Saturday lie-in

I'm writing this as I finish my breakfast whilst watching the lunchtime footy on TV - yes, that's right - I slept in today - the first time for a long long time. I was awake at the usual 6:00 am but went back to bed and managed to fall asleep again, not finally getting up until 11:30 am - I must have needed the rest.

Today's international photo is from Tenerife in 2004 - we took the windy road up the mountain, skirting volcanic Mount Tiede, and headed towards the windy north west corner where the new Buenavista golf course is located. The views were spectacular and we stopped for a breather and some photos - this is me sandwiched between Dan and Keith:

Friday at last

Today's international photo come from Las Vegas - we stayed at the hotel where Elvis played his comeback gigs in the 70's:

Got some squash in last night - but not after some altercations with my playing partners, most of whom seemed confused about when, where and whether we were playing, despite having agreed all this on Monday and confirming it by e-mail on Tuesday! Is this why I like to keep things in writing? I can then use the evidence to convince myself it's not me who's lost the plot - yet!

Football this evening then off to the golf club for a few beers. Plans for the weekend? - Well, hopefully some squash tomorrow, then we're out at Franco's for dinner with the Pages and Bhagraths, squeezed in between Ken's ski-ing trip to Switzerland (he only gets back at 5 pm!) and his return to Abu Dhabi on Sunday morning!

This morning I finally sorted out our plans for a trip to Anfield to see the Merseyside derby. We had planned this many months ago, but they recently changed the date of the match from a Saturday to Monday 19th January, and this meant one of our group (Ken Black) had to drop out. I managed to get Richard Simcox to replace him, so he'll join me, Colin and Dave on the trip down. Looking forward to it already!

11 weeks and counting

Yes - not long to go now - just 11 weeks tomorrow till we all head off to Tenerife - apart from Kelly and Craig, who go a week earlier - oh, and me - I head out there 7 weeks tomorrow for some golf!

Good to see the girls (most of them, anyway) have brought their blogs up to date. Yes, Kelly, it's been cold here too - in fact, one of the most prolonged spells of cold weather I can recall over winter. Normally we get cold snaps and then it gets very mild again, but this winter the temperature has mostly stayed low - still, it's been pretty bright, which is good - and fairly dry as well.

Nothing much else to add - I've been back to Bannatyne's for a couple of brief sessions this week. Like everyone else, the holiday does nothing for the waistline. I weighed myself and I don't think I've ever been heavier - well, maybe in the mid 70's when I was at Black & White in London and dining out every day - but 13 stone 10lbs! - that's 192 lbs for those of you across the pond - or 87 kgs for the Europeans. I remember when we got our bathroom scale a few years ago, I had to do a conversion chart for Jo, who was slimming then - it only went up to 85 kgs!

I don't think I'll arrange my annual medical just now - perhaps a couple of months yet! Talking of medicals, Jo goes (to Inverurie) for her stress ECG next Thursday - this is the last part of the examinations after she went to the doctor's a few months ago complaining about chest pains.

I briefly saw Carole as she went in to Bannatyne's last night - she's signed up again - another New Year resolution! Jo was looking after Luca briefly before Gary came out and picked him up. Ross and I had our fish suppers watching C-Beebies - how weird was it? I thought the Magic Roundabout was bad, but this definitely came in to the same category of "did I just take some drugs?"

Got some squash tonight hopefully and tomorrow it's football - and I finished the Pink Floyd story (Pigs Must Fly) last night. I think Jo has stopped reading my blog because when I shut the book I showed her the photo on the back cover and said - that's Syd (Barrett) - "who's he?" Maybe she's an acid casualty like Syd - perhaps that's why she and Luca were watching that strange programme? Well, after all, our first born was named after a popular pharmaceutical of the 60's, wasn't she?

2009 begins in earnest

Well, I guess everybody's back to their usual routines now. It's a strange feeling - there's something quietly comforting about being back to the usual cycle of work and conventional weekends, but there's also something sad about it all - realising the holidays are now well and truly over.



Sunday was fairly conventional - by the time I got back from golf, Gary, Carole, Luca and the dogs had gone home again and it was just me, Jo and Ross for tea. Yesterday, I decided to start the week with the long drive to the Broch - got quite a lot done and also managed to get away in time to play squash and have a beer.



I'm getting near the end of the Pink Floyd book that Harry loaned me a long time ago. Most will have heard of the group but may not know much more about them - in particular the alleged acid casualty, founder member Syd Barrett, who finally passed away in 2006 - nearly 40 years after he left/was kicked out of the group - check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syd_barrett



I got to the stage of the book where Syd had long left the band and was travelling back and forth between his family's home in Cambridge and London. The book described how he first moved in to serviced accommodation at Chelsea Cloisters in April, 1974 - the very same month that Jo and I, with little Lucy in tow, moved in to the very same apartments! Check out http://www.chelseacloisters.co.uk/ for views of the accommodation - I remember Jo commenting on how tiny the rooms were - at least for the three of us - but, hey, James Buchanan & Co (Black & White whisky) were paying - and we got to stay in a very swanky part of London for a month for nothing, whilst our new house in Broxbourne was being finished.



Jo has dined out for years on her stories of wandering round London with Lucy in her buggy, with daily shopping trips to Harrods (for a pint of milk!) and regular encounters with other women with young babies, all of whom turned out to be nannies!

Sticking with my theme of old photos from round the world, here's one I found from March, 2003 when I met up with Scott, Lucy and a very young Cade for a weekend in SFO after I had been golfing at Palm Springs and Las Vegas:

We all stayed in one room at the Marriott. It had 2 large double beds and we were all a bit surprised when Cade wanted to sleep with me. All was well until he awoke in the morning and, still half asleep, opened his eyes and saw me! Shriek! Mommy, Daddy! Help!