This morning, on my weekly date with my darling, we visited some fetes - first one useless, and then called into tss for a comfort stop, and managed to convince her to become my "voice of frugal reason". (Hahaha - she can't do that!!) After checking out two places which seemed not be open yet, we finally found a garage sale that was open, and I found what is possibly a silver tea pot.

The second garage sale was a bonus - Look - 2 sewing machines - well and truly vintage) - for NOTHING - nada - free - gratis. The owner was pleased to have them go to a place where they could be loved.


Then to the Catholic Church fete in Dickson - and found... 2 bead door hangings, some baking trays, a couple of dolls and this gorgeous teapot... TSS found the mother load - a box full of sewing goodies (watch her blog for more details.

I needed to renew my license - as you do on your birthday divisible by 5 in the ACT. I had a pile of questions to answer - you know the usual - do you have epilepsy?, do you have diabetes?, are you taking illicit drugs? - NO NO NO. Do you have a heart condition / disease or paralysis? Ummm YES. If you have answered YES to any of these - you are required to obtain a medical statement from your own doctor stating you are a medically fit person etc...

So off I go with confidence - picking up the most lovely cards from Lester and Mum on the way - feeling really good about life.... I ask him for a statement, and he hesitates... and eventually says No Janet, I can't give you that.
Ohhhh Come on - I am not that bad, and I really don't drive when I am feeling sick.. Come on...
No Janet - you could black out and be a danger to yourself and others. You would never forgive yourself if you hurt someone else...

Geez - I lose my license BEFORE Mum does. NOT FAIR.... Just as well Bob still has his, even though he can't do too much driving. It is just stressful for him. So no more long trips up to Queensland for us.

There is a chance that when I go and see another specialist in Sydney in December, that an ablation may (or may not) fix it all up, and I will be able to drive again. In the mean time, life changes again...

• Time to adapt to new circumstances.
• Time to be grateful for living so close to everything we need that we can walk there.
• Time to be grateful for a reasonably good bus system which leaves from my front door, and goes most of the places around Canberra.
• Time to remember that no matter what life throws at me - God is still with me, and there are a lot of people worse off.
• Time to remember that you can adapt to anything in life - and here I am complaining about not being able to drive.
• Time not to have my sense of identity and purpose wrapped up in a little piece of plastic giving me permission to use a lethal machine regularly

Thank you Lester for your book voucher. It was wonderful to indulge in some retail therapy yesterday - without guilt, and just when I needed it.

Here are my choices
Mary Webb - 400 Embroidery Stitches - beautiful collection of embroidery stitches to have fun with.


A lovely collection of embroidery samplers found in Glasgow Museums. How inspiring - and I want to make some samplers...


And the Magazine from one of my favourite shows

After getting the books, I relaxed at the Canberra Museum and Gallery to listen to TSS talk about her DollsHouse Collection on ABC radio.

Tomorrow I turn fifty. I was proud of this - thrilled, and pleased that Fifty is the new Thirty... and all of that

until I needed to renew my driver's license, and because of my heart condition (Atrial Fibrillation), I had to get a letter from my Doctor to say i was OK to drive. All is well - until I asked him, and he got 'that' look on his face. In the end, after umm and arhing, he apologised, and said he couldn't...

So I have my wings clipped - well and truly. As of tomorrow, I cannot drive, until I find a Doctor who will allow me to.

That's OK isn't it - there is always Bob - that is another story... So he can, but should he.

Yes, I am spirally down in depression - won't go too far I hope, but this significantly changes my life doesn't it. Feeling a lot of loss at the moment.

I have done it now ... went out on the garage sale hunt this morning... and bought a table loom - a 4 draft loom. Now I have looked up instructions on how to use a loom, and I have to admit that it is phasing me... what have I done?

never mind - I shall sit on having read the instructions for the moment, until it bugs me to give it a go...

Also - can you ever have too many knitting needles. I got another bundle this morning (probably 40 pairs) after getting nearly the same amount - including double pointed needles last week. Yes Mum - I can only use one pair at a time - that is if I have only one project on the go at a time. One day.....

tss picked on me on the weekend for being slack on my blog. She couldn't be right could she.

What have I been up to - picking "stuff" up at garage sales and the like - much more than I like to admit. However, it all has a good purpose. Oh and an unexpected, but delightful two week drive up to Queensland to see my relatives and friends. naturally, I had to visit the op shops and garage sales there didn't I, and got some bargains (see tss.

I have long thought that the Mens Shed movement was a great idea. But why should the men have all the good ideas. How about a Chick's Studio? Can't you see it - a place where we have all the big equipment available, community resourced library of patterns and recipes, a kitchen to play around in, and lots of comfortable lounge chairs to sit on and craft and chat. Well that is my dream - and keep looking here for more ideas forthcoming...

Ohhh - my camera has decided to fritz itself - have to find a way around that, and I promise you some pictures of my finds over the last month or so....

These items are available for give away to the first people in Canberra to ask for them - I have advertised this on Freecycle, but you may also respond to this on here


Large white teddy - about 90 cm tall and really cuddly
Smaller brown teddy bear - probably about 70 cm tall, and also cuddly

Also this working video player - not been used for several years, and no cords available. Panasonic MVSD 420