A lazier day might have been a good idea after two quite busy days in London. However, we had decided some time ago to make a trip to the Great Northern Contemporary Craft fair in Manchester as I was not going to be in Edinburgh for the one I usually go to in November. I tried to have a long sleep while James was doing the flu immunisation clinic but the window cleaners put paid to that. Once he was back we headed off and had to contend with heavy traffic all the way into the city. The craft fair was being held in the Old Granada TV Studios and much of the peripheral structure has been left as it was.

Craft fairs are always inspiring and encourage me to get back to making and designing things. I picked up a couple of Christmas presents and lots of ideas. There was also an exhibition ‘Ornament’ which contained items from various museums and galleries around the city curated by Victoria Scholes: artist, writer and Coordinator of the NW Craft Network. Needless to say, a lazier evening is following.