It's cooled down a bit in the last few days and finally we've got some proper rain - a bit too much this morning, if truth be told. We had seemed to have dodged the previous storms sweeping the UK but it's finally caught up with NE Scotland now.
Only a few days now until Scott and Lucy leave Oregon on the long journey over the Atlantic. They arrive at ABZ a week tomorrow after spending a couple of days in London. They're going to be busy when they get here and the time will flash by. Lucy will want to spend time with some old friends, especially Lorna, and she plans to meet up with Julie somewhere too. I'll make sure I keep Scott busy too - and Brian and Barry when they're here. This is some of what I'm thinking of:
Monday 28th July - pick up at ABZ (17:40)
Tuesday 29th July - Brian & Mary arrive. Scott, Brian and me to Ian Dring's for beers
Wednesday 30th July - Afternoon golf at Banchory
Thursday 31st July - Brian & Mary leave
Friday 1st August - Golf at Eden course, St. Andrews
Saturday 2nd August - St. Johnstone v Partick Thistle (Perth) with Gary?
Sunday 3rd August - Barry and Helen arrive
Monday 4th August - Barry, Scott and me cycle?
Tuesday 5th August - Barry and Helen leave
Wednesday 6th August - My knee op (11 am)
Thursday 7th August - I get home after op
Friday 8th August - Scott and Lucy leave (6:50 am)
I've added Scott and Lucy to our car insurance for the period when they're here. Sod's law - we don't have our car now! Last week Jo came home from her regular Tuesday afternoon with her pal Elizabeth and reported that there were a couple of amber lights showing on the dash so I had a quick look - usual drill - reboot and see if they disappear (they didn't).
I got in touch with our car dealer and they advised me to call Volvo Assistance. I got an immediate response and they told me they were sending a vehicle out. I assumed it would be a technician/mechanic to have a look at the problem, but, no - a great big car transporter arrived within 30 minutes and hauled our car away to the dealer's. Great, I thought - super service - but since then, nothing other than a daily text to tell me they haven't even looked at our car yet:
Jo's been busy rearranging the plants in the back. First she created a mini rock garden corner:
Next, she moved up a level and rearranged the layout:
No news yet of Ross' HGV licence. It's been way too long now - something must have gone wrong.
Last week I went to Edinburgh to meet up with some of my old school pals again:
