Posting from the cottage on my final day of 'freedom'...

Here I am, just about to leave Fife once again, and tomorrow to embark on another term at the academy. I've had almost two full weeks off, and I can say that this period has been the most relaxing of my entire life.

I bought a coat yesterday. It's charcoal grey, duffel, very nice fit. There comes a time when blazers and jumpers no longer suffice, and they call that time ... October.

Tomorrow, I'll be at the academy, starting at 10am, and there I'll be, from 10 until around 5, every day, for the foreseeable future. It's equally exciting and intimidating. I plan to be well prepared, to keep a firm hold on what free time I have left, and not to allow myself to be in a 'tizzy' over any of it - I am a man who will not be tizzied.

Chloe has been very unwell, which is what kept us here past last night. We had a wonderful dinner, and she had none (if ever there were a test of Chloe's state of physical health...).

Signing off now, and hoping to chat more about my experiences in the days and weeks ahead.