The paragraph that didn't get written yesterday – when Alistair rang the doorbell – was to thank you for finding that Gaughan pattern for me, Sous Sous. I had remembered that it was a single syllable repeated, but that didn't get me very far. Lots of people are doing it on Ravelry but there are very few finished pictures. From one of them, I deduce that it is important to have plenty of ease, as with my beloved Relax.

I remain somewhat tempted.

And, Shandy, I haven't set myself yet to find the National Gallery handout about “our” picture, but I know my husband will want to see it. Your remark about how the picture looked like a Dutch interior was interesting. The artist in question was much interested in, and influenced by, Dutch painting although the interest mainly manifested itself, in his early career, in the pictures that made his name, with crowds or at least groups carousing outdoors (Pitl*ssie Fair) or doing something interesting within (Villag* Politici*ns, Distra*ning for R*nt). “Woman at Prayer” was an unusual subject for him, and not many people other than my husband could have demonstrated that he in fact painted such a thing, That was a big reason why we thought we'd win it at auction.

But the dealers didn't worry about proof – they bought on the evidence of their eyes, and all credit to them.

So, yesterday was grandsons. Alistair arrived early. I cooked him a cholesterol-ful breakfast and we sat and talked of computing until my husband got up, and then we mostly talked of Sydenham. We watched a video that Alistair and his father (our son James) had made about their new house. Mimi made several appearances, clearly working on the theory that if you are making a video about the house, your viewers will want to see the cat. He has made a good recovery from his accident. He is very talkative. Maybe that is the way with Chinese cats.

Then Alistair went off to see Archie, and Archie in turn, after seeing Alistair off on his train at the end of the afternoon, came down here. We tried the sweater on. The length is about right. However, it is slightly snug, nothing that blocking can't deal with – but that will shorten it. I think I'll do another inch or so before starting the flaps. Leaving the free stitches on long circular needles worked fine – much like your principle, Melfina, of using a cable from your interchangeable-needle set.

For the time being, I'll go on with the sleeve I;ve started. It's a good thing Hellie is actually getting married – otherwise there might be danger that her shawl would lie there waiting for tidying and blocking forever.

Archie said that Alistair had said that Grandmother should do some coding – it would give her something to do. I was enormously flattered. Archie will be back next weekend, when his mother Greek Helen is here. If I haven't done anything about the MacBook by then,he said,  he will take it in hand.