This is my naughty Maine Coon cat, Mac.  We are packing some things to post up to Scotland for our trip and I think he's trying to stow away!

Rather than pay the extortionate baggage fees demanded by airlines, we pack all we need into a parcel and mail it to a friend who lives near to the cottage we're renting.  Sometimes, if we're going to a hotel, we phone them to ask if they'll let us send our luggage in advance.

It saves such a lot of time - we don't have to wait at the luggage carousel; we can just stroll straight out of the airport.

Last week my old faithful kiln stopped working - it's the one on the right of the picture.  I started making arrangements for getting it repaired, however as I had a deadline for the Loch Ness Film Festival mugs I decided to invest in another kiln.  I found a reconditioned one of the same model as the old one on Essex Kilns' website and reserved it.  I drove down and colected it yesterday and here it is on the left, looking nice and shiny.

Meanwhile I also managed to get the old kiln repaired by a local electrician, so now I won't get caught out again and hopefully will always have at least one kiln that's working!