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A time for rest and recuperation after our shooting trip to Caithness, catching up with the children and dropping Nigel’s things off to him in Hail Weston. It seems all is not well between him and Lynn there and I was quick to leave
I was rather tired and unwell this first full day back at Paxton. I had a quick look through the mail and was appalled by the extent of the work needed there and so just managed to look after the dog for his morning and evening sessions and rested in between. Debbie had her friends to see off and then, with Della, she had Amy and Katherine round to swim. A nice chicken lunch and we were hoping for Daniel to join us, but he did not arrive until early afternoon. He stayed for a little chat and just collected his washing that he had dropped off the day before in our absence.
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From Forss to Paxton by car, stopping off at Kwikfit in Inverness to have a full set of new brake pads fitted and my exhaust and hand brake adjusted. My cough had got worse en route, but Diana and Debbie were so wrapped up in the television that it was only Della that would get me a glass of water when I eventually collapsed into bed.
An alarm call at 6.00am, then my wash and shave before out to feed and exercise Sam before the journey. I was a little early for my pre-arranged 7.00am breakfast and so I went through Sam's obedience exercises in the hotel driveway until I got the signal that my meal was ready. I was away soon afterwards, having loaded up my container full of game from the hotel freezer and tipped the girls for their service during my fortnight's stay - £10 for Minnie and £20 for Anne. The first part of the journey was tricky as their was a typical "Scottish Mist" hanging over the roads and mountains and I had to drive without using the brakes to save wear on my rear disks.
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Stalking in small "valley of the roe", watching England lose their one-day Test series in cricket despite Robin Smith scoring 167 and relieved that the Range Rover returned so that I could start packing to leave
I laid in again but got up at 7.00am for a bath and hair wash, then down to breakfast at 7.30am so that I could complete my meal before having to feed the dog after 8.00am. Straight off to Broubster with Sam where I prospected the southern end of my estate so as to walk down the western boundary and small "valley of the roe" as I will now call it. Sam and I disturbed one roe (a doe, I think) that ran away barking and, judging by the marks on the nearby trees, there could have been a buck to seek out in the evening. Back to the hotel via Sutherlands where Charlie had at last the good news that the replacement automatic gearbox had arrived. I had some sandwiches at the hotel for lunch and then watched the second England vs Australia one day test whilst waiting news of the car.
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Fishing without success in The White Loch and Stalking stalking to the north of the Broubster Estate again, spying Chris and two clients stalking around the boundary fence.
Into Thurso on the way back for a fine take-away meal of fish and chips which made a welcome change from the formality and expense of the hotel dining room.
I did not get up early but lay in again and then tried more fishing at The White Loch, casting wet fly along the shore but catching nothing. A better day with sun, little wind and warmer air. I drove over to Sutherlands in the early afternoon and was very disappointed to find that the replacement gearbox had not arrived after two days. I wondered whether it would ever come as I drove back to the hotel. A long phone call with Diana as I sought sympathy and caught up with the news from home. My cough and cold had been making a come-back, I felt very tired and I was not intending to go out. However, the weather being so pleasant for a change and the reports of rain spreading from England meant that I could not stay in this evening.
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