Dealing with heat.

The first helicopter of the day clatters up the coast from Edinburgh as we're heading out for our morning walk. After dropping off its passengers it returns south ten minutes later. There was a time , not so many years ago, when Rudi Giuliani and Lyndsey Graham could be seen holding court outside the breakfast room in the big 5 star hotel. I wonder who the helicopters are carrying today ? Give it half an hour and more of them shipping the 'great and the good ' ( or at least the great )  will be wending their way towards the golf course.

Last night the man with anger management issues phones to let us know that temperatures in the small French village hit 41 degrees during the day. There was no breeze to speak of and at ten at night ( when he called ) it was still 36. He was thinking of sleeping outside by the swimming pool.

At the supermarket an old lady has tied up her three companions to the trolley stand while she goes shopping.

One of them barks constantly to let anyone and everyone know that they've been left alone. Angus watches as all the delivery drivers without exception ( not usually a sensitive demographic ) stop to have a wee blether with the dogs. This may, or may not, say something  psychologically interesting. The third dog at the back adopts ' I'm here if you need me ' approach to meeting humans.

Golfing guests can be seen  standing out on the roof terrace of a hotel overlooking the Old Course. They're eating their bacon rolls in the fresh air. You usually don't see many folks on the balcony. It's only open when 'the weather allows '. In Scotland that's infrequently.

The club house balcony is also being used. Three men in blazers, grey flannels and ties look down on the world below from their Olympian heights. They are wearing  the uniform of the club member.  The Royal and Ancient maintains a rather Edwardian dress code although shorts are now allowed on the course as long as they are dress shorts and come down to the knee. This is a nod both to the sartorial demands of American visitors and to climate change. I've noticed that this year the 'dress' part of the dress shorts requirement seems to have been interpreted rather liberally.

The beach already busy. This is the last week before the schools go back. The weather is good and by Scottish standards set to get blisteringly hot. Some parents have adopted the 'let's get them on the beach early and tire them out' approach to child rearing. By lunchtime the sand will be packed.

So starts a Tuesday morning in an unusually hot Scotland. 26 degrees forecast for tomorrow, 22 today. The farmer worked until late last night cutting the wheat and barley fields. This leaves the large field inland of The last wee house before Denmark to be harvested .

The things you learn :https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/painting-melun-dyptich-stone-age-folding-rep/

Breakfast conversation :https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/do_couples_with_similar_personalities_have_happier_relationships

The meaning of thirst :https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-does-it-mean-to-be-thirsty-20250811/

One Michelin star restaurants have something to prove. Two Michelin star restaurants ( and above ) have nothing to prove and tend to disappoint :https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/mnsc.2023.04302