A free day.....

Since retiring I have been flat out doing the things I love.  The mornings are full of the financial markets, afternoons during school time consists of 5 - 7 year olds and now when I am lucky enough, I get to sew and knit.  Sunday was one such free day...it was fabulous, all day to my wants, although, at 5.30pm Teagan did request a meal (!!??).  The outcome was an ecstatic winged insect.....

The wings were planned after reading a blog that I like to follow click here to link to the blog post.  And began on Saturday night with a mission to the fabric souqs with a friend, made all the easier by her having a driver!  I came home with Liberty cotton print, a gorgeous Japanese cotton and a Japanese satin.  Certainly fabrics of a quality not normally destined for little girls play clothes!  But, I have found it easier to buy the higher quality fabrics here rather than negotiate my way through the eclectic mix of cheaper alternatives and their outlets!

We pack up for the summer....

Elizabeth I  has taken to doing some of
the ironing.
Dad is watching from the side

My vista is beige.  My temperature is a steady 42 deg C.  My humidity is unpredicatable.  My status is dust.  In under five and one quarter sleeps I board an aircraft with a sleeping kid, a tired husband and hopefully enough gear for a two month escape.

Our trip is looking like it might be a tad "epic".  The route to Dunedin, in its most direct form consists of three legs.  Two of which are in excess of 10 hours.  Doha is not as far away from Dunedin as London but it is further in cost and sectors because it is an outpost in the middle of a desert on the Arabian Peninsular.  It would be assumed that One would employ the most direct route to another outpost at the bottom of the world. Yes? No?  Of course, One would not.  Who would pay double the cost, miss out of visiting my bestest girlfriend and miss out on catching up with other people on the return leg?  Net result, savings 50%, in Riyals, expense; 48 hours in time, including an enforced airline layover (for the cheap route) in both Colombo and Singapore.  Get that lot over with and we are faced with a 6 hour wait in the transit area of Brisbane airport starting at 1 am.  Fun fun fun!

So clearly the flights are sorted and well understood.  Naturally, Mrs Plan Ahead started to consider the impact of a certain Chilean ash-cloud and what impact that could have on the journey.  One went with One's dearest to talk to the travel insurance agents.  Net outcome, Romel might answer the phone between 7am and 3pm Qatar time if we care to call.  The sheet covering the insurance is very clear (for those that can interpret it) that all delays and cancellations are covered, however, according to another insurance agent, considering the detailed sheet, the travel insurance only covers extended warranties on whiteware purchases! DUH DUH where the heck did that come from.  Very calmly we left with insurance information in our hands absolutely convinced that we would not be calling Romel as the ash-cloud would clear.  Why would the ash-cloud clear and not return?  Easy, because we have checked everything out, Mrs Plan Ahead is prepared, thus, we shall not have a problem.  You see, it is when One is not ready that problems arise.  Please note that I have touched wood and my fingers are crossed (including my eyes).

The next point is the packing.  Why does it take me forever?  I have been gathering papers, backing up digital devices, sorting out a suitable laptop and pulling together Teagan's summer schooling material and all I now have is a dastardly pile.  That said, I only have one suitcase that is mostly empty for both Teagan and Me and one suitcase full of items travelling one-way only.

Our plan is to merely transfer our lives and continue from Dunedin.  I will continue with my financial portfolios and it seems that Teagan will be doing "her own thing" - I am not sure what it is but apparently it is well know to her!

Finally, I have to post a photo of the finished Findley jacket that I have knitted for Teagan.  It seems that Teagan has decided to sprout over the past 3 months and thankfully I knitted a slightly larger size.  Overall I am very pleased with the outcome.  The main yarn is from Ireland (Donegal Tweed) and the buttons are from the Orkney Islands, so not an inexpensive knitted coat but worth the time and effort.

I also leave you with a picture of what my brother Tony and I occasionally endure.  An extended Skype session between Teagan and Jasmine; last week's feature was reading out school books!

If you think you are losing your pants...

When you have a part in a school musical there are many things a little girl must focus on.  Firstly; where do I stand, has the teacher and my partner got me in the right place?  Secondly, do I feel like the character? I need to feel like my character so I can act as if I am her!  Thirdly, what do I need to say? Forthly, the songs, even though I have practiced and practiced but when I am looking out for Mumma and Dadda, I need to keep my mind on the singing not just looking for my parents.  Finally, and rather importantly, I must focus on how to keep my trousers from falling down.

I am in the right place and I am saying the right stuff!

Oops, I think I might have a problem with my pants soon!

Oh dear, the pants are moving

A quick pull and "she'll be right"

Oh dear, it didn't really work

Well if your pants fall down, all we can do is laugh about it!

Now, I had better hold on to my pants really tight

Whew, Mrs D is carrying me now so my pants won't fall anymore!

A day to myself today...

Sometimes I like to take a "day off".  When One is retired, One needs to have the odd day with no extra commitments; today was to be one of those days.  So last night I started.

I headed into my workroom and decided to try and create a lunch sack that actually worked.  Net result is with many adaptations to a standard gusseted lunch sack design, I ended up creating two insulated lunch sacks.

Fabric to make lunch sacks is not too easy for me to find.  The insulating batting was sourced from the UK many moons ago, the linen lining was from the fabric souq and the outer fabric was courtesy of Carrefour (tea-towel) and the Home Store (table runner).  I thought it was important to find some fairly "tough fabric".

Packed up for lunches, both worked well, mind-you I had pre-measured!  When I had finished making one (the only one I had planned to make), Teagan asked if she could have one....to replace the expensive bought one that we recently had to throw out after just one-month of use - I hope this one lasts a bit longer!

If anyone wants the pattern, I have sketched it out but I am afraid that my instructions will not be suitable for a novice sewer but I am happy to forward the measurements via email!

I can...by myself....

It is just after 7.30 am and I have been up since before the birds, which means, since 4 am.  Definitely not sensible but this was my sleep-in morning...naturally, I got up earlier than usual!!!  The week has been full on and by the time the end of the week arrived, I walked in the door far too late to assemble a dinner for our household...thank goodness for home delivery.  This weekend offers absolutely no relief either but I think I will try to make sure I am home today by 4pm so that it doesn't seem like a weekday.

Last night was an evening I will treasure.  My little treasure was exhausted and was ready for bed, clean, shiny and jimmy-jammed and then......she appeared in my workroom, crept over to the sewing machine and announced so sweetly that she wanted to have a "little turn" choosing the fancy stitches.  The little sweetheart (we call our kid that sometimes, you know) got a short lesson in using the machine safely, she stretched her little leg out and took control of the presser foot.  Two hours later with a beautifully trimmed up scrap of fabric with no lose threads she was one super happy, super proud of herself achiever. And please, no one ask me what she made...it appears she explained the details to her father as she gifted him the creation...I missed that bit and my imagination is not quite supple enough.