Exams begin today.

 Another decidedly un-Scottish start to the day with blue skies and warm breezes. 

No prizes for guessing who's at the kitchen door bright and early. The farmers wife appears and she and the two dogs head off to the cove for a swim.  The farmers wife walks down the track. The dogs fly along it. They know this is the best day ever and there won't be another like it until tomorrow.

At the golf course the flags are out. You know it's high tourist season when the flags appear. Somewhat mysteriously the Norwegian flag is fluttering alongside the Japanese, Canadian and American ones. Perhaps there's a bus load of Norwegian golfers coming through later on today ? A group of Australian men in shorts are commenting on how cold the air is. They should try coming here in February.

For the eagle eyed clues that the summer semester is drawing to a close. Don't abandon your bike signs appearing on the street.

In the new student cafe an even clearer sign that term is ending and exams beginning. It's busy within minutes of opening. Usually, the cafes in town are empty until 10:30. Four first year med school lads are quizzing each other on the basics of biochemistry. One of them doesn't seem to be on top of his brief. In fact from the hesitancy of his answers I'd have to wonder what he's been doing since September. His attention is soon taken by an extremely pretty girl in a floral dress at the end of the table. He strikes up a conversation and ignores his three pals who continue to focus on biochemistry. This may give us a clue as to what he's been doing with his time. The girl is wearing a single row of pearls . Seems that dressing for exams is still a thing .

On the grass outside the church the two ducks that call the middle of town their home are still asleep. Later this morning they will walk down to the Shawarma House and then back to their spot on the grass.

So starts an important week in this small college town by the North Sea. In six weeks time we'll see the first of the graduation ceremonies and a rush of summer weddings. 

Not something I'd thought about :https://aeon.co/essays/why-alien-languages-could-be-far-stranger-than-we-imagine

Why male teachers are important :https://www.aei.org/op-eds/the-manosphere-cant-give-boys-what-they-need-the-most/

India :https://providencemag.com/2025/05/the-enduring-geopolitical-tragedy-of-indias-partition/

Intelligence :https://www.wired.com/story/intelligence-evolved-at-least-twice-in-vertebrate-animals