Dreich.

We wake to find there's a gale blowing in hard from the East. After its long journey over the North Sea the wind arrives on the coast with a force strong enough to penetrate even the thickest of coats. There's a bit of sleet mixed in. On the field facing the kitchen a group of deer are lying, sheltering, on the grass in the lee of the old stone walls. That's the first time we've seen them do this so the weather must be challenging. The blustery conditions don't seem to deter the local farmers who have joined together for a ploughing competition. They're clustered around their tailgates drinking coffee and catching up on the latest farm news.  What a way to start the day !

At the cafe in town where 'William met Kate' ( allegedly ) the lights are on and the first of the mornings customers are tucking into a bacon roll. It is improbable that the heir to the throne - or his security team -  would meet his girl friend here but who wants to spoil a good story ?

Down by the shore one of the new mobile saunas is now up and running. A group of mothers have dropped their toddlers off at the nursery and are getting ready for a quick dip in the bay. A plume of smoke issuing from the saunas chimney indicates that the steam room will be warmed up and ready for them when they return. From the cheerful conversation and laughter it can be assumed that everyone is enjoying themselves. 

Further down the beach a group of a dozen or so lads are out surfing. The dog walkers look at them with muted bafflement. 'Students !' the unspoken assumption.

On our way back home the rain/sleet has set in again.  The local bus slows down to 4 mph so as not to disturb two horses as it passes them on the road into town.

So starts a bitterly cold morning in a small town by the North Sea where anyone sensible - students and young mothers excepted - is warmly settled indoors out of the weather. This is the sort of morning when many of the students will opt for a 'lie in'. 

Important thinking for a university town like this. Not sure how the 60-70% reduction in faculty would go down :https://hollisrobbinsanecdotal.substack.com/p/its-later-than-you-think

Back to basics :https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking/square-one-fallacy

The Rolls Royce of bird boxes:https://peakboxes.co.uk/shop-swift-boxes