I was told at the time of my right knee replacement 3 years ago that my left knee would also need replaced eventually but it doesn't feel like the same sort of pain I experienced then and I am wondering - maybe secretly hoping - that there's something else wrong with it that doesn't need as drastic surgery as a complete replacement. Anyway, I've decided to set the ball rolling and have made an appointment with the GP next Tuesday.
On the way back from Tenerife, I looked out of the plane window to see the setting sun shining on the wing tip of the plane:
So while I was away, Jo had to cope with the replacement of our hot water tank which we discovered had been slowly leaking for a while. They didn't do it properly at first as Jo awoke the morning after the fitting to find the utility room floor awash with water. The towels she used to mop it all up were then washed and dried and Jo thought the weight of them had then broken the washing machine, but it transpired that it was only due to a lack of water infeed - the water supply taps hadn't been fully re-opened after the tank was replaced. Cue embarrassed looks from Jo.
It's been a school in-service couple of days so Luca has been staying with us, but Gary will be picking him up tonight as Luca's back at school tomorrow. This afternoon Luca and I went out on our bikes. The initial plan was for us to cycle along to Morrison's/Tesco to get some shopping. Luca was OK cycling on the road that goes through KGV park, but when we turned on to the Deeside Way - a path he's walked many times before - he panicked and said he couldn't do it - the path was too narrow.
In the end we just cycled up and down the road in KGV park and he was very happy to do this - in fact, it was a problem getting him to stop. "Cycling's good fun, Granda, isn't it?". Here we are:
Finally, I've started looking at USA holiday options for next year. I'm currently hatching a plan to travel over early July, flying in to Atlanta, Georgia then over to Savannah, pick up a hire car and on to nearby Hilton Head Island for a week or so.
Then possibly do at least part of the Musical Road Trip described in an earlier blog posting, which would involve driving:
- Savannah to Atlanta - c. 250 miles
- Atlanta to Nashville - ditto
- Nashville to Memphis - c. 200 miles
That's do-able, I think - and it helped my thinking to write it down here. From Memphis, we might make the relatively short trip down to Clarksdale (home of the Blues), or we may just fly from there over to Medford. I wonder how that sounds to Lucy - and Jo? I think we need to book soon - we can't wait until we come back from Australia.
Our first Headbangers show is now on the internet on River Dee Radio each evening between 7 pm and 8 pm (UK time). Have a listen - http://tunein.com/radio/River-Dee-Radio-s274232/. Tomorrow night, we're going to record our second show which should go on the same nightly loop next week.
We've got a funeral to attend on Thursday. Jacquie Howden, who worked for the Clarks for even longer than my 31 (and a bit) years - and is still there - her husband Tom collapsed and died suddenly last week. It was only a month or so ago that I cycled to Garlogie and had lunch with them both there.
