I can almost say that I have learned the sequence of the flashings-on-and-off of that little hourglass, when I try to start FreeCell. First it flashes for a while, then comes a patch when it appears steadily, then a couple more teeny tiny flashes – and then either success or failure. Although twice, I think, on “failure” evenings, I have coaxed it forth by wandering around the blue screen that says “Microsoft Solitaire Collection” and clicking away, both left and right. It came up good as gold tonight, just when I need it to get me through these last two draughts of my colonoscopy stuff.

 

Jane, I’m a blind follower if ever there was one. I don’t think I’ll be ready for another drink of this stuff much before 9, anyway. I am interpreting the instruction to get it down within half an hour to mean that I can start 15 minutes before the specified time.

 

Today went quite well, and this time tomorrow it’ll all be over. Helen’s husband David is an expert in such things – he had a bad go with diverticulitis, ending with an operation in which part of his gut was removed and the ends joined up. (It seems to have gone well.) He had both -scopy and -graphy and says that the latter was worse because they blew air up his bottom at the last minute and it was very uncomfortable. There’s nothing about that in my instructions, which seem pretty comprehensive. So I won’t worry. Maybe they do things differently in Greece.

 

Anyway, knitting, and, as so often in the past, I am deeply in your debt, especially (as so often) to you, Tamar. I didn’t know that corrugated rib was less stretchy than ordinary rib. I do now. I unpicked that neck (on wee Hamish’s Calcutta Cup vest) yet again, and re-did it in k2,p2, and bound it off in a stretchy bind off recommended by Mary Lou: and it worked. I can now pull it on over my head. I left a bit of the right-hand shoulder open, since I had so thoroughly messed it up. I think I can incorporate a small pearl button if need be.

 

I spent the rest of today’s knitting time tidying ends, no small job with Fair Isle. But I can tell you that I heard from Hazel Tindall herself (when I did a class with her once at the EYF) that she conscientiously weaves in ends when she is preparating a sweater for a competition, but otherwise she ties tidy knots like a normal human being.

 

I had a look in our Ravelry group yesterday. It doesn’t sound as if there’ll ever be an EYF again. (Edinburgh Yarn Festival)