My Uncle A. OBE

The invalid is a bit perkier today - could be that the Sole Use of the iPad all morning has had medicinal effects!

Popped down to see my uncle and to check on the painter's handiwork. Both are fine. But I timed my sortie badly. It was at the same time that the local social gathering of noisy teenagers high school was out terrorising the neighbourhood. I find they don't even notice you and will happily knock their elders out of the way as they continue yelling at each other socialising and dropping litter willy-nilly snacking. All clear on the way back, though.

My Uncle A is in his 80s and has been as fit as a fiddle all his life, despite the life-long adherence to the popular Scottish diet of No Vegetables. He used to be a Munro Bagger (or at least he bagged many munros) and still regularly climbs the local hills and chooses to walk into town regularly even though he has a bus pass.

He and I share an interest in photography (he used to take marvellous photos of birds) and all things Mac. He lusts after my iPad. His house is SO tidy, but he still tidies up a bit before the Molly Maids visit. He got the OBE for his work as a Civil Servant, and he's been a great uncle (and still IS, of course) always keeping in touch and taking an interest in all his nieces and nephews around the world.

That suspicious looking stick hanging on the wall, is, he assures me, a reindeer prodder that he got on one of his trips to Norway.

Back to check on the invalid and then to embark on the obstacle course that is getting to the other side of town (through tram disruptions, pothole fixing, diversions, bus stops moved etc). That's FOUR buses to run after/practise my jogging on. Whoopee! I need to visit my Big Bro, he hasn't been too well lately, but always seems cheerful and downplays any ailments. I'll get the truth from my sister-in-law, though.

Perhaps he needs an iPad!