Final day in Sydney

First, a couple of pics of the bag I made recently for our older son's girlfriend - the pattern used a magnetic fastener, but I made a covered button and loop instead and also added the piping. The close-up in the top pic shows the button and loop, and also the fabrics I used. The pattern is "Meadow" by "Melly and Me" and was sent to me as part of a swap by Carol in Arizona. I will probably make it again as it wasn't difficult.....but somehow the shape (which is baggy at the bottom) reminds me of old-fashioned bloomers.

Well, this is my last day living in Sydney. No regrets about leaving, except for not seeing as much of my friends and of course our wonderful son and his girlfriend. But as our sons have flown the nest - it's our turn to look for another tree in which to nest! (don't you think I have put that well?) Tomorrow I am off to Tamworth, and next Friday we move into our new home. Nothing more has been heard from our purchaser so we are assuming that all is going well with her too. When we have the computer up and running again I will post some pics so you can all enjoy the lovely view with us. The local library has computers that I can use to access my email but I will save up any further blog posts until we have our own computer back again.

Today I had a farewell lunch with some friends, I have had more farewells than Dame Nellie Melba. For the non-Aussies, Dame Nellie Melba was a soprano who had great success all over Europe as well as America and Australia in the late 19th-early 20th centuries, and her farewell tour lasted for four years or more as she insisted on singing a farewell concert in as many places as she could - so to "do a Melba" is to string out a leave-taking for as long as possible. Dame Nellie's trademark song was "Home, Sweet Home" but I won't singing it as we drive out of Sydney tomorrow.

Some blog house-keeping: for some time now my little "weather pixie" has not been available so today I found a sticker on Weather Underground. It doesn't have the cute picture but does give the Tamworth temperature in both C and F (we use C in Australia) and the time. When weather pixie is up and running again I will put my little girl back. After we settle into the new place I might change my blog template, I don't mind working with blogger but have decided that I would like a fancier blog. I might be asking for help when I do, I'm a bit of a computer klutz.

"Leave-Taking.
Upon taking leave, express the pleasure you have experienced in your visit. Upon returning home it is an act of courtesy to write and inform your friends of your safe arrival, at the same time repeating your thanks."

So I shall take my leave for a little while, and I'm sorry I won't be able to keep up with the blogs I enjoy visiting, but I will be back as soon as I can. Now I need to pack clothes and "stuff" - knitting, hand-piecing, crocheting, books to read - and my guitars and ukulele (because they are precious to me and I don't want anything to happen to them en route to Tamworth) so I can entertain myself for a few days in the caravan on my own.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jennifer

Last WOW from Sydney

One of my fluffy wombats, this one looks as though he/she is wearing a leotard! For some reason the makers of this little feller decided that it had to have a white tummy. I don't think a wombat in the wild would have a white tummy.
This beautiful jewellery was made especially for me by my lovely friend Liz, aren't I so lucky? A lovely pearl necklace and matching earrings in bright emerald green (have I mentioned that I really really like green......) and another necklace in deep blue-green pearls with two sets of matching earrings in different designs, so that I can have a choice. I was surprised when Liz presented me with them the other night.....so surprised, that I don't think I thanked her enough. So Liz, thank you so much, I am overwhelmed by your generosity and I count myself blessed to have you as a friend.

Friday night was sort of sad, as it was my last night at the folk club. I have been going along for about eight years now and of all my activities in Sydney I will miss this the most. I won't miss the traffic, or the ratbags who live hereabouts, or many other things about Sydney, but I will miss the people and the music at the club. I was given a potted gardenia which smells heavenly (and which I am sure will enjoy living on the patio at our new house) and a voucher for a craft/fabric shop which will be put to very good use!

Two more farewell lunches this week, then off to Tamworth on Saturday. We will take our caravan up and Kevin will return to Sydney the following day, leaving me there. He will be here for when the cats are collected (because they are boarding for a few days then flying up, what a treat that will be for them) and for when the packers do their work. This house will then be emptied on Thursday and Kevin will come back to Tamworth, all ready to move into the new house the following day. The purchaser of this house was adamant that she wanted settlement on a Friday and that no other day would do. She has been less than helpful during this process, and we have tried to be nice throughout.....but we have run out of nice, so much so that we have cancelled the cleaning service that was to have been done after we moved out of this house. It won't be filthy because we don't live in filth, but she will just have to put up with it as it will be when we leave it.

Then after we move in and all is unpacked I plan to sit in a comfortable chair on a corner, and have myself a little quiet nervous breakdown. I have worked for it, and I deserve it, and no one is going to deprive me of it. Moving house is stressful, and I shall give in to the stress for five minutes. Then I shall get up and continue with my life.

"Less Formal Invitations.
Invitations of a less formal character are sent for charades, private theatricals, and for archery, croquet, sailing and garden parties; but, however formal the invitation (except only when a visiting card is used), on no account neglect to give immediate attention to it, by sending a reply, for any want of courtesy in this respect is unpardonable."

Just remember that advice next time you receive an invitation to a garden party.

Jennifer

Very little WOW

This ceramic wombat is even smaller than last week's weeny wombat! The little card was sent by a friend who knows about my wombat weakness.

It's been quite a busy week, a farewell lunch with friends yesterday and my last choir practice tonight, there was a goodbye party with singing and yummy food. We have a gig on Thursday evening so that will be the last time singing with them. I'll have to find a choir in my new town, won't I? Also had my last appointment with my hairdresser, I had gone to her for just on ten years. There are more and more "last" and "final" now.

At the weekend I finished a bag for our older son's girlfriend and gave it to her, I will put pics up when I download them from the computer. I used blue, beige and gold fabrics with a teeny touch of green - I think she likes it.

Today we went to the local camping and recreation show to look for a couple of new chairs for when we go away in our caravan, one of the chairs that we have had for many years came to a sad end on our recent trip to Canberra. Next time we are staying in the van we will have two comfortable new chairs to sit outside and enjoy the scenery. And I will own up to a slight indulgence......one of the shops was selling goods from South America and I fell in love with a beautiful peacock-coloured alpaca wrap with attached neck scarf. I don't have a winter coat because Sydney in the winter isn't cold enough to need one (unless you are out very early or very late) but Tamworth winters will be a different story. It won't snow but it may get fairly cold by Australian standards, so my lovely new wrap will keep me warm.

And today we heard that the purchaser of this house doesn't want the final settlement to be mid-week, she wants it to happen on a Friday so she can move straight in over the weekend because - get this - she doesn't want the house left empty for two or three days. What about all the times we have gone on holidays and left it? It's always been here when we come back. We want a mid-week settlement because we are moving several hours away, and a Friday settlement would mean, among other difficulties, paying our removalists overtime to work on a weekend or finding somewhere to live until the following Monday. Our legal person is in discussion with her legal person so we will see what they can sort out between them. We have already made a few concessions for her so we reckon she can make this one for us. I will be glad when it's all sorted out and we are in the new house, hopefully just two weeks away now.

"Expressing unfavorable opinions.
You should be exceedingly cautious about expressing an unfavorable opinion relative to a young lady to a young man who appears to be attracted by, and attentive to her. If they should marry, the remembrance of your observations will not be pleasurable to yourself nor the married parties."

Now it is late, and I am tired, so I shall go to bed. Have a wonderful week!

Jennifer

Weenie Little WOW

This is quite a little wombat, less than two inches (five cm) long - he may be small, but he is perfectly formed. Some of the wombats are well modelled and really do look like wombats despite their size, and some aren't quite so realistic. You wouldn't think it would be all that difficult to get a particular animal shape right, but perhaps it is.

Over the past couple of days I have been struck down by the annual lurgy, the one that makes me feel rather crappy and is probably related to an allergy. Think sinus issues/croaky voice/coughing and you won't be far wrong. If I say more than a few words I start coughing and can't stop, so choir practice tonight is pretty much out of the question. Never mind - this too shall pass. But the timing is not great as there is a lot of packing to be done. The latest on the house sale and purchase is that settlement dates have been moved forward again so we will be moving a day earlier still. At this rate we will be in the new house before we leave this one.......not that we mind, because we are looking forward to being in our new house. When we are living in it and it is really ours I will put a few pics here for the world to see.

Over the past few days I have done some more work on my cardigan that I am re-making, which was interrupted when I broke my arm. The collar is the last piece and is coming along nicely, although having 117 stitches to a row is quite a lot. But when that is done it can all be sewn together (with a sigh of relief) and it will be just the thing for the cooler days ahead. And I have sewn a few stitches on my hand-pieced flower basket blocks. These days I feel slightly guilty if I sit down to read or sew or knit......the thought going through my mind is "I should be sorting or packing instead of doing this". But I have started sorting, so I can have a break sometimes can't I?

Speaking of the broken arm, it seems to be coming along OK. The shoulder problems aren't as bad as they were before the cortisone injection took hold, although I don't swing my arm above my head and behind my back for pleasure I can assure you. One thing that has been happening lately seems odd to me, suddenly out of nowhere my hand starts to ache fiercely, usually on the back or behind my thumb. When I mentioned it to the orthopedic specialist last Friday he said that is normal after an injury like mine, it is caused by nerves sending out impulses very quickly, and while it is incredibly painful it will pass in time. I will be glad when it does, as it's not much fun. And there is still swelling even after six months, to the extent that I can't yet wear my wedding ring - but apparently swelling after a break can take up to 18 months to fully settle down. That seems like a long time, doesn't it? I suppose it's nature's way of protecting the healing bits.

I have just re-read this post and I sound like a dreadful whinger don't I! To the folk out there who have more health issues to contend with than I do, I apologise. I try to be a fairly 'up' person and most of the time I think I am.

After we move we will start walking again. The specialist asked me on Friday about my exercise regime and I said "what exercise regime?" Swimming? he asked. I don't do water, I replied. (because the world's not ready for me to appear in a swimsuit) I used to walk around this area but came to feel quite uncomfortable when I did so, because I wore shorts for coolness and comfort and had to walk past houses where men sat in groups eyeing off anyone who passed - men whose women are much more covered up that is usual in Australia. So I stopped walking. But walking will be a good way to get to know our new area, and hopefully some of our new neighbours. The new house is on a street which curves up and down a hill so walking it will be good exercise.

"Be sympathetic and animated.
Do not go into society unless you make up your mind to be sympathetic, unselfish, animating, as well as animated. Society does not require mirth, but it does demand cheerfulness and unselfishness, and you must help to make and sustain cheerful conversation. The manner of conversation is as important as the matter."

So you all have a lovely week!

Jennifer

I'm just about caught up with sleep

Here are pics of the bag I made for my musical friend Liz, she of the beautiful voice....there is even a fabric with musical notes somewhere.
The bag in the pattern illustration was more subdued and 'country' but I thought I would try something different.
I used the same pattern to make this bag.
The lining is purple, because Liz loves purple....and I lined the pockets with black and white check, as you can see.

We are catching up with the sleep we missed while at the folk festival, for the first time in 15 years of attending we had slightly inconsiderate camping neighbours so we had disturbed nights. I even managed to stay up till nearly 3am on the last night, we were having such a great time in the singing room that it seemed a shame to finish. It's difficult to say what were the highlights, as there were so many wonderful performers. I even joined in a couple of ukulele workshops and picked up a few ideas. What a shame it's a whole year until the next time!

Had a funny happening when I was working in the office while the festival was being set up. One of my duties was signing out keys to various buildings and vehicles, and as they were signed out I entered the time on a record sheet. On the second day of working I signed out a key and looked at my watch (which I had forgotten to wear the previous day) which said 9.15. Clock on wall said 12.15, I had started my shift at noon. Took me a few minutes to realise that the last time I had worn that watch was in Canada, the day I fell and broke my arm in Toronto; I had to take it off in hospital as my arm was swelling very quickly and painfully, and of course it was still set to Toronto time.

The countdown is now on for the big move, while we were away the people working behind the scenes brought the final date forward by two days. Now two days may not seem like much, but when you haven't yet packed anything.......however this afternoon I have packed my beading supplies, so that's a start. I get the heeby-jeebies just thinking about packing up my sewing stuff, but no doubt when I start it will become easier. A few weeks ago I cut out three projects but am determined not to start them until we have moved and unpacked. Two are table runners, and I am looking forward to seeing them on the table in our new house. Sewing can be my therapy when the unpacking all gets to be too much, as no doubt it will.

Over the next few weeks there will be some farewell lunches with friends, and also my last night at choir and at my folk club. Have to say, I won't miss Sydney but I will miss some of the people. Three weeks from today I will be leaving Sydney, and Kevin will follow a few days after. While we have enjoyed living in this house and bringing up our sons here - we don't really mind leaving.

"It shows a want of courtesy to consult your watch, either at home or abroad. If at home, it appears as though you were tired of your company and wished them to be gone. If abroad, it appears as though the hours dragged heavily, and you were calculating how soon you would be released."

Autumn has finally arrived here so we are enjoying the cooler weather - it's wonderful for knitting again, and for sewing - and probably for packing -

Jennifer

We're home again........

..........and when I catch up with some sleep I will write some more!

Jennifer