Post 435 WES goes well, a few things go wrong, resilience reigns ....

The week began well with a great meeting of the World Embroidery Study Group.  Janet talked to us about Tablet Weaving. This was my request as a result of my delving into Viking Embroidery. Janet was fearful that I would be the only one interested but all 9 of us there were riveted. Three key members were absent, one, unfortunately nursing her 91 year-old mother through Covid, one teaching in Canberra and one touring the Kimberley. They have the notes and PowerPoint. These are some of the pieces Janet wove in her preparation for the presentation. I arranged them to show the two very different sides of each piece. The cards you can just see underneath are the 'tablets' .  Thread passes through several of them. One end of the threads are anchored to something fixed, the other passes around the waist of the weaver. It is extraordinary. 

I was blown away. Brilliant session.

Balcony clean

On Thursday Formex, the company responsible for building the apartment block next door, sent a cleaner to remove the paint and plaster spots on my balcony from the early part of the build. He was an hour later than planned, which made me late (again) for Pilates, but he did do a brilliant job.

On Friday the lift broke down on the first floor with me and my shopping in it. I had entered the lift on the ground floor along with a 1st floor resident. He got out on his floor and entered his apartment but the lift doors did not close. I knew there had been some issues with the lift and a service call had been lodged. After several minutes I got out, with my shopping and called our Pod rep. In the end, she reported the problem, I knocked on a door and a generous and helpful young woman helped me carry my shopping up two flights of (fairly narrow, metal) stairs to my apartment. A bit scary - but I'm very grateful for the help I got. The lift was working three hours later, but the problem recurred on Saturday morning and the service provides was called back in. They were working on the problem when I went down via the stairs just before midday to meet a friend for lunch at Unley Shopping Centre. It was declared fixed before I returned. 

I wore my warming stripes scarf to Unley - and asked the florist to take my photo outside her shop - part of Tony and Mark's Greengrocery - so I could meet Sandy's request. 

On the way home I stopped at the Hameji Garden to do my 3rd 20 minute walk this week.  It's lovely at every time of the year, and there  were people enjoying picnics, or discussing clearly serious matters, 

as well as families with kids in prams, people sitting quietly - and visitors taking photos. It's well loved and used. I asked one of the photographing family groups to take my photo, which they were happy to do ('we are photograph experts!'). 

Sandy can now choose which she likes. Neither are as glamorous as Veronica would have achieved, but  it is dark by the time I get there now on Saturdays.  I tried to display the scarf to its full extent (She chose the florist one).

When I called the lift to go to Katherine and Anthony's for dinner, the lift did not come. After 5 minutes I reported it, Maureen recalled the serviceman and I cancelled going out. Going down the stairs at 5.45pm is fine, but I did not want to risk coming home after 9pm and finding I needed to go up 3 flights of stairs relying on the sensor light.  At 7.30 pm Maureen reported it fixed. I didn't try it out until Sunday morning - when it worked. 

Apartment inconvenience continued with notice late on Friday that repairs to the roof of our apartment and garage were scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. This involves actual replacement of roofing panels with road closure for a crane on Tuesday and cars to be moved from the apartment carpark. I had friends coming to lunch on Wednesday! The repairers hope is to finish on Tuesday, with Wednesday as a backup. It's still raining.

My phone - iPhone7 - has not been charging smoothly. The connection point is evidently worn or dirty. I've tried different cords but it is quite likely to disconnect on any of them. After being connected all night, on Sunday morning it had not charged at all. For months I've been getting new phone offers from my provider - originally high end phones, gradually becoming more modest. I've been putting off replacement, partly because I like my red, comfortable, adequate phone, partly because I believe in extending the life of tools as long as I can,  partly I'm avoiding the inconvenience of change-over and partly I covet the camera on the iPhone13Pro which is an extravagance. 

On Sunday I decided the time had come. My phone is a lifeline - I can't afford it to fail. It connects me to others; it's a safety mechanism. I carry it at all times unless it is charging. I have bought most previous phones online, but didn't want to wait even days for delivery, so took myself off to an outlet for my provider and bought an iPhone13Pro.  I don't need all its features and it's expensive. However, I use the camera on my phone extensively. I have 28, 511 photos on my phone, 11,768 taken on my iPhone7, 8,311 taken on my previous phone. The limitation is the zoom - which is the feature of the iPhone13Pro that I am after. 

It took about an hour to buy. It was the Queen's Birthday long weekend. There was only one person managing the shop and two couples ahead of me, but I had time to look at the phone and wasn't in a hurry. When I got home, with the 'bundle' deal ( There is no point complaining about new chargers, cords etc. It is what it is. An annoying First World problem.), I got the phone set up quickly but couldn't connect it to my provider. I went straight back. The shop had just closed but he let me in when I knocked on the window. 

I had not realised I needed to put the SIM card from my old phone into the new! He had told me, but I had not understood his accented English through his mask. I've done this before, but had it fixed in my head that you can't take a SIM card out of an Apple phone. There was no instruction to tell me.  I still feel stupid.

I'm glad I went back. He was helpful - and my phone is working well. I'm getting old and forgetful - but I managed it. I'm now adjusting back-ups and iCloud storage.

My test photo - what else but threads! I've since tried a few more. Pretty pleased with these.   

I spent Monday morning - the public holiday - making a big pot of ham and vegetable soup as the basis of Wednesday's lunch, assuming it can go ahead. Around midday I thought I should check whether my two friends had any dietary requirements. One replied that his only restriction was not eating pork! Very glad I asked. I rejigged - digging out a recipe for tomato and orange soup - and I can always freeze some of the original! Just as I was about to head out to get a couple of missing ingredients this afternoon, the other friend, who has rheumatoid arthritis,  messaged that she is now a Covid close contact and not feeling too good! Tomorrow's lunch is now off! I do hope she's OK.  

                          

On Monday afternoon I made up for the missed family visit on Saturday night, and visited for the afternoon. I tried a little slice of Katherine's fabulous orange cake, drank coffee, caught up on news - and got some oranges from her tree for my soup (they'll keep!). 

Today the roof replacement workers arrived just before 7am. The crane was in place before 8am and gone by 10.30. The rain held off. There has been stomping, drilling, shifting and what sounds like sawing on the roof above my apartment all day.  I had decided that if the noise got too great I would go to the Guild - there's a stitching group meeting there today. However, I decided to live with the noise, spending the morning making a replacement pouch for my new phone. The old one is less than a centimetre too small - but doesn't fit.  There's more detail in my embroidery blog. 

The roofers worked all day today on the roof above my apartment. The carpark roof remains untouched. Looks as if their back-up day tomorrow will be needed. 

My afternoon was to have been for shopping, baking and a visit to the podiatrist. I kept the podiatrist appointment and paid a quick visit to a local supermarket. At home again I took another plunge and bought some photo management software to manage my  digital photographs. I had owned an Android version before I moved to IOS when I moved 7 years ago and the program didn't transfer. It is a daunting task to organise my library of photos, in folders, discs and apps all over the place. However, without the help of an organising system there is no hope it will happen - so I've bought hope! 

It's been a challenging and to some extent, lonely week. Tonight I've settled in with a large bowl of my ham and vegetable soup and my pretty little horses.       

Post 113 Victor and home

The view was clearer this morning. We had a relaxed morning. I got quite a bit of knitting done before we went into Victor Harbor around midday.

I was down here in early February to visit a friend but didn't go into the town centre. It's quite a few years since I have done so.

The town once had the oldest average age of any postcode in Australia. In the 2017 census 39,3%of its population was over 65.

Like the Shoalhaven in NSW, it is a pleasant and popular place to retire to. There's plenty of boating and fishing, a few vintage shops, a couple of decent pubs, an annual art competition and a few galleries in the area.

The town centre also boasts some specialist - and quirky- shops. Victor Beats is a music shop.














The table outside displays CDs.

The window on the right contains guitars and a lot of didgeridoos.

A bit further along is a tattoo shop.

There is a place with tables and tables of discounted sneakers and running shoes.

There is a very good coffee bar.



We had lunch at the Crown - very well spaced tables and adhering to the 20 people inside 20 outside rule.


As you would expect, there were plenty of seagulls waiting hopefully.


My drive home was smooth and pleasant - 1 hour 20 minutes door to door. A lot faster than yesterday.

When I got home there was a message to say there was a parcel waiting for me at the Post Office. The postie had tried to delivery it while I was away. I guessed it was the package of linens from Phillipa. Commonsense said to wait until tomorrow to pick it up. Commonsense lost. I headed out straight away.
I was right. These are the linens I ordered to fill in gaps in my Crewel chair.  They include the Muncaster Oranges in a mirror image, so I can match it to the one already on the chair.

I was so excited to get these. I have great plans.


I'm so grateful to Phillipa, who has gone out of her way to help me with this.










The sunset tonight was interesting in both the West



















and the East. They could almost be taken of symbols of anger and calm.






After my pub lunch of Salt and Pepper Squid and a milkshake (driving home afterwards) I didn't want or need another meal. I did finish the duck soup I made on Tuesday.








I was determined to finish the Fair Isle knitting. I have been making more mistakes as the scarf lengthens. I have undone and reworked several rows. I am not much one for unpicking, but I have done it several times in this scarf.






By the end of this evening I had finished the scarf. I haven't ironed it yet. That's a job for tomorrow. I tied off all the loose colours hidden inside the tube.
Tomorrow I need to iron it then sew up the ends

I have quite a bit of wool left over.Hats?


I am (unsurprisingly) falling asleep.. Better finish this.

It's been a great break. Catching up with friends is the best bit, but there are lots of benefits and joys. I'm grateful.


And yes, Myrtle and Turtle were waiting patiently for their missing seed!

Post 103

My flower head is looking fabulous. I have tracked it to ground as Aeonium  arboreum - of the jade family. I'm wondering if it would translate into an embroidery. Ink and Spindle have fabrics with birds printed on them. It would be interesting to reverse the pattern  of adding birds to their foliage prints and add a flower head to one of their bird prints. 

Then again, it also makes a nice photo.












These are the two remaining Nicola Jarvis birds that I have.

Blue faced parrot finch

Gouldian finch

I have been exploring Australian birds that I could use as a basis for embroidering these. This time, I have begun from the shape of the birds.  Currently I am considering the blue faced parrot finch and the Gouldian finch.

The shapes are compatible. I'm inclining to one of each, although the Gouldian finch has many colours and could be used for both without repetition.

Any thoughts are welcome.

I spent several hours knitting the Fair Isle scarf. It was sunny but cool. In the afternoon the sun drew me to knit on the front balcony but I only lasted about 20 minutes. It was sunny, but without much heat in the sun. 

I added 22 rows to the scarf - just over one band. Progress  doesn't make for an interesting photo - and there are 14 bands to go., all repeats of the three basic bands.

For my own sake, as well as variety in the blog post, I swapped and added a bit more to the owl, practising some buttonhole stitch on the central heart lozenge shapes.



I am, however, trying to sneak in a couple more rows of knitting before I go to bed!