Let the wayward bloom.

The morning radio broadcast leading with the fact that the UK has an important visitor arriving tonight. Neither Gaza nor Ukraine make it into the news summary although the firing of the UK's ambassador in Washington does. For the King the next 48 hours will be like walking on eggshells. There again if anyone has been trained for such moments it's him. It will be the biggest security operation since the late Queens funeral.

Writing a daily blog when the students are away and there's nothing to talk about can be difficult. Now they're back it suddenly becomes much easier. Much, much easier. On our way into town two late running teenagers sprint out into the road directly in front of us from between two parked cars. I have to slam on the little BMW's brakes. I can now vouch for the fact that the car has built in emergency systems that make sounds neither of us knew were possible - chimes, bells, a solitary strangulated klaxon and an exceedingly irritating beep - come as standard. The two boys smile and wave in a manner they must assume to be disarming. My thoughts are decidedly uncharitable. There is a reason college towns have 20 mph speed limits . 

From his window display I'd guess the baker also finds life easier ( and more profitable ) now there are 10,000 permanenty hungry youngsters in town. The sale of Fresher biscuits still going strong.

It is the autumn gathering at the Royal and Ancient. A local club member is overseeing a group of American members as they tee off. He has a shooting stick ( when was the last time you saw anyone actually using a shooting stick ?) and wears a Harris Tweed cap. Each of the visitors has his hand shaken and is told what a singular pleasure it is to meet them. They in turn thank him for being there to oversee things . Polite observations are made about the weather.  Old style undemonstrative and unrushed civility still thrives on both sides of the Atlantic. A crackly tannoy system from a pre-solid state era announces the names of the players in each foursome. All of them seem to be doctors.

We linger and watch the first three teams head off down the fairway. Spliced shots or ( heaven forfend ) miss strokes are met with a wave of the committee members red flag and a muttered ' Bad luck '. In the distance the Dunhill luxury goods marquee continues to grow.

The members car park is carefully monitored by a burly bearded man in a Hi-Viz jacket. He's there to stop tourists or ( more probably ) students from chancing their luck there. Places are assigned to members and members of the committee. Above them like God in heaven sits The Captain who has a spot reserved for him right at the front door

The paving stones that lead up to the new statue of Tom Morris have inscriptions describing him as the Grand Old Man of Golf. There is also a paving slab that records he was a Church Elder. Golf and Kirk. A very Presbyterian ranking of priorities in this most Presbyterian of towns.

A self seeding dandelion has taken root in the centre of the municipal flower beds. It soars above the red geraniums like a giant iconoclast. I'm tempted to step in and pull it out but decide that in doing so I'd do more damage than good. Sometimes, particularly in a university town,  its best to let the wayward bloom .

The breakfast radio reminds us that this movie was released 60 years ago and proved to be a surprising hit . It was probably the best PR Austria ever had although there is something very Holywood about wandering across barren mountain tops in matching outfits:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvDFoF9sfQA&list=RDRKuqySkqhHw&index=2

Dog domestication :https://www.psypost.org/new-research-complicates-the-story-of-dog-domestication/

This seems to sum it up pretty well :https://www.aei.org/op-eds/how-the-last-two-weeks-shook-the-world-order/

Always be kind:https://snyder.substack.com/p/always-be-kind

Perhaps THE question of our times :https://arachnemag.substack.com/p/the-case-against-social-media-is