Heat.

22 degrees here yesterday. The towns two beaches packed solid with day trippers making the most of the abnormally good half term weather. We watch as two coach loads of tipsy retirees from Falkirk discover the joys of al fresco drinking . At the bar by the Divinity School they occupy all the outside tables while others perch themselves, contentedly if uncomfortably, on the communal flower planters. Happily slurred conversation fills the air.  Their tour organizer becomes  increasingly agitated as he tries to convince them to board the bus and head home. " I canny rush ma glass is still fuw " says one gentleman to peels of laughter. Central Belt OAP's and Italian teenagers must be the co-equal bane of a tour guides life.

On the village green a group of calves watch us as we set off on our morning walk. The sea mist has rolled further inland today which makes the air decidedly nippy.

The morning weather is changeable. One minute we and the calves are in bright sunshine. The next it's difficult to see through the fog to the far end of the field.

For the first time this year we have had the aircon in the car turned on. It's surprisingly efficient although it drains the battery in the blink of an eye.

Back in the village the farmers Heath Robinson approach to irrigation has been installed. A 6 inch diameter firemans hose has been laid the half mile from the pond behind the potato sheds to the newly sown fields outside The last wee house before Denmark. Every two hundred yards or so there is an ill fitting join where the lengths of hose have been coupled together. Water spray shoots everywhere. The Jack Russells are having the time of their lives.

We set off this evening. From Edinburgh to London, overnight at Heathrow and then on the first BA flight of the day to Tokyo. There is a last minute flurry of activity as we're told by the organizers, incorrectly, that Brits need visas for South Korea. Communication with the Lily Tomlin lady coordinating the trip has moved from the effusive to ' Please ensure you are in Yokohama by Tuesday. Your ship is currently en route to Japan'. Angus notes the studied imprecision in this statement but 'The Font' thinks I'm looking for problems where none exist. We shall go here on Sunday :https://www.tokyoweekender.com/event/ashikaga-flower-park-great-wisteria-festival-2025/ and also go to the Osaka World Fair to see the Japanese pavillion. Who ever knew World Fairs were still a thing ? https://www.osaka.com/info/world-expo-2025/osaka-expo-2025-everything-you-need-to-know/

An interesting read :https://theamericanenterprise.com/the-russian-paradox-so-much-education-so-little-human-capital/

The London Review of Books ( like its New York cousin ) consistently throw up fun reads :https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v47/n07/james-meek/everything-is-possible

Rethinking consciousness:https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/we-may-have-to-rethink-consciousness-completely-heres-why