Just to clarify, I’m not pregnant: dude from yesterday was just a rude, stupid, middle-aged man who happened to offend me with his comments.
I am such an enabler, I really can’t help myself. When I met Simone at the beginning of the year she was knitting scarves, since then she’s made two hats and I’m currently helping her knit socks. (I’m not a knitting pusher really). In keeping with the crafty theme, yesterday Simone came over and used a sewing machine for the first time:
She’s making a Christmas table cloth – on the window in the background is my design wall (currently unused). I’ll make a quilter out of her yet. he he he, poor girl won’t know what hit her…
I didn’t get any sewing done, but that’s ok because I got to knit. I frogged Simone’s sock and reknit the heel for her so that she could have another go at turning it. For me making the first sock was just about following the pattern, but Simone is managing dpns, following a pattern and shaping for the first time. Her sock is looking great, it’s just taking us a few false starts to get there.
In Australia life is a lot more laid back than here in South Africa. Most of the smaller shops in the town – not in the malls, but on the street front have little gates. When you want to go into a shop you stand at the gate and call out and the shop keeper buzzes you in. I’ll try to get a photo of this without looking like I’m casing the joint.
Banks and post offices work quite differently. It took Gorgeous Man and I 10 minutes and the assistance of the bank security guard to enter the bank the first time we went. It was very much like the country cousins come to town… This photo shows the entrance to the post office in town.
The exit is identical, but on the other side of the building. To get in you must open the first door and wait until it closes (this is the important bit we kept missing) and then push the second door. If South Africa ever decides to enter the space race they’ve got the airlocks covered. This design is to prevent mobs and large groups from entering the building.
This type of door is not universal. The bank and post office in the main mall have ‘normal’ entrances because security is a little better there.
This was new to me and I found it interesting, I thought others might too. It’s the small things, often, that remind me that I’m a stranger in a distant land.
WOW that is odd….. & kind of cool. In Queensland, I found it neat that the quilt shop (& all of the shops on that strip) had a sliding glass door…. Oh & the 2 flush choices – very odd until I found out the rationale….
Very cool about “grooming” a new quilter….
So are they preventing large groups from entering because of past problems? Or are they just being paranoid?
Ruth, you are making me famous!
I would probably have been a bit flustered the first time I tried a door like that. Does it still catch you sometimes or are you used to it?
That’s so interesting … little details no one would think of being so different, country to country. I enjoy reading your blog and learning more about life elsewhere.
Simone looks like she was having a wonderful, wonderful time! Friendship is so divine!
Best,
firefly
She’ll only realize what’s going on once it’s too late, you know. ;^)
How interesting. That door system reminds me of a photo dark rooms a bit.
Hello Ruth! Wanted to stop by and learn a little about you. I’m glad you decided to join us on the 25 Things blog.
Cindy
There are 2 banks that I know of in Brisbane that have this type of security arrangement. You go in the first door, and if the bank teller likes the look of you they buzz you through the 2nd door. They must have classes on how to pick a robber by looking at you.
I followed your link over from 25 Things.
I’m also living in a country that’s not my own, and indeed the small things can really whap you in the face with surprise. Banks here often have the kind of door opening you mention. It had me scratching my head in confusion the first time I encountered it, too. LOL!
Heh..Heh..Heh…
They just think that knitters are little old ladies sitting in their rocking chairs..they don’t realize what pushers we are.
Evil laugh….
Ann