Not a lot sort of day

 I woke up late...I must have needed it!....After hearing the six o'clock news...after hearing something at 3am.....

Without the radio on very low, sleeping can be difficult...when I am awake I can hear it, quite low....which gives me something to focus on. However it is a double edged sword....when it does get interesting one relaxes and falls asleep!!  

I am gradually sleeping better...good sleep won't come overnight (ha ha!!)

So, make a small pot of coffee....grab a small cupful and take the car down to Davey for a check over after two long trips.

Then back for a late breakfast and consider the jobs that need doing...

A bit of sun....so washing in....and on the line!!

Collect the car at lunchtime. I knew the offside dipped beam was out on the headlights...but the bulb was broken..most odd. Anyway, all fluids topped up and everything checked....worth the £20 for peace of mind.

Back to the house and let floor cleaning commence!! Downstairs anyway...even with taking outdoor shoes off ( most of the time...) it is surprising how much gets in. So, vacuuming and steam cleaning the hard floors done...and it looks much better.

It didn't actually rain, but the air felt really damp... clothes in, on the rack and dehumidifier on...

And the day just goes in bits and bobs.....when dusk creeps in, you don't feel like doing much.

So the evening's occupation was sewing ( accompanied by YouTube....some Time Team and some Robbie Cummings of Canal Boat Diary. )

That is how I carry the patchwork....one square block...the strips pinned up in order, sew one strip and place it at the bottom of the stack. 

When all are done, the strips are in the correct order still, hopefully, to be pinned together to make the block. 

Quilt update

 Strips done, set out the square...not quite right

Got it! 

Get sewing....

Travelling soon...

Quilt decision made, and mending

 

Last minute fussing over details done...proper chart drawn up....

7 colours...each strip of 7 pieces. 7 strips with the colours stepping one along each strip, to make a square.

4 squares set diagonally to make the centre.

Each corner is two half squares put side to side.

I've pinned the strips for the first square.

Not a lot else got done today, apart from pinning two mending jobs...a section of jacket lining hem and the hem on a light pair of sports trousers for walking.

Four months on and I'm still doing his mending...and re-mending.....

The difference is that I'll be wearing them. 

Shirts

 

Deconstruction started..blue one done, green nearly finished.

I eventually slept this morning...then overslept!!  

The Cowp is just over 15 minutes drive away...I made it!! When you book you get a 20 minute slot and I arrived halfway through. There were only three other people there so they weren't rushed.

After the long day yesterday today has been low key... especially as it is back to wet and windy. I had hoped for a walk, but it was definitely not inviting out there!

A friend who lives in France commented that I was always busy...but I pointed out that that is a way of hiding from the feeling of loneliness, physical and mental . 

He agreed...at least he has his tomato plants, and his younger son ( and son's washing!!) to look after..but he knows the same things.

We will all get there..and survive!

Quilt inspiration?

 

Stitching on...

Blenheim pavements

Heading South

We hit the road again! Stopped to buy coffee in Bulls...

Where we could have bought a house!
Then on to Foxton, by which time the coffee was drinkable!!

Thinking we must look here next visit.....

Waiting for the Bluebridge ferry we were lucky to get a queueing slot with a breeze.
It was a good crossing, but when we arrived in Picton it was a good deal hotter!!
A short half hour drive to Blenheim where we found that the friends we are staying with had got married in their garden four hours earlier. We knew they had been planning a quiet no fuss wedding...and far less cost here than in the UK.
It is fortunate that we travelled yesterday, as there was a massive gas leak in Picton today and ferries had to turn back.

Summer is here with a vengeance and total fire bans...so it was a relief to have a misty morning for our group ride today...and after riding around Whanganui, the roads here were easy!!
As the afternoon turned hot, pirate did some bike cleaning and maintenance, and I got on with designing the next table mat.
This one just needs the black border.

The rest will be inspired by the pavements of Whanganui...

Keeping occupied

We've both been busy!

Patchwork growing, more travel coming

The first table mat is taking shape, two squares will make a rectangular centre with a border..probably a narrow pale border and the 2 inch black border.
We move on on Thursday morning....today we have been in Aotearoa New Zealand for two months, yesterday we had been in Whanganui for a month.
It just feels like home here.

But move on we must, back to Blenheim for a week, where at least I can get more of the black cotton material for this project!!

Then down further South for the NZ Masters Games, and hopefully a visit to a certain potter in Waikouaiti!!

Then back to our first address here ready to catch up with more friends and fly back to Scotland.

Table Runner top finished!

Almost 100 metres of thread used!
I will quilt it back in Scotland.
Now to design place mats?

Windy!!!!

It is windy and very gusty today...not enough for a weather warning, but that would be 120kph....we ventured out on foot to town, but we're very glad to be home after lunch.
News reports are in of power cuts due to wind damage in several places on the edges of Whanganui, but we are ok here so far.

I have been busy indoors getting on with the patchwork sewing...next step is to get a cream border around the central strip...out of a rapidly reducing fabric remnant!!
Then, the easy bit, a broader black border to finish the table runner top.

Cycling and sewing

A busy few days, out on the bike nearly every day, seeing different groups of friends.
The patchwork table runner progresses...today Pirate rode back from Hunterville with friends who had ridden out.. starting at 6am, far too early for us! I took the patchwork and sewed a little each time I stopped to wait for them to pass.

We are still getting dust, haze, smoke from Australia..the fires still burn...an area as wide as Europe or the USA...words cannot describe it.

An easy start to 2020

A leisurely ride along local bike paths, more keeping up with washing....then more sewing (by hand).

Started

The blue with safety pins has been superceded by night sky blue with stars and comets.
Work is proceeding.....

Maths for wet weather

Planning