The weekend starts here!

My work here is done for this week. Next visit here will be Tuesday morning for a Board Meeting, which I've half prepared for.

This morning was my 6 month (almost) visit to see my knee surgeon. He got it x-rayed first of all:

The two bright white bits are the metal that is screwed in to my thigh bone and shinbone. In the second one where the knee is flexed, you can see my kneecap protruding at the front (left top) but what is not quite so clear is the plastic insert between the metal. This is likely to be the first thing that goes - in several years time, I hope!

He told me that it's best if I give him early warning of pain starting. Then he has a chance of doing more minor work, such as replacing the plastic, but, if I leave it too long, it's major surgery again as it's likely that the metal will have started moving as the bone deteriorates.

That said, he was very happy with it and I don't have to go back and see him unless I have any problems. He did say the remaining swelling on the knee should still come down a bit further over the next 6-12 months.

All in all, a pretty good report card, I think.

Midweek looming

One day's work done and now one third of the way through my working week. Fraserburgh tomorrow, then golf tomorrow night, followed by my 6 month appointment with my knee surgeon on Thursday morning then I'm free again!

I got my own car back today. It was making noises last week and apparently one of the brake calipers was binding. I'll be able to test it tomorrow on the 55 mile drive to the Broch. Hopefully it's OK now.

I had a busy day in the office, but managed a decent walk at lunchtime and still got home not long after 5 this evening and managed a short cycle to the Legion, via Inchmarlo and Burnett Park, after dropping off North Sea Ales to the Raemoir House Hotel and Deeside Drinks (note to self - need to go there when I have more time to use up my birthday voucher from Ross). A couple of pints and the Times and, before I knew it, an hour or so had passed.

Another look at our energy bills. First of all electricity:

2013-14

2012-13

Looks like our electricity consumption is under control - we've more than halved it since last summer. Wish I could say the same thing about gas:

2013-14

2012-13

Virtually no change. What to do? New condensing boiler? Magic box? More insulation? All of the aforementioned?

Easter - long weekend no. 3

It's Easter Monday morning and we've just failed to talk to Kelly on FaceTime - there seems to be some kind of connection problem.

Jo's not had a good week. She seemed to be recovering last Sunday, but has since gone backwards a bit and has been coughing away. I was despatched to the Chemist's on Saturday morning to try and get some Mucron, only to discover that this product was taken off the market some years ago. I was then quizzed by the pharmacist about Jo's symptoms and her medication and she refused to sell me any other decongestant as it could cause issues with her heart. We had to settle for some Olbas Oil topped up with paracetamol.

So Easter Sunday wasn't looking good for a while - just Jo and I at first, with Ross joining us a bit later, and Gary and Luca then making a quick surprise visit. Gary was on call and, sure enough, he got called away after half an hour or so. Lucy FaceTimed us over dinner, so it was like she was there with all of us. When the chocolate cake came out, Luca's eyes shone - as did Lucy's!:

Here they are, munching away:

I golfed on Wednesday night and played my first medal competition on Saturday, then played again on Sunday morning. The weather has been terrific, with wall to wall sunshine and it's been great to get out. It must have been very frustrating for Jo to be bed-bound most of the time.

Jo did get out with me on Friday when I was doing the CAMRA newsletter deliveries round Deeside. She came along for the ride, but only got out of the car once for a little stroll round Ballater. Deeside was looking fantastic with the skies so blue and not a cloud to be seen. The best bit was when we were approaching Ballater and got a magnificent view of Lochnagar, still covered in pure white snow. We should have stopped and taken a photo - I'd never seen it look so stunning.

On Friday afternoon, Keith Gray and I went for a cycle out to Crathes, stopping at the Legion for a beer or two on the way back. We sat on the terrace there, basking in the warm sun, looking over the Deeside hills. Lovely.

All of this golf and cycling has certainly improved my activity levels. Of course, it's Spring now and the weather's better and the days are longer, so that's helped, but so has my change to 3 day weeks. I'm less sedentary now, and that's reflected in my Jawbone Up stats - which also act as a motivating tool too.

I've been a member of BA's Executive Club for over 20 years now and they recently sent me a link showing my history of flying with them over that time:

Every single flight is recorded and you can search to see where you travelled any year. Interesting.

That's all for today, but I've got my hopefully final visit to see my knee surgeon on Thursday. I'm hoping he'll give me the all-clear, although it'll still be up to me to keep up my exercise and stretching regime after that. The knee's been great so far but I don't want it ever to stiffen up on me.