I have completed my first ever sock knitting on two circular needles. It was a bit of a learing curve for me, and after 3 or 4 times having to frog the sock, I wasn't going to be put off, and kept on trying to understand how to continue after turning the heel, which stitches went on what needle, finally it all clicked and I was on my way again. I have started the second sock this morning and hopefully I can remember everything that I did on the first sock.
I went and checked out all the handicrafts at Kiama Show today, it is a wild day with wind, some rain (not much to speak about) and it is so cold on the headland in Kiama where the show it held. There were some wonderful things to see, the knitting was really nice, I wish there was more of it. I didn't do any good with either of my entries, but the looked nice amongst all the other knitting. The spinning and weaving was wonderful, met up with a couple of friends from SNB who were at the show demonstrating spinning wool, the work people have done with their handspun yarn is absolutely wonderful, I am going to check out my spinning wheel soon and try to have another go with it.
Happy Australia Day everyone in this great land. I didn't get to post yesterday as DH and I left home at 5.55am to drive to near Liverpool (western Sydney) to help his cousin dig a big, no massive hole for a new swimming pool. What a hot day it was and DH and his two cousins worked so hard until after 8pm, then we ate dinner had a drink and drove home. We arrived home just before midnight and was so glad to get into bed.
Here is some great information on Australia from a friend I knit with, go check her
blog out it is amazing.
(The bits written in italics are my added bits)26 January each year is a day where all across the country we celebrate being Australian by having the day off and doing next to nothing. What's not to like? I thought I'd toss out a few facts about Australia that many of you may not know or realise.
A lot of people look at a map of Australia, and think we live on a little island. Let me assure you, it's not small. The total area is 7,741,220 km² (2,988,888 sq mi). For comparison, the area of the United States is 9,631,420 km² (3,718,695 sq mi). 1% of our total area is water, 4.87% of the USA is water, bringing the total comparison of the land masses even closer.
However, our population is estimated at 20,555,300, and the USA's is estimated at 301,019,000. Our largest city is Sydney, with a population of 4,254,900, compared to New York City's 8,143,197. We have the lowest population density in the world - about 2 people per square kilometre.
Australia is a bit like a donut though. The vast majority of our population lives in the coastal areas, and the centre of the country is more sparsely populated.
Kangaroos and koalas are not all over the place as many people assume. I
have seen them in the wild at Port Macquarie (NSW north coast - about 5 hours north of Sydney). We are possibly the only country in the world that eats both of the animals on our Coat of Arms. (The kangaroo and the emu).
Voting is compulsory here, and you must register to vote at age 18. We don't vote for our country's leader. We vote for our preferred political party, and they choose the leader of the party. The leader of the winning party becomes the Prime Minister of Australia.
We have no Bill of Rights.
Australia was the second country to give women the right to vote.
In 1954, Bob Hawke was immortalised by the Guinness Book of Records for sculling 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds. Bob later became the Prime Minister of Australia.
You can also drink and go to bars and clubs at 18.
You can get your car drivers "learners permit" at 16 years and go for your licence at 17, we have a 3 year probation driving time for new drivers called Red P's (for first year) and Green P's (for next two years) these plastic P plates have to be displayed on the front and back of the vehicle you are driving. On a full licence we get 12 points, if we loose all 12 points we loose our licence, when you loose points it takes 3 years to get the lost points back. School begins at 5, although some parents keep their kids back a year and start them when they turn 6. In NSW, you go to Primary School for the first seven years (Kindergarten, then grades 1-6) and then to High School for the next 4 or 6 years (Grades 7-12). There is a leaving certificate at Year 10, but most kids now stay until Year 12. I believe that they Year 10 certificate is about to be done away with, though. A school day is generally 9-3, the work day is usually 9-5, although a lot of work places are pretty flexible about that now, and business hours are often extended.
Our seasons are opposite to the USA (It's currently summer here), and we drive on the opposite side of the road.
Our cable television is fairly recent (last 15 years or so). And the cable we have is vastly different to the USA. We have about 40 channels. There are four free to air television networks. That's all that many people have.
We like a party and a drink, and are much more laid back about swearing and nudity than much of the world seems to be. The J*net J*ckson wardrobe malfunction would barely have rated a blip on the radar here.
We have universal health care
called "Medicare" everyone over 18 has a medicare card (families are all listed on the same card) To put this into perspective, my son has crohns disease and
he has a specialist he visits probably about 12 or so times a year depending on how he is feeling, he has numerous hospital visits for blood transfusions, he has medication by intravenous drip approx. every 8 weeks which costs over $4,000 each time, all of this is provided free. Some things people have done at different doctors or specialist and pay the cost out of their own pocket, can get a rebate from Medicare. After a certain amount is spent on medication which I think is under $800 for a single person per year, all further medication is free for the rest of that year. We can pay to have hospital cover, and the government try to encourage that, but it can be expensive, although I don't think as expensive at USA. We use to pay under $50 per week, this was for moderate level of cover including dental, optical, physio etc. You have to be covered for Ambulance as it is expensive to use, it costs about $25 per year for a single person for cover.We are the world's largest exporter of sheep. I'd prefer it if they kept and processed a few more here!
I have finished 6 feathers hats for my friend. I am now knitting for myself or to stockpile for whatever may be needed in the future.
