I rediscovered an old video on my camera - I'd forgotten I'd taken it. It's me "interviewing" Miller at his school open day earlier this year - https://youtu.be/S5zlKMLrC78
More recently, we've had Luca staying with us the last 2 weekends - and he and his Dad are staying over tonight as well (Gary's got a night out in Banchory). Schools in Scotland were due to start back from last Tuesday (11th) but Luca's school class is being left to the very latest date all schools have to return, which is next Tuesday (18th), so his recent stays with us were kind of late consolation "holidays" with us, providing him with a change of scenery at least.
Of course, Luca likes nothing better than going on to his Play Station and we do indulge him a fair bit when he's here, but we also like to ensure he gets a bit of variety as well, taking him walks and bike rides when the weather permits. Here he is on one of our forest walks:
That was on his first weekend here. More recently, we took the opportunity of the good weather and took a picnic down at a quiet spot on the river, after which we took the long way home, eastwards along the river bank where Luca and Jo hopped on the rocks:
Here's some video of the events: https://youtu.be/ub8UzUkCDg0 and https://youtu.be/BWC9aY1gnqE
Just the other night (Thursday), Jo and I were settling down with gins and tonic, ready for our usual weekly Zoom session with Barry, Helen and Dawn when I spotted some activity in our back garden on the top tier. On closer inspection, it was a bird of prey - possibly one of the local Ospreys who nest up at the Trout Fishery on Raemoir Road - beginning to devour its kill - a blackbird of sorts. It tore off the feathers and then started eating the meat, taking about an hour before its hunger was satisfied and all that was left was a carcass, which it then flew off with, probably to give to its youngsters. Here's some of the action we witnessed:
Grisly- but that's life.
Nothing much else to report, other than I managed two bike rides this week - one "analogue" and one e-bike - plus two games of golf. Incidentally, the new saddle Jo wanted before she would try cycling again arrived yesterday, so we'll need to put her to the test now!
We're taking part in a virtual Edinburgh Book Festival event this afternoon - Val McDermid - and we've got another one booked next week - Ian Rankin. I've also got our annual golf trip to St. Andrews on Tuesday, the same day as British Gas arrive to finally do our service. It must have been 2 years since they've been, which didn't stop them from charging us monthly. Grrr.
