Theo aged 10

This is Theo. He is 10 today, the first of my three 2008 grandchildren to reach double figures. Ralph and Nina follow in the autumn.

I gave him his birthday card with the important shekels before 8am while on a pre breakfast leg stretch round the marches. He was still in his pjs, although his older siblings were up and dressed for school and my daughter had long since left for surgical duties in Fife.

Lego seems to have been his main present. I hope the inventor of those building blocks, which have been on the go forever, took out a patent for them.

There was nothing about the weather for me to complain about today. It was warm enough to walk jacketless and I was almost in danger of getting too hot when walking in the sun.

The buds on the trees are shouting hurrah at last and thinking of bursting forth into a canopy of pale green leaves. The students are out in droves sitting on the Meadows with their text books studying. It is usually the case that there is a mini heatwave at this time of year during the run up to exams.