Weds

What a glorious day! - and it was the penultimate night of our Summer Quaich competition shorts were in order - here I am with Ken Black and Dick Taylor.

The property in St Ives is available for both September and October but the rates are dear because they require a minimum of 3 nights (September) and the October stay straddles 2 weeks, one of them the school holidays, so we have to pay for a week for the 4 nights' stay. Still, it's a big place and a good location, so we might just go for it.

Sun/Mon/Tue

Gary and Carole came over mid afternoon on Sunday and stayed for tea - steak pie from Banchory's new butcher - very good. We watched the Dons make a good start against Celtic but then lose it late on.

Luca was great - happy to sit up for long periods now - although judicious use of pillows behind is still advised - see above. Gary and Carole now have their eyes on 3 other properties - one ready to walk in to in Inverurie - Carole loves it but is a little concerned that the garden is a little too small. The other properties are in Insch and Oyne and they'll be visiting all 3 again this week, along with any others that come along.

Jo was back at school on Monday - training day - and she was full of moans again - and more of them today (Tuesday) - but it seems she is perfectly justified - she can't even get the janitor to change a light bulb - "not my job, guv".

I managed a brief trip to the gym yesterday and some squash with Keith last night. We went to the golf club but they were between casks so we decided to make a swift trip round to the Stag to try out their ale - they've just started doing it and it was pretty good - could be on the Friday night rota from now on.

I was in Fraserburgh all day today but left there at the speed of sound to try to get to Bannatyne's before 4:00 pm when my day pass becomes invalid - I made it with one minute to spare! I had a really good workout, doing all my upper body, leg and cardio exercises - it's bound to hurt tomorrow!

Kelly phoned tonight - Craig had spotted another more suitable property near St Ives - it looks good and perhaps Jo and I might stay there in September as a kind of dummy run for the Lesinas visit in October - see http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/st-ives/11074

Sunday at home

Sunday morning and it's been raining all night. I got up at the usual time, but felt pretty sure the courses would be closed - I was right - and relieved - think I needed a day's rest as I feel pretty tired and sore from the exertions of the last week.

I suppose I could have gone to Pittodrie to see the Dons play Celtic, but it's on Setanta and I can channel hop to the Manchester derby and the Liverpool-Chelsea match later - all from the comfort of my armchair - a definite no-brainer.

Anyway, Gary phoned this morning and he, Carole and Luca are coming over after house hunting, so at least I won't miss them.

Kelly phoned last night - she has viewed 2 of the potential properties that Lucy & Co can stay in when they come down. She preferred the quieter one, so it's up to Lucy now to see if she thinks it would be OK for the boys.