Anne S

I don’t really have anything to say … just wanted to try and get back into the habit of blogging more regularly. Managed to get some blog reading done over the last two days, but many many more to go yet – hopefully by the end of the week I’ll definitely be caught up. Apologies if I’m not leaving many comments, but I’m enjoying reading everything.

Even though the curtains don’t reach the floor, I’m loving them – even just having them up gives the place some more colour and warmth … and eventually I’ll just sew some more fabric on the bottoms to help keep the cold out. I also picked up the same curtains in the sales for the main lounge window, but it’s a lot wider and more awkward to get to, so I need to wait until I’ve got an accomplice to help me … hopefully they’ll be up on 20 June, ‘cos Fraze is visiting – yup, yet another job for you Fraggle! 😀

I did a dopey thing yesterday … went with my little parcels to the Post Office before work, only to find they were closed – it was a public holiday in Australia, and I didn’t know hmmm. So I rocked up to work in my business clothes, and everyone else was in jeans 😦 Good job I took a decent coat and scarf, though, as we had two separate fire alarms go off and we had to evacuate the building twice on a very cold day in Melbourne … brrrrrrrr. It’s funny, when I lived in Auckland I owned a full-length wool coat and scarf etc, but wore it about a dozen times … since moving to Melbourne I now have a nice selection of scarves, gloves and hats – and along with my coat I actually NEED them. It has looked quite miserable a few times over the last two weeks – very bleak looking and grey all day 😦 So my lovely blue curtains help to hide the bleakness, and I get to look at some beautiful colour instead 😀

Today I’ve decided I need to start my rotation again – I honestly have a tangible physical and mental URGE to pick it up and get back into my routine … so this morning I am putting my Bordeaux Mystery Sampler (which is no longer a mystery ‘cos we have all the parts haha) onto my scroll bars, and I’m putting a few stitches in before work … after 10 hours on that, I’ll be back to picking up the Dratteds (aka Dolphins Domain) and I honestly can’t wait!!

(Updated) And just to show I really did make an effort this morning, here’s the proof of my labour … not much to show for it, but it’s a start none-the-less 🙂 I’m on 3pm shift starts all week, so it gives me a bit of time in the mornings to get a few things done – today I decided to have some “me” time for stitching instead of housework 😀 Mind you, I’ve been struggling with a bad throat and chest the last three days, so perhaps it was also a bit of pampering needed to perk me up too … I have my fingers crossed it doesn’t escalate into a full-on cold 😦

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No stitching today

11 June, 200625 February, 2012 Anne S

It’s been a very busy weekend so far, but none of it was planned and none of it was really thought out … it just kinda ‘happened’. The fact is my little flat is an icebox in winter – it has ducted heating, but the pilot light has gone out, and I’ve got to find time for the landlord to come round to light it etc. In the meantime, I have windows in the lounge that aren’t quite shut properly because the wood must have swollen up a bit with the wet weather … and it has a little winding mechanism to open and close them, so I can’t even give it a good yank to get it closed … I’m also 3 floors up from the ground, so I can’t pop outside and push it closed hmmm.

On top of that the balcony door has a 1/2cm gap at the top of it where it doesn’t close nice and flush, and the kitchen window has an extractor fan in it, which of course has the opening in it … my kitchen/dining/lounge is all open plan, so that all adds up to a cool draught on most days/nights. Anyway, I popped into Spotlight and picked up some cheapo curtains on sale – and I’ve spent part of yesterday and this morning getting the balcony ones ironed and put up on the rods … only to find they’re about 30cm short of reaching the floor oops. Oh well, it’s still got to be better than nothing … I’ll just have to add on an extra piece of something at the bottom to lengthen them (I only paid $20 for the pair for the balcony, so they’re hardly heirlooms). I also spent the rest of the morning ironing up sheets and bedding etc for the spare bedroom, and putting an electric blanket on it (brought over from NZ – thanks Mum) … and doing a bit more housework.

I really should be doing some more housework or stitching now, but I’ve decided to take a break and try and catch up on a tiny bit of blogging – I still have almost 500 unread posts in there, as well as loads that have since gone into archive … there are about a dozen favourite blogs that I’ll be trawling through the archives, but I hope by the end of this week to be back to square one, and ready to get back into a routine again – and that includes stitching, blogs and life in general …

Now, just for the sake of it, I’ll fill out this questionnaire that I found on Rowyn’s blog, just to get me back into blogging mode 🙂

1) What is your occupation? Senior Sales Consultant for an international airline
2) What colour are your socks right now? Blue (what else could it be?!)
3) What are you listening to now? MoreFM online (Auckland radio station)
4) What was the last thing you ate? Toast with breakfast marmalade
5) Favourite colour? Blue
6) Music Preference? Love most music except opera, country & western, and rap (although I like some of Eminem) – probably prefer rock/pop
7) Last person you talked to on the phone? Dawn
8) How old are you today? 40 years and almost 4 months
9) Favourite drink? Jim Beam and L&P
10) What is your favorite sport to watch? If I’m forced to watch anything, I’d struggle less if it’s rugby union (can you tell I’m not a sports fan in any shape or form??)
11) Have you ever dyed your hair? Yep – still keep blonde highlights in my hair
12) Do you wear contacts or glasses? Nope, but I’m about to get some glasses again after having my eyes lasered about 10 years ago – bummer
13) Pets? Nope – but seriously considering asking the landlord whether I could keep a cat here after doing a bit more homework about having ‘indoor cats’
14) What will you stay home to watch? ER, followed by NCIS, Lost and Amazing Race
15) What was the best movie you have seen lately? Can’t say any have stood out for me … one of my fave ‘recent’ movies was Pirates of the Caribbean, though, and I’m looking forward to seeing the sequel
16) What is your favourite day of the year? Pay day
17) What do you do to vent your anger? Shut myself away and take time out to calm down
18) What was your favourite toy as a child? Don’t remember my childhood prior to being 10, so not entirely sure … I do know I loved my Enid Blyton collection of books and was gutted that I had to leave them all behind when we moved to NZ, though
19) Vanilla/Chocolate? Depends – prefer vanilla flavoured things … but love actual chocolate (milk and white, not dark)
20) Living arrangements? Flat/apartment block on my own
21) When was the last time you cried? Watching a soppy movie
22) What did you do last night? Housework, and sorting out my embroidery corner in the lounge, as it was a shambles – ended up tidying up all my flosses a bit as well seeing as I had some more flossaway bags (thanks again Nancy)
23) Favourite smell? Opium perfume, and vanilla
24) What inspires you? People with an open mind that are non-judgemental, and live life without hurting others
25) Least favourite person right now? Probably still my ex-flatmate

Cross Stitch, Exchanges, Finishes, SBQ, Stitching Smalls

SBQ’s and a very quick update

10 June, 200625 February, 2012 Anne S

And still no stash photos – just haven’t had time … have hardly spent any time at my PC all week, but have been working hard to get my exchanges finished instead, as well as trying to unpack after my holiday, and tidy up a bit (my little flat looks like a bomb has exploded in it).

Anyway, just quickly I’ve managed to get my scissors fob exchange into the mail to Nicola (I’m safe to post piccies, because she doesn’t read my blog) – the stitching was all finished before I flew to NZ, I just had to whipstitch it, make the tassel and cording, and put it together … then while I was in NZ I just never got around to getting it done, and ended up bringing it back home with me (geez, I’m useless!!). Anyway, it’s finally in its little envelope and on its way back to NZ again phew!! And just for a change, blogger is having a hissy fit about posting photos, so I’m giving up … here are photos uploaded from Photobucket – and if you want to see a close-up of the front click here, and the back is here.

My mail art is all finished with the stitching – I hope the recipient likes it, but I have to admit to being a bit worried about it … I think I struggled as I couldn’t work out the recipient’s preferences, as there is no online album that I could find, or wishlist, so I feel like I’ve been stitching ‘blind’. Today I have the job of putting it all together into it’s envelope shape etc – I was going to do it yesterday, but it was day 7 of work, after doing the last 3 days with 5am shifts, and I was worried with my tiredness I’d stuff it up … best to leave it until today … although I still feel half asleep, so I don’t know … haha.

This weekend is our needleroll SAL, but I don’t know whether I’m going to manage to get one stitched, as I really do need to get that mail art 100% finished – maybe I’ll get some time tomorrow to put a few stitches in. If I do, I think I’ll be working on my half-finished ‘sample’ one I was making for the Melanie’s Exchange, and try to get a little bit more stitched on it.

Rightio, lastly on to the SBQ’s before I sign off … I now have 4 SBQ’s to catch up on, so I thought I’d bite the bullet and get them all out of the way today, ‘cos before I know it there’ll be another one being posted 😛 I’ve decided to just answer the first 3 initially, as the other one needs photos, and I’m not yet organised for that one.

17 May – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Jenna and is:

“Lately, it seems that many stitching bloggers have experienced a loss of their stitching mojo. Have you ever lost your stitching mojo? If so, how did you get it back and how long did it take?”

I lost my mojo when I first moved to Melbourne, due to appalling living conditions that just weren’t conducive to stitching – but as soon as I moved out with Fraze and we got our own place I bought a cheap recliner, set up my stitching station, and never looked back … in fact I’ve stitched more in the last 24 months than I’ve ever stitched, I think 🙂 I did get a bit overwhelmed with my commitment stitching etc over the last couple of months, which has been detrimental to my overall stitching … I think sometimes it’s a bit of a carry-over from when I had concussion years ago – even now if I get over-tired, I struggle to ‘focus’ on things – I find I have to make lists etc to keep on track, but when I get overwhelmed with ‘stuff’ my head almost gets too cluttered and I lose track. I can sit in a chair, knowing I have lots of things I must get done, but half an hour later I’m still sat there, and don’t know where the time has gone hmmm. Now I’m realising that I need to be more realistic with my stitching time, especially as sometimes I get really tired with my shift work, so I can be more in control.

24 May – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Nancy and is:

“What is your favorite specialty stitch? Which one is your least favorite? Why?”

I don’t know what my favourite stitch is at the moment – I enjoy doing Rhodes stitches in whatever shape or form (which is probably a good thing, seeing as there are so many in the Bordeaux Mystery Sampler!), and I really enjoyed doing the Waffle stitch for my Melanie’s Exchange needleroll – I just enjoy the variety of loads of different stitches. Probably my least favourite would have to be bullion knots and french knots … definitely a lot easier to answer! haha.

31 May – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Carol and is:

“Do you collect charts by one particular designer, yet have never stitched anything by that designer? If so, which designer and why do you collect the charts but have not yet stitched any of them?”

Perhaps the designs that come to mind here are Teresa Wentzler … I went through a phase where I had to buy every single design that TW had put out, and continued to do so for quite some time, including trading and tracking down copies all over the world (prior to knowing about Ebay!). I’ve never actually stitched any of them in their entirety, although I do have two of them that are currently UFO’s, so I do expect to eventually finish them both. I doubt I’ll stitch much of my collection, but it’s the only one I’ll be hard pushed to part with. Even if I never stitch them, I love flicking through the charts in my folder like a book of fine art – it’s uplifting for the soul to just feast your eyes on such beauty 🙂

I also started doing the same with Mirabilia charts, and used to received her new charts automatically – but the designs changed and I no longer loved them as I used to, so I stopped … I’ll still buy one if I fall in love with it, but it’s more rare these days, and I’ve even been putting a few up for trade that I know I’ll never stitch in a month of Sundays. They’re probably the main two designers I’m guilty of collecting.

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Sorry no piccies of stash yet

5 June, 200625 February, 2012 Anne S

While doing some unpacking I came across my mail art exchange, that I’d totally forgotten about during my last few days socialising in Auckland – and the deadline is due NOW (literally!) … unfortunately I’m going to be late posting my exchange piece, which I really hate doing, but it means all my energies are going into getting that into the mail by the end of the week, and blogging’s going by the wayside yet again until then. The front is all finished apart from the address, which I’m about to stitch now – and the back is all charted up ready to go … then I just have to tackle the actual finishing, which I have absolutely no idea about – by the plan is to have it all done by Friday and in the post … crikey!!

Just wanted to post a quick note to apologise in advance if anyone is waiting for emails etc … I’ll get back to you just as soon as I can when I’ve managed to drag myself away from my stitching this week …

Cross Stitch, Exchanges, Stash

My boot runneth over …

2 June, 200625 February, 2012 Anne S

… and so does my lounge room now, as my freight is home (well actually, four boxes are still in the boot of my car – I could only face bringing 5 of them up 3 floors today – the rest can wait)! My car is still living so far … the RACV man jump-started my car yesterday, and the run to the Post Office charged the battery up enough to keep it going … if it was dead again this morning I had to get a new battery, but luckily it’s managed to last the distance and I got to the airport without any problems. The freight guys all had a good laugh at my car, and even made a special trip out of the building to see it … hmmm. You see, my car is parked underneath a tree that has possums in it – and they must have had a field day while I was away, inviting all the possums in the neighbourhood over to play … you see my car is now covered in possum poo and heaven knows what else haha. The motorway trip managed to dislodge a lot of it, but it still looks a disgrace – it will have to wait until I can get to a valet … I think in this case it’ll definitely be worth the expense to have someone else wash it haha. Now, on to stitchy stuff …

My poor postman had a bit of a workout yesterday when I went to the Post Office – he had to carry my parcels out with both arms … and it totally filled one of my shopping bags. There were a few items that I was expecting, but there were also some surprises in there – all I can say is “WOW!!” I won’t overpower today’s post with oodles of piccies, but I’ll post a couple, with more to follow later. Here’s the list of goodies that came:

Options in Hardanger Group Correspondence Course (through CyberStitchers branch of the EGA)
Melanie’s Exchange from Jenna
Biscornu Exchange from Melissa and Danielle
Goodie parcel from Nancy
Goodie parcel from Cathy
Monthly Mystery Bits from SB&B
Parcels from SB&B
Eventide needleroll chart from Ebay win
Threads from Village Mountain Stitchery sale
Finishing kits from Jackie du Plessis (Strawberries So Faire and Quaker needleroll)

The piccies I’ll share today are of my exchanges that I received from the SBEBB – then tomorrow I’ll post the piccies of my goodies from Nancy and Cathy.

The first one is my Melanie’s Exchange from Jenna … it’s a freebie design by Martina Weber of Chatelaine fame, and it’s absolutely exquisite – the finishing and stitching is amazing, and I totally adore it! It’s currently sitting on a ‘plate stand’ I’d had sitting around just waiting for something to go in it … and it’s sitting by my blue vase with sunflowers, right opposite where I sit and stitch, so I can see it every night 🙂 And along with the exchange piece I also got spoilt rotten with a couple of pieces of fabbie (what a scrummy blue!), some makeup and nail clippers (also in yummy blue – you know me very well, Jenna! haha), and a lovely card, as well as the exchange leftovers … I just love everything!

Blogger is giving me the “proverbials”, because it won’t upload the piccies, so I’ve had to resort to Photobucket, and can’t work out how to add links to the photos for the main photos – if you want to see the larger piccie of the photos click on the links … photo 1 here, and photo 2 here.

The next photos are of my Biscornu Exchange – unfortunately my exchange partner wasn’t able to stitch something for me so Melissa and Danielle came to the rescue and kindly sent some exchange pieces. Melissa stitched a beautiful biscornu – isn’t it adorable? I just love the design used, and the buttons are the most perfect finishing touch – you did a great job, Melissa – thanks so much for stitching a biscornu for me, that was really sweet 🙂 And Danielle sent me a parcel of goodies too – full of amazing little treats! There is the new chart by Just Nan called Mermaid Heart, along with the embellishments and charm for it (and it’s going to be a great companion piece to Beach Roses, that I just received from SB&B!) – that would have been plenty all on its own, but there is also a packet of needles, some Needle Necessities flosses, and some gorgeous little stationery pads (I adore stationery!) … I just love everything in there. Thanks also to you, Danielle, for putting a little goodie parcel together on top of your own exchange commitments – it was very sweet of you, and the thought is much appreciated 🙂

And again, the photo links are following – photo 1 here, photo 2 here, and photo 3 here.

Both the exchanges were great fun – and it definitely won’t be the last time I participate … in fact, I’m about to commit myself to the Redwork one on the SBEBB, and waiting for the Hardanger one (hopefully much later haha), plus I’m already signed up for the Needleroll exchange on Renee’s Robin’s Nest BB.

Talking of Hardanger … one of the other parcels I received is for a hardanger correspondence course (Options in Hardanger – click on the link for the piccie) by Dale Sokolow – but first I want to complete the Beginner’s Hardanger (and click again) class by Marion Scoular. I signed up for the Beginner’s one just before I moved to Melbourne, but my less-than-perfect living conditions when I got here meant no stitching done for almost 8 months, so it got put to one side … I had the opportunity to take one class for reduced costs through CyberStitchers branch of the EGA this year, so I chose the Options in Hardanger class – I won’t have time to stitch it for evaluation, but it will be something to pick up in the future and stitch, and will hopefully be a good resource.

OK, I suppose I’ve waffled on enough for now, so I’ll just quickly answer a couple of questions that have been asked in the comments recently, then I’ll post again tomorrow with an update of the postal goodies 🙂

For Margaret and Andie – funnily enough, I nearly got to the South Island … I had staff tickets for Mum and I to fly down to then drive to Nelson to see my best friend, but we ran out of time to fit it in – maybe on the next trip over I’ll have to make it a compulsory stop 🙂

For Carin – the Pacific Pohutukawa chart is by Jen’s Jems (Jennifer Griffin), a New Zealand designer. You can buy her designs from Nancy’s Embroidery Shop in Wellington 🙂 They don’t have a great deal on display on their website, but you could always email them to see what designs they have in stock. Hope that helps 🙂

For moomoo – unfortunately the design for the biscornu is one that I put together myself. The blackwork part is from an Indigo Rose online freebie that is still on the Caron Collection website – the mosaic border I just made up myself – and the beaded border is from an old Stitcher’s World magazine. I can help you with the thread colour, though – it’s an Anchor variegated thread, number 1349 … just love those colours! Sorry I can’t be more help with that one.

One quick last comment … I ate myself silly with a big plate of feijoas every couple of days at home, but now I have my own version here so I don’t have to miss them too much – I bought a bottle of Feijoa Vodka in duty free teehee … it really really smells like the real thing, and is divine with ‘lemon, lime & bitters’ … yummo – doesn’t go too well with stitching though ;P

Back to work tomorrow – civilised hours, though … 8am starts for 3 days – then 4 days of 5am starts yuk! ;P

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Back home again

1 June, 200625 February, 2012 Anne S

Well, I have to say my return home was marred by a splitting headache by the time I got home – serves me right by not taking any tablets when I got home last night, and it worsened during the night, so I had a bad sleep … finally got up at 6.30am and took some Nurofen, and went back to bed for 3 more hours, and it’s definitely taken the majority of the pain away. I know the reason for this one – tension of leaving home again … I felt fine when I left, and even no upsets at the airport, but during the flight the headache started coming on – not helped by trying not to shed a few tears at the end of the movie, King Kong LOL. Anyway, now I have to get back into my ‘normal’ life again … I have to say that the only downside to the trip was Dad’s lack of participation in Mum’s birthday, which made me really angry with him – but then again, that’s my Dad ‘to a T’ … but even though I know that, it still disappoints me for Mum’s sake. But, I got over it, and actually enjoyed having some ‘family time’ each work day evening while we all watched the UK Classic Millionaire on TV and tried to guess the answers – it became a nightly ritual that was enjoyed by all. We’ve never really done things as a family all together, so such smalls things as that give me a certain amount of pleasure, even though they’re relatively insignificant things.

As for the last day in Auckland, what can I say about it? Sheer magic!! 😀 I had the most wonderful day with Nicki and Kerry – it’s such a shame we didn’t live closer, as I’d love to have them as stitching buddies 🙂 Nicki and I met up at The Embroiderer in Birkenhead, and had the most wonderful time – we spent quite some time oohing and ahhing over the stitched models, stroking threads, and poring through charts … as well as chatting and getting to know each other a little bit – I was as nervous as heck beforehand, as I’m actually really shy meeting new people (most people don’t believe me, though!), but I felt really at ease with Nicki, and most of the time couldn’t work out where the “off” switch was and didn’t stop talking LOL. I really wish The Embroiderer was here in Melbourne, though – it’s my favourite LNS in the whole world (to date anyway, of all those I’ve physically visited) … if anyone is visiting Auckland, you really do have to take the time to pop in. Believe it or not, though, both Nicki and I were very disciplined (OK, Nicki a bit more than myself) … although I just bought 2 charts – one from the bargain bin for my charity squares, and a Prairie Schooler santa chart for Mum to stitch (plus I bought the DMC she needed from Spotlight before I flew home yesterday, along with a Clover cutter, and I gave her my embroidery scissors and scissor fob I had with me … I’d already bought over some cuts of aida for her in my suitcase, so now she’s pretty much set up for a wee while).

After our LNS fix we went back to Nicki’s place where I met Martin and we had a lovely lunch … and we went to town looking through Nicki’s stitching stash, WIP’s and the wonderful exhanges Nicki has received (which are all beautiful, BTW) … but the highlight for me was seeing Nicki’s WIP’s – the photos truly don’t do them justice! I fell in love heart and soul with The Token – it really does take your breath away … all stitched over-one in that sumptuous colour, it’s absolutely glorious! And the HAED’s are amazing too – they really take your breath away in real life.

We finally had to drag ourselves away, though, and we drove over to meet with Kerry and her gorgeous son Marcus … and yet again I got to drool over some beautiful stitching – it was wonderful to see Kerry’s framed pieces in the flesh, as well as seeing some of her new designs in progress stitched over-one (sorry ladies, I don’t think you’ll convert me to that style of stitching though … not for a while anyway LOL – although I did say to Mum I wanted to re-stitch my green tree frog over-one hmmm) … looking forward to seeing them growing over time 🙂 Then we had a cuppa and nattered on for ages about stitching, and blogs, and life in general … it was absolutely wonderful! I never thought to take photos of us, which is a bit dumb, and I only thought about it the next day – I was too busy chatting and enjoying the company that it didn’t cross my mind … oops …

So, I want to thank you Nicki and Kerry for a truly magical day – and a wonderful way to finish my time in Auckland, and the day just flew past … it was awesome to meet you both, and I hope it won’t be the last time 😀 {{hugs}}

Anyway, back to reality today – but I’m going to ‘start’ the day (it’s now 11am haha) with a bit of retail therapy where I don’t have to spend any money – I have a pile of mail that was due to arrive last week, including back orders from SB&B, my Melanie’s Exchange parcel, and Mystery Bits from SB&B (I succumbed and signed up now I’m back on shift work) … so I’m off to put petrol in the car and pick it all up, as well as getting in some grocery essentials as the fridge is totally bare. I’ll post piccies probably tomorrow, as I still have a few things to do today and may not get time (plus I’ll have to let the drool dry off first haha) … then tomorrow I’m back out to the airport again to go and pick up my freight boxes of ‘stuff’. It’s amazing – I only arrived last night, but here I am sitting at my computer desk looking out the side windows, and I don’t feel I’ve been anywhere already … was it all a dream? Nope, it definitely did happen, and I have 644 new unread emails to prove it … I don’t want to check the blog subscription figures yet … perhaps tomorrow … ;P

(Updated) … Well, I guess I’m not going anywhere for a while … just went outside to start the car up, and it’s not starting – I assume it’s the battery, although the power locking etc is still working … I guess a call to the RACV is in order – better get it fixed before the Post Office closes, or I’ll be upset haha … ho hum, it’s good to be back … hmmm ;P

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Last post from down, down under…

29 May, 200625 February, 2012 Anne S

Well, it’s my second to last night here before I wing my way back ‘across the ditch’ … it’s been an interesting day in more ways than one. I parcelled up 126kg (yikes!) of books and magazine ripouts etc, as well as my mat-cutter for freighting home – I get a substantial staff discount on freight, and managed to get a price that is ‘just above cost’ which is great. It means I’ll be spending Thursday at the airport again, though, going to Qantas Freight, then Customs, then Quarantine, then back to Qantas Freight again before picking up my 9 boxes from the freight terminal – then I have to lug 126kg up 3 floors to my little home … at least when they’re home I can pick through them and work out what I’m going to keep, and what I’m going to get rid of, with no time constraints like I have here. And I’ll hopefully get back a lot of the freight costs if I decide to sell on Ebay etc … maybe 😉

The other interesting thing that happened today is that I started feeling a tiny bit ‘homesick’ again … for Auckland – or, more truthfully, for the people I used to work with and socialise with. I went into the city again tonight and went to my old place of work (same airline I work for now) – it surprised me how much I enjoyed seeing everyone again, and it felt good to have so many people come up to me and give me hugs and tell me how much I’m missed … hence the little tug at the heartstrings for the ‘familiarity of home’. That doesn’t mean I want to move back again, though – I’m sure I’ll feel better again when I get back into the routines in Melbourne … but I think I should come over and visit more often to keep in touch with everyone. I went for drinks at the Shakespeare Tavern with three of my biggest pals (one made a special drive in for the occasion, as she works at the airport now, which is wonderful that she came in) – then two of them had to head home early due to ferries and family commitments, and Tara and I went to the Late Night Cafe in Ponsonby Road for dinner and coffees, which was fantastic. It was so nice to see all the familiar faces and have a gossip about people we all know. It’s now 1am, and I thought I’d quickly drop a line on the blog while I got chance before I hit the hay.

Mum finished her first little XS yesterday – but because the dial-up connection is so abysmal here, I’ve been ordered to take it home with me and put a photo on my blog when I get home haha. She’s so proud of her first attempt, and she will soon have her very first ornament to put on her ‘swag’ I brought from Melbourne for her ready for Christmas. I started my mail art exchange yesterday, but of course can’t show piccies until it’s received … and I won’t get chance to stitch now until I get home – hmmm I think my expectations for stitching here for definitely a bit high – I think Mum’s stitched more than I have! LOL.

Anyway, I’ll chat more when I get home in two days time – I can’t wait to get back into the blogs and see what everyone’s been up to … will have to dive back into everyone’s archives, it’s been so long since I’ve been reading properly oops …

Well, better get to sleep, as I have to be up semi-early to drive to the North Shore in the morning, where I’ll be getting to meet some more blogging pals face-to-face – I’m really looking forward to meeting Nicki and Kerry in the flesh 😀 Will have to give an update when I get home … especially as we’re meeting at one of my old favourite LNS there … and I want to buy a couple of things (NZ charts especially to remind me of home). Better get to sleep, anyway, as I’m getting cross-eyed, and probably not making much sense anymore …

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Not much longer left in NZ

28 May, 200625 February, 2012 Anne S

I have to admit, it’s been an interesting time in different ways here – it’s surprising that Auckland doesn’t really feel like ‘home’ to me anymore, so I guess that means I’m definitely pretty settled in Melbourne. There have also been some unexpected adventures that I forgot to write about the other day …

On Wednesday Mum and I went into Auckland city (ie downtown), where I had an appointment with my old Physiotherapist, Guy. We caught the 10.10am train to give us plenty of time to get there, with some time to sit and have a coffee or do a bit of shopping … or so we thought! After about two stops, the Conductor came through to announce that we could only travel as far as Penrose, as there had been a body found by the tracks, and they’d stopped train traffic while they investigate … so we were sat for 3/4 hour waiting for a bus to turn up to take us into town – welcome back to Auckland, Anne, have a bit of excitement to start your holiday haha. Luckily I just made my appointment with 2 whole minutes to spare … although Guy said he would have fitted me in somehow anyway seeing as I’d come across the ditch for my appointment. Hopefully my neck is all fixed up again for another 12 months 🙂

Since then I have managed to retrieve my patience again with Dad – I think I was just upset that he made such a pig’s ear of Mum’s birthday. I’ve just been trying not to think about it, and chill out on the whole … and last night we went out for dinner to very dear friends of the family (they’re like my actual family, as we all emigrated together from England all those years ago, and we’ve all grown up together) – it was awesome to spend time with Auntie Heather and Uncle John, Glenn and Tracey and the kids Danial and Bradley – it felt like we haven’t been apart, we’re that close. Dad, as usual, didn’t go, but Mum and I had a ball and didn’t get home until almost midnight much to Dad’s surprise and disgust haha – I actually took some XS to do, but didn’t even pick it up, we were too busy chattering away all night. Our second adventure took place last night, though – while we were outside on the deck chatting by the gas furnace, the garage was broken into and we worked out John’s weedeater and leaf blower were both stolen … right from under our noses. We heard some small noises, thinking the cats had got into the garage, and the security light went on – but by the time John went round to investigate no-one was to be seen … it was only as we were leaving that we realised things had been stolen hmmm.

As for today, it’s back in the garage for me again … managed to clear out about 6 boxes worth of ‘stuff’ for the bin – there are all sorts of things like old bank statements etc that I’ve just been throwing out, as well as glassware etc all getting parcelled up for the Salvation Army. I think it’ll take at least another 6 trips over here to get it all finished haha. The priority is done, though – my XS stuff teehee. Oh well, at least Mum and Dad aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, so it can all just stay in storage – thank goodness 🙂

Rightio, back to it again as not much time left before I fly home – then I’m off tomorrow to catch up with my old workmates in Auckland city, then hopefully to meet up with Nicki and Kerry with a LNS fix at The Embroiderer on Tuesday … then it’s “Home James” on Wednesday probably – where did the time go??

Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Exchanges, Finishes

Down, Down Under

26 May, 200625 February, 2012 Anne S

Well, I managed to arrive safe and sound on the shores of Auckland city at 3am on Monday morning … which was absolutely exhausting seeing as I’d worked a 6am shift on Sunday and hadn’t had any sleep at all since then (as well as working 6 days straight) – unfortunately the plane was late leaving Melbourne, so a late arrival into Auckland. Got into bed at about 4am and managed to get about 4 1/2 hours sleep before an unexpected wakeup call hmmm. Let’s just say I was a bit of a zombie, and to be honest I still feel quite wrecked 3 days later! I’ve slept for 10 hours both the last two nights … fingers crossed I’ll be starting to feel a bit more ‘normal’ again soon …

I haven’t managed to get much done … although my priority has been to parcel up all my XS charts etc, ready for freighting, and I’ve nearly accomplished the mission – still have to go through my books as well … and I think there will be quite a number of charts heading over to Ebay when I get them home. There are LOADS of rip outs from magazines that I know I’ll never stitch in a month of Sundays, so they’ll all be free to a good home for the cost of the postage if anyone wants them …

The rest of my time has been spent trying not to get Dad’s blood on the carpet … to say it’s been “trying” at times would be a serious understatement. I had to jump in the shower last night before I lost my cool at him. I love my Dad ‘cos he’s my Dad, but I don’t always like him very much. I’d forgotten when I come home that usually by the 2nd day here my tension levels are sky high, and my patience levels are very slim. Mum and I went out for dinner in Auckland city last night for her birthday, which was lovely … and much to my Mum’s disgust it was my shout yay. Dad, of course, being the miserable sod that he is, refused to come out with us, even though we chose a steak restaurant that he would have enjoyed. Considering we had a party for his 70th birthday two years ago, Mum had already been warned we weren’t allowed to have one for her … I’ll leave my comments unwritten on that score, but I think it’s pretty poor … but then again, that’s my Dad to a T – very very selfish. Oh well, we still had a good time out, and to be honest it was probably more enjoyable with just the two of us …

As for stitching, I didn’t even get out of my PJ’s on Monday, so did a bit of stitching instead to try to keep my eyelids open … I started Santa’s Stash by Full Circle Designs, as part of the Ornament challenge/SAL on the Welcome Friends BB. But I forgot to pack the Mill Hill beads, and needed to buy some buttons and two of the DMC colours before I could finish it, so Mum and I popped out to Spotlight on Tuesday, and by midnight Tuesday night the final stitches were put into place.

If you were wondering why there are amazing shifts in weather patterns at the moment, you can blame my Mum! At the grand old age of 70 she’s finally decided she wants to learn how to XS haha. So we bought her a little kit of Frangipani (gee whizz, I wonder who chose that?!!), and she managed to put a few stitches in before I got chance to teach her … she’s keen! I bought some aida cloth offcuts over for her to try stitching on, and we’ve been looking for some easy Christmas designs for her to stitch some ornaments – now I’ll have to start hiding my stash from her teehee. She used to do tapestries and she knits, so she’ll be just fine 🙂

Mum’s dial-up connection is absolutely appalling, but I finally managed to get Blogger to upload more piccies – I just have to share these before I get home … these photos are of a scissor fob that Pauline stitched for me as part of the StitchNZ scissor fob exchange, and posted to Mum’s address … it is the most awesomely exquisite fob ever! The colours are just to die for … they are so “ME” … totally stunning! I will always treasure it – thanks so much Pauline 😀

Rightio, I suppose it’s back to the salt mines again … aka “the garage” … groan … Mind you, by the sounds of it, Dad’s already brought more boxes into the lounge for me to sort through – a less than subtle hint! haha. If I manage to find my way out again, I’ll see if I get time to post again – otherwise it won’t be until I get home again. I think I need an entire month to go through all my stuff – I’m starting to wonder how in heck I’m going to get everything done that I’d planned 😦

Hope everyone is having a good week 🙂

Uncategorized

Quick answers

18 May, 200625 February, 2012 Anne S

Thanks for your lovely comments about my first ever biscornu – I have to admit, it was very hard giving it up ;P A couple of quick answers while I’m waiting for dinner to heat up tonight …

For Katrina – the DMC thread number is a figment of my imagination … my apologies, it’s actually an Anchor thread, and the colour is 1349 (oops … slight blonde moment there LOL). I just love the colours of this thread – especially the turquoise splashes in it 🙂

For Rani – unfortunately I’d ripped the pages out of the magazine, and I’ve checked each page but there’s absolutely no reference to the month/year it was from. I’ve scanned the full page of the design for you, if that helps. As you can see, though, I only used a marginal part of the design, so it might not be that helpful to you. Hopefully if you click on the piccie, it will be large enough for you to read the print … Actually, Blogger won’t load whatsoever, so try the link here (hopefully this will take you to a photo loaded into Photobucket … hopefully!).

For Sharon – sorry my NR wasn’t a commercial chart for you to buy 😦 You can probably work most of the design out by the stitched photo, though, if you’re wanting to recreate it 🙂

For Sharon in Melbourne – I haven’t forgotten you, gorgeous lady! I’ve just been in antisocial mode last week, and this week to a certain extent … If it’s OK, I’ll call you when I get back from NZ for us to catch up properly … I’ve saved all the L&L angel charts for you to look through and claim anything you want 🙂

And to anyone else I owe emails to … a thousand apologies!! I’m so very very behind in keeping up to date with pretty much everything at the moment, and struggling to play catch up 😦 June is another month, huh?