The Last Month.....

Here we are into August already....life as we know it has still not changed and so I go between work and home.... we did have a scare of the virus here a couple of weeks ago but thankfully has now passed and this week  am looking forward to my small embroidery group getting together again .........but, to catch up since last posting.....
There have been a couple of birthdays over the last few weeks....firstly Megan's in England and as always I sent her a "virtual" birthday cake.....

.....then a few weeks later is was my mum's 91st birthday.... plans to head to Sydney were cancelled so thought it a nice idea to also send her a "virtual" birthday cake together with a cup of tea and flowers.......

 A couple more books have been read..... thoroughly enjoyed "Becoming Michelle Obama"  they were an amazing couple and very interesting reading about living in the White House! This was followed by an all time classic.... "The Hound of the Baskervilles" - bought in England in 2018 (!) 

And..... (drumroll happening here)..... I finally finished Hayley's quilt - started some time ago (!)  and has been waiting for the binding to be done since last year....

Unfortunately the true colours don't really show up as there was no white - it was all blacks, greys and beiges with a touch of "wine". I posted it to Queensland and was very pleased knowing it had arrived when she sent me a lovely thank you message! 

Also out of the basket with further progress being made is my crochet blanket started 3 Winters ago.... perhaps this year I'll get it finished?? 

While Megan was in "lock down" in England she took up embroidery and has done some beautiful work.....  here is my Mothers' Day present she sent....I think I have forgotten to "show it off" in any previous post..... 

And will finish off with photo of a double rainbow I came across on my way home from work a few weeks ago....... 

Off to find another stitching project and book to read!! 

Happy Stitching

Asta

Dear Graham.....

Sadly, Graham passed away peacefully on 15th June .... he was a devoted and much loved husband to my dear sisterVivien, a dearly loved member of our family...son-in-law, brother-in-law and uncle...... and a great friend to many.....

Graham was privately cremated today and Vivien had asked us all to remember Graham at that time in our own way..... quite often when Graham and Vivien came to visit here on the South Coast he always told me that in his early 20s he had often camped with friends at Barlings Beach so it was there that I went today to reflect and remember this wonderful person who added so much to my sister's life and our family's. 

Rest in Peace, dear Graham

Asta 

Further Catching Up!

Here I am back again..... and what a lot has happened since our family wedding! ...
Towards the end of February my sisters Linda and Vivien and brother-in-law Graham headed to Sydney for a great concert by a group called.... 

Little did we know that this would be the last of our get togethers for some time...... Covid 19 had reached Australia and we were in lockdown.... looking back it does seem a while ago now and as of writing this we are finally starting to ease our restrictions! How lucky were Megan & James to make their wedding after the fires and then get back to England before lockdown! 

With all in lockdown my Rock & Roll classes were put on hold and getting together with the lovely ladies in my embroidery group also was no longer an outing to look forward to....though in the last week we have got together again - after nearly 3 months! Rock & Roll has still to start..... I continued to work as we were still open though many shops and businesses had to close..... 

Easter arrived and was spent at home.....this was soon followed by ANZAC Day

I remembered this special day joining with neighbours on our nature strips in the early hours of the morning. 

Then it was Mothers' Day and like many others it was spent at home instead of heading to Sydney to celebrate with mum & dad. Once again I received my Mothers' Day message from Megan (together with James this year) ....from out on one of their many bike rides..

During their lockdown in England Megan has also taken up embroidery.....very impressed with her work especially as she has not done this before....she ordered kits and I have also sent her "care packages" with some of my surplus (!!) embroidery supplies... they were rather large parcels! .....though I don't seem to have made a dent! 

And Hayley in Queensland has been painting a "mural" on her bedroom wall.... still waiting for a photo of the finished masterpiece! 

During the past few months I have not really been very creative...... have done a lot of mulling over projects to start with nothing really happening.... did take up the knitting needles though - seemed like the the thing to do when I really couldn't be bothered gathering quilting / embroidery material together....maybe a sign of the general "flat" feeling of the times?? I knitted a "Miss Marple scarf", a few face washers (one in constant use and is doing quite well even after going through the washing machine a number of times!!) and a dishcloth - still to be tried out - knitted in a cotton from USA and looks and feels like the genuine old fashioned dish cloths! 

I have read a few books.....

Have been out walking.....more than I usually would!

Fingers have also done some walking.....online!! A new pattern from Anni Downs and some Tilda fabric....there has been a bit more shopping done but photos have not been taken yet! 

And.... while not at work and isolating on weekends have, of course, enjoyed Dora's company......

That about brings me up to date....... but I do finish off this post on a sad note..... my dear brother-in-law, Graham, is now in Palliative Care after battling an illness over the past 3 1/2 years. Thankfully, due to our restrictions being eased, I was able to go and see him last weekend..... these next few days....weeks...will be a sad time for our "small" family.... 

Till next time....

Asta

Qld Holiday and a Wedding

20th January 2020.... and Megan, James and Hazel arrived in Australia! The 3 of them enjoyed a week in Sydney - especially Hazel who had not been out here before. At the end of the week I drove to Sydney and we all flew up to Burleigh Heads in Queensland where we settled into our "home away from home" for a week of relaxing, sightseeing and catching up with Hayley and her new partner, Dan.....

Hazel, me, James, Megan

Checking out the view from Burleigh Heads Headland.......

We celebrated Australia Day (note the serviettes!) ......

Hayley and Dan were our guides as we trekked into the Tullebudgera Valley......

 I took Hazel to the Currumbin Wildflife Sanctuary...she was very impressed!

  A day trip to Byron Bay......view from the Light House

and a photo opportunity of Hazel - too good to miss!.....wonder what the rest of the family thought when she got back to England....

All too soon our week came to an end and we were flying back for "the" wedding!! 

6th February 2020....after organising from afar (Megan & James from England), my organising from here and adding last minute touches the day had finally arrived...... a lovely Airbnb at South Moruya Heads had been booked for the week and with the stage set a beautiful and personal wedding day unfolded.......

A few photos at the local beach.....

Family and special friends for the intimate occasion...

With my sisters & Hayley

...with the "Mums"!

Megan & James were thrilled that Nan & Pop (my parents) could make it to their wedding.........

 A beautiful and memorable day was had by all...... 

It was only a few days later and we had to say our "Good byes" as "Mr & Mrs Harte" and Hazel left for their return trip to England......

.......Megan & James plan to return to Australia permanently at end of 2021!....

So that brings me up to date with events from earlier this year.... since then our lives have been turned upside down...... and in my next "yarn" I will fill you in on what I have - or have not - been doing! 

Till next time

Asta