Both circuses and Joni Mitchell seem to have figured largely in my life this week, mostly because the Joni Mitchell song ‘Both Sides Now’ kept shuffling around during the long drive to and back from London on Tuesday on our trip to see the Cirque du Soleil. And boy, was the trip worth it. To those of you who have not seen it, I strongly recommend the circus the next time it comes around – such an amazing blend of astonishing skill and beauty. I loved that there was a sort of theme to the whole show – in this case a clown was looking back over his life. I loved that they perfectly blended slightly surreal clowning with stunning acrobatics. And the music, and the lights and the costumes! I have to say that we all came away slightly wishing that we could join the circus, and it was also a perfect break from the world for a couple of hours. The trip was our family Christmas present to ourselves and was an opportunity to see my children which is always a great pleasure.
But now I am back to reality and indeed full of dreams and schemes. Firstly, I had a visit this week from the lovely Vanessa, the sales rep for Lang Yarns, who brought me some wonderful summer yarns to look at. I have ordered some and they will start rolling in from March onwards, starting with a new yarn called ‘Fiesta’ (pictured below). She is going to be with the Lang stand at the big trade fair I am going to in Cologne in March and reminded me that as I order the summer yarn, so I will also have to start thinking ahead to winter. It has taken me a while to get my head around thinking so far in advance, but I am definitely getting the hang of it. I am looking forward to seeing what Lang have on offer, not to mention all the other companies that will be showing there. I am very excited about it.
And then there is the East Anglia Yarn Festival. Assuming that Friday would be quiet, Mandy and I mocked up our stand in the shop, only to find that we were about to have an unusually busy day. So that was a bit fraught, but a useful exercise. There is only a month to go now, and we are busy packing yarns and labelling things and creating special kits for the show. We are planning to bring along three new yarns to delight and surprise you – I have already given some sneak peeks on Instagram, but they include some loveliness from John Arbon Textiles, a new independent dyer and yarn which I myself have dyed. Obviously if you can’t make it to the Festival, the yarns will be available in the shop and online after it. Just a heads up (and I will obviously remind you closer to the time), but we will have to close the shop on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 March because of it.
Finally, the Retreat in April is now coming together. Mandy and went back to Little Massingham Manor to check out the accommodation and to talk menus with the housekeeper there. We came away feeling rather hungry and delighted to have discovered that she is a very keen baker who is planning home made cakes and biscuits along with some delicious sounding meals. And, a bit like having to plan for next winter now, we are also having to think about dates for our next Retreat which we think will be a bit longer – two nights instead of one – and over a Saturday and Sunday. Obviously that will depend on how well this, our first one goes, but I remain, as usual, optimistic.
Once this busy time is over, we also have started thinking about things to amuse you all in the summer months, one of which is a Yarn Swap. This would be a day on which you would be invited to raid your collection and bring yarn which you no longer want to swap for something that you think you might use. The day would include tea, cake and knitting/crochet as well. As usual, our focus would be on natural fibres and hand dyed yarns, but we will also provide a basket for any unwanted acrylics which we would donate to charity. This plan is still brewing and we have yet to decide a date for it and what exactly it will involve, but watch this space.
Outside the shop, I have become the treasurer of the group ‘Shop Fakenham’, which is, among other things, intent on bringing a monthly food market back to Fakenham. We had a very successful first meeting and now I am up to my eyebrows in opening bank accounts and talking to the Council about road closures. I do love to be busy!
And of course, amongst all the planning and dreaming, is thinking about the next knitting projects lined up for the needles. I am nearly finished one and revving up to make my next Stephen West shawl.
What are your dreams and schemes for the coming months? I would love to know.