I’ve done 31 repeats of the Princess top edging – another 3 ½, if yesterday’s total is to be believed. The centre lettering is now in sight, after all. We’re planning to go to Strathardle next week, but even so I’ll have three more evenings here, insh’Allah, before we go, and the last week of the month afterwards – that should carry me past the centre.

I am comforted that you found it tough to re-learn the edging pattern, Cynthia. And you must have done the initial edging more recently than I. I’m really working at learning it, this time – I think the first time, I just let it happen. I’m making progress. Each of the 20 rows is different. In the simplest edging patterns the declining rows are a mirror image of the ascending ones. Not so here, at all.

You must have finished your Princess by now, Cynthia! What a thought!

Miscellaneous

No yarn in the post yesterday, and the washing machine problems deepened. Do we have a Small Claims Court in Scotland? I paid for this job two months ago. Today, however, despite those facts and the remorselessly grey skies, I am the very spirit of cheerfulness. Part of my lo-cider, no-sugar regime is a morning weigh-in. I started, early in Lent, at x stone 12 pounds. (Americans: a stone consists of 14 pounds.) Decline has been consistent, but slow, and there have been many weeks, as any dieter knows, when plain living and energetic hiking about produced no results at all. But this morning the digital scales said w stone 13 ¼.

It doesn’t matter, compared to what I see in the mirror. Still, it’s encouraging.

Thank you for your water story, Mary Lou. Nothing like schadenfreude to brighten the day! At least if the ceiling comes down in the Downstairs Lavatory – it continues to look fine, from below – nothing will be damaged by the dirt and plaster dust.

Holly, thanks for the picture of Cully’s i-cord lattice hat (which I am considering as a Games entry). Scroll down to find. And best wishes for your grandbaby. My medical vocabulary has been expanded far beyond the boundaries I would wish for it, by the experience of grandmother-hood. It’s tough.

Donice, thank you for your kind message.

Wedding clothes

I found this golf shirt a couple of weeks ago, and took no action, and then went to CafePress and couldn’t find it. But yesterday it turned up again, and this time I ordered it. You can get the design on a tee shirt, but one of my (few) fashion theories is that the elderly face is more flatteringly framed by a collar.

See my sister’s comment yesterday, a propos wedding clothes and climate. Maybe I’ll have to wear the dress and linen coat to the air-conditioned rehearsal dinner – it will be overkill, a bit -- and go back to East for a skirt to wear with the kurta to the wedding itself.

I don’t have a lace stole, Raveller. Can I borrow your beautiful Einband? The Paisley Long Shawl I knit for my sister-in-law three years ago would be ideal. We’re going to lunch with her on Monday. Do you think I could borrow it back? (Joke – I wouldn’t dare ask.) She wears it scrunched up, to my irritation, but I could re-block it.