A Sedentary Day

At last the promised rain arrived today.  Before it took hold we spent some time in the allotment, Tony generally tidying ahead of our holiday and me picking the last of the blackcurrants.  When the rain set in I headed home for a cuppa and Tony wasn't long in following.

Surprisingly, it was lunchtime and Tony set about making sandwiches from the remaining chicken whilst I switched on the computer as we had an issue with the Lagganlia tour tops, which I ordered from the Bulgarian company we use.  Normally, I manage the processing of the order after we have agreed on the design, and then Treasurer S deals with the payment.  Time has been compressed for the process this year because a late Easter pushed the selection races late and the 14s tour is earlier due to it being a Scottish Six Days year (it takes place every two years).  Throw into the mix that the very excellent Bulgarian company take a traditional shutdown holiday week, then time was short for them to turnaround the order.

The tops needed to be with the Tour Manager D by this Thursday but when S made the payment last week, it was returned by her bank yesterday who would not put it through (I blame Brexit for this nonsense!)! Suddenly our  ten days had reduced to three as emails flew around.  Long story short, because we had good history with the company, they agreed to send the tops straight to Lagganlia whilst we tried to solve the payment issue.  D offered to pay and we all crossed everything until it was received, worried that his payment would also be refused.  Thankfully it all went through without a hitch.

It means that the youngsters will receive their tops later than usual but at least they will have them ahead of the 6 Days event.  I do enjoy seeing them compete in their Lagganlia tops as it is the first tour for many of them and for many it sets them on their orienteering 'careers' and they make lifelong friends.  Parents often say they never see them at events once they have been to Lagganlia as they are off seeking out their pals.  If they continue to orienteer then the next tour is also in Scotland but on Deesside, then they have the opportunity to go to Czechia the following year, then Stockholm and the final tour for 18/19 year olds is to Gothenburg.  As they progress through they will increase their independence and hone their skills, technique and fitness.  Our eldest daughter, who is joining us for the 6 Days this year, has orienteering friends in many countries and will be looking forward to catching up with some in a couple of weeks' time.  Euan is also shaping up to be a pretty good navigator/map reader.

So lunch over, payment resolved, I decided to have a big Blip catch up.  Meanwhile, every time I looked up from the computer the weather had changed outside the window with the shower clouds coming through in waves.  My blip is taken from where I was sitting in the corner of the settee.

After dinner I popped out between showers to seed the Fairy Dell in the Drying Ground, which will be the final wildflower sowing of this year.

Tony and I modelling the 2020 top!