Birthday bubbles!

Well, the expected rain did not arrive, mainly because I went out in the afternoon with my big golf umbrella - that was sure to keep the rain away.

Gym for JR, Olympics for me (I’m really going to miss this excuse to sit around half the morning…).

Hazel invited us out for a birthday lunch (we all have summer birthdays), and we went to Café Royal, as Hazel - despite being a long term Edinburgh resident - had never been there. We had a super time, with lots of seafood, champagne and chatter. There were a few things that weren’t quite top notch (but the prices were) and the manager came to talk to us and was very generous in his apologies. Not that we always complain!! Hazel had six oysters for a starter, but couldn’t finish the last one, so I had it. Not completely sure that I understand the appeal…

It wasn’t raining when we came home, but I was (sort of) in a hurry because of the Lions v South Africa rugby match (which I’d paid £9.99 for!) and the others came home with me on the bus, as it was just arriving at the stop at the same time we were. I love that!

Home in time for the build up pre-game chatter, and another bottle of bubbly. Elizabeth came back with Archie and joined us in a glass. The others were not the slightest bit interested in the rugby, but I watched it through the chatter about leather jackets etc, though the game was pretty uninspiring. All the talk beforehand - who’s going to do what - amounts to nothing. But congratulations to South Africa, they deserved a series win.

That ‘Madison’ cycling is the craziest thing! And the Modern Pentathlon - what a competition - who on earth thought of that? - horse riding, pistol shooting, fencing, running and swimming… crazy! But a Gold medal for UK in both the men’s and women’s events.