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The day started off cloudy with spots of rain. However, we are Scottish, and we were determined not to allow a little rain spoil our plans to spend Father's Day in the garden. All the necessary equipment was pulled, pushed, carried and dragged into position. The parasol was raised, the stereo was plugged in and switched on, the gas was attached to the barbecue, the breakfast ingredients were cooked and food was consumed in the light drizzle of a fine Scottish summer's morn. Our neighbour was also in her garden. A stoic lot, us Scots, we dismiss adverse weather as something that 'will come to nothing'. Many a summer evening has been spent in the garden in temperatures barely in the low teens (mid-fifties for non-centigradistas), drinking wine, listening to bossa nova, and dressed as if we are about to embark on an expedition to the North Pole. It's summer, and we will sit in the garden - even if it means getting hypothermia. As for today, well, the clouds stayed in the skies until about 6pm, although the rain did actually come to nothing. At six, the clouds disappeared and the sun came out and the warm muggy, overcast and oppressive humidity was replaced with hot muggy, bright humidity instead. The Portuguese call us Brits 'bifes' - short for 'rosbife', which is Portuguese for roast beef. They call us that because we tend to sit in direct sunlight basting away without any sunblock, until our skin turns bright red (which gives rise to another nickname the Portuguese have for the British - lagostas, or lobsters). We (and here I use the Royal 'we' - I avoid the sun as much as possible) like eating roasted beef so much that we try to look like the Sunday joint. Anyway, since the hot sun came out, we decided that it was time to head for the shade - which meant indoors. A lovely day during which I was waited on hand and foot by my family and was given a few nice presents just for being me. I didn't get the Van Morrison CD, though. Apparently telling Liam that I would like it was not clear enough. I suppose I will just have to buy it myself.

Last year I introduced you to my favourite coffee mug (which is still going strong)