Covid-19: We've Gone Mad! Stupid Panic Buyers

I've not written a proper blog post in what seems like forever. Things have been so crazy around the world with this Covid-19. 

Australia has been going bonkers for the last 5 weeks. People have been panic buying EVERYTHING from toilet paper, paper towel, tissues, kitty litter, tinned foods, 2 minute noodles, pasta, fresh fruit and veg to toiletries, washing liquid/powder and chocolate.

It is believe that the panic buying began with the same people who stockpile the baby formula to send to China. They possible are the same ones buying all the toilet paper to begin with to send back to China. Which of course started all the panic here with the ordinary Australian buying stuff because they were afraid they will miss out.

^^ That is the margarine & butter section in my local supermarket^^

^^ The soft drink aisle ^^

^^ My chocolate aisle ^^ 

Although that may be a good thing. I might lose a kilo or two (o_0)  if I can't buy it

If the supermarket hasn't run out of it they have hiked the price up!! Four weeks ago this same variety of lettuce cost $3
It's not like they aren't making money from us. The supermarkets say it is because of demand. Except it seems no one is buying things like this lettuce due to it's outrageous cost.

I live in a country town of around 10,000 people. Not all that big really when you come to think of it. We have two supermarkets which caters for the surrounding farm area. We're a dairy region. A thing that I love about this part of West Gippsland.

What really, REALLY annoys me at this moment in time are the people who drive up from Melbourne (probably the outer suburbs) and completely WIPE out our supermarkets of necessities.  It is ridiculous, shameful and downright disgraceful. 

SO many people here are missing out on toilet paper and tissues. The aged pensioners and the disabled are being pushed out of the way so more able-bodied people can get to it first. Those that are on fixed, low incomes who can only shop once a fortnight can't get what they need for their families. By the time they make it to the store it's all gone.

I am however, grateful that the big chains of supermarkets here have brought in what is called a community hour. Between 7 am - 8 am those with seniors cars, pensioners or the disabled can go to the shops and get what they need. After 8 am everyone else is able to shop.

Beginning tomorrow on a Thursday and a Tuesday, Coles, is using that same community hour for those in health care professions to do their shopping. All they need to do is either be in uniform, have their work ID or their card that said they are a healthcare worker.
I think it is a fantastic idea but I know that a lot of workers begin their shifts at 6 am. Although it is nice for them to know that they are thought of. At least that is something.

We have restrictions on the amounts of things we can purchase depending on which supermarket you go to. Some have a limit of two items others have a limit of 1. It also depends on what you are trying to purchase. I am just hoping for that day when we can go to the supermarket and buy toilet rolls. I have not seen any in the shops for at least 4 weeks. Thank goodness hubby saw a pack and bought it for us. 

The world has gone mad! 

My Last Ever Avon Order

As of Wednesday this past week Avon Australia no longer exists. It has closed it's doors permanently. Apparently it was no longer making a profit and the powers that be decided that Avon will no longer be sold in Australia and New Zealand.

I was very saddened by this. I had been an Avon rep for almost 16 years. Next month would have been my 16th anniversary. My Mum was a rep for 15 years before I joined. In fact she was a rep right up until the day she passed away.

These items were from my very last order. For representatives only. Items were heavily discounted. I guess they didn't want to send products over to the US or wherever they were going to send them.

I bought myself a pretty ring watch. Mark thinks it's gawdy but I like it.

The others stuff below, well I couldn't pass up buying some moisturisers. They are pretty good ones and very gentle on my psoriasis. 

Now I need to find replacement deodorants. I've only used Avon ones for the past 30 years. At least I have a stock pile which should last a couple of years, hopefully. I am sure that by then I would have found my 'new' selection.

It's the end of an era. I have many fond memories of the products from over the years. There have been a few favourites that's for sure. Time to look for some new favourites now.

Fun Shopping

I love the purple notebook it has cute little cupcakes on it. Not that you can see them :/ 

While we were in Adelaide I had to go to Spotlight.  After all it was only a few minutes from Vicki's place and I wanted to get some yarn to use on the train trip home. 

I think I got a bit excited about being in the store, our closest one at home is almost an hours drive away & I didn't know when I would be near a Spotlight again, so I bought some supplies for my bullet journalling. I did behave though as I wanted to purchase so much more but I didn't dare too. After all I needed to find room to bring this stuff back in our luggage and some things that I was given that belonged to my Dad as well. As it was I needed to buy a new bag to put it all in.

Things From Wish - Stickers and Buttons!

Yes I've been online shopping again ... what can I say I found some bargains!

I bought these from wish. 

As you can see by the 50c coin next to the stickers they are rather small
but they will be perfect for my bullet journal.

The stickers above are of Vincent Van Gogh's work. To be honest I bought these mostly because of the starry night painting that I love. Sadly you can't really see it very well in the photo. 

These buttons will definitely come in handy. They are 15 mm in size but they have handmade with love written on them. I'll be adding these to the baby kina cardigans that I knitted a little while ago. Provided they fit through the button holes that is.

My New Journal Cover

I bought myself a cover for my bullet journal today. I was looking at getting a leather one online but it would mean saving up for a while before I could get it. 

However, while Brodie and I were shopping at Fountain Gate this afternoon I thought I would take a look in there. It's a pretty big shopping centre but guess what. The one I did like was too narrow.

We ended up going to Officeworks across the road. I thought one last stop before heading home. My feet were feeling pretty darned sore from the walking we had done [Note to self: wear comfy shoes when shopping such as your runners!] 

There's a zipper section where I can place pens or other things in that I might wish to carry.

I found this one. It's actually an Otto A5 financial year diary 2018-2019.

The lady at the check out when I went to purchase this asked me if I realised that it was a financial year diary. I said it didn't really matter because I really only wanted the cover for my moleskin journal and that I was just going to rip out the diary that was in it. 

The slot/pocket to the right of the studs is large enough to fit my mobile phone.

 It states that the colour is blue but it looks more like a teal to me.

It's a little bit big for my moleskin but if I changed to a different A5 journal I know it will fit in there properly. I just wanted a cover to protect my bujo if I decided to take it with me in my handbag. I don't want it to get dog eared.

There's even a pen holder that I've attached my black marker to.

My New Fountain Pen

I bought a Jinhao 500 Gold Pattern Fountain Pen from an Australian seller on ebay.

It's a little heavier than I thought it would be but it looks beautiful and is so nice to write with.

Time to go test out my new pen some more ..

More Bujo Supplies

I received more parcels in my letter box this week.

Some very pretty washi tape that I bought on ebay. They will look great in a spring themes spread!

I also received the fountain pen that I ordered from wish. 

It's a Chinese version of the Lamy Al-star. It writes beautifully too. I almost don't want to go back to using an ordinary old biro. 

I filled it with an in from Parker and used most of it up writing in my journal. It is so nice to write with. I believe that I may end up being addicted to fountain pens. I've now ordered a Jinhao 500 from an Australian seller so it should arrive early next week.

More Washi Tape

My order from Wish arrived. These tapes look so pretty.
I'm not addicted honest ...

Not Sew Easy ...

My sewing patterns have all arrived. Now I just need to learn how to sew 😂😂

Ice Yarn Shopping

I have been shopping online for some Ice Yarn which I purchase from the Knit4Charities group that I belong to. They are resellers of the yarn and they don't mark up the prices. Brodie wanted to get me some yarn for Mother's Day but I wasn't ready to order any yarn before now. That being said he and I went halves in what I did purchase.

Magic Light - Grey shades, white

Magic Baby - Blue shades, white

Magic Baby - Orange shades, white

Magic Baby - Maroon, orchid, white

Magic Baby - Lilac shades, pink, white

I love the colours that I have chosen. I have no idea what I will be making with them. Hopefully they will arrive within a week as they are being delivered via courier and not Australia Post. Only time will tell as they are being sent from Turkey. Cross your fingers for me!

Circular Knitting Needles

I love it when parcels arrive! Especially when you have found bargains on ebay.

I bought these circular needles from China a couple of weeks ago and they arrived this morning.

There are 18 in the set but there is only one problem not all of them have the size written on the needles. It's a good thing I have a gauge I can use to measure them.

Now all I need to do is work out what projects to knit and I can begin using them!

I Bought Myself Some Ice ...

I bought some Ice... Ice yarn that is.

I purchased it through the Knit4Charities Yarn Shop, who are resellers of the Ice Yarn.

The yarn comes directly from Turkey. 

I purchased it on Monday of last week and it arrived yesterday morning. K4C sell it at the same price you would pay if you purchased it directly from Turkey.

I chose the cheaper option for postage ($12.98 AU for an 800g parcel) that's why it took as long as it did but there are other options available if you don't wish to wait as long for delivery. It worked out at around $4.24 per ball. Obviously the more you purchase the more it will weigh and the higher the postage cost.

Now all I need to do is work out what I am going to make with it.

My Spotlight Adventure

Last week I managed to go to Spotlight. This is my new addition to my yarn stash.

I needed the purple for my temperature blanket, especially since I have completed so many rows with this colour. I didn't want to run out. I am hoping that four will be plenty due to the fact that I am decreasing the rows each day.

This lot was all 30% off. The bags alone normally cost $10, which in itself is a bargain, but to get them for $6.99 was a BONUS! Lots of crochet and knitting hours in this collection.

Shopping For Fun

Brodie and I went for a drive to Spotlight the other day. I wanted to get some continuous lace curtain to replace the one in the lounge room that Missy Issy tore when she decided it would be a really great thing to lie down on the pretty curtain.

This is the style that I ended up with. I bought white. I'm thinking that perhaps ivory may have been a better choice. Oh well. Maybe the next time I will get ivory rather than white.

I have also decided I wanted to make the "Call the Midwife" baby blanket. I didn't know which colour to make when I decided I wanted to make it. I also had no idea who to make it for, Then I realised that one of Brodie's friends, the one who helped keep him awake for his EEG that he needed to have done, is expecting a baby in about 10 weeks. So I bought green yarn. Mainly because I don't know what she's having and I thought that it would be fine for either a boy or a girl.

While we were walking around the store look what jumped in to my basket! Around 4.5 skeins of yarn. They are called a mill end assortment. Not bad for $6.99; for that price I can't really complain. Who knows they may end up as another blanket.

Wrist and Ankle Weights

Aldi had some fitness gear on special on Saturday. Brodie and I went there to check it out. I wanted to get some wrist and ankle weights for when I was doing some exercises at home and to possible use when I go walking.

Not bad for $16.99

The wrist and ankle weights weight half a kilo each (1 pound) and the little weights you carry are one kilo each (2.2 pounds). Decent enough to use around home. Although the ones I use at my exercise group are heavier but that's okay. I am supervised there so I think it's okay to use the heavier stuff then.

Nice and tidy in the box

They don't look too bad.

While I got the pink set for myself. Brodie ended up purchasing a teal/blue set for himself. The only difference with his set is his wrist weights are not in a glove style like mine. They are all the same weights as well. I can't really complain for the price that I paid. They still add some resistance which is good in my book.

Addicted to Yarn?

I added to my yarn stash this week.

I am totally not addicted to yarn! Okay, well maybe I am.

I got this lot from the Wangaratta Woollen Mill's online stop called Mill Shop.

All this yarn only cost $16 dollars. I just LOVE a bargain!

Sorry but they only post within Australia.

My New Purchases

My latest acquisition from Lincraft.
I just need to learn how to loom knit.

Does anyone know of any good youtube channels that show you how to use a knitting loom? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I have found GoodKnitKisses but are there any others?

Yay my Spotlight order arrived #blog #yarn #stash

via IFTTT

Lincraft Order

Finally, after a week and a half my Lincraft​ order (yay more yarn) is due for delivery today. I must say that I am a little disappointed. Their website states that they will process any order within 5 days. Mine wasn't done until a week after I ordered. When I phoned to see how far my order had been processed the woman I spoke with was very abrupt.

Yes I understand that they don't work weekends and that takes up 4 of the last 12 days. I do however expect to be spoken to nicely when on the phone to a business. It's not too much to ask for, right?

I just hope that my order is exactly what I asked for. After checking their Facebook feed I see that there are many unhappy customers posting on their wall.

I'll post photos of my order later once I receive it.

Shopping On Ravelry - Newborn Knots

I bought some patterns from Newborn Knots (Amanda Chapman) on Ravelry. I just love the look of her patterns. She currently has a deal on buy 10 patterns for the price of 2. With currency conversion it cost me $9.77 AU so that's less than $1 per pattern. You just have to love a bargain! I'm not sure how much longer the deal has to go but if you are interested you should go have a look sooner rather than later.

Anyway here's a small selection of what I bought.

Baby Bot Britches

Cable Shell Baby Sweater Dress

Crocodile Stitch Owl Hat

Hooded Baby Sweater Coat with Pockets

There are so many wonderful patterns to choose from. These just look wonderful!