Spitting Yarn

Another weekend, another wedding.

A second Cambridge college chapel, this time Emmanuel – DB’s alma mater. Interestingly, both Emmanuel and Pembroke college chapels were built by Sir Christopher Wren and, seeing them at close interval, it was apparent that the same hand was behind them. The groom’s mother is a vicar (as is the groom) and she conducted the ceremony which was lovely.

Unfortunately, the reception was outside and the heavens opened. Luckily, the tables were tucked into cloisters and we managed to celebrate appropriately without getting wet. The main men had to make concessions to the weather by giving their speeches under a huge rainbow umbrella on the lawn, but it made it all the more memorable!

DB and I have booked a holiday to Japan in just over a month. We are very excited! It has been number one on our list of places to go for a long time. DB has gone a little crazy and bought quite a number of books on Japan: books on flea markets, journeys by rail, travel journals and so on. A gem amongst the books is called A Year in Japan by Kate T. Williamson. Even if you don’t have a trip to Japan on the horizon, I would highly recommend it. Kate is an illustrator who spent a year in the country and she writes about some of the lesser known aspects of Japan and its culture. The illustrations are gloriously simple and colourful, and have got me really excited about our impending trip.

Given my fascination with the Mason-Dixon Ballband Washcloth pattern, I’m particularly excited about the Japanese habit of carrying highly decorated washcloths for drying hands after using public loos. And what knitter doesn’t love colourful socks, even if they are of the mass-produced variety?

No mice have been trapped as yet. I got overly stressed at the thought of mice keeling over from the shock of the trap on the first night we laid one. I ended up getting up and closing the bread bin so they couldn’t get at it (and slept better for it!). I’ve been brave since and left the trap open, but we’ve not seen any traces of them since we cut off their bread supply.

Thanks for all your tips on mice-catching. We’ve logged them in the event the problem continues.