Patra's Other Place

I started out with Patra's Place, primarily dedicated to my linen collection and stitching projects. But I kept getting side-tracked, so I decided to create Patra's Other Place for anything not related to embroidery topics. So you now have a choice. If you are interested in me, read this. If you only want to see my linen and stitching, visit Patra's (original) Place! (Please note that by clicking on any of the photos, they will be enlarged to fill your computer screen.)

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Location: Melbourne, Vic., Australia

I was married to Ken for 43 years, but he died in October 2022. So I am now alone with two cats, eight hens, and a few finches and parrots in one aviary.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Art workshop

I took another workshop with Janet Matthews today.  It is the fourth one I've done in four years, and with each class I feel I've improved, just a little.  You can see my finished drawings (Blue Wren from today and Green tree frog from last year) at my Art and crafts blog here.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Ken's new car.

Ken has thought about buying a ute (utility) for years, but it was never the right time until now.  There is just the two of us so he doesn't need a back seat for passengers (we can always use my car if we want to take extra people somewhere), and he has the money.  For the first time in his life he owns a brand new car, not a second hand one!  He traded his beige Commodore in on a Holden Ute - bright orange!  Before we'd even pulled into to the driveway at the dealer, we saw his car waiting!

Handover.  The man shaking hands with Ken is the same guy who sold him the Commodore 10 years ago, and he was amazed to see the Commodore looking so clean after all that time.  Ken's like that with his cars and bikes though - he really looks after them.  Not like me...

Going for a test drive with one of the salesman, to get the hang of all the electronic gizmos.  Would you believe these cars can actually park themselves???  True!!

Happy passenger!   Note the personalised number plate:  KENSVF.  The model of the car is a VF, hence Ken's VF.

Happy chappy :-)

Sunday, March 09, 2014

Shopping for kitchen appliances.

We went window shopping today for kitchen appliances and kitchen floors, and were surprised to find everything we wanted under one roof at Harvey Norman in Thomastown.  I'd had a look on Appliances Online, so had an idea of prices, and we went to the Good Guys first as Ken bought the t.v. and dvd player there last year and got a good deal. 

After looking at their displays, I'd pretty much decided on the oven (Electrolux) and cooktop (Westinghouse) and the prices we were quoted were the same as Appliances Online for the oven, but the cooktop was $200 dearer at the Good Guys.  So, we went across the road to Harvey Norman and found a very knowledgable girl working in the kitchen appliances area.  The Electrolux oven was nearly $300 cheaper than The Good Guys, and the cooktop was $100 cheaper.  Appliances online prices were the same as the Good guys for the oven, but $120 cheaper for the cooktop.  OMG!  Pays to look around, doesn't it!

With the flooring, Harvey Norman's had a big flooring section over there with various types of vinyl and laminate surfaces, and once again the guy was very helpful without being pushy, and he is coming out week after next to do a measure and quote.  It's all getting more real and less of a dream!

And Ken picks his new car up next week....

This afternoon we are going to a BBQ lunch for a friend who is turning 60.  Monday is a public holiday, not that it matters when you're not working any more.  One day runs into the next without any thought of whether it is a week day or weekend!

Wednesday, March 05, 2014

What's been happening here...

Some new plants to liven up the house, inside and out. Some visitors. Huntsman spider, possum. More new quail chicks hatched - we now have 13 baby quails. Topsy and Tiger are still making mischief in their own sweet ways. Kitchen is going to be renovated soon. Ken is picking up his new car within a week, hopefully. I've been busy sewing. That's it!

adopt your own virtual pet!