Three remotes on the counter….

Three remotes on the bench – which one will you choose?

When we left town in July we had a television that might not have been used all that often but was working well, even though at 17yrs it was getting on a bit (compared to modern standards that is)
Returned home and it started to play up…turning itself back on from mute plus the sound kept rising all on its own accord….responding to the remote at times, then defiantly staying at ear splitting level 100.
New batteries were no help – set top controls not working either.
So the decision was made!

There was lots of measuring (limited space where it will live) looking/ comparing/ discussing at home then repeated live in the store. In the end it was ‘that’ll do’ – it fits the space and doesn’t seem too complicated plus there was a bit of price negotiations (“we don’t usually match that place” prove you’re a member etc etc) which ended well and saved us travelling further afield. The enormous box just fitted across the back seat which saved us ‘persuading’ one of our boys to pick it up….

Then it was onto the rigmarole fun and games we’d heard about called ‘setting it up’.
We sort of knew it wasn’t going to be a case of turn it on and away you go but oh dear, this was a new experience (hopefully not to be repeated any day soon) who knew it would be such a palaver trying to connect it to the house wifi.

Anyway this new television came with clunky strange shaped ‘smart tv magic remote’ that does more than the usual on/off softer/louder change channel stuff – remember we’re really latecomers to this game and learning ways to use it….when there are only basic instructions included….has been interesting.
Attempts at trying to direct/guide a cursor by waving this unfamiliar object in the air were frustrating (for both of us) …I had to leave the room a couple of times, my suggestions were not welcomed at all 😊

And this is where the tale of the three remote controls begins…

A while ago some of the buttons on the original remote for the previous set were playing up so The Golfer got himself a universal one, a new ‘better, everything worked one’, I was content with the original (give it a bash tap on the chair and the buttons worked again 😊)
Saved me asking him to change channels or alter the sound although there had been words ‘spoken’ (by me) if he got annoyed tired of watching adverts and started looking around at other programmes forgetting we – not just he – were in the middle of watching something.

‘So I suppose we just toss these’ said a rather unhappy Catherine looking at the two discarded ones.
There were visions of ‘change the channel please – turn it up a bit, I can’t hear it – cut the noise, I can’t hear you’ returning to the lounge room.
Plus having to actually locate the thing if needed. Things have a habit of being covered up or sliding down the side of chairs.
‘Well they’re not going to work, are they’ he said.
‘I’ll just try’ she said, Fingers crossed, hoping hoping
Surprise Surprise…against all odds she was pleasantly surprised to find the old original one does.
So does the universal one, except it just sits ignored beside a certain person’s chair, because he’s happy playing with his new beaut one.

So things have returned to ‘normal’ our lounge room, Catherine still gets to change channels and control the sound if she wants to without having to wrestle verbally (or physically😊) with another (who has a habit of guarding those black things with his life….just joking….but it does seem like that at times)

Seen in the supermarket…

Noticed on the first day of Spring (September 1st) – mince pies and other foods – 16 weeks before they would traditionally be eaten.
How soon is too soon?

And the other question is – will they last??.

Wordless Wednesday- when pictures tell the story

Going to the dogs…

(A little lighthearted post for this Monday morning)

These have been sitting in a draft folder for quite a while now
It’s time to ask the big question

How many do you see?


I’m sure you’ll find an answer/explanation somewhere out there on the WWW

Monday Musings – a time to think and ponder

Song of the Seashore

Had a little note from a choir ‘friend’ telling me this is what we (girls) will be rehearsing next term. Quite a haunting tune and we’ll be singing it in its original language (hopefully sounding a little like these singers).

Song of the Beach (seashore) – Japanese folk song.
Sung by KRAJA – a Swedish group


The Song of the Seashore (English translation)

If I wander about ashore this morning

It will bring me back to good ol’ times

The sound of the wind, the way clouds change.

Waves breaking in, the colour of the shells

If I roam about ashore this evening

My beloved will bring me back then

Waves breaking in and waning back

The colour of the moon, the light of the stars

source

~ ~ ~ ~

It’s Monday and we’re about to start our journey home, today we’ll begin making our way south down the east coast on the Bruce, 500+kms to Rockhampton.
Then there’s another 2,000 km after that 😊😎

I said to The Golfer I thought now was right time to go home, it really has become a bit on the warm side and humid as well…yes Melbourne can become hot and have its humid days but they’re not normally continuous one after the other. We’ll just have to see what summer brings won’t we😎


Anyway guess what I’ll be missing during the six hour drive??

I’ll be back sometime soon – will have a wee break after we get home

Bye for now.
Cathy xx

🧶All square..a bit of a ramble

It’s nearly time to start gathering up and packing away my ‘playthings’….I had all sorts of ideas for things to make during our time here but in the end just gave into ‘Ease & Simplicity’ and spent time on blanket Squares.

They say it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind – well I’m definitely a woman and certainly have had experience in changing my mind (big smile there)
so in the end decided that as well as the red destined for squares, I’d use other yarn brought from home (with different projects in mind) to help someone else fulfil their charity commitments.

In a similar fashion as last year’s Christmas in July beanie drive, all will go towards next years Winter in July effort “Gonna build a Mountain – of blankets” (apologies to Anthony Newley).
As a knitter not a joiner upper, I’ll be interested to see what becomes of these (40+) also some others I knit earlier in the year plus more that are likely to come off my needles over the next few months.

❤️🧶Many squares do a blanket make 🧶❤️

So what now…..

More squares ???

No – fingerless mittens

Early in the year another ‘crafty acquaintance’ told me of her plan to supply all the ladies in a nearby retirement village with fingerless mittens – then she damaged her hand.
Oops, not going to happen this Australian winter (June-September) so with the help of others she’s working towards next year.

Over the years I’ve knit quite a few of them.. This pair – adapted  from a Ravelry pattern  – knitted sideways in a pinky grey mix of colours (Patons Jet) were especially for an elderly friend who suffered with cold hands indoors as well as out.
With there being no instantly visible ‘thumb hole’, people would look at them not knowing how they were worn – so sometimes it was fun to make and then gift them in a little ‘display hand’ like this,

2012

Very simple and easy to do – they’re an alternative ‘easy knit’ for those can’t be bothered with stitches measurements and shaping times. I rather like the garter stitch detail on the side after they’ve been sewn together.
Here’s my ‘rewritten’ 8ply pattern

* * * *

2012

These are a slightly different style –  Rhonda Jean’s 2 needle pattern – one I’ve often used since she posted it quite a while ago (2008) – made with love for a young granddaughter waiting for the school bus at 8am on cold wintery days. 

~ ~ ~ ~

Finally finished at the end of August:-
The Day of the Triffids – John Wyndham

Not as far fetched as I thought it would – although I’m sure if I’d read it as a young person when it first came out (1951) I’d have had the collywobbles – with conspiracy theories, sudden catastrophes, ‘things’ grown in labs then released, a mysterious virus/plague outbreak, suggestions of ‘free love’ colonies plus human nature observations there was enough to keep me interested 😊.
It was a learning experience as well – the mention of a 4 wheel drive vehicle had me referring to Mr G – I didn’t realise the technology (in various forms) had been around that long

* * * *

Have just begun:.-
The School for Good Mothers – Jessamine Chan

Book blurb.
Frida had fed and changed her toddler Harriet. She had a work deadline- an article to finish, a job hanging by a thread, a file she’d left in the office. She would go get it. Harriet would be fine. But then the neighbours heard her crying.

(The novel concerns a woman, Frida, who is sentenced to a period at an experimental facility intended to rehabilitate mothers accused of even minor parenting infractions.) source

Oh my, real or otherwise it certainly makes you think – haven’t read any reviews, will make up my mind when finished

~ ~ ~ ~ 

And as usual on the first Wednesday of the month I’m back to visiting Kat and others at Unraveled Wednesday……if you’d like to find out a little more of they’ve been up to – you really must pop over and see.