My lovely Secret Pal sent me another parcel. There are three skeins of dusky pink Lamb’s Pride (and I hadn’t realised it had mohair in it so it feels so soft, plus chocolates (all now eaten and enjoyed), scented wooden balls to keep the moths off (and all tied up in PINK ribbons), and this summer’s Spin Off magazine. This edition made me very happy as it has sheep hand puppets, a wrist wool holder and an article on North Ronaldsay sheep – the ones who eat seaweed. A VERY BIG THANK YOU to my secret pal.

And last weekend’s spin-in was at the Kingfisher Project in east Birmingham, to celebrate its 21st birthday. The project is about the local river Cole, and somehow us spinners weaver and dyers got invited, and it would have been churlish to turn them down.

It was a delightful day. The rangers and volunteers were relaxed. We had a double gazebo to keep off first the rain then the sun. They had got three varied musical interludes – Morris dancing, South American musicians and Indian drumming. And the general public were an interested bunch who asked intelligent questions and seemed very pleased to see our crafts and the few things we had on display. Sometimes talking to the public can be a demoralising experience but that day it was uplifting. And I spun 2 big skeins of 2-ply Shetland which was lush to work. Only another 4 lots the same size before I can make a jumper with it!