Wednesday, September 18, 2019

And so on

I was away on a knitting retreat. It was just what I needed - to get away from it all to another island on a ferry, away being the operative word. And stay at the Grand Wabana Inn.

17 other knitters and me. A wonderful inn. The best food in the world. But you know, the "best food" just involves me not cooking and me not cleaning up and me not serving.

I ate a lot of fish.

Here is what the chef produced for dinner (fresh caught cod) one night:

And here are
many of us knitting before the fire in anticipation of breakfast.

And these wonderful cookies on our breakfast plates on the first morning.


And I am back into the fray of SOS again. We (SOS) were invited to the NL Seniors Resource AGM yesterday. Loads of pols there (NLSR is funded by the provincial government plus many private donors both corporate and individual). We sat conspicuously in the front row as the reports, self congratulations, flowers and plaudits flowed all around us for those helping seniors by referring them to other agencies to call when they called in to NLSR. A referral service basically.

Interestingly, and heartbreakingly, the word povertywas not used ONCE throughout the 2 hours we were there. Not once. The tea and coffee and sammies and pastries were lovely though. I wish some starving seniors could have been there to partake.

We have a load of work to get done, obviously.


But meanwhile, I cheer myself up with these inspirations. I'm knitting myself a cowl. And the other beauties are for socks. and I've got an editing job in to pay the rent and another tiny bit of legacy coming in from a beloved aunt.




24 comments:

  1. Well done you. I am so glad that despite the work you have done (and sadly the work ahead) there are some decided positives in your life. And how I wish not mentioning the 'poverty' word would make it disappear.

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    1. Thanks EC. It was breathtaking in its omission, we kept looking at even waiting for the politicians' buzz words of "poverty reduction strategy" which produces multiple reports but no alleviation or concrete solutions.

      XO
      WWW

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  2. Like-minded folks, a task you enjoy, and good seafood - sounds awesome!

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    1. It really was and a great location - the inn was an old convent!

      XO
      WWW

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  3. Experienced knitters don't seem to need to concentrate on what they are doing too hard, so there would be chat as well. The AGM you attended sounds all very jolly and self congratulatory but aren't such orgs picking up pieces rather than looking at root causes.

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    1. Exactly Andrew. Thye make a whole pile of money for just being a referral agency and then they dropped the clanger that a wonderful 86Yo volunteer was answering their phone lines. Which left us gobsmacked with many questions!

      XO
      WWW

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  4. Sounds like just the ticket to ease away that exhausted feeling you had, WWW, and well-timed. :) OOOh fresh caught cod! I like the sound of that!

    You'll need to get your best heckling hat on to deal with those useless pols you'll be encountering.

    Is a cowl (as in your current knitting) a kind of circular loose fitting scarf? I keep intending to get me some needles and wool and knit something easy, once this darned 90+ degree heat lets up for us in OK. A scarf, I suppose - a cowl would be more stylish but I doubt I'd be a stylish enough knitter to cope with it - is it on 4 needles, WWW?

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    1. Circular needles T - very easy. I do my own designs but can help you with instructions if you so desire.

      I dealt with useless campaigners at my door tonight. news today was that once a citizen turns 75 they get 10% increase in their OAS. You have to laugh. I sent the campaigners scarpering. Add to that they were so condescending. I'd begun a "cute little group."

      Grrrrrrrr.

      XO
      WWW

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    2. Oh! Circular needles are outside my knitting comfort zone, WWW, but thank you for the offer. I shall go for a simple scarf in various pink shades - off now to look at yarns online, otherwise it'll have to be whatever Walmart has on offer.

      "Cute" is a very annoying term when applied to people like us! Himself and I have, on occasion, been described as "a cute couple". My response was much like yours: "GRRRRR!!"

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  5. Beautiful yarn and a cozy gathering. I do agree with EC; glossing over poverty does not ban it. Good job, the editing job.

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  6. Exactly my point when I posted on the group page on FB.

    Thanks Joanne, I was happy to get it. Though he is not an easy to read writer by a long shot.

    XO
    WWW

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  7. Dinner looks delicious and I love those multi-coloured yarns.

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    1. Thank you River, so do I. I'm looking forward to their evolution on my needles!!

      XO
      WWW

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  8. The retreat seems to have done you a world of good. It does not surprise me that the meeting did not address the one word that mattered most. Typical bureaucratese. Yes, you have further work cut out.

    I wish that I had a couple of beloved aunts.

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    1. It's astonishing how addressing the crisis is avoided but that is so the way pols work, right? Walking around the big elephant in the room and pretending it doesn't exist.

      I had 8 blood aunties Ramana, I was so lucky.

      XO
      WWW

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    2. I had a few blood aunts too WWW. It is just that despite being beloved to me and I to them, none left me any legacy!

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    3. But they left you love, Ramana, and that is more precious than gold, surely?

      XO
      WWW

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  9. The food looks delicious. Glad you had a good time at the retreat. Knitting is a good hobby. As for SOS, good luck and best wishes.

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    1. Thank you Gigi. I have to admit to a burnout today, I think it's the effects of my doc doubling my BP meds :(

      XO
      WWW

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  10. Same in the UK re poverty. Tory politicians try to avoid mentioning it as Tory Land is meant to be one of universal prosperity. They think food banks aren't really needed, it's just habitual spongers who make use of them.

    I like the cookie with knitting on it!

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    1. It's a word they avoid at all costs, Nick. Like an allergy.

      Yes, we were so impressed with the cookie!

      XO
      WWW

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  11. oh my
    wish I could knit
    food look delicious
    may I say
    so proud of you
    keep moving
    all good thoughts
    going your way.

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    1. I think I've come to a grinding halt, Ernestine. Quite a depressing day as my body and mind failed me.

      But thank you for the good wishes my friend.

      XO
      WWW

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  12. How is it that you receive a legacy more than a decade after your aunt died? Just curious, but good for you. Your knitting retreat sounds restful and invigorating at the same time. Lovely. -Kate

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