Yesterday...
There was the self-harming at the bead fair (if I was a saner person I'd not have gone, or come home sooner... but my watch stopped and I did actually think the crowds were thinning for reasons other than it being the last half hour and it was really neat being able to get to the stalls without queuing or being leaned over).

Oh, and I met a lovely chocolate labrador in guide-dog training. Who looked up at me with great suffering doggedness, gave my fingers the brief sniff of protocol, and then shoved his head under my hand. I petted. His person was not paying attention. Dog could not be bothered to maintain training discipline since a) this was clearly the most boring event known to man -- indeed several very bored men were standing with bags trying to look necessary and b) BLIND PEOPLE DO NOT GO TO BEAD FAIRS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT BEAD. He communicated this to me while I guiltily squoobled and skritched and he sighed at the clear stupidity of his trainer. We continued on our separate ways... and half an hour later he announced his arrival at my side by shoving his head up beside my hand for further petting. The third time we didn't quite cross paths and so he just waved his tail from a distance and sighed.

I like smart dogs. Don't get me wrong, I like thick as two short bricks dogs too, but smart dogs with a sense of humour are an absolute joy.

Anyhow, I now have a nice pair of round nose pliers (and have decided the Beadsmith ones do not feel good in the hand and I'm a bit too old for the cute mini ones - I went with comfortable and workmanlike which happened to also be cheapish). So I can finish the beading kits I got for Xmas!

It's funny, I like embroidery but mostly it's about practice and regaining/expanding skills I have. I can invent in it and know what I'm doing. I'm enjoying beading because I don't know what I'm doing :)

[and yes, Made dropped by for a brief chat... the politest book about war crimes evah! ]