A slight problem has us drive down into town while it's still dark. It was only after they closed the front door that the painters remembered that they'd left the keys in the house. An apologetic call - 'Can you come down in the morning and open up for us ?' The painters will, hopefully, be finished today. The cleaning lady is also expected to start work again after the holidays. Later we shall go and pick up the duvets and bed linen from the laundry.
We park the car outside the front door, let the painters in and enjoy a solitary walk all the way from the cathedral, via the university buildings, down to the beach. Not a soul to be seen. There are few lights in the windows on the Street that runs outside the 'Wee House'. There was a time when all of the houses would have been full time residences or let out to students. Now, soaring property prices have seen many of them turned into soulless Airbnb's. The landlords can get as much for a weekend let to golfers or visiting parents as they would get from students for a month. This makes commercial sense but the town centre without students would be a very different and soul less place.
'50% Off ' signs make their post Christmas appearance in the shop windows. Town was busy this year but perhaps not busy enough for the retailers to clear their stock rooms. Higher taxes, lower growth and surging inflation didn't leave much spare cash in shoppers pockets.
Sophie is delighted to find herself on the beach again. Four days in a row ! We stop and talk to the grounds men working on the Old Course greens. The grounds men already know Sophie. ... by name. They're busy In the run up to Hogmanay and observe that all the hotels are full . Tee off times booked solid. Bobble hatted American, Japanese and Scandinavians all vying for the slots that are still available. The weakness in Sterling has done wonders for the hospitality business. The hotels are all finding it difficult to get staff.
7 comments:
A nice day for the beach!
So I'm wondering where the students now stay. Especially those who don't have the 'Bank of Mum and Dad' to fall back on.
That blue sky in the first shot is very beautiful. Sad to hear about the Airbnb trend. It seems my son has decided not to apply to St. Andrews for his conversion degree in psychology. (His US degree is not recognized by the British Psychological Society.) His logic is that St. Andrews is "too much like Granville, Ohio"(!) This time, he's heading for the big city lights. Edinburgh and Glasgow made the cut, along with London and (perhaps) Cardiff.
Quite severe student housing problems in a lot of UK cities because of Airbnb. St Andrews was sending students to accommodation in Dundee this year. I also heard of Durham students having to look in Newcastle, and similar for other historic cities attractive to Airbnb.
A peaceful morning, and a nice walk for the sweet girl. And you sent me to Google, great word.
Sophie, I certainly hope that you did not FOUL the golf course!!
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