Thursday night/Friday morning

Jo likes the new suite - the room is full of the smell of new leather.

I went along to the big meeting in the Burnett last night on the KGV playing fields project - it's a very adventurous and wide-ranging project and requires major fund-raising and will take several years of hard work. I had to give it our support but it's a long shot and very distant - and will probably not come about before I finish playing squash!

Ross did get up this morning and take Jo to work, but when she got there she realised she had left her handbag somewhere - cue panic phone calls home! She had left it in my car, which she had moved to let Ross' car out, so I'll just take it in to her when I pick her up this afternoon as we head for our night in Pitlochry.

I'm at home again, clicking my heels - I was supposed to be getting my vaccinations for South Africa at 9:00 am and I went to the chemist to pick them up last night, but they hadn't even received the prescription from the Nurse! I went down to the surgery and found it was still lying there in the out tray, took it back to the chemist, but then discovered they did not have one of the vaccines and wouldn't be able to get it until 10:00 am this morning, so I had to change my appointment with the Nurse - the earliest I could get was 11:40, which has completely screwed up my working day now. Things never go to plan - if it's not tradesmen or house deliveries, it's something else. End of rant.

Wednesday/Thursday

Well, Ross and I managed to get the old suite out of the back room OK and take it down to the garage. I spoke again to the charity shop and they have had a recent run of offers on old suites and don't really need any more - particularly if not in excellent condition, so I said I would just arrange to have it dumped. Ross had eyes on the chair (aka the mouse's graveyard) but the door to his room is so narrow that the only chance of getting it in would be for him to take the blocks off the chair and take the door off its hinges. I said I wouldn't get the chair taken away until next week and if he really fancies doing that, then he's welcome - of course, I know already what the outcome will be, but at least I've given him a chance.

We woke Ross this morning (Thursday) before we went to work, as he was to be there to let the men in with the new suite. Of course, I kind of guessed he would not stay awake and sure enough, I got a phone call from the driver at 10:30 this morning - there was no answer. I told him just to go in and where to put it. I just don't know what to do with Ross!

Tonight, I've got a meeting at the Burnett for the proposed new King George V playing park facility - the time scale is years and so I don't really expect anything concrete to come out to help get new squash court(s) - but I'll make the right noises anyway.

Monday/Tuesday

Bypassed our usual squash match on Monday after work and went to the Legion instead to have a 60th birthday drink with Jas, and wave him off on his month long trip to Kenya and S.A. When I got home, I phoned Dawn (as I had promised Barry I would) concerning plans for legal guardianship of Dad and possibly getting him on the waiting list for Erskine Glasgow. I'm afraid my call brought out a lot of emotion in Dawn about Mum's final years and it was a difficult hour long call - it's obvious there are still issues between Barry and Dawn that need to be resolved before we can move forward with Dad. Anyway, we at least agreed that we would arrange a visit to look over Erskine Glasgow next Tuesday and we'll take it from there.

On Tuesday, I was in Aberdeen, then Fraserburgh, then dashed back to Bannatyne's to get in (just) before the 4:00 pm deadline - I had a good long session there then headed over to Carriage's and had a bit of supper with Malcolm and a guy he works with, plus Gary - Ross was invited too, but, as usual, showed up late and skipped the meal - it probably would have been breakfast for him anyway! We then headed off to Pittodrie to see Aberdeen knock Falkirk out of the Scottish Cup 3-1 - a good performance and not as cold as we had been led to believe.

I got a bit of a nip in the ear from Gary about posting his medical results on my blog - but how else would his sisters, let alone his mother, know about it? He needs to start his own blog and then he would have full editorial control! He finally started his new job today and it seemed to go well - he said he was shattered - it was his first day's work in a month!

Our new suite for the back room arrives tomorrow, so Ross and I have the difficult task tonight of trying to get the old one out of the room and downstairs. I phoned the charity shop yesterday and they are going to come along and pick it up some time, so we'll store it in the garage for now.

Stan England was due to start laying the concrete plinth yesterday, but cancelled due to the early morning frost. He says they will be back next week, but, ironically, it's got mild again and he could easily lay it now.

Sunday night/Monday morning

Barry phoned me last night about Dad - he has been assessed by a Doctor and is not fit to grant any Power of Attorney, so Barry is proposing going along the Guardianship route, which seems quite complex legally. Barry is also suggesting paying a visit to Erskine Glasgow (Flanders House) with a view to getting Dad on the waiting list there, in the event that he is unable to cope living on his own. Barry and Sylvia (who manages the day care centre that Dad has lunch at) are both a bit concerned about his depression in particular. Of course, I only see him occasionally and recently he has seemed quite happy, but Barry tells me there are days where Dad won't get up out of bed at all. I'll talk to Dawn today and get her views.

Jacquie Howden (secretary to me, Michael and Francis) had a bit of a shocking weekend. Her husband, Tom, has been in hospital having a knee operation and was due to get out yesterday, but he had a heart attack on Friday night. They are probably going to move him to ARI today. He seems stable OK, but it's certainly not a good time for the Howdens right now - Jacquie still has to run after her brother, who has been incapable for many years.

The weekend

Football on Friday was about my 5th day in a row of hard exercise - squash and gym interspersing 2 games of football - and it showed - I felt heavy legged and drained. Envious of Kelly doing all those miles on the Cornish roads - hope her joints are in better shape than mine. I didn't take up running until I was almost 40 (about the same time as I started playing indoor football again) and, on reflection, although I enjoyed the races we did, the miles of training certainly did not help my dodgy knees and hips.

Our huge new TV arrived on Friday - about 5 pm - after I had waited in all day. I eventually had to go to football but Ross, with a bit of help from Jo, got it set up by the time I got home. The photo above doesn't really give a true perspective on its size - it's like a home cinema!

On Saturday, Ross and I put the back seats down in both our cars and filled them with various things, including Ross' old double bed (he now sleeps in the single bed that was up in Jo's office) and took everything to the tip - including the Christmas tree, much to Jo's chagrin - it normally sits on our balcony until about June!

Played doubles squash and then we went down to the golf club with Colin and Johanne for the Mexican evening - it wasn't bad at all.

After golf on Sunday, we all had a celebration lunch in the club for Jas' 60th birthday (tomorrow). He and his family are still all flying out to Kenya on Tuesday, despite the troubles there.

This week, Gary, Ross and I are going to Pittodrie on Tuesday to see the Dons' cup replay against Falkirk, and, on Friday Jo and I are off to Pitlochry for the Winter Words Festival - we're going to a talk by Stuart Maconie.

Weds/Thur

Good to see Kelly's Blog up and running - I remember going to Driftwood Spars last year - and the crumble looks good, Craig - I remember when we used to get lots of home baked puds - perhaps Jo'll start baking again when she retires this year?

Gary got a bit of a surprise when he went for his medical for his new job on Monday. He was told he had albimin (?) in his urine which he was told could be indicative of a kidney problem. He went back to his own doctor to get this checked out yesterday and it seems the second test was better. Anyway, he still starts with Asco on Monday - this was the surprise offer he got two weeks ago - he had previously accepted a job with another firm - much more money.

It's Friday morning and I'm at home waiting for our new TV to arrive (between 11 and 3 they said). I've been to the Nurse to check out recommendations for immunisation for South Africa - nothing really essential they said, because we're not going up north, although it's advisable to have the usual boosters plus Hep A (or was it B?). Anyway, they've been ordered and I go back next Friday to get the jabs.

No sign of the builders today, but I decided to take look out at the back - the scaffolding is down and I got a bit of a shock when I saw that they had already cut a hole in the wall. We were aware that there was some dust coming in from the windows and they seemed a little loose, but didn't realise they had gone this far - excuse quality of photo - taken with Blackberry and not usual camera.

I'll go in to the office later on after the TV is installed - I cancelled our rental of the old TV and got a surprise call from them yesterday offering me the TV for £50 - I took it, but now wished I'd cancelled the rental ages ago, as I originally planned! Ross was casting envious eyes at the old TV, so I guess he can have it.

Back playing football again tonight - it's been twice a week for the last couple of months. It came as a bit of a shock to the system starting playing again after retiring back in 2000 (all bar a few odd matches). It still hurts, but I'm enjoying it again - one slight downside is that I'm not managing as many gym appearances as I was last year - I don't go on Wednesdays and Fridays now as those are the days I play football - I only seem able to manage on Tuesdays and Thursdays now and the latter one tends to be a light session as I'm still sore from the previous night's football!

Tuesday

Today's news is that Stan has actually started work! The scaffolding is up outside our back room.

Pleased to see that Kelly and Craig have started a Blog as well now - maybe Gary and Carole next?

Jo brought home the Herald today and it featured Kelly's and Craig's former boss, Jane Arrowsmith - I'll scan it tomorrow and send to them.

Looking forward to getting our new TV on Friday - especially now that we have our HD box in place. Only problem is that, somehow, the link to the TV in the kitchen has been lost - Ross and I played around with it last night, but couldn't seem to see the fault.

Sky HD

Our new Sky HD box arrived today - eventually! As usual, they give you a time slot of 9:00 - 1:00 pm and he finally arrived at 1:15 pm! Anyway, it's installed now, and I've swapped our old Sky + box up to our bedroom, so we can now use the recorder up there. The previous Sky box is available and I offered it to Ross for using as a satellite Freeview (he has no viewing card), but he needs to get his room cabled up to the dish.

Jo

And the big news is that Jo told me she went to se her headmistress on Friday and told her she was retiring in June - that's one big hurdle cleared.

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.