For once, I slept in a bit this morning - I didn't wake up until 7:15 am. I was still tired and would have liked to roll over but I remembered that the fitter was arriving at 8 am for his second attempt to install our new boiler, so up I got. It was a bit of a struggle - I had been bitten by some little beastie yesterday on the golf course and my forehead swelled up. At bedtime, I had taken a precautionary anti-histamine pill and I'm not sure whether it was the bite or the pill that made me tired and drowsy.
The fitter came in and went round the house checking everything out - in the attic, bathrooms etc - something the surveyor had failed to do. When he got to our en suite and saw our shower, he casually remarked "that won't work after the new boiler goes in". "What?!!!" says I. "That's right - the new boiler will bust the seals of the shower"!
Nobody - not the salesman, nor the surveyor, nor even the fitter when he'd been here on Thursday - had mentioned this possibility to us before. I immediately regarded it as a deal-breaker, whereupon the fitter phoned his boss, who then spoke to me. He disagreed with his fitter, but did admit it was a possibility, but we shouldn't worry as, if that happened, he would replace the shower cartridge. I asked for this promise in writing and duly got it, but this second cock-up/miscommunication had unsettled me, so I decided we needed to check the exact details of what he was going to do.
The first question was what was the power output of the boiler? 29kw he said. I checked the contract and it said 35 kw was to be provided. Now I was really unsettled - three strikes and they're out. The fitter's boss got on the phone again, protesting about me stopping the work being completed, but he eventually accepted my reasons for taking a step back.
So, we've put it off until we come back from holiday - and we're going to check out another supplier.
We were disappointed, but felt we had to err on the cautious side. The only slight upside was that I could now join the Monday afternoon cycle - and I did.
Ross came round late morning - he no longer works at Tease, but had started work at Buchanan's Bistro at Woodend Barn on Thursday and wanted to explain to us what happened. Of course, it's not nearly so convenient for him to get there, but, having myself acquired my "new" bike on Friday, I was able to offer him my old one to help him get to work. A little bit of extra exercise won't do him any harm anyway.
The weekend's weather was lovely again, but a change is afoot. We got rain this afternoon and more is forecast for tomorrow. Ah well, it was nice while it lasted.
We got our flu jabs early on Saturday morning and I went to Pittodrie to watch the Dons in the afternoon, before heading to the Masons' house for a lovely dinner on Saturday night, but I'm afraid I don't have the stamina any more to stay up after midnight, especially after a giant meal and lots of booze. The following day is always a bit of a struggle - although I did manage a game of golf in the morning, but after that, I had no energy.
Ian R. Stewart Family Blog
Monday, 5 October 2015
Friday, 2 October 2015
October sunshine
The brilliant weather continues - we've seldom seen a sunnier week than this one. High pressure in October does mean cooler evenings and mornings, but that's a small price to pay. Deeside has done particularly well - Braemar, not for the first time, was both the hottest and the coldest place in the UK on the same day. It got down to minus 2C overnight but then rose back up to 24C in the afternoon.
I went out to play 16 holes yesterday afternoon with Les Gray and Ken Page and we sat on the balcony at the club for a couple of beers afterwards. I phoned Jo and suggested she come down and join me - and she did, whereupon Ken got in touch with Irene and the four of us had supper together - not at the golf club, however - it was 1st October, meaning winter catering hours - no food on midweek evenings. We walked round to the Douglas and ate there, but, as we left the club, a low mist was already descending on the fairways:
By the time we left the Douglas to walk home, the temperature had crashed - and I was still in shorts.
I have been threatening to buy a new bike for some time now - my old Dawes is nearly 40 years old now - and an opportunity came along yesterday when John Meaden contacted me to say he had bought himself a new bike and would I like to buy his old one? So, this morning, I took a short stroll round to Burnett Park to have a look at it - and, after handing over just £100, I rode home on this:
It's now been adorned with a few of the accessories on my old bike - lights, bell, mudguard and toolkit. I took it for a very short run to get used to the gearing (a lot more than I'm used to) and the disc brakes, which squeal a fair bit. The bike is 7 years old so it's not the very latest technology, but it's bound to be an improvement on what I had. It doesn't have the larger wheels that have become de rigueur in recent times - 29" and, more recently 27.5" - and its tyres are wider than on my Dawes, causing more friction, but the same sized wheels as I'm used to are a bit easier to manoeuvre. I may have to replace the saddle with a gel one however!
I also took delivery of a new set of crossbars for the rails on top of my car and fitted them successfully:
My next job was to try and fit one of the many sets of bike racks I have in the garage to the new crossbars, but none of them would fit - the crossbars were too fat, so it's back to square one.
This afternoon I was back to the dentist to have a filling plus a scale and polish - my mouth is still numb.
We can't yet use our balcony at home and whereas we sat outside downstairs this morning, we can't do that in the afternoons at this time of year as the sun is too low in the sky and the huge trees in front of us shade the ground from the rays.
The new boiler fitting is going to be happening on Monday now. As I suspected, that means me missing another of our cycling group's planned outings. Ho hum.
Tomorrow morning at 8:30 am we're both getting our flu jabs.
The news this morning from Roseburg, Oregon was truly shocking. Far too close for comfort - Roseburg is just one hour up the I-5 from Grants Pass. The old arguments about gun control inevitably resurface at times like this - even the phone-in on Radio Scotland this morning was full of mostly ill-informed comments - and I wouldn't want to pontificate on what the Americans should do about it - not my place - but I did quite like reading Rolling Stone's commentary on it. Admittedly, it's a left-leaning magazine, so you know where they're coming from, but nonetheless it's worth a look - http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/4-pro-gun-arguments-were-sick-of-hearing-20151001?page=2
Obama only has a year of his presidency left. Politically, he has nothing left to lose now. If he really wants to do something about it, now's the time - although he does need to persuade an awful lot of doubters if he wants to get anything passed.
I went out to play 16 holes yesterday afternoon with Les Gray and Ken Page and we sat on the balcony at the club for a couple of beers afterwards. I phoned Jo and suggested she come down and join me - and she did, whereupon Ken got in touch with Irene and the four of us had supper together - not at the golf club, however - it was 1st October, meaning winter catering hours - no food on midweek evenings. We walked round to the Douglas and ate there, but, as we left the club, a low mist was already descending on the fairways:
By the time we left the Douglas to walk home, the temperature had crashed - and I was still in shorts.
I have been threatening to buy a new bike for some time now - my old Dawes is nearly 40 years old now - and an opportunity came along yesterday when John Meaden contacted me to say he had bought himself a new bike and would I like to buy his old one? So, this morning, I took a short stroll round to Burnett Park to have a look at it - and, after handing over just £100, I rode home on this:
It's now been adorned with a few of the accessories on my old bike - lights, bell, mudguard and toolkit. I took it for a very short run to get used to the gearing (a lot more than I'm used to) and the disc brakes, which squeal a fair bit. The bike is 7 years old so it's not the very latest technology, but it's bound to be an improvement on what I had. It doesn't have the larger wheels that have become de rigueur in recent times - 29" and, more recently 27.5" - and its tyres are wider than on my Dawes, causing more friction, but the same sized wheels as I'm used to are a bit easier to manoeuvre. I may have to replace the saddle with a gel one however!
I also took delivery of a new set of crossbars for the rails on top of my car and fitted them successfully:
My next job was to try and fit one of the many sets of bike racks I have in the garage to the new crossbars, but none of them would fit - the crossbars were too fat, so it's back to square one.
This afternoon I was back to the dentist to have a filling plus a scale and polish - my mouth is still numb.
We can't yet use our balcony at home and whereas we sat outside downstairs this morning, we can't do that in the afternoons at this time of year as the sun is too low in the sky and the huge trees in front of us shade the ground from the rays.
The new boiler fitting is going to be happening on Monday now. As I suspected, that means me missing another of our cycling group's planned outings. Ho hum.
Tomorrow morning at 8:30 am we're both getting our flu jabs.
The news this morning from Roseburg, Oregon was truly shocking. Far too close for comfort - Roseburg is just one hour up the I-5 from Grants Pass. The old arguments about gun control inevitably resurface at times like this - even the phone-in on Radio Scotland this morning was full of mostly ill-informed comments - and I wouldn't want to pontificate on what the Americans should do about it - not my place - but I did quite like reading Rolling Stone's commentary on it. Admittedly, it's a left-leaning magazine, so you know where they're coming from, but nonetheless it's worth a look - http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/4-pro-gun-arguments-were-sick-of-hearing-20151001?page=2
Obama only has a year of his presidency left. Politically, he has nothing left to lose now. If he really wants to do something about it, now's the time - although he does need to persuade an awful lot of doubters if he wants to get anything passed.
Thursday, 1 October 2015
Thursday frustration
Well, the fitter arrived to install our new boiler - sharp at 8 am. He had driven up from Fife, but there was an immediate problem - he didn't have the correct parts with him. Not his fault of course - the parts were ordered by the surveyor. Whenever you buy anything like this, you always have 3 separate visits - first the salesman, then the surveyor and finally the fitter. They should communicate effectively with each other, but seldom do - in fact, they often "diss" their colleagues. (This could have been a topic for My Pet Hates blog).
The upshot is that he is going to have to come back next week, which means at least one of us has to stay at home again. I could have gone cycling with our group this morning, but missed out. I'm glad I managed a shortish run yesterday - in glorious sunshine again.
We're still waiting for the last coat of the decking oil I put on our balcony to dry fully:
One application of cleaner, then one of preservative, followed by two of decking oil - the first applied by brush and the second sprayed on. Maybe the second coat was unnecessary - but it can't do any harm in the long run. One upshot of the brush application was that some splashes landed on my car below - I don't know what to do about this, but the paintwork has definitely been breached and no doubt it will rust in those places. Oh well.
Another glorious day in store. I could nip down to Carnoustie, St. Andrews or Kingsbarns to watch the Dunhill Cup - or I might go for a solo cycle this afternoon. I feel I should get out whilst the weather's so good (24 C on Deeside!), but I'm a little tired - I had a poor night's sleep - I lay awake from 2:30 am on.
I took my first Rivaroxaban pill yesterday morning and I got an immediate reaction - I felt dizzy and a bit drowsy. The effects wore off a bit in the afternoon, but it made me decide to take the next one at night, rather than the morning. Dizziness is one of the possible side effects listed on the instructions, which also say that new patients normally take two 15 mg pills daily for the first month then move on to one 20 mg pill daily, but I've gone straight in at 20 mg daily. We'll see how I get on tonight after taking my second dose.
Kelly FaceTimed yesterday, so we got lots of kisses from little Miller - that was nice. So it's going to be grandson number 5 then. Some of you aren't trying hard enough.
The upshot is that he is going to have to come back next week, which means at least one of us has to stay at home again. I could have gone cycling with our group this morning, but missed out. I'm glad I managed a shortish run yesterday - in glorious sunshine again.
We're still waiting for the last coat of the decking oil I put on our balcony to dry fully:
One application of cleaner, then one of preservative, followed by two of decking oil - the first applied by brush and the second sprayed on. Maybe the second coat was unnecessary - but it can't do any harm in the long run. One upshot of the brush application was that some splashes landed on my car below - I don't know what to do about this, but the paintwork has definitely been breached and no doubt it will rust in those places. Oh well.
Another glorious day in store. I could nip down to Carnoustie, St. Andrews or Kingsbarns to watch the Dunhill Cup - or I might go for a solo cycle this afternoon. I feel I should get out whilst the weather's so good (24 C on Deeside!), but I'm a little tired - I had a poor night's sleep - I lay awake from 2:30 am on.
I took my first Rivaroxaban pill yesterday morning and I got an immediate reaction - I felt dizzy and a bit drowsy. The effects wore off a bit in the afternoon, but it made me decide to take the next one at night, rather than the morning. Dizziness is one of the possible side effects listed on the instructions, which also say that new patients normally take two 15 mg pills daily for the first month then move on to one 20 mg pill daily, but I've gone straight in at 20 mg daily. We'll see how I get on tonight after taking my second dose.
Kelly FaceTimed yesterday, so we got lots of kisses from little Miller - that was nice. So it's going to be grandson number 5 then. Some of you aren't trying hard enough.
Tuesday, 29 September 2015
Busy morning
It was all go this morning - pick up my car from the golf club, then my paper and head for the Doctor's. We discussed my recent visit to the cardiologist. He had recommended coming off aspirin and moving to the new generation of anti-coagulants like Rivaroxaban. This time last year, my GP had persuaded me to give it one more year before changing drugs, so now was the time to change - and he agreed, so I've got a month's trial to do, then back to the GP. If all's well, he'll give me another 2 months' worth of the drug and, at the end of that period we'll decide whether to continue with it permanently or not. Unlike Warfarin, there's no antidote, so, if I bleed, it's serious. I'll have to be even more careful on my cycling trips.
I rushed from the Doctor's to my new Dentist for his initial assessment. Generally OK, but a bit of pus round my implant and a dodgy filling that needs replaced - on Friday.
Next stop was the pharmacist/chemist to pick up my new medicine, then on to Special FX who act as the local UPS depot. (I had to return a part I'd ordered from Apple - incorrectly). Then it was off for a haircut - back down to a bare number 4 again. I think I'll need to buy another head shaver.
The Legion was next - annual renewal time - then it was home again. Good day to wash both cars, I thought. Good idea but it gave our next door neighbour an opportunity to complain about the location of our bins on the driveway - too close to her house apparently.
A bit of bad news - an old friend of mine from Knightswood days died last week. Colin McKay was just 67. I hadn't seen him for decades but we still exchanged Xmas cards. He had type 3 colon cancer and was operated on last Wednesday, but there were complications and he was put on life support before passing away peacefully. Colin and I were pretty close in the 60's and early 70's. He was at our wedding and, before that, at my 21st:
That's Colin lying down at the front of the photo - and his sister Moira is on the far left.
I rushed from the Doctor's to my new Dentist for his initial assessment. Generally OK, but a bit of pus round my implant and a dodgy filling that needs replaced - on Friday.
Next stop was the pharmacist/chemist to pick up my new medicine, then on to Special FX who act as the local UPS depot. (I had to return a part I'd ordered from Apple - incorrectly). Then it was off for a haircut - back down to a bare number 4 again. I think I'll need to buy another head shaver.
The Legion was next - annual renewal time - then it was home again. Good day to wash both cars, I thought. Good idea but it gave our next door neighbour an opportunity to complain about the location of our bins on the driveway - too close to her house apparently.
A bit of bad news - an old friend of mine from Knightswood days died last week. Colin McKay was just 67. I hadn't seen him for decades but we still exchanged Xmas cards. He had type 3 colon cancer and was operated on last Wednesday, but there were complications and he was put on life support before passing away peacefully. Colin and I were pretty close in the 60's and early 70's. He was at our wedding and, before that, at my 21st:
That's Colin lying down at the front of the photo - and his sister Moira is on the far left.
Monday, 28 September 2015
The weekend has passed - and it was a glorious one with fine autumnal sunshine - perfect for our end of season Scotland v. R.o.W. match and lunch yesterday - and again today for the Seniors' season-ending golf and lunch.
We had a slightly shortened FaceTime call from Kelly on Friday morning - Miller spilled some stuff and she had to hang up - then Lucy called last night.
My pensions/financial adviser Alistair Scott called on Friday. I had half promised him a game of golf, but the course was busy and, anyway, I had to wait for the man from Penicuik who was supposed to be here in the morning to fix our front door anyway, and, as usual, he didn't arrive on time, so we decided to forgo the golf and just nip up to the Tor-na-Coille Hotel for a quick soup and sannies lunch.
The blood red "super moon" last night looked interesting, but there was no way we were getting up at 3 am to view it. I took a couple of snaps of the bright full moon on Friday night however:
Nowhere near as impressive as some of the photos on today's TV - I guess you had to be there - it was quite a sight - like a giant light bulb.
End of today's diary entry.
We had a slightly shortened FaceTime call from Kelly on Friday morning - Miller spilled some stuff and she had to hang up - then Lucy called last night.
My pensions/financial adviser Alistair Scott called on Friday. I had half promised him a game of golf, but the course was busy and, anyway, I had to wait for the man from Penicuik who was supposed to be here in the morning to fix our front door anyway, and, as usual, he didn't arrive on time, so we decided to forgo the golf and just nip up to the Tor-na-Coille Hotel for a quick soup and sannies lunch.
The blood red "super moon" last night looked interesting, but there was no way we were getting up at 3 am to view it. I took a couple of snaps of the bright full moon on Friday night however:
Nowhere near as impressive as some of the photos on today's TV - I guess you had to be there - it was quite a sight - like a giant light bulb.
End of today's diary entry.
Thursday, 24 September 2015
Winter's coming!
So, did anyone notice that the night was longer than the day? I thought not. It is autumnal, but it's bright and there's high pressure on the way for the weekend, so it's not all bad.
It wasn't all bad yesterday either as Scotland trounced Japan in the Rugby World Cup - and confounded a few critics in the process. Bring on USA on Sunday.
Golf at Forfar today was excellent, despite me feeling a little stiff from yesterday's cycle. Jo was at the Doctor's this morning and has had blood tests, for which she will get the results next week. Lots of speculation about the cause of the pains and funny feelings in her leg, but let's wait and see.
Tomorrow my pensions/financial adviser arrives, as do Penicuik to repair our front door. Next week's busy too - Seniors golf and season-ending lunch on Monday, my Doctor on Tuesday morning (cardio meds), followed by my first appointment at Fountain Lodge Dental Practice - I've decided to go local after more than 30 years of going to Holburn Dental Care in Aberdeen. As Bob said many years ago, The Times They are a Changin'.
Scottish Gas arrive on Wednesday morning for the service and, on Thursday, our new boiler is being installed. Two days later, Jo and I go for our flu jabs first thing in the morning and we're at the Masons for dinner in the evening.
Enough for now.
It wasn't all bad yesterday either as Scotland trounced Japan in the Rugby World Cup - and confounded a few critics in the process. Bring on USA on Sunday.
Golf at Forfar today was excellent, despite me feeling a little stiff from yesterday's cycle. Jo was at the Doctor's this morning and has had blood tests, for which she will get the results next week. Lots of speculation about the cause of the pains and funny feelings in her leg, but let's wait and see.
Tomorrow my pensions/financial adviser arrives, as do Penicuik to repair our front door. Next week's busy too - Seniors golf and season-ending lunch on Monday, my Doctor on Tuesday morning (cardio meds), followed by my first appointment at Fountain Lodge Dental Practice - I've decided to go local after more than 30 years of going to Holburn Dental Care in Aberdeen. As Bob said many years ago, The Times They are a Changin'.
Scottish Gas arrive on Wednesday morning for the service and, on Thursday, our new boiler is being installed. Two days later, Jo and I go for our flu jabs first thing in the morning and we're at the Masons for dinner in the evening.
Enough for now.
Wednesday, 23 September 2015
Equinox(es)
Yes, it's the autumn equinox today - or the spring (vernal) equinox in the southern hemisphere. As all the doom and gloom merchants in NE Scotland would say - it's all downhill from here. Another 5 + weeks and the clocks will be going back. It's a bit of an oddity that, when that happens, the time difference from Kelly in Adelaide goes up from eight and a half hours to ten and a half hours, as they spring forward when we fall back.
It's also 50 years since I left Victoria Drive Secondary School to start training as a Chartered Accountant in September, 1965. This was the Top 10 in the UK then:
So it wasn't all great music in the 60's - viz. Ken Dodd at No. 3 - and, unusually, there are two instrumentals in the Top 10, but Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone increases the credibility factor - a tune I remember well from a weekend in Millport, as earlier reported in my Chronicles. I had just passed my Highers and Mum and Dad didn't buy me the promised record player until Christmas that year, so I never owned any of these records.
It's also 50 years since I left Victoria Drive Secondary School to start training as a Chartered Accountant in September, 1965. This was the Top 10 in the UK then:
| Pos | LW | Title, Artist | Peak Pos | WoC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 |  | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2 | 1 |  | 1 | 5 | ||
| 3 | 7 |  | 3 | 4 | ||
| 4 | 2 |  | 1 | 7 | ||
| 5 | 5 |  | 5 | 4 | ||
| 6 | 4 |  | 4 | 6 | ||
| 7 | 6 |  | 3 | 9 | ||
| 8 | 10 |  | 6 | 10 | ||
| 9 | 18 |  | 9 | 3 | ||
| 10 | 9 |  | 9 | 6 |
It's also 32 years ago this week that I started work at Clipper Seafoods in Aberdeen. The rest of the family were still in Edinburgh and I used to bring home the bacon (chocolate biscuits actually) on a Friday night.
Bringing things back up to date, today is Scotland's first match in the Rugby World Cup and they face Japan in a game that Scotland were initially expected to win, but, after Japan's deserved win over former World Champions South Africa on Saturday, they have started to make noises about running Scotland off the park. We can only hope that this serves as a clarion call to the Scots to do their stuff.
Tomorrow, it's golf at Forfar and on Friday, the Penicuik men arrive to repair our front door. I also have Alistair Scott, our financial/pensions adviser coming up and we'll have a spot of lunch somewhere. If it's nice we might go for a game of golf as well.
Sunday, 20 September 2015
News from the North East
It's been a busy week - a lot of golf - Scotscraig on Monday, Royal Aberdeen Thursday, Aboyne Friday and Banchory today (Sunday). Tuesday was Inverurie as usual to pick up Luca from school and I managed a short cycle on Wednesday.
On Saturday, Gary took part in the Crathes half marathon and I agreed to pick up Luca from his football practice with Colony Park BC. It was a glorious morning and Luca was a little reluctant to leave the playing field. I let him play with his pals for a while then eventually he trudged off, trailing his training kit:
He wasn't so keen on his new football boots - they didn't shoot very well, apparently!
I took Luca back to Banchory to await his Dad finishing his race nearby. We had intended going along to Crathes to watch, but Gary said he didn't feel too good and didn't want Luca to see him distressed, so, in the end, I stayed at home with Luca whilst Jo slipped out to see Gary finish:
At the time of writing this blog, Lucy is taking part in her first ever marathon in Jacksonville, Oregon. Good luck, girl!
Finally, preparatory work has started on the development site where the Tor-na-Coille filling station used to be. Most of the trees have now been felled:
By spring there will be 5 new 2-bedroom, 2-storey houses here.
I've completed another Chronicles episode - 2002 this time. Just a few years left to complete now.
There will be less golf this week - currently only Thursday at Forfar is scheduled, and next Sunday is our season ending Challenge match when we all play and have a lunch together, with Dick Taylor sponsoring it, just after his 70th birthday.
On Saturday, Gary took part in the Crathes half marathon and I agreed to pick up Luca from his football practice with Colony Park BC. It was a glorious morning and Luca was a little reluctant to leave the playing field. I let him play with his pals for a while then eventually he trudged off, trailing his training kit:
He wasn't so keen on his new football boots - they didn't shoot very well, apparently!
I took Luca back to Banchory to await his Dad finishing his race nearby. We had intended going along to Crathes to watch, but Gary said he didn't feel too good and didn't want Luca to see him distressed, so, in the end, I stayed at home with Luca whilst Jo slipped out to see Gary finish:
At the time of writing this blog, Lucy is taking part in her first ever marathon in Jacksonville, Oregon. Good luck, girl!
Finally, preparatory work has started on the development site where the Tor-na-Coille filling station used to be. Most of the trees have now been felled:
By spring there will be 5 new 2-bedroom, 2-storey houses here.
I've completed another Chronicles episode - 2002 this time. Just a few years left to complete now.
There will be less golf this week - currently only Thursday at Forfar is scheduled, and next Sunday is our season ending Challenge match when we all play and have a lunch together, with Dick Taylor sponsoring it, just after his 70th birthday.
Sunday, 13 September 2015
End of weekend
Brian and Mary have just left and are on their way back to Paisley. We met them at Edzell Golf club on Friday - Jo came down with me and took Mary back to Banchory in my car, whilst Brian took me back after the golf.
Brian and I were having bacon butties with the other golfers (it was our Veterans' Football Group annual outing) and I asked Jo if she and Mary would like to join us? Yes, said Jo, so we all sat down in the lounge, but I was then called over by the barmaid. "Excuse me, sir, but the lady is wearing jeans - they're not allowed in here". She started to apologise at this point and said, if we liked, we could go in to the separate Members' lounge - as long as there were no members there, or they didn't object.
Jo and Mary decided it would be easier if they just left and went elsewhere, so they headed off to the Arch in Fettercairn instead. Jo says this is the first time in her life she's ever been thrown out of anywhere!
Anyway, Brian and I had a nice afternoon, followed by a few beers back in the Burnett in the evening.
Saturday was the day of the Members' Invitational at Banchory, but there were dire warnings of wet weather arriving in the North East about 11 am. We hoped we would get most of our round completed by then, but, for once, the forecasters were spot on with their timing. The rain started on the 13th hole and never relented. Brian and I finished our round, but our playing partners didn't, walking in when the heavens opened on the 13th hole.
We put our gear in the drying room and went in to the clubhouse for a welcome beer and bacon butty, with the rain still teeming down. We watched the end of the Aberdeen - Celtic match, won 2-1 by the Dons, then had to call home to ask Jo to come and pick us up - it was still too wet to walk even the short distance home.
In the evening, Brian and I met Colin in the Douglas to watch the Man U - Liverpool match then walked along to the Derbar to meet up with Jo and Mary for a curry, which we all enjoyed:
Brian, Mary and Jo went to church on Sunday morning, and the girls went on from there to Tease for coffee, where Johanne revealed that the surgeon who performed the experimental surgery on her brain to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson's was the same one who was reported to have harmed over 100 patients, but was allowed to resign, rather than be removed from the medical register - check http://www.pressreader.com/uk/scottish-daily-mail/20150912/281809987677823/TextView.
Johanne's operation relieved some of her pain, but, in the process, her vocal powers were greatly diminished and she finds it hard to make herself heard now. How unlucky has she been? One of the youngest to contract Parkinson's - in her 30's - and then this.
Guess what we had for lunch when Jo and Mary came home today? Yes - it was bacon butties again - the 3rd day in a row for me, not that I'm complaining.
Tomorrow, I'm off to Tayport for the Seniors penultimate match this season against Scotscraig, then on Thursday the last one is at Royal Aberdeen, so I don't know when I'll manage to squeeze in some cycling this week. Brian and I spoke about doing some cycling together some time - perhaps next time we go down there.
Talking about bikes, there were loads of ads in the papers this weekend for this product - http://www.gtech.co.uk/ebike.html. A snip, starting at a mere £1,695. I hope to get my new mountain bike for a lot less than that.
Brian and I were having bacon butties with the other golfers (it was our Veterans' Football Group annual outing) and I asked Jo if she and Mary would like to join us? Yes, said Jo, so we all sat down in the lounge, but I was then called over by the barmaid. "Excuse me, sir, but the lady is wearing jeans - they're not allowed in here". She started to apologise at this point and said, if we liked, we could go in to the separate Members' lounge - as long as there were no members there, or they didn't object.
Jo and Mary decided it would be easier if they just left and went elsewhere, so they headed off to the Arch in Fettercairn instead. Jo says this is the first time in her life she's ever been thrown out of anywhere!
Anyway, Brian and I had a nice afternoon, followed by a few beers back in the Burnett in the evening.
Saturday was the day of the Members' Invitational at Banchory, but there were dire warnings of wet weather arriving in the North East about 11 am. We hoped we would get most of our round completed by then, but, for once, the forecasters were spot on with their timing. The rain started on the 13th hole and never relented. Brian and I finished our round, but our playing partners didn't, walking in when the heavens opened on the 13th hole.
We put our gear in the drying room and went in to the clubhouse for a welcome beer and bacon butty, with the rain still teeming down. We watched the end of the Aberdeen - Celtic match, won 2-1 by the Dons, then had to call home to ask Jo to come and pick us up - it was still too wet to walk even the short distance home.
In the evening, Brian and I met Colin in the Douglas to watch the Man U - Liverpool match then walked along to the Derbar to meet up with Jo and Mary for a curry, which we all enjoyed:
Brian, Mary and Jo went to church on Sunday morning, and the girls went on from there to Tease for coffee, where Johanne revealed that the surgeon who performed the experimental surgery on her brain to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson's was the same one who was reported to have harmed over 100 patients, but was allowed to resign, rather than be removed from the medical register - check http://www.pressreader.com/uk/scottish-daily-mail/20150912/281809987677823/TextView.
Johanne's operation relieved some of her pain, but, in the process, her vocal powers were greatly diminished and she finds it hard to make herself heard now. How unlucky has she been? One of the youngest to contract Parkinson's - in her 30's - and then this.
Guess what we had for lunch when Jo and Mary came home today? Yes - it was bacon butties again - the 3rd day in a row for me, not that I'm complaining.
Tomorrow, I'm off to Tayport for the Seniors penultimate match this season against Scotscraig, then on Thursday the last one is at Royal Aberdeen, so I don't know when I'll manage to squeeze in some cycling this week. Brian and I spoke about doing some cycling together some time - perhaps next time we go down there.
Talking about bikes, there were loads of ads in the papers this weekend for this product - http://www.gtech.co.uk/ebike.html. A snip, starting at a mere £1,695. I hope to get my new mountain bike for a lot less than that.
Thursday, 10 September 2015
Thursday rest again
It's my second rest day of the week - unplanned. I should have been out on my usual Thursday morning cycle but we did a run yesterday and I wasn't really ready for it after the weekend exertions, and it took too much out of me, so I had to dip out this morning. Incidentally, we met a fisherman on the river when we were out on our cycle - it was Paul Whitehouse, the comedian. Google him.
I've spent most of the day so far catching up with admin. I've completed my tax return online and I've also sent off the guarantee claim form to Penicuik. Our front door has moved a bit and needs adjusting:
I've had a look at it and I can see where and how it adjusts but it needs a tool that I don't have. We're also missing a small plastic spacer bar. It galls that, although the doors and windows are under guarantee, they want a £90 call-out charge! If I'd known that yesterday, when we bought a new boiler from the same group - different division - I'd have negotiated harder.
That's all for now. This blog is nearing 400,000 viewings now - wow. To close, here's the nice room I had on Sunday night at the Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown-on-Spey:
I've spent most of the day so far catching up with admin. I've completed my tax return online and I've also sent off the guarantee claim form to Penicuik. Our front door has moved a bit and needs adjusting:
I've had a look at it and I can see where and how it adjusts but it needs a tool that I don't have. We're also missing a small plastic spacer bar. It galls that, although the doors and windows are under guarantee, they want a £90 call-out charge! If I'd known that yesterday, when we bought a new boiler from the same group - different division - I'd have negotiated harder.
That's all for now. This blog is nearing 400,000 viewings now - wow. To close, here's the nice room I had on Sunday night at the Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown-on-Spey:
Tuesday, 8 September 2015
Golfed out
I'm recovering now from 5 games of golf in the last week - much more than I've done all year. I have absolutely no intention of doing any type of exercise today. No more golf until Friday when brother-in-law Brian makes his annual trip up here, but I've been selected to play in the last couple of Seniors matches this season next week, so it's not quite all over yet.
We were very fortunate with the weather for our golf trip to the Highlands - it was glorious and Boat of Garten in particular was looking very pretty. I stopped at one of the holes for this photo:
Notice how I'm kneeling on one knee - my right - the one that has been replaced. I did this unconsciously - I was told I would never kneel again, but here's proof that's not true. It's my left knee that I am now protecting most. One day, it's going to have to be replaced too, but not now please.
It was Ross' 32nd birthday yesterday and Jo and I took he and Lizzie to the Douglas for a meal in the evening after their work:
Very nice it was too.
I've been busy updating my other blogs too - including more Chronicles and even another Pet Hate!
We were very fortunate with the weather for our golf trip to the Highlands - it was glorious and Boat of Garten in particular was looking very pretty. I stopped at one of the holes for this photo:
Notice how I'm kneeling on one knee - my right - the one that has been replaced. I did this unconsciously - I was told I would never kneel again, but here's proof that's not true. It's my left knee that I am now protecting most. One day, it's going to have to be replaced too, but not now please.
It was Ross' 32nd birthday yesterday and Jo and I took he and Lizzie to the Douglas for a meal in the evening after their work:
Very nice it was too.
I've been busy updating my other blogs too - including more Chronicles and even another Pet Hate!
Tuesday, 1 September 2015
Midweek update
It's Tuesday evening - we're just back from Inverurie.
Went to our Headbang on Friday - our second this year and had an easy day on Saturday. Jo was doing lunches at the church centre. We had fish and chips for supper - and it was the best we'd had from the Ashvale for a long time - hope they can keep up the standard.
Golf at Banchory on Sunday morning, then golf again on Monday, this time it was my first ever visit to the Trump course. He may be a bit of a buffoon (should that be bouffant?) but the course and facilities are truly excellent. It's a spectacular setting amongst the huge dunes. Here I am on the 15th tee:
Went to our Headbang on Friday - our second this year and had an easy day on Saturday. Jo was doing lunches at the church centre. We had fish and chips for supper - and it was the best we'd had from the Ashvale for a long time - hope they can keep up the standard.
Golf at Banchory on Sunday morning, then golf again on Monday, this time it was my first ever visit to the Trump course. He may be a bit of a buffoon (should that be bouffant?) but the course and facilities are truly excellent. It's a spectacular setting amongst the huge dunes. Here I am on the 15th tee:
It's the last night of our midweek golf tomorrow and then on Friday, it's the Terry Edmonds' Memorial at Aboyne, followed by our 60th outing to Boat of Garten on Sunday/Monday. The season is fast coming to a close. The BBC weather reporter even said this morning that today is meteorologically the first day of autumn. How sad.
Friday, 28 August 2015
Problem solved?
It's Friday morning and the roofer has just been. Observant chap that he is, he noticed the bottom of our downpipe at ground level had somehow been squeezed virtually flat, and, as a result, it was blocked with debris, meaning that when we get really heavy rain - like we did on Saturday night and Monday, and when we were in USA - the pipe just backs up with water, which then cascades down through our bedroom window. He sawed off the bottom section and proved his point:
He went up on the roof - brave man! - and checked the flashings etc and there was a small bit of damage caused by the water backing up, so he fixed that as well. Job done - hopefully.
I went on another longish cycle yesterday and when I came back, I noticed there was activity on the old Tor-na-Coille filling station site. It's been the subject of various planning discussions etc, but agreement has finally been reached and the development is going ahead at last, so they were erecting the advertising sign yesterday. I stopped and spoke to Alan Buchan, who told me they have sold one already. The price is £325K for a 2 bedroom, 2 storey town house style. The timing is not ideal from his point of view, given the current downturn in the Oil sector, but at least the site will be tidied up now - albeit all the trees are coming down:
A day of rest for me today, I think. Jo has got her swimming this afternoon, but I've had 3 days in a row of exercise and that's enough for now, I think. Relax until this evening's Headbang sounds like a plan.
He went up on the roof - brave man! - and checked the flashings etc and there was a small bit of damage caused by the water backing up, so he fixed that as well. Job done - hopefully.
I went on another longish cycle yesterday and when I came back, I noticed there was activity on the old Tor-na-Coille filling station site. It's been the subject of various planning discussions etc, but agreement has finally been reached and the development is going ahead at last, so they were erecting the advertising sign yesterday. I stopped and spoke to Alan Buchan, who told me they have sold one already. The price is £325K for a 2 bedroom, 2 storey town house style. The timing is not ideal from his point of view, given the current downturn in the Oil sector, but at least the site will be tidied up now - albeit all the trees are coming down:
A day of rest for me today, I think. Jo has got her swimming this afternoon, but I've had 3 days in a row of exercise and that's enough for now, I think. Relax until this evening's Headbang sounds like a plan.
Wednesday, 26 August 2015
Fringeless
Well we never made it to Edinburgh this year. As we went to bed on Saturday night, with the rain lashing down outside, all of a sudden, water started pouring down the inside of our bedroom window and we had to rush to get towels - and eventually buckets - to minimise the damage.
It brought to mind our return from USA when we noticed that the inside windowsill in our bedroom was warped a little by water ingress. Initially we put this down to heavy rains when we were away and the windows weren't securely shut, but we later noticed that all the family photo frames on the windowsill in the front room downstairs, immediately below our bedroom, were also water damaged.
It was as recently as March that we had some fairly extensive work done on our roof etc, and the current leak seems to be coming from the same area.
With the forecast for more wet weather, we decided we could not risk going to Edinburgh on Sunday morning, so our tickets for 7 shows - and our train tickets, which I'd just booked a few hours earlier - were all wasted. We couldn't even get hold of any roofers or our insurance brokers or insurers on Sunday, so had to wait until Monday to make these contacts. The earliest the roofer can come is Friday morning!
Sod's law, Sunday was an absolutely glorious day, but it rained again on Monday when I took this short video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVZOkcJv1_A
We compensated ourselves by finally using the voucher I got from my replacement on my retirement for a meal at Raemoir House Hotel on Sunday. It was lovely:
So instead of walking the streets of Edinburgh, rushing from show to show on Sunday and Monday, we virtually did nothing - apart from the dinner above. Monday was so bad that I couldn't even get out for a compensatory cycle, but I managed to do this yesterday (Tuesday) - and it was a long one - approaching 40 kms. I was completely gone by the time I got back home, some 4 hours (including a coffee stop) after I'd left.
Of course, Tuesday afternoon was spent through in Inverurie as usual.
For those that haven't noticed, I've been busy again with my Chronicles. After 5 months' of inactivity here, I've now posted three times in the last 10 days. I'm now half way through 2001 - not long to go until I catch up with this blog diary, which started in March, 2007. The link to the Chronicles - and all my other blogs - is on the sidebar at the right of this blog.
Coming up, it's the second of this year's Headbangs on Friday night and then next week, it's the last official week of our midweek golf - and it's a busy one. I'm playing at Trump on Monday for the first time, then it's the last night of our Summer Quaich at Banchory on Wednesday, followed by the Terry Edmonds' Memorial at Aboyne on Friday. On the Sunday immediately after that we head to Boat of Garten for what will be our 60th outing in our 30th year of going there. Whew.
It brought to mind our return from USA when we noticed that the inside windowsill in our bedroom was warped a little by water ingress. Initially we put this down to heavy rains when we were away and the windows weren't securely shut, but we later noticed that all the family photo frames on the windowsill in the front room downstairs, immediately below our bedroom, were also water damaged.
It was as recently as March that we had some fairly extensive work done on our roof etc, and the current leak seems to be coming from the same area.
With the forecast for more wet weather, we decided we could not risk going to Edinburgh on Sunday morning, so our tickets for 7 shows - and our train tickets, which I'd just booked a few hours earlier - were all wasted. We couldn't even get hold of any roofers or our insurance brokers or insurers on Sunday, so had to wait until Monday to make these contacts. The earliest the roofer can come is Friday morning!
Sod's law, Sunday was an absolutely glorious day, but it rained again on Monday when I took this short video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVZOkcJv1_A
We compensated ourselves by finally using the voucher I got from my replacement on my retirement for a meal at Raemoir House Hotel on Sunday. It was lovely:
So instead of walking the streets of Edinburgh, rushing from show to show on Sunday and Monday, we virtually did nothing - apart from the dinner above. Monday was so bad that I couldn't even get out for a compensatory cycle, but I managed to do this yesterday (Tuesday) - and it was a long one - approaching 40 kms. I was completely gone by the time I got back home, some 4 hours (including a coffee stop) after I'd left.
Of course, Tuesday afternoon was spent through in Inverurie as usual.
For those that haven't noticed, I've been busy again with my Chronicles. After 5 months' of inactivity here, I've now posted three times in the last 10 days. I'm now half way through 2001 - not long to go until I catch up with this blog diary, which started in March, 2007. The link to the Chronicles - and all my other blogs - is on the sidebar at the right of this blog.
Coming up, it's the second of this year's Headbangs on Friday night and then next week, it's the last official week of our midweek golf - and it's a busy one. I'm playing at Trump on Monday for the first time, then it's the last night of our Summer Quaich at Banchory on Wednesday, followed by the Terry Edmonds' Memorial at Aboyne on Friday. On the Sunday immediately after that we head to Boat of Garten for what will be our 60th outing in our 30th year of going there. Whew.
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