Sore sober knee

 Yes, it is rather early for an update, but am off down south to Chester tomorrow and I would probably forget, may do a wee update when I return if I remember.

Been an uneventful month so far, have met my steps target already which was helped by the decent weather and the lack of hangovers these last few weeks. Yes, have been off the booze for a month now and am sipping on a 0.0% beer as I write this. The sober era is due to end tomorrow either on the train south or in a pub when I arrive there. It has been fairly easy to stay off the drink, even been to the pub a few times for lime and soda or Guinness 0.0 and it's not a problem. Have lost about 4kg, so that's also good, maybe have to do this again in a few months if the weight creeps up, been doing this yearly since 2020, good for the liver and finances. I don't really know if it's the alcohol directly that leads to weight gain or the poor dietary choices you make when tipsy. I have been watching what I eat, not fanatically, but avoiding crisps etc most days.

Anyway, reaching my steps target early at one point didn't look likely as I have pain from the left knee which was quite severe when going up stairs or moving leg in certain positions. I even went to doctor yesterday, but was sent away with no prescription as it is expected to get better on it's own. Well, it doesn't seem too bad today, better than most days in last 2 weeks. At my age I guess you expect a few aches and pains so hopefully I can get back to long walks and some decent runs after my wee holiday.

Am meeting Oliver from Heidelberg in Manchester on Thursday, we will partake of a few beers, then he's off to a concert and I will be in train back to Chester. Oliver will then arrive in Chester on Friday for a week of fun and excess with us in the same place we stayed last year. 

Got another trip planned to Germany nearer end of April, but I will explain all that later, needless to say some familiar venues will be visited. Just as well my liver has now regenerated itself! 

Here are a few photos taken this month - a horny cow, a great painting of where I stay, and a typical round of non-alcoholic drinks in the pub.

Berwick, Newcastle and throbbing mouth

 Last day of February so I update now. Month started in Berwick-upon-Tweed, a place just over the border in England, hadn't really spent any time there before, but had passed through. It was quite a historical place with a wall more or less right round the centre (to keep the Scots out back then). It surpassed my expectations, was actually very nice, the place we were staying in-spent last 4 nights alone- was just over the bridge on the Tweedmouth side, just a 5 minute walk into centre of town. The weather really couldn't have been better, hardly a drop of rain, took the opportunity to travel by train down to Newcastle for a few hours, Newcastle being another place I had hardly been in before. All in all a good place to spend a week, and a good place to get over 10k steps every day, would go again. Perhaps the only downside were that the pubs weren't really up to much, probably the best being the Leaping Salmon (an ex-spoons) and The Thatch on the other side of river. I even got a couple of runs in-to Spittal- where there is a huge promenade and beach, so not very far from where I stayed. 

Got back home on the Friday, on the Saturday I went to work even though a toothache had started overnight. It got so bad I had to go home and called sick next day, was utter agony and had to wait until Monday to be seen by dentist. It was my lower right first molar, the one I had refilled a year ago, the one the previous dentist had screwed up when the Kinghorn surgery was still open, anyway it was semi-treated, then went back for root canal treatment a few days later. Was bloody expensive, almost £400 and it's not over yet as will be back in April for a crown, I don't like money much anyway..

The Monday after coming home was also the day of Davy Specs funeral, was my Auld Hoose pal for many years in Kinghorn, first time I had been to Dunfermline Crem, been at the Kirkcaldy one plenty times though.  

Got my steps target a couple of days back, well had a great start down south so wasn't likely to fail this month, also a few short runs, including yesterday and today from the Kissing Trees down into Kirkcaldy, only about 3k, so nothing too strenuous at my age! Maybe my increased activity this week is because I am now off the booze, well on day 5 anyway, hope to make the month before the next trip down to Chester and visit to Manchester. My liver is thankful for the holiday and need to lose another 3 kg.  

Here a few photos taken this month, I seem to like bridges, the long one in Berwick, the other the famous Newcastle one. The third is a stunning looking young man at the gate above entrance to Berwick town centre. 

Ancient old lucky driver

 Am updating now as I will be away over the border to Berwick-upon-Tweed tomorrow for a few days. Why there? Just one of those random decisions I make at night, been good in recent times visiting Carlisle, Ulverston, Whitby, Holmfirth etc, and it's a place I have passed through rather than spent any time in. Has the added advantage that carry-out booze should be a lot cheaper too as the SNP have hiked prices north of the border. Shouldn't take too long to get there, after all it may be in England, but nearest major place is Edinburgh. 

Not a fan of winter, hate it getting dark so early, though I have noticed that it is staying light a wee bit longer now, so that's good. It was sleeting when we headed to Norman and Gillian's for a meal on 5th January, my aunt and uncle that I didn't see a lot of growing up. It was fine, managed to get home ok.

A week or so later Davie Specs died, he was a character in the Auld Hoose in recent years and latterly in the Crown. Many of us have specs that Davie got us cheap or even free, was quiet close to him pre-pandemic, but less so since then unfortunately, there will be photos of him on here over the years for sure. Funeral in Dunfermline on 10 Feb, not too far from my vet's place. 

Talking of work I was driving there early on Sunday morning and hit black ice on the quarry road, before I knew what was happening I was all over the road and ended on a grass verge pointing the other way. Was very lucky there was no traffic on road at time because that could have been it for me otherwise. Luckily the car isn't damaged too.

I did survive and celebrated another birthday yesterday, mostly in the Auld Hoose, where I partook of several wee drams and a couple of shots. Don't remember coming home, but I must have had a Pot Noodle when I got in judging by the debris lying about. Took myself off to Kirkcaldy today for the Hair of the Dog, forced down a few and feel a wee bit better now, hopefully I will be out like a light when I go to bed. 

Made my steps target already on 28 January so been a bit of a lard arse since. Will be going booze-free at some point in February for a month, well it will have to be after 20 Feb as am going to the whisky evening in the Crown then :-) After the month it will be almost time for the next trip, this time down to Chester again, staying in same place as last year, is a great city. 

Photos show me in Auld Hoose on about pint 2, so I remember that bit, the cat is up the farm, had 4 kittens, super cute! Also the two bosses here, Kenny and Charlie, supervising everything in the living room. Need to hoover the carpet tomorrow before heading south, what a mess they take!

Whisky tasting school visitor

 Almost the end of 2024 and I am not inspired to write much, am not drunk, though had a couple in pub earlier, just feel a bit bloated. I won't be going out again this year, not really my scene, don't feel too sociable. Maybe go down to beech to see the Loony Dook tomorrow, no way would I go for a swim in the sea though!

Made the important (for me) steps target yesterday, glad I did as today has been pretty awful, even the Edinburgh New Year celebrations are cancelled.

Was out for various walk/runs throughout month when weather permitted, including one to Auchtertool then to Kirkcaldy nearer start of month, nothing out of the ordinary.

Went with my pub pal Bob to Balwearie High School for an open evening, first time I'd been there in almost 40 years, longer for Bob! Externally not much had changed, even internally the changes weren't too drastic, was interesting for sure.

Was at my second Whisky tasting evening in the Crown, as I'm a bit of a lightweight I always have little to no memory afterward, though I'm sure the whiskies were nice.

Christmas was a quiet affair, was working on Boxing Day so took it easy on Xmas day itself, popped into Auld Hoose early doors and even won a bottle of vodka in the raffle there.

Not working until Saturday now, so that's nice, hope you have a great new year dear reader. Here are a few photos taken this month, one is me in Auld Hoose with Karen and Carol, the gorgeous wee Piepchen Kenny and Charlie, and one of me near Scott Monument in Auld Reekie. 

Boring bum boozer

 St Andrew's Day, not that you'd notice. Another month gone, Xmas round the corner.

November is never my favourite month, but the weather was fairly mild, did have to battle through the elements last Saturday to get to work, but it's mostly been Ok. Managed to meet steps target with a couple of days to spare, managed a few runs, nothing too strenuous, 3K or less mostly, not the youngest anymore!

Would normally have been at the vet's place today, but got someone to cover shift, back in again tomorrow first thing, then off for about 10 days. No major plans to travel, whether that changes remains to be seen. Think there may be snow in a few days, and everything comes to a halt here if one flake falls. 

Been in Edinburgh at least a couple of days this month, plan on going again next week too, the Xmas market is already open, but expensive as you would expect. Was over the bridge today too, in a crowded train to South Queensferry, headed to Ferry Tap for a meal and a pint, then back again. Wasn't that great, but go there about once a year. Looked into the Haws under Forth Bridge, but then decided just to head back.

Was out with John and Dave yesterday, it's non stop pubs these days, and had a few in Spoons and then Krafty. Day before I was up farm, my Aunt seems in good form, not bad for 92. 

What else was I up to? Not a lot, not a lot of tidying up, or hoovering or doing anything much around flat, my laziness was regularly commented upon..

Had an eye test a couple of weeks back, no real change so the specs I wear for driving/watching films, remain the same. Was also at doctor as I have been up in night peeing. He didn't seem that concerned though did seem keen to put his finger up my bahookie. I had expected at least a meal and couple of drinks first!

Well, don't have much else to say, not the most eventful month, it never is.

Photos show last Saturday, the footsteps in the snow are mine, first in the building as usual. Mostly Ok weather though as the other 2 photos taken this month show. 

Tayside trek

Happy Halloween! It's so Americanised these days, it was turnips when I was young, now pumpkins are everywhere. 

Anyway, that's another month gone, am just back today after a couple of nights alone on Tayside, or Dundee to be exact. Dundee is not my favourite place after wasting some youthful years there, but I thought I'd look to see how things have changed. Have been briefly a couple of times this century, but this time I walked to where I spent first year at Dundee Uni, my old room, where I shared with someone I didn't like, is no longer existing! Some of the old building is there, the rest modern flats. Makes you feel old, as I was already aware where I stayed the year after is also long gone. The house of horrors where I spent some time in 1987ish is still standing, and it looks horrible, so had hardly changed at all. I do not intend any further trip to the distant past, best to let go it would seem. 

Not much else happened this month, made my steps target on Tuesday, went a few walk/runs when weather permitted, an unremarkable month. Went to the Imperial strength whisky evening in the Crown, 6 whiskies all between 57-62%, the first 5 were nice, especially the first heavily sherried one, but don't remember the last one, such a light weight!

Got my festive shifts for the Xmas period, not bad, even got Xmas day off, though will probably be spending it carefully as working early on 26th, cannot complain though. I had every intention to resign should I have been given shite shift, so I might stick around for a few months. 

In other exciting news I went twice to the dentist in Inverkeithing (Kinghorn closed last year) for routine appointments, the teeth I retain seem to be in good shape. 

Here are 3 photos taken this month..one of me in Krafty in Kirkcaldy, stumbled in intending to buy a bottle, left 4 hours later after several litres of German Festbier, I was not popular when I returned. The one in Edinburgh visit a couple of weeks back is now a place popular with tourists because of the One Day thing on Netflix, good view of castle to be sure. The other photo is Desperate Dan of the Dandy, well known to Scottish kids anyway. 

American Adventure

Well that's the month almost over, it's been a memorable one! 

Meet distant cousins from the USA in Larbert at start of month, was the worst possible day and we all got soaking exploring old cemeteries for joint relatives. Kath and Uncle Norman came along, Kath without a jacket and got totally drookit. 

A couple of days later we were on plane to Heathrow for overnight stay before flight with BA to Seattle on 5 September. Almost a 10 hour flight, but wasn't too bad, watched a couple of films but didn't sleep, arrived there about lunchtime. Found our way to Motif Hotel and off exploring. Was nice there, much too much to describe here, so will keep things brief, did all the usual tourist stuff and would certainly go back. Seattle is famous for rain, but it was clear blue skies during the whole USA trip. 

After Seattle got train to Portland for 2 nights in Deluxe Hotel, was nice also. Visited the mother of the cousins I had met in Larbert on first day too. Portland has the biggest bookshop in the world so spent time there as well as in a couple of breweries.

Got the Amtrac train down to Emeryville (for San Francisco) from Portland, takes 18 hours, but had a wee roomette where the seats can be converted to beds, was OK, think I caught a cold in train though. 

San Francisco was excellent, again all the tourist stuff was done, Alcatraz visited, Golden Gate, Lombard Street, Coit Tower, cable cars etc. Stayed at Handlery Hotel at Union Square, was Ok. Got a driverless taxi to the Castro district to hang out with all the boys..Was visited while in SF by Lindsay, the cousin I had previously met in a soggy graveyard in Scotland.

After SF it was onward to Santa Barbara for a night, really needed more than a night here, was good, but could only scratch the surface. Didn't meet Harry or Meghan while there, but not disappointed about that.

Next day it was LA, managed to get to the hotel in Marina del Rey with a combination of tram (full of weirdos) and taxi, didn't do much on first day as was about 6 or 7 pm by time we were at hotel. Next day, we crammed a lot in, headed to Hollywood and did a minibus tour through famous areas. After that the tram to Santa Monica, went to pier then walked back along Venice Beach to hotel, must have got almost 30k steps that day. 

Flew back from LAX on Monday 16th, on that morning we visited a graveyard in nearby Culver City as Bea wanted to see Leonard Nimoy's grave. The flight back was OK, was overnight and I didn't sleep much if at all. Got our connection at Heathrow and arrived back in Edinburgh in one piece. 

Not been up to much since arriving back, took a while for sleeping to get normal, was waking up during night for a few days. Managed a couple of wee runs this week, but been pretty much a lardarse otherwise. Got 200K steps by 15 September, but have only added 75K since. Oh well, the weather has been shite. 

Out for a meal tonight with Norman and Gillian tonight (it's her 80th tomorrow), Kath and John will be there too. 

Have probably forgotten to write quite a lot, but hey ho..here are a few randomly chosen photos, took quite a lot! One is a terrified me on the Space Needle in Seattle, another the sun going down on Venice Beech, actually made video of sun disappearing. Also to be seen is Alcatraz, me collecting my Oscar in Hollywood and meeting Lindsay in SF.