A quiet week

Aside from lapping up the Olympics and scoring a hole in one, I did get out and about a little during the week, as the weather finally showed an improvement on its below par performance of the rest of the summer. I had a pleasant evening bike ride from Flotterstane car park up past the reservoir and on up past Loganlea reservoir until the track ran out. The light on the hills was beautiful and both bodies of water were flat calm, reflecting the hills and heather beyond. I made a brief attempt along the rougher track towards Balerno but soon came a cropper in a deep rut and staved most of my fingers. Off-road is not for me! I made do with a leisurely descent back to the car park.

I also took a trip to the Melville driving range and got through a pile of washing and folding and putting away of clothes. My initial attempts to order a new PC for Sharon came to naught as my card had been blocked so my plans to re-do the computing set-up in the house were thwarted. Our temperamental V+ box failed to respond once too often the week before last and so we took delivery of a new TiVo box with a new V+ box for the play room and an upgraded broadband and wireless router. All for much the same price!

The drive back from Duns over the hills to Gifford was spectacular and I had a similar tour from Callendar via Fintry and Lennoxtown today, after a peaceful picnic and read of the Sunday papers by the water in the Trossachs' thriving tourist trap. I was up that way as the result of an early start to play golf at Stirling Golf Club in the company of Paul Last and his pal Sam, who signed us on. Again I started well, two over par through eight holes but then fell away to finish with a +16 score of 88. I had about 7 pars and a good few birdie chances but failed to convert any.

These are the things you can do when you're on your own, but I have missed the hubbub of the boys and Sharon about the house. Give me five minutes once they've returned and I'll soon change my mind!