Monday's medical news

It's the end of another of my long weekends and I've just returned from seeing my GP to get the results of my fasting glucose blood test on Friday. It wasn't good news - the reading was 6.2, and although this was lower than the non-fasting test (6.7), it was of sufficient concern to my GP that he has arranged for me to go back for an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) a week on Thursday (13th).

This will be a session where they give a prescribed level of glucose orally and you have to sit there for 2 hours, doing nothing other than read. They expect to see a parabola of an initial spike, followed by a reasonably sharp reduction in the glucose level. If it's a long, slow reduction, that's not good news - I may be pre-diabetic.

Any kind of diabetic diagnosis would obviously mean a change in lifestyle - particularly diet - and also means a marked increase in my stroke risk factors, affecting the blood thinning medication I would have to take, which was the very reason I underwent these blood tests first of all.

I was disappointed, of course, and I then checked my previous annual health screen results, the last of which was in June, 2013, when my glucose level was at its lowest ever reading of 4.3. The recommended range is from 4.2 to 6.1, so my latest reading is only just outside that, and my health screen last year was right at the lowest level. I'm told you become diabetic at 7.1. Go figure.

Looking on the bright side, Lucy finally got her results today and she's had the all-clear - that's a great relief - she's been worried sick. She still has to go back in 3 months to check again, but it's a very positive sign.

Enough of all that medical stuff. We had a lovely time at the Kilgours on Saturday night, but we struggle nowadays when we get home after midnight, and, for me, that was the second night in a row. I still managed golf on Sunday morning but Sunday afternoon was a lazy one - even more so for Jo, who had a couple of hours' kip. We went to bed reasonably early, but had to watch the latest episode of Homeland first of all, of course. Great series.

Before we went out on Saturday night, we had a discussion about the external porcelain/pottery/china lightshade that Jo had recently discovered languishing in our loft, having been there for a couple of decades. It was bought when we were on holiday in Portugal. There was an existing nail on the wall on our porch and I used that to hang it, but Jo was nervous about it not being properly secured - a gust of wind could bring it down and it would shatter. "But it's been in the loft for over 20 years - what would it matter?", says I. Unsurprisingly, I got little sympathy for this remark. Anyway, it's now survived a couple of nights and hopefully it'll last a bit longer. Here it is:

This morning, the surveyor was due at 9 am to look at our various roof leaks - nothing major, we think, but some work is required. I was just about to shower and get dressed when I looked out the window and there was the D & D van arriving - and it wasn't even 8:15 am! We had to do a bit of scurrying around, but we coped OK in the end and he was finished his review well before 9 am - just before the rain came on. We await his estimates with interest.

This afternoon, I went for a bike ride - I thought it would just be me and Archie, but a bunch of others in our cycling group showed up, so 8 of us eventually set off to Drum. Nice scones and a bit of exercise on what turned out to be a glorious afternoon.

Tomorrow night we're off to the Marcliffe for the big fund-raising dinner for the planned new Banchory Sports Village (http://www.banchorysportsvillage.co.uk/). Jo's picking up Luca as usual but she's bringing him back here for tea instead of taking him home to Inverurie, and Gary will pick him up from here before we have to leave at 6:30 pm.

What else is on this week? On Friday, I go back to Albyn to see my knee surgeon, and then we have a Headbang in the evening. On Saturday, it's the do for Lucy Bannatyne's 21st - still not sure yet whether we're going or not.

November starts

Saturday afternoon, listening to the football scores coming through on Radio Scotland - Thistle winning 3-2 at league leaders Hamilton. 94th minute - should be confident of a great result, but years of being a Jags fan have taught me to fear the worst - and it happens - a late equaliser. Opportunity wasted - but no real surprise.

It's exactly a year since my knee operation and overall it's been a great success, allowing me to play golf, walk and cycle without pain again - although it's been feeling a bit sore this week - the first time I've experienced any real discomfort. The other knee - the left one - has been troubling me a bit and I'm going to see the surgeon next Friday. I may ask him to look at the right one too, just to be sure.

Yesterday I had my fasting blood test and am going to see my GP on Monday to get the results and determine what blood thinner I am going to use. I walked down to Bellfield and on from there to the Post Office at Tillybrake to pick up what I thought would be a small parcel. It turned out to be somewhat larger than I imagined and I had to humph it over a mile back home. It was a surprisingly warm morning and I was bathed in sweat when I arrived home, still not having had any breakfast or fluids since Thursday night. I ate and drank everything for brunch.

Incidentally, my parcel was a replacement Archos DVR that I had bought on e-Bay - my old one had given up the ghost.

With Jo out at her usual Friday afternoon swimming session, I headed off for a few holes of golf before jumping on the bus in to Aberdeen for a few beers and something to eat prior to going to the MacFloyd gig at the Lemon Tree. I was back home just after midnight, but it had been a long day and I've been in relax/recovery mode today.

We're out for dinner tonight at the Kilgours - that'll be nice. Tomorrow golf, then Monday cycling before stepping back on the work treadmill again on Tuesday.

Gary's medical tests didn't bring very good news and he has to go for a heart scan, due to an apparent enlargement of part of it. Hope it happens soon and he gets a clear prognosis. Coming so soon after Lucy's recent health scare, it prompted Jo to ponder this morning on the "bad genes" she had passed on to her children. Nothing to do with me of course.

Gary's news came in as we were in the throes of planning the logistics of he and Luca going to USA next July, trying to organise accommodation at Newport Coast, Disney and the Lesinas joining us - a complicated process.

Thursday night - the weekend starts here

Whew - another week closer to retirement. Luca's here tonight - he's playing games on Jo's i-Pad just now but he has to do his reading homework soon.

Gary's just been on the phone - he was concerned about who was going to apply Luca's medication tonight. No contest of course - it's Granny Jo. Granda Ian is just that silly old man that Luca occasionally patronises.

It's 4 years since Gary and Carole got married at Meldrum House. Remember this?:

Gary and Luca are hoping to go to USA next year - ideally California Disney, plus Oregon of course. We would hope to join them - especially if they choose to go during the Aberdeenshire school holidays in July, when we will be there anyway.

Tonight is my fasting night prior to my second blood test tomorrow morning. No breakfast for me then - or at least not until much later. No cycling either. Perhaps I'll manage a game of golf in the afternoon if the weather's fair. I'm off to Aberdeen in the evening so need to finish early to catch the bus in to town. We're going to see MacFloyd - a Pink Floyd tribute act.

Wednesday - one day's work left this week

It was Fraserburgh again for me this morning, but, first, I had to scrape the car. Yes, the skies were clear last night and there was a fairly heavy frost on the windscreen - the first this year.

The drive north east was effortless and soon I was approaching the village of Strichen, where Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, has his home - in the heart of his constituency. The signs that greet you tell you that Strichen is a 16th Century planned village. It sits in the shadow of Mormond Hill, which used to house a huge underground NATO monitoring station, keeping an eye on the Russian fleet movements in the North Atlantic in the days of the Cold War.

On the west side of Mormond Hill, there is a prominent White Horse carved out - an unusual sight in Scotland, something more normally associated with southern parts of the UK. There used to be a Stag's Head on the east side of the hill, but it's pretty overgrown now and urgently needs some TLC to restore it to its former glory.

At the western entrance to Strichen the villagers have recently put this welcome sign up:

Nice to see the hanging baskets still here at this time of year.

It was another busy day for me in the Broch - non-stop until I left, going home via Dyce, where I dropped off our architect, who's unable to drive just now due to a recent ankle operation. This, of course, meant I had to encounter the rush hour round the airport area - no fun.

Tomorrow, it's Aberdeen, thank goodness - and we have Luca staying with us tomorrow night as his parents celebrate their anniversary.

Tuesday night - one third of working week over

Today was the first day I travelled home from Fraserburgh in the dark. The clocks changing last weekend have certainly made a difference - and not one that suits me so far. Still, it was a lovely evening - I watched the sunset over a silhouetted Bennachie as I drove south west.

It wasn't quite as nice this morning as the wet weather that has been lingering in the west finally made it over to the east coast. There was plenty of standing water on the roads.

Today was also when both Carole and Gary had separate doctor's/hospital appointments - I hope they both got some answers and some satisfaction prior to celebrating their 4th wedding anniversary on Thursday.

Back to Fraserburgh for me tomorrow - another busy day in store. I had the chance to go to Pittodrie again in the evening to see the Dons play Hamilton in the League Cup, but I know I'll be knackered and won't really enjoy it, so I said no to Malcolm Grigor's invitation.

I did at least get some exercise yesterday - an early morning cycle with Archie Cook, then some doubles squash in the evening. My legs were like jelly on the cycle, but I felt a bit stronger at squash, although I do feel a bit sore and stiff today.

I spotted another of Banchory's new "artistic" murals yesterday:

The jury's still out as far as I am concerned - I can't see them surviving the test of time - more like sub-standard graffiti.

Tonight I received my new safety cycling glasses, with interchangeable lenses:

Yellow?

or Tan?

Dark?

or Darker?

Plain perhaps?

or, for the real, geeky, Bono look, try plain with the glassless inserts

Need to think about which ones to wear on my next cycle - don't want to dent my street cred.

The weekend's over - or is it?

The good thing about doing a 3 day week is that Sunday night is not really Sunday night any more - no work tomorrow. The bad thing is that I'm now officially a "TWaT" (Tuesdays. Wednesdays & Thursdays).

Gary, Luca and Carole's Mum, Liz are over this afternoon for dinner. Jo did steak pie - my suggestion. Apple Sponge with custard and ice cream to follow - lovely.

Golf at Monifeith on Friday was excellent and then I took Jo in to the theatre. I met up with Gary, who had driven Liz in for the theatre, and he, Luca and I went to Pittodrie to see the Dons scrape a win against Motherwell.

Saturday was lazy day but there was golf this morning and perhaps cycling and/or squash tomorrow, depending on the weather.

The coming work week brings Managers' appraisals - probably for the last time - and then Friday night drinks will be in Aberdeen for a change. We're planning to go see a gig at the Lemon Tree. This coming Saturday we are going to the Kilgours for dinner with the Masons. That should be nice.

Another working week over

The working week has been a bit shorter - at least as far as travel to work is concerned. Although I didn't go to the office on Tuesday as we headed to Glasgow, I did do some work on Monday to compensate and I guess driving to Uncle George's funeral on Tuesday involved quite a few more driving miles than my usual trip to Fraserburgh.

In hindsight, we probably should have gone down to Glasgow overnight on Monday, but we weren't to know that we would have a blow-out between Dundee and Perth on Tuesday morning. We don't carry a spare tyre as we have run-flats on the BMW. We followed instructions and slowed down to 50 mph and all seemed fine. It was, however, going to be touch and go whether we now made it to Clydebank Crematorium in time for the service.

Our fate was decided just as we approached the big roundabout between Dunblane and Perth when the tyre noise suddenly got a lot worse and it was soon apparent that we couldn't go on much further. We turned off the main road and rumbled towards Bridge of Allan and tried to find where the nearest Kwik-fit (other tyre repair chains may also be available) was and it turned out to be 7 miles away in Stirling - too far.

We had no option but to call the AA. The girl on the phone kept asking if we were stopped in a dangerous place? I said no - we were quite safe, just off the road, straddling the cycle track - and the local bobbies on speed camera patrol nearby confirmed it was ok to park here and wait. She was, however, most insistent and eventually I twigged and agreed with her that we were indeed in a very dangerous place. "In that case sir, I can make you a priority case"! Result!

The recovery truck appeared within about half an hour, loaded my car on the back, and off we all jolly well went to Stirling. First stop was BMW - "sorry, sir, we can't fit you in until 5 pm". Next was Kwik-fit and yes they had a tyre the correct size and could fit it in minutes - and they did.

By this time, we were, of course, far too late for the service at the crematorium (the same one where Mum's and Dad's ashes are scattered) but we could catch up with everyone at the reception at the rugby club at Hughenden.

It was a private affair with just family there - including Ben Barr, my cousin Douglas' son and a Facebook friend. It was the first time I'd seen him since he was a wee boy. Aunt Nancy was in her usual sprightly form. George had been a lost soul for a few years now and had been in a care home since earlier this year, so she'd got quite used to life without him - almost.

This is the booklet from the service:

We eventually said our farewells and headed out to Airdrie to visit Kieran and Julie - and little baby Mara of course. Julie's grandparents were there when we arrived. Here's some of the photos:

OK - the last one's sideways. Don't blame me - it was Kieran who took the photo.

We got back to Banchory just as it was getting dark and decided to go to the Burnett for supper.

Yesterday was Fraserburgh for me, then a quick shuttle over to Aboyne for another game of squash doubles. Today was Aberdeen and our monthly board meeting. As each week goes by, my successor, Ross, is taking over more and more of my former duties - just as he should be doing.

The forecast says wet weather for Saturday and Sunday so I've organised golf tomorrow at Monifeith, when it's supposed to be dry. Jo is going to the theatre in the evening with Carole's Mum, Liz - all arranged by Gary. I think I'll be chauffeuring.

Tuesday tales

(This post was supposed to have been put online earlier this week, but it somehow got lost)

Back to Fraserburgh today - sod's law, Luca's staying with us this week, so I didn't get the chance of stopping off halfway home in Inverurie. Back to the Broch tomorrow - got a very busy day and then I'm out at night - off to Woodend Barn to see Idlewild.

They're trying to re-vamp Scott Skinner Square in Banchory and somebody has decided that artists should be employed to put murals in the surrounding streets:

Underwhelmed we were.

Here's one for Barry - I spotted this nicely maintained MGB in Bridge St:

Warm Sunday

It's another unseasonably warm day today - just like yesterday. No jackets required at the football yesterday even although we were sitting in the shade. Taking selfies with your camera rather than the phone (which has got a reverse feature) is always a bit tricky:

I didn't quite make in in to the above shot, so I thought I'd try again, but Colin forgot to smile:

You may be wondering why there's only 2 of us in the above photos, when we'd planned for 3 of us to be there - including Gary, who was running in the Loch Kinord 10K beforehand (as a Veteran for the first time in the 39-59 age category). Gary drove over to ours in the morning and his pal Jamie Ross picked him up and took him down to Dinnet. I said I would come along and pick Gary up after the race.

It was a beautiful morning and I was in plenty of time, so I sat and read my paper as I waited at the pretty finishing straight:

It took ages before the leaders finished - apparently the race started late - but eventually the runners started to appear. Jamie was in the top 10, I think, in a time of just over 40 minutes on a tricky course. Gary came in several minutes later, but still well up the field:

He immediately collapsed in a heap. I let him rest for 10 minutes or so and eventually managed to get him in to my car and take him back to Banchory, but he wasn't feeling at all good and lay down in our hall as soon as I got him home. It was several hours later before Gary felt strong enough to drive home. Bit of a scary experience - Gary thinks he needs to go to the Doctor's and have some blood tests to find out what's causing it.

So that was why there was only 2 of us at Tannadice yesterday. Gary's taken Luca to the cinema today, so he seems to have recovered from his ordeal, thankfully.

The rest of today will be an easy relaxing one, but hopefully some cycling or golf tomorrow.

The weekend proper starts here

Yesterday (Friday) was Luca's last day here this week. Carole came to pick him up about tea-time, but I was gone by then, so I missed her.

Gary's back here this morning and he and Jamie Ross are now about to head off to Dinnet for the Loch Kinord 10K. I'm picking him up at the end of the race and will bring him back to Banchory for a shower and then we'll pick up Colin and head down to Dundee to see the Jags.

I phoned the optician yesterday and she told me to stop taking the antibiotic cream, but to start taking conventional eye drops (Sno*Tears). Sticking to matters medical, my blood results came back and there was a problem with my glucose levels so they need me to give blood again - this time after fasting. As a result, I won't be seeing my GP again on Tuesday to review my heart meds - this has been put off for a couple of weeks now.

I wonder if the bacteria in my eye - or the antibiotics I was taking - affected the glucose levels?

Before he went to bed on Thursday night, Luca drew up a "to do" list for Friday:

All achieved - except Chapter 8. The "play" in the afternoon was primarily me playing football with him on the grass in front of the house. It was the first time I had tried to kick a ball properly since my knee replacement. Luca was in goals to start with but he doesn't seem to like using his hands much, so I eventually went in goals and took this short video - http://youtu.be/N1UBYa-ZxIM

This was just after I had returned from my short afternoon cycle out to Crathes Castle and back via Tesco, so I was a bit stiff and sore - and I still had a game of squash doubles to come - my second game in the last year.

Jo was out at a church do last night and I had my usual Friday night beers with the football crowd - up at the Legion.

Dawn let us know that Uncle George's funeral is on Tuesday at Clydebank Crematorium, where Mum's and Dad's ashes are scattered, so we'll head down early Tuesday morning. Maybe we'll get a chance to see little Mara for the first time as well?

To close - and to level the playing field a little - here's a short video Kelly sent us of Miller listening to the nursery rhyme book Jo and I recorded - http://youtu.be/E49VLWDBRzQ

George Barr

Yesterday my mother's little brother passed away. George outlasted Jessie by 12 years. That's the last of the Barrs and Stewarts of that generation gone now.

Aunt Nancy is still alive and well, of course - and long may she prosper.

George and my Dad went to see Partick Thistle virtually every week, although Rennie initially maintained that George wasn't a "real" football fan and was a bit of a Johnny-come-lately in his view - it took years for George to build up his football credibility in Dad's eyes!

An early memory of Uncle George for me is in this photo - not sure where it was taken - it doesn't look like the usual "Whiteinch" Park:

Here's another one, that also includes Nancy and Jessie - probably from about 1952-53:

George was always regarded as a little bit of (almost) an intellectual/academic in our family, and his years at the head of what used to be Stow College underlined this. This also afforded him the opportunity to move his young family out of his mother's home, whereupon offering us the chance to escape the hell-hole of Johnstone and move in to Foxbar Drive in their place back at the start of 1960.

The funeral's early next week and I hope to be able to go.

End of the working week

It's Thursday evening and my working week is officially over - in theory at least. It's getting harder and harder for me - 3 days seems like a lifetime now. I was in Fraserburgh on Tuesday and Wednesday and Aberdeen today and it's been a busy week - lots going on.

I just got back from work last night and was only in the house for little more than an hour before heading out to Woodend Barn to see Idlewild (photo on Music blog and FB).

Today I was supposed to go back and see the Optician who had asked me to call in to check the progress on my eye - but she wasn't in. I'll try again in the morning - after my cycle run.

On Saturday, Gary, Colin and I head to Dundee to see Thistle play - after Gary has run a 10K "somewhere near Banchory".

Monday morning action

The day started with a quick cycle, followed by tea and Empire Biscuit in Tease. Ross was working. He, Luca and Gary all had tea at ours last night, after which Luca started drawing. The favourite topic just now is robots. "These are real robots Granda":

By "real robots", Luca of course means those used in factories, as opposed to imaginary ones. These ones are on a car assembly line - note car in the middle. You'll have spotted Luca's new haircut - completed by his father, using his shears. Gary's done a pretty good job - and I think it suits Luca.

Anyway back to today. After my morning cycle, it was back to the Optician again to check the progress on my eye. It still feels like there's something in it and my vision in the right eye is not as clear as the left, but the optician says it is improving - albeit not as fast as she had hoped it might. I've to keep the antibiotic cream going for another 3 full days - the second time this has been extended - and then call back on Thursday.

So all that's left this afternoon is a visit to the Nurse to have my bloods done so I can go back and see Dr. McCrone again to decide what, if any, medicine should replace my daily aspirin.

Incidentally, we've got a roof leak it seems. Jo was up in the loft and took some photos:

I've been in touch with D & D Slaters and they're sending an estimator out.

So that's it - another humdrum day in the life of the Stewarts.

Weekend tales

The flu jab yesterday was a double whammy for me. Apparently when you reach 65 they offer you the pneumococcal vaccine as well - so now I've got two slight bruises - one on each arm. The latter vaccine is only once every ten years, but the medics have done their sums on the risk factors again and the risk of getting a serious bout of pneumonia increases fairly steeply after 65.

For those of you who don't follow our national team's exploits, Scotland beat Georgia 1-0 yesterday. I watched it down the pub with Colin Kilgour, Dave Williamson and Andy Marshall. Colin's finally got the date for his new hip - 18th November. I heard today that Bill Miller is getting his done next week. If you haven't got a replacement joint yet, you're nothing darling!

So Luca should be on his way over here now - we've got him for the first week of the school holidays. Ross says he's coming over this afternoon for tea as well.

Nice day today - cold at the start on the golf course, but much warmer later. Got to thinking about our Australian trip in January. The Cricket World Cup is on Down Under, but it seems Scotland are playing all their games (before they get knocked out) in NZ or Tasmania. The only fixture at the Adelaide Oval when we're there is India - Pakistan. Would have preferred an England, Australia or Scotland match, but it should be a tense affair and might be worth going along to.

We're also considering doing the Adelaide - Melbourne (or t'other way) Great Ocean Road drive. 600 + miles - could do it in 3 or 4 days. Just a thought.

My replacement at work starts full-time tomorrow. Up to now, he's been doing 3 days with us and 2 with his now former employer. Of course, I won't be there tomorrow, but this signals the proper start of my phase-out. We've already had a conversation about me withdrawing at Christmas and he seems fine with that. Mind you, I've yet to have this conversation with Francis and Michael!

It's 5 years yesterday since Dad died.