Post 32: Journey home

It started out with a quick breakfast followed by slow traffic to Heathrow- just over 6 miles in 55 minutes.

It gave me a chance to look at the trees again, many still bare skeletons,







































others green, and some flowering.

Once we pass the Airman I know we must be closing in, but it is still another 15 minutes driving around to the city that is Heathrow.

Once there, my passage is smooth. Qantas is open for business. All I have to do is hand over my bag, find the lounge and respond to Veronica's texts.


The flight is comfortable, slightly shorter than the westward journey because of the winds - about 16 hours 45 minutes. I manage to sleep for about five and a half hours from what is 4pm in London and about 2.30 am in Adelaide. I figure this is moving me in the right direction.
Somewhere
over the Indian Ocean I see what I think is a sunrise.






It turns out to be the moon.

Very difficult to photograph the moon.

I managed to read a whole George Bellairs book in the time I was awake, and do a little zenbroidery..

We arrive in Perth on time - even a little early. The transition is smooth. I declared the wool roving that Nicola gave us each as a gift. It was washed and carded and in a cellophane bag, but did not pass muster. The quarantine official was uncertain, but erred on the side of caution. I was sorry - but I know the importance of our quarantine laws and don't quibble. Too much at stake.

The flight from Perth to Adelaide was a little late leaving, but expected to make up the time. About an hour out of Perth, an hour and a half from Adelaide, in the middle of the meal being served, there was a medical emergency on the flight. The crew asked for help from any medical personnel on board and rushed to the back of the plane with the physician's kit. After 5 minutes or so, we were advised that medical advice was to get the passenger to a hospital urgently and we were diverting to Kalgoorlie - about 25 minutes away.

All meal service was suspended, we veered north, landed at Kalgoorlie, where paramedics efficiently removed the patient through the back of the plane. It took about half an hour to refuel, remove the patient's luggage and get a new flight plan. We stayed on the plane, which then took off smoothly.




I was one of the lucky ones who had been served a meal before the emergency. The hot food could not, for health reasons, be reheated, so about half the plane missed their meal. They got cheese and biscuits, almonds and free drinks.



We arrived in Adelaide at 9.10 pm instead of 7.35. The crew did a remarkable job. Everyone seemed understanding and tolerant. The strangest thing was the the continuous queue - of mostly men - to use the toilet. It started in Kalgoorlie, before the free alcohol, but was continuous to Adelaide. There were more men than women on the flight, so maybe it was representational. Perhaps it is a reaction to stress. Odd, I thought.

My transport was waiting for me at Adelaide - having adjusted to the flight change. It is a pleasantly warm evening in Adelaide and I have the balcony doors open to air the place a little before I go to bed. Plantar fasciitis in my right foot has been a small bother while I've been away. It doesn't like long flights.

On the flight from Perth I managed more zenbroidery. Perhaps this will be called Kalgoorlie Zen.
I will post the finishes of my three England projects - Jenny's Hill Top construction (when I get the box), Nicola's Herdwick Sheep and Becky Hogg's Metalwork Fox  to my embroidery blog, https://jillian-alwaysstitching.blogspot.com/ when finished. Perhaps I will just post a note here when that is done, so followers know to look.

Thanks for following along. I'm a bit sad, really, to be finishing - but there are new stories and journeys to be had.

Post 31: Last a day in England for now

So here I am, at the Mitre, at 7.44 pm. in my Qantas pyjamas ( because they are staying behind), book-through bag packed and closed (without the expander), pile of clothes to wear tomorrow, only my computer, ipad, laptop and cords to go in my carry-on in the morning.  I wasn't at all sure I would manage it. My boots and  puffy jacket are in the suitcase.  A little regretfully I took both Jenny and Nicola's projects out of their smart and useful boxes. They fit more easily in a suitcase without the boxes.

I’ve checked in online and my transport to the airport is confirmed for 7.55 in the morning.

I took it very easy today. I really wanted to do as much as I could of the Herdwick project, so I started work on it straight after breakfast. While my room was being serviced I moved to the hotel lounge. It is comfortable and has good light. It wasn't warm enough for me to sit outside.

I was working on the spray of Dog Roses. It is slow work. Each petal has to be outlined in split stitch before being filled in with at least two layers of satin stitch.




I went for a couple of short walks to Gardinarium. The pub next door seems to always have customers.




The weather was sunny on and off, but with a bit of a chill in the air. It didn't stop the flowers blooming outside the pub.




I hadn't noticed the wisteria on the hotel wall before. It must look lovely when blooming.

There is also a healthy looking Fir tree, no doubt enjoying the air until required again at Christmas.







Back in my room I worked steadily on the dog roses. I finished them just after 5pm. I haven't put the flower centres in yet. They include beads and I don't want to start that in a hotel.

I'm pretty happy with it. I did contemplate taking it on the plane and continuing work on it - but common sense prevailed. It is too meticulous for the light and conditions on a plane. I have now dismantled my hoop stand and packed it all away in my suitcase.

Back to my zen project for the  plane!

My jeans came back from the laundry - so I will not have to wear my leggings for the third day on the plane.

My friend Christine Thatcher tied to phone me at the hotel last night but was told I wasn’t answering my phone. She called again this evening and was told the same. This time the receptionist came to check. The phone is not connected! I wonder how long it has been like that? We did eventually connect and catch up on my mobile.

I got to dinner in time for sunset.













There was a dozy swan


and quite a few craft on the river, narrow boats on the move, launches and a rowing boat.


One thing I’ve learnt on this trip is that Yorkshire pudding is served with more than beef! I’ve had it twice with roast pork on this visit. I haven’t made it for decades because I rarely roast beef. This is an example, I think, of migrant communities preserving traditions long abandoned in the country of origin. Next thing I’ll find mint sauce served with chicken!

In spite of the destruction of long-held assumptions, I’ve had a great month. Many thanks to all those who have helped to make it so -particularly Pene and Mark. I’ve met so much kindness and generosity. 

There will be one more post in this blog. I will post it when I get home on Thursday night or Friday morning.

Thanks for following along.

Post 30 East Molesey: Sunshine, stitching and swans

This is where I got to last night - the leaves at the top of the spray of Dog Roses.

This morning the sun shone again. This is my second day of no socks!

I put my jeans in to be laundered, ready for the trip home. I am wearing leggings and my long black top. I will be inconvenienced if the jeans don't come back tomorrow. I wore a large hole in the seams of my other jeans and threw them away.


My goal today was to finish the leaves on the Dog Rose spray, but I also took a walk down the High Street to check out the two antique shops. The first one had loads of shells.
Here's an idea for using them. I'm not sure if this is a bowling ball or a bookend. There were two of them.





I hasten to say I did not buy anything. Not only would it not fit in my luggage, but the antlers would probably not get past customs.


The Buddha chicken shrine wasn't a bad idea I thought.

There is an interesting butcher, with an odd collection of antlers and stuffed birds in the window.




He will also make bespoke sausages.

The interest continued in the second antique shop. This is the one where I bought some doilies last time.  It had a particularly ugly candelabra, a standing stone candle-holder and


some old signage.

I still didn't buy anything.

There was still a collection of embroidered tablecloths and lace doilies.




Back at the Mitre I settled myself on the Terrace to stitch. It was warm in the sun. Two young women were locating boxes of new umbrellas in the outdoor storage cupboard, unpacking and assembling them. Spring, it seems, has arrived








even though
the trees are bare.





The Palace chimneys have cloud instead of smoke.

Before dinner I had finished the Dog Rose leaves. They were relatively difficult. The design was originally larger than the one we worked, and I found the smaller leaves tricky to work in three layers. I got there, however.

I try to have dinner at 6pm - just after the sun has gone down. The light is lovely. The bridge reflection is clear, symmetrical and shimmery. Tonight the swans came up close to the building to fish.





They stayed around until it got dark, then went back to their little beach.


I found it hard to stop taking photos.


Back in my room I found a way to improve the light from the bed lamp for stitching. Not very elegant, but it works.














I have started working on the Dog Roses on the strength of it.


Tomorrow is my last day in England. I will need to do a major repacking - and hopefully finish those Dog Roses. I won't finish the Herdwick project before I get home but I have made good progress.

Post 29 Sunny day at the Mitre

At last - a sunny day. The river responded cautiously at breakfast, but when I went for a walk around 10 am it was bright and clear.













The flowers were out - and so were people. Families headed for the Palace, cyclists in groups and pairs, people walking dogs - and lots of traffic.

The river sparkled and the Mitre almost looked smart.















The swans  practised their flight on the runway of the river.






There were canoeists, fours, eights and twos - although I did not manage to photograph them.












There was no activity on the moored canal boat with its assortment of attached craft - but it was not yet lunchtime.

There were other craft coming and going.

I visited Gardinarium, the shop one door away from the Mitre. It always has something of interest. I was wearing a top I had bought there two years ago - and sure enough, found a couple more tops to my liking. They are of a light, cheesecloth-like fabric and will pack to almost nothing. Yes, they are the same, but different colours.  I also found a pair of 3.5 x magnifying spectacles that will go over my glasses for embroidery.

Andrew and Jean Chitty came for lunch at the Mitre, and regretfully, I forgot to have someone take our photo. Andrew is my second cousin once removed. His grandmother Alice Higgs and my great-grandmother Emily Grace Higgs were sisters. We had plenty to catch up on. Like many in our family, Andrew worked for years in the aviation industry. They are great tennis followers and travel long distances to tournaments - including the Australian Open. It was a lovely three hours.


I also managed to get some work done on the dog rose leaves of my Herdwick embroidery -

By sunset I felt a little chilly outside, but there was great reluctance by staff to closing the restaurant doors, which were left wide open to let in the evening air. I'd have closed them - but I don't begrudge the enthusiasm that kept them open.

The sunny day has lifted spirits and that's worth hanging on to.