Car Fixed?

Put my car in to Caldwell & Dempster again yesterday morning and explained what happened on Tuesday. Left the car there and went out for a cycle in the afternoon, picking up my car on the way back. New caliper, brake pads, warning wire and brake fluid and they cleaned the discs and bled the brakes. Hopefully it's now OK - £300 - 2 hours' work @ £52 per hour - a bit dearer than Harlaw Garage in Inverurie who only charge at £40 per hour.

Should have been cycling this morning, but forecast put me off - plus the fact that I cycled yesterday. I may go out again tomorrow afternoon - need to build up a level of fitness again. It's amazing how quickly you lose any level of fitness you strive so hard to attain.

The changing seasons are all too obvious now. I started taking photos of the trees out front from our bedroom back in April - I'm now on number 57. Here's the last 3 - the first was early October, just before we went to Spain and the next two were taken on Sunday and this morning:

Car trouble

Now that I'm back in Banchory, I had to get my car seen to, so I took it along to Caldwell & Dempster on Monday morning - with the bike in the back so I could leave it there and cycle home. I joined the other guys for the Monday afternoon cycle - to Torphins - then cycled back to pick up my car and get an update on what was wrong with it.

It seems they couldn't detect anything wrong - either when plugging in to the computer or when taking it on a test drive to Crathes and back. I was assured it was OK to drive the car so we took it to Inverurie yesterday to test it. It was fine for the first 10 miles or so, but then the traction control lights started flashing on and off again. I disabled this facility but soon the warning light was flashing again and by the time we got to Luca's school, the car was barely driveable. The rear nearside wheel was red hot.

We found a small garage - Harlaw - not far from Gary and Carole's and they said it was probably a brake caliper sticking. Half an hour later it was fixed. That'll be £20, sir - bargain!

We drove home later in the evening and again things were fine for the first 10-12 miles then it started all over again. We limped home and now this morning (Wednesday), we're about to take it back to Caldwell & Dempster for another look.

Got to pick up my monthly drugs order from the pharmacy too. I saw our Doctor on Monday and we agreed that my one month trial with Rivaroxaban should be extended by another two months. It's been generally OK so far, although I've noticed more episodes of light-headedness recently. You know that feeling when you get up too quickly? - well, some of you may do - that's what I've been getting. If the frequency becomes too much, then we'll have to think again at Christmas. It has to be something stronger than baby aspirin - possibly Warfarin again? The problem with that is that it needs so much monitoring - not easy when we're travelling so much - but at least there is a known antidote. Much thinking to be done.

The other big issue this week is our boiler. It's about 12 years old and approaching the end of its normal life - although it's got a few years yet. A new combi condensing boiler would undoubtedly be more efficient, but when to do this? We signed a contract and paid a deposit with Penicuik, but they blotted their copybook when they came to install it and we took a step back and saw Scottish Gas on Monday.

Our preference would be to go with Scottish Gas, but what premium is OK to pay? Penicuik were £3.5K but Scottish Gas is £5K - quite a difference. We need time to think.

Today our thoughts are with Carole. She has finally - and very reluctantly - taken the tough decision with Isis and the deed will be done this afternoon. The poor dog is suffering from so many ailments now and is over 100 years old in human terms.

Back home again

The journey back from my golf holiday - the second of my 2 weeks on Costa del Sol - went smoothly enough and I got home about 3 pm - just in time to join Jo in a short walk round Burnett Park. She had agreed to take Trish next door's dog, Barley, out whilst she was at a wedding reception.

Of course, the clocks went back - twice for me - yesterday. They say the change back to GMT gives us an extra hour in bed. What they mean is that it gives us a chance of an extra hour in bed - there's only so long you can lie there anyway before nature insists you get up.

It was nice to sleep in my own bed again last night - not that there was anything wrong with the beds at the Marriott resort or the Hotel Andalucia, although I do find that the pillows are always too soft.

The first thing I noticed when I got home was how many fallen leaves there were. It's definitely Autumn now. Glorious colours - who needs New England in the Fall - Deeside is lovely:

So this week I have to get my car looked at. It went wonky the morning we drove to the airport. Ross now thinks it might be the suspension and not just a software fault. I haven't driven it yet, so I'm not sure how safe it is.

We've also got Scottish Gas coming tomorrow morning to get another quote for a new boiler. Wish us well. I hope to get out for a cycle after that - I need the exercise.