Splicing is fairly fun. It's a little like weaving rugs, maybe more like macramé. It requires cool tools and patience. Since I weave, spin, braid rugs, knit, I am a big fan of activities that require cool tools and patience. I bought Harry a red rigging knife/awl for St. Valentine's Day, and it's a little (okay, a lot) like when he bought a router on my birthday. I may end up borrowing it, especially if my new dream comes true. New dream: that Harry indeed sails among the BVIs and I stay ashore one of them, who cares which?, and pick up rope-splicing jobs. It could work...