fill this in

Played golf this evening with Andrew Senew. Managed to play pretty dreadfully - but halved the match. Also discovered that I won the medal on Wednesday (gross) and have been cut by 0.4 to 6.9 - my lowest handicap ever! Quite chuffed with myself.

Can't remember what happened today - will need to check with Cat - but Nesta was also here....

Howies

Catrin & I managed an evening meal out at Howies tonight. This is one of the main benefits of having your mother-in-law staying with you - especially when you don't have to pay for babysitting services!

I think the last time we were here was when Les & May babysat when Grace was just 5 weeks old......that was our very first night out, and seems a very long time ago now.

Family back home +1

I went back to work today. It wasn't very exciting and I don't appear to have missed much the last few days.

After a short and uneventful day I headed to the airport to pick up the family who had stayed a couple of days in Wales and flown up with Nesta (otherwise Catrin wouldn't be able to manage 3 kids on the plane).

Joseph and Grace were both delighted to see me and in really good form - the flat had seemed strangely quiet the last couple of days - although I did enjoy the fact that when you tidied the place up it stayed tidy! That's all about to change once again.....

77

Medal this morning. Shot a 77 which I hope will get me cut (by 0.4)?

Quick run round Harrison Gardens then a very exciting visit to Tesco.....not.

Went for a meal with Andy at the Gurkha - followed by Harry Potter (the 5th one) at the Dominion which was pretty good.

drive home then golf

Drove home this morning (with some of the kids stuff - who will be flying back with Nesta and Cat on Thursday). Had a very good journey (just over 5hrs)- and no kids to try and keep happy in the back of the car.....

Bought a golf bag at the Fort then played 18 holes at Craigielaw on my lonesome in the evening - the weather is much better up here! Back to an eerily quiet home by 10pm.

Llanelli swim then back to Ludlow

Took the kids for a swim at Llannelli this morning - there is nothing else to do with this weather unless it's indoors. Jospeh is like a caged animal - not a happy camper and wants to get out at every available opportunity (which hasn't been often). He wasn't enjoyong his swim until he saw Grace jumping in (she's getting much more confident in the water now) - then he seemed to enjoy splashing (me).

After lunch, I thought it best to head back to Ludlow - as there are still flood warnings everywhere. A much better journey this time - and I sorted out Dad with his iTunes/iPod stuff.

and on to Wales

Everyone was leaving early this morning - Q&L stayed the night as they weren't sure they'd make it home yesterday. I went for another run down to the bridge to take a look at the river - which was still very impressive......

We were last to go - heading down to south Wales - which took over 2 and half hrs - it absolutely chucked it down for a while and the wipers were on spasmo speed.

Luned & her troops had just arrived - so the volume was quite high. I managed to get some peace and quiet by watching a very exciting final day's play at Carnoustie for the Open.

will the rest of the family make it?

The floods in the Midlands are horendous - and I half-expected we'd be the only ones to mark mum & dad's 65th......I went for a run to just short of the bridge this morning (in the rain) - which I reckon was getting on for almost 2.5 miles.

Dad & I popped to Tesco - where I bought the final JK Rowling offering, as well as some rations. The old bridge in town was closed with the waters rising - so we had to make it back by another route. Dad & I later went back to the bridge to do some "disaster viewing" - there were several houses under water - and the river had burst its banks.....

Dom, Quentin et al all finally made it and we had some sandwiches then had a meat feast in the evening (the BBQ was cancelled as the weather was still shocking). Q&L only just made it here as most of the roads they usually come on were closed due to flooding.

The children all played really well - Abigail & Jemima looked after Grace, Henry, Charlotte & Joseph and it was good to see them all get on so well....

a long long long drive through crashes and floods

We spent over 8hrs in the car today - driving down to my mum and dad's for the family get-together to "celebrate" their respective 65th birthdays this year. The journey was one that we weren't looking forward to - especially when warned about "hazardous" weather down in the Midlands.

We were going about 10mph for about an hour due to a crash on the M6 near Warrington - but then our troubles really began....as soon as we got onto the A49 - not that far from Ludlow - we had to get through several parts of road which were in some instances up to 2 feet deep....Craven Arms (about 5 miles from final destination) was a standstill - we were there for an hour - which with 2 screaming kids (unsurprisingly grumpy after such a long journey in the car). Grace, on the other hand thought this was great fun - and demanded that I go through every puddle/river there was.

The most frightening moment of the journey was not in the car - but in a service station. We had stopped for lunch and Joseph was in the soft play, while I looked after Poppy and Cat took Grace to the toilet. Just as C&G were goping I couldn't see Joseph (it was literally a split second) - and there was a frantic panic for about 3 minutes trying to find him in a very busy service station on one of the busiest days of the year......we found on the road outside (he'd walked about 20 yards) in the arms of a woman who had "rescued" him. Needless to say we were relieved. But it wasn't a moment in my life I'd want to have to go through again.....

running after the buggy

More rubbish weather today - so we headed to the joys of the Gyle. I took Joseph (nothing new there) and walked him round the shopping centre until he got suitably knackered and opted to jump into the buggy. Catrin was impressed......however the most exciting thing I bought today was 14 pairs of socks and 6 pairs of boxer shorts......wha hey!

Lunch at M&S cafe and then in the afternoon I played golf with Andrew where we got lucky with some almost half-decent weather.

When I got back, I went for a run (with Joseph who was being a complete pain in the arse). I pushed him in the double buggy for a 25 minute run (and was completely knackered)- but he really enjoyed himself and was slightly depressed that it all had to come to an end....

early bird

Green light to play golf today - and when I teed off (at 7.10am) - I was the 1st peron out there - hardly surprising really given the ludicrous time of day. However, I always enjoy being up early and getting what I consider to be the best part of the day. The golf wasn't bad either - a 78 which I was pleased about given the difficult conditions (wind and some light rain) - along with the fact I haven't played for a couple of weeks.

Joseph has been a nightmare today. I took P&J for a walk this afternoon and tried to buy a pair of trainers to run in. Joseph had a meltdown. This was not the first time today. When I got back (at a very respectable 11am I might add), Catrin had murder in her eyes. I thought it best that she go out on her own before someone downstairs sees a child being hurtled out of a 1st floor window. Starbucks did the trick and she came back in a much better frame of mind a couple of hours later. In this time, I enjoyed playing with some lego that she'd bought for Grace way too much. I never played with it as a kid and found it strangely addictive - building an ambulance, a fire station, fire engine and helicopter.......the fact that I'm even writing it in my blog is worrying - it clearly shows that there was too much enjoyment. Funnily enough Grace quickly got bored while I continued to build.......maybe I need therapy.

Anyway - Cat had her hair cut today (short!) - and of course I like it dear.....I tried again to buy a pair of running shoes (as well as top, socks and a very sexy pair of lycra shorts). Now I look the business - but the same cannot be said of wheezing bald git collapsing after a hundred yards. Still - the neighbours probably think it's funny.....

will this rain ever end?

This has to be the worst summer we've ever had. It's still pissing down - and I'm now more than a little pissed off.

Managed my 2nd run this evening - but less successful than yesterday - I'd eaten too much dinner and should have gone out a bit later...but hey ho. Still pleased that I didn't die of a hear attack.

2nd filling and my 1st run in 25 years...

That's a slight exaggeration - but I haven't done a run in years - certainly 15. I was impressed when Catrin took up running last year to do a 5K charity run - she improved pretty quickly....I'm hoping to do the same. However, I half expected to stop after a couple of hundred yards - coughing up blood and about to implode. I actually found it easier than I expected. OK - so it wasn't a marathon- but I managed to run for 15 minutes without stopping which I was chuffed with.....knackered now though! I reckon it must be 2km that I did. The plan is to see whether I can hack it and to run and cycle each day to and from work (i.e. cycle in, run home, run in, cycle home etc.).

I had a 2nd filling this morning - again there wasn't much to it - I bet child birth isn't what it's cracked up to be either......

happy 65th mum

It's mum's 65th birthday today. I bought her and dad (it was his 65th back in March and I had so far failed to get him anything) tickets for the Gala performance of Falstaff by the Welsh National Opera. "Gala" simply means more expensive.....so I hope they enjoy it. The ridiculous thing is that all (4) regular performances were already sold out - and this is March 2008!! Anyway, I hope they enjoy it - it's got Bryn Terfel in it - and it's on St David's Day (1st March - my birthday) - so it should be a good occassion to be in Wales for.....

This evening we went out for a meal at Palmerston's in Morningside with Jo & Andy. Fi babysat. It was fantastic to get out and have a sensible conversation without kids. This is what life used to be like....

another ****ing flat tyre!

Today didn't start well. After I'd dropped Grace & Joseph at nursery, I got back to my bike to discover that I had another flat tyre. Grumpy. There was also some swearing. Clearly, it's the tyre not the tbe at fault. This meant that I had to walk to work - which was a pleasant change.

Bizarrely, on the way back home, while being passed by joggers, I had a thought which I must confess I never would have dreamed of in a zillion years....wouldn't it be a good idea to run to wrok every day! Whoa! Steady on! Am I nuts? Quite possibly (I have 3 children after all). Benefits of running are that it's cheap and I can't get a flat tyre. Drawbacks: it'll hurt, I could have a heart attack and die, and it's boring as hell. Let's give it a try then.

sophie-anna's party

After a quiet church service, Grace had been invited to Sophie-Anna's birthday party at Moray Place Gardens. While this should normally be a safe bet in the height of summer - after the weather we've had so far, this was looking like being an unwise decision. However, the weather was reasonable (we got wet for about 2 minutes) and Grace was well behaved until she did the usual trick of turing into child from hell on the way home.

valium anyone?

I have worked out that on average, it takes 3 hrs to get out of the flat. This morning proved this statistic. We headed out eventually to try and get a light for the sitting room (failing miserably)so decided that we should try and get lunch at Toast in Marchmont. We also failed to secure a table there - but sat outside of the patiserie next door. Joseph insisted on pushing his buggy into oncoming traffic - and there were a few moments when both Catrin and I would have been happy for him to do so.

To relieve the tension of a stressful morning - where most of us were either grumpy or grumpy with everyone else - I took Grace to see Shrek 3 with Phil, Gregor & Ruaridh. This was mildly entertaining - but was worth the entrance fee just to see Grace's excited face a few moments before the film began.....

I went to a stag party in the evening - at Stooshies on Victoria Street. It's been a long time since I was out on a Saturday night...and I felt very old. Everything is so loud - it's no wonder the youth of today shout at each other - they are all deaf. The food and company was good. It was Ben's stag party and he was the last surviving batchelor of my Craigielaw golfing fraternity....

Au Pair from Brazil

Catrin interviewed a girl today to look after the children for 3 days a week (picking up Grace and then the other 2 from nursery for 4 hrs before we get home). Cat said she was very good, friendly and "just what we are looking for". I hope so.....Even better if she looks something like this.

yet another flat tyre

The joys of riding a bike in Edinburgh....once again as I was about to get onto my bicycle this evening - the front tyure was as flat as a pancake - I must have had a slow puncture. Managed to pump the thing up and pop into Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op - who are currently enjoying my business at present more than they ought to be.

finally back on wireless

Got our BT Home Hub today - and as expected - it wasn't the plain sailing installation process that was sold to me. Ended up phoning their technicians (who were either in India or Birmingham). After 35 minutes, they finally sorted it out. But at least the thing is working....for now.

that didn't hurt!

Trip to the dentist this morning for my first ever filling. Catrin was delighted that I was terrified - and kept reminding me to think about what she went through when giving birth to our 3 children......but I needn't have worried - the dentist was excellent and I hardly felt a thing.

divorce papers waiting?

A mixed foursomes golf game at Gullane 1 had been in the diary for some time. Catrin had given me the green light some time ago. - but evidently had forgotten - especially after a long week's holiday looking after 3 children......she had forgotten and was not amused. The fact that Jospeh and Grace were playing up did not add to her mood. I kept my consel as we headed to church. After dumping Joseph in the kids area I was off - but could feel Catrin's burning eyes in my back......I could only hope and pray that they behaved themselves (and fortunately they did).

The golf was good - I played with Shona Leisk at Gullane 1- and we were doing pretty well until 3 putting the 12th & 13th and that was when it all started to go wrong. The weather was also incredible - clas of thunder and lightning - not the ideal conditions for golf - but we remarkably stayed dry.