Summer has officially arrived and with it the temperatures have risen. It’s reached 35c on more than one occasion and it’s becoming very draining. Even at 6am it’s around 24c and so to get anything done you need to get up and out as soon as possible.

It rained a few days ago and I needed to get the new plastic tank hooked up but first had to get the old one moved out of the way which was quite difficult. I’d only moved it enough so that I could move the new one into position and then hook up the downpipe. I managed to get things into place but my first attempt at setting things up was not quite successful. The hole cut in the top of the tank was too small and the strainer fitted was not adequate and quite a bit of debris managed to sneak through. My second modification seemed to fix this.

I hooked the tank up to the storm water, although I still need to glue the pipes into place which I’ll need to do tomorrow. Two days ago I moved the old metal tank onto the trailer and I’m still pondering on the fate of said tank. That was quite a challenge to manipulate the tank onto the trailer, not only because of its size and weight but just it was just bloody awkward.

There was still a bit of water inside it so I punched a few holes into it to drain it, however there was quite a lot of silt in there too. The internal bracing is completely rotten and I can see now why it gave way, it’s just a bugger that it happened while I was away. It could have been as much as 3000 lt of water in the tank when it shit itself and thankfully it doesn’t seem to have caused any damage…. mind you the front door is not closing properly and this usually happens when we have had too much rain.

I’ve not decided what to do with the old tank, I might cut it up to make planters, maybe put in a few veges. I’ll slice it in two tomorrow and then see how it looks and if I don’t want it I’ll just scrap it…. It’s not worth much as scrap.

Oh and I managed to save a rather large stick insect that could not climb up the metal fence. I picked it up and put it on the neighbours tree, hopefully he got away safely into the canopy avoiding the birds.

Been home two weeks and obviously still affected by Covid. On Friday I did feel so much better and managed to get a few jobs done too. I even celebrated by having a roll with black pudding and cheese which hit the spot and I had another one today after spending a few hours in the garden.

There was plenty of garden debris which has been there for over three months, I have been slowly putting it in the rubbish every week but it just didn’t seem to be disappearing. I left it for such a long time to allow the sun to dry it out but some of it had started to take root.

So I dusted off the trailer and filled it to capacity and took it to the dump today and then cut the grass when I got back and the garden is looking a lot better. Oh I also picked up an Ibc tank which will hold 1000lt, I’ll still need to move the old tank and then plumb in the new one. They are predicting rain this week so the sooner I get it sorted the better. This cost $100 which is a hell of a lot cheaper than a new metal or large plastic tank.

So I’m still a bit tired and I’m hoping that I can finally shake off these after effects of Covid sooner rather then later. Got many things to get done before the end of the year and before it gets too hot.

A few months ago I wrote about the Putty Road, which I think is one of the best driving roads especially in Australia. There is another road that I was lucky to drive recently which I think is better in so many ways. The road in question is the A83 which runs from Arrochar to Campbeltown on the west coast of Scotland. I usually drive up the Loch Lomond side to get to onto the A83 but this time I went on the other side along the banks of Loch Long which is a better drive these days, so much quieter. There are sections of the road near Arrochar that would have never been touched in decades, whereas the Loch Lomond side has been developed and ruined because it’s been straightened but then again it is the main thoroughfare north.

It’s not the best car however it was a manual which made it better. I had a Vauxhall Corsa, it did manage to get us from A to B safely enough. It revved well and if you rung its neck you could maintain speed through the bends with swift gear changes and minimal use of the brakes. There are only a couple of bends on this road that have the potential to catch you out and so for the most part you can sit on 60 mph quite comfortably without making the passengers anxious or sick and no chance of kangaroos jumping out in front of you.

The scenery is stunning, from the Rest and be Thankful to the loch sides and down the coast the A83 just keeps on surprising you till you finally arrive into Campbeltown. I’ve driven this road many times and this time being autumn gave it a whole new look. We were treated to the autumnal essence everywhere on a cold crisp day and there were even glimmers of a blue sky breaking through fluffy clouds.

Scotland is very pretty and the west coast in my opinion is by far the jewel in the crown and to be treated to fine weather along the way is a bonus. The changing light on the trees is a joy to watch as is the wild life that will appear when you still yourself.

My next trip was going to be off to somewhere exotic but I think I am going to make every effort to return to Scotland in late summer and explore once and for all the many places that I have only seen on TV. Once you get out of the city and onto one of the many B roads you are treated to a driver’s paradise.

I thought it was just the jet lag. On Saturday and Sunday I was in pain, I thought my sinuses were going to explode. The pain in my forehead was endless. I was dog tired and yet when I went to bed I slept as if possessed. The same dream for two nights ran though my head but don’t ask me what it was because I can’t remember. What I do remember is tossing and turning like clockwork, my body was being controlled and manipulated by an unknown force.

Monday morning I woke up at 4:30 feeling tired but slightly more human. I had to head to Armidale for an appointment on the Tuesday. I couldn’t even finish breakfast, I couldn’t taste anything either. I took the bread roll from the fridge and a Mandarin and packed the car and headed off.

I drove to Glen Innes before stopping for fuel. I’d been nibbling at the dry roll for the last four hours and so I ate the Mandarin as a treat. Only 100 km to go and then I can relax. I don’t feel too bad, I don’t feel too good either.

Stuart is home when I arrive, Catherine’s flight has been delayed. I tell Stuart about the last few days and he thinks I have Covid, I do the test and what do you know he’s right. First time for everything I guess.

I’m hoping I don’t infect either of them so we distance as much as is possible. I have to cancel my appointment. I can’t go when I’m infected by the plague and so I stay the night and I got up this morning around 6 had two bits of toast and a cuppa and headed back up the road.

970 km to get there and back and many hours behind the wheel and I’m back to where I started, although I am feeling a bit better and I’m hoping that when I go to bed this evening I will sleep like a baby and not like something from the Exorcist 😱

Well I was very surprised to see that most things that I planted before leaving are still living, thriving even. What I did not expect was to see the utter carnage of my bird bath, it’s in bits and looks as if it has been caught in some traumatic event. There are a few things strewn around the garden that makes me think that some of the animals or birds have had a bit of a party.

The top has come loose and the base is fractured and I don’t think that any amount of glue will fix this.

The other surprise was the water tank. Rivets have given way and the water has disappeared. According to Mick, he heard a loud bang and when he went outside the water was pouring out like a mini fountain from the side of the tank. Inside the tank there is bracing which has given way. The tank has been low in water for some time and I did notice that one of the rivets was leaking slightly, however when I was away there was a massive storm and the tank has filled up very quickly and the pressure has been too much and then it went bang!

The other side has buckled slightly too. Now to replace this size of thank will cost about $1400 which I don’t have and so I need a new solution and I think I have found it with this.

I should be able to pick something like this up for under a $100 and they hold 1000 litres, so if I can get at least two I will be back in business. I think that it will be way too difficult to repair the tank and also too expensive.

The tap on the tank is open and the hose is in the garden and so all that lovely rain water is now being directly fed back into the soil.

The flight is dreadful, Dubai to Brisbane is 14 hours and Glasgow to Dubai 7.5 hours.

At Brisbane I told them I had a few things to declare, whisky and chocolate and some Scottish Pudding. I did miss out the word “Black” in my statement deliberately of course and if they were happy with that then I am over the moon 😍

And I got another bottle of whisky just because I could.

I’m waiting for the water to heat up and then I’ll go for a shower. I’m just happy to be off of the plane and getting back to my own bed.

Again the takeoff is slow, deliberate and finally we are in the air with vivid green fields below. I watched the plane takeoff the other day and it looked so slow that I thought it was going to stop. It feels slow too, compared to other aircraft I’ve been in.

The girl that sat beside me was too enthusiastic and just a bit loud and I’m thinking that this could be a really long flight, however not long after we were in the air she switched on the TV and fell silent. An Australian living in Glasgow flying home for a holiday. Oh how I’ve missed that accent 😩

The chicken curry I had at dinner was good alongside the potato salad, but I left the sticky toffee pudding. I’ll keep the wee piece of chocolate for later.

I did manage to snooze a bit and dribble down my shirt because my mouth kept opening as wide as hippo. I might have snored a bit to, maybe I woke myself up… I can never tell. There’s always a child crying somewhere, why can’t we have children free flights or stick them in the hold.

I’m going to order an orange juice I think as I need to hydrate and I’ll have that bit of chocolate that I stuck in my bag before.

It never turned up 😩

I’m watching the progress of our journey on the onboard flight map and we are cruising at 39,000ft and we are covering a distance of one mile every five seconds which is fairly quick. To put that into perspective, if you are doing 60mph you are covering one mile per minute compared to 60 miles a minute on the plane.

The couple beside me have obviously read about all the things you must do while flying. Drink lots of water, go for a walk, put moisturiser on your face and the obligatory lip balm, which I will admit I did use myself. But they seem to do everything and not just once but many times. I had a glass of red, I would have had more but I struggled to get one of them. The service was not very good in our section. Oh and somebody kept dropping their guts, dirty BASTARDS.

And I have finally arrived in Dubai and made my way to gate 26 where I wait until I can board.

And they are playing Eminem, how good is that 😱

I’m at Glasgow Airport waiting for my Emirates flight to Dubai where I’ll connect to the flight to Brisbane. I’m looking forward to getting back to my own bed, my own tv, my own house, my own car and my way of life. Oh and the food, I’ve loved the food here but I feel I should be the size of a house and unhealthy inside if I stayed here eating all the wonderful fare that Scotland has to offer.

Although the trip was to farewell family, it’s also been great to spend time with family.

I also managed to catch up with close friends and enjoy that time too.

I’ve always known that Scotland is a pretty place, however in recent trips the weather has not been kind and of course Scotland had not looked it’s best. This time it was magical. The sun shone most days, the rain appeared at night or early in the morn so it gave the sun a chance to shine on the beautiful autumnal colours that were vibrant and plenty.

I’m hoping that next time I’ll be able to wander the length and breadth of this wonderful land at my leisure and soak up the beauty that abounds.

My last day in in Scotland was a very lazy day. I started to pack my case this morning, securing my beloved whisky in its inflatable bag so hopefully it will make the journey home.

The Lowry print I picked up the other day was secured in the shoebox that my new boots came in. Plenty of tape lashed the box making it fit snuggly around the frame and I’ll take it on as hand luggage.

With about 80% packed I’ve only got 19kg of weight so well under the 30kg that I’m allowed. I still have a few bulky items to pack and I’m hoping that once the case is expanded I’ll be able to get everything in, the less I need to carry on hand luggage the better.

Last night I caught up with Norma, David and Margaret for a curry at Shimla Pinks. It was a great wee night and we were all staggered to realise that it had been five years since the last time. The banter and the laughter made for a wonderful night. Living so far away from good friends really makes me appreciate these times.

Today Christine and I went to Lochwinnoch, we parked the car at the Loch side and had coffee while basking in the wonderful sunshine. So lucky with the weather. On the way home we stopped at the Clochoderick Stone, which was deposited here during the ice age over 10,000 years ago.

Now this is something that we need to bring back with some urgency. If we were to introduce this back onto the menu of punishments then I feel that the amount of minor offences would be reduced in a heartbeat.

However all those human rights experts that are slowly bringing civilisation to it’s knees would no doubt disagree with my solution… What do you think?