Bye bye sunshine state ☀️

The last day of a holiday stinks, feels like you're walking to the gallows. All that sun and fun I'm leaving behind not to mention my family, nae guid. Still, I'll be back again but only if the American authorities will have me, I blotted my copybook when being pulled up for jaywalking and I got the major hump when a shopkeeper charged me tax on my postcards.

This has been more of a fourteen day therapy session than a holiday in the sun. We all face stuff in our lives don't we and some of it can be pretty unpleasant, it's been my turn lately, but what did CS Lewis say?....'Suffering is God's megaphone to get our attention.' We get through it given time and I'm confident that the things I've learned since being here in Florida have set me up for only good things to come. My brother Chris has never been backward in coming forward and has put me straight on a couple of things in his own inimitable way, he's been a real tonic. Donna has been a terrific person to meet too and I've offered her employment as my life coach, she's giving the 8,000 mile round trip some thought otherwise she'll continue as a dog walker from her own doorstep, I don't rate my chances.

What will I remember most about being here? Well in no particular order of importance...I learned that routine is an essential part of life, running does me the world of good, introducing Taisha to a local church was a thrill, so was reintroducing Chris to the game of golf, I've learned how important family is, discovered that setbacks can make you stronger if you approach them correctly, accepted that I enjoy reading bedtime stories more than my audience do, realised God has a plan for our lives (yes that includes you!) we just need to listen to him, I found out jaywalking is illegal in America and if you smile the world smiles with you (dunno about that one, just threw it in to look good.)

But there is an upside to the end of a holiday and that's the excitement you get at the prospect of being in the arms of your children again, they'll cuddle me for a full three seconds before demanding the sweeties I promised. Two weeks is a long time and I'm well excited about seeing them. I'm back in Aberdeen airport about 8.30pm on Thursday to fight through the autograph hunters to the stretch limo that awaits if my agent's been on the case, either that or I'll get the bus to town. Friday night will see me terrorise the lugholes of the Mearns again from 7-9pm, that's if Mearns FM haven't sacked me for going AWOL.

All that remains is to present my holiday song to you and thank Chris, Taisha, Coralea and Erik for the wonderful hospitality and love they've shown me this last two weeks. Over and out for the final time from downtown Boca Raton, Florida.