12 April 2013

And the trial continues, so I spin on ...

Happy Fibre Arts Friday! I am very happy to be sitting here writing this post as I wasn't sure if I would have time, as it turned out the court adjourned at lunch time today so I was home early - yay!  I mentioned last week that I'd been working on a trial for a couple of weeks, well it is still going and is looking likely to run for another week at least. Some of you asked if I could talk about the trial here, unfortunately not yet, maybe after it concludes. If you are interested I can relay some anecdotes about courts and proceedings, but first thing first, some fibre goodness...
This is a merino silk blend 80/20, the top came from World of Wool - my new favourite online woolly haunts ;-)  There are many colours in the top: pink, lime green, yellow, orange, white... but because I spun it very finely the colours became muted and indistinguishable. The new shade does have some depth to it which I quite like, it has a very soft handle.

That's all I was able to do this week and even this was thanks to my weekly spinning group. If you don't mind my talking shop perhaps I'll just touch on a little bit of what I do - Vivian this is especially for you :-)

I have been engaged by the Office of Public Prosecutions to attend a murder trial and my job is to interpret for the accused, which means I provide simultaneous interpreting of everything that is uttered in court by the judge, the prosecutor, the defense barrister, and the witnesses...  etc. It's a demanding task and I enjoy it, the only downside is it leaves me drained at the end of the day but that's all part and parcel of the job. I am known as "Madam Interpreter" in court and I get to wear a headphone to help me hear, but I sit in the dock alongside the accused.

Here's a little trivia for you: in Australia women were not allowed to serve on the Jury until the 1960s.  Incredible, is it not?!

Supreme Court of Victoria - where the trial is being held:

Thanks for dropping by, there is more fibre arts fun at Wisdom Begins in Wonder. Indulge your creative side and join the party!

14 comments:

  1. The yarn is very pretty. Not seeing the green in the top, but will take your word for it. LOL. Being a lime green person I search for it above all.

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  2. Thank you for indulging me :-) The fact that they need you in the court for a murder trial makes me shudder a bit -- I thought Chinese people are model citizens everywhere we go. I really admire your ability to be able to handle the level of work. I think I interpreted a grand total one time, for a business meeting, and I had a whole weekend to prepare for it.

    Your yarn is very pretty! It looks very springy, adding some pretty colors to our spring time here :-)

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    1. I'd like to think that Chinese people are model citizens too, and on the whole this is true. Unfortunately I have also seen my fair share of "bad eggs"... 林子大了什么鸟都有 - there are all sorts of birds if a forest is big enough ;)

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  3. Even though you don't see all of the colors in the spun yarn, I think you will see that it gives your final project movement. The yarn is beautiful.

    Your day job sounds so very interesting. My mom was a Sheriff's Deputy for years and was occasionally assigned to the Judge's court. I've only had the opportunity to be on Jury Duty twice but have not been selected for a jury. Part of me is very interested in doing it one day.

    I can't believe that women were not allowed to serve on a Jury until the 1960's. I always think of Australia being more progressive than the US. ;-)

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    1. Thank you! The yarn is my contribution towards my friend's stall at the Bendigo Woollen Show in July, to be honest I'd be quite happy to keep it for myself :)

      I haven't served on a Jury before, and this is my first murder trial (not that I want more!) it certainly is an interesting experience!

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  4. Your yarn is beautiful! Oh, I'm thinking of you. There is no way I'd last more than a day as a juror. If I can't knit, I'd go berzerk. I have too many ants in my pants.

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    1. Thank you! ... I know what you mean by "ants in my pants" ;) I think it's the intensity that keeps me still, but I had to endure the hard wooden bench all day long as I'm sitting with the accused, everyone else in the courtroom get soft padded seat!

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  5. Very interesting job! Your yarn looks gorgeous, soft and squishy! Can't wait to see what you will be making with it.
    x

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  6. Thank you for your visit to my blog. I'm unable to view either picture but I'm sure its very pretty! That'a a pretty interesting job, but very draining, I imagine!

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  7. Lovely yarn. I think just adding depth to the colors can be enough to make it a wowzer!

    I'd imagine I couldn't last a day doing what you are doing.

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  8. I love, love, love that yarn!!!!! What a beautiful spin.

    I absolutely understand how draining court can be every day, especially given the subject matter. I spent a summer in South Africa clerking, in part, for a judge (I also spent a lot of time in several townships doing both legal and non-legal stuff). Since he had to cover a special summer divorce court, I sat in the box right next to witness box for a few days (and it's probably in the same vicinity as where you're sitting). As a caucasian woman in a South African court within the bar, you deal with much more than just the trial. It was an eye-opening experience.

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    1. Thanks! What an interesting experience that must be, I'd love to hear more :)

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  9. Wow what a gorgeous colour. Perfect for cheering us all up! It's astonishing how much life has moved on for women, I was only thnking of this a few days ago. My 19 year old daughter finds it impossible to comprehend that when I was at school I wasn't allowed to take Woodwork to O level standard as that was a 'boys' subject, hooray for progress :)

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  10. Such a pretty pink. Your spinning is beautiful. Sounds like a pretty interesting job but a bit more taxing than I'd care to deal with everyday. Good for you, it's a great service that you're providing.

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