Last blogger standing

Well, it appears that everyone else has given up - but am I downhearted? - you bet! I'll keep plugging away with the blogs meanwhile, but it would be nice to read a few occasionally instead of always writing.

OK - today's bleat over. The Piper this week and today's P & J feature the new manager of the Tor-na-Coille hotel. By all reports, he seems a decent bloke - I've made contact with him and asked for a meeting - which he's agreed to - but in a couple of weeks, once he's received instruction from the owner, no doubt:


It will be nice to go back there for bar suppers etc - and, who knows, we might even persuade him to stock some of Deeside Brewery's product in the longer run? As regards the squash courts, the vibrations are not hugely encouraging - but if we can persuade them to open them up again, even if only for a year or two until the Hill of Banchory development is hopefully ready - that would be a start at least.

Incidentally, this is what Ross and 3 others lived in for a week on the road to Italy and back:

Wednesday/Thursday

Went back to John Clark BMW yesterday - I've almost come to the conclusion that I should replace my Volvo when the contract expires in 3 weeks time with a 320d Tourer - it's smaller but more fuel efficient and a little more environmentally friendly - and it costs me less tax!

See http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/pricesandspecifications_detail/0,,1156_181246632__bs-Mw%3D%3D%40bb-VE8wOA%3D%3D%40bm-WkgxMg%3D%3D,00.html. Now, what about colours?

Golf last night was good fun, but I had to rush out and only saw Luca for 10 minutes and Ross for 5 - missed Gary, who stayed for tea.

Today it was Fraserburgh management meetings again and tonight is just vegetation - US PGA golf is on TV - the last of this year's Majors.

Sorry, but I don't really have anything interesting to say - is this why nobody else is updating blogs nowadays?

Monday/Tuesday

Busy start to the week. Aberdeen yesterday - lunch and a swim at Bannatyne's - the first time I'd been there for absolutely ages - don't know where the times goes - must make an effort to go more often over the winter. I came home and where had Jo been that afternoon? - swimming as well! - Westhill pool with Myra and friends - originally planned to be the open air pool at Stonehaven, but changed because of mixed weather forecast.

That evening, I was going out to the Marcliffe for dinner with Francis and a couple of Norwegians - Michael was supposed to be there as well, but he has 'flu - beware! Scallops, followed by Ribeye steak, then creme caramel - delicious!

Today was Fraserburgh with the Norwegians, then dash home, only to find an empty house - Jo was out walking - but Kelly phoned and we had a chat, so that was nice.

I received the following photo from my hosts at Gleneagles on Friday - normally I reserve these for the golf blog, but here it is for a change in this blog:


I was playing in a fourball with Alan Kelly (of Kelly's Copiers) and when we got to the 10th hole on the course, my playing partner Dave (pictured above) and I were remarking upon the striking architect designed house to the left of the fairway. It turns out it was Alan Kelly's! It's a monster, worth mega millions - didn't realise the margins in the copier business were that high - need to check what we're being charged!

It's a rather sad week - Aunt Helen today, then it's the 7th anniversary of Mum's cremation tomorrow; Friday - 5 years since Dr. Clark died; then, on Sunday, it's the 18th anniversary of Jo's Dad's departure.

We've got too many timeshare exchanges building up again, so I'm now looking for something for Kelly and Craig when they get to Oz - it would be nice if I could help them settle in by finding somewhere for them to stay for a week. Incidentally, Gary, Carole, Scott, Lucy, Ross - let me know if you fancy a week's holiday somewhere and I'll see if I can use up another week this way.

Trip to the South West

I forgot to mention that I've now booked some hotel accommodation for our trip to Exeter late September. We booked flights months ago - it was meant to be a farewell to Kelly and Craig, but they've had to bring forward their departure to Oz, so they won't be there now. I'm glad now that I booked the Exeter flights from Aberdeen, rather than the usual Edinburgh-Newquay flights.

Jo and I will just treat it as little City break - I've booked us in to http://www.citygatehotel.com/, which is apparently right in the heart of the city. Kelly will give us the lowdown on where to go and what to see, and, if we get fed up with the city, we can always jump on a train and go somewhere nice - like Topsham (http://www.topsham.org/). Bill Miller told me we must visit there - he was a regular every year when his Aunty Pam lived down there. He particularly recommended the Bridge Inn - http://www.cheffers.co.uk/bridge.html. Any other suggestions gratefully received.

First week back - great!

Well, our first week back has been great - the weather has been superb, which has meant there has been no great shock to the system. (I've played 5 games of golf in the last week - each one of them in shorts and warm sunshine). I've also not really had any jetlag - I awake sometimes at odd hours, but otherwise it's been fine - maybe it is easier travelling Business Class!

Jo hasn't been near her computer so her blog is now 3 weeks out of date. I think she's waiting for Ross to fix her computer so she can get her photos on and update her blog from there. Talking of Ross, he should be heading back from Italy soon. He didn't quite keep his promise to his Mum to phone when he got to his destination, although he did phone from Dijon in France on Friday - apparently they only had 400 or so miles to go then.

Since my last post, I had a really hectic Thursday - dashing north to Fraserburgh for 3 management meetings in the morning, then heading south to Glasgow for a late afternoon meeting. I had a quick bite at Foveran on the way down - I hadn't been there in years, but Ross got me to stop there the last time we were down in Manchester, and it's pretty good now.

I met up with Barry and Helen in Wetherspoon's Crystal Palace and we had a curry. They were dashing off to a concert (Jack Bruce) and I then went to see Dad. It was about 7:30 pm when I got there and, guess what? - he was tucked up in bed:

He was, as you can see, half awake, but he soon came round and we tried chatting for a while, but this, as usual, proved difficult, so it was on to singing, and then we put some of his CD's on - some Glenn Miller, then Patsy Cline, and, finally, Glen Campbell. He seemed to enjoy this - especially the country music of Patsy Cline - we hummed along and sang where we could pick up the words. The care assistants came in during this to give him his pills - he took one, but then refused - I don't think he liked the girl - she was East European and very pleasant - she tried hard, but I sensed Dad was uncomfortable and eventually she left, saying she would try again later. I left about 9 pm and Dad seemed happy and settled.

On Friday, I drove from Barry's to Gleneagles - it was a wonderful day, and what a marvellous place it is when the weather's like this. On the drive home, Barry phoned me to relay the sad news that George Rogers had just phoned to say that Aunt Helen had died. She was younger than Dad, but had had a number of health problems in recent years, so it was probably no surprise.

So my Dad is the last of that generation of Stewarts to survive. Brother Johnny died a long time ago - perhaps the 1970's? - then came Alex, then Willie a few years ago, and now Helen. When you look at this list of names, and how "normal" they are, how on earth did he end up with the moniker Swanson Renshaw? Answers on a postcard please.

Tomorrow night, I'm out for dinner at the Marcliffe with a couple of visiting Norwegians. I guess I should have told Jo earlier - she's had to freeze the spag bog originally planned for Monday's tea.