I NEED to get up at a reasonable time to get a pork butt on the smoker for tonight’s dinner. Catriona and the kids are coming for the night.

Once it’s all up and running I get in touch with mobile masseuse Ruth – aka ‘the mistress of pain’. She’s going to be at Betty’s to see Betty and Fiona and if she has time, I’d like to see if she can do anything to help my left shoulder/arm.

She has time to add a session for me, so I arrange to go along to Betty’s late afternoon.

I made some mugs for both West Highland Way Gifts and my own merch store so I get them added to the respective online shops then post some pics and links round my socials. I haven’t done Dave Arcari mugs for about ten years, so we’ll see if folks like ’em.

Before I know it, it’s time to head along to Betty’s. Ruth’s just finishing up with Fiona then it’s my turn. It’s painful in a ‘stop it I like it’ kinda way and it’s the first massage I’ve had where it feels like the masseuse is doing something meaningful. I see why Fiona nicknamed her ‘the mistress of pain’ tho’!

While I;m on the massage table in the other room Margaret rocks up with the kids. Catriona’s having asleep at ours.

Once I’ve been battered we sit nd have a drink then wander home, stopping to feed the ducks on the way.

Margaret feeds the kids and I hit the studio to set up a stripped back recording session for Key to the Highway. I posted a clip of the song from my wildcats’ livestream and folks seem to like it, so curious how a ‘proper’ recording might work out.

By the time I’ve got something down the kids are heading to bed and the pork is nearly ready 🙂