Basket weaving lesson

S and S visited and brought with them the makings for baskets, so after dinner we had a lesson in the sitting room. S is quite an expert and has had much practice teaching the craft, which is rather hard on the fingers. We now have three mats for putting hot pans on. Interestingly, this is not an occupation for a dry environment. The willow cracks when it dries out. We tried to imagine how grateful our ancestors were for the dampness in their caves. Practice and patience are other prerequisites.