Look at this lovely red twin set (34-36 bust) and the must have accessory of the year, a live parrot! Also inside this issue – some wooly winter stockings, a fair isle pixie hood for 10 year old, a teddy bear from an old jumper, vest and panties set, a classic cardigan (34-36), two patterned short sleeved jumpers, one to “wear with your tweeds” (35-37) and the other with a leaf yoke in three colours (34-36).

Did you know I live in East London and adore it? It is a bit of a nation unto itself. When I lived in North and later South London, I still needed to visit the central area for things like shops and cinema, but now Hackney and the surrounding area has nearly everything I need. The local fabric shop, which was one of the reasons I moved here, has sadly closed now, so I can’t nip out to get exactly the right zip and be home fifteen minutes later, sigh. Anyway East London is relevant, as this issue was found at Netil Market in Hackney. A smaller sister to the 10 year old Broadway Market, Netil market has an ever changing selection of stalls with records, antiques, flea market stalls, artists stalls and on this occasion textile and magazines. But if you are only looking for knitting magazines, you won’t find treasure every week and incidentally both markets are Saturdays only. There are well established food sheds and a central seating area and a weekly second hand furniture stall out front, which delivers if you buy something over £50. Less crowded than the over popular Broadway Market which is five minutes away, it is also mostly free from the local minor annoyances of loud voiced fashionably dressed chai latte drinkers, tourists and  the well to do organic food buyers, and the day time drinkers with beards and no manners. I think there is evidence of a whole i-Pod generation deafened by earphones.