Post 266 A strange and sad day

There was a line of cloud over the Hills this morning. Perhaps an omen.

It has been an extraordinary day on many fronts. 

I had a wonderful 2 hour phone conversation with my friend Deirdre in Lismore, NSW. We have been friends since high school and remain on the same wavelength. There was a lot to catch up on and the time flew by. Somehow we get to the things that really matter.

By the time I got off the phone, South Australia's Premier had announced the end of our lockdown from midnight Saturday. The exercise and dog-walking restrictions have been lifted immediately. There were three more positive cases today and still more expected. What has changed is the admission by one of the original contacts, that he lied to contact tracers. Rather than buying a pizza from the transmission hub, he had in fact been working there as a chef. The contract tracing has been highly effective and swift, but the level of contagion from that hub was a major factor in the lockdown. While this gives contact tracers another whole set of data to collect, it is no longer the level of contagion feared.

This has, of course, caused both rejoicing and recrimination. From midnight on Saturday we go back to our previous level of restriction - 4 square metres of space in restaurants, 100 at religious gatherings, 10 in homes, etc etc. My Sunday morning book club is back on. 

I'm really grateful that our State government has been open and upfront about this. It is terrible that businesses and workers have lost money and been restricted, but good it has been curtailed in the light of this information. It's also good that our contact tracing has been so professional and thorough and based on the best available information. Presumably the lie was related to how legal the employment arrangements might have been - and that needs to be addressed in a number of ways. 

I haven't, to date, discussed Covid arrangements and the debates around them in this blog. This extraordinary development  dominated today to such an extent I couldn't ignore it.

Within, it seemed, minutes of the announcement of the lifting of the outdoor exercise ban, there were people walking and riding in the parks, beaches and streets - but keeping distance and mostly wearing masks. The traffic, however was very quiet for a Friday night.

While following the developments throughout the day I finished the Stag. I'm pleased with this piece. I tried it where it is to go on the chair, along with the Rabbits piece of the same size.

I have started on the Oak Apple Tree which is to go between these two pieces. Once this is done, and these pieces attached, I am only left with the two pieces ordered for the back of the chair- and any gap filling required.

This was where this post was going to end. There was, however, further unexpected, un-ignorable development. 

Jennifer's partner, Susan Monks, died unexpectedly this evening. She had been admitted to hospital earlier this afternoon and had a fatal heart attack tonight. Jennifer was with her. She is, understandably, distraught.  Susan was an extraordinarily intelligent and capable woman and educator. 

It has been the worst possible year for Jennifer. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Post 265 Day 1 of the six-day lockdown: COVID Stag

This is where I ended up at the end of today - the first of the 6 complete lockdown days in South Australia. The stag colours are a little more russet than they appear here.

It's been very relaxing and pleasurable to have the time to just stitch.  This is probably going to be known as the Covid Stag when I add it to my chair!

There was, of course, no work on the building site and not much movement in the Square. A few people walked through, presumably essential workers. Traffic was lighter than usual. I watched a few news bulletins. There were no new Covid cases in the State today. There is commentary (mostly from interstate) about the harshness of the SA lockdown, when, on the first day, after 12,000 tests, there are no cases. The Chief Medical Officer argues that there are still 17 probable cases and we need to stay ahead on the contact tracing. Most South Australians seem to trust her. 

I do.  

I couldn't resist photographing the red begonia again when the sun filtered through its leaves late this afternoon. It did just reach 36C   this afternoon but seemed to cool down a little before sunset.

I have also been watching the growth of this Euphorbia Milii. I bought it as a struggling reject at a plant sale. It was about 50cm tall but drooping, with few leaves. It's looking very healthy and there are lots of new shoots at the crown. I'm wondering if it is about to flower.

This morning I spent a couple of hours finishing Dead Men's Hearts by Aaron Elkins, the first of his I have read. It had a bit going for it - lots of archeology and anthropology detail, used, I thought, very effectively. The ending drama was a bit unlikely and unnecessary, but would look good on film or video. 

I had a couple of visits from my dove friends. The sunflower is absolutely at its best. The one flower at the moment is benefitting from no competition.

The other big news story today, apart from SA's lockdown, has been the report of the Enquiry into Australian Special Forces in Afghanistan. It is a shocking and shameful story. The only good thing is that the enquiry was held, the Defence Force has accepted responsibility, issued apologies and initiated legal processes.

Tomorrow is a little cooler, but hotter on Saturday. I suspect I might choose to finish the stag before I pick up the quilt to add hexies!

Post 64: Rain

The sunrise drew me out of bed this morning because of the glow and the grey. There was a lot of water around and more falling.

When the sun got a bit higher the dove seemed to find a spot with the sun on her wing and sat there, quite still, head hunched down into her feathers. She pecked at the seed, but left as the rain began, to return an hour later. This time she was much bolder, exploring the whole floor of the balcony, including the door mat. It’s the first time she has come so close to the door, and the longest time to my knowledge, she has spent on the balcony.

Sandra's stocking.

It was great to get an email from Sandra, in Manchester. Her resident pigeons have, unfortunately,  left her tree. She has been working on Phillipa Turnbull's Christmas stocking.
Rather than a unicorn on the stocking she has added a stag. It looks really lovely. Sandra is also making wash bags and scrubs for Health workers as well as working on her piece from Phillipa's class at our recent retreat (seems like a world away - which, of course, it is!). I don't think she will mind my using her photograph.

I spent many hours on the hillocks beneath the stag.  I like the effect. It’s very textured and Three-dimensional from the layers in shading.


I had a long phone conversation with a friend. Great to catch up.  I’ve also plunged into a third of Patricia Wentworth’s Miss Silver books. Indulgent, but very easy reading.

The best moment of the day was the news that Jennifer will have her tracheotomy at 10am Perth time tomorrow. While the procedure itself is apparently quite quick, it will take a long time to set up and clean up, because of the Covid19 infection. Doctors said Jennifer is stable at 20% oxygen, and her sedation has been reduced to the point where she’s moving her arms. After the procedure tomorrow it will be reduced further. This is very encouraging.

It continued raining all day and there is more to come tomorrow. It’s been a good day to be inside stitching.. I spend a bit of time contemplating what I will embroider next. Quite a bit to choose from.

But before I get carried away I have 8 hillocks to finish.

Post 63 : Hope

I missed all but a hint of one end of this rainbow, which was captured by my daughter from her 18th floor office in the Adelaide CBD around 2.30 this afternoon.

It rained on and off all day, increasing in the afternoon. My closing the Vergola roof didn't deter the dove but she did pick a time when it wasn't raining to collect her daily offering of seed and water.

I also had a surprise visit from a Noisy Miner (that's really its name). I haven't noticed one of these before, certainly not on the balcony rail. The sound came first. For those who are interested and don't know the bird, or why it has it's name, you can hear it at  https://youtu.be/dphBB5xMvOw.

The news from Perth came early this afternoon. Jennifer is booked to have a tracheotomy on Friday. The hospital is apparently waiting on negative pressure suits for the ENT specialists who will operate. Her oxygen support is down to 20%, and she is stable. The procedure is expected to make her more comfortable and she will be brought out of sedation afterwards. A bit more waiting - but very promising.




Late in the afternoon my Coles delivery came. I am so grateful for this service. You might notice the toilet paper - ordered for a friend who is having difficulty finding a supply. It's the first time I've bought it. I have enough for about 10 weeks so this is for my friend.






















I concentrated on the stag today. Again, it was relaxing and enjoyable to stitch.  I then filled in the hillocks beneath the stag.











So now it's hillocks all the way.

That's manageable.