Monday

Lucy's posting lots of photos on their blog but Kelly and Craig are a bit slipshod - and Gary's not exactly been prolific - come on, you lot!

Our painter doesn't arrive until Monday morning now, which is also the same time as the hob gets a long overdue overhaul before the insurance runs out on 1st May. I guess I'll have to work from home for a while.

After my epic trawl through Bleak House, I went from the sublime to the ridiculous with this month's audiobook download - it was Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues, done live from the stage show, and coming in at less than 2 hours - light and easy listening but now I'm done until next month. Still got over 20 tracks of music downloads to my credit, however - and that's after taking the Raconteurs new album, Consolers of the Lonely - pretty good on first couple of listenings - if anyone wants a copy burned to CD, just let me know.

Been busy trying to sort out my cock-up on booking my flights back from USA this summer - we're currently out there for 4 weeks instead of the usual 3 - don't know how I made such a simple error but, if I want to keep earning a living, I can't realistically stay out there for 4 weeks - sorry Lucy! - no problem for Jo as she'll have retired by then, but I suspect she'd rather travel back with me anyway. It's a complicated schedule and involves BA, Delta and Virgin and each one will make a charge for change and it's not as simple as it would first appear to simply bring the return flights back exactly a week.

It was such a beautiful day yesterday that we should have played golf but, with it being Junior Medal day, the times didn't quite fit in and so we opted for squash doubles instead - it was the first time we've been able to turn the heating off at the cold Crathes court. The new showers are now available at the golf club so we went back there for beers on the balcony watching the sun set in the west - lovely.

Weekend

Been great - plenty of sunshine and lots of golf! Got my handicap cut again on Saturday - that's 2 weeks in a row now.

Apart from that, just the usual - Jo doing her schoolwork and Ross either sleeping or in his room on the PC. We've at least had a decision on the paintwork and so Davie from Fraserburgh will be back this week - he can re-do the kitchen paintwork that Jo hated and also do the outside (back) of the house and the rear stairs - Jo also wants the masonry on our porch re-done so we'll be keeping him busy!

Still been pretty cool here this week but at least it's been dry and sunny - here's Dick and I waiting on the 6th tee on Wednesday evening - I'm wearing my Oregon Beer Taster hat!

Syd finally sent me the photo taken on his camera of me receiving the Winter Grand Prix trophy from him a few weeks ago (with Jas looking on):

Nothing much else to report. On the way home from Fraserburgh last night, I finally remembered that I hadn't delivered the quarterly CAMRA newletters to Lumphanan, Tarland and Aboyne, so I went straight out there before going home. When I got to the Boat Inn, Aboyne I was about to leave when Malcolm and Susan Grigor spotted me so I stopped for a quick chat and a beer with them.

I've arranged my (overdue) next assessment at Bannatyne's for Tuesday. Does anyone know anything about Power Plate machines? I understand they are like whole body vibrators and you have to crouch on them and they work all your muscle groups - supposed to be good for flexibility and injuries too. If I think it's any good, Michael's threatening to get one for the office!

Sunday/Monday

Jo and I went to Woodend Barn on Saturday night with the Kilgours and Williamsons to see Karine Polwart (http://www.karinepolwart.com/) - really nice venue, especially for a quiet, folky concert (quick video below).

On Sunday, it was back down to Glasgow again with Dave and Colin to see if Thistle could repeat their exploits at Ibrox in the replay at Firhill. The obligatory breakfast stop at the Horn was followed by a couple of pub trips before the match. This photo was taken in the Doublet in Park Road - I hadn't been in there for over 40 years - it used to be a bit of a drinking den and I never much fancied it. It's alright now, however - especially after the smoking ban.


Thistle did OK but eventually succumbed to the might of Rangers. We caught the 2nd half of the Man U - Arsenal match then headed up the road to watch the final round of the Masters - fond memories of being there 2 years ago.

Monday was quiet - played squash doubles after work then got home to see that Ross had had a sickie. He was up at 3:30 am this morning, so I hope he managed to get up OK and make it to work on time.

Friday/Saturday

Well, the social worker was positive and promised to get her report done and support the application for Dad to go to Erskine Glasgow. It was all a bit much for Dad, however - he knew something was happening but couldn't be sure exactly what. When the bus came round to take him to the Gatehouse, he refused to go and said he just wanted to go to sleep. He went to bed and laid down and no amount of cajoling from Barry and Dawn could change his mind. It was all rather sad and made us reflect again - but it's still probably the only and best option - the results of his fall last week were still evident yesterday:

Barry's got a new car but he's had a few minor problems with it and the Mercedes dealer is not playing ball - here's the car:

In the afternoon, I drove down to Turnberry - home of the 2009 Open (not this year as I said earlier). Here I am on the 18th fairway in front of the famous hotel:

I enjoyed the golf and played pretty well - but it's a long drive home and I was tired and stiff when I finally got to bed. Up again for the competition at Banchory this morning and I did well there too - net 66, so my handicap's back down to 11 now.

Gary brought Luca round this afternoon and he was his usual happy self - the video shows him playing with his toys.

Thursday

Didn't get a game of golf last night - they kept the course closed even after all the snow had melted away. Hoping to get a game tonight instead, after which I will head down to Glasgow - just heard that, at last, the Social Worker is coming out to assess Dad tomorrow morning. Hopefully this will be the start of things moving along at last.

I've got an invite to play Turnberry tomorrow afternoon and I'd like to take it if I can - it's where the Open is being played this year. It'll mean I'll be late home on Friday night - and then it's a busy weekend, with golf on Saturday morning, Woodend Barn in the evening and then back down to Glasgow on Sunday to see Thistle play Rangers.

Wednesday morning

Not looking too good for golf tonight - this was the view from the pro shop this morning:

Tuesday

Nothing much to report - Aberdeen won last night to make the top 6 and Ross and I just watched a great Liverpool - Arsenal match (4-2).

Golf tomorrow night then off to Glasgow on Thursday night to see Dad. Got an invite to play Turnberry on Friday afternoon and on Saturday we're off to Woodend Barn to see Karine Polwart (http://www.karinepolwart.com/). Then on Sunday it's back down to Glasgow again to see if Thistle can pull off another major shock and beat Rangers to make it all the way to the Cup semi-final.

It's already 2 days past the Vernal Equinox and just 72 days until the Summer Solstice!

Got a new audiobook - a Jack London collection - White Fang and Call of the Wild. I remembered my Mum recommending the latter to me when I was in my mid-teens and I really enjoyed it - not sure how I'll take it now and whether it has stood the test of time for me.

Monday

Back to work for Jo today - she's going to ask about early retirement instead of simple resignation.

Ross drove over to Auchenblae yesterday to get spares for his Saab - but he's going to have to go back again on Tuesday when he's at Stonehaven anyway.

Aberdeen v Falkirk tonight for a place in the top 6 - think I'll watch it on Setanta rather than go to Pittodrie!

Dad's had another fall and been in hospital again. Dawn showed up on Saturday and there was nobody in the house and no message had been sent - but she phoned the hospital and sure enough there he was. He's not safe at home on his own and we need to get him in to Erskine - we've been waiting months for a Social Worker to be appointed to his case and finally we've got one - hope we can move ahead now - and that there's still a place for him there.

Friday/Saturday

We had a fun evening to celebrate Colin's and Jack's 60th birthdays - the team photo was over-exposed by the sun and no amount of software manipulation could fix it unfortunately. A few beers in the Stag and then the Douglas (where we played with their Wii for a while) - the off to the Derbar for a curry.

Felt a bit sore this morning - both in body and head - but still played in the first medal of the season - we had all 4 seasons' weather - bright sunshine, showers, sleet, snow, hail - you name it! Started well - 3,3,3 - but fell away to a mediocre finish. Forecast tomorrow is even worse - could be a day for the Sunday Times and the TV - maybe even some squash.

Ross has been getting very frustrated at the internet service and has been reporting faults galore - hope it gets fixed soon.

Catching up

I've been trying to upgrade the OS on my laptop to Vista but finally gave up and just zapped it and installed Vista from a standing start. You always forget how much hassle it is any time you either get a new PC or change somehting fundamental like Windows or Office. I'm still adding programs and getting things back the way I like them.

Anyway it was the start of our midweek golf on Wednesday and it was a pretty nice day - above is Dick, Dave and I waiting to tee off. It was even nicer on Thursday - 19 degrees - and I was home early and able to sit out on the balcony with Jo once she got back from lunch with her school pals in Aberdeen. Carole had arranged for her car to get serviced in Banchory today (Friday) and also had a hair appointment in Aberdeen in the afternoon, so I said I would take Jo's car to work and Carole could use mine (she's not insured to use Jo's). Lo and behold, Jo then volunteered to clean out her car for me to use - I couldn't believe it, but the evidence above is clear!

Ross hadn't any money when it was our birthdays but he fairly made up for it yesterday - he bought me a new replacement for my old Archos DVR (he's installing it above) and a new flat screen for Jo's PC (also above). Way over the top for birthday gifts, but thanks anyway Ross - hope he uses some of the rest of his salary to spend on himself.

Tonight is the much delayed outdoor veterans football match to celebrate Colin's and Jack's 60th birthdays a few weeks ago. We're having a meal at the Derbar afterwards - should be fun.

Jo back home

Looking a little tense and tired (although I don't know why - she flew business class!), Jo got home in good time and with her bags - thank God she wasn't flying with BA through Terminal 5! She had a good sleep last night and seems to have recovered well from her short trip to the West Coast.

Jo's return

We don't have any curtains or blinds up yet, but as we're moving in to summer, we don't mind the view looking out through the bare windows from our back room to the embankment.

Jo managed to get the upgrade we had requested, using her United miles, so I hope the journey home was a bit more pleasant than it might have been in cattle class.

As I write this, she's waiting at the gate at Heathrow so she's managed to negotiate all the changes in terminals successfully. I'll be heading to the airport in an hour or so to pick her up.

Weekend

It' been a much nicer weekend than any of us would have believed after the weather we experienced for most of the week. I managed 2 rounds of golf in fairly pleasant conditions - at one stage this morning it was very nice indeed.

Bill Miller returned from his winter at his house in the Alps and John Davies was up from Worcestershire for the weekend for a wedding, and they joined us for a beer after golf - it all felt like the start of spring.

Today was also the last day of our Winter Grand Prix Sunday morning golf - and I managed to win it - so that's another trophy for the shelves!

Jo'll be on her way back now - just got an e-mail from United to say that her plane was due to land at SFO at 10:31 am, which is well ahead of schedule so she should have no problem making the connection to LHR.

Ross has done the big tidy-up of his room and toilet in advance of his Mum's return!