I got through my busy day yesterday rather successfully, including a whiz around Waitrose on my way back from the airport thus dealing not only with lunch but also with most of the weekend shopping. Maybe I should make an effort to do more – but I think not; I felt as if I had been hit by a wrecker's ball, by bedtime last night.

This is very exciting news, Catmum, about Hazel Tindall's DVD and download. Thank you for alerting me. The little sampler on the website is enchanting. I am slightly surprised that we didn't run into her when we were on Shetland last year – we found Oliver Henry sorting wool at Jamieson & Smith, and we stumbled upon the woman who knit the Fair Isle sweaters for those ponies. It's that sort of place. She was most kind and hospitable, and demonstrated the use of a knitting belt for us. How did Hazel Tindall (the world's fastest knitter) manage to elude us?

Now that I want to reply, I can't find the comment about storing yarn in pillowcases. It sounds like good advice, and I mean to put it into practice (if it isn't too late). I've still got two more projects backed up from that happy day at Jamieson&Smith – the yarn for Kate Davies' Northmavine Hap (from Colours of Shetland) – that was entirely your fault, Kristie -- and some of their vibrant Shetland Heritage colours to make a Fair Isle vest, pattern yet to be devised. Those yarns are still in the carry-bag I had to buy to get them home, but I think they deserve to be divided into separate pillowcases today.

So are stashes formed. Here I am waiting with bated breath for the madelinetosh yarn for Archie's sweater. Surely by now I can begin to hope?

Knitting of the Unst Bridal Shawl edging went well last night, despite exhaustion. Hand and mind and eye cooperated nicely. So I feel I can lay it aside safely today and finish tidying Rams & Yowes. I'm just about ready to turn the second corner with the edging – that doesn't mean half-way, because I started somewhere along the first side so that the final join will be in an inconspicuous place. But it does mean that I'm moving along nicely.

Non-knit

And, yes! LizM. I heard that the Apple shop on Princes Street is at last about to open. Apparently Apple make a speciality of not announcing the date much in advance. Edinburgh has been holding its breath since August. It has also occurred to me that I'll do better domestically coming back with a MacBook, if I haven't been shopping with Archie. My husband is hostile. Archie is remarkably cheerful and patient, but it's hard on him. Archie is also rather emphatically anti-Apple, but that is a nuance likely to be lost on my husband.

So – it can still happen.