weekend at the races, and a rugby tour

It is very windy and wild here today. My garden chairs are tangled and strewn across the garden. We are also getting intermittent heavy showers- the type that catch you out when you are buzzing here and there.

It is very beautiful though- the autumn leaves are a riot of colour and blowing all over the place. It is a lovely time of year here, and I think it is the best time for visitors.

Teenager is back from his two day rugby tour to Edinburgh. Other than a huge bruise on his leg he seems largely unscathed. They lost one match and won one so that's a good mix I suppose. As I said to him- it's all good learning, experience, practise and all that good stuff that mum's say.

They seemed to have a good time: two rugby matches, watching a live match, a visit to Pizza Hut, an evening at lazer quest, one night in the Holiday Inn in Edinburgh, a visit to Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh ( some type of visitor/educational attraction apparently)... and back again. Phew!

Other half and I, and our friend M, went to the Kelso races. We stayed at Ednam House Hotel and had a wonderful room as a treat. Other half bought fab flowers and champers ( he is so in the good books at the moment). Dinner was great, racing was great fun. Other half did well, but our friend M and I did rather badly this time. We did't mind- it was a great day out and much fun was had by all.

Ednam is where other half and I had our honeymoon night, and we found our signatures in the ancient hotel register which is still on the counter. It was lovely and very romantic. We have been married fifteen years next May, and it only seems like yesterday.I can't believe it has taken us all this time to get back there. I won't leave it as long next time: it was very peaceful and comfortable.

Monday morning: teenager is fast asleep in bed ( on half term now), I am up doing rugby laundry ( of course) and blogging. Other half is working in West Brom. I think teenager and I will plan our packing for our holiday to Ireland ( starts Friday -hurray hurray) and I will pop down to university to agree my dissertation topic with my tutor ( more about that tomorrow!).

The sun is out!

I have just been to Melrose in the Scottish Borders overnight and had a great trip. Stayed in a lovely hotel called the 'Town House'. I would recommend it : lovely comfortable room, lovely bistro, great Scottish breakfast. I love the Scottish Borders- it really is beautiful. When foreign tourists visit UK they tend to whizz up to Edinburgh if they are going to Scotland at all. I agree Edinburgh is wonderful city and there is lots to see, but the Scottish Borders are so pretty, and further north is spectacular ( and not over-crowded).

I was up there for some work and it looks as if I will be spending a bit more time up there in the autumn. No hardship and I get on really well with my customer who I have known a long time now. She is a bright and forward thinking person and clear about what she wants to achieve. That is such a relief in our business. We had a great evening with lots to talk about: a very motivating couple of days. I really love what I do: it is the travelling which is so exhausting. That is why my part time working life suits me so well. It helps me get that so frequently talked about 'work/life balance'. I think perhaps less about balance and more about being able to get round the spinning plates a little more easily!

I zipped into Lancaster to see my university friend. We went to a vegetarian place called the 'Whale tail' It is a great place: lovely food and good coffee. We are both really missing university and classes, going to the library and being part of the student population. We chatted about Richard Dawkins, essays and dissertations, and life in general over cauliflower and coco-nut soup ( wow- lovely!) and coffee cake. Its a hard life!

www.whaletailcafe.co.uk



The sun is shining here. Hurray. The first thing I did on my return was put lots of things out in the garden for airing and drying. Open all the windows, look eagerly at the barbeque...will this dry spell last til the bank holiday weekend.....