It recently occurred to me that I have never changed the needles in my overlocker. Hmmm. So I dug out the manual to check which ones it needs, and I’m flipping through this book realising that a) it does heaps more things than I realised and b) I’ve also never cleaned or oiled or serviced it.

I have owned this machine for 9 years. 🤦‍♀️ #sewing

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Renovation update: Landscaping has officially kicked off with a day of clean up and demolition! Plants will be the final step (have to wait until Strata gets the fence replaced), but there’s plenty to do in the meantime… 🌴🌿🌱

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Back in 2015, nine years ago, my Grandma Veva met Arnold Schwarzenegger. Today, he endorsed Kamala Harris for President.

Coincidence? Not if you know Grandma Veva. ✊ #VoteBlue

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It’s the final countdown! So far 28 people have donated over $1770 to dementia-related charities and are in the raffle to win one of these Smart, Sensational, Sun-Protecting (S3) Bucket Hats. I will draw the winners THIS FRIDAY (Sydney time!), so be sure to donate in the next 72 hrs if you want to contribute. 🩷☀️🪣

Details for the different ways to donate are here:

Smart, Sensational, Sun-Protecting (S3) Bucket Hats for Dementia Australia

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For those that missed the last Sydney Tech Leaders meetup, I’ve written up a blog post that includes my slides and notes from my talk about early retirement for tech workers:

Eff-Off Money: Financial independence for tech workers

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Kristine Howard shared a link.

• https://thenorthmeridianreview.org/blog/if-adam-picked-the-apple-and-other-poems

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Quilt repair complete! My Mom (@the_quiltshop_at_essenhaus) gifted us this quilt she bought at an auction many years ago, and we’ve used it so much that the binding had worn out. After many texts with Mom for advice, I just completed the repair job! I cut new strips of binding, joined them together, attached over the old binding on the front (single fold method), and then spent several hours hand-tacking it down on the back. (I know; I should have mitered the hex angles, but I was lazy and treated them as curves.) Very satisfying, and I’m glad I’ve extended the life of this lovely quilt. ❤️

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Unpacking the last bits in my office and was reminded of my Sassy era. 😂❤️

• https://www.amazon.com.au/How-Sassy-Changed-My-Life/dp/0571211852?dplnkId=fcf68972-50ab-4f9a-9325-494f77937897&nodl=1

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Just finished listening to the audiobook of “My Brilliant Career,” a work of classic Australian literature. I loved the descriptions of life in the bush in the 1890’s, but GAHHHHH, Sybylla frustrated me almost as much as Jo March! I was so annoyed I had to call Jody Podbury and complain. Jody pointed out the limitations on women’s lives at that time, but I still maintain that life with Harold Beecham would’ve been a damn sight happier than a noble life of peasant drudgery in the bush. Ugh. Now I need a chaser, something with an actual happy ending…

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We tried @mogumogu_sydney onigiri today for lunch. It’s excellent! Good size; good filling ratio; nice flavours. Will definitely visit again! We both thought the Tuno Mayo was the standout. (My only complaint – and it goes for every onigiri I’ve had outside Japan – is that it doesn’t have the crispy seaweed. Nobody bothers to do the special cellophane wrapper to keep it crisp. I miss that.) 🍙 ❤️

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Crispy roast pork belly with caramelised onions, roast pumpkin, and broccoli. (Have I mentioned lately what an excellent cook Rodd is?!) 😋❤️

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Went out to lunch today and for some reason was inspired to have an Arnold Palmer. 😉🍆

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A closeup of the Autumn Gingko Leaves scarf… ❤️🍂🍃 #knitting

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Cursing the day I said, “I can totally turn your Grandma’s needlepoint into a set of cushions!” This sucker had about 300 staples holding it TIGHTLY to a slab of plywood. Needed to use a screwdriver to dig them out enough for Rodd to grab with pliers. But it’s free at last, and now I have a blister. 😫 (The last photo is the back side of the tapestry. She’s nude so I censured her bits. 😂)

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_and_Musician

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Blocking. Now that it’s opened up, you can really see why the pattern is called “Ginkgo Leaves”. 🍃🍂 #knitting

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On the left is the front hallway with our old solid door. On the right is the new one with reeded glass. Even on a cloudy day, we get a lot more light in! 😍

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I was reminded today of one of our greatest Halloween costumes of all time. ALLEZ CUISINE! 🎃

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HAPPY DAMN BIRTHDAY, BASTARD!

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Homemade chicken paprikash (with Spanish paprika from @encinar), and he even made his own spätzle! 😍

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Fundraiser update: so far across all platforms we have raised $1258 AUD for dementia-related charities! Thank you to all 20 of you who have donated. There’s still plenty of time to enter the raffle to win a Smart, Sensational, Sun-Protecting (S3) Bucket Hat, as modelled here by me… 🫶

For more info:

Smart, Sensational, Sun-Protecting (S3) Bucket Hats for Dementia Australia

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