Scotch folk.

 

Over the weekend proud parents have been arriving for the winter graduation ceremonies. The black Volvos much favoured by prudent locals now heavily outnumbered by large shiny Range Rovers and Mercedes with Home Counties  registrations. Three bright red Ferraris are seen on our morning walk. These are perhaps not the most practical vehicle for rural Scotland. Wee boys on their way to school stop and peer excitedly into these expensively exotic machines. The cafe where William  ( reputedly ) met Kate is already open and doing a roaring business with mothers and fathers wondering what to do in a small windy seaside town in December.  A woman standing outside the cafe informs her husband that the 'Scotch folk' are always so cheerful. Give it 24 hours and she is likely to be disabused of that strange notion particularly if she keeps on referring to them as 'Scotch folk'. 

We detour into chapel to warm up and listen as someone practises an organ arrangement of this : https://youtu.be/LGHC5U6vTMk?t=40  The composer is unknown to us but the piece is magical. What better way to start a Monday morning ?

An enterprising Chinese couple have somehow managed to clamber over the railings around the cathedral and are happily taking photos amid the ruins. They have the place to themselves. I wonder what they make of it ?

Exuberant door displays appearing outside the local restaurants. 

Some of the displays are more tasteful than others. 

Hogmanay dinners are now being advertised. All the ones I've seen seem to keep just the right side of the £100 mark. By the time a few drinks have been consumed  the £100 threshold will have been decisively crossed.

A very clever lady at Oxford  ( with an untidy bookcase ) talking about the Middle East. Even she is finding it diffiuclt to keep up with the pace of events :https://youtu.be/rIfCEHjVtDk?t=150