Friday
Our flight on time and beforehand we had lunch in Vaghaar and ordered too much. That is not an unusual phenomenon.
Earlier in the day I had walked over to Northwood to have a haircut at HOBS. I had the same girl as before, but this time I told her I didn’t want the same dramatic removal of my hair. As a result I received a cut more to my liking.
As I sat in front of the mirror I can see more and more that my hair is thinning. It is really depressing and just another sign of the ageing process.
After lunch we returned home. I packed with a certain amount of unnecessary interference from my spouse. It didn’t take long after she left the room and I spent the rest of the afternoon wasting my time playing games.
A very convoluting route from Waze brought us to the airport but probably delivered more quickly than the traditional M25 way.
All on time and going well until we arrived at Glasgow when the mobile gangway failed to connect to the aircraft. Eventually they brought stairs to the back of the plane. Our seats were in the front half.
We trundled off the plane and just as we walked up the stairs Maggi asked me if I had my book. Damn I’d left it on the plane. I must go through a routine of checking what I need before I go anywhere.
Adam drove us home.
I had to force the children to give me a hug. Sarah was kind enough to greet me with a smile. Adam gave us a tour of the new house improvements and Sarah explained the plans for the kitchen. I’m glad they are able to benefit from the money we have given them.
Sarah disappeared while taking one of the children to bed. She doesn’t say goodnight or provide any acknowledgement that we won’t see her again.
The two of them are to wound up in their own lives to ask about ours. Maybe that’s a trait of someone in their 40’s that they don’t believe people in their 70’s do anything interesting or worthwhile talking about. Or perhaps only some people in their 40s are like that.
Saturday
A difficult night’s sleep with Maggi waking frequently and hitting me because of my snoring.
Sarah shot off out of the house with Sorely and Finn to take part in a charity walk on behalf of a children’s hospital. I don’t expect the grandchildren to say goodbye and I’m not disappointed there. However, it’s probably good manners to say to a guest who has arrived for the weekend adieu when your are leaving at 9 am and not returning until 3 pm. But then when your’e fairly indifferent about your guests then this is not surprising.
Maggi and Islay go off to town to buy Islay’s belated birthday present.
The newly acquired dog, a cockerpoo called Ollie, has become a major personality in the house. A very cuddly dog who only jumps up if he wants to sit in your lap for affection.
Adam and I walked for approximately 1 hour. We trekked to where Keir and his team were playing football. We arrived at the beginning of the second half. Keir’s team already two goals ahead proceeded to let in 3 goals. Fortunately Keir’s team scored at the end of the match to pick up a draw.
We later found out that Keir had scored both goals in the first half, one a beauty which we saw thanks to a recording of the match.He won the man of the match award from his coach.
In the evening Maggi and I took all the family to Sherborne Castle Hotel for our evening meal. I had a small portion consisting of a cauliflower steak on a bed of chickpeas mash. Quite tasty. A pot of chips accompanied the plate.
We returned to the house and I fell asleep on the sofa trying to watch Match of the Day. I gave up and went to bed.
Sunday
We rose fairly early, but the clocks had gone back overnight. After breakfast Sarah and Keir set off for Ollie’s puppy training. Adam and the other boys departed for the rugby and Islay, Maggi and myself walked down to the hospice in Bellahouston Park and sampled the well-known cheesecake in the cafe.
I have never eaten or drunk at a cafe in a hospice before. Plenty of people eating breakfast or trying the cheesecake populated the place. The staff paid their part in making it a pleasant place to visit.
When finished the three of us walked on to see the young boys play rugby at their club in Pollock Country Park. Both boys seemed to enjoy the game.
Back at home Sarah and Maggi planned the food for Christmas. Maggi and I walk down to the Sherwood Castle and book a room for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The final part of interest for Sunday came with the Arsenal game against Liverpool which ended with a 2-2 draw. Not the result any of us looked for especially when the Gunners took the lead in the second half.
Monday
Rose early and packed drank a cup of coffee and took an Uber to the airport where Maggi and I ate our breakfast. The kids all walked to school with Islay the first to leave followed by Keir and Sarah taking the two youngest boys.