NEARLY A MONTH?

I can hardly credit it's almost a month since I put something here. Silly thing about it though is that I really have no good excuse! I have been busier lately its true but somehow I didn't get to writing in this way.

What have I been up to?

Since I began to feel much more human again after surgery I decided to try to find something more constructive with my time rather than sitting around trying to keep warm. I got in touch with the U3A (University of the Third Age) again having tried to find vacancies in classes a couple of times before without success. This time I was able to secure a place in two group which interested me - family history and calligraphy. I think I mentioned a while ago that I had missed the first calligraphy class - another story.

I have since been a couple of times but am not entirely sure it's 'my' thing. It is quite difficult but doesn't phase me - everything new has an element of difficulty at first - I think I like to work at a slightly faster pace than this particular class. I don't mean to sound 'righteous' or 'better than the rest' but I just don't see myself practising the letters of one particular style for the rest of the year. I think I might be able to do that at home - and at the same time try out some other styles along the way. I'll see how it goes as the term comes to an end.

The Family History group doesn't bring me much joy either (am I sounding a misery?) - they are all except one, interested in Australian families and early history. I do enjoy the history bits that members bring to the group but I had hoped I would be able to get some assistance in my own research - which although I've been 'into' for well over 20 years now, still holds my interest and curiosity.

Oh well - I'll see what other groups have vacancies early next year and perhaps try something different.

What else have I been doing? Knitting squares - I think I'm about half way towards that rug I started earlier in the winter. It's becoming a little too warm here now to knit for much longer so I may need to put it away until next autumn/winter. I"ve done some smocking on a baby frock I intend to give away. Talking about baby stuff - there have been two new baby girls born into our extended family this week - one is Ruby Rose and the other is Ruby Mae! I guess names go through trendy periods and Ruby seems to be the flavour of the month just now! A third bub born to a young friend from church earlier in the week weighed in at 10lb 4ozs and has been named Isabelle. That's another name that seems to have had a revival over the past little while - variations of it as well including Bella. It's certainly been a week for the little girls!

My E17 grand-daughter is getting a puppy in a few weeks time. She has visited the pregnant mum and last week after the birth, went and chose Texas and took photos of her. A tiny bundle of brown and black dachshund - only just fitting in her hand. What a gorgeous little pup - shame they have to grow so quickly. E17 will be taking delivery of her when she's 8 weeks old. She's so looking forward to it.

Have been doing a little gardening also - not too much bending yet (actually I'm finding it difficult to get down) so have been making use of a small stool which we brought back with us from Zambia - most useful and low enough to make weeding a much more comfortable exercise - beans are up - both climbing purple and dwarf yellow butter - silver beet is doing well - blueberries are looking fabulous and just beginning to get a pinky tinge to them - a new variety of tomato plant, the oval fruit is said to have twice as much of the anti-oxidant Lycopene - is doing really well and has little flower buds already. I also purchased some alstroemeria corms and they have begun to shoot little green leaves. I will have to check out how long it takes before they flower. I really love the way they last for so long in a vase. Have done some tidying up and pruning back some shrubs but still have a long way to go. The garden gets away so quickly when not attended doesn't it?

Fathers Day here in Australia today. We are having lunch with family and friends at a brand new restaurant attached to a brand new golf course not far from where the family live. As I write, the sun is shining and it's predicted to be a very nice 21 degrees this afternoon. I'm looking forward to it.

Till next time - blessings!

CALLIGRAPHY CLASS THAT WASN'T!

I feel so silly! I got all my bits and pieces ready and left in good time to catch the bus. Although the bus was running behind time at our destination but I got to where the class was being held OK just a few minutes late. On being shown the room being used, I was surprised to find nobody there. I thought they were probably running late like me! LOL

After waiting for nearly 30 minutes I was convinced I had gone on the wrong day. The receptionist seemed to agree with me and felt sure their previous class had been held last week - it's held fortnightly.

So I got back to the bus station and waited 20 minutes for the bus home. Got inside the house and went straight to the class schedule to find out what I'd done wrong. Well - it was the right day - just the wrong time. I had gone for a 1pm start and it actually started at 2pm. I just wish I'd checked that schedule this morning before I left for the bus!

Unfortunately I won't be able to get to the next class as I've a post operative appointment with the Professor that day and as of yesterday, another appointment on the same day to have a DVT scan (deep vein thombosis) - to check for any post operative problems in my leg veins.

So now I'll have to wait another month to go to the class I was so looking forward to today. I guess these things happen - and in fact as I'd taken my knitting with me I got quite a lot of rows done while sitting on the bus. It's not anything terribly exciting but I'll get a photo of what I'm doing when I get a few more squares finished towards a blanket I've decided to make. I made one about 10 years ago and DH loves to snuggle under it if he gets up to watch any sport on the TV during the night. It's still OK but won't hurt to have a 'back up'!

Have a blessed day!

A GOOD 'FIRST DAY OUT'

Last Tuesday was my first 'big day out' since my surgery. I wasn't at all sure how I would cope with all the walking I knew I was planning to do but guess I just 'stepped out in faith'.

I have been interested in joining a U3A class or two for a couple of years now but have never found any within a reasonable driving distance that had vacancies in the areas I was interested in. It seems that many people who join a particular class, never leave but just continue on year after year - which means there are rarely any vacancies within that group. Recently I saw a small advertisement in one of our local papers for classes in an area which I could access by bus, so I phoned and got a class list sent out to me. Wonder of wonders, I have found two classes I am interested in which have a vacancy. One is family history and genealogy and the other calligraphy. The first class I could attend was on Tuesday (genealogy). I made up my mind I would go and see whether I felt comfortable joining that group.

Meanwhile on Monday a dear friend who is visiting Sydney from NZ phoned me to ask if I could meet her and her DH for lunch on Tuesday. Since both her suggestion and the class were in the same area, we made arrangements to meet.

I walked from home to the bus stop and got to Parramatta with time to walk to the restaurant. Had a delicious lunch of veal schnitzel and mushrooms with the added bonus of great company!

Walked to where the class was being held and found it quite interesting. I'll go back one more time before I decide if it's 'for me'. When it was over I walked back to the bus station and after being dropped at my nearest stop, walked home again. I was totally pooped from the most walking I'd done in weeks!

Today I'm attending the other class I've chosen - calligraphy. Again I'll do a 'try out' session and see if it's what I want. I'll be catching the bus again into the same area but won't have the extra walking to and from the restaurant that I had on Tuesday! However, I do feel I'm improving each day and am hoping it won't be too much longer that I'm altogether 'back to normal' - if one ever knows what normal really is.

Have a blessed day!