This morning’s weather broadcast said that only 1.6 hours of sunshine have been recorded in Edinburgh this month – at a time of year when the sun is potentially available for many hours a day. It is certainly not to be seen this morning.

After that statement, I am in rabbit-in-headlight mode. Where to turn?

The dining room wallpaper turned out to be seriously torn in a couple of places we hadn’t spotted, so it has come down.

Choosing new paper is not a job for me. My husband must decide, and he moves slowly. We made a start yesterday. Let’s assume – and it’s a big assumption – that we can reach a conclusion today. They can’t possibly finish tomorrow, so the job goes on into next week.

James will arrive on Sunday with two children. He’ll be tired from a stressful period at work, and he’ll want to go to K*rkmichael, which he loves. My husband seems to think that he and James could manage up there without me. He underestimates the stress his own care imposes. Not to mention organising meals.

I’ll ask the men when they get here how much longer the job will take (including removing the scaffolding, which has to be done before the walls are finished lest the new wallpaper get torn). Then I’ll phone James’ wife Cathy and discuss strategy.

Here are the socks. I think just at the moment that my vote is for Strong-Fleegle or Reverse French for a toe-up heel. That’s a Sweet Tomato you’re looking at, and it looks rather narrow. 

Jared has written and illustrated an interesting post about ease – a difficult subject.