It's Blowing a Gale

Well it may be Hogmany in Scotland but it is blowing a GALE outside. Tonight I think I will batten down the hatches. Open up a nice bottle of wine and sit and watch the TV. Either that or a DVD if the TV is bad, and to my mind it is usually bad at this time of year. It is always the same, news reviews of the year, so called comedy programs and then the 'Scottish' parties that are the same each year. I think I must be getting old (grin).

When I lived in Bahrain we always used to celebrate New Year in as many time zones as we could work out. The party would start about 9.00pm and finish at about 4.00am. As each hour would pass we would try and find a time zone who was about to start the new year. We would celebrate that one and so on, on the next hour. It was fun. We would crash out on the couch, chairs or where ever we could. After a few hours sleep the sun would come up and wake us all up, so off to the Gulf Hotel for a full cooked breakfast at about 7.00am. After that back home and crash out for the day. Thank goodness it was a public holiday. Thanks to Dave Stewart (who now lives in Australia). These parties were always at his place. Don't know why but they were and they were always good parties.

There are public parties in Edinburgh and Glasgow (and other places I am sure) but the heavy rain and driving winds will keep a lot of people away I am sure.

Well, have a good New Year and may the next bring you joy and happiness to you all.

Goodnight and may your God be with you.

Byeeeeee

Friends Past

I am a little saddened today. Just before Christmas I received a Christmas card from a long time friend. It used to be a couple (Tony and Teddy). Well now it is just Teddy. They have split up after many many years married. I liked them both and whilst our paths had not crossed for many years I still thought of them as friends.

OK nobody has died but I feel upset for Teddy. I spoke to her on the telephone and she still has her sense of humour but is a little bitter (and understandably so). I will not go into the reasons and what happened - that is not for me. I just wish to express my sorrow at their parting.

I met them in Bahrain through an amateur dramatics group called the Manama Players. Ah the good old days. We became good friends and even after they came back to the UK I would visit them. They even stayed in my house for several months, whilst I was working in Bahrain.

Byeeeee.

She's done it again!!!

I Hope you all had a good Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year.

Me, I went looking for cars (well 4X4's) yesterday and my WIFE bought one!!!!! Not me, I was the one looking, she was the one who bought. I knew she was contemplating changing vehicles when I did but we were looking at the big 4X4's (I still like the Kia Sorento) and we were walking past the Suzuki garage (there is an area between Linwood and Paisley where there must be about 15 showrooms) and suddenly my wife said she quite fancied the Suzuki Jimny (yes it is Jimny, I always thought it was JImmy). So we looked around the lot and they had some with low mileage that were very affordable. Well we went into the showroom and they had a brand new JLX+ spec model at a much reduced price which was going up at the end of the month. Well, she fell in love with it. We went home, worked out the finances, went back, had a test drive and she bought it!

So I have had my car nearly 5 years and in that time she will have had 3 cars, 2 of which were brand new!

Me, I'm still looking but I had a good look at the Kia Sorento and both my wife and I like the looks of it very much. I am going to lease one in the New Year (most of the leasing places are shut at the moment). The cost is not too bad £199 + VAT (17.5%) per calendar month for up to 3 years. The only problem is that this is for 10,000 miles per annum. I do more than that, nearer 15,000 so it may cost a bit more. The advantage of this is I don't have to find £16,000 - £17,000 to buy one. Ok at the end of the lease period I get nothing back, but it would have cost me that much in the cost of the loan and I would have had to do it over 5 years to be able to afford it.

Also, this way means I can get a brand new car every 2 or 3 years. I'll try it and see how we get on. I then just have to sell my Peugeot 406 HDi Estate car, but there is no hurry for that.

Talk to you again. Byeeeee.

Want a New Motor John?

Whose John? Anyway, It is nearly year end, I am at work on the last day before we finish for Christmas and the last thing on my mind is WORK!! So my mind starts to wonder. Next year I intend to change my car. At present a Peugeot 406 HDi Estate car. I have had it nearly 5 years and it has been a very good runner, but the finance is nearly paid and I have just topped 80,000 miles. It had 12,000 on the clock when I bought it!! So I think it is time to change.

I will be using the new car to tow our caravan so I want a decent size car and have been looking at a couple of 4X4's. A Nissan X-Trail and a Kia Sorento. There are several of both types available at their local dealers (at least according to their web sites) so, in the end it may come down to how much 'bang' you get for your 'buck' :}

Anybody had any experience of these kind of vehicles? I originally looked at Landrover but very quickly dismissed them as the interior was awful and the prices were, in my opinion, high. The other makes are just way too expensive.

I will probably take about a month looking around and searching the web, visiting the dealers to see what they are offering etc. or I may go in after Christmas and see the one I want and buy it! Who knows. Watch this space and I will let you know.

Have a peaceful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Byeeeee.

Welcome Visitors

I recently installed a Visitors Locations Map just to see how many different locations were looking at my Blog. Well I am pleased to say that there ARE some visitors, which is good news. Mind you, you are scattered a bit. Welcome to the 3 from the States and the one from what looks like Singapore (sorry if I missed the right country, the scale on the map makes it difficult to be accurate) (grin).

If you are a visitor you are more than welcome to add a comment (good, bad or indifferent) to my ravings. I hope you find them of some interest and not too rambling. I like to keep them relatively short so you do not feel you are reading a novel. Ask a question, post a remark, it is up to you. The main idea is to have some fun. It is not too serious, how can it be when I visit an hotel in Scotland with an ELEPHANT head on the wall!!!!

Byeeee.

That's My Boy!!

I was looking through my collections of photos on my computer to print off a couple of my niece's pictures to put in a couple of frames to give to my brother in law for one of his Christmas presents and I came across this picture of my youngest taken last year at a party. Looking at it, you would think it was posed but it wasn't he just turned to talk to someone else and I took the snap. This is the full frame but if I crop the picture a little to cut out the background then, even if I do say so myself, I think it looks pretty good. I think his girl friend is going to like a copy of this.

Byeee

Having Fun

I came across this photo the other day. My wife (yes she does exist) Valerie and I at the start of a very drunken afternoon in Chicago. It was not good to drink Mae tie's on an empty stomach. But Boy it was one helluva party. It was a thunderstorm outside and we ended up in the garage with the doors open watching the rain and lightning. That was in July 2004. Like I said earlier I would love to go back.

Byeeee..

It's Stopped - Finally

Yes the rain has finally decided to take a trip south and drench England for a while. We have had a month's rain in less than 2 days and all the reservoirs are full to overflowing, there are still masses of flood warnings and the countryside looks decidedly soggy.

Still I have just been 'volunteered' to be Santa for our Church Sunday School Party. You know the kind of question is put to you that you know is impossible to say no to. Maybe that is why they picked me, they knew I would be a sucker!!!It was only after I said yes that I realised that once they got their claws into me that would be it for every year till I am too old and senile to do it again. The party's a week tomorrow. I will have to get me some black boots but they have the rest of the costume. I will try and see if we can get any photos. Well it should be a laugh (says he hopefully).

Byeeee

I Don't Believe It!

Yep, still raining. I took the main roads into work this morning. It is longer but only took me through 1 slightly flooded back road. Tonight may be a different matter, only time will tell.

If sheep get wet, do they shrink or do the coats just go shorter and more curly? Oh Blogs and the Art of Zen (Grin). - I told you it may be ramblings!!!

A couple of links added. They are both to do with Betting, either on Horses or Football (Soccer to you Yanks!). I am following them with interest to see how successful they are. I subscribe to http://www.bizoppjungle.com/ run by a guy called Charlie Wright. If you are into running a part time or second job from home then this site will make good reading and may save you a fortune in dodgy schemes.

Ah well, back to the grindstone.

Byeeeee.

I think Noah must be building an Ark

It is STILL raining and blowing a gale. Local flooding is getting worse and I nearly didn't make it home tonight having to pass through 3 flooded roads. Now it is due to rain all night so it will be even worse tomorrow.

Several of the main roads are closed at present and it will be absolute chaos tomorrow if they are not open. I may have to work some of the day from home, till the traffic calms down, and I can get to work. It is a 30 mile round trip so I don't want to spend most of it in a big puddle, waiting for the traffic to move.

Time will tell.


Byeeeee

It's Bucketing Down

Well, Sunday morning. Eve-on Line is down for maintenance, it is blowing a gale and absolutely pouring down with rain. Welcome to Scotland in December!!

My wife managed to get the Christmas decorations up last night. I just do the grunt work, carry the boxes, move the furniture etc. She does all the arty bits. Looks good mind you, so I never complain. I've just got to get all the boxes back in the loft. I really think it is time we clear out some of the old decorations. The boxes feel no lighter than when I brought them down!

One of my pet peeves is the way the shops start Christmas in October. By the time December comes you are fed up with it. My memories as a child seemed to indicate that things did not get going till December and that is the way I like it. Having said that, as a kid, when it DID get started we were as high as kites for 3 weeks. Must have driven my parents round the bend. Mind you, I suppose some things never change. Kids driving their parents round the bend I mean {grin}.

Byeeee

Holidays - Next Year

I am being an absolute devil at the moment {grin}. Both my wife and I love visiting friends in Buffalo Grove, in Illinois (just north west of Chicago) but because of the need for some house alterations we didn't go last year. Well, I just looked up the fares on KLM from Glasgow to O'Hare Chicago and planted the seed of a trip next spring. KLM's prices are very good and we avoid Manchester or Heathrow.

My wife loves the shopping in the US and we have a GREAT time with our friends there.

The problem is I need a new car, the house is still not finished and we really should spend the money at home. But what the heck. Life is for living!!!!! Watch this space. It will either be caravan holidays this year (don't get me wrong, we do enjoy these holidays and it means we can get 4 of them in a year) or a trip to Chicago and 2 caravan holidays. Time will tell.

Byeeee

Diabetes 2

Just as well I read my own blog!! It is lunchtime, I have just had my lunch and am back at my desk. Totally forgetting to take my metformin tablets. Tsk, Tsk. When I looked at my last blog, what did I say "when I remember to take it". Well that little prompt made me take them. Hooray. Now I just have to work out a prompt for home at the weekend. Sigh, life is tough {grin}.

Byeeee

Diabetes

Just an update. The extra metformin does seem to be working (when I remember to take it) and the bloods were down into the 8's from the 9's. Long may that continue and if I can get it back into the 7's I will be very happy.

Byeeeee

Hmmm, Interesting - or not depends on you.

I was doing a little surfing at lunchtime, as one does, and was using the random blog button site to look at a few other sites. I was surfing for about 15 minutes and the same site came up at least 6 times. How's that for random!! Several came up a couple of times. I assume that these sites are the ones that have actually paid some money to the Random Blog Button Site. It does clearly state on the opening page http://randomblogbutton.blogspot.com/ that you can join the free rotation or pay a little and 'appear extra often' in the rotation. Now I don't mind that, it's a nice little earner I would think, but 6 times in 15 minutes? It was getting to the point where I was being put off the blog site rather than enjoying it.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Byeeee

I'm Back!!

Well, I made it back from the wilds of East Scotland at the weekend. A bit wild and windy but still very enjoyable. We stayed at an hotel that had the makings of a story for Fawlty Towers. OK, the beginning of December is not a good time to visit any hotel, but you would think that they would turn the heating on in the rooms before 4.00pm (especially when it is getting dark by 3.30pm).

They had a fabulous lounge, very high ceilings, comfortable settees and a magnificent wood burning fire and yes that is an elephant on the wall!!!!. Only problem was the manager did not heat the room with the fire, he used 2 electric radiators. They don't give quite the same atmosphere as a log burning fire. :{

We did get to see it with the fire burning as there was a wedding in the hotel on the day we arrived (Friday) and it was in this lounge so the fire was lit then, but as mere guests we couldn't use that room, it was for the wedding guests (sigh). The other days it was not lit.

The restaurant had all the atmosphere of a tiled bathroom. White walls, big empty room , strong lighting and hardly any guests in it. It was £27 each for the evening meal so we decided to go into St.Andrews on one night (very good restaurant called The Dolls House.), Dundee another night and a bar meal in the Hotel for the third night.

Breakfast was another experience. No napkins on the table. Only half the cold buffet items set out (you had to ask for yoghurt and the croissants were being delivered the next day). Mind you my wife did say that the black pudding and haggis included in the full Scottish breakfast were very nice. Not that I would know as I cannot stand them. It did mean that I got her mushrooms and tomatoes and she got my black pudding and haggis (grin).

I would say it is an area I would like to visit again (if only to try some of the other restaurants we found but which were closed on a Sunday). However I don't think we will be staying in the Sandford Hotel.

I will try and upload some pictures tonight when I get home.

We drove round the Fife coastal route and it was very nice. There are a lot of small harbours
in the area and they looked lovely, apart from the seas being lashed up onto the harbour walls and the gale force winds. What do you expect, it is December!!! We were lucky. It only rained on the Sunday. The other days were dry and bright (just very windy). On the west coast of Scotland they were getting heavy gales and severe flooding. I'm glad I was on the east.

A little retail therapy in Dundee and Perth meant I was able to get my wife's Christmas present. She chose it. She is into Radley bags and this will be her third. This is not something I understand as a mere man. We also stopped off at a retail outlet park at Tillicoutry on the way home. It has been a couple of years since we have been there but it hasn't changed that much (apart from the Windsmore shop closing down).

Byeee for now.