Worrying about all the books being picked up by Royal Mail kept me awake until 6am (11am Uk time) when I received a text letting me know they had all gone.

In the end my wonderful friend and her equally wonderful brother, who I have never met, stayed in my house waiting for Royal Mail and then carried all the bags to the van. How come Royal Mail finally turned up? Because a single employee (who asked not to be named or they'd lose their job!) was so appalled by what had happened they gave up their day off to come and pick up the Mail that I had paid to be collected but no-one would take.

Delighted that the books were finally on their way I managed to get in an hours sleep before excitedly heading off to Beads By Blanche.

I really cannot use enough complementary adjectives describing this shop, and Blanche and Wendy you can meet there. If you ever, ever get a chance to visit the shop I urge you to do so. It may cost you a lot of money in bead purchases but it'll be worth it.

One highlight of teaching is all the lovely students you get to meet. It brings me into contact with so many people that I just wouldn't get to see sitting at home and that's a real bonus for me. An added bonus is when they bring beadwork to show me! Karen Beck very kindly brought in an Interlocking Crystals necklace she made it using lilac crystals and it was so nice to see someone wearing one- doesn't it look good?

Another treat today was the gorgeous Elaine Glazer who came to class wearing a pair of glasses I would have spent years trying to track down, if only I knew they existed. I have long yearned for big round glasses but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine them with crystals all around- it made her look like she was wearing a dressing-room mirror and lit her whole face up. Add to that her wonderful pink 'knit' finger tattoo and Elaine is pretty much my style icon of the trip.