Hibernating.

For some reason (OK, I know the reason) I am struggling a bit at the moment. Much as I love meeting with friends I am staying close to home. It's my old mate depression who has taken up residence again. There is a bit of a chicken and egg situation - when I get like this my eating habits revert to crap and comfort and my wine consumption increases. What goes in my mouth affects my brain, I know, but sometimes I think I shove that stuff down my throat because my brain is unwell. A vicious circle. 

Still, admitting and realising is the first step towards healing so this week I am hunkered down and focusing on my crafty activities. I finished Himself's jumper (it will fit better when he loses the few kilos he has gained over the past few weeks - we are both as bad as each other). I made a couple of placemats and a scarf for my sister in law. I have assembled my inklette loom and am trying to figure out how it works. It would be great if I could make dog leads and stuff.

This is an inklette loom ...

I have also put together my new 32" loom and stand:

I pinched the photo but it's the same as mine. I can't wait to weave something wider. And make bags with the straps made on the inklette. It's a whole new world.

Himself has taken my new car to be looked at by the paint protection company. The dealer mucked it up and we don't think they fixed it properly so he contacted the manufacturer and they said to bring it over. Much as I love my new car ...

isn't it pretty?...

I am most unimpressed with the dealer I bought it from. I was lucky to get the model and colour I wanted seeing as Covid has impacted on the availability of new cars in Australia (the other make I was looking at wouldn't have been available until late this year) but once the deal was done, along with the hard sell to get all the aftersale shit, the customer care disappeared. I need to find out from Hyundai if I have to service at the selling dealer to maintain warranty or if I can go to another dealer. 

Enough waffling. Time to get the day happening.

Mud, mud, glorious mud

Two large german shepherds make an unholy mess of the back garden! They have worn a path in the grassy area which is now basically mud. They have dug in the old beds and created big, deep holes which fill up with rain. They play chase round and round and under and through the bushes. 

This morning we woke to the sound of a pup in distress. We both flew down the back stairs to find Murphy limping badly - and completely covered in mud. After we ascertained he was ok (he is a bit of a sook and complains loudly about everything) it was decided a bath was in urgent order. He was very good and didn't struggle but the bathroom turned muddy brown! Jinx supervised and added to the muddy mess as she was covered from the knees down.

They were given their breakfast and are both now lying in a patch of sunshine. Nothing quite like the smell of a damp, clean puppy.

Slowly does it

We are gradually coming out of lockdown. The general consensus from those I have spoken with was that this was a complete knee jerk reaction and quite unnecessary - or the powers that be aren't telling us everything they know. Both are quite possible. 

The crazy stuff? Weddings can only have 10 people, funerals can have 50. I would have thought more people would be crying and hugging at a funeral and the age group is most likely to be the more vulnerable. The rationale? Weddings can be rescheduled. Again, again and again. NO. It causes huge angst to the couple, their families and friends and the venues. Funerals? Limit them to immediate family and have a memorial service when things are better. Gyms are closed but brothels can open. Go figure that one.

The powers that be have also raised the age for those wanting the pfizer vaccine to 59. So those of us over 60 can have AZ and bugger the consequences. Only kidding. I had the AZ, am aware of the very rare potential side effects and will go and have the second shot when due. I do think they did it as a way of getting those dragging their feet in the younger age groups to get vaccinated but as a friend who is in her 50s said, once again those that did the right thing even though they would have preferred the pfizer lost out to the whingers and whiners.

Anyway, enough about bloody Covid. It's here to stay, we will never be completely free of it and should stop trying. Get vaccinated and move on.

What else is happening?

I am loving my weaving. It is such a relaxing past-time. I am also enjoying my knitting in the evening although it will be a while before I knit for an adult male again. Those beasts are gorillas - their arms go on and on and on! Crochet is well and truly on the backburner but I know I will come back to it at some point. 

Himself and I have got back onto the Fast800 albeit not quite 100%. I really need to ditch the gin but it is such a pleasant ritual of an evening. I've done it before and will do it again. I really need to shift the next 10kgs before complacency completely sets in and I regain all I have lost.

I  must get out and prune the roses in the front. My daffodils have poked their leaves up under the silver birches so I am hoping for a good display although it will be short lived. I keep looking at my back garden and have to remind myself that I really do love the dogs and the grass and bushes will grow back!! They have such a ball chasing each other round and round and through the bushes and small trees. They are currently curled up fast asleep next to me.

Tai Chi was able to restart yesterday with only a few people but it was so nice to get back. I didn't realise how much I had stiffened up over the past fortnight. Muscles whimpered and joints groaned.

Today I am catching up with my crafty mates for a visit to our favourite yarn shop. We can't sit and knit yet but we can browse, and drool and convince each other we really need more yarn. I'm hoping they still have the clear out bin they had last week. Then coffee and lunch at a local cafe, supermarket shopping on the way home and back to my weaving. We have had some glorious winter days - freezing mornings (2C) but clear, still, sunny days. Now the rain has set in so we will have warmer nights but damp drizzly days. Not to worry. Apart from bouts of SAD I do love winter.

Time to get a wriggle on .....

A small win

 

I went to update my details to show Mr Centrelink I am keeping my end of the bargain and found that, due to our latest lockdown, my "mutual obligations" have been suspended for this month. My reporting month ends on Monday but I'll take it!

The craft group I belong to was able to have its regular Friday get together yesterday - albeit with reduced numbers. It was lovely to see people and share a laugh. The ricotta and blueberry pancakes with lemon curd and persian fairy floss were pretty damn good, too! The cafe we go it has delicious food and the owners practice their religious beliefs and and are very involved in the community by helping those less fortunate.

My weaving is coming along slowly. It is a huge learning curve and I think it will be a while before I am really happy with something I make. I think I will have a go at scarves for the granddaughters next. They will be small!

Another grey winter's day here but I'm not complaining. I do love this time of year.

 

So today I had my first AZ covid vaccination. I booked yesterday, walked straight in and had it done. I was out of the house for just under an hour. 

I am very glad I pulled the pin on the job ( I emailed them on Sunday night and was honest about my anxiety and I got a lovely email back) - seeing what those admin people did and the abuse one poor lass was getting from the bloke next to me confirmed I am too old for that shit.

I came home, cooked brunch, had a facetime call with my crafty besties, listened to Himself calm his mother down ... she was stressing because she has no money and can't buy Christmas presents and Robert was buried but got up again and other strange stuff (yup, another UTI) and had a phone consult with my job provider person. I told her about the job interview and my decision and she was cool with that. Phew. I then decided to warp my loom. Mistake. Too much tension on an unstable warping peg meant that ball of yarn went west. Then I attempted version 2. As I tripped over my own feet and landed heavily on my knees I decided that clumsiness might be a side effect of the covid vaccine. Add a headache, joint and muscle pain and generally feeling blah I think it's time to call it a day.

Sunday - I think

 

We are still in lockdown. My nephew and his fiancee have rescheduled the wedding for 18th July. Fingers crossed for third time lucky!

As part of my 'deal' with centrelink I have to look for work. I was interviewed on Friday and think I will be offered the job. I really, really, really don't want to work but I guess I should if I can. This is for a COVID vaccination centre so hopefully it will be self-limiting!

I had a go at warping my loom yesterday. Just as well I used the cheapest yarn I had as it ended up in the bin! READ THE EFFING INSTRUCTIONS!! Today I will have another go. I think I will enjoy this once I get the hang of it. It's very soothing.

Himself is well on the mend. He took himself off his anti-depressants (with the GP's approval) as he didn't like the side effects. Sadly, I think he was better on them but it's his life and his mind and his body so I shall keep mum unless it gets too bad. His eye is doing well. Another couple of weeks and we will get the final verdict. 

Time to start making lunch. Tomato and white bean soup - really easy and just what we need on a chilly, damp winter's day.

First Day of Winter

 If the past years are anything to go by today will be a lovely sunny day to welcome my second favourite season of the year (after autumn).

We are still in lockdown and there is doubt we will come out as intended on Friday. I think this uncertainty is more frustrating than the actual lockdown. People have plans that need to be changed. My nephew is due to get married on Friday after they had to cancel last year. A friend's daughter is meant to be flying to Sydney to see her ageing, unwell grandparents. I know containing the outbreak is more important than individuals but this is not good for those of us who need structure - and there are a lot. 

I wonder how many of the newly identified cases which haven't been linked to the original ones would have gone undetected if testing numbers hadn't skyrocketed. Waste water monitoring showed consistent evidence of the virus in the community but I don't think people were bothering to get tested.

Anyway, it is what it is and we shall deal with it as we always do.

The jumper I am knitting for Himself is growing slowly. It is far from perfect, but then, neither is he!