Froggers of the world ...

Yet more socks - these are in Austerman Step, which has aloe vera and jojoba oil in. Tastefully draped over my Denises box! They arrived yesterday, and I am delighted. After I got used to the different feel in my hands, I realised how smooth and lightweight they are.

I'm becoming a champion frogger. It's not so much that there's anything wrong, more a matter of trying to get the best result. So my Colinette socks started by being toe-up, but I didn't like the shape of the toe when I put it on my feet, so that came undone. Then I started top down, and when I began the ss I didn't like the effect, so that had to come out, and I've now picked a pattern from SKS and I'm very pleased with how it looks. Then there's the Opal Rainforest 6-ply in Tiger. I've chosen 3.25dpns because I don't like the coarser fabric. These were going to be short-row heels, but when I did the heel I thought it looked untidy, so it's back to a heel flap for me!

The rugby was a disappointment, though the weather conditions may have been responible; it's hard to play exciting rugby when the ball is so greasy. Nevrtheless, I was horrified when Wales were beaten, and went off yesterday to see a film instead of watching Ireland.

Saw 'Blood Diamond' at last. In some ways it's an unsatisfying film because it mixes a quite old-fashioned style story with politics and neither comes off well, but at the same time Leonardo di Caprio is a superb actor, and the scenes of Africa were stunning. I found the scenes where youngsters are trained to be guerrillas distressing, partly because this is happening in so many different parts of the world. I remember watching an Orange parade in Southport once from the car; small children were marching along with their parents and grandparents, being brought up in an atmosphere of sectarian hatred. My small children were in the car with me. I've never forgotten that image or the horror I felt.