Post 538 Rain, Roma and a Rosella

On Wednesday I took some a couple of necklaces to Pink Carat to be restrung, along with an old amber earring to discuss replication. I lost its pair years ago on a plane trip. Their best suggestion is reusing four of its five amber beads to make a shorter pair. They will come up with a proposal.  

I spent the rest of the day advancing the coatigan, much of it in the late afternoon sun on the balcony.

I was glad I had done that when Thursday dawned to the sound of much needed rain, forecast to last 2 days.

The birds who had swooped in and out of my eastern balcony on Wednesday were nowhere to be seen, hopefully sheltering. 

By the time Pilates finished at 1.50pm the sun was out and the sky clear. Friday reversed the process, dawning  clear but settling into steady rain by midday. When the Matildas played China at Adelaide Oval at 7.40 pm it was cold, but dry.

I caught up with a couple of friends by long phone calls and two more embroidery books arrived. I’m particularly impressed with Stitch with One Line. I can see lots of ways of using the concept. For the moment, however, I’m sticking to my knitting.

I spent most of Saturday making moussaka, one for Sunday lunch with friends, and one for Monday with family. It takes several hours, making ragu, slicing and baking egg plants before making béchamel and assembling. 

I had been considering that lino print of Roma Mitchell all week, so left the ragu and eggplant to cool and headed out to Mrs Harris’s shop, armed with the measurements of my limited wall space. To my surprise, the framed print of Roma was almost the perfect fit for the space I had identified. Plan B,  to buy an unframed print and frame it to fit, was not needed. The exhibition finished on Sunday, but I had friends coming to lunch and couldn’t leave to go and pick it up, so we made arrangements for me to pick it up today.  It was too good an opportunity to miss.

Back at home I assembled the ragu and eggplant, made the béchamel sauce, added cheese, let it cool, added egg yolks and finished assembling. By 3pm they were in the fridge, the kitchen cleaned up (it’s a messy dish!) and the place aired.  It was satisfying to have it all organised before heading off to Kilkenny to catch up on netball dramas, reports of the Matilda’s match the night before and our crosswords.

I had organised for friends to come a bit early for Sunday lunch so I could take a FaceTime call from England around 6.00pm - the only time zone matchup that really works. Like an idiot I also decided to change my bed linen on Sunday morning, adding an underlay and another blanket before washing sheets when the sun hit the solar panels. I got the salad made, dessert laid out, nibbles in bowls and the table set just in time for their arrival. We had such a relaxing and enjoyable afternoon, grazing and catching up.

They left in time for my phone call, which lasted an hour and a half and was brilliant. We haven't really caught up properly since I was last in England - 2020, when this blog was started. So reassuring to pick up where we left off. 

I was tired enough to go to bed by 10.30, waking to a glorious Adelaide sunrise, ahead of a more relaxed Monday than usual. The moussaka was cooked, the dishwasher was ready to go,  the Sunday washing ready to hang out, and only fresh bread to buy, so a leisurely pace. Fionn was working, so six of us had a lovely conversational dinner. Afterwards I began watching Macdonald and Dodds - Series 1, episode 1.

This morning I made it to Mrs. Harris’s Shop to pick up Roma. This time I was successful in rousing the gallery owner. We spent a while discovering interests in common. She is keen to read The Gilded Page and I have ordered a copy of The Coat Route by Meg Loukens Noonen.

At home I hung Roma in the spot I had chosen, using existing hooks. The alignment is wrong. They need hanging properly, as does the displaced one. As my previous hanger has retired I phoned another and have organised him to come next Tuesday.

I took time out from knitting to finish another flannel flower bag.

It has been cold for the last few days. Winter hasn't waited for the solstice. The trees in the Square are almost bare, a few stubborn leaves hanging on.

My cousin Christine's funeral is tomorrow evening Australian time. It is being live-streamed, so I will be able to participate as an observer. 

Tomorrow will be my first time volunteering as the rostered 'hostess' at the Embroiderers' Guild - being on hand to help out with visitors or enquiries.  I shall report back next week.

Right at the end of the day, as I was closing the balcony door, an Adelaide Rosella came to feed on the trees behind.. A lot of shots ended in the bin, but this one captured a glorious moment.

Deo gratias.

Post 537 Balancing Act

My post-covid cold symptoms began to weaken by Friday. I still get a bit tired, have a croaky voice and occasional congestion but my lay-low strategy seems to have borne fruit. I’ve postponed a periodontal appointment this week to be safe.

I did venture out on Thursday to an appointment with my nephrologist. Although it’s been a year, he remembered where we were up to in detail. Kidney readings are all good. Blood sugar, however, is not. I am back in the pre-diabetes range and he is concerned. As I did not take up his suggestion of injectables last year (when blood sugar was fine), he is now advocating oral diabetes meds. 

I am giving this much thought. Serendipitously, the GP I am currently seeing specialises in diabetes, so our appointment in 9 days time will be a long discussion as well as an injection. I like and respect my nephrologist who has a specialisation in kidney donor health. His concern is that my kidney will be in trouble in 5-10 years time if I don’t keep my blood sugar down now. Renal health and research discussions were once part of my daily life and it was strange to step back into that world after 10 years.  I have struggled with weight for three decades and I now need to concede that medication might be part of the answer, and essential to my kidney health. I'm fortunate to have the option. 

Saturday was my venture back into the world of theatre, for a 2pm State Theatre/Opera Company performance of Candide.  As parking is a bit of a mess around Her Majesty’s Theatre (recently refurbished and close to the busy Central Market) I took the city loop bus which only operates every 30 minutes on weekends. There was a mild panic when a couple at the bus stop  asked if I was also going to Her Majesty’s because Hutt St, from whence the bus comes, was, they said, closed to traffic. In my Dalee Ella pants and Zuri shirt, I must look like a proper opera-goer! Somehow the bus won through and we arrived in plenty of time.  The couple’s back-up plan was to get a taxi and invite me along!

It was a superb performance - set, orchestra, cast, acting, costume, staging. The refurbished theatre now holds over 1400 and was full. The updated stage is a marvel. The full orchestra and choir were on stage  with the action taking place on the skirt.

Seven rows from the front the view and engagement were great, but looking around, I suspect there are now few, if any, bad seats. The downside is no central aisle. There is just enough space between rows for people to pass in front of those already seated, but it is a long shuffle to the central seats, and no social distancing possible. While there are now numerous bars and food points, the foyers are small, very crowded and difficult to navigate. It may be a little easier at night, but, being a daytime performance, there was no shortage of walking frames and wheelchairs.

In spite of my organisation and intention, I forgot a mask.  Only attendants were wearing them. Although I enjoyed the performance I decided to leave at the interval. I get a little impatient with opera (just get on with the story!), was feeling a bit hemmed in, and delighted with my 80 minutes of  amusement. I concede that’s a bit odd, but I enjoyed putting my toe in the opera water. No photos can be taken during the performance, so the photo is dull.

It was great catching up with school and sport news on Saturday night and to collect my replacement jar of Anthony's honey. Monday dinner was another pleasure and privilege.

On Sunday I ventured to Mrs Harris's Shop, which has a new exhibition, this time a set of coloured lino prints of Local Icons  by Sally Heinrich, who has launched a book of the same for the exhibition. I was after the book, which I got. It is an initial short print run by the local Wakefield Press, for the exhibition. Sally was at the Gallery. I really liked both the exhibition and the book, which I came home and read in the sun. There will be another print run soon. The content is also available to view here. I would like to purchase a print of Roma to sit alongside my photo of Jim with Roma Mitchell while she was Governor. I haven't yet worked out how I could hang the two together. A bit of shuffling of scarce wall space is required.

It seems appropriate to be considering this, as well as my kidney health, today, which is the 10th anniversary of Jim's death. Katherine and I have been to lunch at the River Cafe after visiting his grave. 

The plants are thriving. In the five months since my last visit the plants have spread and the lavender is blooming. In Spring I will trim them and fill the space with cuttings. It is heartening  and joyful - a place of growth, serenity, beauty and birdsong.  

The month from the last week of May to Jim's birthday in the last week of June are inevitably tinged with sadness and reminders of a difficult time. Grief is less raw, memory less reliable, but the loss, sadness are no less. Nor is the gratitude and love.

It was  sustaining to visit with Katherine today in the Autumn sunshine,  to enjoy a relaxing lunch at the River Cafe, talk to Alison by phone and receive messages from friends and family.

Connection really helps. I'm also holding on to the memory and joy of Canberra in January. 

In terms of my craft output, apart from a little proof reading for my brother, I have spent all spare moments this week working on the coatigan - and today finished the first front.

It was challenging working the three colour pattern right up to the last 2 stitches at the shoulder. I had decided to knit a sleeve next, to see how it looked, but once I laid the pieces together I wanted to see the other side more - and to work the black edge! The second side won.

The birds seem as pleased with my balcony garden as I am. The doves (photo taken through fly screen) come every day and even a magpie paid a visit (above).

One of my Adelaide friends has recently been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. She has been waiting for an operating theatre to become vacant to have stents implanted before she sees an oncologist. The procedure is happening tomorrow and my thoughts are much with her. 

Sadness and loss have made themselves felt this week. So has love, growth, birdsong, art, creativity and kindness. Tonight it's holding together.

Post536 Mostly Art and Crafts

Much of the early part of the week was spent catching up appointments postponed because of COVID. Wednesday was a car service, Thursday optometrist and Orofacial pain doctor. 

In between appointments I visited the Himeji Garden. Even though there was a wedding taking place just outside, once inside, tranquility reigned. It is extraordinarily calming , even for 10 minutes, which is all I stayed. The sound of water is a big part of the tranquility.        

        

Both medicos are pleased with my progress. It looks as if some mild left-side headaches I’m having might be the result of the way I use my left hand in stitching. I’m now monitoring. 

Friday proved busy. I took the city loop bus in and out of the city for my haircut then drove to Melbourne St to look at the art works on offer at the upcoming Elders auction before going to Unley for a big grocery shop for Monday. My brother was interested in a couple of things so I went to check them out for him.

The Create in Stitch webletter advertised a new line in clamps that looked as if they might be able to be fitted to my "flexible" seated stand. While I find the stalk of the stand very flexible, the clamp is inflexible, so on Thursday I bought one of the new clamps. The fit wasn’t perfect, but good enough to be a substantial improvement. I took it out to show Simela on Friday. She, of course, got out her toolkit and made a few improvements. It now means I can attach a roller or frame, not just a hoop, to the stand. Yes!

The Elders auction was on Sunday. While checking things for my brother, I noticed two bark paintings. I am a sucker for vintage bark paintings. I registered to bid online and bought both of them. Family members will be interested in them. I hope to go and pick them up tomorrow, along with the two my brother bought!

Over the last few days I made 52 gift bags. The bags I cut out in January, from fabric bought at the Guild's trading table, have been sitting on my sewing machine ever since. I decided it was time to make a move on them. Tonight put the finishing touches on the last of them. Details, of course, in my embroidery blog.

While I am now free of Covid, I still have what appear to be symptoms of a cold - a cough, sneezing and a little congestion. This is, apparently, common after number of viral infections, including Covid. Advice seems to be that it is my immune system ridding my lungs of fluid and I am not infectious.  It should clear up in the next couple of weeks.  I am trying to rest, drink warm lemon water and take things easy. I didn't go to Aquafit today and stayed inside for most of the day.

I did go to Katherine's place for dinner on Saturday and hosted our family dinner yesterday, a lively and entertaining time. I had a busy day, beginning with fasting blood tests at 8.30am, shopping, cooking and meeting Barbara who had kindly collected my gallery purchases for me. I get the results of the blood tests from the nephrologist on Thursday. 

As well as family,  I have been visited most days by doves. On Friday they kept up a loud conversation. The rhythm of one of the calls sounded like "It’s Zeffirelli!". Once I got that into my head there was no eraser.

Just as I was wondering whether it would be wise to cancel my early morning coffee appointment tomorrow, Panayoula suggested the same, as there is Covid in her family. Seems it's everywhere. Instead I'm hoping to go and pick up the art works from Sunday's auction, then make more progress on the Inca cardigan. 

Post 535 Crossing the stream

Last week’s post finished with me wondering if my tiredness was an effect of my flu vac. I also had a sore throat. That night I started to worry that it might in fact be an infection. I had thrown away the last RAT test a couple of weeks ago when I realised it was well past its use-by date. At 2am, searching online. I found a pharmacy not too far away with a pack of 2 tests that could be purchased online and picked up in shop when they opened. I ordered a pack. At 9am I called a couple of WES Group friends to ask them to manage the meeting in my absence then dashed to the pharmacy to pick up the tests. I was in and out in under a minute.

The kit tested FluA&B,COVID  RSV. I tested positive to COVID. 

I was shocked. I've been so cautious - 8 vaccines and avoiding mingling. My second thought was relief that I had not gone to WES - the first meeting I’ve missed since becoming convenor. There are vulnerable  people in the group and we've taken pains to observe the ‘out of an abundance of caution’ principle.

I had plenty of food so bunkered down. I phoned my doctor’s surgery. The duty doctor phoned back that evening having researched anti-viral requirements for kidney donors. She was thorough and helpful and texted me a prescription. My nearest pharmacy was still open, prepared the prescription,  messaged me to come and pick it up wearing a mask and by 7pm I had taken my first dose of antivirals. Katherine dropped a couple of boxes of RAT tests at my door the next morning.

To summarise  the rest, I had mild symptoms, sore throat, croaky voice, on and off mild headaches, waning body aches, tiredness. I tested positive until Sunday morning. My last antiviral dose was Monday morning after which I again tested negative and was free to rejoin the community.

We had a full quota for dinner yesterday with lasagna and cannelloni I bought from Frewville Foodland. A joyous occasion. 

There were 17 people at the WES Group meeting, which went swimmingly. I and other absent members have been able to view a pdf of Margaret’s presentation on Ukrainian embroidery.  Obviously I couldn’t go to family for dinner on Saturday nor to the Ukaria concert on Sunday. Lorraine made the trip on her own. A busy, generous Guild friend called at Mrs Harris’ Gallery on Saturday to retrieve the handbags I’d bought at the last exhibition. 

I am really grateful for the support I’ve had; a health system that functioned efficiently and effectively, family and friends who tended assistance, stayed in touch, checked in and kept me connected, along with a home that kept me safe, in touch with others and nature, with plenty to do.

Today I skipped Aquafit.An overabundance of caution, but seems a bit soon to be in a closed pool environment with 20 other people.

On Friday two separate postal deliverers placed their parcels in the lift downstairs so I could retrieve it on my floor without contact. One was the Marie Wallin Berwick Cardigan kit, the other the Uradale colourway kit for the 2024 Shetland Wool Week beanie. They are lovely to handle, but I have managed to resist and stick to knitting the Inca Coatigan (I’m relabelling it now I can see how big it is!)

With a little bit of pattern manipulation, it is exactly the recommended length of 93cm. Quite long. (the variation in shading in the photo is the result of a shaft of light, not a bleaching agent!).

I've started on the left front, which, is, of course, a much faster knit. 

I think I finally understand the attraction of knitting colour work in the round. The purl rows are slow work with three colours. It would, I think, be worth the terror of a steek to be able to stick to knit stitches and see the pattern as you work it. Enlightenment.

While isolating, I did read 3 books, none of them outstanding. Today I finished Lawful Duty, the latest of Mike Campling's books, the first in a series of police procedurals spinning off the Devonshire Mystery series. It has interesting elements, some of which make me wary. 

The second Early Women of Books bag is now in its happy place transporting vegetables in Sydney's Blue  Mountains! Thanks for the photo Robin.

It was my brother's birthday during the week. This is his birthday rainbow, appearing as he stood on his Sydney balcony listening on his phone to a group of friends sing Happy Birthday.

If that's not a promising start to a year, I don't know what is! Thanks for the photo- and the love.

All week I've had an ear worm, an ABBA song going around in my head.

I have a dream, a song to sing

To help me cope, with anything.

If you see the wonder, of a fairy tale

You can take the future, even if you fail.

I believe in angels, 

Something good in everything I see

I believe in angels,

When I know the time is right for me

I'll cross the stream, I Have a Dream.

I feel as if I crossed a stream this week. 

Not a river or an ocean, but, yes, a stream.

Post534 Nothing went to plan...

This was a week of things going awry, or worse. My cousin Christine, in Gloucestershire England, died overnight on Saturday. I have 8 cousins, 6 in England and 2 in Australia. My brother and I  are older than our English cousins, followed by Christine. She was hospitable and welcoming to me, and to our parents when they were alive and visiting England regularly. She was a great Elvis fan -:so pleased she got to visit Gracelands in 2019. I am sad, and thinking of her family as well as the times I spent with her, the last when she and her husband generously drove me to Marsh Gibbon in search of family history in 2020. 

The rest of my news seems trivial in comparison, but some of it isn’t. I had invited friends to lunch on Sunday, but one of them was taken to hospital in the early hours of Saturday and operated on a few hours later. He is now home recovering and still planning to go on the cruise he has booked leaving next Monday. 

Wednesday should have been an adventure, my first day of being the Day Hostess (!!) at the Guild - a volunteer available to answer queries, show visitors around and help out our part-time employee. She, however, was ill. As there were no groups booked to use the premises a decision was taken to close for the day. 

I used the unexpected free time to visit Kmart, drop some items off to a friend and call at the Jam Factory to view their Mother's Day collection. At Kmart I bought more drawer organisers. At the Jam Factory I bought myself yet another mug. I like this a lot. The base is slightly larger than the rim so it holds heat fairly well, and the glaze is lovely. I tried it out later in the afternoon, on the front balcony in the sun, surrounded by plants, knitting.

I caught a glimpse of an Adelaide Rosella just as I was about to bring in the washing.

 

Thursday morning was the annual service of my airconditioner. It hasn't been used a lot this summer and all is well. I discovered, however, as the serviceman was cleaning the filter, that I have for years neglected to clean the vent over the filter. I'm ashamed to say it was really dirty. It was a bit like cleaning venetian blinds, a job I had as a child, necessitating checking every angle. The serviceman (and I!) finished around 11.30am, in plenty of time for me to get to Pilates.

Friday was a medical appointment, mainly Shingles and Flu shots.

This tree (left) is on the street outside the practice, which, unfortunately, had run out of Shingles vaccine. My GP, had she not retired, would have called me to let me know.

The stand-in GP was apologetic, thorough and pleasant.  so I had my flu shot and made an appointment in a month's time for  the Shingles shot. That's within the allowable effectiveness period and will  work well with blood tests and a specialist appointment I have scheduled, so all's well.  I left quite happy.

That afternoon Pat's Early Women of the Book bag arrived in Sydney and brought her pleasure. A second one is winging its way to Robin.

As well as a cancelled lunch on Sunday, Monday dinner was a nonstarter because it was parent-teacher night at the girls’ school between 6pm and 8 pm.  I got early warning of this, so only bought 4 chicken Marylands for (the now aborted) Sunday lunch, instead of the 12 I had planned to buy when including Monday. 

 With lots of freed up time, I plunged into reorganising drawers using my Kmart purchases. First priority was my scarf/shawl drawer, which presented quite a challenge. Success! (yes, the left side of the drawer has two layers).

The bigger challenge, however, were my drawers of fabric! That took quite a while. Without organisers, the drawers take more fabric but I can now see what is there without rummaging. I did some sorting and threw a little bit away.

As well as the drawers, which mostly hold lengths of fabric I have bought, I had several tubs of fabric scraps in varying sizes, mostly left over fabric from things I have made, or, from 1986 to 2004, my dressmaker made for me. The tubs were roughly sorted, but a jumble. The only way to sort it out was to iron.

Of course, I underestimated the time the ironing would take -about 8 hours over Saturday and Sunday in between helping out at JEMS and dinner at Kilkenny.

The tubs however, are sorted - one patterned cottons, one plain cottons, one ginghams, one silks and one satin lining fabrics - lots of the last thanks to the dressmaker I once had.  I also have a few more pieces set aside to make gift bags and a few for embellishments.

As well as being able to see what is there, I have refreshed my memory - including the memory (or absence of memory!) of clothes long gone. There were moments of sadness, but overall gratitude for all  the joy of making, wearing and sharing.

JEMS on Saturday was fun, a small group of creative, productive girls focused on their projects. I had to keep sitting down. My sciatica kicks in when I am on my feet for more than about 15 minutes at a time. I recovered at home with coffee before relaxing at family dinner.

I finished Paul Ceolho's Maktab and Simon Rowell’s Wild Card both of which I enjoyed. Just as Niamh was heading off to her parent-teacher evening yesterday, Fionn, unaware of cancelation, arrived for dinner, an unexpected pleasure. I had Sunday's uncooked Chicken Marylands. It was too late to bake them as planned, but I was able to pan fry two of them with potato and bokchoi -with a little bit of dismembering to ensure they cooked through. It was great to share a meal, and to have time to catch up on his uni news: so glad he came. 

Today I skipped Aquafit in view of a slightly scratchy throat, tiredness and sciatica. Swimming is usually an antidote to sciatica, but oddly that doesn't hold true for Aquafit, where, even with movement, we stand in the one place.  Because my cleaner was coming, I took the chance to clean the fly screen door onto to my front balcony. It was harder than I anticipated - and made a dusty mess both inside and out. I took a lot of trouble cleaning the runners and left it to the cleaner to vacuum the dust - and decided against doing the Eastern balcony screen as well today. In the meantime, as I opened a  cupboard, a pyrex dish fell out and smashed all over the floor. It took a while to clean up and dispose of safely. 

I am now very tired (and wondering if it is a side effect of my  flu vac) but have made some knitting progress. The rows are getting shorter and I only have 20 to go before the final decreases (I'm on the back. It's looking pretty good - and long! 

Vale Christine.❤️

Post 533 Long Post for a Full On Week.

Wednesday turned out to be busy as I set about restoring order to my balcony after the re-grouting of the tiles. The tiles needed washing, the pots and furniture returning to position. The first discovery was that my squeegee, the only mop I own, was broken. The sponge squeezing mechanism had come apart, and was missing a connector. I could still operate it awkwardly, holding the disconnected rod. 

I took the opportunity to clean the runners on the door and insect screen of their accumulated grime. The two water dishes were slimy. One contains shells, which in turn were covered in slime. I soaked the shells in a mild solution of bleach, then scrubbed each one with a nail brush. They now look clean and the water clear. I've moved the dish out of the sun in the hope the algae won't form.

I deadheaded flowers, tidied a few plants, swept up petals and reconnected the hose. 

I noticed that the zygocactus is about to flower - so the honeyeaters will be competing with the noisy miner for access before too long.

By the time the balcony was restored and clean I was exhausted. I made a coffee and explored potential replacement of my squeegee. 

I keep a short broom with attached dustpan on the balcony. The broom has nylon bristles, now misshapen and sticking out at all angles. An online search revealed the Frewville Foodland had suitable replacements, so I set off and found what I wanted, a squeegee with a more robust mechanism and a small, handmade broom from Vietnam. 

I already have one of these with a stiff bristle. The new one is soft, and very good at finding fine dust. One on each balcony

When I got home I returned the shells to their dish and finished the job. I decided to replace the hose as well, with one that is tidier and takes up less room. (Yes, this really is tidier!)

Around 3pm, as I was having lunch, a courier delivered the four printed tote bags I had ordered - the Early Women of the Book.

I am delighted with them . Two are for friends in Sydney - fellow students of Early English Literature and Language in undergraduate days, who are as excited as I am.  One is destined for a charity auction and another for the Guild SALA Exhibition - along with the explanatory booklet. 

This has been a very productive exercise. As with the earlier bag, one side has printed the photo as uploaded and the other has somehow removed the white background. It is obviously how the printing process works. I'd like to understand it, but, as they are printed overseas, I doubt I will. 

There was a fabulous full moon that night and I managed to get a decent shot through the slats of my Vergola using my phone. It's the best moonshot I have managed.  A Proud Titania kind of night.

Thursday was ANZAC Day, a public holiday, with Dawn Services and marches of Veterans and service men and women all around the country. I don't attend. I do, however, acknowledge the service of family members and remember their sacrifices - including the mental health issues that followed throughout the lives of those who survived. They needed to forget, but we need to remember.

I had decided not to bake Anzac biscuits. It is school holidays, so no one but me to eat them and  I already had a few left from last month's batch. The point about Anzac biscuits is their keeping capacity. They were developed to last for months on sea voyages to France and Egypt in WWI.  However, when I received this email from a cheeky friend  Dont forget the ANZAC biscuits are in the oven and they burn quickly. WE DONT want them burnt again this year, I got on my high horse and immediately made a batch. That'll show him! No fool like an old fool! At least they will keep.

I had bought fresh prawns on Wednesday, intending to have them in a salad, but in view of the chilly weather, stir fried them with broccolini and peas. A good meal.

On Friday I met a friend in Stirling for coffee and scones. It was busy and crowded, but we did a lot of catching up. She brought me another Alamanda Blue, one that is ready to propagate. Mine is doing well, but isn't old enough to be divided, and I promised one to another keen gardener. Cathy seems to have the Alamanda magic  touch. She has several plants, all excelling themselves.

A balcony isn’t ideal for plant division on this scale, and it has taken me several days over this busy week, but I now have three new plants from this giant, which will grow back over the gap. This is quite a rare local swamp plant and would be best in a pond. It’s important to keep propagating them.

When I arrived home from Stirling there were two parcels in my letterbox. One was a metre of Spice linen - the lining for several bags I am working on. The other was a total surprise - a shawl knitted by an overseas friend as a gift. I was so warmed in every way. An unexpected, personal, perfect gift. It went perfectly with what I was wearing. I feel wrapped in friendship and heather.  

And speaking of heather, Marie Wallin’s new collection was released, and yes, against commonsense, I have ordered a kit. This one is simply too beautiful to pass up. And, from the sublime to the ridiculous,

Even worse,  I also ordered an Uradale (centre) colour way kit for the newly released 2024 Shetland Wool Week hat. 

My Saturday workshop on Glazig embroidery for the Certificate Course went really well. The 12 attendees were enthusiastic, diligent and creative working right up to 2pm. 

I captured 9 of their efforts, thanks to Lee who prompted me to photograph the results before it was too late! The one that looks messy is because I photographed it too close through the plastic bag after it was packed up. I really liked the edging but didn’t want to ask the student to unpack it.

Niamh arrived home from her school trip to Indonesia with stories and gifts. Mine is a pair of lovely filigree silver earrings in a batik box, accompanied by a berry for cleaning the silver. I’ve been to Indonesia a number of times but never encountered these. 

I might just try following the instructions.

On Sunday I had a 2.30 pm concert at Ukaria. It’s a 40 minute drive with my friend Lorraine, and this time also  another friend of hers, in time to secure a convenient car park and enjoy a platter lunch beforehand. The Dudok Quartet of Amsterdam played Mozart String Quartet No.23 in F,K.590, Grazyna Bacewicz String Quartet No4, Tchaikovsky String Quartet No3 in E flat minor. The Ukaria garden is at its very best, and the music was great.

Although school term has begun, yesterday was a pupil free day so no family dinner. I needed a day to shop and recover after a pretty full-on week. Much of the day was spent in a panic, trying to find an example of embroidery a student had given me on Saturday for the next WES Group meeting. I had been too busy and tired on Sunday to unpack my Glazig teaching bag and when I got to it yesterday the example was missing. I searched the car and house and phoned the organiser. I was working out how I was going to explain the loss to the student. Several hours later I worked out where I had tucked it, to keep it safe. Phew! 

Today I had lunch with Panayoula, catching up and sharing our opinions on world problems. At home I finished off making a pot of soup to keep me going for the rest of the week.

I have now reached the sleeve cast-off on the Andes cardigan. It’s looking good. I'm looking forward to seeing the impact of shaping.

It has been a busy, productive week - thanks for reading to the end!