Bits and Pieces.

First of all - Congratulations to Andy Murray on winning his first Grand Slam title. That and the Olympics - such a boost to his confidence. I am so glad for him.

Secondly - The Olympics - that wonderful parade and the 'feel-good factor' it has left. If only it could continue and we could all feel good right through the Winter.

My friend has lent me the latest Ronald Blythe book - 'at the Yeoman's House'. So far I have only read a chapter but already I am enthralled. Regular readers of my blog will know that I am a keen enthusiast of his writing and have most of his books. This book is really about his house - Bottengom's - and about its building, the people who have lived there, and the surrounding farm lands and their working.

Today that same friend has heard of the death of a very old friend in Shetland, and the two things combined to make me think of how - as each generation dies out - things die with them which can never again be recaptured.

Blythe talks about talking to an old villager before he died and hearing about a farm in the surrounding Suffolk/Essex countryside where they had stabling for fourteen horses - mostly pure bred Suffolks. Even their names were traditional - Blossom, Bowler, Captain, Matchett, Diamond, Duke, Boxer, Kitty, Gypsy and Ginger. Now, of course, that stable is empty and is falling into disrepair. The same has happened all over the country - some have fallen down, some have been converted into state of the art homes.

I smiled at the names of the horses. When I recently went round a National Trust property where the local Police horses are stabled - we saw their names on the doors - Pete, Dave, Jim to name but three.

And in the case of my friend's old friend who has died in Shetland, what has died with her is her use of colour in the wonderful Shetland patterns she knitted. The patterns may have survived, but her use of colour will have largely died with her, apart from the garments her friends and family have kept.

And that brings me nicely to Kaffe Fassett and his use of colour. I am intending crocheting an Afghan blanket this Winter and have first to establish the colours I wish to incorporate. The choice is hard. I have borrowed one of Kaffe's books and I don't think it has made the decision any easier because as I turn each page I find another combination I love. I have photographed bits and pieces of the colours here and there, to use as a decision making tool. Then I decided to iron my scarves (yes it is getting to that time of the year) and found one in purples, mustards and greens - and I love that too. So I have photographed that. After this blog it is decision time and time to go on the internet and get ordering the wool.