January is always a hectic time of year for Gullweena and myself, and this year is proving to be no exception.
Once it gets dark, I head off with my rickety old cart up the winding path for the heather bushes that cling to the clifftops of these islands.
Peering over the clouds of heather bushes on my ling ladders, I wait for the perfect moment.
When the first full moon of the year peeps above the cliffs, his light is echoed by a shimmering net of moon diamonds that sparkle and dance as he smiles. I take my wool rakes and sparkle combs and I harvest last year’s disused spider wool, that’s got tangled in the heather.
Once my barrels are full, I hurry down to the seashore and top them with peat and sea foam, remembering to hammer the lids home tightly, before the moon can get home to his bed.
Soaking and steeping the spider wool for a whole month makes the threads very very strong.
After hanging it out to dry for a few days, the thread is wound onto bobbins by Gullweena, before she knits it into many tiny, but very strong, beards.
To find out what I do with those little beards, you will have to keep your wits about you and read about my adventures.