My garden is looking better, the retaining wall has been rebuilt and I’ve even planted a few plants. The toll taken on my body has been somewhat surprising. My hands and especially my left wrist have been left with a few strains and I am currently wearing a compression bandage on my wrist to help with the potential RSI. But I’m working my way through the list of jobs that need to be done before the year is out.

Got a message last week to let me know that my cousin Anne had passed away, I didn’t realise that she was sick and I’m still not sure what happened. A few days later I find out that my cousin Mairi has been moved to a hospice and she passed away on Saturday. it certainly sharpens your focus when death arrives at someone’s door.

So I will be returning to Glasgow on Friday to say my goodbye’s. I’m sure their will be many tears in the een, however it is also a great opportunity to catch up with the rest of the family and to see friends that I haven’t seen for years.

Flights are booked. Flying in an A380 for the first time, mind you I will be in peasant class unless someone takes pity on me and gives me a seat upstairs. The flights are so expensive at the moment. Peasant class is around $3000 and the most expensive flight was $17,000 for 1st. If I win the lottery I shall go for the upgrade.

It’s beginning to warm up this week and I’ve had the air conditioning on today as well as yesterday. The sky is so blue and the sunlight would cut through like a laser beam, great for the solar but not good for the body. The UV is extreme and so getting away from it for a few weeks will be good. I’ll have to pack the winter woollies as I believe the words used when talking to friends was “Baltic”