What a day for a ........

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

Well, it is another beautiful sunny, summer's day in Banchory anyway - but it was overcast and cool when I left B.o.D. at lunchtime. I'm home now and having a quick cup of tea then Jo and I are heading back in to Aberdeen on the bus to go to the early shift at the beer festival and hopefully miss the massed Friday night mobs.

I worked there last night for 4 hours - got my staff t-shirt and badge!



More later.

Summer's here and the time is right for ........

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

It certainly feels like summer today - and yesterday was much better than forecast. I played for our Seniors at Deeside and it was lovely. Looking good for tonight's golf as well - let's hope it keeps up.

I spoke to Brain Hanson last night - he's up in Portsoy on a week's golf with his pals - he's actually playing Fraserburgh today and I was going to go along and see him, but I had to change my plans and come to Aberdeen today.

And it's a very happy anniversary to Barry and Helen today - I can't believe it's 16 years!

I borrowed Colin's digital turntable converter and have now started to convert my old vinyl to mp3 files - a project I always said I would do in retirement. It's funny hearing all the old scratchy records again 30-40 years later.

Anyone want any music? I haven't bought much recently - just a few - Phosphorescent, Black Francis, Decemberists (Crane Wife), Elvis Costello (Secrets, Profane & Sugarcane) and, of course, T.H.I.S.T.L.E.! Let me know if you want me to send you anything.

That's enough for today - it's too hot in the office - time to go, I think.

Furniture update

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

No golf yesterday morning - the sun didn't come out until it was too late. Sod's law, today has been beautiful, but, despite being a bank holiday, I was in Fraserburgh working. Tomorrow, I've agreed to play for our Seniors at Deeside and, what do you know - it's going to be raining again!

However, after much debating about what to do with getting me a replacement chair/desk, we've finally made a decision - this is what we've chosen:



We noticed on their web site that they had a laptop table attachment - exactly what we've been looking for, but couldn't find anywhere until now. It was sheer chance - Jo spotted it looking over my shoulder - and it was her idea originally too. Result - now we've got to get a proper TV table before our old one falls under the weight of the huge plasma TV. I thought we'd kind of agreed on a John Lewis model, but Jo's still not happy - she's got other ideas - but I don't know what they are - and nor does she yet!

That's all tonight from the only blogger in town.

Luca video

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

OK - apologies - it appears that there was a bit of a technical problem with the Luca video I tried to upload yesterday.

Yesterday, after golf, Jo and I re-discovered the Tor-na-Coille Hotel. The new owners have improved the internal decor - and they've got ale as well! Next thing to try will be the food some time.

We went down to the Potarch for a bar supper with Colin and Johanne last night. Ross drove us out there and brought us back later. We were in the restaurant at the back rather than the bar - nice and bright and airy. We had coffee in the lounge afterwards:

Luca plays computer

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

Luca stayed overnight last night - he now has a definite preference for playing games on CBeebies on the computer rather than just watching Peppa Pig etc on TV:



(The video needs to be viewed directly from the blog rather than the e-mail). After a while, he decided he wasn't close enough to the screen, so up he popped:



He's back with his parents now - Carole took him to the dinosaurs at Satrosphere, so, for once, he was more than happy to leave his Grannie Jo behind - "bye"! Tonight we're going for a bar supper at the Potarch with the Kilgours and the Masons. I've heard a rumour that the Tor-na-Coille has cask ale now - might take a little nosey up there to check it out!

Meanderings of a neandarthal

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

Well, it's Friday - it's been a busy week and it seems everyone in our business is dropping down like flies with the latest bug going around. Doesn't this always make you feel ill? It certainly does with me - let's hope it's just psychosomatic.

Lucy Skyped us on her birthday yesterday - that was nice. Braeden was at home too running around in his Spiderman outfit, complete with face painted mask - I thought it looked pretty sinister - a bit Tarantino-ish, perhaps? There he was jumping off tables and worktops with Holly snapping away at him. Every time he landed, my knees went weak(er).

My other blogs have again been updated more regularly than this one, but that's just a reflection of what's happening just now.

We've got Luca again tonight. I was at a lunchtime meeting in Inverurie on Tuesday and that was also the day that Ross was taking Dawn's laptop back down to her, so Jo and I swapped cars - Ross used my Sat Nav to find Dawn's house and I used Jo's car (and car seat) to pick up Luca from nursery. I was a lot earlier than planned - my meeting finished before 1pm and Carole had me down for a 3pm pick-up at the nursery.

I filled in a bit of time by popping in to Craigdon Mountain Sports - nice shop. I ended up buying a collapsible water bottle (I'd lost the bottle I used to use in the gym), a pair of walking socks and a base layer - a pretty expensive one at that - pure Merino wool, all the way from NZ. It's black and has long sleeves and I actually used it at golf on Wednesday evening as it was a trifle cool. It's supposed to keep you warm and/or cool depending on conditions, and wick away any perspiration. It wasn't much of a test on Wednesday but it felt comfortable and seemed to work OK.

Anyway, back to Luca - it's a delight to pick him up from Nursery - as soon as he spots you, he shouts "Grandad!" and comes running over and jumps up and gives you a big hug - very sweet. Quite a contrast from the sometimes indifferent response you get when you walk in to the house - especially if he happens to be with his Grannie Jo. Am I invisible? Has Luca gone deaf? I know now how Jo does it - in the front of her car, she's got a little vanity tray for gadgets etc. Guess what I found in it? Correct - chocolate buttons - all melting in the sun of course. Sorry, Luca - have to wait until we get home and we can put them in the fridge.

Wednesday night is golf night - for the 23 weeks of "summer" anyway. We watched Junior Apprentice when I got home - a bit different from the last few years, but still very entertaining and exceptionally well made. The original "You're Fired", the Trumpster himself, was in town yesterday - Michael Clark was invited to the big presentation he made out at the Menie estate, along with all the great and the good - and all the media.

I noticed Lauren's comment on Facebook about getting her nose pierced - yuk! There, that's it confirmed - I am officially a Grumpy Old Man. I was surprised at Lesley's support for it - there I was thinking she was old and sensible too, but I guess it just demonstrates how out of touch I am.

So that's been my week so far - how's yours been?

Monday

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

Nice weekend - even though we did get a bit of rain up on Loch Muick yesterday. My walking poles definitely helped keep the strain off my knees - they were only really sore when I stopped!

I'm glad I made the effort to play golf on Saturday, but playing in a buggy when everybody else is walking is no fun - although it was lovely to just be there on such a glorious day.

So, it appears that Ross is finally finished with Dawn's computer - he said it was a real mess and took days to sort out - although much of the fixing is running in the background whilst Ross "raids" in the evenings. He's taking my car down tomorrow to drop the laptop back at Dawn's. I'm taking Jo's car to work and then on to Inverurie where I have a lunchtime meeting and then I pick up Luca and bring him back to ours.

That's all my news for now - although there's lots more on my other 5 blogs!

Glorious Saturday

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/ The hottest day of the year (so far) and it was great to get out on the golf course this morning - even if it had to be in a buggy. When I got home, Gary and Carole had left for the wedding they are attending, and our front door was locked - I soon found out why - Isis can open doors! Jo and Luca were out "gardening" in the back:

Good week - and bad

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

Well, the weather's been great and the forecast is good too. My golf blog shows the lovely afternoon we had at Fraserburgh on Tuesday, and I headed south on Wednesday and played at Glenbervie with this man - remember him?



I stayed overnight with Brian and Mary and the original intention had been to head straight to the airport on Thursday morning and catch a flight to Campbeltown for the much delayed corporate golf day at Macrihanish, carried forward from last year - remember when two planes broke down and we had to cancel?

That was Plan A, but, unfortunately, it wasn't to be. I've been carrying a knee injury (to my left knee - my "good" one) ever since we were at Boat of Garten. You never get a level stance there and your limbs are always fighting against the slopes when you try to swing. It's been niggling away, but after nine holes on Wednesday, it was getting worse and I could hardly walk at the end. I had to phone my host and enquire whether I could get a buggy at Macrihanish as I certainly couldn't walk 18 holes. No chance he said - it's a site of Special Scientific/Nature Interest apparently. Oh well.

So, I ended up having breakfast with Mary and then stopping off at Dawn's on the way home, so it wasn't all a complete waste of time, although I had to cancel my planned supper with Barry, Helen and Dawn.

Mary made me laugh - and demonstrated a very Central Belt, blinkered point of view when we were talking about my aborted trip to Macrihanish. "Where's that?" - "How do you get there?" "Do you have to fly?" - "Why can't you catch a train or a bus, or drive?". Apart from the obvious geographical difficulties, Mary - don't you realise that there are no train services to any rural areas in Scotland - unless you happen to be between the big cities, forget it - and it's been that way since Dr. Beeching's cuts in 1963. "Who's he?".

Dawn is a bit more mobile now - she can drive now and she'll probably be back at work in a week or so. She's hoping for either a phased return or to be allowed to do home working. She gave me her laptop for Ross to sort out - he's going to have to take it back some time - he'll have to take my car - he's never been there, but the sat nav should do it for him - although it will have to be the weekend.

So, I cancelled my planned outing at Newmachar as well this afternoon and now I'm sitting here staring at the sun and boiling hot in my office - wish I was out there. I was about to cancel my medal at Banchory in the morning as well, but when I phoned the pro, I had a last minute thought and asked him, on the off chance, if the buggy was available tomorrow morning? He only has two and they're usually pre-booked by those that need to use them all the time, but, by chance, one was available, so I've nabbed it and will get a game tomorrow after all - and hopefully my knee will have recovered enough so that I can go on our next WHW training exercise walking the fairly flat track round Loch Muick on Sunday morning.

Tonight is our first ever summer headbang at Dave's and we're planning a BBQ instead of the usual curry take-away. Tomorrow afternoon we've got Luca and he and his parents are staying with us tomorrow night.

That's about all, apart from a quick view of the letter Ross received yesterday (as referred to in Jo's blog):

Summer?

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

What a beautiful day! Not a cloud in the sky - and I've arranged to play golf this afternoon in Fraserburgh - so far, so good. Forecast for the rest of the week is not bad either - good to see temperatures rising again.

It's Glenbervie for me tomorrow - playing with Brian Hanson - then Macrihanish (hopefully) on Thursday - subject to ash clouds etc - and Newmachar on Friday - wow!

We've also got our first ever summer headbang on Friday night at Dave's - we normally only do this over the winter months, but we've made an exception this time as Malcolm Lodge is back from Houston briefly.

Sunday morning is the next hill-walking training - Loch Muick this time - it would be nice if the weather held fair for this as well and we didn't have snow and sleet to contend with like the last 2 occasions.

That's about all my news. We've had most of the replies about the accommodation at the wedding - just Barry and Dawn to come now. Just over 23 weeks to go now, by my reckoning!

Sorry, Lucy - would love to come and try out your new pool, but my holidays are committed for this year now. Perhaps when/if I retire we'll be able to travel more often - I'll have the time then, but perhaps not the money to be able to travel in the style to which I (and her majesty) have become accustomed to!

More photos

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

I was wrong - Jo did want to go to the beer festival last night - she had starved herself all day and had calculated that she could have 5 half pints last night and still stay within her daily limit - and she did. It was another good evening - a much more low-key, rural kind of beer festival - not at all like the hugely busy ones in Aberdeen and other cities - well worth a visit. Check http://iansaleadventures.blogspot.com/ for the photos.

Some images from our brief visit to Meldrum House on Thursday. Firstly, looking from the stable block towards the main hotel:



Then, looking the other way towards the stable block:



Inside the main hotel, there is a small cave bar:



That's all for now - lovely to see the sun back - shorts on this morning!

Friday's here

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

Lots of other blogs updated, so this one's pretty short again. Tonight it's the second annual Macbethfest beer festival down at Dess. Shame for Jo - she just started on Weightwatchers on Wednesday - otherwise, she would have loved to come along.

We went to Meldrum House last night - couldn't see the rooms, but we at least got a good feel for the place and I'll be contacting the relatives to find out now where they want to stay.

That's about it - travelling a bit next week with a lot of golf involved - Fraserburgh Tuesday, Glenbervie Wednesday, Macrihanish Thursday and Newmachar Friday - with some work in between!

Wednesday wonder

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

What a shocker - scraping frost off the car on 12th May! Still the sun's shining now and it looks fair for tonight's golf.

Haven't got much to say really - all my weekend news is on the golf blog - although I did go in to Anderson's in Inverurie on my way home to look at chairs and bureaux. I spotted something nice in the corner, but there was no sign nor price on it. I asked one of the assistants - she told me it belonged to one of the manufacturers and was used to hold their brochures, with the two pull-out leafs showing the wood finishes they could do. It was a lovely piece of furniture and would have been perfect - but they don't sell it!

Oh - and another thing - I was trying out my new camera yesterday and took some photos, then took out the memory chip and went to slide it in to my laptop slot to transfer the photos, just realising at the last minute that it wasn't the correct chip for the slot. Too late - it was half in already and all my efforts to get it out only pushed it further in. Panic - headed off home and thankfully Ross was around and, with the aid of 3 wooden drinks umbrellas, of all things, he managed to manoeuvre it out. Whew!

Here's the first photo with the new camera, taken at breakfast yesterday, looking through the window out the back:



The camera has an interesting "sweep"/panorama effect - intended obviously for wide landscapes, but I was trying it out in the back room last night:



It works OK, but Blogger converts all the photos back to the same width, so you can't see the full effect!

Edinburgh trip

From http://ianrstewart.blogspot.com/

We took the train down to Edinburgh yesterday afternoon and went straight up Waverley Steps to the Cafe Royal, where Anne had booked us a table in the Oyster Bar - a place I'd always wanted to dine in, but never really had the chance. We were a touch early but they kept us going with drinks, olives, balsamic vinegar and some of the best bread I've ever tasted until they officially started serving at 5 pm.

We had a nice round corner table, which had an interesting plaque behind it - check http://iansaleadventures.blogspot.com/ for a photo.

It's a lovely place with fine wood pannelled, tiled and stained glass wall features:



After our early supper, we strolled down to our hotel, which was a discreet 5 star place called the Glass House, adjacent to the theatre. Anne had found us a deal on the internet and it really was lovely - top quality and a little different. Our rooms were on the 3rd floor and we had doors which opened out on to the roof terrace gardens. This is Jo stepping out to join me:



Calton Hill was right behind us:



Turning the other way, there was a lovely view all the way down to the Firth of Forth:



Les Miserables was great - much better than I remembered it from the time we saw it several years ago. We had a beer in the adjacent Theatre Royal, and who should come and sit at the next table, but several of the cast.

Colin and I decided we would also have a nightcap using the honesty bar on the 3rd floor of the Glass House - it seemed quite odd pouring your own measures and just signing for them.

Breakast this morning was very nice in the Observatory room and then Jo and I went shopping in John Lewis, Jenner's and Laura Ashley. We're still looking for a chair for me, plus a TV table and - a new idea - possibly a bureau style desk. We were partially successful, in that we saw a couple of possibilities, but we didn't actually order anything. The bureau in particular is proving to be a bit elusive - we may have to try the antique shops or Mother Hubbard's in Torphins. I may also have now gone off the original idea of getting a swivel recliner - we test drove a very comfortable easy chair in John Lewis - we both liked it, although Jo is a little concerned that it may be a little big - particularly if we take the storage footstool as well. This is what it looks like:



We had time to stop off for coffee at the rear of the Dome, below Rose St - a lovely spot:



After that, it was lunch with the Elgies - check http://bvetsfootballgroup.blogspot.com/ - then we all headed off back down to Waverley, with the girls, as usual, bringing up the rear:



So, we're home now and just chilling out this evening. Tomorrow, it's Aviemore for me - hope it stays dry.