What a crazy,day we had on Saturday!  After a gentle drive down from the Highlands, we arrived in Edinburgh on Friday night, and spent a lovely, quiet, calm evening with our friends I&J.  Saturday morning started at 6.00am when, after 3 cups of coffee to set me up for the day, we headed off to Dalmeny Road and the Out of the Blue Drill Hall for the first big event of 2013.  And what an event it was.  The organisers of the Edinburgh Yarn Festival had thought of everything possible to make it an easy day for the stallholders.  We were met at the door by a team of volunteers with trolleys to help cart the mass of bags I had piled into the back of Mungo - such a luxury and a lovely introduction to this new event in Edinburgh.

I was really happy with the location of my stand and this is how it looked before starting the setting up:



And two and a half hours later this is how it looked:

 



And that was the last photograph that I had time to take!  Once the doors opened at 10.00am, we were mobbed.  I know that many of you couldn't actually get close enough to squish yarn, and I'm sorry if that was the case.  I think the event exceeded everyone's expectations in terms of the number of people who came.  When Stevan left me at 10.00 to go home he said that the queue was down the road and around the corner.  And that was in the pouring rain.  So thank you to everyone who was so dedicated that they were prepared to stand in the awful weather to get in.  But my biggest "thank yous" for the day have to go to (in no particular order!):

1.  The organisers.  Jo, Linda and Mica are 3 quite ordinary women who live in Edinburgh, but extraordinary in their vision for this event and their organisation of it.  So thank you to them.  I hope the 3 of you manage to relax this week and have time to reflect on what a fantastic job you did.

2.  The volunteers:  About 20 volunteers offered their help on the day, and they were marvellous.  They remained cheerful throughout what was a very very hectic day, and they really were outstanding in their support of the stallholders.

3.  My own two glamorous assistants, Dorothy and Lizzi.  Quite simply I could not have coped without them.  Once the doors opened at 10, as I've said, we were overwhelmed by the numbers of people who arrived, and having them close at hand to help me with sales and sorting yarn and helping answer queries was just invaluable.  A very, very big thank you to you two ladies.  You are the best friends a girl could have, and lovely into the bargain.

I understand that over 1400 people attended the event.  I am certain this exceeded everyone's expectations.  I hope that once they've had a break and regained their strength the 3 organisers will be ready to take on the challenge of arranging the Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2014.

I'm sorry I have so few photographs!  I'm gathering pictures from others who were at the event and I'll post these later.

Our friends, I&J were, as usual, very good to us and looked after us so well.  Whenever we arrive at their house we turn everything upside down.  The poor cats banish themselves to the garden or to one of the bedrooms in order to avoid the stares and growls of two dogs who are unused to cats. Even the gerbils get banished from the cosy lounge into a cold, unused bedroom in case a certain terrier reverts to type and tries to catch one.  After the rush of Saturday we had a lovely, very lazy day on Sunday, and ended our visit to Edinburgh with a wonderful meal at Tapa in Leith.  If you have the opportunity to visit this restaurant, I can highly recommend the Berenjenas con Meil, which are aubergine crisps drizzled with honey - we were contemplating ordering a third helping as a side dish to our desserts they were so good.  It was lovely to have Heather (of Heather's GOLD) join us for the evening too, although of course we omitted taking a photo of Heather with a hank of Heather's GOLD, and when we suggested it first thing this morning Heather didn't look too impressed at the prospect of being photographed in her PJ's and dressing gown, so we let her off.  Next time, Heather!