Aussie Readers discussion
Just for Fun!
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Fun Things to Do in the Time of Isolation
I’ve been crocheting a blanket, cooking interesting soup recipes and listening to classical music
Deborah wrote: "Morrison kids jigsaws?I don't think any of the shops will be open around here to be honest, the malls seem to have a lot of 'closed' signs around here.
But I should look into online fabric purcha..."
Scott Morrison made a comment about his wife going out to get some jigsaws for the kids that he was sure they would be getting a lot of use out of in the coming months and that they were going to consider essential.
And how can you not know what Ice Magic is, Deborah???!! https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/pr...
Deborah wrote: "Morrison kids jigsaws?I don't think any of the shops will be open around here to be honest, the malls seem to have a lot of 'closed' signs around here.
But I should look into online fabric purcha..."
Oh - and I had an email from Spotlight today - they assure me all their stores are open - and I see there's one at Ashmore, if that's any good for you... https://www.spotlightstores.com/store...
Otherwise, the online route might be a good option...
Kathryn wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Morrison kids jigsaws?I don't think any of the shops will be open around here to be honest, the malls seem to have a lot of 'closed' signs around here.
But I should look into onli..."
Ashmore is only about 40 minutes from me... I may get that desperate, I well may....
To be fair, I've been looking at buying a jigsaw puzzle online and they are pretty much all sold out! Definitely looking essential!
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One of my sons is a KMart manager and says jigsaw puzzles, board games and colouring books for adults have been selling like hot cakes. Also home office and gym equipment. I'm surprised KMart is still open but he said there's only been one case of Covid-19 in the staff across Australia and that person hadn't worked a shift for 10 days before feeling sick, so I guess the risk is small atm.
I've been wanting to get back into knitting so just ordered a pattern and some wool on line to make a nice cosy jumper. I was surprised how expensive pure wool is now and ended up buying an acrylic/wool mix in a good brand.
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Brenda wrote: "Hope you enjoy your knitting Carolyn. I have a jumper partway knitted which I did when we lived in Canberra. We left there in 1992!! lol"1992! LOL and there I was too embarrassed to admit I’m hoping to finish putting together a photo album (old school album with beautiful leather cover) I started in 2005.
Brenda wrote: "Hope you enjoy your knitting Carolyn. I have a jumper partway knitted which I did when we lived in Canberra. We left there in 1992!! lol"This jumper will probably end up the same way Brenda! I used to knit for the kids when they were little but gave up when the jumpers started to get too big to finish quickly.
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1992! LOL and there I was too embarrassed t..."
I think I know where it is, but it's probably been eaten by all sorts of things that love wool!!
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This jumper will probably end up the same w..."
Haha! Yes little things are much quicker aren't they :)
I'm on holidays at the moment and have made a quilt top in the last few days. I have quilt kits in storage and think I'll go down there tomorrow and pick up more. When I go there I'm usually the only person around and craft is essential to my mental health. What do you all think? Am I being selfish? I live alone and have been home all week. Not even exercising. I'm getting a bit stir crazy.
Krystal wrote: "To be fair, I've been looking at buying a jigsaw puzzle online and they are pretty much all sold out! Definitely looking essential!"My sister has had to close her stores but she has plenty of beautiful puzzles and she is still working online.
She's in Sydney and would appreciate your business during this tough time. Also gorgeous toys for kids of all ages.
https://www.monkeypuzzletoys.com.au/
Diana wrote: "I'm on holidays at the moment and have made a quilt top in the last few days. I have quilt kits in storage and think I'll go down there tomorrow and pick up more. When I go there I'm usually the on..."I think you have to do what you need to to stave off insanity. As long as you're practicing social distancing as much as possible I think it's a fair move.
Also I'll check out your sister's site, thanks! :)
Still working but from home. This weekend I am running an online Arts and Crafts competition for all the kids in the family. The do drawings etc and post photos on our group chat. Well was supposed to be for the kids, but now the parents and grandparents want in
I have to find prizes on Amazon to send to kids all over NSW. & Qld
Today is my great niece's 5th birthday so we're FaceTiming this morning. This afternoon/ evening I'm 'attending' a virtual Music and comedy festival.
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Diana wrote: "Krystal wrote: "To be fair, I've been looking at buying a jigsaw puzzle online and they are pretty much all sold out! Definitely looking essential!"My sister has had to close her stores but she h..."
There used to be a wonderful toy shop of that name in Summer Hill, was that one of her’s Diana? Really nice quality toys and games. My kids and their friends adored it when they were young and I bought many a gift there for nieces, nephews and local b’days. We were all so sad to see it close recently.
Diana wrote: "I'm on holidays at the moment and have made a quilt top in the last few days. I have quilt kits in storage and think I'll go down there tomorrow and pick up more. When I go there I'm usually the on..."As a fellow quilter, I’d say it’s definitely an essential for you to collect more fabric from your storage!
If the storage place is still open then it must be okay and as you say the chances of there being anyone else there is very small so you’re not putting yourself or anyone else at risk. If shops are still open to sell jigsaws and books then I don’t see the difference.
Carolyn wrote: "Diana wrote: "Krystal wrote: "To be fair, I've been looking at buying a jigsaw puzzle online and they are pretty much all sold out! Definitely looking essential!"My sister has had to close her st..."
Yes, that is my sister's store. The store is still operating, she just moved it round into Smith Street, Summer Hill. Currently she is only selling online. She also owns Terrific Scientific in Annandale.
I did a mercy dash to my storage locker and picked up three quilt kits to keep me going for awhile. It was quiet there and I wore disposable gloves so no issues with hygiene and distancing.
We know and love Terrific Scientific too Diana! Also a favourite with my boys and a great place to shop for great gifts for kids. I'm glad you went out and got enough quilt kits to keep you going. It's good to be doing something useful and entertaining at this time.
I have a jelly roll of black, red and white strips I bought at a quilt show quite a few years ago, so I'm finally turning that into a fairly simple quilt at the moment. I'm fairly slow as I like to hand stitch the top and then do the quilting by machine, so it will take me a few months to finish the whole thing. I have a big stash of fabric at home so should also start planning something new.
Great admiration for you clever quilters. Hope the quilts turn out great.
Has anyone seen any good movies or binge watched any good series at home?
I’ve started making a rag rug, knitting scarves for all my book club pals for next Christmas, crocheting a prank rug and on my 2nd jigsaw!
Issi and Ossi is a good movie on Netflix. Bit chiche but so good!!
Ruth wrote: "I’ve started making a rag rug, knitting scarves for all my book club pals for next Christmas, crocheting a prank rug and on my 2nd jigsaw!"Sounds like you're very busy Ruth! What's a prank rug?
Carolyn wrote: "Has anyone seen any good movies or binge watched any good series at home?"Not a binge watch but caught up with the first of series 13 of Murdoch Mysteries, which is a favourite in our household.
Picard! So good if you're into Star Trek!
I have been binge watching Flosstube videos ( those are YouTube videos where Stitchers talk about what they're working on, any new haul, any other stitching news etc). Hundreds of people are making them, I have half a dozen favourites I keep up with. Also binge listening to podcasts - Diving In - a really good book one from Australia, a songwriters one (can't remember the name right now) and Fibertalk (a US needlearts one).
Leonie wrote: "Picard! So good if you're into Star Trek!"I noticed my 12 month free Apple TV subscription that came with my new iPad has Picard so that is definitely on my 'to watch' list!
Carolyn wrote: "Leonie wrote: "Picard! So good if you're into Star Trek!"I noticed my 12 month free Apple TV subscription that came with my new iPad has Picard so that is definitely on my 'to watch' list!"
We've absolutely loved it, Carolyn. You might also like The Expanse if you haven't already seen it.
No, I've heard of it but haven't watched it. Will check it out :)
Trying to be more productive this week by timetable-ing my days. I've taken up yoga an I'm studying free courses again. I did a few a couple years back when I was only working part time. So far this week I finished my study of Delacroix, did a course on the philosophy of religion, and now I'm doing an introduction to studying classical Greece & Rome.
A different Good Friday this year. Enjoyed watching livestream church on line as we have been doing the last couple of Sundays. We watched City on a Hill Melbourne. Other times Annandale Village church. An interesting way of churching.
Dale wrote: "A different Good Friday this year. Enjoyed watching livestream church on line as we have been doing the last couple of Sundays. We watched City on a Hill Melbourne. Other times Annandale Village ch..."I agree, Dale! I'm definitely used to going to a physical church on Good Friday as well, but I go to Bray Park Community Church and they were quickly onboard with online church a couple of weeks ago: https://bpcc.com.au/church-online/
So now on Sundays (and this morning), I take my computer or tablet down into the garden and "attend" church in the backyard!
On Easter Sunday I often head up the coast and go to church there and then spend some time by the beach afterwards, but I won't be doing any of that this time.
It's a good opportunity to check out different churches, I guess, since a lot of them are streaming live! I'm guessing the City on a Hill church you're looking at is https://cityonahill.com.au? And is your Annandale Village church https://www.villagechurch.sydney? I'll have to check them out sometime!
Yes, that’s both of them Kathryn. I had to look up where Bray Park is in Australia as I had never heard of it. Now I know. Have just come back from a walk. Just in time as it’s starting to rain again.
Dale wrote: "A different Good Friday this year. Enjoyed watching livestream church on line as we have been doing the last couple of Sundays. We watched City on a Hill Melbourne. Other times Annandale Village ch..."We had a lovely Good Friday service at Brookside (Muswellbrook) this morning. Well, not at except in a virtual sense.... complete with communion. https://www.facebook.com/brooksidetri...
They look great, Dale and Leonie! And Dale - I had no idea where Annandale was until I googled it either! Also, I see there's a City on a Hill church in Brisbane! Not that I'd probably go to it anyway when churches are meeting again in person - bit too far away for me. But I'll have to check it out online sometime...
And then after church, I started making a foam prop helmet for fun. It's The Armourer's helmet, from The Mandalorian. Well, hopefully it'll look basically like that. By the time I finish.
Is the helmet for your theatre group's next production Leonie (or have you just always fancied a helmet like that)?
Carolyn wrote: "Is the helmet for your theatre group's next production Leonie (or have you just always fancied a helmet like that)?"I really just wanted to do something with my hands, and I had some foam sitting there and thought I'd give that one a go. It's been a nice change from working my way slowly through some PD related to COVID-19.
Leonie wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Is the helmet for your theatre group's next production Leonie (or have you just always fancied a helmet like that)?"I really just wanted to do something with my hands, and I had some foam sitting there and thought I'd give that one a go...."
I can see that it would be a welcome distraction to make something fun instead of reading about the virus!
It was a nice moment of relaxation, particularly since I was listening to an audiobook at the same time 😊 (The Rosie Effect)
Today I am thinking of my mum's elderly friends who can't go to church and probably don't have the technology or tech skills to attend online. All in their 80s and 90s.
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I've started a language course delivered by Zoom. It's been a bit of a learning curve for all of us including the tutor but is going well now. She writes notes for us to see as we go and can break us up into smaller 'rooms' to practice dialogue so it's pretty similar to being in a classroom.Is anyone else doing any courses by Zoom?
Carolyn wrote: "I've started a language course delivered by Zoom. It's been a bit of a learning curve for all of us including the tutor but is going well now. She writes notes for us to see as we go and can break ..."I'm doing 3-4 of my martial arts classes via Zoom, since we're not allowed to 'gather' for group training and two of our instructors are stuck on the Gold Coast. It's a different experience but I'm rather enjoying it! It also means we can train with students up north which is pretty cool.
I don't think any of the shops will be open around here to be honest, the malls seem to have a lot of 'closed' signs around here.
But I should look into online fabric purchases...
and, lol, I have no idea what Ice Magic Topping is, but it does not sound essential :)