Friday - the weekend approaches

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

Did I remember Valentine's Day yesterday? - you bet:

The weather was so pleasant yesterday that I stopped off at the bay in Fraserburgh on my way home:

There was a couple of surfers out looking for a wave - without much success in calm waters:

It's been a hell of a few weeks in the food industry, what with the "mackerel wars" (as the press now dub it) and then the horse meat scandals. There's been so much attention focused on the latter that mackerel issues have already been consigned to the past, or so it seems. There's no doubt the supermarkets and the government are running scared, however. Our factories are audited regularly - both by our customers and external accreditation agencies - some planned, some unannounced. This week, however, all 3 of our factories have suddenly had unannounced audits - many of them way out of sequence with the norm.

The Government - via HMRC - are also on the prowl for unlicensed foreign workers, judging by one of the calls I had to field this week - they were looking for agency staff, but we don't have any - all of our foreign workers (nearly 300) are employed directly by us, with the appropriate passport etc checks.

It's been a week of top class footy on TV as well, but, in between, Jo and I have been watching a couple of series we recorded. One is The Following (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Following), starring Kevin Bacon - pretty grisly and an idea that's a bit over the top - shades of Manson's mob from the 60's. The other was a 4-parter we recorded last year but only got round to watching the first episode of last night - The Fear, starring Peter Mullan as an archetypal Glaswegian gangster who's beginning to show traces of dementia.

I've also been sorting out some of the admin for various trips and events coming up this year, including:

• Headbang - Friday 1st March
• Ceilidh - Old Course Hotel, St. Andrews - Saturday 2nd March
• Wilko Johnson concert - Saturday 9th March
• Jo's shoulder operation - Friday 22nd March
• Carole's trip to Lincolnshire - Saturday 30th March to 6th April
• Ramsdens Cup Final - Livingston - Sunday 7th April
• Golf trip to Turkey - Saturday 13th April for a week
• Boat of Garten - Sunday/Monday 12/13 May
• Slaley Hall golf weekend - 6th - 8th July
• USA holiday - 10th July - 6th August
• Boat of Garten - 1st/2nd September
• Tenerife golf - 20th October for a week

Then we've got the Lesinas coming over at Christmas/New Year, plus we have to start thinking about another trip down to Oz next year. Busy boy.

Mind you, a lot of this - especially the golf - could be aborted if I decide to go ahead with a new knee. My GP's appointment is just a couple of weeks away - best start thinking about it.

Have a nice weekend.

Tuesday tit-bits

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

Not really much to say over the last few days, but I did manage to get all my pub surveys finished this weekend - and I've updated CAMRA's database now too - all in good time for this Saturday's annual meeting to decide what goes in to the GBG - and our Pub of the Year winners (commonly known as PotY's).

Luca's with us for a few days as it's school half term just now. He's very good - but I can tell it's been a long day for Jo when I get home. Btw, Jo's operation is scheduled for Friday 22nd March - if she goes ahead with it. Sod's Law, it seems her shoulder is now starting to get a bit better.

I've taken the first tentative steps as well - I've made an appointment with my GP - not until 8th March - to get a referral to the knee surgeon. I still don't know if I'm going to do it or not, though.

Dentist tomorrow - and the hygienist. Should be a fun day.

Oh - and we've booked tickets to go and see Karine Polwart (http://www.karinepolwart.com/) again at Woodend Barn on Friday 26th April.

Carole's going to use one of our timeshare weeks down in Lincolnshire on the first week of Luca's Easter holidays. It's a 3 bedroom unit so she'll be able to have her whole family over if she wants!

Must go now. I've had my rant for today on my other blog, so it's home for tea - then Celtic v. Inter Milan on TV!