I did mange to get away for a few days up north but plans did not go quite as expected, firstly Ireland lost the Rugby championship despite winning their game against Italy the Scottish did not hold their end up and let the French beat them by enough to get the championship - it was pretty good sport though as the final try, in the final seconds of the second game, shifted the overall win from Ireland to France. Needless to say I stayed to watch this final and so set off late on Saturday determined to get to Skye for a few days of solitude, stormy beach walks and warm pubs.
I got most of the way on the first night, driving for four hours despite the rain and sleet, and found myself a small country house hotel just about an hour from Skye, a warm dram with the owner, a good sleep and a "full scottish" breakfast set me up for the next days expedition. Unfortunatly when the Monedeo started to slide backwards down the slope of the road, when I stopped behind a stuck camper van, I decided to reroute. I did narrowly miss the crash barrier with the car and used my long forgotten snow driving skills to get the car turned round without hitting the barrier or sliding down the camber into the deep ditch.
Tail somewhat between legs I scamped along the side of Loch Ness in the snow following the course of the Monster bike and hike for two hours, that is a long way to walk! Then I tried heading out to Ullapool and managed to get to the coast with some pretty scary moments as the snow drifted across the road. Even the stags were driven down from the mountian to the roadside by the fierce gales. Lamb curry at the celidh house fortified me along the way and I liked it so much I returned for dinner that evening taking a small B&B room within walking distance so I could have a few pints of beer.
Next day it was snowing sidways so I cut short the trip, topped up with petrol and headed home, turned back twice by closed roads and following a snowplough at one point I managed to get on to the east coast where the grass was green and the sun shining all the way to Edinburgh. The weather here is an amazing contrast sometimes. So a few reflective days away, and the occasional fantastic snow covered views, when there was breaks in the weather, but not as successful as I had hoped.
I have discovered that the hairs on my legs and on my head are making a comeback, I shall have to consult with the ladies on how to deal with leg stubble, I suspect shaving may be needed, short term, in both areas, as it will all start to fall out again by the end of next week. Shaving of the chin has been reduced to once a week for the last month, which is a welcome side benefit of chemo. I sometimes wonder if I will keep my baldy head after this is over in an attempt to create the "Bruce Willis" bad boy look. Lee is more keen on the "gerry with hair" version at the moment so we will see, I guess she will have the casting vote.
We are still working on options for this weekend, we had thought about going to one of the big hotels for the night on Saturday, as the kids would like that, but we are thinking perhaps something a bit more memorable might be appropiate for my birthday celebration, keep you posted on that one later in the week
Cheers
Gerry
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4 comments:
What a St Patrick's weekend of sport for the Irish. A win in the rugby, with the sting in the tail of losing the Championship. An unbelievable win in the cricket, with a sharper sting in the tail: the death of coach Bob Woolmer, reminding everyone what the real priorities are. Bill Shankly really was talking tosh. Sport, while life enhancing, is never more important than life or death.
Anyway, good to hear that the Mullah is in need of a good waxing again. I'm obviously biased but bald is indeed beautiful. No need to wash & go. You can just go.
It's a tad ironic that you'll get the Aston back just as you go into solitary confinement. Still, something to look forward to when you are released. Should have bought a VW Beetle Cabrio. Though I was rather taken by the Bentley GTC that I clocked while in Auld Reekie visiting Castle Mullah. But then that's also a VW cabrio and only £100k dearer than mine.
Mullah, where are you? Here I am wasting valuable government time, and there's no update on whether you chose to grow it, shave it, wax it, immac it, or pluck it! Whatever you choose, it all needs to match. If you're keeping the chrome dome, you'll require a Hollywood. Perhaps a compromise is a Mohican on the bonce and a Brazilian in the bikini region. Whatever, please don't even think of posting photos on the blog site!
Don't just blame the Scots, if you hadn't conceeded the last try in Italy what the Scots did in Paris wouldn't have mattered a jot!!However you at least have the cricket and we have (once again)the wooden spoon.
Lorna
Ah Kenney you are finally working out that this blog is not written for the bored government officials to fill in their days, specially baldy ones who are rude about my mother and have poor taste in cars.
As Forrest Gump says "thats all I have to say about that"
Gerry
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