Crisis in the Castle

The other day we realised, to our horror, that we were running low on toilet paper. I know, it's hard to believe isn't it? Anyone who has seen our toilet paper mountain would be likewise astonished. Yesterday I had pretty dreadful stomach pains (don't worry, I've been laying off the pins), and - concerned that any stomach upheaveal might prove too much for our scanty supplies - I sent Matthew to buy some more. Luckily the Spar, sorry, Star, down the road is having a buy-one-get-one-free deal on 4-packs of nice'n'recycled Novelle. Unfortunately Matthew walked the other way up the road and went to the garage, where he bought the most horrendously priced 2-pack of the stuff that scary talking toddler is advertising. And then I had a nap and felt better anyway :)

However, what with a cold snap on the horizon, I thought it prudent to visit the Star (how do they get away with it?!) to stock up on our bathroom window insulation ;)

This season's infestation is...

Booklice! Yum. (Bleurgh).

Thank you University of Birmingham Library!

At first I wasn't sure whether they were book mites or wool mites, as I was wearing a jumper I hadn't worn for ages while reading the book. After a while I noticed there were tiny little mites crawling on the desk, near the book and my jumper-clad elbow - yikes!

I started catching them under bits of tape. They were really really tiny - some even more tiny than others - and white. They tended to squish under the tape so I couldn't save a specimen. They did appear to be radiating out from the book - but then my elbow was on the book.

When I appeared to have caught them all, I put the book in a plastic tub and the jumper in the bath. I washed the other clothes I was wearing and the ones which had been with the jumper. I hoovered around my desk, and have since been through every single piece of paper on my desk, and the books kept with the mite-book, but haven't seen any more. After much googling I've decided on booklice - so while my fibre stash is safe my book collecton might not be :-/ All my other library books are in a plastic tub in quarantine.

The offending book is now taped up in two bags and in the freezer - it will be going back to the library!

Eeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww *itchy*

A new addition to our household!

On Monday I walked into town. On my way back I walked past 'The Edinburgh Woollen Mill', which - despite its name - doesn't sell wool at all, but rather old lady clothes (presumably made out of wool). And in the window was a spinning wheel... A spinning wheel with 'Props sale: £50' on it!!! £50 for a spinning wheel?! Obviously I must buy it! I've always wanted a spinning wheel, and even looked into drop spinning with a spindle a couple of years back.

But alas, the shop had just closed :( The lights were on and there were staff inside, but the doors wouldn't open. I was sad :(

However, on the walk home I convinced myself that I don't need another excuse to further my RSI, and it was probably just a prop and didn't work, and it was probably a minature, and £50 is a lot, etc etc etc. Besides, if it were fate for me to buy it, the shop would've been open, right?

Then we get to today when I cycle to town for my chiropractic appointment. On the way back I decided to see if it was still there, expecting it to have gone since it was nearly 2 days ago I last saw it.

Again, fate appeared to intervene: I totally missed the shop and had to double back. But when I did... the wheel was still there! I went in, asked if it worked: the staff said they thought it did, and it was bigger than I remembered. So I decided to just go for it, £50 is an amazing bargain!

I had a slightly hairy moment walking to the bus stop where one of the legs came loose and the bit that connects the treadle to the wheel detached. However, I gathered it up, checked there were no other bits, and got it home. I've now put it back together and it appears to work fine! (Well, it spins: I have no idea how it actually works). I checked the underneath and it was made by 'Haldane' in Scotland. It appears to be a proper spinning wheel - hoorah!

I've ordered some fibre to experiment with, and I've been in touch with someone who has given me hints about how to work it, and hopefully I can make it work :)