My trip to the shops.

Just a wee bit tired today, ended up being a bit naughty last night by finishing off two bottles of white wine, it was like drinking sugar ally water – so easy. So perhaps I had better go back to the red stuff, which is apparently much better for my heart !!

Suitcases are nearly packed, only need to be checked and weighed to make sure they are within the prescribed 20 kilos. Really a bit of a nuisance as the cases themselves weigh so much before you start packing. We used to have a couple of old battered cases which were made of something like compressed cardboard, but at least they were light. Folks used to look at my case which was tied up with string and taped together – but did I care – not at all.
Sparky has the same problem but he has to take four bags for different part of his expedition, plus his sleeping bag, etc. He will just have to get on the plane with about four layers of clothes on, and his big boots.

Presently back over at Bathgate where Mrs B is visiting her friend, who has family over from Nashville, Tennessee, so I have had an interesting chat about American politics, the President and his idiot predecessor, Mr. Bush. Dave – was saying that despite living there all his life he has never been near the Grand old Oppree, he hears enough of it on the radio. His father owns two hundred acres of land on the outskirts of the City and has been approached on a number of occasions to sell it to developers but has refused, as they want to keep the land as a Conservation area in the future.

It reminded me of the time when we met George Bush Snr. and our Secretary of State while we were on a private conducted tour of the Capitol Building in Washington DC many years ago. We were on holiday and staying with T J Killkullen in Maryland, and he had organised visits to the White House and Capitol Building for us – fascinating.

Just had Sir Christopher on the phone with word that the missing phone has arrived at The Mercat, and that we have a relief chef, Andy (home on leave from his cruise ship) who is helping out as Claire is ill.

On the way home we stopped in at ASDA, Livingston, for some odds and ends - you need to be careful, a pack of 15 coke cans was £5 but two packs of eight cans was only £3, a kilo of butter in one tub was £4.60p but two 500gm packs were only £3 - so it pays to pay attention.

Quite pleased with myself, wrote this on one computer, saved it onto my memory stich and then popped it onto this machine.