Everybody's Happy Nowadays

I'M BACK!!

What a great break that was.

My visits home usually consist of me sitting indoors at parents place, with the boy bored out of his skull. But, oh no, not this time.

Day trip to Lochwinnoch nature reserve (saw one duck) followed by walk to nearby water sports centre where the boy and two cousins and uncle went out in the pishing rain on paddle boats while Reidski watched from shelter.

Day two was trip to Rothesay, which I hadn't visited since school trip many eons ago. And a fun day out it was too, with much merriment along with the way with the boy and his cousins (four of them this time).

A wonderful night was then had with tnr and thewife, with both Reidski and the boy walking off with some great new tunes in our possession.

Day three was a very welcome lie in and slob out before taking the boy round to cousins where he played, went swimming, had night in front of box and stayed with cousins and host uncle and auntie. The latter duo also made cake to celebrate the boy's birthday. However, the boy admitted today that, at first when cake and Happy Birthday started up, he didn't know who was the birthday kid until realising that it was for him.

Meanwhile, Reidski spends a rather superb evening with the radical postman and his clan. Superb wine, superb food and superb chat was supplied by the artist of the household before she departed to leave postman and I to ponder the state of the nation and the state of ourselves over more than a few malt whiskies.

A very pleasant journey was then had back to the big smoke today on one of Virgin Trains' brand spanking new Pendolino trains. The boy announced it as "the best train ever". Just a pity it was 45 minutes departing Glasgow Central. Heard news along the way that one of my older siblings has won some sort of "visitors' prize" for a piece of art that is hanging in home-town exhibition. The punters know best, obviously, so cash going Speed's way!

Bud ice is now being drunk and Uncut magazine's Americana 2004 is ending the day off in tremendous style. Off to friend's birthday lunch tomorrow, so must think about getting to bed pretty shortly - nighty night.

Before I leave, however, something has struck me over the last few days. The boy, for some strange and inexplicable reason, has mutated into a 21st century version of Malky. This means nothing to most people, but, for some of us - Reidski, Speed and Jimpy (who is yet to hear of this weird freak of nature), to name but three - it's AAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!