The sparrows have had three broods this year. We count sixty or so fledglings on the lawn. They are at that stage where their mothers are teaching them how to eat. Most learn quickly but there are one or two who struggle with the concept.
The weather is good enough to open a bottle of Gigondas rose and sit out in the garden in the warmth of the evening sun. A neighbouring professor stops by. He's been working late and is delighted to be offered a glass of wine. It seems that applications from foreign students for the coming year have soared . Applications from the US alone are up 14% and for post grads double that. This coming year more than 1 in 10 American students in the UK will be coming to this little wind swept town. Economics and International Relations , despite tough acceptance rates of less than 5%, are the 'in' subjects. Students from India and Malaysia who had been thinking of US institutions like Harvard or Columbia are also applying here. It's an ill wind ....
This morning the university end of town is quite. A couple of high flying jets make a St Andrews cross in the sky by the chapel. Weddings earlier in the week had to battle with grey skies and rain. Today the couples set to tie the knot will think they're getting married in the Seychelles.
Town before the first tour bus arrives from Edinburgh is a calm and reflective place.
This is sure to spark a conversation round the breakfast table :https://secondvoice.substack.com/p/why-were-surrounding-our-kids-with
Well, that's a relief :https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/mars-spiders-nasa/
George III revisited :https://www.coolidgereview.com/articles/wrong-about-king-george-iii
Medieval medicine :https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/5669/medieval-medicine-was-smarter-than-you-think-and-weirdly-similar-to-tiktok-trends
4 comments:
Hari OM
... the police are responsible for monitoring the speed limits, not the council. They are probably just as cash-strapped, admittedly... I have been taken aback at the number of 'boy racers' that have disturbed various towns I've stopped in this summer, definitely infringing several traffic laws, and nary a Bobby in sight... YAM xx
Those numbers about applications from the US to St. Andrews are not entirely surprising but they are still shocking. It's a very ill wind indeed. I don't think I will venture that breakfast conversation, but the article on George III was very interesting.
A nice walk along the beach, should make every creature, man or wolf, feel better.
Gigondas Rosé...I sipped on a glass last night. Perfect. My friend's grandson will attend St. Andrews this fall and his plan is to major in Film Studies. I hope this young man has an absolutely wonderful Scots adventure - and his grandpa, too!
Post a Comment