Heating now okay. Electrician reckoned we needed the rest of the house re-wired, but out of the question financially. Went on hols to France in May, but probably for the last time due to creeping health problems on Keith's part, and the horrendous travel insurance costs. Hey ho. The council gave us a strip of land 8 foot wide at the back of our house. Times 50 foot, this is a lot of weeds and rubbish to dig over. Hard work, but the weather is not too hot (in fact, not warm at all for June!), so attacking it slowly. Have got a tonne of gravel, a tonne of sand and 70 paving slabs sitting on the drive, all to be shifted to the back and incorporated. Went to Coventry for a really nice CSM day, nine of us, able to study machines and techniques in depth, and talk to everybody.

Will we have heat tomorrow?

Electricians finished this morning. Can't tell if the heating will actually come on until the Economy Seven kicks in overnight. Totally run out of logs due to continued snowy weather, bought small bag from Co-op and they are damp. Tomorrow is the first of two Lambing Days at Long Whatton. Bet it's cold in the tearoom with the door open. But they are always so nice to me there, that I try and put on a good spinning display. In the meantime have been knitting handwarmers like mad. Did I mention I dropped the sock machine on my foot? That was 6th March. Bruised two tows but broke the yarn carrier and damaged no fewer than 17 needles. I was trying to fix the machine to a cheap jardinière I had bought, in the hope of making a stand to take to shows. A travelling case from the States is 339 dollars basic plus a whopping 451 dollars carriage via Fedex. Local furniture man not prepared to make a one-off. The museum helped me sort the poorly machine but it has reverted to being very stiff to turn, and have to have the row counter stuck up in the air. I was asked to do more days in the Griswold Room - how could I refuse? First one will be Easter Monday - and mighty cold it is going to be in that room as well!

Fun February

Well, the rest of the heating packed up. Three electricians have come and gone, the result is total re-wire from heaters to fuse box, even beyond to a new Economy Seven meter. However, when or how much still remains to be seen. Really fed up of being cold. And it snowed again. And the left click button on the computer stuck down. And I have to have new glasses. It goes on and on, thank goodness February is a short month. Took the dress down to Erika, along with Heritage hat and a small herd of elephants.

End of Janaury

Glad to see the back of this month. K in hospital for reaction to bp tablets. Snow for over a week (at same time - journeys difficult!) Social outings cancelled because of snow. Storage heaters started packing up, K says beyond him to fix them any more. Running out of logs. Apple tree has to be cut down. Howver, got some sewing and knitting done .

Cardi that is not a bit SHY

Keith bought me the Shetland Heritage yarn for Crimble, couldn't wait to get started on it. Ran out near the end so had to wait four days or so for more to arrive - what an excellent postage services it is from Shetland. Quite surprised to work out that cost of wool alone for this project was over £50. Postage was over £10 on the two parcels. Knitting ain't a cheap hobby anymore. Anyway, at last, a deep red cardi to go with all my deep red silk blouses.

Doll shoe loss solved!

I have been knitting this little doll for over 50 years for just about every female family member. I gave up adding shoes early on as they are so tiny and are rapidly lost. However, yesterday, I shared a bus journey with a little boy whose mitts were on a string through the sleeves of his anorak. Eureka! I have added mock socks to the dolls' shoes and a long string threaded through her knickers.

Sock yarn leftovers

At last got round to using up the heap of leftovers - well, most of them. Two cushions in one day, moreover. Found the secret was to cut up long lengths of vefry plain or repetitive coloured yarns.