Good news at the shop this morning with Phil so much recovered from pneumonia that he punished all those who thought he had man flu.

Then he demanded tea and pointed out to Caroline that when she asks him for something, he provides it straight away. Julie began listing all the times he had NOT delivered, including one from 30 years ago. She was still going when I left.

Maureen has finished the poncho/cape for her granddaughter Lucy from a Bergere de France pattern.



Just look at those intricate cables! We always like it when customers bring things they've made to show us. Today Ann brought in the cutest little baby set for her grandson-to-be. I've tried over and over to retrieve my photos, lost my blog twice and given up!

Yesterday I was down at the boating pool. Often it's just model yachts, but yesterday there was more variety. The one I particularly admire wasn't there. I call it a bireme, though it has a more specialist name, and the two banks of oars row away together. All the people are dressed in Roman soldier's clothes. The lady who made the boat is fascinating to talk to, with a wealth of knowledge that she will share.

The boating pond is always worth a visit. It's just across the park from the shop. But beware: there are no public toilets. Yesterday a young man had a very red face when he thought he'd found somewhere out of sight!

Today was yet more gardening. I was wishing I was a ladylike gardener, with little trug of dead heads and dainty secateurs. Instead I get sweaty digging up roots and hacking off lumps of shrubs. My current project is to create a new seating area on the middle level; it means levelling out a steep slope and making a picturesque bank with the dirt removed. IF I manage it and IF the camera will work for me, I'll post photos.

I'm working away at the key ring sheep, the daffodils and the happypotamus for the Marie Curie day.

For light relief playing I'm playing with the stitch patterns from this book:

working them like Aoibhe Ni, in vertical columns. It saves having hundreds of stitches on your hook at once, but you have to see everything sort of sideways on.

Today you need to meet Sally, Phil's third daughter. She lives in Scotland with husband Brian and two cute children. She does lots of stuff behind the scenes, and has ideas. They're all good ones, but because we are busy in the shop we don't always get to act on them. You wouldn't believe how much time it takes, making room for and unpacking an order.

Sally is flying down for the Marie Curie day, so if you come, you can meet her there.