away from Lady Bay in good time this morning - right on the 10am checkout time. I didn't see my Magpie visitor, but there was evidence that at least one had been on my balcony. I declined to provide photographic evidence. I also tipped the barely tasted bottle of de-alcoholised wine down the sink.

It was a smooth trip back even though traffic picked up markedly from Noarlunga and was slow once I reached South Road. I peeled off at Cross Road and stopped at Unley Village for fruit  -and scones. 

The South Australian university offers were made this morning. Brigid had accepted, and deferred for one year, the offer of the course she wanted in the School of Mathematical Sciences at Adelaide Uni, before I was 15 minutes out of Normanville. So pleased for her - and full of admiration. 

My plants seem to have survived the days of heat in Adelaide while I was away. The petunias are looking a bit scruffy, but the poinsettia has thrived in its sink of water. There are new shoots and some lovely effects in the afternoon light.

Clearly the building work next door resumed this week while I've been away. I am disappointed to see reinforcing rods have been installed across the whole  building, indicating, I think, an imminent concrete pour. There are slate slabs underneath and I had begun to hope that this back section might be an outdoor area rather than part of the nine storey building. This looks like a floor for the whole walled site. No idea why you would put this over slate tiles. I'm not allowing myself to stress, but it's disappointing. Glad, however, that I missed out on a week of building activity.

There was another treat in store - a parcel in my letterbox proved to a birthday present from my friend Vivienne - a lovely embroidered bag with rolls of ribbon that will be perfect for my next batch of  drawstring bags. I really love the embroidery. The satin stitch is exquisite.

Having unpacked and restored my plants to their rightful places 

I felt inordinately tired, so had a coffee and couple of scones while reading  William Gore.

I really enjoyed it. It was fun - clever without taking itself too seriously.

There were no kangaroos or golfers in tonight's sunset, but the twin trees and the bat tree were well in evidence

and a fine crescent moon.

I finished yesterday's hillock, moved my hoop and began the next one.                                                   

Enough for today. 

Post 310 Mostly buried in a spreadsheet.

 

My library booking for an electronic copy of this came up yesterday, so I downloaded and began reading. This was drawn to my attention by Ann Borthwick. She and my late husband worked with Natalie Conyer on the Myer Committee in the 1990s, working on a national set of key competencies for high school graduates.

This is Conyer's first novel, a crime mystery set in Cape Town. It creates a strong sense of time and place, is well-paced with memorable characters and no stereotype in sight. While it is a legitimately described as a police procedural, it is overwhelmingly an exploration of state corruption, more comparable to Le Carre's Cold War espionage novels than traditional police procedurals. I found its world hard to come to terms with and wanted the plot to move faster. I will be very interested to see the series develop - there's a sequel in the pipeline..

While I was reading there were visits from a dove or two, then two Magpie-larks turned up. I think my friend Vivienne may be right when she suggested they find spiders on apartment balconies. They paid attention to a railing container that has a web on it. They didn't stay long.

I spent several hours throughout the day on my spread sheet. By the end of the day I had completed it and made a summary of some of the statistics. I'm very pleased to have done this. It is fairly tedious work, but makes the next writing task possible - and more enjoyable. It's been a reminder of how good some of these stories are. That's where the strength lies, rather than in analysis.

It was a very pleasant day in Adelaide - or so it seemed from my windows, which was the only way I saw it. It is lovely to have the doors open on to both balconies and get a breeze through. I'm grateful for this comfortable weather.

My 2019 Christmas poinsettia, which is doing quite well on the Western balcony, has a single red leaf that catches the sun and the eye in the last rays of the sun. I don't mind that the other leaves are all green. One red leaf is enough.

On Thursday, when I missed the parcel delivery I had been thinking that Monday, as well as Friday, was a public holiday. It isn't, of course, which means I can pick up th e parcel tomorrow.

It hasn't been a big stitching day, but I did make some progress on Lady Anne's Flowers. I'm now well into the tree trunk, which will occupy time tomorrow, when I am not picking up parcels

Post 285 Shopping, Graduands, lost and found

After a good catch up on the phone with Vivienne, I set off to Adairs to buy another pot stand for the poinsettia. The one I put it in yesterday was bought three years ago to house the Christmas poinsettia, but has been home to a peace lily for a couple of years. I evicted it yesterday to house the poinsettia but thought it time to buy another stand.  I chose the rattan one from an ad. The rounded base should distribute weight more easily and be less likely to leave an indent on the carpet. It was the last one  in the shop. The woven pot  is from Mombasa.The lily is now back in its happy place.

From Adairs I went to Port Adelaide to do a bit more Christmas shopping. Fairly successful.

I progressed the sashiko piece a fair way, but didn't finish it. I also managed to choose a pile of threads for Lady Anne's Flowers.

Tonight is Niamh and Veronica's Year 7 graduation. They dropped their gladrags here this morning and came after school to shower and change. Brigid arrived to help with hair and makeup.

She was also roped into a photoshoot in the Square as they were on their way. The evening begins with a dinner at a hotel near the school, followed by a graduation ceremony and culminating in a disco.

It was marvellous to see them tearing across the Square  - on the way to a graduation!

Not  long after, Brigid had a message from Veronica to say that Niamh couldn't find her phone. We searched the apartment to no avail. I don't know the end of that story. It had not turned up when they called to pick up their bags after the disco. I do hope it turns up and doesn't ruin an important event.

In the course of looking for the phone I found something else. Guan Yin seems to have been the keeper of the crochet! I think I put it there in passing on my way to close the curtains immediately after I finished it.  It looks remarkably like an offering. Perhaps this blanket needs to be dedicated to her.

World Embroidery Study Group tomorrow.