A small ceremony

'They' are up and about early. Four hundred or so students run across the road in front of us. 'They' are still young and enthusiastic enough to be keen on communal events including mass runs at seven in the morning. Will this enthusiasm survive the cold Scottish winter mornings ? 

We park the car and head to the beach.  As we go we pass the great and the good of the golfing world greeting the newly elected Captain of the Royal and Ancient.  All the local caddies line the fairway and a cannon is fired to get the days play underway. People clap politely and startled sea gulls take to the air. Hip flasks appear. There is a small ceremony which is like the golf worlds election of a new Pope but without the smoke. The members of the Rules Committee emerge onto the clubhouse balcony. Everyone smiles. A young New Zealander in shorts is presented with a gold sovereign for retrieving the new Captains golf ball from the rough. The ancient tannoy system crackles into life and we hear the youngster say ' It's surreal to be a part of this history '. 

Previous Captains are out to watch the new incumbent tee off. Blazer, flannels and flat caps are the standard plumage of retired committee members. Judges and surgeons seem to be well represented. For the new Captain teeing off under the critical gaze of the games college of cardinals must ne a stressful moment.

One of the sheep has two white patches below her eyes. For a moment or two we think they are her eyes. She stops and stares at us. We stare back. Last year the sheep were taken inland for the winter but this year, so we're told by a passing beach ranger, they will stay here all year. " They're frae the Hebrides so it's no as if they'll feel the cold ".

A pair of pied wagtails on the turf in front of the lecture halls. They seem completely unperturbed by student comings and goings.

Back at the last wee house before Denmark the wild brambles are still fruiting away.

Life here is settling back into its comforting routines although the temperature is set to fall to just 4 degrees tonight. The decision to turn on the heating was the right one. This coming week we are off to Hadrians Wall and the Lake District. Restaurants have been booked and wine lists carefully studied. On our first port of call there is a very old school St Joseph and on the second night an even more old school Pomerol.

Bird names:https://birdhistory.substack.com/p/chunk-ducks-blatherskites-butterballs

Hotel and private home:https://www.tajhotels.com/en-in/hotels/umaid-bhawan-palace-jodhpur

American history :https://www.coolidgereview.com/articles/tyranny-anatomized