Lucy 38!!!

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

Yes - no hiding place - this time next year, Lucy will be entering her 40th year! Happy birthday, girl! Here's an old one of her when we lived in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire. We had 2 fabulous summers in a row - 1975 and 1976, but I suspect this one was taken in 1977 or 1978 as Gary was a little boy then. Our neighbours were Ray and Chris Barrie from a couple of doors along and their children, Sasha and Karl, were similar ages to our two:

Good - Blogspot allowed me to upload this, so perhaps I haven't reached my limit after all.

Have a good one, Lucy - see you in August.

Thursday update

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

I just tried to update the sidebar archive photos on my blog and was told by Google that I couldn't do it as I had exceeded my photo upload limit! - but I was deleting one and replacing it? Bah!

Watched The Apprentice last night after golf - I enjoy the analysis of what went wrong (or right) with the task - it's part of what I do at work, so I find it interesting - and the characters are generally so odious - I guess that's why I always look forward to it.

So far this week, I've played squash once, golf once and been to the gym once. Tonight it's squash again - twice in one week - unusual for this time of year. My body will be sore tomorrow.

Forgot to say we watched Wall Street - Money Never Sleeps last Saturday. I had thought I might enjoy it, but Ross merely pulled a face when I told him what the DVD was, so our expectations were immediately lowered - and he was right! Much better - although gloomier and tragic - was the previous Saturday's viewing - Telstar - the Joe Meek (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Meek) story.

So, I've now booked our accommodation in Australia and Singapore next year - we're there during the Adelaide Festival (http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/), which should be fun. We've also finally decided on a date for our golf trip back to Turkey next year - I think! It's been a long drawn-out battle trying to get 7-8-9 guys to agree a mutually acceptable date, but I think we're almost there. Of course, I narrowed the options a bit by taking an extended break Down Under - and a little later than we did this year.

This Saturday it's the Champions League final. I had initially proposed bringing a few friends round to watch it but was told, in no uncertain terms, not to bother, but to go to the pub instead - so that's what I'll be doing!

Next week I'm off to London for my annual cricket trip to Lord's, and also to take in a couple of concerts - Nils Lofgren and then Donovan - the latter at the Royal Albert Hall again.

My pal, Gary Grant, has just recorded a slightly politically charged single and it's available on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0IfIum_B0w. Ross will probably enjoy the sentiments!

Lazy Sunday afternoon

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

Yes - it feels like the famous Small Faces 1967 track - remember "cor blimey Mrs Jones, how's your Bert's lumbago?" - as I while away the hours alone at home. Ross is asleep and Jo's at church/coffee and there's no golf today. I should have been up Lochnagar but had to pull out at the last moment as I didn't feel too great and my knees are acting up a bit again. I was concerned that I might hold the other guys back so I pulled out.

As a consolation, I did go a walk up Scolty - it was nice and quiet early in the morning, and I enjoyed the peace. Here's a panoramic view I took from the top: