Weekend travels

Lots to report and plenty of photos and videos. Friday was busy - dentist first, then work. I ordered our new TV, which arrives next Friday (our Sky HD box is installed tomorrow - Monday). The slater was here as well, but I missed him - trust he's fixed our roof. Stan England also said he was trying to arrange access to measure up for the plinth for our new stairs at the back of the house - perhaps it's actually going to happen this time?

Ross was poorly on Thursday and slept for virtually 36 hours. I saw him on Friday morning and asked him how he felt about travelling to Manchester to see the United match. He didn't think he would be up to it and I asked if I should arrange a replacement for him and he said yes, so I duly did. Sod's law, when I came home, he'd made a bit of a recovery and probably could have gone after all - great pity - too late! Oh - and Kelly's Christmas present for Jo finally arrived today!

Gary stayed over on Friday night and he and I left not long after 8:00 am on Saturday morning. We met up with my business guest, Alistair Scott of HSBC (ex Rangers player) and his colleague, Gordon Kennedy (standing in for Ross) at Hamilton. Alistair offered to drive and so I left my car there and Gary and I squeezed in to the back of his Audi Quattro convertible.

We made good time and checked in to our hotel north of Manchester, ordered a taxi and had a quick pint while we waited for it to arrive. At Old Trafford, we strolled round the stadium and went in to the shop, where I took the photo of Gary above in front of a huge mural of the current squad. From there we wandered round to the Corporate Hospitality suite for champagne, beer, wine and a fine meal before the match. The Premiership Trophy was on display so we had to get a photo of the two of us with it.

More drinks at half time and after the match - which, by the way, was wonderful - United beat Newcastle 6-0 - then back to our hotel for a few more beers before retiring to our rooms to watch Match of the Day.

After breakfast on Sunday morning, we headed north again. I had arranged to go to Dawn's about lunchtime and she brought Dad over to meet us. He was looking good again and still seems quite happy in himself - the current pills are obviously working! "How are things in Glockemora" was, as ever, oft repeated and that was about all we got out of him, conversation-wise. We had expected bacon butties, but shouldn't really have been surprised that Dawn and John had prepared a full roast beef dinner, after which Dad wanted to be taken home immediately - he'd had his dinner and had to get home before dark!

Jordon had been at one of his pals for a sleep-over and had only got to bed at 6:30 am but John fetched him over to see us - and Kieran was home as well for the weekend - my how he's changed - almost chubby now! Jordon demonstrated his prowess on the guitar and demonstrated the Wii in his room (see videos).

TV

Oh - and our new TV arrives next Friday!

Wednesday/Thursday

Nothing exciting to report. Ross has been in to work the last couple of days and last night he got a phone call from his friend telling him about a job about to be advertised tomorrow (Friday) at Banchory Contractors. He's applied - fingers crossed.

Gary, Ross and I are off to Manchester on Saturday to see Man U play Newcastle. Gary may stay over here tomorrow night so we can make an early start on Saturday morning. Jo's out with the girls tomorrow - and she's definitely decided to retire in June - I found out by lugging in to her telecon with Anne tonight.

Monday/Tuesday

Not feeling too bright on Monday so skipped squash, but feeling a bit brighter today.

Managed to speak to slaters and they are going to come on Friday morning to look at our roof leak.

Getting closer to buying our new TV - see photo - Samsung PS50P96FDX - 50" plasma. Have also ordered a new Sky HD box, which will allow us to move the existing Sky + box upstairs to our bedroom.

Sunday

Sunday was beautiful again - cold but sunny - and I managed a game of golf in the morning. We all then went to Inverurie for our tea. I took my overnight bag as I was heading straight to Fraserburgh in the morning - not sure if I'll repeat that, however, after a night on a single air bed on the floor!

Luca was in good form - the videos show him crawling forwards at last and getting his legs ready for walking with some support from Jo and Gary. The photos show Christmas presents - Kelly's is the one hanging on the fireplace and Luca is wearing his complete Tigger outfit - slippers and book included.

Saturday

Still not heard back from the slater, but at least I managed to stop the noise of the dripping last night, despite it being pretty stormy. However, the water is still getting in so we need to get it attended to soon.

Also just realised that CALA seem to be up to the same dirty tricks as Roxanne. Their notification to neighbours was dated Christmas Eve, but was only received on Friday. We have 14 days to object and this would appear to expire on Monday - we haven't even had a chance to view their plans yet. I've written to the Council and the local Councillors seeking advice.

Today was fairly lazy. I moved the fax from the TV room up to the office upstairs in preparation for the new suite arriving in a few weeks. I've also taken the existing couch back and am now sitting quite a bit further back from the TV. We've still to order the new TV plus a table to sit it on and perhaps some additional shelving etc.

Squash this afternoon was only 2 games for me - one each against Harry and Richard, then we all went back to the Legion, joined by Colin and Archie and watched Man Utd beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

Not sure if the golf course will be open in the morning or not, but we're going over to Inverurie for tea about 4:00 pm tomorrow.

Friday morning

Been up in the loft and found the source of the leak - it's coming down the side of the chimney breast - I've been in touch with D & D Slating and hopefully they'll be out soon.

This morning's mail contained the official notification of Banchory's worst kept secret - CALA have submitted their plans for developing the Tor-na-Coille Hotel. Looks like Roxanne has sold to them - perhaps subject to planning permission - the battle starts again! Remember her oft-repeated and much publicised quote that she " had no immediate plans for development"?

Thursday night

It's Friday morning now and I'm up waiting for some daylight. I was awakened at 4:30 am this morning with the sound of dripping above my head. It appears that the wet snow overnight may have sprung a leak in the roof - I'll need to investigate. No doubt getting a contractor out at this time will be difficult.

I'll delay going in to the office.

Weds/Thu

It now almost feels like we're back to normal after the holiday break - although with all the food and drink we've consumed, our bodies don't feel normal yet - Jo says she is OK, but I still feel a bit bloated and tired.

On Wednesday, it was 20 years to the day when we started our Veterans' Football Group and we had a little celebration match at the all-weather pitch at DATA. I took the usual team photo (a little blurred by the drizzle) and we had a beer at the Douglas afterwards.

We went to the Simcoxes for dinner and what a grand occasion it was - 7 courses - soup, prawns, lasagne, pork, trio of desserts, cheese and then coffee and After Eights - for 28 people in their dining room on three separate, elaborately decorated tables - and all served hot from a domestic kitchen! How does Gail do it? Most restaurants would struggle to cope with this number all at once. Richard entertained us afterwards with his newly acquired guitar, amp and microphone - all we had to do was sing along. We left with Dick and Theresa and apparently missed the karaoke session - whew!

Much of the talk over dinner was about retirement - so many of our friends have already done it, or are planning to do it - Jo repeated her desire to leave this summer - she's not happy with her Head Teacher and is pretty fed up with all the admin and form-filling. I refuse to comment one way or the other in case it is interpreted as "approval" or otherwise - Jo wants somebody to blame if she makes the wrong decision - and I ain't gonna be that person!

Having walked home with the Taylors, we were invited in for coffee - and for Jo to have the grand tour of their newly acquired home - a lovely old house on Burnett Road, which, coincidentally used to be owned by the Duncan family, from whom they acquired their shop on the High St 25 years ago.

I was back in the office this morning but came home early afternoon and played squash at 4:00 pm at Crathes. We've got some snow now - our first this winter. There might be more tonight - hope it's heavy and I don't have to go in to the office in the morning!

Ne'erday evening

As planned, we went along to the Burnett to listen to the band - they weren't bad. Johanne hadn't slept for the last 24 hours, so didn't make it, but Colin came along. Jo's obviously starting to feel a lot better because she was in full-on, stroppy, finger-pointing mode, as demonstrated by the photo. I then put the camera in to video mode but the two of them immediately shut up!

Ne'erday walk

We went out for a walk and it was a little overcast and misty - not good for curly-heads, so the hat went on - see photo.

We walked along the riverside and went down to the Platties and took the other photo above.

When we got back after about an hour and a half, Ross was home from his evening in Aberdeen and fast asleep in bed.

There's a band called D-B-D playing in the Burnett lounge tonight and we'll probably go along.

Ne'erday

We had a lovely dinner at Colin and Johanne's last night and saw in the bells with Anne & Leslie - see photo above. The girls started singing - listen to the video.

Hogmanay

Guess what? We actually bought a suite this afternoon. Jo was in an unusually decisive mood and within a few minutes of entering Harvey's she had selected the suite you see above - a 2 seater and a 3 seater. We're going to get one or two separate swivel chairs later.

Jo's getting ready to go round to Colin and Johanne's for dinner - Anne and Leslie are picking us up at 8:00 pm. I'm ready - and I'm wearing the new shirt Jo gave me for Christmas - see above.

We missed Luca's 1st birthday yesterday but look forward to seeing them all when they get back from their trip.

Have a good one!

Weekend before New Year

Meeting with Laird on Friday went OK - agreed to meet again in about a month. Finance, as ever, is the problem. We would like 2 courts, but have a feeling that he might build one anyway, even if we can't afford to finance the ideal set-up.

Football on Friday night then down to Dundee to see the Jags on Saturday. Colin was a last minute cancellation as Johanne fell ill (nothing serious it transpires), but Dave, Malcolm and I went down. We met outside the Douglas and Dave was volunteered as driver as neither Malcolm nor I had arrived with our cars! He had little fuel - just 55 miles on the computer - and insisted on limping all the way to Dundee before filling up - with just 5 miles of fuel left! We roamed round the streets of Dundee city centre searching for both parking and a previously researched GBG entry, the Phoenix in Nethergate. On our way, we happened across Desperate Dan - see above. We didn't get to the pub until after 2pm, so there was only time for a quick pint and a burger before heading for the match. Thistle went down to 10 men after 40 minutes but performed pretty well to keep the scoresheet blank until the very last minute of the game.

Jo and I watched a movie at night - Lucy phoned midway through, but Sky + makes this easy!

A beautiful crisp morning on the golf course on Sunday morning - see above.

Back at work this morning (Monday) and just about to leave to meet Jo at Kittybrewster to look at more suites for the back room - and a TV table. Off to Colin and Johanne's tonight to see in the bells and have dinner.