Well... we're back!
After a little two-week break, it feels rather lovely to be sitting down with a cup of tea and writing to you again. Judging by the number of emails we received asking, "Where are James and Dr. Thomas?" I think some of you noticed we'd gone missing!
Thank you, too, to everyone who sent such kind messages telling us not to worry about rushing home and that you'd happily wait for your orders. As a little one-man-band business, kindness like that genuinely means the world.
So... where did we disappear to?
Dr. Thomas and I packed our bags, headed off to Gatwick Airport and flew to one of our favourite places in the world - Sitges, just outside Barcelona.
We've been visiting Sitges for years. It's a beautiful little Spanish fishing town that has grown into one of Europe's best-known LGBTQ+ destinations. More than anything, it's somewhere we simply feel completely relaxed, welcomed and safe. The little streets, the beach, the cafés... it always feels like coming home.
After a few wonderfully lazy days there, our adventure really began.
We boarded Celebrity Cruises in Barcelona for a voyage around Spain.
Our first stop was Ibiza, before sailing on to Cádiz. What a magnificent city! Standing there, it's impossible not to think about history. If my memory serves me right, it was from nearby that Columbus set sail in 1492. Whether you're interested in history or not, Cádiz is one of those places that simply makes you slow down and stare.
Then came Gibraltar.
Now...
I know many people absolutely adore the famous Barbary macaques.
I am not one of those people.
Dr. Thomas thought they were hilarious.
I thought they looked like furry little pickpockets just waiting for someone to make eye contact.
We decided to walk down from the Rock instead of taking the bus (well... Dr. Thomasdecided we'd walk down!). Every few steps there seemed to be another monkey sitting on a wall, crossing the path or eyeing everyone suspiciously.
Thankfully they completely ignored me.
Which, in fairness, suited both parties perfectly.
It's rather like my relationship with vodka. Lots of people absolutely love it... I simply prefer to admire the bottles from a respectful distance!
Once safely back in town, Gibraltar was absolutely delightful. Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, familiar British shops, red telephone boxes and fish and chips... it felt like a tiny slice of Britain that had accidentally drifted into the Mediterranean sunshine.
Next came Málaga before a glorious day at sea sailing back towards Barcelona.
Those sea days are honestly my favourite part of cruising.
Quiz games...
Movies under the stars...
Live music...
Theatre shows...
Discos...
Far too much food...
Far too many puddings...
...and absolutely no emails.
Perfection.
Before flying back to London, we squeezed in a few final days exploring Barcelona (again!).
We revisited some of Antoni Gaudí's extraordinary buildings, admired the magnificent new cross that now crowns the Sagrada Família, and visited somewhere that completely took us by surprise - the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau.
It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, astonishingly, it's actually younger than our own home in London! It's one of the most beautiful buildings either of us has ever walked around, and if you ever find yourself in Barcelona, do put it on your list.
Now, of course...
Reality has returned!
Your orders are waiting for me.
Running McIntosh as a one-man business means holidays are always a balancing act. Unlike a traditional shop, I can't simply close the doors for two weeks, so we left the website open with a banner explaining we were away, allowing everyone to reserve the yarns, needles and accessories they wanted while we were gone.
Thank you so much to everyone who continued to support us while we were away.
I'm now working my way through a rather impressive mountain of parcels, and everything currently waiting will be on its way by Tuesday.
As always, they'll be packed with care... because that's simply the McIntosh way.
If you've not visited the website for a little while, do have a look at everything that's new. I've added lots of lovely arrivals while we've been away, and I can't wait to show you what's still to come over the next few weeks.
Until next Sunday...
Fair winds, happy knitting, and thank you, as always, for allowing Dr. Thomas and me to be a tiny part of your week.
With love and stitches,
James
James McIntosh - the one-man-band that is McIntosh
P.S. Dr. Thomas would like it officially recorded that the monkeys were "perfectly friendly."
P.P.S. I would like it officially recorded that I was very happy when we reached the bottom of the Rock.
