At the same time as everyone else seemed to be 'battening down ' the hatches, I was in Wick. The sun was out, the sky was blue and tides seemed very high indeed. This was in stark contrast with the horizontal Perthshire rain that conspired a against an early start and the forecasts promising even more. Fish and chips in 'La Mirage', a good kip in the Bridge Hotel and a potter about in bright sunshine were just the job before a week of Prison Commission meetings, conference chairing, event attending, plane jumping, training riding, programme making, column ( and next book ) writing and Rum visiting. A quiet week is coming soon.