I recall golfing last Wednesday afternoon at Banchory and again in the Seniors Open at Montrose on Friday, where I did rather well, coming in second in my class and winning a £60 voucher plus a sleeve of golf balls when I had an eagle two at the par 4 ninth hole. I had driven Jo in to Aberdeen for her to catch the Gold Bus down to Glasgow where she was spending the weekend with Mary and her family - it was Leo's First Communion on Sunday.
Last Thursday morning, I was cycling with our Freewheelers group but I managed to get some prep work done on the right hand wall in our back garden. I had a free day on Saturday when Jo was away and so I got the coping stones put on the left hand wall and cemented the bricks back in the right hand side. I ran out of mortar mix before I could finish the job off with the top coping stones, but here's how both sides now look:
Jo thinks the wobbly wall gives a rustic effect.
Not once have I managed to get a perfect mortar mix yet - the last one was too wet again, so I'm just waiting for the day when The Walls of Jericho come tumbling down. Not my forte - and not something I've attempted for a lifetime.
Sunday/Monday was our first trip over the Lecht this year to Grantown and Boat of Garten. It was our 59th trip in our 30th year, so next time (September) is our Diamond Anniversary! Unlike Friday at Montrose, my golf was shocking - I really struggled with my knees. I half expected my recently repaired left knee might get a bit tender but I was really disappointed that my new(ish) right knee was equally painful. I guess I'll just need to curtail the golf a bit - the lateral movement must be causing this. My physio, who I saw again yesterday, is still encouraging me to keep cycling and walking. She's asked me to up the exercise regime a bit, so we'll see how that goes. I was pretty disciplined when recuperating from my knee replacement last year, but I guess I've been a little complacent about the cartilage repair this year.
On the way over on Sunday, I made a slight detour in to Bellwade Farm, just short of Aboyne where the Kelpie "marquettes" are currently on display:
That reminds me that we must go and see the real thing near Falkirk - and also the Falkirk Wheel - next time we're heading that way.
Of course, yesterday we were over at Inverurie to look after Luca, but today I'm preparing for my hill-walking on the West Coast this weekend. We leave early tomorrow morning and head for Mull initially:
Gary sent us this nice, albeit slightly fuzzy, photo of Luca when he was at the trials for the school football team:
I'm having a rest from golf today, but I may try and finish the wall this afternoon if the weather permits and I get myself properly organised for tomorrow.
