I’m nearly halfway through the 12^th repeat of the centre pattern of Mrs Hunter’s shawl – not much of an achievement. But it occurred to me that this is the antepenultimate repeat, and it’s not often I have a chance to use that word.

Today’s problem was that the lightbulb fizzled out in the standard lamp beside my husband’s chair. We replaced it with another of the same strength, 150 whatevers. He said it was far too bright. So I went out and bought a 100 watt bulb, which he also found too bright. We’re now down to 60, with which he is satisfied, but the dim, romantic light is not comfortable for knitting.

In the course of all this, I found I was not strong enough to climb up and stand on a chair to explore the high shelf where we keep light bulbs. It has been difficult, recently, to do so, but today I couldn’t do it. I feel sort of glum about that.

Claire, I was greatly comforted by your message about how there will be people to show me how to get in the back door of the Corn Exchange on 10/3. My plan is to get there early, in the hopes of a generous half-hour of pre-planned market time before my 10 a.m. class. Afterwards I’ll go back to the market for as much longer as I have strength for.

Skeindalous, I note what you say about the need to knit Brooklyn Tweed patterns with Brooklyn Tweed yarn. But of course, if I decide to go for Nila despite its impracticalities, Jared will be there…

“Antepenultimate”: what follows is not entirely relevant, and I’ve probably said it before anyway.

I was listening to the midday news the day the Queen made her famous remark about her “annus horribilis”. They broadcast a little clip of her actually saying it, and I was surprised that she pronounced the antepenultimate syllable with a short “i”: hor-rib-il-is. I went and looked it up. She was right. The vast majority of commentators who have quoted her since, have said hor-reeb-il-is.