Unseasonal warmth.

Down by the harbour a gentleman 'walking' his dog in the sunshine. Both appear to be enjoying the unseasonal warmth. You just know his wife will greet him with ' You've been out a long time ' and he'll reply " Yes dear. We went the long way round today ".

'The Font' is heading back to the last wee house before Denmark. The bathroom fitters are expected at eight. A skip will be delivered at seven thirty. Old showers and basins will be stripped out and the plaster board on the walls taken down.  The kitchen fitter is also supposed to be there to finish off the cabinet installation. We reckon the chances of him showing up are 50-50 at best. He's taken umbrage at my apparently outrageous suggestion he liaise more closely with the electricians and plumbers.

Out on the path that runs alongside the golf course three east coast Scottish ladies stop 'The Font' and express surprise that Sophie is still here. The three Scottish ladies are complete strangers. It turns out they are friends of the treat dispensing Pomeranian owner. The ladies don't know our names but they do know Sophie's. News travels quickly in the dog world. " No pain ?" they ask. 'No pain' comes the reply. We get asked this question a lot.

Later, Angus is filling up the Volvo at the petrol station by the bus station. A man wearing an official golf club caddies jacket wanders over. He introduces himself as  the husband of the woman who walks arthritic Archie.  He too asks after Sophie.

The back right leg getting a little unsteady. She's sleeping more.  Signs of confusion. Yesterday, she lay down in the middle of the lawn outside the university chapel and refused to move. Much to the amusement of a group of tourists she was picked up and carried home. To prove she's still enjoying life Sophie wolfs down her dinner of roast cod and penne and enjoys a pre- bedtime walk to the walled garden and back. The postman is still barked at in her best sixty a day  'filters are for wimps' style. As a guardian of her flock she's still on the case.

The mechanical cobbler in the general store window has had an Elton John makeover. 

We use Sophie's after dinner sleep to pop put for a drink. Who would have thought that cafe culture has become such a factor in Scottish life ? It's warm enough for us to seek a table in the shade. Northerly sun can be very ' bright '.