Winter has returned...

[imhilien]

Spring has taken a few steps backwards to winter as it’s become cold again and there’s snow in the South Island. Yesterday I was out and there was a freezing, gale-force sou’ wester that almost blew me over at times.  I reacted by eating a nice steam pudding by the heater last night. ::nods::

Last year I had gone to a knit-and-spin retreat held nearby for the first time, and a few weeks ago I went again. I had a nice time – the renovations being done last time had been finished and the place looked that much better.  We were given a ball of wool each (in blue or grey) and asked to create over the weekend a square 25 x 25 cm in any way, which would be part of a planned blanket for charity. I was given some grey wool (very nice wool, too) and I crocheted a square. We were all given a gift at the end of the retreat, and I got a big, multi-coloured ball of wool.  Now, what shall I do with it…

I’ve recently joined a book club that meets once a month in a café at a park. What’s good about this club is that they have a theme each month, and you bring along a book that relates to the theme, which opens up a lot of possibilities. Next month is ‘books that scared you’ and I’ll think I’ll bring along my copy of ‘The Mistletoe Bride and other Haunting Tales’ by Kate Mosse, which does have some genuinely creepy stories.

I was at the library recently and saw season 1 of the sci-fi TV show ‘The Expanse’ which I immediately grabbed and watched, as I only saw a few episodes on TV a while ago before the screening times starting jumping around. Grr. It’s based on a book series set in the solar system in the future, where a missing person sets off a chain of events. A hard-bitten cop and a ships crew both end up searching for her and *spoiler alert* there’s an amusing clash of personalities when they both team up to search together. I’ve heard the show has been renewed for season 4, so that’s promising.

Snaffled from https://www.torforgeblog.com/2018/09/06/which-dysfunctional-space-crew-do-you-belong-in/

Which Dysfunctional Space Crew Do You Belong In?

Firefly

Well aren't you just a perfect embodiment of chaotic good. You're clearly the just the kind of talented misfit that belongs on the crew of the Serenity. You may grouchily claim you're not a team player, but you'll find your family, and maybe a cause worth fighting for, when you join this space team.

Comments

[vilakins]

It's still cold and grey, but we've had some wonderful weather and at least rain doesn't last for days here.

That knit and spin retreat sounds good. I'd have gone if I still lived there.

[imhilien]

Nice icon!

I went back to the retreat for the cheese scones. :)

[vilakins]

Thanks! That's what the main street, Thames, looks like: lots of Victorian whitestone buildings. It's taken from the Forrester Gallery or the bank across (both have thiose pillars) to the council building.

This ison is of the whitestone signs north and south of town.

[imhilien]

I saw a 'Coast New Zealand' episode that went to Oamaru and the whitestone buildings looked great. :)

[vilakins]

It was very good, though there were a few errors in it, like calling the Victorian Precinct "Whitestone City" which is a (very good) paying attraction within it. I was intrigued with the coracle man whom I've never seen though he popped up briefly in a local film recently. That particular ep showed Karitane and surrounds which was so gorgeous a friend and I drove round it on Wednesday on our way back from Dunedin. It was stunning, even in the windy wintry weather.