A fashion crime?

Gail has just finished knitting herself a woolly hat (with yarn left over from my sweater).

Do the Fashion Police permit Triple Fair Isle?

Finished at last, but is it "Sunday best"?

The spring flowers might be peeking out here in Aberdeen, but the icy winds still have bite. Thank heavens Gail has at last finished knitting my new Shetland wool jumper (with Fair Isle pattern detail).

It is very manly, I'm sure you'll agree.

The yarn for my new knitwear comes directly off the backs of a small herd of Torridon-based Shetland sheep owned by Julia Marsh. It has not been dyed or otherwise messed around with, and so should be perfect outdoor wear for a roughty toughty terrier like me, don't you think?

So I was quite surprised when Gail said, "Bertie, we'd better reserve this jumper for Sunday best". Especially when I comprehended that "Sunday best" implies clothing that has to be kept clean and smart as if we were going to church (which, I need hardly tell you, we never do).

Well my idea of the best sort of Sunday is to bounce into the wilds of Scotland, where devotional activity involves appreciating the shadow play of the low northern light across the heather-clad hills, the tinkling of a burn as it tumbles over speckled granite boulders, the earthy smell of the lush, damp and fern bedecked forest floor…

For this one needs eyes, ears, a nose, and energy a-plenty. Smart Shetland sweaters are, I guess, optional.