AC/Philly

Our last 2 days have been excursions - Monday to nearby Atlantic City and Tuesday to Philadephia. We were taken on the Marriott shuttle for the first, so no maps required or parking problems.

AC has suffered from the recession and competition. Quite a few of the large, Las Vegas style casinos have had to shut down - although there's also new ones being built.

Jo and I were thrilled to be able to walk along the famous boardwalk - we're big fans of Boardwalk Empire, so Jo just had to pose here:

From the Boardwalk, there's little wooden walkways across the protected dunes to the beaches, which were pretty busy on a beautiful day:

The less mobile can use this form of transport to go up and down the 4-mile long boardwalk:

There's scores of these 3-wheeled vehicles being pushed along the boardwalk.

The other local delight is, apparently the Salt Water Taffy:

We think "Taffy" may be a corruption of the word toffee.

Here's one for Braeden:

We didn't go Under the Boardwalk but we explored under the pier:

We walked from our drop-off point at Bally's to the end of the boardwalk and back again, paddling in the ocean for a bit, and with a little detour to the end of the pier for a beer. There were helicopter rides taking off right next to us - $40 for a quick trip up and down the boardwalk or $75 for a city view:

There was also a sand sculpture competition starting:

So that was AC. The journey to Philadelphia was a bit more troublesome - it's about 50 miles away and it meant we had to drive and park. Inevitably there were some wrong turnings and the return journey was a bit stressful too, but it's all part of the rich tapestry etc.

It was the full historical experience, helping to top up our fairly limited knowledge of American history. Most of the focus is on what happened in 1776 of course, but Benjamin Franklin is the name you can't escape from:

We decided to take the bus tour first of all, followed by a walking tour. The first took us out to the greener part of the city and the Museum of Modern Arts where the famous Rocky steps are:

There's nothing to them really but everyone feels they have to run up and down the steps. Rocky's statue is now located at the foot - to the right of the steps:

There's funky stuff too - lots of murals, including on this bar called Frank's - the external walls have images of lots of famous Franks:

We were the only ones on our walking tour. Our guide was dressed historically and was a local, born and bred. Jo suspected he was a Quaker too:

This was taken at the start of Elfreth's Alley, apparently the oldest inhabited street in North America - not far from Betsy Ross' house. Google them if you want to know more.

We did the Independence Hall tour and I took a selfie inside one of the rooms:

We didn't join the queue/line for the Liberty Bell, but I took a photo from outside:

Today is a lazy day, but we're going on a wine tour this afternoon.

NY/NJ

So here we are at our Marriott timeshare in Galloway, New Jersey - finally. The journey over to JFK went smoothly - we even managed to bypass the extra security at Heathrow. All the talk was about how you had to have all your electronic devices charged beforehand and, if they couldn't start them up, you would be kicked off the flight - we were even asked if we had done it before they checked us in at Aberdeen airport, and we were also told at Heathrow that there were extra security checks at the gates on all USA flights. It transpired, however, that the checks were random and we were just waved through. We obviously didn't look clever enough.

Short flight from Heathrow - just 7 hours or so - barely enough to enjoy the comforts of Club Class - although I thought the food was terrific - especially the Sea Bass. A can of London Pride, plus a large Tanqueray G & T, followed by 2 huge glasses of a lovely Pinot Noir may have skewed my judgment a little, however. The same - minus the LP - was enough to send Jo unconscious for a couple of hours, whilst I watched the Wolf of Wall Street.

We got straight through Customs, although it took some time for our bags to arrive on the carousel, and then we had to suss out how to get from the terminal to the courtesy shuttle bus. The Air Train was the answer - it was a bit like a roller-coaster ride, but we got there in the end.

We checked in to the Marriott Courtyard at JFK, which, incidentally, is in the Jamaica area of NY, and managed a quick beer before hitting the sack.

Jo was up before me this morning but tried to stay quiet. I slept for about 9 hours, but was still up early, East Coast time. Nice light breakfast, then back on the shuttle bus to the airport to pick up our hire car. I now have to withdraw all my previous negative comments about car hire companies - including the rant on My Pet Hates blog. Not only was our car waiting for us - all nice and clean, with the keys in it - but we had no queue to wait in - all you had to do was read the electronic board and go to the bay against your name - wonderful. I guess it helps being a Hertz Gold member - even though I haven't used them for years, their association with Marriott must have increased our status with them.

Then, we had to face the traffic - without a map. It was fun - we got there in the end, despite a few mistakes. Across Staten Island and down the coast road, with the very last bit being the most difficult. We went round in circles before eventually stopping at the pretty "historic" little tourist trap of Smithville - simply to get a wi-fi signal to see where we were going. Here's Jo at the entrance:

So here we are now - we've shopped and are relaxing over some strong ales and a few nibbles. Alcohol shopping was a bit trickier than we thought - we had to go to a separate liquor store after we'd bought the groceries - even just for beer and wine.

Tomorrow it's Atlantic City - and the Boardwalk!

Poor Kanga!

My Christmas gifts from Down Under have suffered a terrible fate. One was lost on the golf course - you would have thought somebody would have handed it in! - and the other is currently in intensive care at Arbor Court after (literally) coming apart at the seams:

Pray for a speedy recovery for poor Kanga - and I hope its former companion has found a good home.

So I missed my Thursday morning cycle again - too much work to do before we go away on Saturday. It's been a while since I've had my bum in the saddle and when I return I'm going to be way behind the other guys in terms of saddle fitness.

I got tickets for the Aberdeen - Groningen Europa League tie tonight, so Ross is driving me in and we are picking up Colin Kilgour and Ken Black on the way in, then meeting Gary at the match.

That's about it. Next blog posting will be from USA.

Catching up

It's been a while since my last post, but, fear not, it's only because I've been too busy - not just enjoying myself, but working too. This squeezing of my job in to 3 days definitely isn't working for me. The only advantage I've been getting from the change is not having to drive in to Aberdeen or Fraserburgh on 2 days - but that doesn't mean I haven't been doing any work on Mondays and Fridays.

I've started to make financial plans for my retirement - I met up with our financial adviser last Tuesday and I'm going to start drawing down from my pension pot next April, all being well.

But I digress - here's what I've been up to recently. Our golf weekend at Slaley Hall went well, although my own golf is pretty naff just now - I seem to have lost the plot - hopefully temporarily. I have noticed that my left knee is now suffering after golf - is this an effect of my new right knee being stronger again? Look out Scott - may need some physiotherapy advice when we arrive in Oregon.

We had Luca with us last week - the first of the school holidays. His obsession with his football cards continues unabated. Maybe now that the World Cup is over, he may switch to something else, but, when he was here, he wanted to play it constantly - from the time he awoke in the morning until he went to bed. He even started drawing his own version of the player cards:

Note that this one's a "Limited Edition"! The numbers at the foot indicate the player's respective defensive, attacking etc scores, with the last one being the overall rating. This guy must have been a bit special - a combination of Messi and Ronaldo perhaps?

Luca did get outdoors a fair bit when he was here, however. His Grannie Jo would drag him to the supermarket, but he also got a chance to play with the other kids in the street - the weather was great last week.

I got a corporate invite to the Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen on Thursday. It was a top quality field and it was great to be there. There was, however, a cock-up with the catering - they took 3 hours to serve our main course! They did ply us with wine to keep us from complaining, but, eventually, even the most drunk can see through that little trick.

Friday was our annual Football Group golf outing and, this year, we went to pretty little Auchenblae on what was probably the finest day of the summer so far, with temperatures in the mid 20's C. When we got back to Banchory, it was still too nice an evening to waste, so I phoned Jo and she came over and joined me for a couple of beers on the balcony at the golf club:

I don't know what to say about the shadow of the parasol!

It's back to the usual pattern this week, although I'm trying to get tickets for Aberdeen v Groningen in the Europa League on Thursday. I think the packing will have to wait until Friday.

Countdown to holidays

Another week has passed and we're now just 2 weeks away from our trip to USA - terrorists and security services permitting that is. The latest news about credible threats of new undetectable plastic explosives that can be implanted inside suicide bombers is putting the jitters up everyone - especially poor Jo - she thinks the July 19th London - New York flight will be a prime target - and she could be right, but what do we do? Cancel everything or just carry on as normal? No choice really - we can't live our lives in a shell.

This fear of Jo's came out on the journey back from Aberdeen railway station today - Jo had been down at Mary and Brian's for the last couple of days. Did I cope in her absence? Just about - but Jo had prepared everything for me, which was nice, but I'm sure she thinks I can't manage on my own for a couple of days.

The timing hasn't been great as I'm off tomorrow morning to Slaley Hall for a couple of nights, but it couldn't be helped.

I won't bore you with details of my golf at Banchory this week, but I will mention our annual trip to Balmoral on Monday evening - a delightful area and a fun, although late, evening. The morning after I drove up to Castle Stuart, near Inverness, where the Scottish Open has been held the last few years - a prize I won last year, along with my fellow team members:

(For the Garioch crowd - that's Ian Sinclair, who has the jewellery shop in Inverurie, in red on the left).

Great day out - beautiful weather and spectacular views over the Moray Firth across to the Black Isle, with the Kessock Bridge in the distance.

I missed my morning cycle yesterday - too much work to do. I was in the office until later than I would have liked on what was a gloriously hot and sunny day. More work at home today - on one of my official non-working days. This 3 day working week isn't quite happening the way I would like it yet - but the cavalry is on the horizon. My replacement at work, who starts in September, came in to Fraserburgh this week and sat in on our weekly management meeting.

I'm fairly clocking up the miles - over 41 last week, according to my UP band. How can I top that?

Last days of June

Yes - July is fast approaching. Another year is flashing past. Slow down please!

Most folk could predict my daily diary at this time of year - golf (at Aboyne for the Seniors) on Monday, work at Fraserburgh and tea at Inverurie on Tuesday, golf at Banchory on Wednesday and cycling yesterday morning (details on BVCG blog).

Today, I've got a bit of work to catch up on - I never quite got through everything when I was in the office yesterday afternoon. Jo will be heading off for her regular Friday swim soon, so I'll start then.

What I did manage to do yesterday was book our Aussie trip next year. We're flying off to Adelaide, via Hong Kong on Friday 9th January for 6 weeks. It'll be our first time on Cathay Pacific and we're not stopping over in either direction. The flight times on the way back are a little awkward and we've got a long layover in Hong Kong, but hey ho.

I've also now got my replacement Jawbone UP band - the old one had stopped responding so they sent me a straight replacement. I got some stats for the last few days of last week, but this'll be the first full week of stats. I know I've been keeping up my activity levels though - something that had dropped off in recent times, prior to my knee op. It's great to be able to look forward to walking, golfing, cycling again - I had previously got to the stage where I was avoiding anything that I knew would cause me pain.

Tonight, it's our 2nd Headbang this year and plans for the rest of the weekend are golf tomorrow, a bar supper with the Kilgours tomorrow or Sunday evening, then on Monday evening, it's our annual trip to Balmoral - a regular late night. The following morning, I have to drive to Inverness for golf at Castle Stuart - a prize I won last year.

That's all my news for now.

Midsummer has passed

It's all downhill from here as the gloom-mongers would say. The days are now officially starting to get shorter. I'm certainly cramming in all the golf I can whilst I have the chance to do so. It's just 4 weeks yesterday that we head off to USA.

Since my last blog posting, it's been more of the usual pattern. Tuesday was tea with Jo and Luca at Inverurie, golf at Banchory on Wednesday, cycling on Thursday morning, golf at Edzell on Friday, Banchory on Saturday and Cruden Bay today (Sunday). Tomorrow, it's Aboyne in another Seniors match.

At work, I've announced that a replacement for me is coming, so the exit door is starting to loom.

Lucy and Jo are on FaceTime just now. For me, it's a listening-in session as they jabber away. The World Cup is on the TV, but with no sound.

I spotted "Jemimah" again on Saturday - at least I think that's what Jo used to call her old car:

It looks a little tidier and cleaner now - but it's still got the "bullet hole" in the rear indicator lights.

Tomorrow, I think it's finally time to commit to our holiday in Oz. We should probably go for an extended break of 6 weeks or so. We can always do some travelling plus some time baby-sitting Miller, who is growing every time we see him on FaceTime.

Week since London

We had a busy time in London, walking miles along the city streets, which caused me a bit of a problem with my left knee - the "good" one. The pain still hasn't gone a week later, but, to be fair, it's been a pretty busy week, with golf for the Seniors on Monday, a tie on Tuesday, more golf on Wednesday, cycling on Thursday and then 27 holes of golf at Blairgowrie on Friday.

It didn't end there either as I played in the Medal on Saturday as well - great first nine and then the tiredness kicked in on the back nine. It was a no-brainer to cancel my scheduled Sunday golf after this.

We went to the movies last Monday evening as well - a preview screening of "Chef", courtesy of my Times + membership. Not bad - good (Cuban) music.

Jo was down in Edinburgh on Saturday, shopping for summer clothes with Anne Mason, so I was left to fend for myself. It was the start of the Banchory River Festival - a new name for the old St. Ternan's Fair. There didn't seem to be all that much happening, however, although I did spot a pipe band playing at the Square:

Yesterday, of course, was Father's Day and I was paid a surprise visit by Gary and Luca, who took me for a coffee at Tease, where Ross was working. Luca's second teeth are starting to show in the gap at the front where he lost his 2 baby teeth recently:

Today (Monday) I had an appointment at Aboyne hospital. When you reach 65, they now automatically screen you in case you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm. It took mere minutes - a quick ultrasound scan and then I was given the all-clear - no sign of anything.

Talking about medical stuff, I spotted this article recently:

Can't the Medics make their mind up? They're worse than the Dieticians. Because I have AF, I've been taking baby aspirins for years - and they're entero coated, which apparently means they don't eat away at your stomach, which seems to be the main complaint in the article above.

 Jo had travelled down to Aboyne hospital with me today so we thought we would go for a walk afterwards - it was a beautiful, hot, sunny day. We parked the car at the road that leads down to Bellwade Farm, the World Horse Welfare Centre, and walked from there past the White Cottage to meet up with the Deeside Way, heading back towards the Falls of Dess, where I had cycled on Thursday:

It had only taken us half an hour to get to the Falls, so we decided to walk on, to see where the path might take us. We passed an odd-shaped tree which had been given two eyes and labelled the Mammut Tre (for Mammoth Tree?):

We were rewarded eventually when we arrived at Deeside Activity Park - time for refreshments, we thought. It was the Seniors lunch day and the staff were run off their feet, so we decided it would be easier to just buy 2 Diet Cokes and sit out the back:

Our route back was identical. When we arrived back at the wooden bridge over the Dess, it was time for another photo:

There were plinths either side of the bridge and Jo duly posed there:

(The plinths are, of course, for dismounting and re-mounting your horse on either side of the bridge).

We got back to the car eventually, prepared to head down to Bellwade Farm for coffee and scones, but we had neglected to notice the sign that said the coffee shop there was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Nonetheless, we drove the 1.5 miles down the road where I had a puncture on my bike last Thursday, just to let Jo see what a nice spot it was. There's even a stone circle there:

Looking south over the Dee, there's a clearing in the forestry and the story goes that it was done by some irate forester who was sacked, and he thought he would create an animal shaped clearing:

You can decide what it was meant to be - camel, cow, moose? Not exactly a classic in the vein of the various White Horses you see carved out on chalk throughout these islands.

I took a wander while Jo just soaked up the rays:

Finally, it was time to go seek coffee and a scone elsewhere. Our first port of call was Kincardine O'Neil, but the cafe there was closed as well, so we headed back to Banchory and sat outside the tearoom at Inchmarlo:

I had put my bike in to the local cycle shop in the morning to get them to replace both inner tubes and, by the time we were back in Banchory, the bike was ready. Result.

Nice day. For the record, our walk was 4 miles and it took us 2 hours 12 minutes (including stops), with climbs totalling 367 feet.

Tomorrow it's back to work - Aberdeen and Fraserburgh - with tea in Inverurie.

Weekend in London (2)

On Sunday, we had all day to ourselves - our flight wasn't until the evening - so, after another leisurely breakfast, we checked out and then headed for the West End. We got off the Tube at Oxford Circus and popped in to the Apple store (Jo needs a new phone) and John Lewis (we're thinking of buying a Kindle). We then meandered through the West End, stopping occasionally in some of the lovely peaceful garden squares, and checking out the many blue heritage plaques on some of the buildings - Jimi Hendrix right next door to Handel was one of them!

Once it was respectably late enough for us to do so, we stopped for a quick beer at the Audley:

Eventually we ended up at Shepherd Market, a place I used to frequent at lunchtimes in my days at Black & White's Devonshire House. It's a lovely little sanctuary in the heart of Mayfair - no traffic and lots of eateries - very "continental". My favourite pub was Ye Grapes so we went back there, and we were delighted to find that the current owner/manager apparently had a Thai wife/partner so we had a lovely Thai meal and a couple of pints for our late lunch:

Then it was off to the airport and back home again - a lovely weekend.

Weekend in London

We flew down on Friday morning and bought our Oyster cards for the Tube at Terminal 5. We decided to get off the Tube at Green Park, immediately underneath my old office at Black & White 40 years ago. From there, we strolled past Berkeley Square - no nightingales singing - and headed for one of my old lunchtime drinking haunts - the Guinea Grill. I used to stand outside eating the Desperate Dan Cow Pie, washed down with pints of Young's Special, so we repeated this:

We walked from there to Covent Garden and, after a quick stroll around there, we headed off towards our hotel at St. Pancras, with a quick pit stop at the Craft Brewing Company.

Our hotel is part of the magnificently refurbished railway station. Here's Jo in the reception area - the old Booking Hall - and outside:

In the evening we got to Shepherd's Bush Empire in good time to get in when the doors opened and get some super seats in the front row of the balcony. More details of the gig on my Music blog (http://banchoryheadbangers.blogspot.co.uk/).

Breakfast on Saturday morning was a treat:

The British Museum was our first port of call on Saturday morning:

Magnificent building and wonderful displays but it was all a bit too much to take in - and the huge crowds and lack of air made the overall experience a little less than wonderful.

We figured we just had time to travel out to Camden Lock and the markets there. What a busy, buzzing place:

In the evening we headed to the Piccadilly Theatre to see Jersey Boys, but we had a pie and a pint in the adjacent Queen's Head first of all. Here's Jo outside the theatre and a selfie of us inside:

More to follow.

Eve of departure

After 3 days' work at the beer festival last weekend, I then had 4 consecutive days of golf, and I was supposed to be cycling this morning then golfing again this afternoon, but I got a bit of a soaking last night and couldn't face either today, so it's been a fairly restful one.

I've now set up my new personal e-mail account, but it will take some time before I can change my details on all the various web sites and regular e-mail lists I'm on, so bear with me for a while. Both addresses work just now anyway.

We were very nearly on our way to Oz in November - a long-standing request for a week's timeshare at Marriott's Phuket Beach club came up, but the political unrest in Thailand put Jo off, so I had to unravel the booking. It now looks like it will be next year before we can go Down Under, but with Phuket off the agenda, where else do we go for a brief vacation to break our journey to Adelaide? No other Marriott Vacation Clubs on that side of the world, so it might have to be a hotel stop-off somewhere.

We're off to London in the morning - Graham Parker & the Rumour gig tomorrow night, then Jersey Boys at the theatre on Saturday night.

Scotland Scorchio!

What a great run of weather we've had. If only I'd know it was going to be like this, I wouldn't have volunteered to do so many hours in the dank atmosphere underneath the Richard Donald stand (the Beach End) at Pittodrie at the Beer Festival. Still, I did cycle on Thursday morning and I golfed this morning in shorts - it was lovely. I had a beer on the balcony after winning my tie by what is known in golf circles as a "dog licence" - i.e. 7 & 6 (7 holes up with just 6 to play). For younger readers, in old money, that's what a dog licence used to cost (37.5p. in today's money).

The beer festival went well and I quite enjoyed the daily bus trip in and the walk from Union Square to Pittodrie in bright, warm sunshine. It was so nice on Friday that I took a slight detour and walked over Broad Hill. We used to run over the top 30 years ago when I was on my lunchtime training runs. You get a nice view of Aberdeen beach from the top:

Looking north over Kings Links towards Balmedie and Peterhead in the distance

Looking south, with the Beach Leisure Centre in the foreground and Girdleness Lighthouse in the distance

Looking out to sea - and Norway!

Anyway, I was very grateful that Jo came to pick me up on Saturday after my last shift - I was pretty tired by then and probably wouldn't have fancied the walk back to the bus station.

I sat out in the back garden for a bit this afternoon but my attempt to photograph it went horribly wrong - my camera must have been on the wrong setting:

Tomorrow, I've been picked in the Seniors team again for the match at Brechin. I've got golf at Kintore on Thursday afternoon as well, but then we're off to London at the weekend to see Graham Parker & the Rumour on Friday, and then Jersey Boys on Saturday night.

30 weeks since op

Yes, it's 30 weeks today since my knee op. I'm still doing my daily exercises and Jo is still massaging the leg once a week in an effort to get rid of the remaining excess fluid. Jo thinks it's still coming down - as the surgeon said it would - but I don't notice any difference recently. Jo suggested I should photograph it regularly - so I started this morning:

I don't think I chose the best position for this - my feet are on my stool and I'm sitting in my Stressless chair. However, it's a start.

In other news, we were pleased to see Gary was OK after his Edinburgh Marathon. We went to pick him up at the station in Aberdeen and took him - and Luca - home on Sunday night, by which time Gary had got over his low point when he texted us after his run. Already talking about the next one!

Monday was a beautiful day and I was playing for the Seniors at Deeside. I had golf again on Wednesday evening at Banchory and yesterday it was cycling, but the main thing this week is the Aberdeen Beer Festival. I went along for a couple of hours on Tuesday to help with set-up and then worked yesterday from 3pm till 7pm. I caught the bus in and walked from Union Square to Pittodrie on what was a glorious day - even in Aberdeen. Today looks very similar and I'll soon be heading off there again, not long after Jo heads off to her Friday afternoon swimming & Costco trip.

Wet Sunday

It's stopped raining now but it's been a wet start to the day. So much so that our golf course is closed - and I had a tie to play this morning. Oh well. Apparently the greens are flooding.

Luca slept well last night - it was 8 am before he wandered through to our room. He says he feels a bit better and won't need to take any of the medicines that his Daddy gave us - they were both sniffling a bit yesterday and Luca cancelled his football practice.

Spotted our local red squirrel again this morning. It's been getting harder and harder to see him/her as the leaves in the trees have grown so much they now provide perfect camouflage. All the while I've been off work, and after that, when doing my morning exercise routine, we've been watching this particular squirrel who skips across the trees in front of our bedroom every morning between 7 am and 9 am. Surprised that Jo hasn't found a name for him/her yet - but she now wonders whether - and hopes that - there's more than one there.

My bad luck in having my golf cancelled this morning is Jo's good luck. She now gets to go to church without Luca and I get to babysit him for the next few hours.

Yesterday, after dropping off Gary at Aberdeen train station, we were heading back towards Banchory and were passing Duthie Park when we thought we might pop in and have a look. Strictly speaking it was Luca who suggested this, but we were happy to go along with it. It would give me a chance to look at the new bits of Duthie Park that we missed when we were there at Christmas with Kelly and Chris. It was also Jo's first visit there for more than a couple of decades - she was with her father when she was last there.

I definitely got a better impression this time around of the Restoration work that has been taking place at the park for the last couple of years. It was also a more pleasant day than December and we were able to spend time strolling around the whole park and get a better look at it.

First up was one of the new slides. Luca - cautious as ever - watched as other kids hurtled down. "Too fast" was his conclusion:

OK - let's try the big slide that's been there for ever. We know that one's safe - and slow:

Next was the ropes:

The Zip Slide looked like a bridge too far - Luca didn't fancy it, but was eventually persuaded to have a go by another boy who kept repeating to him "it's not scarey":

We visited the Winter Gardens and threw coins in the water and Luca made his wishes. A cafe stop for tea/coffee, scones, Fanta and Smarties - guess who had what? - then a wander round the rest of the park, starting with the Mound, which looks like something out of Teletubbies with its spiral walkway to the top, then steps up to the flagpole:

Here's Jo walking back down:

By about 1 pm we'd done a complete circuit of the park and it was time to move on. When we got near Banchory, I took a bit of a detour up one of my cycling routes past Tilquillie and eventually down at Knockburn Loch, where we stopped for a spot of lunch. It's a lovely peaceful spot, but seemingly little utilised. The cafe is open Fri-Sun but there was more staff than customers. Here's a selfie of me and Jo outside the conference centre/cafe:

Luca is now building Lego in his jammies - he says he's not getting dressed until Jo gets back from church.

Tomorrow it's golf for the Seniors at Deeside. Hope it's a better day than today.

Btw, that's my viewing figures for this blog over the 150,000 mark now.