Finishing WIPs

 When we came back from the cruise, I set myself the task of finishing projects.

Discussing with members of crochet group, I discovered that I am not the only one who is planning the next project before the currant one is finished. I have been known to start said new project and leaving one uncompleted. Hence my new challenge.

I took a new project on the cruise, a handbag compkete with all cotton yarn and handles. I made all thirteen squares with a couple of days to go. With the left overs six different colours and the main colour had two balls, I started a baby blanket. It got put on the back burner. Yay, got the baby blanket finished earlier this week. I had to add other colours from my stash. 

This was the photo when I was working on the squares on the boat.

Squares had to be crochetted together, no instructions on that but luckily a friend at crochet showed me how to place them. I lined it and then tonight I attached the handles.

I dont like the colours that much, I will make another but a little bigger with brighter colours. 

Must have been on a roll tonight as I also finished a crochetted dress. I saw a pucturs on face book, someone was asking how big for a two year old and added a photo of a dress that they wanted to make. 

I took note of chest measurement for a 2/3 year old and made my own. Had to sew in some ends.

This is my version. Next time I would make the skirt, a little less full.

Pjs or unisex track suits

 I had some lepard print stretch fabric picked up in an op shop. There was quite a bit of it.

This is what I did with it. I used some contrast fabric to make them different. The green was a bit boring so it has a stripe down each sleeve, just stitched on top.

Yay, two pieces out of my stash.

I did have to go and buy cottons and elastic, havent bought either in years. I have been emptying cotton reels like they are going out of fashion, probably two or three in a weeks.

My floor is the tidiest it has been in weeks but my tub with scraps is getting bigger, will have to do a couple of quilts soon to knock it down. I also have a tub of wool plus the red bag is wool.

Shorts with pockets will be the go this week, have already made a Halloween pair. Fabric is black with orange pumpkins and ghosts on it.

Eight for the week

 

Two dresses are from the same fabric. I added some constrast strips to a couple of them. I love the fabruc with the kiwi fruit but my favourite is the blue on ths right. Its hard to see in the photo but its stripes of light blue going into darker blue.

Next lot if fabric is stretch so I will be making unisex pjs.

My weeks sewing

 I was getting bored with making scrappy quilts but still have lots of fabric.

I bought a dress pattern for 50cents in an op shop for a little girls dress, 1 to 2 years. I trusted that it was all there.

The two on the left are the pattern and I have another half done.

The rest are the pillow slip dresses, two pink ones are for an older child.

The two dresses and half finished one plus the two top right and two vaby tops from last week I have made from one double doona cover that I picked up in an op shop for $4. 

I will see how many I can make this week.

Projects on the cruise

 I couldnt take the blanket that I was working on so I took a couple of smaller things to do. A friend from crochet class is working on poppies for ANZAC Day, she is hoping to make 1000 and gave those who wanted, the pattern. I bought a ball of red cotton and one ball of wool, although techinally its yarn if it is not 100% wool. 

I had some bits and bobs of black so I was set. I did use all the red that I took, naking fourteen poppies in all.

I have already passed those on to her but the above are some I have made since. An easy pattern which I timed yesterday, one poppy took one quarter of football and the break so provably about 40 minutes.

The second project which I finished on the last day of the cruise was a handbag in patchwork crochet.

Six different colours, each round a different colour. There were four variates of them as well. So that I didnt get mixed up, I lined the colours up on my bedside cupboard and worked that way until I had completed that colourway then changed them according to the pattern. I needed help on how to put it together, the instructions didnt go that far, luckily two from crochet had already made this pattern and were able to help. I have lined it but still need the finishing touches. I dont like the colour so it will be used as a donation filled with toiletries to go to a shelter. November is Share the Dignity month. Last year I did five bags, it will not go to waste.

Hanging on the lampshade is my pass that we need to wear at all times.

VANUATU

 Our last port of call before home. We have been there before, had done the glass bottom boat trip twice, this time we ooted for A taste of Vanuatu, thinking they would druve us around to see differeht places on the island.

Not so, jyst meant that we didnt really study the burg in great depth, is at all.

Our taste tour was just that. After a drive through town and then countryside, past a nice looking golf course which had holes on each side of the road, we turned into a plantation. It was a coffee place.

Waiting for the bus, it was raining, we were able to get seats under cover.

A tour of the coffee being prepared. Beans are grown on ths island, before covid, they used to be fliwn to Melbourne to be roasted, now they do them here in what used to be a church. Three difference types, roasted to different degrees for different times. We were invited to smell each one and it was possible to detect changes between them.

Coffee shop was next door and we could chose what type of coffee we wanted to taste. I didnt buy any but will see if I can buy it here.

Suitably topped up with caffine, it was back on the bus for another twenty minute drive to a chocolate factory.

Coco beans. Four islands grow the beans for the chocolate. We were gicen a taste of each one then we moved onto the flavoured ones. Coffee, ginger, coconut and sea salt. The plain chocolate was nothing but the beans and sugar. My favourits was the sea salt one. We did buy some bars from there.

Rum tasting, all six types! This place was just up the road.

Barrels of rum.

The factory, all gleaming copper tubes

We sat in the small bars and sux glasses were set up  in front of us and iced water, I assume tk drink between each taste. They were proper rum glasses and filked about half, no one but me tried the first one on our table. I took a tiny sip, oh my it was strong. Warren had a sip of mine. We both like rum but I coukdnt have drunk any more, it was really strong. A full glass of coke would have been good to mix with it.

Several on our tour bought bottles, dont know the price but assume it was cheaper than at home. Tour was for three hours, 8.45am start back by 12. It was closer to two by the time we got back on board.  Nice trip. Didnt realise that they had such industries on the island.

Four dresses in an afternoon.

 Yep, that was my output for this afternoon. My charity work between now and Christmas is to make kids clothes and toys. I haveht put a number on it, just see what I can acheive.

I was looking for kids dresses online and on one web site was a pilliw case dress. I guess it could be made from a pillow case but it was more about the fabric required.

Twenty one inches by seven inches, its an American site, no pattern.

Bias binding and ribbon for the armholes and ties. The size is one to two year olds.

I have two more cut out, which does have a pattern and a zip, they will take a little longer. I am hoping to have several dresses up to size 12.

50 cent fares

 Queensland government has decided to do something about the cost of living by offering 50 cent fares on publuc transport for the next six months.

We had already planned to go to the city for Warrens birthday so it cost us $1.50 each, three trains and a bus plus a trip up the river on a city cat.

It was a pleasant walk along south bank, we found a statue of Confusiac. (Not the right spelling)

City buildings zcross the ricr

Our own effille tower.

Off to the side of the tower are big screens replaying evenrs from the Olympics.

We shared dumplings for lunch and no sharing of dessert which we both chose banana fritters and ice cream.

Walked back to the train station, hadnt checked the timetable but four minutes until our train, then we changed trains and again four minutes to wait, plenty of time without needed to rush.

Got home and both had a sleep! So tiring, relaxing.

Fiji

 It was hot and humid. There was a vitual at the President house which was only 1.8kms from the ship. As our tours werent until 11.30, we left the ship around nine.

One of the nice buildings on our way.

A wide walkway along the foreshore, many of the locals called out Bula, hello in their languages.

Just a street scene

A park we passed on the way back.

This is the photo we needed. A tour bus turned up as we arrived on foot and they all took turns to stand aling of the guard. We didnt bother.

A large park and two police were bundling a woman out, due to the way she was dressed, we thought she was probably turning trucks in the park

Fijian money, we changed money on the wharf as there was a huge lineup on the boat, not so on the wharf.

As it was quite hot walking along, we saw a burger king, we went in fod the air con. We ordered a drink and two hash browns expecting one for each of us. But no, it was a packet of eight hash brown̈s, they were a little smaller than Aussie ones.

Nightly shows on board.

 The first night was a taster show of coming events. Artists had about six minutes to strut their stuff.

There was a juggler, an old comedian talking about being with the Four Kinmans in the sixties, a Tina Turner tribute, a magician, hypnomatic. 

We went to the juggler, he was very good, got up on rolling drums and was funny with it. 

James Bustard was his name and he had the ghost busters theme song playing.

He did juggle with fire sticks

Another guy one night did Aussie Anthems by states, he was good as well.

Two shows that we didnt go too as we had seen them before on the last cruise, it was called the seven deadly sins.

Shows were on at 7pm and 9pm for about an hour. So dinner at 5pm, then a leisurely walk down the other end of the boat to get a seat at the show. The first night I saw a couple of ladies knitting, I stopped to speak with them and from then on I took my crocheting as it was 20 to 30 minutes to wait.

I took two small projects, two balls of red wool to make poppies for a friend. She has set herself a challenge to make 1000 before ANZAC day next year and is happy for help. I used up the wool I took and made 14. Very easy and quick to do.

Also music was played around the boat in three or four different venues and they had party themed nights, not our thing but it was interesting to see others dress for them. There was a white party, great gatsby and an island night with a bcouple of formal nights.

A nasty surprise

 Our first day at sea and we are walking the deck. This can only be done on deck 7, at the front of the boat to complete a circuit, needed to take the stairs, walk around the frint and then go down stairs making it a 600 m round trip. 

Stairs bar humbug, not my favourite so I learnt a short cut going through the ship, my circuit was then only 400m.

Anyway, first day was a little rocky and I walked near the rail, a nice polished wood rail approx four foot off the deck. I was taking in the sights and sea air when I experinced a sharp pain in my arm.

I had walked into a steel joint on the deck which left a bruise for several days just near my elbow. I learnt to walk on the other side.

Nasty little sticky out thing!

The pool was roped off on the first day because it was like a tidal wave going up and back.

Food on the ship.

 Meals on the first coupke of cruises that we did were displayed and help yourself. The last coupke wd have done, even before covid, is the food is behind glass or perpkex and served out by staff.

Salads and soups were still self serfe as was cereal for breakfast. 

My first breakfast on board, mushrooms and a blueberrt muffin and apple juice.

Our first meal at Dragon Lady, grilled barramundi with a sweet and sour sauce, eggplant as a vegetable side.

Warren chooseslow cooked pork in soft buns like we used to get in China.

One lunch time was mussles, prawns and sushi, what a treat.

I did have eggs and sausages for one breakfast but I thought the eggs were cooked enough, some of the white was still clear. The pancakes were good.

Lot of choice at The Pantry, which was the buffett. A different roast every day, chicken turkey, ham, pork, beef and lamb with roast or steamed vegetables.

The Pantry was open from 6.30am to 10am for breakfast, 11.30 to 3pm for lunch, dinner was 5.30 to 9pm. Tea and coffee were available with meals.

Besides the three restaurants, there were also two others by reservations and seperate cost plus a pizza place and burger bar and ice creamery. We had a pizza obe night for $16. A cafe was on deck 5. Deck 5,6 and 7 were open in the middle, stores were on 6 and 7 with cenral spiral staircases connecting them.

Around the ship.

 

This was an area out the back Of the buffet that was kids free, usualky we were able to get a couple of louges here.

Relaxing

Very peaceful watching the wake from eight stories above.

This was the mid ship pool area, more the family pool with two warm pools at the ends.

The mosaics around the area

Leaving Tonga

 Our bus dropped us back near tge ship.

We stopoed to see flying foxes, I was excited but they were just bats!

Kids were across the road and very happy to wave and say hello.

A monument on the wharf

The boat

The dancers danced for quite sone time while we were coming back on board, they stayed and waved the ship off.