And then there was only one

As I write this, Duncan will be somewhere between Halifax and Maine with his sister. He begun his journey on Sunday flying from Edinburgh. I don't want to write too much about it as I'm quite jealous really. I have just under 2 weeks to finish my thesis and hand it in in perfect condition.

Asked last week by Ben whether or not we thought we'd get bored of each other or struggle for conversation, we guessed not. Duncan then started talking about someone he'd been chatting to called Helen Moulds. Now I don't know you Helen, but "hi" if you're reading this. "It's not often that someones first name and then surname form a complete sentence" I remarked. Much chuckling ensued from all at the table, but then ceased. However, the next few minutes I spent with Duncan trying to find other names which were actually a sentence which we both thought was quite funny. We failed, but since then came up with Tim Rose and Amy Fell.

It was at this perhaps slightly childish outlook on what was just a name which prompted Ben to suggest that actually there was no chance we'd run out of things to talk about during our 2 month adventure!

Under The Bonnet With Nick

Sounds like a catchy title to a low-budget tv chat-show featurting z-list celebrities on the sofa with "Nick". However, in this day-time drivel the topic of conversation is to do with brakes, steering, engines, oil and cables; the guests are myself and Duncan, and the host: Nick Sorrie, ably assisted by his wife and part-chef for the evening Hilary.

We were of course out for dinner with the ulterior motive of learning lots about cars and how they work. Nick trained as a mechanic when he left school and is a very able and patient teacher of all he knows (which is a lot!). To start, it was a little intimidating being taught all the cables and names of things that I ashamedly as a male know nothing about. But with Nicks supervision we worked our way round Duncans car and finally under the bonnet looking at filters and plugs, at cables and fluids, and at bulbs and wires. Kitted out with our mini tool-kit kindly donated by Nick, we now know what to quickly look for under the bonnet when we're buying our car in America, and should we break down in the middle of the desert in Utah or Arizona, we are now both confident* that our knowledge of cars has improved 100% thanks to Nick!

Thank you Nick!!

*Duncan was feeling so confident that this morning he fitted a new air filter on his engine and changed his side-light bulbs.

US Open

Dear Andy Murray,

Please do not be ill or injured for the US Open in September. We shall be in America and in that part of the states and hope to come and support you in our kilts.
Also, please do not play badly and get knocked out before we get to see you.
If you are feeling especially patriotic and want our voiciferous support could you bagsy us a couple of complimentary tickets?

Thanks in advance,
John & Duncan.