Phew. In a few days, we leave for a 12-day visit back home - South Africa, but in particular, we'll be going to a big ol' family reunion in Port Elizabeth, for the occasion of my grandmother's 80th birthday. I've been shockingly neglectful of this branch of the family for many years; in fact, most of them have never met Armin (we've only been together for 11 and a half years!), and I have cousins last seen as babes in arms who are now babes at university. It's quite a big deal. I'm really looking forward to getting reacquainted. It's not the best time of year for visiting the Cape, but I'm also looking forward to seeing home again (as always), and eating some calamari. (Take it from me: if you ever visit Cape Town - and you should - eat a lot of seafood. Really. I never realised just how great it was until I had seafood elsewhere, which was... less great.) I'm not so much looking forward to flying for hours with morning sickness, but eh... it'll be fine. Right? Right... And hey, at least I'm ready to take my knitting along, again.

Anyway, worry not, the shop will not be closing. Eszter the Needle Elf will be on duty, so orders will go out promptly as usual. She'll also be monitoring the email, but most queries will probably have to wait till my return, on 3 September. Ah well, that's not long, eh? See you then. Stay well, as they say in my country. (Now you say "go well". Go on. It's the rules.*)

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* Actually, it's usually the other way around: first "go well", then "stay well". And it should really be "hamba kahle - sala kahle". But hey. Whatever works, right?