An old capital

1. Adventures were at the foremost of everyone's minds yesterday apparently. I had no wind to contend with, just language and hope that the destination was the one I had intended.

2. Bemusement ran across my face, when the young woman said I could only have a return ticket to Cetinje if I cam back on the same bus. Strange the buses go on to Budva, and Kotor. How was I to recognise the same bus on the return. I settled for a single at 3 euros, which seemed an honest price for a 40 minute bus journey.

3. Away from the capital Podgerica, friendly people can be found. The taxi driver at the bus station first asked if I wanted a taxi, then pointed to the map and showed me the direction to walk. The rain was splattering, the first since my arrival, but it was warm rain.

4. I am jumping too fast, when I was on the bus I had a telephone call from Mandi. You can imagine my heart missed a beat. She thought it was easier to talk to me than shorthand something in a text. He has been quite drowsy and inert the last couple of days. The occupational therapist wants to do further tests and feels that he would not be ready to look after mum on 29 September. Are they trying to let us down gently? I cannot not imagine it possible for them to live alone any more. Mandi reported that a big team meeting was to take place this morning. What a pity that one of the family cannot be there to hear the discussions.

5. Back to the adventure. Cetinje, the old capital, with its leafy wide streets and its grand buildings. Every large building used to be an Embassy or a Palace - some colonial style, some French symetry. I had to go into a Chemist for something and happened to ask where the tourist information office could be found. The Chemist left his assistant, took an umbrella and walked me across to the Office. What courtesy! He was proud to point out the old British Embassy. We made ourselves understood, one way or another.

6. Some annoying aspects made me give up my quest to see round most of the museums. One could only tag onto a group round the King's Palace. To negotiate that was too much for me then. I visited the History Museum which was dark, but well laid out. Sadly no English apart from one or two scrapy bits of paper attached to the cabinets. Many photographs were displayed from the World War II era. It would have been good to read about them.

7. Montenegrians are fierce looking and barbaric. Even in the 20th century they decapitated folk and one chap's head was used as a football. Being part of the unforgiving landscape makes one understand why they would be fierce.

8. The journey back was easy apart from the fact that the bus driver would not stop at the end of our road. The stop was miles away and I knew I would not be able to get a taxi, so went back into town to the bus station and got a taxi. The driver ripped me off sadly.

9. The young man's birthday today. Great excitement with presents. He will get a treat - a trip to the park.

10. Only three days to go. Have not arranged transport to the airport early Friday morning. Kaaren now off to Munich until Thursday - Board Meeting.