I think I am all packed for the EYF, except for the iPad which I will add at the last moment for the sake of its camera (Hazel T. suggests a camera) and the notes I have made about sweater’s-worths of yarn. I found some knitter’s graph paper of my own right here, published by the Schoolhouse Press.

I also found the Sweater Wizard, and it seems to work on this computer. I don’t know which version of Windows I’ve got – not the latest. I can run Lotus Organizer but not, alas, Quicken. Maddeningly, I can’t find Stitch and Motif Maker. It’s far less important, but it’s still frustrating. It must be there somewhere. Helen popped in while I was searching, and was surprised that my computer even had a disk drive. But surely…

The EYF says that Jared will be available for meeting and greeting and signing his new, expensive book – for an hour and a half on Saturday. That doesn’t necessarily mean that he won’t be at his stand on Friday. But probably.

What an extraordinary piece of luck, I keep reflecting, that this wonderful event is right here on my doorstep, considering how constrained my life now is. I would have found it very difficult even to get to Glasgow. There was a not-entirely-successful attempt to do something at Stirling a few years ago. I signed up and paid, but when it got to the time, found that I couldn’t get away from my responsibilities after all.

As for the half-brioche, I finished the body of the sleeve, as hoped, and am well forward with the shoulder strap. After that is a narrow piece which goes around the back of the neck. I’d have polished that off with ease by the weekend, were it not for the EYF and the Calcutta Cup.