Progress

On my first visit to the local library after we returned from our Easter trip to Canberra I was shocked, horrified and flabbergasted to find out that the library staff don't check one's books out for one any more, it is strictly self-service!  While I'm not frightened of doing so (over 30 years of my working life was spent in libraries) I don't like the idea of doing away with the friendly faces of the staff at the desk.  This morning I was lamenting that fact yet again to the solitary librarian who was hovering - there is usually one hovering - round the book checking computer, and he did agree.

That's progress.  We can accept it's here, but we don't have to like it.  All the local supermarkets have done away with several cashiers and replaced them with self-service checkouts too.  Even if I am buying only a few items I will wait in line and deal with a real person rather than a machine - because if shops and libraries decide that machines can do that job, there will be no real people left to deal with at all.

Last Sunday the local historical society held their annual history walk, taking in some of the area I remember as a child.  It was very interesting!  We found out snippets of very early history, and checked out the exteriors of some lovely old homes.  In the late 1800s-early 1900s there was a tannery, a skin buying business, and a soap factory all in fairly close proximity.......can you just imagine the smell?  On second thoughts, perhaps it's best not to......

Today is cool with a little drizzling rain; looking at the rain radar there is heavy rain to the north of us, and to the south of us, and there is a little clear patch over us.  So the mingy drizzle we are getting now may be all we are going to get, and we need rain quite badly  too.

 It was raining the day we visited Kincardine last October, too.

Overcast days make for photos with clear colours and no shadows, so the fall colours glow.

Kevin is now not wearing the sling for his shoulder and is steadily able to do more things, but hanging out washing is not one of them.  Neither is driving the car, although he can park it in the garage and bring it out on the driveway again.  So I let him do just that.  He can prepare vegetables and grill chops.  I let him do that, too.

After much pondering recently, I decided to resign from the post of newsletter editor for the Thursday quilt group and did so last week.  I have also decided not to renew my membership for that group when it comes due next month.  They are nice ladies, but I have realised it's not the group for me.  I go to quilt group to do just that, quilt, not to listen to a continuous litany about various members' (and their family's) ailments, illnesses and woes. It's quite depressing, and as one who has a tendency to gloominess anyway it's something I can do without.  After all, it's not as though I lack for something to do......there is still another quilt group, two choirs, ukulele group, the Sunday night radio program, and two volunteer 'jobs'.  And when I really feel the need for something to do, there is usually a floor waiting to be swept.......

"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."

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Now I shall take myself off to my sewing room and make a start on one of the many block obligations hanging over my head at present.

Enjoy your days!