In the supermarket looking at the broccoli thinking those are nice big heads rather than the tiny little ones they had recently, which I don’t like buying because you end up with two lumpy stalks and not one when I hear….
I’m not usually a chatty person when I’m shopping but curiosity got the better of me and I turned round…..
My talkative shopping neighbour then went on to tell me $1.95 was an extraordinarily low price for cauliflower at the moment……who on earth would want to buy a coloured cauli (most likely full of chemical dye)…..and labelling the carrots as just the thing to give to Rudolph was stupid but her grandchildren thought he’d like them. And with that she plonked a bag of carrots in her trolley and moved away – but not until she’d rummaged around in the cauliflower section for the 2 largest ones she could find.
Oh dear I thought, she’s not going to be happy when she gets to the checkout and discovers the ticket actually said $1.95 cauliflower halves……lower down was a ticket saying $3.90 each.
I did pick up a nice head of broccoli even though it had gone up to over $7 a kilo but it’s the same everywhere (unless you grow your own that is) and am still wondering if anyone bought that manky looking purple cauliflower priced at $3.50!
(Also wondering if anyone else in Melbourne is having ‘eye problems’…..something seems to be playing havoc with my eyes. They’re red itchy gritty, weepy at times – which is usually what happens when it’s hot dry and windy not hot moist and muggy – so I’m limiting my screen time and using the occasional antihistamine)
It’s surprising what you find when you use a different car park
On a fine sunny day back in June I used one beside the Croydon tennis club I was having a ‘bad back/aching legs’ day and it was closer to Main Street
And look what I found – a brand new mural
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Seemingly painted by Thulii Mara as part of the (Eastern suburbs) First Nations Art Trail. Unfortunately I can’t find anything else about it. Although you can see more of his work on his website – https://thullimara.com
Walker (Thulli Mara), Creator and Protector, 2024,
On that day the colours were deep and rich as well as bright and vibrant. I must go back sometime and see how they are weathering
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A little bit of colour to share with Min’s Wednesday Words and Whimsylink up found HERE.
To see more murals from around the world click HERE
I do have some reading ‘on the go’ but nothing finished so next month should be a good one. There’s been lots of movement on the ‘in house’ books here though…….some of them are destined for new homes…….
Including several from (but definitely not all of) my collection of ‘cat books’…..they’ll only be given to the op shop ‘when I go’ so I’m happy to rehome them ‘while I’m still here’
Most of them given as gifts – might have been something I said about our cats or cats in general – someone has remembered it and thought the gift would tickle my fancy. ***
Purrsonalities : life with your cat – Bev Aisbett 1992
Who hasn’t seen this
** Catmas Carols – Laurie Loughlin 1993
A fun play on a seasonal carol
** Alphacats – Nicholas Brash 1989 This beautiful children’s picture book by Nicholas Brash is a fun and unusual way to teach children the letters of the alphabet. Australian locations are added to the cat’s names to make a rhyme
This is how a ‘friend’ imagined me out bush
Douglas Hall’s CATS – 1988. A small hard backed book describing various cat breeds. The text is by Jonathan Hall and the ‘humourous’ illustrations by Douglas Hall
T. S. Eliot’s playful cat poems have delighted readers and cat lovers around the world ever since they were first published in 1939. They were originally composed for his godchildren, with Eliot posing as Old Possum himself, and later inspired the legendary musical Cats
It’s no secret that cats (felis catus) are my pet of choice – any sort…..domesticated moggie or purebred….we’ve had them all – and whenever a new arrival has taken up residence the (often takes a while to appear) naming process begins…..although a little like the cartoon Ginger, Fluff and Marmalade were instantaneous
So I make no apology for giving you the first poem in this wonderful book…..
THE NAMING OF CATS
The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter, It isn’t just one of your holiday games; You may think at first I’m as mad as a hatter When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there’s the name that the family use daily, Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James, Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey— All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter, Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames: Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter— But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that’s particular, A name that’s peculiar, and more dignified, Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular, Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum, Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat, Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum— Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there’s still one name left over, And that is the name that you never will guess; The name that no human research can discover— But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation, The reason, I tell you, is always the same: His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name: His ineffable effable Effanineffable Deep and inscrutable singular Name.
So in a bid to do something different that didn’t require me to concentrate – backstitching on the baby sampler is driving me potty – I’ve picked up the little blue cardigan I was experimenting with up Bowen. Remind me how I prefer knitting with 8ply because this fine yarn is also driving me potty – the feel is entirely different to how I remember it…..and it keeps sliding off the needles …..but as I said, as long as I don’t forget when (and where) to do the purl stitch it’s a change. The back and both sleeves are done, two fronts to go, so it’s three fifths – 60% finished….not counting making up and finding a suitable button
November 2024
Now you might find this funny- to me it just reminds me how I can remember one thing but not another…..anyway this photo is the one I took when I began working on it back in August…..
August 2024
I was going through my media file – way way back looking for something I thought I’d posted and I see this….
And this….
October 2013
Same pattern!
I certainly don’t remember ever having tried it before 🤔
The date I uploaded them sent me looking at very very old drafts (yes there are some sitting there from that long ago) and I find an unfinished post talking about how I’d used a purl in place of the ‘too intricate to fathom out’ stitch. Why didn’t I end up publishing the post – who knows – did I ever finish the cardigan- who knows…….but it’s reminded me (visually not mentally because I don’t remember it happening) of a warm sunny day working on the deck with my lovely brown shadow Kiera keeping me company. ****
Keeping me company when I wrote this the other day was – The Cryptic Clue (Amanda Hampson) – a Tea Ladies mystery Yes, I’m back to reading while I knit….as long as I put the purl stitch in the right place. Passed on at my casual book group so only just begun, a very light read, a bit wordy, lots of dialogue…..haven’t read the first in the series so not sure if I’m missing any background on the various characters.
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This morning I’m sharing with Min’s Wednesday Words and Whimsylink up found HERE
And later I’ll be linking this with Kat’s weekly featured post – Unraveled Wednesday……where the talk is all about craft, books and life in general. You can find out what others are up to HERE
Not me……just something a particular resident says after he has a hair cut. Says he feels good – more like my old self And he looks like one too – making the effort to stand straighter – taller as well. And if a particular female resident is in the salon at the same time (which occasionally happens) she laughs and says ‘if he’s got a friend- I’ll have one too’
On my mind at the moment is that for years when you thought or spoke about aged care/nursing homes they always seemed to be full of elderly women – they were the ones who seemed to need them. After all, they were the ones who lived much longer. Not any more! . Men are living longer, ways of life are changing, family attitudes to parents living with children definitely seems to have changed, so when health deteriorates more and more of them are finding it necessary to use these services – to enter residential care
Most seem to settle in quite well (the ones I’ve had contact with anyway) – and in little ways are encouraged to think of it as their home (which it now is) and continue with ‘the familiar’ while they come to terms with the move. There are many more male support workers than before, male carers definitely help during that settling in time.
One gentleman has a daily newspaper delivered with his name written prominently on the front. It goes with him everywhere, is read cover to cover plus crossword and other puzzles are completed, then is reread.
Another is given the racing guide from another daily paper so he can study the form. No bets are placed though he can tell you the form and race history of horses been and gone (sadly not current ones because whatever he reads in the paper isn’t retained).
Another wears a high viz vest or fleecy every day……..he had worked in construction and wore one every day. His ‘hard hat’ lives on a shelf in his room but has been known to be paraded round the common areas…..on his head!. . Old habits seem to linger with some. One elderly gentleman with very shaky legs tries to stand when female staff are nearby. Or when he’s accompanied to his room indicates for the female to go through the door before him.
Meal times are interesting- in the household I’ve had most contact with many of them are able to come to the dining area and eat together at ‘the men’s table’…..almost like safety in numbers preferring male company……..although there are others seated at mixed tables.
They chat contently to each other referring to each other by their given names…. ..except for a retired medical specialist who they refer to as Mr S…..because one told me ‘he deserves respect, he’s lost so much’. They have a way of joshing with one chap, an ex serviceman who on occasion has trouble walking – his feet scuff – so you’ll often hear them saying ‘ hup 234, come on, lift those feet, get moving’. And more often than not it works
Thankfully many haven’t lost their competitive nature, it still comes out. Especially when simple hand/eye coordination ‘games’ are played. It’s very evident when toss the ping pong ball over the table and into the ice cream container as well as seated balloon badminton (over a portable net) are on the program. There might be teams involved but there is also personal pride at being able to get that ball in the container as well as bat that balloon over the net.
Of course there are those for whom this move is not welcomed, they retire to their rooms, are not receptive to any encouragement- their deteriorating health means they need to be there….but in many cases their mind doesn’t want to.
Back then the council provided households with a black lidless crate a bit like this to put our paper cans and glass bottles in
That and an ordinary sized garbage bin was it. Both sat up on the nature strip Monday morning waiting for two sets of garbos (bin men) run along pick them up and toss the contents into the back of the relevant trucks…
Now we are all proud possessors of these three monsters (and one man drives and operates a ‘claw’ that empties the bin into the side of his truck)
Green waste + food – recycling – general rubbish
The amount of rubbish has increased- the size of ‘the bins’ has definitely increased……and so has the waste management fee in our council rates!. The state government (Victoria) has been ‘standardising’ recycling so there’s also the possibility of another bin (with a purple lid) being needed in the future 😧 https://www.vic.gov.au/Standardising-household-recycling-across-Victoria
****. Visy is the company my council (Shire of Yarra Ranges) uses to dispose of the contents of our recycling bin. There are leaflets and booklets advising what can and can’t (shouldn’t) be put in these bins but – that doesn’t sink in with some people or they just can’t be bothered.
You can read the post Sue (My Quiet Life In Suffolk) wrote on Mid Suffolk’s upcoming changes…..HERE.
Is the same (or similar) happening where you live?
“Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it getsto the end…the faster it goes”
It’s been a week of ‘not much happening’. A nice slow lazy week with nothing out of the ordinary going on A few changes were put in place but that’s about it.
A couple of weeks back notice was given of the aquatic side of the leisure centre being closed from next Monday until mid March next year (4 months) for what they’re calling ‘essential maintenance’ – all pools drained and retiled.
Wasn’t well received because they closed over last summer as well but there’s nothing we (the clients) can do about it so I’ve changed my remaining 10 swim passes over to the Active Adults gym/classes program.
Even though I’m exercising with resistance bands and weights at home it’s been a while since I’ve used gym equipment so will take it easy to begin with……might even get a ‘personal routine’ set up this time rather than do my own thing like has happened previously. Many of the Tuesday warm water regulars are happy to use the pool at another centre (under the same management) but I certainly don’t fancy a half hour drive at that time of the morning whereas it’s only 10mins from home to this one. So it’s a change I’m quite looking forward to.
There was a change in our weather earlier in the week, some really pleasant days arrived and we had our first 30°+ day for the season ……and I spent it mostly inside🙁. Shopping locally early after doing various household jobs, then off to be quizmaster with the oldies in the afternoon. Leaving for home at 3pm the heavens opened, the cool change came through and the temps dropped almost instantly. Strangely the rain came down for about 10 mins then drifted off further east
Forecast on Thursday Nov 7th
Seeing a week of warm days coming up I figured it was time for cotton sheets to go back on the bed, the ‘fluffy’ ones could return to their spot at the back of the linen press and we’d then know for sure that Spring had arrived.
Not sure what my mind was thinking because right next to those figures – highs in the 20s/70s were lows of 10/50 and below……and they’re the ones that matter. But look, some nights it was becoming uncomfortable with the winter sheets on so the change was going to have to happen sooner rather than later. And as my toes get cold I compensated some nights with a h/w/bottle at the bottom of the bed.
But saying that – Cup Day (last Tuesday) was glorious – a lounging around day with nothing whatsoever planned….. unlike many who went to Flemington in their best bibs & tuckers, frilly frocks and big hats
A certain someone had his feet up and a book in his hand most of the day. He was happy to sit there – enjoy coffee, have lunch outside then pop in to watch the race. Definitely a change for the better for The Golfer who has a tendency to want/need to be on the go the whole time.
I put my book and the sampler (both of which I’m trying to finish) to one side and set about trying to fix the waistband on some shorts. Cotton ones I’ve had for (many) years, no zips, buttons or elastic – just a drawstring through the band – so very comfortable for round the house, garden and beach. They’d frayed and opened along the top so in places there was more drawstring tied round my actual skin than going through the waistband. Visions of visible patching with other material making a w/band on top of the original never eventuated so out came needle & thread. I could have trailed round op shops looking for another similar pair but they just don’t seem to make them like that anymore and even after all those years, apart from the dodgy waistband, there was nothing wrong with them. Now there’s a line of visible stitching holding the band closed but nobody knows but me and I’m certainly not going to tell 😊
*******
Just a few changes and happenings that went on in my life this past week How was yours- any changes afoot or is it plod along as usual?
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Reposting another piece written by me and published elsewhere a few years ago . ******
Here comes the delivery man, she said to herself. She could see him getting out of the truck, steadying himself before he jumped down onto the driveway.
Such a polite young man, always willing to bring large boxes right inside the front door. Not like the previous one who would hardly give you the time of the day apart from saying, ‘sign here’ – not even a please or thank you from him. And with that he’d drop whatever it was on the ground at her feet.
She was suddenly conscious of someone standing beside her in the hall.
And what have you ordered now Mum?
Oh, just something for a project I have in mind
But Mum you promised!
It’s not all for me silly one, it’s to share with others in the craft group
You know that Gloria next door is having some work done at the back of her house, well, she’s got this really nice labourer doing the jobs on an ad hoc basis. Nothing definite arranged, just when and if she needs him
Such a lovely young lad, very outgoing and chatty, so polite and courteous, just like the delivery man. Has a beautiful voice and is always singing. Lovely melodies and love songs, not bawdy ones like some of his mates come out with when they’re round there waiting for him to finish up.
I’ll introduce you to him sometime.
Mum, we’re supposed to be discussing this yarn problem you have. Always buying more when there’s still loads in the boxes up in the bedroom
Oh, I really do have plans for it. You see Gloria’s worker and his friends are always complaining about their cold hands and ears, so I’m going to share some with my crafty friends and we are going to knit them beanies and fingerless gloves to wear while they’re working outside!
Oh, there’s the door bell. I need to go and answer it
Hello Mrs B, how are you today? I bet this is another delivery from the online wool shop…..
Don’t you just love the display of colours on these stands. All laid out in numerical order so a list in your hand would be a good idea. I’d gone looking for an ‘easy to see colour’ so wasn’t bothered by the numbers. But let’s just say it was good job that what I was looking for wasn’t on the bottom ground floor section. I’d have been looking for someone to pick it out/pick it up for me. It was a long way down with shade numbers not exactly visible! Spotlight must think embroiderers are all young and nimble
Does anyone remember when the threads were hooked onto a prong – and if you took the wrong one off having a devil of a job getting it back on the prong all nice and neatly. Plus often some would be put back in the wrong spot and as sure as fate you’d want the correct one behind them and get left with all the others in your hand as well. No wonder there’d be so many lying on the shelf below – or even on the floor.
*****
I’m plodding on with the baby sampler – have reached the ‘big bass drum’ (which is worked in white)
That’s when my ‘what if’ fear rose its head…..what if I run out…. so I decided maybe I should get some new skeins instead of using what I had on hand…. and new will definitely look cleaner and fresher
Hence me being in Spotlight- now I know it’s been several (many would be a better word) years since I’ve bought any floss but I don’t remember there being more than one white.
I couldn’t tell the difference between these two, both looked the same but I played safe and brought a couple of (known) Blanc home with me. Then went down several rabbit holes trying to discover if there was a difference and what it was.
A bit like white yarn and white paint…..not all whites are the same……interesting read.
******
Kat has a weekly featured post – Unraveled Wednesday……where the talk is all about craft, books and life in general. You can find out what others are up to HERE.
There’s been no knitting (again) this week but the November b/club book arrived….can’t remember if I’ve ever read anything by this author. This one sounds interesting- we shall see
Oh, and did you know that if you rearrange LOFTPRAM you will get PLATFORM? Neither did I until the other day. Afternoon quiz shows are so enlightening 😊
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A very long time ago we learned about Kinetic Energy at school Do not ask me to explain it – all I remember are the words car, a hill and motion Drive to the top and you have the potential to keep on going up and down for quite a while
~ ~ Kinetic Energy ~ ~
Naturally there was a formula involved – definitely forgotten now!
The teacher then went on to say we all have potential so if we put our minds to work we could achieve lots more than if we sat around doing nothing with all that energy pent up inside us.
Well at least I think that’s what he said lol
I’ll just keep on keeping on and hope I can produce the energy to do it Kinetic or otherwise 🙂
(Yes, a strange post from me. I’m not sure how or why but the word Kinetic came up over the weekend and brought back memories of a physics class from years ago. Honestly the things you remember )
The Burke and Wills expedition was organised by the Royal Society of Victoria (RSV) in Australia in 1860–61. It initially consisted of nineteen men led by Robert O’Hara Burke, with William John Wills being a deputy commander. Its objective was the crossing of Australia from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north, a distance of around 3,250 kilometres (approximately 2,000 miles).[1]Source
The other week I mentioned my book club book for last month was 👇
In 1860, an eccentric Irish police officer named Robert O’Hara Burke led a cavalcade of camels, wagons and men out of Melbourne. Accompanied by William Wills, a shy English scientist, he was prepared to risk everything to become the first European to cross the Australian continent.
A few months later, an ancient coolibah tree at Cooper Creek bore a strange carving: ‘Dig Under 3ft NW’. Burke, Wills and five other men were dead. The expedition had become an astonishing tragedy.source
The first chapter begins with descriptions of all the preparations going on in Royal Park. What had me interested- and amused – were the paragraphs concerning the camels….needed to cover long distances of bush and desert……but never seen before by most of the people there
.Many spectators made straight for the specially constructed stables on one side of the park. They were intrigued by the strange bellowing noises and peculiar odour emanating from the building. Those who manage to thrust their way inside were rewarded with the glimpse of four ‘ Indian’ sepoys, attired in white robes and red turbans trying to calm small herd of camels….(they) had been imported to conquer the deserts of central Australia.
The animals were the pride of the expedition and enjoyed a level of care normally reserved for visiting English opera singers. In preparation for the journey they had each been fitted with a waterproof rug, complete with a hole for the hump, along with two sets of camel shoes ‘each made of several folds of leather and shod with iron’ designed for travelling over stony grounds
Even river crossings had been catered for. ‘If becomes necessary to swim the camels, boasted The Argus , airbags are to be lashed under their jowls, so as to keep their heads clear when crossing deep streams’
Every eventuality was catered for using the latest inventions. One ‘hospital camel’ was fitted with an enclosed stretcher which would ‘afford capital accommodation for invalids should sickness unfortunately visit the party’. ******
And as you know I tend to get sidetracked – so after reading all that I was really interested in what happened to them in the end (the camels that is) 👇
Still Waters 