My Singer sewing machine, Betty, is getting more and more temperamental the older she gets. Since I estimate she’s in her mid 30’s, I think that's reasonable. She has “issues” with light weight fabrics, and has recently started the really fun game of unthreading her bobbin every few centimetres. I think the spring in the bobbin case has sprung.

I have decided to put her into semi-retirement and treat myself to a new machine.

So, trusty LJers, some advice, if you will:

• Where, in Melbourne, can you recommend I have her serviced?
• What sort of machine do you use? Would you recommend it?
• Where can I buy said new machine? I can only think of Spotlight or Lincraft, but since I am currently leaning towards either an Elna or Husquvarna, do either of these brands have outlets in Melbourne?
• From the Lincraft site I am looking at the Brother XL-2630 and the Singer 2273 ‘Tradition’, neither of which are reviewed on pattern review.

Sadly,cupcake_goth 's lovely clothes are mostly smaller than my lovely ms_kilian sized frame. But still, nice to look at, covet, and day-dream about:

http://cupcake-goth.livejournal.com/503699.html
 

SammyHubby & I will be in Sydney on Friday 4 September 09, and would love to catch up with friends over dinner in the city (venue TBA).

Please comment here if you are able to join us, and we’ll let you know the venue in due course.

I have some work to do! Next up, I need to make a sewing project timeline, otherwise I’ll get distracted with one project and suddenly realise I’ve run out of time for another.

Does anyone have a source of pictures of Vulcans from the Star Trek: Enterprise era, in their long ceremonial/official robes? In particular I am thinking of a scene where about 3 -4 male Vulcans are standing together wearing similar robes with green linings/lapels. One of them may be V’Las. I think it is from the T’pau/mind melding/Surak story arc.

 Thanks!

how many metres might you buy of each fabric to put in your stash “for a rainy day”?

SammyHubby’s weekend was, on the whole, a success. He met up with his mate from Sydney, the aptly named Danny O’Brien. After checking in to their hotel they wandered the streets of Brisbane looking for some dinner – apparently not an easy thing to secure after 8 pm on a Friday night. They came across a band called “Hillbilly Goats” playing in the Irish pub, and imbibed half a dozen pints in half a dozens pubs before finally finding a curry place that was open, at about 10 pm.

Consequently, Sat morning was “a bit slow”. They repeated the epic search for food, minus the beer, as it seems breakfast isn’t available after 11 am on the mean streets of Brisbane. After that it was many hours of football related fun – an open training session watching the new Celtic manager put the lads through their paces, getting photos and autographs, then watching the AFL on TV, following yet another search for food – this time the pub’s kitchen was open, but it was a 45 minute wait, so they were directed to a take away around the corner instead! (It’s remarkable that such a nice chap as Danny can support Collingwood – go figure!)

Sunday was The Big Day – fund raiser breakfast with 100 other Celtic fans; pre-game drinks; bus ride to the stadium; Celtic walloping Brisbane Roar (according to Danny, Roar would have been in real trouble had Celtic shifted out of first gear); post-game celebratory drinks; then a mad dash back to the airport and home.

Sam’s verdict – a great weekend, but no desire to return to Brisbane, ever.

Extracted from the Lochac Hospitallers’ List, from a post by Fearghus of River Haven:
“I overheard a discussion at Great Northern War ... where it was mentioned that we need more participants in the SCA and less consumers of the SCA.”

I tend to agree with this sentiment, while simultaneously being someone who, from time-to-time, wants or needs to consume rather than participate. It seems to me a difficult balance to strike. I’d be interested in other people’s thoughts on the comment.

I have taken delivery of my Kass McGann goodies. THANKYOUfelinophile  for aiding and abetting this venture, and for going out of your way last night to deliver the goodies.

I am very excited about my first forays into fitted men’s clothing. I think we shall start with the traditional, contraband Irish jacket, hanging sleeve and all, and then move on to the fusion Anglo-Irish outfit.

But I am a little disappointed that the collection of notes on 16^th C Irish clothing does not include the Moy Gown notes, even though it resembles a 15^th C cotehardie and is thought to have been worn into the 17^th C. All of which means I will have to buy the Moy Gown pattern for the notes! Of course, comparing Kass’ pattern to my own devised pattern will probably be informative too. But still, I was expecting it to be in the collected notes. Oh well, I’ll add it to the wish list.

SammyHubby has developed the following Man Flu symptoms: sniffles; sore throat; tiredness; headache. While this may be no more than a Common Cold, there is a high likelihood of it developing into a full blown case of Man Flu or the slightly less virulent but equally debilitating Man Cold.

Unfortunately he seems to have given it to me too - ar at least the Common Cold part. I can feel teh beginings of a scratchy throat and sniffly nose lurking. I hope it holds off until after my job interview tonight.  I have been half expecting it for a few weeks now – I usually get sick around late autumn/early winter, then again in early spring. And to be frank, I’m happy to legitimately use up my sick leave before my departure, as I cannot take it with me.

I realised yesterday I was so caught up in my tale of (perceived) woe, I forgot to mention the lovely weekend we had. Sat we had breakfast out, bought some albums and DVDs at JB Hi-Fi, and did groceries. Then I went to bed with a book, and after my little nap, we had a scrummy dinner al la Sammyhubby. We caught the 9.30 pm session of Star Trek, which I quite enjoyed, although I’m not sure how I feel about the new direction the film takes.

Sunday we slept in, having sat up watching TV until the wee hours (maybe coffee at 9.30 pm to stay awake it the movie isn’t the best plan ever), and after breakfast and Sunday morning TV we did little bit of housework. In the afternoon/evening we went to the Bombers game and were treated to the dulcet tones of our fellow supporter’s constant inane commentary and ‘encouragement’. Usually she sits down low near to the goals, “where you can influence the game by cheering”. With any luck we won’t run into her again, since we prefer top be up on level 3 and able to see the entire game, follow the tactics etc. I suppose that’s the thing about footy, it’s accessible to everyone, no matter how dopey they are. My favourite cheers from her include: “C’mon Bombers, Defend!” “Tackle!” when the player has a kick awarded to him and cannot be tackled and “Pick it up!” when our player was already holding the ball.

We had hot chips on the way home. They were good.

Following on from the conversations on Q&A tonight: as the economic crisis tightens, will our focus on acquiring ‘stuff’ as a competitve passtime diminish? And if so, will that lead to a rekindling of community?

Other than my SCA interactions, I really believe that the sense of community has diminished as I’ve become older. Or perhaps that’s just because I have moved from the country into progressively more urban environments. On the other hand, I don’t accept that community and urban living are mutually exclusive.

Do you know your neighbours’ names? I know the names of half of mine.

Although I have chosen a child-free existence, I do from time to time enjoy interacting with and getting to know children. As with adults, there are some kids whose company I do not enjoy, and others whom I look forward to seeing again. I like to think that, in general, kids like hanging out with me too.

I have noticed a pattern of behaviour in the SCA over the years that I have not noticed in other social circles/environments where kids are present. I think of it as ‘Village Syndrome’ – where parents bring their kids to SCA events, then promptly cease paying attention to their offspring trusting (I assume) in the SCA village to mind the children until the parents are ready to pack up and go home, the child needs feeding or something else occurs that only a parent can deal with.

Now, those of my non-SCA friends with children would never dream of behaving in this way, except perhaps among close family, and even then, I am sure most would say to the surrounding relatives ‘can you watch Kidlet while I do some sewing/take a shower/pop out to the shops?’

There are days when hanging out with the tots is just what I am in the mood for, and other days where I want to gossip, tell tales and sing ditties with my mates, without feeling obliged to keep one eye on someone else’s child.

Village Syndrome has reduced my enjoyment of SCA events in the past, and I hope to find a way of stopping it taking the gleam off future events. For example, at the tavern feast last weekend, songs were left unsung; tales cut short; and one (admittedly foolhardy) game was aborted entirely, because there were unsupervised kids present. I don't know if patrons would have self-censored in this way if the kids were by their parents' sides during that part of the evening.  Other ways that my enjoyment has been diminished in the past include: crying/screaming children not being removed from the hall, court or other organised activity; children interrupting adult conversations (or even Court) inappropriately; kids just getting underfoot; children wandering around sites apparently unsupervised causing concern for their welfare; and children being injured as a result of not being adequately supervised (that image stayed with me for weeks).

Returning to the tavern night example, if I were hanging out with my mates in a pub after 9.30 on a Sat night I would not have felt the need to censor my language or behaviour, even if there were anonymous kids in the vicinity; but because there were kids present who I knew, I felt I should censor myself. Equally, if I were hanging out with my friends with children, I would and do censor my language, unless I am a football match, when I explain that there is football language that isn't to be used other than in the stadium. This is, perhaps, hypocritical on my part.

I have not locked down this post because I am looking for some help understanding this phenomenon, and how I can navigate my way through the village. If my views offend you, please let me know in the comments. If you have tips or insights, please share them. Specifically:

• Why does this happen? Why do parents feel they can let down their vigilance in an SCA setting? Do they even realise it is happening?
• Does this happen in other social settings?
• How do I make it plain that I am not in child-minding mode and please don’t leave your child unattended in my vicinity? Or, having opened the gate, can I never again escape child mining duty?
• Should I have just let profanities pass my lips in the presence of the kids at the tavern night? What about when I had a 5yo sitting on my lap, with my consent indeed encouragement, behaving very nicely and enjoying quiet time in the company of the other tavern goers? Should I censor my language then?
• What about the other child who was climbing over non-consenting adults to get to a third person’s lap? How should they react to having their personal space invaded by asnd under 10yo? Do they reprimand the child; raise it with the parent; or both?
• What do SCA parents expect of me as a childless adult SCAdien? And what if I don’t feel I should have to live up to those expectations?