Maudlin Monday morphs in to Tiresome Tuesday

Why maudlin? Oh, I don't know - perhaps just a combination of things. Firstly, my knee, which is still acting up; secondly, stomach cramps through the night on Sunday meant I couldn't sleep - not Jo's cooking, but I suspect the ibuprofen I took for my knee - it always disagrees with my stomach; thirdly, and most annoyingly, my reading glasses broke when I went to put them back in their case on Sunday night:

These are top of the range Silhouette frames and shouldn't do this! Jo has them as well. I took so long deciding which ones to buy, and since I took the plunge at Lassman's in Medford whilst on holiday in USA in 2007, it's been a tale of woe. When I got back to work in Scotland, I found out that the lenses, which were excellent for close-up reading, were no use for computer work, so off I trotted to the local Silhouette supplier in Aberdeen, who discovered that the American opticians had fitted the wrong lenses, so I had to shell out for new ones that matched my prescription! So much for saving some money by buying in US$!

Anyway, I finished off my Death of Dalziel audiobook as I was shuttling around in the Golden Triangle of Banchory-Fraserburgh-Aberdeen yesterday. Don't know how I made it through to the end - it was as tiresome as I suspected from the start. Much more interesting is the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - can't wait to pick it up each evening.

Tuesday was a busy morning and then Michael said he was going across town, so I seized the opportunity and asked for a lift to the optician's. First the bad news - the frames were out of warranty. Next the better news that they had replacement frames in stock - and what's more, they could fit them now! OK - how much? How much? We'll give you 50% off sir - how much? I do hope they last this time - certainly the most expensive glasses I've ever bought.

Might slope off a bit early and head for the gym - it's about time I started going regularly again - how many times must that phrase be written in blogs and diaries the world over? Will pop in to Franco's on the way home - we're planning a meal there on Friday to bid farewell to Malcolm Lodge, who's moving to Houston full-time - although retaining his house at Drumoak.

We've got a bit of a dilemma with the possible Oz trip now that Kelly is coming back in October - Jo and I had words on this last night. She's not keen on going Down Under at Xmas and leaving her wee boy on his own - and she thinks it's too soon after Kelly's been here. The problem I have is that that's the only time I can take off. Is there a compromise to be found? Could we persuade Ross to come with us?