Whatever happened to the Likely Lads?*

An action packed day, starting with a slow wander over the Meadows to pop into the Travel Agents to check out flights, safaris etc. After I had asked if they could kindly switch off the local radio blasting out, I could concentrate on the very big numbers being bandied around.

I'm rather shocked at the prices, as it's High Season, of course... I don't mind paying for a nice safari with nice lodges to stay in, but I don't want to pay over the odds for flights as well. One difference on possible Emirates flights (I know I said I'd never travel with them again) was 13th Dec departure £535 return. 20th Dec departure £3, 720!! They weren't all that bad, but you get the gist...

JR has now decreed, sensibly, that we will go when she retires. And we can spend longer and see much more. I'm disappointed, but pleased that Africa is actually on our list now. We have the brochures. It WILL happen!

Uncle A and I went to Dobbies for lunch and thence to my Big Bro's new house in Bonnyrigg. I checked again that Uncle A knew where the house was. Yes.

Did either of us bring the TomTom? No. Not needed.

Did we get lost? Yes. We went round and round in circles, even after asking at least three different people for directions. And I didn't really listen to the instructions my Bro gave on the way back to Edinburgh, as they were so easy, so we sailed all around a slightly different part of the countryside. Still, it was a nice jaunt in the sunny evening.

My Big Bro and sis-in-law are very happy in their new house, with a garden, a garage and clean and tidy environment with no big smelly rubbish bins everywhere. They have lived in the city for years, and are both enjoying the peace and quiet and country walks with no litter. Peas and strawberries, as well as flowers have been planted. Everything is new, even the new 40" TV. I am jealous. I have suggested they need a wee dog to complete the domestic bliss. They didn't seem keen.

It took me ages walking to the Travel Agent's today, as I kept stopping and taking close ups of flowers, but as I did one yesterday, I'll use this shot of some likely lads. Not.

I told my little white lies, only one of which was true.

'I like your beard!'

'I've just got a new camera and I'm trying it out.'

* The Likely Lads was a BBC programme in the 60s about two Geordies, which is now being repeated, as 'Whatever happened to the....'

I did watch a bit of one, and it's not as funny as I remembered.