Not the time.

Clouds scudding in from the west but it's bright and breezy this morning. May and September are often the best ( as in rain free ) months to be in Scotland. It is however decidedly chilly - as in shock to the system chilly.

Sophie glares at a flock of geese and stares skywards at a hundred or so circling skuas. Neither geese nor skuas seem overly alarmed by the presence of the PONette. We sit on the beach and start to put the world to rights. Our conversation ends abruptly when Sophie spots an Oyster Catcher and gives chase. She does this in a head back, howl to the heavens, way. The bird goes right, Sophie - true to form - goes left. For some reason Oyster Catchers infuriate the PONette. Figure that out !

This morning dog and master take a seven minute drive to the new click and collect cafe at the garden store. Someone has worked out that opening before eight catches the morning rush hour.

The click and collect croissant is warm. This is perhaps the only thing Angus can say in its favour. Sophie by contrast thinks that a hot croissant is wonderful. Her tail does that manic ' I've died and gone to heaven ' thing.  Angus scores todays offering a 4/10. Sophie gives it 11/10. We are the first, and so far, only customers. Early mornings in Scotland are not the time to be seated at an outside table unless you're a dog owner with a lively and enthusiastic companion with a double layer fur coat.

Angus wonders how people can both move and hold down a day job. A new washer/dryer is expected today. We are  unhelpfully told it will be 'with you in the afternoon '. There are more three pin plugs to wire up. The rest of the day when not waiting for the washer/dryer will be spent chasing up the  builder/electrician/plumber/ joiner to rearrange visits that have been cancelled because of the Queens funeral. The conservatory people say their waiting time is a year. The kitchen folk say they have a nine month backlog. I wonder if inflation or recession will change these timelines ? The gentleman from the auction house came and went. He says we'll get a valuation later this week. We shall see.