My team of three went to Sheerness for a veterans's competition. The golf course is on reclaimed marshland on the Thames estuary, and it is open to the wind off the sea. Which duly blew. We didn't win anything, but we played OK and had a good day. The rain arrived as we left for home.

Then there was Heineken Cup rugby, with the usual biff-bang matches. Very entertaining, but I am not happy about the distance the modern rugby ball can be routinely kicked. Once upon a time, a goal from half-way was amazing, but now they are ten-a-penny. It's the equipment, especially with golf. The great old golf courses are being reduced to pitch and putt because of the clubs and balls. The USGA was too scared of legal action from the manufacturers to impose limits. Tennis too. The balls are hit so hard nowadays that the old skills - drop shots, lobs ... are disappearing.

Kate arrived for a day's rest on Sunday. She has gone to a conference today about Sami's condition, then dinner in London with old friends and colleagues and a late train back to Bristol.

We had yet another golf day today. The Vets' Captain's invitational golf and lunch. Didn't win again (I suspect that my winning days are over), but again I was able to turn up and play and enjoy it. Say no more.

While I was making my first attempts to play golf - in Divonne, near Geneva - I won a trophy, which is a large silver tastevin. It weighs about 16oz. and it seems that its value as scrap is £168!!! Prizes were better in 1975. I had better polish it up and show it some respect.

I have to say that I think golf as an Olympic sport is plain daft. What proportion of the world's population has access to a golf course? I suspect a massive brown envelope job on the part of the equipment manufacturers. Though I suppose there are other events - stuff to do with horses and yachts - which are hardly accessible to the huddled masses either. Oh well.

The Nobel Peace Prize for a bloke who has only been in office for a few months. What's that about then? What do those Norwegians put in their tea? Perhaps Obama got it for not being George Bush.

There was a large plate of bangers and mash and cabbage after golf today, followed by a chunk of chocolate cake. Groan. No more food for me for 24 hours. And an early night. Followed, of course, by an early start on the 1st tee tomorrow.