Cor! I think I overdid it a bit in the Gay Gordon's at the wedding, my back is killing. Anyway, we have arrived at our last destination to sleep in the fourth bed in a week. I haven't done that since I was in my thirties!!
The last two days we have been in an Airbnb near Loch Ness to do some sight seeing but to honest it was all about disappointing. The pubs were shut and food sources were scarce so we made the best of it before a better day today.
We went to Fort Augustus to see the Caledonian canal then followed that to Fort William. Unfortunately Ben Nevis was shrouded in mist and driek but the trip through Glen Coe to Crieff was very spectacular.
We are now settling down before the Hogmanay celebrations begin although I may sit out the Ceilidh this time!!
The Scottish Highlands are hugely sparse and I wonder what they would hope to gain from independence. It would be interesting to see if the geographic split of the voting focused on the big cities as the hotbed of separation.
So this my last post of the year, another which has disappointed numbers wise, so lets see If I can be more interesting in 2019. Happy New Year to all my readers, thanks for sticking at it.
Monday, 31 December 2018
Friday, 28 December 2018
The light fandango
We made good time to Inverness, which allowed SWMBO sufficient time to put her game face on before we got to Achnagairn Castle for the wedding of Ross, aka Llama, and Bryony.
The day went well. Ross used to be in the English National Choir and has maintained good friendships with many of his colleague singers. They are at the wedding end bloc, so the choir was amazing during the service and also later at the reception when they did an impromptu carol concert in the garden.
The wine and beer flowed but I deny that was why I took a tumble during one of the ceilidh band fast numbers, stripping the willow. We got to bed in good order and were raring to go the next day as we dropped number two son off at the station.
We then spent the day sightseeing in Inverness. We visited the castle which was scene of many a bloody battle, and a few gruesome executions, the old town and Victorian market before travelling back along the banks of Beauly Firth. Tomorrow we are off to Glen Affric before a spot of monster hunting on Loch Ness.
Might have a curry tonight though as the village is a bit quiet!!
The day went well. Ross used to be in the English National Choir and has maintained good friendships with many of his colleague singers. They are at the wedding end bloc, so the choir was amazing during the service and also later at the reception when they did an impromptu carol concert in the garden.
The wine and beer flowed but I deny that was why I took a tumble during one of the ceilidh band fast numbers, stripping the willow. We got to bed in good order and were raring to go the next day as we dropped number two son off at the station.
We then spent the day sightseeing in Inverness. We visited the castle which was scene of many a bloody battle, and a few gruesome executions, the old town and Victorian market before travelling back along the banks of Beauly Firth. Tomorrow we are off to Glen Affric before a spot of monster hunting on Loch Ness.
Might have a curry tonight though as the village is a bit quiet!!
Wednesday, 26 December 2018
Northern Lights
Christmas day passed off well enough. A trip first thing to check on my mother was followed by hoots of joy at home as the ankle biters tore open their presents. They seemed to be happy with their lot, as did their parents. I got golf related gifts which are always well received.
Dinner was quiet this year with only four adults, but SWMBO still managed to cater for the usual 20 people! We have been eating turkey and ham sandwiches on our way to Perth, just to use the excess up.
Perth you may ask!! Yes we are half way up Scotland after a five hour car journey. Tomorrow we need to be in Inverness for a 13:00 wedding in a castle in the Highlands. That means a very early start and we are just fortunate there is no snow forecast.
A friend of number two son is getting wed. He is best man and we are honoured guests so could not cry off, even with what is happening at home.
We have a Scotland road trip planned on the way back and are hopeful we can complete it. Number one son and family are coming to Scouseland for New Year so we can catch up with them again.
So stay tuned as we continue to venture furtherNorth than I have ever been!
Dinner was quiet this year with only four adults, but SWMBO still managed to cater for the usual 20 people! We have been eating turkey and ham sandwiches on our way to Perth, just to use the excess up.
Perth you may ask!! Yes we are half way up Scotland after a five hour car journey. Tomorrow we need to be in Inverness for a 13:00 wedding in a castle in the Highlands. That means a very early start and we are just fortunate there is no snow forecast.
A friend of number two son is getting wed. He is best man and we are honoured guests so could not cry off, even with what is happening at home.
We have a Scotland road trip planned on the way back and are hopeful we can complete it. Number one son and family are coming to Scouseland for New Year so we can catch up with them again.
So stay tuned as we continue to venture furtherNorth than I have ever been!
Saturday, 22 December 2018
Family time
Quite mixed emotions over the last few days in the Weathers household. Last weekend SWMBO and I took number one grandchild, Ava, to visit her cousin, Sofia, in Switzerland where number one son and partner have recently moved to.
There was no snow which was a shame, but the girls went skating, something Ava had never done before, and they thoroughly enjoyed that. Grandad tried his best but was pretty second rate really!!
We had a fine time at the Geneva Christmas market, and a very enjoyable meal in the local village restaurant. We all tried frogs legs and some excellent Swiss wine, before going up a cable car the next day, over the border in France. Again weather conditions were against us, so there was no sign of Mont Blanc above the clouds. Everybody had a good time and we returned home in good spirits to get ready for Christmas.
That, though, was when things turned. Last Monday my mother rang to say she was unwell, dizzy and a bit disoriented, so we had to ring the paramedics. We kept her out of hospital only because SWMBO was prepared to do the night shift and sleep on the sofa in her apartment. The next day after we had left she phoned to say she had had a fall so the paramedics were called again.
This time we took her to our home but it became evident we could not provide the care and support she needed over a 24 hour period. Through one of SWMBO's friends we were able to book mum into a nursing home for two weeks restbite to see if she could regain enough confidence to go self sufficient again. I was shocked how quickly she degenerated after having the fall. The first spell of dizziness was as a result of her taking the incorrect amount of medication but she is now confused and vulnerable.
I saw her today and she seems to be resigned to some time away from home, it will be difficult when we need to tell her it will be more permanent if she cannot fend for herself. An old peoples home is her worst nightmare, and I had always promised I would not let her go to one, but two days trying to care for her showed us it was impossible either at her flat or in our home.
We are hoping she can join us for Christmas Day, but, if not, at least she will not be alone, she is getting three meals a day, has the company of the staff and can choose whether to join in the activities which the care home arrange for them.
It's not the build-up to Christmas we had anticipated but we will make the best job of it we can, as the challenges of young and old all have to be catered for. Talking of catering, I feel a mince pie coming on, ho! ho! ho!
There was no snow which was a shame, but the girls went skating, something Ava had never done before, and they thoroughly enjoyed that. Grandad tried his best but was pretty second rate really!!
That, though, was when things turned. Last Monday my mother rang to say she was unwell, dizzy and a bit disoriented, so we had to ring the paramedics. We kept her out of hospital only because SWMBO was prepared to do the night shift and sleep on the sofa in her apartment. The next day after we had left she phoned to say she had had a fall so the paramedics were called again.
This time we took her to our home but it became evident we could not provide the care and support she needed over a 24 hour period. Through one of SWMBO's friends we were able to book mum into a nursing home for two weeks restbite to see if she could regain enough confidence to go self sufficient again. I was shocked how quickly she degenerated after having the fall. The first spell of dizziness was as a result of her taking the incorrect amount of medication but she is now confused and vulnerable.
I saw her today and she seems to be resigned to some time away from home, it will be difficult when we need to tell her it will be more permanent if she cannot fend for herself. An old peoples home is her worst nightmare, and I had always promised I would not let her go to one, but two days trying to care for her showed us it was impossible either at her flat or in our home.
We are hoping she can join us for Christmas Day, but, if not, at least she will not be alone, she is getting three meals a day, has the company of the staff and can choose whether to join in the activities which the care home arrange for them.
It's not the build-up to Christmas we had anticipated but we will make the best job of it we can, as the challenges of young and old all have to be catered for. Talking of catering, I feel a mince pie coming on, ho! ho! ho!
Monday, 29 October 2018
Lost and found
I never know where the time goes as I struggle to keep posting on here. Nearly two months have past since my ambassadorial announcement but I have no personalised golf bag picture to post yet. The frontispiece is on its way in the post apparently.
Most of the last few weeks have been hectic for SWMBO as her mum went into hospital for a 'big C' operation. It seems to have gone well but SWMBO and her sis have been sharing caring duties in Formby leaving me home alone.
So I have been golfing and more golfing, but then, disaster. I think I left my car unlocked one night and blow me, one of Birkenheads finest on a speculative mission for pocket change stumbled upon my golf clubs in the boot of my car. Sunday morning and they were gone!!
PC Plod is not really too bothered with minor theft these days, they just give you a crime number for insurance reasons. That should have been good for me as I have loads of insurance. Not so, though. The golf specific insurance only covers you for critical hours. That is from the time you leave your house with the clubs, until you return, so I was buggered there. The house contents insurance has a supplementary cover for valuables away from the home, but I do not subscribe to that, and the car insurance does not cover theft from the vehicle, full-stop. So that was that.
One ray of sunshine, however, involved my golf bag. That had my name on it, and did not represent a sales opportunity, so the tea leaf dumped that in a neighbours garden and I was able to retrieve it. That saved a few bob in replacement charges.
I now have a new set of irons, some old clubs from the shed, and await my new driver which should be here sometime this week. I got some good deals so the replacement cost has not been too high. I will just have to switch the heating on a month later this year!!
A big shout out to ForeGolf in Chester too. Their man spent 90 minutes with me in the trial facility trying different makes of club with different lofts and shafts. If the driver I have selected goes as well on the course as it did there I may be single figures next season.
Saturday past, SWMBO and I back to backed Halloween parties, firstly with the ankle biters at number one daughters and then at the golf club. I think our outfits went down well, although I was unsure whether I was a Draconian character or an Elvis impersonator!!
This weekend is fireworks and the start of the Autumn rugby internationals. I look forward to meeting the S Club for the New Zealand game. Interestingly NZ are staying at our hotel in Teddington so I have some laxative tablets at the ready for their muesli. I will be happy if England win three out of four, but that is going to be a tall order.
Final point of interest, number one son is back in London putting finishing touches to his house before it gets rented out, we have booked to go to Geneva now before Christmas and hope to take number one grandaughter with us. It is all go at the moment, especially as we have just had a group staying with us for Airbnb.
Winter wedding in Scotland is the next trip to plan, so far I have got us to Inverness by 27th December but only back as far as Fort William. Watch this space.
Most of the last few weeks have been hectic for SWMBO as her mum went into hospital for a 'big C' operation. It seems to have gone well but SWMBO and her sis have been sharing caring duties in Formby leaving me home alone.
So I have been golfing and more golfing, but then, disaster. I think I left my car unlocked one night and blow me, one of Birkenheads finest on a speculative mission for pocket change stumbled upon my golf clubs in the boot of my car. Sunday morning and they were gone!!
PC Plod is not really too bothered with minor theft these days, they just give you a crime number for insurance reasons. That should have been good for me as I have loads of insurance. Not so, though. The golf specific insurance only covers you for critical hours. That is from the time you leave your house with the clubs, until you return, so I was buggered there. The house contents insurance has a supplementary cover for valuables away from the home, but I do not subscribe to that, and the car insurance does not cover theft from the vehicle, full-stop. So that was that.
One ray of sunshine, however, involved my golf bag. That had my name on it, and did not represent a sales opportunity, so the tea leaf dumped that in a neighbours garden and I was able to retrieve it. That saved a few bob in replacement charges.
I now have a new set of irons, some old clubs from the shed, and await my new driver which should be here sometime this week. I got some good deals so the replacement cost has not been too high. I will just have to switch the heating on a month later this year!!
A big shout out to ForeGolf in Chester too. Their man spent 90 minutes with me in the trial facility trying different makes of club with different lofts and shafts. If the driver I have selected goes as well on the course as it did there I may be single figures next season.
Saturday past, SWMBO and I back to backed Halloween parties, firstly with the ankle biters at number one daughters and then at the golf club. I think our outfits went down well, although I was unsure whether I was a Draconian character or an Elvis impersonator!!
This weekend is fireworks and the start of the Autumn rugby internationals. I look forward to meeting the S Club for the New Zealand game. Interestingly NZ are staying at our hotel in Teddington so I have some laxative tablets at the ready for their muesli. I will be happy if England win three out of four, but that is going to be a tall order.
Final point of interest, number one son is back in London putting finishing touches to his house before it gets rented out, we have booked to go to Geneva now before Christmas and hope to take number one grandaughter with us. It is all go at the moment, especially as we have just had a group staying with us for Airbnb.
Winter wedding in Scotland is the next trip to plan, so far I have got us to Inverness by 27th December but only back as far as Fort William. Watch this space.
Sunday, 9 September 2018
Mr Ambassador
Golf has been good to me over the years. ProAm gigs at Carnoustie with Alasdair Forsyth and Cog Hill with Lucas Glover, together with a victory in the BMW dealer day Championship at Turnberry are the top highlights on my CV.
Those events have now been joined by the news on Friday that I have been appointed a Srixon golf ambassador. Srixon are a big player in the golf ball market and have recently launched a new range of golf clubs. Their subsidiary, Cleveland are market leaders where wedges are concerned. They own Dunlop in the Far East and market their golf balls there as XXIO.
So, I am now part of a big family. I get a personalised golf bag, loads of hats and a years supply of balls. I obviously need to keep publicising Srixon on my Twitter feed and in or on any other sources I can. My name is joined on the bag by Virgin Atlantic Frequent Flyer and the @GolfingSwingers logo's
There is still a chance to qualify for a place on the European team for a trip to Las Vegas to play against the Rest of the World, but I think realistically my race is run this year and I need to refocus on 2019, series 16.
So it's off to sit by the front door and await the postman.
Those events have now been joined by the news on Friday that I have been appointed a Srixon golf ambassador. Srixon are a big player in the golf ball market and have recently launched a new range of golf clubs. Their subsidiary, Cleveland are market leaders where wedges are concerned. They own Dunlop in the Far East and market their golf balls there as XXIO.
So, I am now part of a big family. I get a personalised golf bag, loads of hats and a years supply of balls. I obviously need to keep publicising Srixon on my Twitter feed and in or on any other sources I can. My name is joined on the bag by Virgin Atlantic Frequent Flyer and the @GolfingSwingers logo's
There is still a chance to qualify for a place on the European team for a trip to Las Vegas to play against the Rest of the World, but I think realistically my race is run this year and I need to refocus on 2019, series 16.
So it's off to sit by the front door and await the postman.
Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Wet Wet Wet
A long weekend in London to take in some cricket, sights and restaurants did not quite go to plan as the weather gods continued to plague our time away from Scouse.
We had rain in Barbados, more rain in the Seychelles and even more rain, but colder, in Mauritius. Why should we not be surprised then when the first day of the test match at Lords was rained off without a ball being bowled?
This was the first full day wash out for 17 years and I suspect we were there for that one too. 1963 seems a long time ago since my first visit. Next year the Australians visit in what will be my 56th year. I wrote this piece in 2013
So when it rains at Lords all roads lead to Crockers where we met old friends and got squiffy. Next day we got caught in the mother of all storms on the SouthBank and got soaked so all in all the sightseeing did not go too well either.
We did manage a couple of good meals though. The first was in the Quality Chop House at the Farringdon end of Exmouth Market, the other was at old favorite, Langans, where the food seemed better than I remember it.
The hotel was not up to much but we did end the trip with cocktails in The Booking Office in the Conrad Renaissance at St Pancras Station.
No time for Grandkids, London branch as they are in Bulgarialand at the moment, but hot off the press they are moving to Switzeland at the end of the month where Mrs Bulgaria has got a new job. Number one son is sticking in there and going as well, with his firm keeping him on as a contractor. Watch this space for more news of their new adventure.
We had rain in Barbados, more rain in the Seychelles and even more rain, but colder, in Mauritius. Why should we not be surprised then when the first day of the test match at Lords was rained off without a ball being bowled?
This was the first full day wash out for 17 years and I suspect we were there for that one too. 1963 seems a long time ago since my first visit. Next year the Australians visit in what will be my 56th year. I wrote this piece in 2013
So when it rains at Lords all roads lead to Crockers where we met old friends and got squiffy. Next day we got caught in the mother of all storms on the SouthBank and got soaked so all in all the sightseeing did not go too well either.
We did manage a couple of good meals though. The first was in the Quality Chop House at the Farringdon end of Exmouth Market, the other was at old favorite, Langans, where the food seemed better than I remember it.
The hotel was not up to much but we did end the trip with cocktails in The Booking Office in the Conrad Renaissance at St Pancras Station.
No time for Grandkids, London branch as they are in Bulgarialand at the moment, but hot off the press they are moving to Switzeland at the end of the month where Mrs Bulgaria has got a new job. Number one son is sticking in there and going as well, with his firm keeping him on as a contractor. Watch this space for more news of their new adventure.
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