More than half-way across row 35! I might finish the centre patterning tomorrow! Tamar, are you sure the old cliché about paint drying isn’t more applicable than Hitchcock? As soon as the pattern is done, I get to move on a page in Sharon’s instructions – onto the final page, in fact. This is all too exciting for words (for me).

Lisa, I had always intended in a vague sort of way to sign and date the Princess. But I only charted the lettering very recently, when I realised I was getting to the point where the box would have to be inserted. So now, of course, I’ve got to finish in 2009. The lettering is behind me, but I think again that it will be a bit more legible with a couple more rows of garter stitch on top of it. Picture, therefore, tomorrow.

A 2009 finish really ought to be do-able. Last night, I joined in the last ball of the original purchase of ten. I really wish I had kept track of ball-joining. I think I have knit two whole ones, plus a bit, since I resumed the Princess in February. So one more, even if it turns out not to be quite enough, ought not to take too long. Famous last words.

It will be interesting to see whether any memory of how to knit the edging has been retained in my aging brain. It’s very difficult. It took me fully half of the original 85 repeats to master it. And that was nearly four years ago – I started in May, ’05. But on the other hand I did master it, and recited the edging pattern to myself while my cataracts were being done that summer, as I believe I’ve mentioned before. So some memory may remain. The pattern looks very strange and as difficult as if I'd never seen it before.

Miscellany

I am worried about how thin the New Yorker is this year. It’s always thin in Jan-Feb, after the plump Christmas issues, but this year it doesn’t seem to have picked up. April 20 was a bit better (Easter?) with a fascinating article about the golf course on South Uist. Only the New Yorker could induce me to read an article about golf. But April 27 is down to pamphlet-size again.

I got all set last night to order some clothes for Theo’s wedding from a catalogue recommended by an elderly, shapeless friend. Why not name it? – Grey and Osbourn. I went through the whole procedure – and it wouldn’t accept my credit card. They wanted a two-digit “issue number” whereas all I could offer, other than the credit card number itself, was a three-digit “security number”. I shop on-line all the time using that card. Only last week I bought a boot jack. There are steps I could take, such as ringing them up or sending a cheque in the post. But I think I will give up, crossly, and go look in John Lewis. I now know what I want – that’s something.

Vegetable-growing

B., I am afraid my double-digging days are well behind me. But our soil is very light, sandy, indeed, if it weren’t so much manured over the years. So carrots have a chance. I’ll let you know how they fare this year: I’m trying a new approach. I am absolutely bowled over by how much is growing in your garden in northern NJ already.