Feather Stitching

Did I do any stitching yesterday? Nope … nil … nada … zip … zilch! I kept active as long as I could – and as soon as I sat down my eyes drooped big time, so I just kept doing a few things around the place like putting my last load of washing away etc and general tidying around my computer area – I fell into bed early at 7pm, but had a really rough night’s sleep compliments of shocking high winds making a racket … I think tonight is the first night where I’m going to succumb to taking 1/2 a sleeping tablet, as I feel almost dizzy from the lack of sleep (aside from looking like Frankenstein’s bride!). I’m taking the risk tonight in taking a tablet, as I don’t start work until 9am, so it’s OK if I sleep in a bit. Then it’s my two days off (Thu/Fri), before working 7 days straight.

Anyway, I have to put the record straight with my latest spoils … the only things I went ‘off the wagon’ for was my Ebay win from Ashleigh – everything else was from previously … which is what prompted me to get back on the wagon haha. Admittedly, that money could have gone towards a new lounge suite, or my holiday, or a new feline companion, but I really enjoyed spending it that way, and have no guilty feelings this time whatsoever 😀

Talking of which, I think I’ve made a decision to go ahead with the feline companion … I just need to get a few items that are essential first, ie scratching post, litter tray, kitty litter, ping pong balls etc. I’ve also been checking out the RSPCA adoption website, and I absolutely adore these three critters … especially the black and white one, as he’s the spitting image of our last cat Rio 🙂 Second runner-up is the grey tabby, but I really love the look of all three of these … I can’t do anything about it until after we come back from Hong Kong, but I have to admit it would be perfect timing to get one then, as I’ll be at home for about another 1-2 weeks on holiday, so it would be a great chance to get a cat settled in and house trained etc then … I’ll take a trip out to Burwood when we get back, and have a look, I think … mind you, it depends if I still have any money left over, as the cat itself is $110 plus all of the essentials I’ll need. I really need to buy some glasses, which is probably more essential at the moment for me, so we’ll see … but the seed has definitely been set … 🙂
Age: 7 months; Sex: Male (N); Colour: Black Tabby & White
Name: “Molly”; Age: 4 years; Sex: Female (S); Colour: Grey Torti
Age: 4 years; Sex: Female; Colour: Tabby

I may regret it tomorrow, but last night I stayed up to watch the first game of the All Blacks vs Wallabies (ie New Zealand vs Australia in Rugby Union for those of you not in the know) … and I’m pleased to say the ALL BLACKS WON!!! I have to admit to not being a sports fan, but the All Blacks are the only team I follow … I get a ribbing at work for being a Kiwi all the time, and today I intend wearing my All Black scarf and T-shirt just to wind one of the guys up 😉

I have to admit, I love living in Aussie, and the majority of the people I’ve met and dealt with are wonderful people, and I feel at home here … but sometimes the sports commentating here is very one-eyed and rude. I was really shocked to hear a commentator last night, while the camera was on a toddler being held up by its parents covered in All Blacks face paint – the commentator said “look at that poor kid – it’s amazing what parents will do to you these days … it’s unfortunate enough that it’s a New Zealander without doing that to it as well” – now is that really necessary??? I can take a joke as much as the next person, but that’s really inappropriate, and it really got my ire up last night for a short time hmmm. There is a friendly rivalry between the two nations, and a zillion of Kiwi vs Aussie jokes etc, and I can handle that easily … but that public comment made me angry 😦

So partly because of that attitude last night, I was SUPER happy that we trounced the Aussies 32-12 (sorry Aussie pals), and my neighbours got a taste of their own medicine after midnight as I was cheering my team on loudly (they did the same last week or so watching the soccer until the early hours haha). Of course, the game is still not over as such – there are still two games to be played for the Bledisloe Cup … go Kiwis!!! 😉

I nearly wrote “the heat is on” as my title, but that was too close to yesterday’s happy post 😉 The fact is I was getting very organised yesterday and getting my rotation in order, to set up the new few upcoming rotation slots, making sure everything was all kitted up and ready to go … when I spied something at the top of my list … Racing Cars charity block due for mailing 15 July … my little mouse rushed off to the corner of my screen to see the date … aaarghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! So last night I went into total panic mode – today was my final catch-up day for the last 5 blogs outstanding, but they’re going to have to wait a couple of days again now … in fact all blog reading is back on the backburner again for a few days – seeing as I hadn’t started this project yet, and it’s got a LOT of stitching in it (I’ve had to cut a few things out just to get it to fit on the fabric hmmm), so as it is I’m going to be struggling to get this one finished ready for post …

So, with no more ado, I’m off to pick up a needle, as I’m going to try for a full 8-10 hours stitching on it today yikes! Then I have a dragon one due on 15 August, so I’d better start doing some stitching on that too afterwards so I’m not in the same predicament next month!

Here’s my progress for 3 hours yesterday – which is why I’m panicking … this is only about 1/8 of the total stitching for this block, with loads of backstitching (excuse the crappy photo, as it’s not in focus – but I figure there’s no point taking another one, as there’s not much to see yet! LOL). OK, enough yapping … off to my stitching corner I go!

(Updated) Well, I managed to stitch for a solid total of 11 1/2 hours today … and oh boy am I feeling it now! But I managed to get almost one of the cars finished. I wish I took more time to think about the project yesterday – if I was really clever, I would have just used one of the cars, and added a chequered flag border to fill it out … I thought about that when I was about 1/3 through the first car – a bit late by then! Would have made the deadline a lot easier though. Oh well, c’est la vie … here’s my progress to date anyway – I’m back at work tomorrow and not on great stitching hours, so there probably won’t be much progress over the next couple of days. Thanks for your supportive comments … it’s much appreciated 🙂

Well, actually I have the “heat”! Woohoo!! My landlord has just been in – I now have the vent reinstalled in the toilet ceiling, and the ducted heating has been re-lit. He’s very impressed with my tenancy, and has said it’s OK to add a couple of picture hooks in the lounge … AND it’s OK for me to have a cat!! Now I have to make the decision whether to go ahead or not … it would be so lovely to have the company – I really miss having a cat around, as I adored Rio, but I also have to weigh up the extra costs etc too. He’s also asked me if I intend staying here long term, as he’s thinking of getting rid of the real estate agent, and I can deal with him directly – which is fine by me, as the landlord seems really nice, and very fair and easy to deal with. I have his email addy and mobile number so it’s easy to contact him, and he only lives just around the corner, so it’s very handy. He’s most impressed that I’m putting up curtains too haha.

So, that’s all my news from this morning – not very exciting to anyone but me, but I’m rapt! Now I’m off to The Warehouse to check out cheapo glasses, if they have them – and tonight I’m off to a Hotline team dinner at The Curry Club in Richmond … which will be fun 🙂