Getting a Grow On

The Melbourne Cup is about to start and I have placed my once in a year bet - Master O'Reilly and Purple Moon - both hot favourites. I chose them because I like the numbers - no logical system there. (Purple moon second - Master didn't even place, this is why I don't bet.)

Outside it's another cool, wet day and I am cooking more Cumquat marmalade and being entertained by the antics of the Cockatoos as they bully the little Crimsons Rosellas and King Parrots away from the bird feeder.

There was a new seed bell put out this morning and the big sharp beaks of these Cockies has decimated it. Most of the seed has fallen to the ground where it is sprouting in a green carpet, competing with the strawberries for space.


The constant rain has spurred the garden to a real grow on.


The rainforest Native Frangipani is blooming,


the Mulberry tree is in fruit (Mmmm - jam),

the passionfruit vine has flowered for the first time and the Tomato plants have doubled in height.


All this has happened without my intervention as I am not a gardener. I am glad there is someone in the house who has got a green thumb as my theory is - put it in the ground - if it survives, well and good.

On the down side this picture is worthy of a CSI investigation. The crime scene was littered with Currawong feathers with only one bloody bone left. It may have been a cat but Currawongs are not small birds - maybe a fox? Still a disturbing thing to find in a garden which is trying to become a safehaven for native animals.

Remember, remember the fifth of November

Remember remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...

When I was a child Guy Fawkes Night was a really big occasion - which was ironic because we were raised Catholic and were celebrating the execution of a Catholic conspirator. I wasn't too worried about the whys and wherefores though. It was just a big party with bonfires and fireworks and potatoes cooked in the embers.

Nothing like that happens now here in Sydney - Fireworks used to be let off on the Queen's Birthday holiday but are now totally banned. It was a bit shocking to see a full page colour Ad for rockets and bangers and squibs in a copy of The Otago Daily Times that my brother brought over from New Zealand. I must be part of the cautious generation now because all I could think of was burnt fingers and eye damage and bushfires.

This is the closest we'll get to fireworks here - my Cabbage Tree in an explosion of Flowers. It does this every year and the bees and Honeyeaters are very grateful for it.

In honour of Guy Fawkes "The only man to enter parliament with honest intentions" - I will watch V for Vendetta tonight. In the meantime check out this You Tube Video to see what may have happened if he had succeeded.

Don's Gone

The Don's gone - it's 2:45 am and the last cable has been coiled, Gobos collected and Scrollers derigged. There are still a lot of lamps in the rig but there's also a set underneath that has to be struck.



The Opera season has also finished and is Bumping out as well so Central Passage is occupied by a large Semi truck dripping from the rain outside.







It's a cool wet morning and I'm hoping there's a cab waiting outside to take me home. Three days off coming up and the mountains are calling.

Saturday - Matinee

Photos to come

Saturday - Matinee day and the last two shows of the season. Tomorrow "Tales from the Vienna Woods" is bumped in but that is for the DH to sort out because I am going to be here until 3am bumping out dear old Don.


I will not miss this play as I think I have mentioned several times before. The good thing about being in a lighting booth on a show is that the area sound can be turned down. The all-important cues are still heard and knitting can be done in peace and quie


I had hoped to have Gypsy Rose finished for ISE5 by the end of this long season but the Tea Cosy swap sidetracked me. All cosies have been completed and are awaiting their final addition - the perfect box to send them in. Not too big, not too small, the box has to be just right.

Ashkenazy does Rachmaninov

It was one of those mornings - missed my first train, rushing to make my next connection spilled coffee all over my groin, spent 15 mins cleaning up so I didn't look like I had wet myself in all the excitement and finally staggered into the Concert Hall Lighting Control Room only half an hour late.

I had been called in to cover the final rehearsal of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra's performance of the Rachmaninov’s Festival and it was so totally worth the bad start to the day.

Conductor: Vladimir Ashkenazy,
Pianist: Cristina Ortiz,
Avid Listener: Me.

I love doing final rehearsals because I can open the windows wide and listen to the true sound of the full orchestra. Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto is one of those pieces that I hear and know but couldn't put a name too. It has a beautiful sweeping movement that reminds me of Lawrence of Arabia and epic journeys, as well as some poignant clarinet that is eminently swoon material.

From my window, high up in the auditorium, the infamous acoustics of the Hall sound just right. There was no artificial amplification (nasty Line Array) to muddy the pure orchestral sound.

It was a pleasure to listen and watch as Ashkenazy created magic. Tonight I go on to the 'joys' of Don's Party (only 2 more to go) but at least I had a few hours bliss.

No Fear

A pinch and a punch...for the first of the month.
And it's the first day of NaBloPoMo; "November... is the month in which you post something to your blog every day, in accordance with the National Blog Posting Month challenge!"

Without Fear or Favour I am going to attempt to change my erratic blog style to regular structured daily entries for 30 days. Topics will probably be about Knitting, Lighting, the Blue Mountains Flora and Fauna and a bit of New Zealand, because this is the blog of a Knitting Lighting Technician from New Zealand who lives in the Blue Mountains of Australia. No surprises there.

This stained glass Cat that can't purr is from the staircase of New Zealand's only castle. Located on the Otago Peninsula Larnach Castle was built in 1871 by the Australian born William Larnach, Merchant Baron and Politician, and both building and owner had a colourful and tragic history. The family motto was Sans Peur - without fear - someone obviously had a sense of humour.

The castle is now a major tourist attraction for Dunedin but I remember it from my childhood as a dilapidated and run down building with sheep grazing in the grounds. It's great to see it fully restored to its extravagant glory and to see that little idiosyncratic features like this little purrless cat survived the years of neglect.

Sydney Medieval Fair

We travelled to the Sydney Medieval Fair on Saturday and watched large men in chain mail hit each other with big swords. It was great!

There was much trying on of chain mail and assorted helmets and sheilds.

The fact that there were no real injuries or heads rolling, guts being ripped out, and limbs being torn asunder made it a fantastic family day.

My favourite was the elegant rapier dueling by the ladies in corsets. It provided a welcome contrast to the general biffo of the large men and their broadswords.

There was also fire eating and market stalls and wonderful Mayan Coffee in a leafy valley in Parramatta park.

It was my first time at the Fair but if this is going to be a regular occurence I'll be coming back.

Cool

It's a beautiful, cool, misty day here in the mountains and everything is looking green and lush in the soft light. Here is a part of the Woodford bends looking west with the treetops hidden in the clouds. The centre nature strip is full of Bottlebrush that are in full bloom at present. I enjoy driving down this part of the Great Western Highway because of the plants that line it. In the early Spring the wattles make a mass of yellow and green, followed by the red blooms of the Bottlebrush then white Ti tree and yellow Banksias.

As I was standing on the overpass taking this shot I saw two Black Cockatoos in a nearby bush. They weren't the usual big black cockys like the ones that ripped apart a Banksia bush in my back yard last year. These were smaller and less aggressive. My field guide says they may be Red Tailed Glossy Black Cockatoos and they seemed to be enjoying the cool mist. According to the guide "their populations have declined, with local extinctions and range contractions because of land clearing practices that have removed food sources and nesting sites."

The cool weather means it is the right time to make marmalade - Cumquat marmalade. An attempt was made yesterday but the result was more like syrup than jam so they've gone back in the pot with a green lemon to help it set. Our little tree in the backyard is extremely prolific so there may be many more jam jars needed . The possums and parrots are helping themselves as well - I just wish they'd tidy up after.

Tales of Teapots and Cosies

These are the two of the three remaining Tea Pots I have of my once extensive collection. The top one is an smaller version of the family pot we used to have in New Zealand. A solid reliable pourer that gave a good cuppa for a family of 6. The little blue one is fine for a single cup but inclined to dribble a bit.
Someone on Ravelry is going to knit a tea cosy for one of them. Don't know who or what or when but I'll find out by Christmas.

I'm also doing my bit of cosy knitting;
Here is the lovely Ashford yarn being made up into the Autumn Tea Cozy from Not Another Knit Blog. Simple but effective - especially once I felt it a little bit. This teapot is more of a Herbal steeper. I think I won it at a cosy knitting competition a few years ago with this creation.

The original pattern was a baby hat called "Epponnee Rae Gumnut Baby Bonnet with Wattle Pompons" from the Kath & Kim ABC site. They have now parted company and unfortunately the website is no more. I only borrowed the wattle pompoms for the cosy but I may look through my archives and see if I still have the download as I would love to make the hat.

Exchange Time

It's that time of the year when knitter's thoughts turn to making suprises for people across the ocean or sea that they have never actually met.

I've joined up for ISE5 again and am past the first hurdle of which pattern to knit - I'm doing two! (Nothing like being decisive, nothing at all.) Jorgenhurst Fine Fibres kid mohair, in the antique stitch scarf pattern from the spring/summer 2005 issue of Vogue.
Red Belisa cashmere and Rubi & Lana merino combined to make Gypsy Rose.

Both are a fairly simple lace design and depending on their final length they may both end up being sent off (though Christmas is getting close).

I've also signed up for an Aussy Tea Cosy swap on Ravelry . The locale will make the Postage costs a bit more bearable so I can concentrate on finding the perfect tea cosy patten and the right kind of tea to accompany it.

Yellow Mondays

This lovely fellow was on our Mandarin Tree outside the kitchen. He's a Cicada - a Yellow Monday no less - and he is heralding the summer with a loud, distinctive song. I've seen lots of empty Cicada shells but never got this close and personal to a live one. They are truly beautiful insects with wings that remind me of filagree lace.

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who left considerate comments on the previous post. The past week was not exactly normal but this is not surprising. Events like this do act as a short, sharp, slap into the realities of life and death. My commiserations really go out to my workmate's immediate family and his past partner who are far more affected by his sudden loss than I was.

I must say that my workplace was very supportive - they offered counselling if I needed it (which I don't - at least I don't think so) my Department Head sent a lovely, considerate email, (dashing all my cynical preconceptions about heartless bosses) and numerous people have approached me to see 'how ya going'. I'm not used to all this attention but really do appreciate it.

Knitting was a nice mindless routine to lose myself into so I've made a reasonable amount of progress on Cobblestone - I love this 10ply crepe (Bendigo?) yarn - it is such a reliable workhorse and provides a consistently good result. Coming from a anonymous market stall gives it a reincarnated quality that will make the finished garment just that little bit more special.

I have also joined ISE5 and as usual, am in a quandary about which scarf to knit. I thought had it all sussed but a big ball of Ashford yarn distracted and tempted me from the lace weight path I was about to go down. There are memebrs of ISE5 that have already finished their scarves and proudly display them to the procrastinators like myself.

Today's trip to R&L knitting group also helped redress the imbalance of the past week. Pamela bought along the lovely swag of yarn goodies her husband brought on a recent trip to Japan so there was admiration and appreciation all roiund. A good dose of knitting chatter in a room full of yarn and accessories is like a big swig of oxygen to the brain.

A Big Sad Bad day

I'm feeling very tired and in a very strange place at present -

This morning I had to go to a friend's house to find out why he hadn't turned up for work for a day or so and wasn't answering phone calls. The upshot of the trip was the worst you'd expect in such a scenerio.

I expect the coroner to say it was natural causes but the police have sealed off the house as a crime scene and after lots of talking and phone calls and explanations and more phone calls I came home.

See ya Bruce - you cantankerous old bastard - I hope you're in a good place.

Rest In Peace

Swinging to the Whitlams

In the Drama Theatre last night the sound of the Whitlams filtered through the layers of concrete from the Concert Hall, adding an ambient sound of thunder to Don's Party. When the audience get really excited in the big hall the sound of their stamping feet is like hailstones on the roof.

In my capacity as swing operator I worked on both shows and noted the irony that each made reference to the great, iconic Politician Gough Whitlam. Like Witty Knitter I am not a fan of Don's Party. It is not about politics as I first thought but about delusion, repression and fulfilling social stereotypes - Alpha Male, Swinging Sixties, Perfect Wife. I found the characters fickle and shallow and couldn't sympathise with any of them.

I did get a good start on the next project in my knitting queue - Cobblestone in Merino et Soie. I have about 20cm on the needles and am already reconsidering the choice of yarn. The original garment was in a tweedy yarn that suits the garter stitch details. I love the softness and drape of the wool/silk mix but it isn't right for this pattern. It is perfect for Leo and as I intended it for this design when I bought it, back it goes. I have a good amount of unbadged Bendigo yarn in the stash that will suit Cobblestone better.

Knitting time, Spring time

Tori Amos doing a Sound Check and me getting some knitting time in.

At least these 'baby-sitting' gig have an upside to them. If I'm only responsible for the House Lights I can get in quite a few rows during the night.
The Rib Warmer is done and the poor lingering Pullover Flair is on the last few rows, which is fortunate because I'm on the very last ball of Country Silk.

Outside it's Spring and the smell of blossoms is everywhere - even in the concrete and granite surrounds of the House. I was pleasantly surprised by this show of blossoms as I was cleaning up equipment in the function tent tacked on the front of the building. I'm not sure if it's Orange Jessamine or the like but it brought a welcome respite to the fluorescent lighting and air conditioning of the interior.

I must remember to walk outside more often when I'm at work. It's ironic that the smokers spend more time in the fresh air than the non-smokers do and this view is certainly worth it.

This is why we don't have a cat

In our backyard this is a flock of Crimson Rosellas making the most of the grass not being mowed for a few months. Nearby two King Parrots took over the recently installed bird feeder and made sure no other creature could share.

The photos were taken through a rather smeary kitchen window with a fetching background of the washing on the Hills Hoist.

It is good to see the native birds return to the backyard. A pair of Satin Bower birds were scratching through the compost heap last month and the Honeyeaters and Wattlebirds have been making the most of the flowering Grevillia.

When our Moggy was living up here the only indication we would find of native wildlife would be a pile of bloody feathers or a mangled possum carcass. Puss is now living quite happily in the Inner Suburbs of Sydney practicing his hunting skills on the local rats, mice and cockroaches.

Green

I like green - it's all around me in the bush, on my blog and in my stash.
I collects skeins of green-hued yarn in all fibres, sizes and weights because it appeals to me so much. This is a small selection in the photo; clockwise from the top is Eki Riva alpaca/silk Natal, Touch Yarns Boucle, Claire Pattterson Mohair and a recent acquisition of Handmaiden's wool/silk Lady Godiva

For several months I have had them arranged so I can touch and admire them but I think I have finally found a pattern that can use some of these single skeins and still preserve their unique appeal.

Here is Lady of the Lake and the Celtic Vest, both sideways knitted patterns from Fleece Artist, previously only available to me in kit form.

I have been yearning for these patterns for a long while so when Little Knits offered them for sale with with a special offer of Fleece Artist Country Mo I snapped them up. I put off buying the Mo because I already had this lovely green collection of green mohair and because of several unfavourable reviews I read about the yarn.

I am nearly finished the Zimmerman Rib Warmer in the New York Manos del Uraguay - also green, all three skeins of it. Three skeins is not enough to complete this pattern by the way, but by a wonderful happenstance I have a ball of local market handspun that matches the colour exactly. The finished vest will have a Yoke of Blue Mountains Handspun to match the handspun of Uraguay.

Virginia Farm

This basket of goodies is a sample of the fibre, dyes, and yarns Virginia Farm had on display at their Sunday Open Day. We dropped in to the "beautiful homestead" after our intensive theatre day in the city and I was unable to reisist the Chocolatey goodness of these cakes of undyed handspun.


The young lad was very taken with the idea of doing some spinning like the ladies were doing - we had to gently prise him away from the many lovely wheels they had on display and distract him with a bit of stone skipping at the Nepean River near Agnes Banks.



This was definitely the calm before the APEC storm - we are now in the throes of a full lockdown and I am on 'standby' at work. If I can find a quiet place that's not full of Security guards, Police, Emergency Response Officers and people in suits talking to their wrists, I can get a bit of knitting done. The amazing thing is I managed to get 2 pairs of Addis through a full bag scan, twice, without having them confiscated.

(Don't mention that to anyone - I wouldn't want to cast aspersions on our security arrangements, I said they were Canadian)

Silent Movies

An intensive weekend in the city - Saturday was a quick visit to SSK where I saw wonderful shawls and exotic Goths and managed to mislay my latest copy of IK. Not such a big thing as it will be safely returned but it did have ramifications the next day in my impulse buying at the beautiful homestead in this photo.

While I was doing knitterly things, the young lad was being entertained at The House by Imagine Toi, "The legacy of Chaplin and Keaton lives on, as the extraordinary actor, clown and mime, Julien Cottereau, star clown of Cirque du Soleil’s Saltimbanco, brings his acclaimed solo show to Sydney. "

Later that evening in the Concert Hall we both saw the real genius of Silent Film Comedy in the SSO performance of Charlie Chaplin's "The Gold Rush". The House Seats I applied for at the last minute didn't come through, of course, so we squeezed in beside Sean the Sound operator and enjoyed the restored glory of Chaplin to the full sound of a Symphony Orchestra. It beats the Simpson's any day!

This was my favourite scene:

via videosift.com