Thursday 26/04/07

It's been an interesting day. The sad news about the squash club has hit the press and we featured in the Press & Journal and the local Deeside Piper. I was also phoned by the Sunday Express who are doing a feature on the loss of sports facilities in Scotland, and they are sending their photographer to Banchory tomorrow.

The day started with another surprise however when I went in to Ross' room and saw a letter from Gleaner (who own the filling station) accepting his notice of resignation. Apparently Ross now feels he can get more hours at his IT job in Aberdeen, taking him up to 3 or 4 days per week at a higher hourly rate than the garage. Good luck - hope it works out for him.

I also brought home some samples of the 8 new products we launched with Tesco last week, but Jo wasn't keen on some of them - particularly the marinaded products - pity!

Bad news week

No - not the little bit of rain we've finally had - worse than that. First of all, Gary made further enquiries about 1 Arbor Court which has been empty for some years, following a family dispute. It was put on the market a couple of months ago, but looks rather derelict now. We thought it might be going cheap - and it would certainly have provided enough space for Gary and Carole (not to mention proximity to Luca for us!) - but, by the time Gary had enquired further, it was sold - pity!

Then, just in the last few minutes, I've heard that the Squash Club has lost its appeal in the Court of Session - looks like the end of an era. If you're interested in the nitty gritty, it's all here: http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinions/2007CSIH30.html

We have 3 months to consider a further appeal to the House of Lords - unlikely I would have thought, particularly considering the much higher expense.

Anyway, to happier things - the photo above was taken on Sunday when we went to Portlethen.

Week ending 21st April, 2007

It was a local holiday in Aberdeen on Monday but, as our Fraserburgh factories were open, I went there - for the morning, at least! The holiday and the fine weather were too much of a draw and I booked a mid-afternoon time at Kemnay. Dave Edwards and Alan McRobb from the office joined me and we had a lovely time - I played well, particularly on the back nine, where I had 3 birdies and missed 2 other good chances.

Tuesday was busy in the Aberdeen office, with various board meetings, but I got away in good time to go to Bannatyne's.

Wednesday was quieter and I played our usual Quaich match in the evening.

Thursday was as busy as ever but I managed again to get away to the gym late afternoon - only twice this week - am I slipping, or is it just the start of the golf season that's reducing my visits to Bannatyne's?

On Friday, Francis, Michael and I went to Grantown to have another look at a potential acquisition. We had a free afternoon so Francis arranged golf at the new Spey Valley golf course at Aviemore - we played off the back tees, which were over 7,000 yards!

Got back to Banchory in time to grab a quick bite then head out to the Learney Arms, Torphins for the Torphins Golf Club Quiz Night, which was good fun.

On Saturday, we had later tee times for the medal - don't like this as the whole day is gone - I seemed a bit disorientated by it and didn't play well. Finally we had a bit of rain - good for the course, but not enough yet to make much difference.

Sunday

Another glorious day and shorts again for Sunday golf. Gary, Carole and Luca came over for our belated Easter Sunday lunch, which we decided to have out in the back garden and I got the chance to give him a feed.

Post Easter

It was the second week of Jo's Easter break and after indulging ourselves in Cornwall, we both went to Bannatyne's gym for an extended lunch break (for me) on Tuesday. Jo tried out the cross trainer, cycling, rowing, some of the leg weights and, a little reluctantly, the stairmaster. We then had a brief swim, jacuzzi and a spot of lunch.

Wednesday evening was our Summer Quaich competition again and the sun continued to shine - can't remember the last time it rained - must be over a month - the golf course badly needs it.

On Thursday, I went back to the gym but Jo couldn't join me as she was meeting Carole and Luca - I thought it was going to be at Portlethen, but it ended up with Carole coming over to Banchory to escape the coastal haar and bathe in the Deeside sunshine.

Friday afternoon, I escaped work early and Jas and I went over to Kintore for a game, followed by a couple of pints at the Legion.

Saturday's weather was even better and there was no hesitation in putting the shorts on for the morning medal. The photo was taken early on on the 3rd tee.

We went to the tip in the afternoon to dump the bags of leaves and twigs that Jo had swept up earlier in the week. Then I set up her Ipod and showed her how to synchronise it and get podcasts.

On Saturday evening, it was Raymond Orr's surprise 60th birthday party at Inchmarlo - it was OK, although I think we both find these surprise events a little cringeworthy - don't ever do this to either of us!

Easter weekend

Good Friday was spent in the office and I decided that as I wasn't playing golf on Saturday morning, I could risk playing football - and I enjoyed it. Our usual Friday night crowd were convening down at the golf club, where there was a Quiz night on - and the result was pretty good as Dave Williamson, John McWhinnie and I ran out overall winners.

It was an early rise on Saturday morning to drive down to Edinburgh for the plane to Newquay to see Kelly and Craig in their new home. We had a lovely time - I've already sent out electronic postcards, so I won't repeat myself here, but we'll be back soon we hope.

Tue/Wed/Thu

Gave golf a rest on Tuesday and spent a bit of time in the gym before meeting up with Jas and Ken, who had just flown in on one of his brief sabbaticals from Abu Dhabi, at the Legion.

It was the second week of our Wednesday night Summer Quaich competition and the forecast was even better than it had been for the last 10 days or so. It had promised to be warm but it exceeded our wildest expectations. When I left Fraserburgh it was a very pleasant 14 degrees C, and this increased to 17, just a few miles inland at Strichen. By the time I got to Inverurie it was up to 21, and the official starting temperature in the golf club car park was 22 degrees, although John McWhinnie reported his car had clocked 24 degrees at one stage on the South Deeside Road. Witness first outing in shorts in Scotland this year!

Thursday was the usual management meetings day in Fraserburgh and Aberdeen but I managed to make it (just!) to the gym before the 4 pm deadline and put in an hour or so's work before heading home. I had asked Jo if she fancied coming along, but she couldn't make it today - perhaps tomorrow?

Saturday/Sunday/Monday

Saturday did turn out lovely - in fact the best season opening day I can remember at the golf club. We drove to the Green Inn for the evening's gourmet meal and accommodation - preceded by a couple of pints in the Prince of Wales, Ballater.

The meal was excellent, as was the breakfast in the morning and the weather again, so we all wandered over from Deeside to Donside and paid a visit to Corgarff Castle, one of Historic Scotland's properties. From there, we followed the Don eastwards and had planned to lunch at the Glenkindie Arms Hotel. We arrived there just before 12:30 and went inside and sat at two tables adjacent to the bar. There were a few other customers eating and drinking, so we waited for service - and waited and waited. A young girl was drying forks and knives and completely ignored us for about 15 minutes before one of us eventually stood up and asked for some drinks - forks were slammed down and huffily and very slowly we were served. I was a little disappointed that the only ale on offer was from Inveralmond - we had hoped for some from the new brewery we have all been hearing about, but I didn't want to ask any more difficult questions.

We were all a bit put off by the hostile reception and decided to give lunch here a miss and headed further east to the Kildrummy Inn for lunch, but couldn't get in there as it was fully booked, so we carried on to Bridge of Alford and stopped at the Forbes Arms. A fine pint of Ossian's and the carvery lunch soon made us forget our previous failures. On a day like today, it's such a lovely spot and Leslie and I posed outside (above).

Made it back to Banchory in time for Sunday doubles.

Monday was also lovely, and having missed Sunday golf, I couldn't resist and contacted Keith and Jas and we played 16 holes after work.