Sunday 26th September

I sleep in surprisingly late - maybe I just expect to be shouted at to get up early because I'm at home? - but still get up in time for another huge breakfast. This one is a bit more trans-Atlantic, involving pancakes, bacon and scrambled egg in a tasty combo, though I forego the maple syrup. The rest of the morning involves the continuation of the Scrabble tournament, in which I manage to finish fourth with about the same amount of points that saw me finish first last night (though the scores are notably higher across the board than they were after a few bottles of wine) - so that's disappointing.

Later on we jump in the car and head over to Peebles to visit my grandmother, whose new flat I've yet to visit. It's another long, winding journey and a couple of us feel a little carsick by the time we arrive in the super-heated flat, but we relax for a bit and amuse ourselves by playing with Granny's electric armchair that can help you stand up. I imagine her falling asleep on the button and waking up mid-flight as she is catapulted out of her seat. She confirms that this has, in fact, almost happened on a couple of occasions. These are the risks one takes with technology, I suppose.

After Jim and I have constructed Granny's new wheelchair she bought from the internet, we take her out for a stroll along Peebles high street and down to the river. It's another cold but nice day, and Peebles is rather pretty. I have fun wheeling the chair down steep hills and up the other side; but I perhaps wouldn't want to be the one under my control.

After a nice piece of cake we head back to Gattonside to prepare ourselves for the big Sunday roast (once again watching Man vs Food in psychological preparation) which is once again amazing in both its quality and sheer scale. My brother is, as ever, tormented by the chef and goaded into eating his own weight in beef and roast potatoes. I give up early - but still manage a huge piece of apple pie and custard before we retire to the living room.

We say our goodbyes at about 10.30 and hit the road in Jim's car heading for Edinburgh. The roads are quiet and the journey goes quickly, but the sheer amount of food and booze in my stomach makes the whole thing less than completely comfortable, so K and I do our best to fall asleep on each other in the back seat. When we finally roll into the city about an hour later we crawl up the stairs to Jim's flat and hit the sack - fully fed and watered after a lovely weekend in the country.