Blooming Amazing!

Late posting again, can't seem to get back into the old routine of posting on Sundays - too many other more pressing things to do. Sunday evenings are almost invariably spent at the Unionist Club with my dad, while Sunday morning and afternoons - indeed the whole weekend - just seem to fly by and we're then into a new week again.
Anyway, the highlights and the lowlights of the last ten days:

HIGHLIGHTS:
1. I've got tomatoes! Despite my scabby wee shrivelled tomato plants looking distinctly sick before we went on holiday, we returned to find them bowed over due to the weight of the fruit they were bearing! Two 'crops' of wee cherry tomatoes have been picked so far, and they were very tasty too.
I am now almost self-sufficient in food - if I only eat tomatoes (soup, tomato salad, tomato ketchup, tomato sauce crisps) - and I am proud to be doing my bit for the eco-system. I have gone Green - although that may be due to eating too many tomatoes.

2. We called into the Jinglin' last Friday - it's been a while and I thought I should check the progress (or lack of it) of my Dream Team. I seem to have an amazing knack of picking players who are, basically, piss poor. Before their name goes down on my team sheet they are world-beaters, the moment I submit my entry they turn into complete duffers! Last season my players were seized by a collective lurgy - if they weren't injured they were dropped - and this time round I seem to have selected a bunch of assassins: five different 'stars' have been sent off so far this season, and we've hardly begun!
Anyway my team lurks around mid-table - quite respectable for me - but the shock is that Caroline's team sits proudly at the top of the league! She was joint Manager of the Month in August, resulting in a prize of five drinks, which went immediately.
In the past, Brian or I have picked teams on Caroline's behalf - after all, what do girlies know about football? - with limited success. Picking her own team she is now competing with the elite. Clearly beginners' luck, although if she is to triumph again I will gladly share the spoils of victory. I'm not proud!

3. Work is picking up after the holidays, and I was delighted to attend the formal 'opening' of the revamped Drylaw Park last Friday (before hitting the 'Dream Team' bevvy, naturally!) The former Easter Drylaw Recreation Ground is looking very good and was packed with kids and their parents, and I hope it gets the chance to stay that way.

4. A trip up to the Pentlands on Sunday afternoon. I don't think I've ever spent any time there before and it was truly peaceful - not too many people about despite the unseasonably good weather. It's vast, there's a lot to see and I'll go back again soon.

LOWLIGHTS:

1. Hard to believe, but the shops have started displaying their Christmas stuff, and we're weeks away from Halloween!

2. Brown and the 'c' word. What a lot of fuss over nothing! Our country is £trillions in debt. Is there anyone out there who thought that Gordon would be able to steer the nation back to economic stability without having to slash public spending? These are clearly the same people who believe the Christmas season starts in early September! It's a pity it took Brown so long to admit the inevitable and say what we've all known for so long, but that delay won't be a surprise to his many critics, who point out that he has a long history of 'previous' in terms of obfuscation, prevarication, omission and bare-faced lying.

3. Scotland's dismissal from the World Cup. A valiant effort, but alas too late - again ... at least we can cheer on England (whisper it, but references to '66 have already been made!) Believe me it's going to become intolerable as the event draws closer - either stop watching TV and buying newspapers, emigrate, or go out and buy an England top and support our lovable neighbours!

4. Hibs letting the side down again on Sunday. Chance to go third in the League, playing the (pointless) team propping up the table. Result? Defeat, of course! Hibs are looking a lot more purposeful than last season and there's a lot of positives so far, but consistency clearly still eludes them. Come back Mixu, all is forgiven! (I jest, of course).

See you next week - or maybe Sunday. Tomato tart for tea tonight - yum yum!!