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Saturday 14 March 2009

Slow Saturday

Not a lot doing today - still sore after last night's exertions (check http://bvetsfootballgroup.blogspot.com/ for photos) - it was good fun, however.

Colin came round to watch the Man U - Liverpool match at lunchtime and Jo disappeared soon afterwards - she's still not back. She decided to chum Ross over to Inverurie where he was going to pick up Gary and go over to Peterhead to look at a potential new car.

Lucy called - their clocks have changed already so they're just 7 hours behind us just now. I've said I will pick them up next Saturday morning.

Weather has been really nice today and I hope it holds for tomorrow morning's golf, which precedes my 60th birthday lunch. Yes - I know - the celebrations keep on going - I think this is the last, however - it's Jo's turn next weekend.

Friday 13 March 2009

Poll results

Poll over - only 1 person (of 4) thought Kelly and Craig were completely sane - 2 thought they were barking mad and 1 more thought they were slightly deranged. What difference will that make? - absolutely none!

Got my birthday footy tonight - 2 games! Beach at 5:30 and then DATA at 7:30 - different groups of players in each, with just a handful playing in both matches. After that it's beer and curry - could be a slow day tomorrow!

Thursday 12 March 2009

Trollstigen

Jo slightly mis-read my writing on the back of the photo from our Norwegian holiday featured on her blog - the place is called Trollstigen - check http://www.trollstigen.net/index2.php and watch this video to see if it brings back any memories (not Lucy as she wasn't there):



Bus pass

Following one of Kelly's suggestions for the name of my ale, it prompted to make my application for my bus pass today!

Birthday ale suggestions

Thanks to Gary and Kelly (I think!) for their offerings - the Jags connection and the knackered knees have given me some more food for thought.

I gave Rob a note of some of my favourite ales - Sierra Nevada, Bridgeport, Betty Stogs, Pitchfork (RCH), Young's etc - and he has responded with the following thoughts about potential ingredients/recipe:

"Grist of pale malt with a touch of wheat. Keeping this simple unless you want some small additions of light crystal or amber malt. Hops for max fruitiness...Bramling Cross, Cascade, and Willamette. Not sure yet how we would divide these up between the bittering and aroma additions."

We finally got our home scanner to communicate with Jo's PC - I did the initial work, but Ross had to finish it off as I couldn't figure out what was causing a communcation error - so expect to see loads of old photos scanned on her blog now.

Had another game of squash doubles last night and went to the pub to watch a bit of the Man U match afterwards. I didn't rush home because I knew Jo was out for tea with her old work colleagues and I wasn't expecting her home until late, but when I got back at half time in the match, Jo was already home - communication breakdown - talking about which, those two great talkers, Jo and Ross, somehow continually manage to fail to communicate basics - Ross had no idea Jo was going out for tea last night, despite the fact that he was home at lunchtime as usual. How can people say so much and reveal so little?

Wednesday 11 March 2009

Birthday ale - name suggestions please

I've been in touch with Rob at Deeside brewery about plans for the day brewing my beer, and I've given him some ideas of what I like. Just one problem - a name - any suggestions? Can't really use Stewart - there's already a brewery in Edinburgh that goes by that name.

Tuesday 10 March 2009

Non-stop birthday

The gifts keep coming! From Lucy via John Lewis, a cute mug:


Tuesday

Spent the last 2 days catching up again - yesterday in Aberdeen and today in Fraserburgh. Got through a lot, but it's a pretty depressing picture to come back to - sales are very poor in both businesses, particularly the canning side - it's going to be a very tough year and I wish we weren't having to go through all this nonsense again.

I did manage a game of squash last night and another is planned for tomorrow in a vain hope to shed some of the excess kilos. My weight had risen to an all-time high before I went away and I shudder to think what it is now. I'm due my annual medical - and also another fitness assessment at Bannatyne's - perhaps I should wait a bit before doing either?

I've got my 60th birthday football match(es) on Friday night, followed by beer and curry - I'm not sure if the beneficial effects of the little exercise I can now manage on the football field can get close to outweighing the detrimental effects of the afters.

Some good news last night - Kelly thought of a birthday present for me - she bought me 2 tickets for Neil Young at AECC on 24th June.

Tonight and tomorrow night are TV nights - Champions League second leg matches - should be good.

Time to start thinking about the next holiday - have you all thought about what bags are going to be put in the hold? We currently have 4 paid for - if we need more, we should book before we go - let me know how many pieces you are each going to take with you.

Monday 9 March 2009

Birthday dinner (2)

I got the following interesting present from Gary and Carole - no, sorry, Luca - yesterday:

I forgot to mention that Jo made a wonderful meal for us - pork tenderloin - it was yummy - and the presentation was beautiful - I wish we had taken a photo.


Sunday 8 March 2009

Birthday dinner

Gary, Carole and Luca arrived this afternoon for dinner and one of my presents from them was an Aberdeen shirt:


This is what it says on the back:




Sat night/Sunday

We had a nice time at Banchory Lodge last night for the Fish Dinner. We met up with Michael and Frances Salter - we hadn't seen them for years. Michael's retired now, although he's still President of the Chamber of Commerce and has a few non-exec Directorships which keep him going a few days each month. They've just bought a new property in Dunning, not far from Gleneagles - they're going to let it out for the summer but then possibly move in over the winter. They've got 5 grandchildren now, the latest of which just arrived on Thursday - it made us feel quite inferior, with us only having 3 - come on, you lot, you're not trying!

Btw, Frances can still talk the hind legs off a donkey - even Jo could barely get a word in edgeways!

This morning was nice and bright although a little cold after Tenerife, and I enjoyed our golf. I spoke to Kelly, who wants us to save up copies of the front page of the Saturday Times - apparently because of some Pizza Express offer!

Just now, I'm watching FA Cup footy and waiting for Gary, Carole and Luca to arrive for dinner.

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