Outside furniture and sheer bloody mindedness.

Outside the R&A a sad looking dog with its owner. The dog perks up when two other golfers show up. Each of them also has a small dog in tow - a Westie and a yappy 'talkative' Norfolk. The three golfers and the three ( now off their leads ) dogs head onto the sacred turf . The dogs sit and watch each of the golfers tee off then contentedly follow them, line astern, down the fairway. This process is repeated at the second and third holes and seems to be a regular fixture in dog and owners week.

America's new President has been lobbying the Royal and Ancient to let his £1,000 a round property at Troon be added to the list of courses that can host the 'Open' tournament. The R&A's attitude has been ' We don't care who you are the 'facilities' for handling large crowds at your properties is inadequate '. The new US ambassador has been chosen because he's a golfer and can spend more time here 'lobbying'. Watch this space. The sheer bloody mindedness of the Scots character should not be underestimated.

The new hotel has had a 'soft opening'. The first guests have been journalists invited for a night in the hope they'll write a glowing review in time for this weekends papers. This presumably means much alcohol has been consumed. A large black BMW courtesy car is parked outside ready to take the hacks back to the station or ( more likely ) Edinburgh airport.

Look closely and you'll see that tables and padded chairs have been set up on the steeply sloping  pavement outside the bar. We think setting out padded chairs is brave and demonstrates 1) a firm belief in the honesty of the local residents 2) a confidence that partying students won't attempt to construct a high rise sculpture out of the tables and 3) an optimism that the Scottish weather will be kind to upholstered outdoor furniture.

The new season floral displays now appearing throughout town. When did extravagant faux floral arrangements become a thing ?

Two wreathes have been laid at the base of a statue to a 15th century bishop. Perhaps it's his birthday ? They're too delicate to be the work of our local florist who has a more agricultural 'robust' approach to such matters. 

The three months that the water board said it would take to repair the pipes under the Old Course has now turned into six. In Celtic parts time has a meaning all of its own. A group of Spanish gentlemen golfers seem oblivious to the hoardings.

Very British seasonal music on the radio this morning :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUE2w62qy-I

The Danish Post Office will stop delivering letters :https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg8jllq283o

Selenium deficiency :https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/about-one-billion-people-are-deficient-in-selenium-genetic-engineering-could-change-that-180986156/

Medicine still has much to learn :https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/scientists-uncover-bizarre-virus-like-structures-in-the-human-body-and-we-have-no-idea-what-they-are/