Knitting nutty

munch crunch

2011-12-05T15:23:00.001+11:00

munch crunch, a photo by Gemma_Anne on Flickr.

This has been keeping us amused in the background while we work. the giant machines gradually eating their way through the three story blocks of flats. The noise is quite astounding considering how far away this is and the fact that we have double glazing on the office windows.

concert

2011-12-05T15:02:00.001+11:00

concert, a photo by Gemma_Anne on Flickr.

waiting for the concert to start, having a great time. Lucky we were at the Saturday show, the weather was perfect and the show was great! Elton was in a good mood, despite his cold and we were all dancing by the end.

original tank stream

2011-11-28T10:46:00.001+11:00

original tank stream, a photo by Gemma_Anne on Flickr.

What I did on my weekend. I explored the Tank Stream, which is of course now a closed in tunnel. In 18... it was finally covered over for its entire length. Many parts of this convict work still remain, and twice a year Sydney Water and the Historic Houses Trust open a small section of the tank stream for visiting by the general public. Places are decided by ballot (I tried for six years (12 times) before I was lucky enough to get on the tour).

Strict health and safety procedures are in place, air is blown down the drain for a couple of hours, and the water board guys scrub the walls and flood the tunnel with disinfectant.

next we have to put on knee length gum boots, hard hats (with our own lights) and harnesses. Lastly before descending the ladder we had to sign away our first born child, and all rights to eeverything should something go wrong.

of course nothing did, and on my flikr account are a few more photos. I still can't believe we did this!

how was your weekend.

something different

2011-11-16T16:12:00.003+11:00

LINK!!!!!

30th anniversary

2011-11-08T16:04:00.002+11:00

It's my 30th anniversary today. Bittersweet indeed.

where have I been?

2011-11-03T17:00:00.003+11:00

bird watching with NSW national parks rangers

afternoon tea at Woodford Acadamy

afternoon tea at the Gunners Barracks

going to Melbourne for Phantom II (the Phantoming!) It's my 30th wedding anniversary soon and the 52nd birthday. Melbourne sounds like a good place to go to celebrate.

Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival. went both days, and had the best time.

love it!

Tank Stream

2011-11-03T15:39:00.003+11:00

Wahoo!
I get to tour Sydneys most famous sewer!
This is approximately the tenth time I have put my name down for the ballot, and its the first time I have been successful. Sunday 27 November, and I can't wait.

the doctor

2011-09-22T09:47:00.001+10:00

the doctor, a photo by Gemma_Anne on Flickr.

This is the moment she has planned, worked, and basically given all of her time to over the past .... years!

Congratulations, well done, and now well, we'll just call you the doctor! love you little one

Sheltered Garden

2011-09-19T10:13:00.003+10:00

Sheltered Garden, a photo by Gemma_Anne on Flickr.

The Blue Mountains in spring would have to rate as one of my favourite places, this is a small and concentrated detail in the bigger picture.

funny!

2011-09-19T10:13:00.001+10:00

funny!, a photo by Gemma_Anne on Flickr.

It is beyond trendy to match your car to the fence colour, and then to do it twice!

content

2011-09-19T10:11:00.001+10:00

content, a photo by Gemma_Anne on Flickr.

This is where the cat settled as soon as the suitcase was out of the way, and where he stayed till late when he was put to bed in the laundry. he graciously forgave me for being away, but looked a little the worse for wear, and really needed some hugs. The other cats were like "hi, glad to see you, now feed me".

What's going on ....

2011-09-05T09:54:00.004+10:00

At the moment I am house sitting. The position comes with kids and dogs, so it's rather full on.

Add to that the publish post button does not work on the computer at work (where I usually blog), it just says "javascript:void(0)", and I have no 3G coverage at the house where I am living, means the blog is being neglected by default, not intention.

The view is worth it, and walking the dogs at 5am has compensations of no cars, no people and so many stars.

However, I miss my grown up kids. I miss having grown up conversations, and just the company of adults. I've got out of the habit of being the grown up, with my kids we're all adults and I don't feel responsible. It feels kind of funny really.

I miss the pets too, cats especially. Dear old dragon, you would like it here, there are some sunny corners to nap in, but the puppies would drive you spare!

I have finished the small shawl, Asterope. looking for my next project .....

what really happened ....

2011-09-01T08:22:00.002+10:00

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/three-charged-over-sydney-driveby-20110901-1jmnc.html

no word here on the tazer or the shot guns,

Drug bust

2011-08-31T20:50:00.001+10:00

So I couldn't drive into my street tonight as there were swat teams and detectives blocking the road! The baffles were gazette and many very large guns were in evidence. It took two divvy vans to take away the crimes and a couple of hours to process the crime scene. The thrills of living in the western suburbs.

It takes a lot of effort to get to 70

2011-08-18T13:07:00.006+10:00

Guess Who, Guess Where????

2011-08-07T10:11:00.003+10:00

Prize for the first right guess ......

Sunday

2011-06-27T10:31:00.010+10:00

Morning tea here,
lunch here
both yum, that's for sure.

sighted (at least) one whale, my first ever, and when the man on the train pointed to the window and told his kids really loudly, that's a whale, I thought, sure bud and that other thing, flying pig, but we had a great view from the top deck of the train, and perfect visibility, and really, it was a whale. Seen by approx 30 people, for many minutes, blowing and generally splashing.

On the way home, again in the train, we saw a little dark wallaby, sitting trackside, waiting for the train to pass so it could cross the tracks! Another first for me.

Finally picking up David from Yagoona station 11.55pm last night I saw a fox. This does not sound like much, but Yagoona is a very urbanised area, with no bushland in this particular part, just road and railway lines. I know there is a drain under the roadway approximately where I saw the fox, and it is not too far from a couple of very overgrown hillsides/parks, so maybe this was where it headed back to. It was doing what foxes do well, and scavenging from rubbish from the local takeway, which some yobbo had thrown on to the road side. To confirm I had not just seen a dog, I did some U-turns and came back home the same way after picking up Davo. He and I aimed the car's headlights at the fox and had a really good look from about 5 metres as it also looked at us, slowly picked up its booty and headed under the fence and over the railway tracks!

three firsts of wild life all in one day, a little yarn and fabric shopping. That was a pretty nice Sunday.

snow!

2011-06-21T17:16:00.001+10:00

I have just had the first patient in 10 years cancel for snow! Wow, if you stay in a job long enough you will hear everything at least once. (ps she only lives in Lithgow, I suggested a nice warm train, but we'll see what happens).

knitting in public

2011-06-13T18:13:00.007+10:00

Okay, so while the last one is not strictly Sack Boy knitting, it hit the cute button so I have included it.

For posterity I am wearing the hat I won at the Sutherland Spinners and Weavers Day raffle. I can't remember the last time I won something, so was really pleased to get the phone call informing me of my good fortune, and here is the object in question. It's warm and it has a pompom, what could be nicer?

Photos were at Kurnell, Cape Solander again. No whales, but aparently 10 dolphins spotted this day (Sunday). Rain, more rain, water spouts, and really a lot of wind.

Saturday 18 June 2011

2011-06-12T10:10:00.003+10:00

be there or be square!

Customs House, 1pm - 4pm, yay organising committee

World Wide Knit in Public (a tale of two days and one long week)

2011-06-12T09:56:00.004+10:00

here is the story of what is to come.
Yesterday I attended a very good event in Sydney's Martin Place organised by ACS (Australian Country Spinners). There was shelter, heat, yarn needles and since I was just there, hot chocolate from the Lindt Cafe. There were new friends, and one of my daughters and her friend, all knitting for the save the children chahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifrity (squares for children's blankets), pure wool given by ACS - think Patons, Cleckheaton, Panda amongst others. It was fun, I have now done four squares (there are 16 in a blanket, that's how small it is!

come on join in, drop offs are at Spotlight or Lindcraft, and it will make a small person warmer in a cold world!

Sunny Day

2011-05-22T18:52:00.001+10:00

P5220385, a photo by Gemma_Anne on Flickr.

So this was how I spent Sunday afternoon ..... knitting the blanket that never ends.

clarification

2011-05-20T18:52:00.003+10:00

Since there appears to be some sort of rumour/misconception around my leaving the guild.
1. I don't hate the guild.
2. I have never said anything derogatory about a fellow guild member.
3. I have no hard feelings about anyone in the guild,

do you sense a theme, in fact I have total indifference to the Guild, but I do wish the Guild well. I hope they prospser and increase membership and promote knitting to all and sundry.

ps, see point 3. see point 2.
enough, move along, there has been no controversy,certainly no hard feelings, and that should be all! Don't look for trouble or slander where there has been none.

OBDM (or as we like to say - WOW Wool day!)

2011-05-16T10:26:00.005+10:00

Sunday saw me up bright and early to do a spot of planet watching, and just as quickly to jump back into bed and decide to get up a little later ......
(insert an hour or so here)

Anyway Sunday arrived and with it the reason for the excursion to Canberra in late Autumn, the rightly famous Old Bus Depot Markets, with their Celebration of Wool festival. As in past years there were many indie vendors, each with their unique brand of wool or fibre and I have to admit, I did a little damage to my bank account with more than a few of them.

Cazknits of Canberra, her work was spectacular as in past years, but her partner in loveliness Michelle was sick in hospital, still her silk/wool handpainted lace beckoned as did her wool/cashmere/nylon sock yarn!

Wool Dancer (another Michelle) was there and her colourful display did not disappoint. Roving in all shades of the rainbows and often all at the same time were a glorious sight! She was friendly and on top of all questions and enquiries, and she even had some quirky drop spindles for the novice to play with and buy at really reasonable outlay, so even if you had never spun fibre you could go away from her stall with the makings of a new addiction (opps!) hobby.

There was Glenora, Camolot, Happy Spider to name just a few. The Spinners and Weavers and Felters were out in force and raising money for a good cause, so I spent some money there. I also showed enormous restraint when looking at the corridale people in the little room at the western end of the markets building, not buying the fleece (because there is only so much time available to me for processing the fibre I buy before I spin it), but buying instead some perfect grey processed top from them, soft and will be a perfect project for the weeks ahead (only 400gm, but since I love to work with lace, I will spin it fine in order to ply with a black possum/silk/merino yarn I bought from Glenora.

The markets were certainly scooped by the time I got there around 10.30am, I know because many of my Sydney friends had planned on descending on the markets right on opening, and meeting later showed me they did indeed buy one or two things. I was there also to buy from the local providores, and took home sourdough bread, cheese, olives and vinegars to round out my trip.

As always I look forward to my next Canberra trip!

Wollmeise

2011-04-15T16:54:00.003+10:00

It's a shocker really! each time I tell myself I am getting on top of the stash, using it and loving using it, I just check out an update at the WM site and bam! I'm gone again. Last week 6 skeins Vamp, Zimtapfel (both reds) and Grashupfer (green), and this week 8 skeins, Limone (yellow), maus alt, chim chim chimney and Im Jahr der Ratte (all grey/brown/blue). I'm building a rainbow, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

FOLCA ALERT!!!

2011-04-05T10:58:00.001+10:00

Part II!

I have a "hello kitty" Folca! It is yellow! I win, I am the coolest, most beloved mum in the whole, wide, world!
okay enough with the exclamation points, but I do have a new folca, yellow with Hello Kitty on it. Thank you Kat.

Done!

2011-03-28T06:46:00.001+11:00

Done!, a photo by Sailor Coruscant on Flickr.

title says it all really. Here from Kat's flikr page :

"So, here it is. The monster that ate my life.
Four copies ready to be sent out for examination, to judge and determine whether I've done enough work in the last seven years to justify my continued existence."

Shiny!

2011-03-25T07:40:00.001+11:00

Shiny!, a photo by Sailor Coruscant on Flickr.

So Kat took the photo for me, and although I look slightly demented, this is my new car. This is the first new car I have ever owned, and basically the first time I have gone out on a limb and taken out a loan by myself etc. It's more than just a car, it's a symbol of how far I have come in the past few years, and really the sky is the limit. Life is for living after all!

crazy cat

2011-03-22T13:03:00.001+11:00

crazy cat a photo by Gemma_Anne on Flickr.

So, no knitting content, unless you count the ads in the bottom of the picture, but after being out in the rain, Whisper took pity on Oscar, and gave him a fairly thorough bath.

Future Plans

2011-03-21T16:16:00.002+11:00

1. Buy new car, (check)(suziki swift, boost blue pearl)
2. Pay for same .... ooops!
3. Spend some weekends away with knitting buddies (check)(weekend one, Blackheath, weekend two, Cockatoo Island, weekend three knit camp, weekend four Canberra)
4. flake as exhaustion sets in .....

FOLCA ALERT!!!

2011-03-21T14:03:00.003+11:00

Anyone who is still looking for Folca (the fabulous pill box/gadget box) there are 35 on the shelf at hot dollar at Burwood Westfield. $2.50, any colour as long as it is orange or blue.

This community service announcement is brought to you by Folca, and for lovers of manglish everywhere.

"folca - if it always has folca an important thing will not forget"

mum

2011-03-15T17:51:00.001+11:00

mum a photo by Gemma_Anne on Flickr.

mum with a stoic fellow, on the terrace at Abercrombie House, Bathurst NSW

Saturday means knitting

2011-01-29T23:24:00.003+11:00

I have spent the nicest Saturday today, in company with my offspring (some of them) in the morning, then after lunch, spending time knitting with friends. Relaxing and stimulating at the one time, who could ask for more?

rainbow

2011-01-29T09:56:00.001+11:00

rainbow
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

That was an engaging and very quick project. For the RAS I think ......

Long Beach

2011-01-13T11:50:00.004+11:00

This is the property we stayed at, Long Beach, Bateman's Bay NSW.

office chairs 001

2010-12-19T12:08:00.003+11:00

office chairs 001
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

I sat and knitted for a bit .....

Office Chair

2010-12-19T12:08:00.001+11:00

office chairs 008
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

Hey so what did you do today?

002

2010-12-17T09:45:00.001+11:00

002
Originally uploaded by lynchty

how cute is this little butterfly crocheted by Lynchty?

Christmas Chuckle

2010-12-15T09:39:00.002+11:00

The First Christmas Joke - and it's Scottish..........
A man in Scotland calls his son in London the day before Christmas Eve and
says,

"I hate to ruin your day but I have to tell you that your mother and I are
divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough".

"Dad, what are you talking about?'" the son screams.

"We can't stand the sight of each other any longer", the father says.
"We're sick of each other and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call
your sister in Leeds and tell her".

Frantically, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone, "Like hell

they're getting divorced", she shouts, "I'll take care of this".

She calls Scotland immediately and screams at her father, "You are NOT
getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my
brother back and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing,

DO YOU HEAR ME?"and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife.
"Done! They're coming for Christmas - and they're paying their own way."

IMG_4058

2010-10-31T06:29:00.001+11:00

IMG_4058
Originally uploaded by fabola

rally to restore sanity/fear!

Baa!

2010-10-12T18:54:00.001+11:00

Baa!
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

Hello little lambs, what on earth are you doing in the wilds of Bankstown? Lunch for some lucky ethnic family I'm sure. (As was your cousin a couple of years ago).

Live long and prosper.

sitting

2010-10-10T17:06:00.003+11:00

sitting
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

Sunday, Elizabeth said, "let's go to Wollongong". I drove, we had hamburgers at Coaldale and sat at Austinmer beach and ate them. Then since we parked at the northern end of the beach, we walked around the sand to the rocks, each finding a spot where we could do what we wanted. For me it was taking heaps of photos, Liz also did the photo thing. Catherine has a speech to give tomorrow and was working on it.

The spectacular colours at the front of the photo are from the minerals in the rocks highlighted by the standing water between waves, and the green is the weed, quite fluorescent in colour. The sky was a perfect blue, and what you can't see is the wind, which added extra colour with blowing in hundreds of tiny and not so tiny blue bottles.

Happy

2010-10-03T21:04:00.001+11:00

We won! There's really not much more to add.

we won

2010-10-02T20:37:00.004+10:00

So today (after 20 years) Collingwood won the flag!!! And by a very impressive margin. I spent the game knitting and got through 10 rows of pattern, 588 sts each row. It was tricky as there were cats wanting to climb on the shawl, and a dog that let himself through the back door when i was not looking.

Before the game we headed down to Bankstown Centro, and co-incidentially we saw Ahn Do, who was there signing copies of his new book.

The buildup

2010-10-01T16:18:00.003+10:00

On the weekend I have huge plans. Knitting, eating, partying, some DVD watching probably, footy games (2) go St George, Go Collingwood, Visitng mum, and then more knitting/partying on Monday. I will be looking forward to going back to work for a rest I think.

In knitting news I have finished part IV of the Shetland Pi Shawl KAL. Only one more part to go, 16 rows and then the bind off. To make the shawl loose enough for the spectactular points to show well, the second last row involves doubling the number of stitches, then finishing with a suspended bind off. Such fun.

The Noro Silk Garden Sock makes a lovely show of colours and is endlessly entertaining. Should be finished on the weekend and will follow up with photos next week.

23.detail of miniature

2010-09-19T20:28:00.001+10:00

23.detail of miniature
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

The following photos are taken Sunday 19 September 2010, which is of course talk like a pirate day. They are super macro photos of micro slices of art/life, on top of a cliff, in tiny pockets of rock, hollowed out over time by wind and rain, and as on today, by constant vibration by wave pounding into the cliff below. Twigs and pieces of bark and stones gather in the hollows and form still life dioramas, to be seen by chance if one explores the hidden treasures found in splendid isolated pockets amidst the otherwise windswept bare cliff tops.

18.rock garden

2010-09-19T20:24:00.001+10:00

18.rock garden
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

12.rockfall.close

2010-09-19T20:23:00.003+10:00

12.rockfall.close
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

24.wave.swoosh

2010-09-19T20:23:00.001+10:00

24.wave.swoosh
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

Sunday afternoon,
Just for fun we took a run out to Kurnell to perch on the rocky cliff edge at Pt Solander, and watch the enormous waves roll in. Pretty awe inspiring.

55.pipeline

2010-09-19T20:21:00.002+10:00

55.pipeline
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

One of the things we were looking at today, and wondering just how secure is the supply of crude oil to the Caltex refinery at Kurnell, considering how the pipes seem to be held together with lots of black tape.

September ......

2010-08-27T10:35:00.004+10:00

So I am away in Berry (south coast NSW) for the weekend of 3/4/5 september.
I have a lovely lunch planned for Sat, 11 September and on Sunday I will be here.
Next weekend is supposedly the Guild executive meeting at the powerhouse museum.
Also Les Miserables with Miranda Musical Society.
Then the next weekend there will be a 21st birthday ......

I will need a week off to recover!

Charity Knitting

2010-08-20T11:35:00.003+10:00

I'm not usually a fan of charity knitting, life being too short and all that sort of thing I would rather just throw some money at the problem.

But
The floods in the sub-continent of India are just so sad, and it's always the poorest of the poor who are hit hardest. The officials can sometimes be corrupt and skim the aid that's organised and meanwhile the people in so much need are left with very little. Luckily I know someone who knows someone. My gift can go from hand to hand to a real person. So my usual answer is not enough this time. I have so far knitted two hats, with more to come (we have a time line of November for the items), and because it is change of season I have been scouring the Op shops near work and for $1.50 each have picked up some really good quality jackets for little people. Best and Less is having a sale and so I got some kids socks (not as nice as hand knit, but there is a limit to my charity knitting love and socks are outside the line).

If you feel the urge West Ryde Guild has a person who will be hand delivering clothes/goods to an orphanage in Indian Cashmere in November, let us know and we will collect clothing to be added to the delivery. Share the love.

Surburban Sights

2010-08-08T15:33:00.005+10:00

Along with the the "dead" taxi below, the past week has seen some other truly astonishing sights. The lovely Isabelle when we had lunch the other day at that Golden Arches "restaurant" decided to have a Maltesers Sundae, and so did I, but just not in such a silly fashion.

The lovely ladies in the swimming get up are the comedy duo Sinchronised Swimmers, who were performing at Sutherland Coffee Festival.

And finally the naked nymph was in the front yard of an unassuming home at Yagoona, spotted when I was walking the dog.

Truly suburbia is a wonderfilled place!

random abandon

2010-08-08T09:16:00.001+10:00

random abandon
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

So when I drove to my usual parking spot at lovely Lidcombe there was this taxi .... It was sitting 3/4 of the way out in the middle of the road with hazard lights flashing. From the back it just looked like the driver had left it there when he had a smoke or something, but after i parked and walked to the front this was what i found. No broken glass on the road so it had been smashed somewhere else and then driven here and abandoned. (just for the record I tried to report it to the appropriate authorities but sat on hold for more than 4 minutes on my mobile, my phone credit is more important than that so I just gave up in the end).

roving/top

2010-06-03T13:46:00.003+10:00

source one

two

three

four

five

the result of the audition

2010-05-20T11:36:00.000+10:00

yes of course we know the knitter. Hi Lee

Something for Kat

2010-05-17T09:30:00.002+10:00

For your viewing pleasure, and for all the pastafarians out there.

More Sunday,

2010-04-19T16:17:00.003+10:00

So we just walked around and looked for crabs, star fish and anything interesting in the rock pool of Bare Island at La Perouse. It made a very relaxing change from the usual stress of the PhD for Cat, and well, that's one of the things mums do. Now to find a block of a few hours when Liz is not attending to clients, and drag her out too.

I went with a small group to visit the lovely Sally on Saturday after Rubi and Lana's, and she was a little overwhelmed to start with, but then she was just so happy to see visitors. All in all many good things were done this weekend. I even almost finished (have to rip back a toe and make it shorter) the m.i.l. socks for nan. Huzzar!!!

Sunday 18 April - road trip

2010-04-19T16:03:00.007+10:00

Well it is far enough across Sydney to call this a road trip, from scarey Bankstown to the far eastern point of Botany Bay
it was a perfect afternoon, if you ignored the crazy people whose main aim in life was to rush the drive around the circle.

cranes, Port Botany

2010-04-19T16:02:00.003+10:00

cranes, Port Botany
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

earlier in the day and with more zoom.

Sunday .......

2010-04-19T11:53:00.001+10:00

here!

We had fun. Next time I will time it better and Elizabirthdaycake will be able to go too!

Pizza

2010-03-26T09:43:00.002+11:00

In news just out, my son David's boss has scored twice in the best 10 pizza restaurants in Sydney as voted by the SMH's foodie.

Read about it here

Its no surprise really as both when I have eaten there and when Davo brings home potato pizza with rosemary oil (for example) its always been delish!
Go Ventunos

hiding behind his ample backside

2010-03-19T09:11:00.001+11:00

hiding behind his ample backside
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

done and on his way to judgement!

no legs ........

2010-03-15T19:53:00.001+11:00

no legs ........
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

There is the city I am going to destroy!!!! If only that stupid human would knit my legs and arms .... world domination, only 30gm of yarn away.

pride

2010-02-19T06:19:00.002+11:00

Hi,
last night was Guild, and I "ran" the meeting since Penny was away.

At some point I read out a proposed letter to send to the Guild on behalf of the group. I was proud of the way the group discussed the letter, the situation and how they wished to proceed. There was no nasty name calling no silly finger pointing and I believe almost everyone signed the letter. Grown Ups, that's what they were. When someone disagreed with something said, no raised voices, only one person spoke at once (and not because someone waved a big stick or screamed, because it is the only rational way to discuss an emotive topic). Proud, that's how I felt!

Our letter will post today.

Knitting Guild - letter

2010-02-11T14:35:00.000+11:00

Dear Convenors
I am sending this copy of a comment, which I made on the Guild website and have also sent to the Executive Committee, to you all in the interests of non-website users being included as far as I am able to do so without being able to personally contact all members. Please circulate as you see fit.
I wrote this comment in response to the situation which has arisen regarding the interpretation of the validity of the nominations for the Executive Committee for 2010 and the resignation of Jenny Chioatto from not only the Committee but the Guild (letter also posted on the Guild website).
Kind Regards
Merrin Marks
Convenor
Blue Mountains Group
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday 8 February 2010
To the Knitters’ Guild Executive Committee
I am formally submitting the following (which is also posted in the Guild’s website forum) as correspondence…
As presumably the new President (as things stand at the moment), I too feel that I have gained the position under “false” pretences due certain nominations for the Executive Committee, made by Guild members in good faith, being declared invalid, i.e. for lack of a signature and untimely membership renewals. Regrettably these nominees were not advised of the irregularity of their nominations nor were they afforded the opportunity to rectify the errors. The rectification of irregularities in nominations is allowed under NSW State Legislation.
I do not know why the nominees were not given the opportunity to rectify their nominations, nor do I know why the majority of the Executive voted that the “Date of Closure of Nominations” was the date of validity despite legal advice to the contrary, etc. etc.; but, for the sake of the reputation of the Guild, its members and its officers, I do add my request to others that the Executive Committee now afford the nominees whose votes were declared valid the opportunity to rectify the errors and allow their names to go forward for an election at the AGM. Fortunately there is still just enough time before the AGM for members to be advised of any changes.
This situation demonstrates the need for a thorough revision of the Guild’s Constitution and a review of its processes and terminologies to not only comply with the law but also to ensure probity and equity for all members.
We are a prestigious organisation, we have the Governor of NSW as our Patron, we all have an obligation to uphold and preserve the dignity and integrity of our organisation and our craft, which is why I am allowing my nomination for President to stand, election or no election.
Merrin Marks
Convenor
Blue Mountains Group

Knitting Guild

2010-02-07T07:27:00.000+11:00

Read this for a beautifully put explanation of the stuff going on.

Answers

2010-01-28T06:35:00.001+11:00

Hi Gemma,

Thanks for your note. It sounds like Mum went over the top - as usual.

I wasn't there to hear what Mum had to say, but ignore it. We are just tired of hearing from Mum all the really horrible things which, apparently, all my family is saying about us. I can tell you, it is very distressing to hear all that rubbish. So I pointed out the bloody obvious to her that none of us are perfect. That doesn't stop us from loving you, or even from liking you.

We certainly don't hold any grudges, but we have major responsibilities and just need the space we have created in order to fulfill our immediate commitments. That won't stop us from being there when we are needed - sometimes I just need to be told I'm needed, I'm not good at anticipating other peoples needs, even if those people think it should be obvious to me. This is a human fault - one of many existing in me.

So if you need help painting the gutters (for example) - call me - because I don't get there often enough to see it myself!

I do love you Sis, heaps & heaps.

Cheers...

Glad my response was moderate. From the tone our mother set it sounded like daggers at ten paces, and the "I'm never going to speak to those horrible people again" type of story.

The internet is not private, so nothing more can I say, but I think some telephone conversations are in order here. hugs to you all.

2010-01-27T08:38:00.003+11:00

Hi .......
mum told us all how you feel we have let ........... down. Maybe that might be true with me, I can't speak for anyone else, but I will say that seems untrue in (one sister's) case. She did not speak up on Australia Day, so I will just remind you that she used to come around to your house very, very regularly to visit with your wife and children.

Please let me know what you would like me to do to turn the situation around, because it was never my intention to be cruel or ignore .............. or your family.

I was sorry to hear about (her sister and ex husband), as I am sure you were sorry to hear about me and Geoff (it's been four years now - time certainly flies when you spend 45 hours per week at work, and then have to finance and run a home in your spare time).

PS, it is hard to find time when you and ........ are available to visit, and one such actually arranged visit did not proceed, as when I rang on the day to check the time I was expected Wella was running out the door because she had forgot I was coming over and had made other plans with ..............

I hope you are all well.

cheers,
gemma

names removed to shield people from embarrassment.

this letter is the result of about 4 hours sleep, and several hours ruminating last night.

certainly the first (20?) or so drafts I wrote in my head last night when I finally calm enought to think were slightly (yes only slightly) more forceful. I know the internet is not private, so yes this is here for all to see. I was and continue to be very angry about the prounouncements made on Australia Day third hand through our mother who art at Heathcote. (oh no, another religious pun - I will surely be punished for that one too).

I am tired and really can't face another late night, so no knitting for me tonight.

Suburban Destruction

2010-01-10T08:26:00.003+11:00

I'm sad to say I can't find a news link (although I saw the story on the 7 news program this morning) but my local op shop was burned to the ground this morning. It has been fire bombed at least twice before, and there is always junk deposited in the car park around it, which has also been known to be set alight, but this is just tragic. Only last week I was poring through the old and vintage knitting patterns and wishing I had more cash on me to buy a few more. Now the change is taken from me by some idiot.

The building is also historic as it was once a Pizza Hut, one of the first in Sydney and many a time when the kids were little was spent having a snack with flavour with my bestest buddy Rosemary. *sigh* Also this is not the first building attacked by a *head arsonist at Yagoona, the local BBQ chicken shop is still just a plyboard wall, never having been rebuilt after it mysteriously burned down a couple of years ago.

Pictures later.

two thousand and ten

2010-01-02T09:49:00.002+11:00

Hi Knitting Guild, my name is gemma and :
"I have been knitting/crafting since an early age, constantly expanding my horizons and trying new techniques - moving through arans and fair isles to fine lace.

I am enthusiastic and am keen to promote the Guild and I believe the Guild should continue to show a public face and presence to encourage new memberships - following the successful tradition of displays at craft shows and active participation at a local level."

Hopefully this is a non-threatening statement of intent.

I posted it, snail mail, to the returning officer today.

preparing for baby

2009-12-18T06:09:00.003+11:00

each in their own way, the family were getting ready for the new baby. Sailor C knitted, Tony got what ever rest he could, and The Heidi shopped. The Baby arrived, and their world was changed for ever, bwhahahahahahahahaha!

Apparently there are many more photos of baby Nick (including all the ultra sound ones), but I will spare you. He was born earlier this week, 4kgs, and his parents are over the moon, the grandies much the same and I imagine Yaya is bursting with pride with another Dimitriou boy walkling the earth. Its nice to have happy news.

where the wild things are

2009-12-01T06:25:00.002+11:00

Read this movie review then go see the picture. Take tissues!

PS we got crowns!!!!! and we wore them home, and we howled (I howled under the railway bridge at Burwood and it echoed, it was great.

2009-11-22T09:58:00.004+11:00

thanks to the magic that is now blogger's editing, I have I idea where each photo starts and ends, so I will just say that above here is the cat helping me with the new blocking wires and the wires doing what I bought them for. The lovely Penny (rav link) sourced the wires, sourced the tubes (custom made because the wires are one metre long) and then sold them to us at the West Ryde Knitter's Guild group, and the West Ryde pub group. I have never used blocking wires before and so it is amazing exciting and so much quicker and easier to do this way. Woot Penny, thank you. (ps are you ready to go for broke selling them to the Knitting Guild?)

blocking wires

2009-11-22T09:58:00.001+11:00

blocking wires
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

These are the blocking wires in their custom made cardboard tube. I am about to embark on the experiment that is blocking with something other than 6 million pins...... wish me luck!

note to self .....

2009-11-20T09:34:00.001+11:00

check typing before faxing letter to Department of Health requesting prescription of S8 drugs, as saying someone's moo disorder is probably bad form .... even if she is a cow!

2009-11-15T11:17:00.002+11:00

birthday wrap up

2009-11-15T10:26:00.002+11:00

Today is the final day of the week long festival of fifty, celebrating my 50th birthday. To summarise, Sunday last week lunch at Ventuno's, where they even made me a birthday cake with my name on it (that's a first), Tea on my birthday itself was Chinese with free wine thrown in by my favourite local shop, Wednesday night was pub knitting, and girls organised me a surprise birthday party. It's the first time ever and apart from the embarrassment factor of being the centre of attention, it was lovely. There was cake and presents (so many lovely presents) and it was very overwhelming. I have been trying to get my head around it all, and so for a quick photo montage, which in now way will do proper justice to the loveliness of the night, here it is.

Sea Silk

2009-11-10T11:03:00.001+11:00

Sea Silk
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

Finished and steam blocked to wear to the birthday lunch to launch the Festival of birthday celebrations. Sea Silk amythest, one skein, forest canopy shawl. I think its about the fourth one I have knitted, easy, intuitive and pretty. Its a total win/win/win!

Flowers

2009-11-10T10:49:00.001+11:00

Flowers
Originally uploaded by Gemma_Anne

My baby brother sent me a bunch of flowers! Of course it made me cry, mostly because nestled in the bunch were a few "nana" flowers (Gerbras). Every year nana would lift the gerbras and split them, so that next year there would be more. These days the colours available are quite exotic, but back then they were a summery, burnt orange, yellow, pale pink and a washy red. They smelt funny but she loved them, and now in retrospect it seems like a ritual (although I'm sure she did not even do it every year, it just seems that way so far in the foggy past).

easter show - the story begins .....

2009-11-05T20:25:00.002+11:00

On Ravelry there is a grand plot to fill the Toy Cabinet at the Sydney Royal Easter Show with outrageous toys. I hope also to add in a small way to the mayhem. Watch this space for upcoming plot revelations as they occur.

Bloody Quentin

2009-11-02T19:31:00.002+11:00

It is a really long story, and really most of the time he is so not worth the breath it takes to talk about him, but currently he is making Kat's life a misery. Do click on the link and enjoy what he says about himself. It says it all really.

November and the countdown begins

2009-11-01T18:37:00.006+11:00

So to explain the pictures, Oscar is walking along minding his own business, when out of nowhere, Mr Jinx jumps him. They wrestle, Oscar swats at him and they both end up bathing one another! Brotherly love, it's just like kids really.

It is the beginning of November. Today was a perfect spring day in Sydney, albeit a little warm, but we worked in the garden (alright Lizzie worked, I swanned about giving advice), Geffo rode in the Sydney to the Gong bike ride to raise funds for MS research, and the cats wrestled. Yes people we have photos, not great, but its a new camera and I am just playing at the moment.

Day 31 (c'est finis)

2009-10-31T20:00:00.002+11:00

Today was a meet up day for the Rubi and Lana knitting group. I dutifully left home later than previously and trained up to Gordon and still arrived early, but less early than last time.

I was winding a ball of Anne (Schaffer) which was driving me batty. The whole skein was snarled in an epic fashion, and in the end I left it to finish when I got home and had another set of hands and a couple of chair backs to wrangle it. All up it took approximately three hours to wind. In contrast the second skein took about 20 minutes, and during this time I was also cooking dinner.

Anyhow October is drifting to a close. Today we enjoyed a really summery day in Sydney with brilliant sunshine and gentle sea breezes. Temperatures were a balmy 30degrees c.

I will play with the new camera and post photos again, and all will be good and right with the world.

Day 30 (stealing time)

2009-10-30T18:45:00.002+11:00

My oldest son has just nipped in and stolen the computer from me. I am going to Rubi and Lana's knitting group tomorrow, and hopefully will have time on the train to pick up the stitches in the sea silk shawl. (fingers crossed). Because its purple its just too hard to do at night after a long day of work, and my eyes are too tired, so its Ben's neverending socks again tonight.

The boss is doing examining for the College of Psychiatrists this weekend, so spare a thought for all those she has to judge. She is a brilliant and exacting task master, but they will be better for her critique.

cheers, happy weekend all.

Day 29 (still no internet * sigh*)

2009-10-29T18:28:00.001+11:00

It's been a good day. Even though I had to go by train to work I had fun because I had Kat to talk to, and while we were powering along between Birrong and Regents Park, there by the grassy verge on the side of the track were bunnies!!!!! Not gray/feral rabbits, but lovely black fuzzy bunnies. There were four, in two groups of two just sitting there eating the rubbishy grass growing along the tracks. I know they are a pest, and probably escaped from someone's yard and in the future will just breed and become feral, but right now they are cute, and they made me smile. No mean feat on a Thursday morning!

Some lawyers messed up the first appointment of the day, and so after sitting around for 90 minutes we were ready for some light entertainment. Doc sees clients for the Motor Accident Authority as an independent expert. Today's offerring was a doozy! She thinks either he's stark raving mad (which coming from a psych is a serious description) or malingering, either way as soon as he was gone in the lift she truly fell about laughing. She was pouring coffee and giggling uncontrollably! From then on the day got better. We both love laughing at life! (ps he was found to a 0% impairment, so no hard feeling buddy, but you're okay)

Day 28 (I have no internet)

2009-10-28T22:16:00.002+11:00

So :
I went to the pub,
I was knitting sea silk,
I was using Addi turbos (can you see where this is going)
I dropped *eeek* about 20 stitches (with yo's, k2togs ssk)

sigh, tomorrow, when I can see again, I will correct the small puddle of purple.

Day 27 (shhhh, I'm posting from work)

2009-10-27T17:06:00.002+11:00

It's been a busy and expensive week so far. The fax machine, which was well used when I first came here 9 years ago, has run out of toner. Not so bad you say, but you missed the 9 year (plus whatever came before). Turns out the machine is 14 years old and by today's standards is considered a dinosaur. No more replacement parts are available, which means a perfectly functioning machine has had to be recycled because the manufacturer does not produce the consumables any more. They can't be replicated by the cartridge people next door either. I have coffee every morning with the techie, and he just laughed at me when I brought in the bits to be refilled. No way he said between laughs! Bugger. So now we have a bright shiney new fax, which will wear out in no time at all I betcha.

In other news I won a prize in the Ravelry Socks from the Toe Up KAL, which arrived yesterday. 2 Skeins of Louet Gem sock yarn, pale mossy green colour, with a bottle of soak. It's a very long time since I have won anything, so this was very exciting, but since it was the August prize it was spread out excitement.

I think I might leave work early, since I have to be back early to speak to a Barrister tomorrow.

Another exciting installment to follow then .......

Day 26 (Cats)

2009-10-26T06:45:00.003+11:00

Cats and rain, is there anything funnier? Okay, realistically there is, but at 6am with wind and rain howling around the house, it's pretty funny.

My cats sleep in the laundry, all four of them. Every night they call a truce from the tumbling wars they play all day, and settle down in pairs in the nice warm laundry to sleep. Every morning around 6 they start to speak to each other. If I don't let them out pretty soon after this, the place is wrecked. When I let them out they all make a bee line for the front door, flying out when it is opened.

Today because of the rain, two dashed out as is their wont, one skidded to a halt just inside the door and looked at me, and the other sat in the kitchen and "lol catted" the other three. The two outside both ran out, jumping off the verandah before they realised it was raining, scrambling and slipping they turned around and headed back towards the door. They gave me such dirty looks when they realised I had shut the screen door as soon as they were out, and pretty quickly they had "talked" me into letting them back inside. Right now they are draped on furniture around the lounge room, as if nothing happened. The two who went out have washed off all the rain, and look their usual cool selves, "nothing to see here human, just move along".

Cats, endless source of humour.

day 25 (heck it's Sunday, what more can you ask for?)

2009-10-25T21:01:00.001+11:00

dinner tonight - chicken noodle soup and pizza. yummy, salty goodness.

Today's activities - corralling stash, knitting stash, finished the second half of my Christmas swap buddy's present. Had a nap, was woken up by visitor about 20 minutes into this nap. Drinking tea. Put out the washing, but due to rain, no need to bring it in, fold it, or iron it (shucks).

Watched the first five minutes of Bones, and have decided to have my cats euthanasia (ps, I have never seen such fat and docile feral cats, why aren't the ferals around here like that?).

Have put the cats to bed early, just in case they were watching Bones too, and got any ideas......
goodnight.

Day 24 (fete accomplished)

2009-10-24T21:08:00.003+11:00

Today was the fete at John Paul Village. Turns out it was an old fashioned fete, with lots of stuff really cheap. My sister picked up two lovely tiny wine glasses, cut crystal for 50 cents, they sang when flicked and split the light into such lovely rainbows, they were a superb bargain. I got 6 books, 5 novels and 1 fantasy cross stitch reference book, some were old, but all were in good condition. When I look back over the blog, it is rather clear (to me at least) that I love looking through bargain books, and never come home with nothing. Today yielded a Buchan (Greenmantle), Greene (may we borrow your husband - short stories), Kipling (captains courageous), Alexander McCall Smith and Morgan Llywelyn. I love it.

I also took my spinning wheel. There were little old ladies who related spinning stories to me, little old men who love anything mechanical and were dying to give it a try, but maybe too shy. The kids were the best of all, and some even spun the wheel, learning about how the drive band, brake band, mother of all and flyer each did part of the job. One little boy, called Ben (dare I say it of course!!! It had to be a Ben) played with the drive shaft and ended up bruising his finger rather spectacularly when he spun the wheel while holding on to the piece, but he was okay. One boy even took the chair and spun some yarn while I drafted it for him. He dragged his mother over to show her what he had done. He was so excited!

Mum sold $158 worth of raffle tickets for a beautifully dressed bride doll, which was so much more than she expected, but she blames the fact that I was sitting beside her spinning, and so people stopped to look, making them an easy target for the "come on, it's only a dollar" approach.

The weather was lovely and just to see how the spinning effected so many people was rather special. Must do it again.

Day 23 - workspeak

2009-10-23T14:21:00.003+11:00

my current favourites:

"The symptom complaints are not consistent with the injuries documented" - you're lying through your teeth.

"The cranial contents do not appear to have been disrupted at the time of the accident." I loved this one, it seems to mean that there is no brain injury, but this is so much a more eloquent way of putting it.

The boss was sent literature today from some shonky firm, looking for tame doctors to turn out reports that say what is needed, not necessarily what is full truth. She shredded it. She has such a good reputation that judges often appoint her now to do a report when there is a dispute between the experts engaged by the opposing parties. That one is always a feather in the cap, even when it makes so much more work for both of us.

It's lovely to work for a smart boss, even better when they are so ethically outstanding and well thought of as well.

Any how it's Friday, and there are only three more patients to go. Yay for weekends.

Day 22

2009-10-22T17:29:00.004+11:00

When I sit to type my posts mostly I have an idea of what I am going to say. Since much of the recent posting has been negative, I think an attitude shift is in order.

Tomorrow I am not going home from work. I have had a better offer. I am going to my mum's place to spend Friday night and all day Saturday, and if I am still tired I am going to sleep over again on Saturday night. A weekend away even. There will be take out for tea on Friday, probably Chinese, as there is a good restaurant at Engadine where she has eaten before with both of my brothers, and on Saturday at John Paul Village there is a fete (if you clicked the link, I have no idea where this waterfall is???). Nothing is as much fun for browsing as a good fete. Mum has been volunteered to sell raffle tickets, and I said I would bring along the spinning wheel and try to drum up business by sitting with her and doing something quaint. It helps that the second fibre club offerring from Mandie arrived and looks like boiled lollies, so is completely intriguing. It is a BFL (my absolute favourite fibre) bamboo viscose blend, and if I get really organised there will be a photo of before and after on the blog soon. Anyway that is the grand plan for this weekend.

I will have to post on Friday from work (which is where I am posting from today) and hopefully the dial up interweb will work at mum's place for a saturday special, otherwise one of my daughters will have to post a very random guest post, which seems to be all the rage anyhow this week.

So I have a smile plastered to my face, I have finished all my work and will be reduced to random filing tomorrow to fill in time, since the boss gets a little cross if I spin/knit while she is busy and I am not. c'est la vive!

Day 21/22 ( ^%$#&*& kids)

2009-10-22T05:52:00.002+11:00

When my son asks for a loan of my car, usually unless there is a compelling reason for saying no, I say yes.

Last night (day 21) was pub night with the girls, so with reservations I said yes he could have the car. Train to work, no big deal, train from work to the pub, likewise, but Ben, dear boy, have you ever caught the train home at 10pm from West Ryde to Strathfield, Strathfield to Sefton, walked the 2km home in the dark from Sefton? I thought not, and to make things worse we drive past K's place on the way home so when she asked could I drop her off I said yes. Ummmmmmm nevermind Elizabeth sprang to the rescue when it was discovered that Ben was asleep. But I have news for you Ben, no more car for a while buddy. Fix your own.

Dat 20 (presents!!!)

2009-10-20T22:05:00.003+11:00

Kat is home from her second trip round the world. She started in Sydney three months ago, flew to Chile, Venezuela,and then Brazil. It's a long trip from Australia to the east coast of South America. She was in Rio for an astronomical conference.

Following this she spent the rest of her time away in Cambridge at the Issac Newton Institute, doing star stuff (astrophysics for her PhD). She brought home presents. I got two sew on patches, one has a lama on it. I got a dragon pin, since she knows I love dragons, and from somewhere in Rio, I got a St Anthony amulet, since he is my favourite saint.

She tells me that in the depths of her bag there is also chocolate, but it may just be empty packaging. She is almost back into Sydney time, but coming from an English summer into an Australian spring, and yesterday and today Sydney has really turned on the heat, is just a little hard for her, and she is wilting. No doubt she will soon get used to being hot again. She bought herself souvenir yarn (a Malabrigio painted lace weight, in hot pink) and some Harmony wooden needles. She is knitting an Ishbell! Now I feel the challenge to do one also.

I have tonight finished the Christmas present for the Chrissy swap on Ravelry, now all I have to do is block it. It's purple and I love it. Photos will follow, now I have a camera.

Pub night tomorrow, a special meeting to "debrief" following the visit to our local guild of President Carolyne. I wonder are we in trouble for asking her questions, and suggesting the guild is in danger of becoming irrelevant in today's knitting world (although not in so many words, but I have first hand knowledge that neither of my girls can see any value in spending money to join the guild, because "what will we get out of it?" {a direct question at dinner tonight from the 24 year old, and I was hard pressed to find something that she wanted that the guild could give her}).

It does sum up though what younger people think, the Guild is not for them .... I have yet to convince them otherwise.

Day 19 (still no glasses)

2009-10-19T19:33:00.003+11:00

To follow on from yesterday's wallowing, I have made sure the few parties I have thrown for my kids were affairs to remember. I made party invites, or bought really good ones, made party bags of lollies/gifts for kids to take home (with brown paper bags and cut up wrapping paper, so the party person and their sibs were all included in the getting ready part). We have hosted some real rip snorters, complete with tantrums and laughter.

It's rather hard to pin down, but probably the party which left the biggest impression was my third child's 13th birthday sleepover. Picture teenagers, stacks of makeup (they were mostly heading towards a goth phase, so there was much black and really shiny red lips and nails). They were quite hysterically funny girls, there was singing to the video camera behind the closed bedroom door (which strangely enough Elizabeth we could still hear outside), there was giggling and posing for photos. The funniest thing (to me) was that one of them brought "Romeo and Juliet", the one with *huge sigh* Leo in it. They lay around in sleeping bags and blankets on the loungeroom floor and their eyes never left the screen, and at the end there was sobbing, like their little hearts were breaking. OMG!!!!! I was really solicitous for one of them who was particularly badly hit, asking her was that the first time she had seen the movie? It turned out it was her copy and she had seen it like 1000000 (well maybe not that many, but you get the picture) times.

I had to take myself away where she could not hear me, and broke down laughing.

Kids eh? They keep you young. more anon

Day 18 (parties and why I hate them)

2009-10-18T17:09:00.006+11:00

When I was young (this is probably age 5) (we only had parties with school friends on the 5, 10, 15 years) I had a birthday party. All my friends were invited and said they would come. On the day my best friend, Jenny Brown, did not turn up. She had said yes she would come, her mum sent back the RSVP, and so I waited the whole party for her, and she did not come. By the time everyone else was going home I was pretty upset, clinging to the clothes line and crying. It's the only birthday party with friends I remember, and the only part of the party that stays with me.

At school the next day she was cool as anything, as if, you know, it was no big deal she did not come, and eventually we were best friends again. We ended up going to high school together, still "best friends", but somewhere along the line I learned what friends of convenience were, and never again opened my heart to this girl. At a reunion a few years ago she was there. Still pretty, still petite, still the centre of an adoring group of best friends, but time had done its work finally, and I realised just how she was not even my friendat all. I was saved.

It really helped that somewhere along the line I picked up Mary and her family as friends. She was not cool, she was one of seven children (somewhere in the middle), gorgeously voluptuous, I was dead skinny, brunette like me, with freckles, also like me. Together in 1st form (year seven) we gathered a group of odd one's out around us, and we were pretty much together as best friends for years, even long after school finished, we would phone one another, and when one of us got a car, still hang out some weekends together.

Mary and the gang helped me move on and I learned about "real" friends.

Anyhow, back to parties, its a big one this year, and my mum (and sisters) want to bully me into having a party. My kids don't know why I don't want one, but they backed me enough to let me know that Grannie was going to do something, so I attacked from the outset.

There is now going to be the kind of "party" I like, where I cook for the families and everyone sits around and struggles with (slightly older and more easily bored) offspring, eating, drinking soft stuff and generally just hanging out. Mum keeps saying it's a lot of work, but seriously, I was born to cook. I'm not particularly great at it or anything, but I have planned to roast a couple of legs of lamb (yes there are that many of us), cook creamy potatoes in foil baking dishes that can be just thrown away, and then probably a kilo or so of peas, fresh corn, gravy, it's so what I love to do, feed people. Mum is all thingy about it, but hey it's my party, and if I have to have one I'm so doing it my way.

There will be ice cream, tiramisu, fruit for dessert.
There will be bread to mop up gravy, soft drinks, and maybe bubbles, because I like it, not because it's someone else's idea of how to have a party.

Any my kids and their friends, ex and me will be having lunch on the terrace at Ventunos at Wharf 7 the week before (which co-incidentially is my 29th wedding anniversary). Since I will be travelling into the city by train, this also might be an occasion for some (lots) of bubbles. Also the new menu starts tomorrow, and I have had a sneak preview since David brought it home for me to check out, yummmm!

but just don't mention "parties", say celebrations, get togethers, or dinner-parties (yes in my world it's one word) cause in my head they spell out betrayal and casual indifference, and I have no place in my world for such.

Day 17 (a grand adventure)

2009-10-17T18:16:00.002+11:00

Like all the best adventures this began with a journey by train. I love train travel. I have been by train to the Gold Coast, Ballina, Grafton, Melbourne, and various places closer to Sydney (and sometimes by exotic trains, steam, vintage diesel). Today was just a combination of Tangara and inter city express. You get to meet all kinds of people and like during the Olympic period in Sydney, the Master's Games brings lots of people on public transport from all over the world. I have spoken to Iranian people (who are really loud when they argue/discuss things with each other), Canadians, A Fijian lady (who turned out to be a medal winner in the double's badminton, and even some softballers from Queensland. I had a ball, and visitors always love to talk about what they came to Sydney to do.

Anyhow, the purpose of the trip was for me to go to the Blue Mountains Guild for a sock knitting workshop. There were five of us from West Ryde Guild, and the ladies from BM (Blue Mountains) were welcoming and fun to learn with. In the group there were many levels of sock knitters, but even though I have knitted many pairs of socks, I learned two things today which will make life easier for me and reopen the book of top down socks. We learnt a tubular cast on which was so easy (really really), and despite being all thumbs, I also grafted the toe on my sock to finish. I need seriously to knit some swatches and practice grafting them together, because my first effort was seriously really loose, and yucky. It can only get better from here. Morning tea was yum, and Helen from our group brought a lovely lemon slice to share too.

Now I am home, but about to run out again to see Spamalot (the musical) performed by the Regals Musical Society. Report tomorrow.

Day 16 (can I type without glasses?)

2009-10-16T17:52:00.004+11:00

That is a good question, and I'm glad you asked it. Right now the screen is white with very fuzzy stuff appearing on it, at least it's in a straight line, so so far so good. I can touch type so that's not a problem as long as Mr Jinx
too late he jumped on my jeyboard and up on my shoulder, purring all the while.

It's Friday and tomorrow I have another excursion planned. This time some of the West Ryde Knitter's Guild are visiting the Blue Mountains Guild who are holding a how to knit socks workshop. It's going to be a lovely social day.

Last Saturday's trip to Exeter was fun too. We headed off early since the people I went with are as obsessed about being early as I am, and on the way to the M5 we stopped at a Salvo's shop on Milperra Road. There was yarn, wooden cotton/silk reels, books. Much fun was had by poking around.

First real stop was at Wool Addiction Bowral for some stash enhancement (nobody needs stash enhancement around here, but whatever baby, there was yarn and it was good). I picked up a couple of balls of Annie Blatt mohair/lambswool and two balls of Noro silk garden sock, because like much of the world I am loving shawls at the moment and if you like colour, nothing is quite as nice as the long repeats of colour in the Noro.

Finally to the tea cosy competition. There was a huge variety in the quality of the entrants. Some were very well put together and some, pretty but not necessarily special. It was fun and I was in good company.

Day 15 (can you feel it?)

2009-10-15T11:36:00.002+11:00

We're half way through October, although technically since it's only 11.33 not quite half way, but here we are.

Tonight is Guild night, and our president Mme Caroline is visiting. It is also the night I said I would provide a report to the meeting on the trip to the Southern Highlands, Exeter to be exact, where Kerry and I went to check out the tea cosy competition. Apparently the exhibited tea cosies were much more elaborate in Morpheth, so it was hard to get ideas for next year at this exhibition. Still there were some lovely things to see.

In other news, Geffo, the ex is doing the MS Ride to Wollongon and looking for sponsorship, so if you feel like helping a good cause feel free to add a little to his donations. I felt kindly towards the cause since every day I work with people with this crappy disease. No known cause, no known cure, more women than men get it. It's a really sad story and we see it every day, so just saying, anything that can help improve the lives of people with MS is a good research topic in my book.