So farewell to the News of the Screws. Are we down hearted? No we are not.

More horsey pics.

They are on the way now and we are chewing our ails since a phone call with Sandy last night telling us about nasty incident with a wood lorry. Thse things really are a blight. Their drivers seem to have no respect for anything else on the road. There will be a security vehicle with them today when they have a main road to cross and after that we think there aren't any more big roads in the way so perhaps can get a better night's sleep.

It reminds me of the days when Chloe was riding a lot. I was never entirely easy when I knew she was riding out - not surprised I feel a little worn now.

Follow the ride on www.findhorntoknoydart.blogspot.com

http://www.findhorntoknoydart.blogspot.com/

(Please will someone tell me how to make these connections live?)

The Moray Cowgirls and Sandy.

G'son doesn't have his own pony any more because time and space made it impossible so Star is now with a lovely lady owner enjoying the good life. He now rides at weekends locally with a young woman doctor who owns a veritable herd of hairy beasts. She organised a big ride for fun but also to raise awareness for a charity. This is no Sunday jaunt for chickens. It will take the adult riders 150 miles to the other side of Scotland, crossing rivers, through glens and across rivers, camping overnight. The youngsters, one of them Sandy, are going for just a part of this marathon then being brought back when the track goes out of range of support vehicles and quite probably mobile connection (there will be one satellite phone just in case). It was planned to begin at a pub on this coast and end at a pub on the west coast so today they rode down to Findhorn to the Kimberley to join supporters, eat fish and chips and limber up for the hard slog which will begin Tuesday.

No more Itchy Fridays.

The Kilts' last outing. Suits for formals next year. Sighs of relief all round.

He found that his mum and grandmother were right when they told him that girls find suits sexy. Lots of attention (and hugs) at the Leavers evening it seems. They were treated to a silver service meal (with waiters he reported, evidently impressed), then a ceilidh/disco with a live band and a smoke machine that set off the smoke alarms in the school. When his mum arrived to pick him up the lawns in front of the dormitories were filled with weeping smalls wrenched out of their beds by the bell!

Whilst England swelters we have maintained a nice temperate 19 degrees with a downpour almost every day at some point. You'd hardly think it was the same island.

I've done almost nothing interesting and certainly nothing worth reporting. So sad. Lots of reading though: Susan Hill x 2 (that's enough for the time being. Sansom (not bad but I'm uncomfortable in Tudor times. Too many bad smells; too much pain. Rankin: his first published novel 'The Flood' which is good (would be pleased to have achieved it myself) but obviously by a 'young' writer. Then 'Bleeding Hearts' which surprised me by being, in tone, akin to American crime fiction with lots of shooting and racing about from one seedy motel room to another. Well written but no surprises. Then a couple of re-read Rebuses. A Kathy Reichs re-read - OK but I prefer 'Bones'. The novels seem humourless and self-congratulatory. I think that's the danger with first-person novels. Not one that Sansom falls into.

Must be time for some more Reginald Hill. I wish the Red Cross would pull some in because I'm on a budget here and trying to eschew Amazon.....

The last week or so has been a bit gruesome so it was a nice change to go to Inverness to buy the Xandman a suit for his end of term Leavers evening (junior prom would it be in American?) It was Sunday and the little city was very quiet which isn't good for the tradespeople of course but it was nice for us. We found him a really smart black number in the men's outfitters, then a white shirt, cuff links and purple tie to go with it. Though professing to be above such unmanly pursuits he quite obviously loved it. Some of the boys, judging by their Facebook comments are really getting into it with talk of cream tux - oh per-lease - but he did bring a bit of a tear to the eye looking so grown up and all. I haven't managed to get a photo yet... When I asked if he had a girlfriend he should order one of those wrist corsages for he came over all shifty and blushed...

This week the timetable for him is much more rugged. The expedition for this year is a hike to Cape Wrath, the most north- westerly part of the British Isles. It looks terrifyingly bleak with the highest cliffs (in the B Isle) and much of the land is owned by the military who use it to play around with 'heavy ordinance ' so I hope they haven't left any of it lying about. The lucky hikers will cover 11 miles in 2 days which doesn't sound much but they are all carrying 63 kilo rucksacks on their backs and on packing day when some of them loaded up they fell over! There is one tiny girl whose pack must be as big as her. Our young man is in the top group who will walk the full distance ( we breed them big and tough) but others will be left a little closer to the target. They have to take everything with them, tents trangis tinned food, because there is nothing but birds and heather and midges. They are not allowed to take toilet paper but must use moss. When they get to the most north-westerly point they pitch camp for a night then turn round and make their way back.

I am so glad I didn't get sent to this school!

Well last week was one I don't want to repeat but will probably remember. A complete pain in the ... face to begin with. Toothache started Last Tuesday, rose to a crescendo Wednesday,tooth extracted Thursday and pain reemerged in a slightly different form until now when it is finally ebbing. It was a complicated tooth and I can't take anything but paracetamol. Doesn't cut it much. Daughter explained why.

I empathise with all sore-headed bears. It hasn't made me any nicer to know.

The court case isn't over, will probably take two more days in fact, but daughter was already reduced to tears (not public ones) by the first part of giving her evidence - and that was the police solicitor questioning her, so friendly. It's the stuff coming out that she never wanted anyone to hear and now it is broadcast to a room-full of people not all of whom are sympathetic. C*&p! The Sheriff is a woman - which really doesn't help. She wasn't at all sensitive.

The weather has gone all gloomy too. Blah.

Number two daughter is in Portugal so I hope she is having a wonderful time - the family needs an input of cheer.

I've read more books: Chocolat; Runemarks (hope she writes more fantasy); Gentlemen and Players. Now I'm re-reading the Pullman 'Northern Lights' trilogy which can be depressing but is endlessly fascinating to me.