Mixer taps.

Curlews are the new bane of Sophie's life. A large flock of them have taken up residence in the field by the burn. If they weren't so far away they would be 'dealt with'. Instead the distant birds get the full on PONette glare.

On our return we meet the cleaning lady. We are her first call of the day . The new American tenants at the house in town have never seen an electric kettle ( do they not exist in the US ? ) and are perplexed what it's used for. This may explain why the cafetiere is a thing of mystery but the old coffee maker with a paper filter is used all day every day.  The tenants are also surprised that all the bathroom basins have separate cold and hot taps. To be fair 'The Font' also finds this a Scottish peculiarity . For some reason the kitchen sink does have a mixer tap.

It is suggested by 'The Font' that Angus has a haircut. In fact it's not so much a suggestion as an instruction. 

The road by the roundabout is closed off. This is annoying as it's where Angus intended to park. A man in a blue boiler suit is standing in a hole doing something with a fibre optic cable.  He's protected by an array of bollards and blue wheelie bins. A number of locals are standing in their doorways watching him. I guess they've taken the view that you take your excitement where you find it.

Angus goes to see the physiotherapist who tortures the soles of his feet for five minutes and then announces grandly 'You're discharged'. He goes on to say ' Do remember you're not as young as you used to be so don't go lifting heavy weights'. The cheek of it ! Physiotherapy finished it's time to head off in search of a haircut.

The first barber says they can see me at five this afternoon. I thank him but say that's too late. The Turkish barbers don't open until noon so they're not an option . The Turkish barbers also have an alarming habit of burning ear hair with a cigarette lighter. Nineteen year old students may think this cool - those of more advanced years are less keen on naked flames near their ears. Angus tries the trendy  'grooming salon'. Three young men with civil war re-enactment beards are already hard at work cutting their clients hair. They are wearing shorts which is unusual in the Scottish winter. From the look of the clients it would seem that the 1950's era short back and sides has suddenly become fashionable again.  This only goes to show that if you wait long enough your look will be considered hip -  this may not apply to kipper ties. I ask when they might be able to cut my hair. ' We could do you a week on Friday ' says the young man closest to the door. I thank him and leave. When did getting a haircut ever require so much planning ?

Walking back to the car I pass a wonderful 18th century doorway that's been added to an old medieval building behind. The outer door is open but the inner one is closed. There's something very inviting and ' lived in '  about this door. What tales it could tell.

Down by where I've parked the car there's an building that's been remodeled many times. These houses were part of the medieval ceremonial route to the cathedral. This one has all sorts of closed off windows and doorways. I can't work out what the huge arch that spans the second floor could have been used for. I'm guessing that this was a merchants house and that there might have been wooden doors and a pulley there to haul up goods for storage.

A group of staff are standing outside one of the colleges. They're protesting that their pay isn't keeping pace with inflation.

So starts a Thursday morning in an unusually mild Scottish February. A trip to the beach with Sophie now beckons.