The boiler man visits

The boiler man came today, and fixed the heating remote. In fact, he gave us a newer one which is much better. And it was included in our ‘service plan’, so ‘didn’t cost anything’... er, not.

JR had two gym sessions this morning. She’s not flagging, it’s just that the early sessions were getting wearisome. It’s one of the best things about being retired - no early wake up alarms in the mornings!

I was very keen to get out walking again after yesterday’s success, hoping I hadn’t dreamt it... so we walked across the Meadows to my favourite cafe. It’s a bit difficult to stride along with a dog whose aim in life is to sniff and/or piddle on every pole, bin, tree... Instead, I concentrated on trying to keep my shoulders back. I don’t want to be a wee hunched up old biddy quite yet.

When we got to the Meadows I let Archie off the lead and walked fast right to the other side. Great. When going up the hill slope, I walked quite fast in the middle of the path, so that Archie had nothing to sniff at/piddle on. Also good.

I ordered an oat milk flat white on my phone, lifted Archie on to my lap, and I sat reading my new book on my phone (Archie’s not much of a conversationalist).

Talking of my new book - it’s written by my big brother. He wrote about the whaling industry in Shetland and got it published last year, but this one is a who-dunnit. He’s been sheilding since the beginning of lockdown, but he hasn’t been wasting his time!

We then walked down through the Grassmarket - not stopping for an ice cream at the Milk Bar - and walked up the ‘Jean Brodie Steps’. Phew. Archie scampers ahead a bit, then stops and waits for his old mum to catch up.

We popped in to see Rufus and his mum before arriving home again 7,463 steps later (felt longer).

After her gym sessions, JR and a pal went for a coffee - and a chocolate brownie - in a new (to us) cafe.