Monthly Archives: June 2020

Two different kinds of progress!

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The regency stays I have been making are ready for the final fitting – this really will be the moment of truth!  If they are OK, I will add eyelets for the lacing.  If not – start again 🙁

The shoulder strap is a long way from the tab.  When I try it on myself, they might come closer, but if not, I’ll need a long lace!  I won’t be wearing them over a turquoise t-shirt, by the way, that’s just so they show up in the photo.

Most of the eyelets will be down the two sides of the back, where the stays will be laced.

Meanwhile, a cactus which I was convinced had died has flowered!  Here it is awake:

And here it is asleep!  Isn’t nature amazing?

 

A New Job 2

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My new job packing kits of components seems to have expanded somewhat, which has given me the opportunity to rationalise and speed up the process.

The sorting trays work better with a wooden frame; as I pack the set nearest me, I can just slide them down and put the empty one at the ‘top’.

To avoid making mistakes, it does need quite a lot of concentration, so it’s best done in small batches!

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Slight backtrack

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At the beginning of lock down, I bought some fabric with a view to making a Regency dress.  Yesterday, I finally decided I had time to begin cutting out, having fixed the problem with my sewing machine.  As we all should, I read through the instructions before beginning, and they said:  Do not wear this with a modern bra, the line won’t be correct.

So, before making the dress, I am going to attempt some stays!

I may also need a new chemise…

Just like a full time job!

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It seems like I have spent a whole lot of my life at my computer this week.  I have attended Zoom meetings, watched streamed lectures, updated websites, fiddled around with spreadsheets and attended webinars.

One of the lectures was at lunchtime, so I had a “working” lunch – something I have not done for many years!

I enjoy playing with technology, but I have started deliberately seeking out things I can do away from my computer – elsewhere in the house, or in my potting shed…

Meanwhile, there are more and more flowers on the plants from Rhey!

Seeds and seedlings

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There are a number of wild flowers growing about the garden, sown from a packet I found in my collection.  Most of them are hard to tell from weeds, but  a few of them have flowered.  One I particularly like looked like a mini lysianthus when it was in bud, but opened much wider and is quite beautiful – it’s the red one in the photo.

Meanwhile, I have planted out parsley and coriander seedlings.  The basil is still too small.  I have a few small geraniums waiting, and a couple of minute violas and petunias which have survived out of the many I sowed in early spring.  The overall success rate of my little pots has been rather disappointing.

But some of the seedlings from Rhey have flowered!

Yet another lockdown “Pub” meal

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Not the weather for us to enjoy our most recent “pub” meal outdoors, but nice to have something close to it indoors.

First course was Steak & Chips with Peas and Mushrooms, washed down with a pint of Gadds #5 Bitter and a pint of Canterbury Merchant’s Ale (described by the brewery as a “Mild Kentish Stout”):

The pudding was a Raspberry & Passion Fruit tart; it really needed a dollop of double cream on it!:

Rocco seemed very keen on the steak and enjoyed a small offcut!

Another interim project

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Some years ago, Phil’s mum gave me a small tote bag, which I used often and with pleasure.  However, the handles were getting worn, so I decided to refashion it into a sort of reticule.  It’s too big for that, really, but will hold all the junk a 21st century woman has to carry!

Back to Court

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Since the lock down, District Judges have been doing sterling work keeping the Criminal Justice system going while Magistrates could not practically sit.  From last week, some of us have been called back, to sit in pairs (rather than threes), and do such work as we can while everyone is keeping their distance.  Some work is happening remotely, some over video link and some by phone.

It was my turn to go in yesterday.  It was the first time I had to get properly dressed since March!

The court room is very clean, and everyone is being very sensible.  ipads are cleaned between each use, and there’s a sort of one way system in the ladies…  Hand and surface sanitisers are very much in evidence.

A Project between projects

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Over the weekend, while considering what to do next, I sorted out all the books in the loft.

First, empty all the shelves.  Then put the books into categories – move elsewhere in the house, no longer needed, Book Group books, and then by subject.  On top of that, I had to remove the ones I didn’t want from the log, and add any that I hadn’t bothered to log before to the log!  Those are the ones on the seat.  I have been lazy in the past…

At the end of the exercise, there’s one empty crate and two empty shelves.  Very satisfying.  Just the books in the bedroom to sort out now.  Some of those will undoubtedly go on the spare shelves in the loft!