The wanderers return

Thank you all for our comments on the shingles vaccine. I shall go along to the Health Centre on Monday for my jab. 

The storm that has been pounding us for the last three days and nights relents. This morning we're greeted by blue skies and some weak sunshine but more ( possibly much more ) heavy rain is expected by mid-morning. The town dog walkers are out in force enjoying this wind and rain free interlude.

Overnight the last of the students have returned and parking has become decidedly more difficult. The secret is to secure a spot before the two minutes to nine lecture rush takes place. With the students back there's also an influx of ageing cars. One of the neighbouring rugby lads has a red Golf that has a rear seat that's home to half a dozen  rugby balls , crumpled medical text books and a substantial number of crushed lager cans. The car looks as though a Big Foot is living in it. 

'The bonniest bird upon the bush had ne'er a lighter heart than she . 'A student  and her pianist practising this morning in readiness for tonights Burns festivities. We pause in the warmth of the chapel to listen :https://youtu.be/ZQ37eTtSQug?list=RDZQ37eTtSQug&t=46 What greater luxury can there be than being a private audience of two ? In its day this tale of seduction must have been decidedly saucy.

For Christmas we sent  twelve 'Beautiful Scotland' calendars to the Arizonans we met on the long dark sea voyage to the north of Norway. We have received twelve 'Beautiful Arizona' calendars in return. This may necessitate a trip to the charity shop with eleven of them. There is a limit to how many calendars you can use. Arizonan calendars are big on pictures of cactii.

The skies are busy with military aircraft. Denmark, our neighbour, is just across the water in one direction. Iceland in the other. The owner of Archie the arthritic labrador is knowledgeable about such things ( her husband used to be in the RAF ). She  says that 90 aircraft will be on exercise today. We all stand and watch as three of those large cargo planes with contra-rotating propellors come buzzing across the bay. They sound like hornets. 

Gorilla viewing glasses :https://www.buzzfeed.com/kristatorres/14-wildly-fascinating-facts-reddit

Do these not exist in the US ? :https://youtu.be/vCW7hKuq71I?t=338

This I thought was a good take by a professor at Kings in London :https://tldrussia.substack.com/p/tldrussia-relaunch-volume-3

Something about the Netherlands I didn't know but is strangely reassuring :https://x.com/DefensieMin/status/2014690226459849092

Mexico :https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/middle-class-mexico-poverty/

Those 'comments' continue to generate anger :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS_Dl33mG5I