Time flies by syndrome.

More and more 'young people' arriving in town. Second and third year students standing on street corners evincing a world weariness that sets them apart from the bright eyed freshers. Parents, suddenly waking up to the fact that their offspring are leaving home, bustle around supermarket aisles nervously displaying classic symptoms of time flies by syndrome. That peculiarly St Andrean question  " Are you sure you have enough warm clothing ? " heard in coffee shops.  We see the first tearful mothers. Next week should see peak student inflows.

We make it to the fishmongers as they're opening. A freshly landed halibut, some wild salmon tail and skinned lemon sole are bought. 

The Old Course is once again looking the part. Four Australians tee off as we wander by followed by four super serious Japanese businessmen. Two bubbly American ladies follow on behind. On a morning like this the Old Course has a charm no other golf course can match. Freshly laid patches of turf hint that the recent tournament has left the greens in need of some TLC.

The R&A is the sort of august institution that you'd think would be big on begonias. To our surprise they've planted a Derek Jarman style coastal garden to each side of the refurbished club house. The heathers and alliums have a sparse freshly planted look to them but next year, gales allowing, the beds could be stylish and quite possibly spectacular in an unfussy sort of way. 

After the spring gales restorative work on the aquarium is now steaming head. I wonder where the seals have gone while their pens are being repaired ? Despite the early hour a workman is hard at work with a pneumatic drill.

Some of the younger villagers have headed off here :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UadvKe8g_cM

French politics continue to surprise :https://www.politico.eu/article/france-emmanuel-macron-top-ally-edouard-philippe-next-presidential-election/

History Stanford style :https://www.hoover.org/research/arms-august