There is snow lying in Drummond Place this morning (for only the second time this winter, I think) and news reports speak of traffic disruption hither and yon. So, no Strathardle today and probably not tomorrow. I am scared of going but would like to get it over with. 

Knitting went badly last night – approaching the shoulder and neck shapings of the Relax, I thought it a good idea to check the stitch count. Something is wrong and today’s job is calm counting. Partly for that reason, partly because the television was stammering rather badly, perhaps partly from too much laetare, I didn’t entirely engage with part 1 of “Shetland”. There was not much knitting in what I saw. The treeless landscape is very impressive.

I am sure the BBC will export it in their own good time.

Was it really photographed in January? The characters keep talking about Up Helly Aa, but it doesn’t feel dark enough. Last week we watched a rather interesting 5-part thriller called “Mayday”. One of its merits was that the English countryside had absolutely been caught in that glorious 1^st of May moment.

I have heard from the Raveller who had engaged to sell me two skeins of Into the Whirled from her stash – one Manchester and one Pakokku. Now she says she won’t – the package is on its way, as a gift.

Rugby

I watched only a few moments of yesterday’s match – England-Italy at Twickenham. I assumed England would win 137-3. The English team must have made the same assumption. They won, but only by 18-11, a narrower margin than the Calcutta Cup match. Viva l’Italia!