Ewes, swallows and ships.

A bit more cloud this morning as we head off down the track to the shore. Thankfully, it's dry. Overhead a solitary swallow traces a leisurely circle in the sky before heading off on its long journey to Africa. We stand and watch it go. It's too early for the lobster boats to be out but on the horizon a large white cruise ship drifts slowly northwards. Not so long ago cruise ships were rare sights in these 'challenging' waters. Now, with Europe baking in heat, we see four or five of them every week. Who would have thought cold weather tourism would become such a big thing ?

Five Hebridean ewes have arrived in the wild meadow that runs behind the dunes. One of the five has left her sisters and wandered off.  Having reached the far end of the field the poor thing then becomes overwrought at the enormity of her adventure.  She stands terrified and immobile and bleating. After much gentle coaxing from the farmer the ewe and her sisters are reunited. This is what qualifies as excitement in a Fife village in August. The German family have started to pack up the Skoda estate in readiness for a four am start tomorrow morning. The mother thinks there will be tears when they leave.
 

A quick trip into town. We'd thought it might be busy but the golfers are still in bed. We even manage to score a double whammy - a parking spot by the chapel and a table on the pavement outside Starbucks. The only sign of life is the man who runs the gift shop putting out his display of postcards. I'd like to ask him how many he sells . Are they as popular as they were ten years ago ? Do youngsters even know what a post card is ? Come to that do they know what a stamp is ?

The garden at the auld church in town in bloom and looking its best. A small army of retired gentlefolk keep it looking spruce all through the year. This morning it's showing its best face to the visiting golfers.

On the other side of the road the first of the coach tours from Edinburgh are disgorging their passengers into town. A group of Chinese tourists stand taking photographs of this exotic, and eerily quiet, stop on their all day tour of Scotland. They must have got in the bus at five. Presumably they're jet lagged and have no idea of what time it is. Soon they'll find their way to Starbucks ... and its facilities.

This mornings car radio song :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0q4CuYk2TE