Nice things. in Hello.

On Friday I went to Woolfest with my friend, Susan. Susan is a member of the Allerdale Red Squirrels group, she owns a garden centre and cafe and usually has loads of red squirrels running around in her garden. Many years ago, when I was still at college, I worked for Susan in the garden centre and would occasionally babysit her daughter, Clair. Clair is a grown up now with a child of her own, Evie. Evie happens to be Eleanor's best friend at school and Susan usually picks her up, so it wasn't long before we got chatting again as we stood waiting for our charges. We seem to have the same sense of humour, so that's great.

Susan knew I had an interest in red squirrels and keeps getting me to go to group meetings, all of which I've had to miss because of being at work. So when she asked me to help her host the charity table supporting squirrels at Woolfest...I nearly bit her hand off! There were a few ladies there helping, all very nice. I've added them all on Facebook. One told me she was really glad to have met me, another one told me that I was like her best friend in every way, I even looked like her. Being told by another grown up that they like you does marvels for the old ego!

I was relieved of my squirrel duties so I could go and look round, while Susan went to collect Evie and Eleanor from school. It was wonderful. Like any other festival I've ever been to, I was surrounded by people who all had a thing in common. I looked at the Ashford stand and now I want a drum carder! I spoke to the angora bunny lady for AAAAGES about her rabbits. I decided ages ago that when we get a place with a garden, I want to get a few angora bunnies. I had suspected, and she confirmed, that British angora is becoming very popular, with people becoming aware of the barbaric practices they use in China to remove the fur. Please, if you come across an item of angora clothing, check the label, it's more than likely come from China, where they rip out handfuls of hair from the rabbits,rather than shearing them. I don't buy it any more, as much as I like angora.

People were lovely, they didn't mind you manhandling their stuff or even things they were working on! I got chatting to a young girl walking round with a drop spindle and she practically forced me to touch the wool she was working with and the finished yarn. It was really, really lovely. I was very restrained and only bought one fleece, a lovely, soft curly one.

I also thought that Woolfest might either make or break me with regards to my business idea. As it was, I didn't encounter anyone who was doing what I'm thinking, people doing certain aspects, ie local wool, but outsourcing it, knitting local with undefined wool, but not the same as what I'm wanting to do. I've check online too, it looks like my idea is fairly unique! I did buy a fleece, which is going to be nice to pracitce with.

Loads of people spinning together! Eleanor with some of my fleece. Our stall. Goat. Sorry, I don't know the variety! Wow. Just....wow. I've been reliably informed these are Wensleydales.