earring mania

Indulged myself today by going to Wakefield. (A moderately local town, about twenty minutes away by train, which I'd never actually visited before.) Spent the afternoon wandering around the place. Happened to wander past a sewing machine shop, and got some oil there, and will try oiling my machine tomorrow.

There was a woman in the market there (a rather nice, fairly modern indoor market) who had a stall of beaded things she'd made. While I was standing around looking, she was kind enough to compliment me on my earrings (these ones), and I mentioned that I'd made them myself, and we got talking. Her name was Chris Linacre, she has her own website, and generally it was very pleasant and, hm, validating, talking with her as a reasonably competent beadworker and if I knew what I was talking about. You know what I mean. The step from "I am a total amateur" to "I am a reasonably competent amateur", even if it's not "I am a professional with my own website and so on". Nice feeling. :)

Got home. Was so inspired that I launched into a frenzy of earring-making. Realised a bit later than scheduled that supper might be a good idea, and left out a number of half-completed bits to finish off tomorrow.

Still got the weekend left before I have to go back to work again.

---

The Bell-man

Along the dark and silent night,
With my lantern and my light
And the tinkling of my bell,
Thus I walk, and this I tell:
-- Death and dreadfulness call on
To the general session;
To whose dismal bar, we there
All accounts must come to clear:
Scores of sins we've made here many;
Wiped out few, God knows, if any.
Rise, ye debtors, then, and fall
To make payment, while I call:
Ponder this, when I am gone:
-- By the clock 'tis almost One.

-- Robert Herrick