They're all back.

It's not as windy today but it remains grey with lots of low scudding cloud and some heavy rain thrown into the mix. We see the first snowdrops in the woodland. 

Yesterday two large skate carcasses were washed onto the shore . The Jack Russells found their odour to be 'intriguing'. Puppy discovered that endearing trick of rolling on her back on the rotting flesh. The farmers wife had some difficulty coaxing her away. Overnight the tide has dragged the fish back out to sea. The farmers wife is delighted. She is growing increasingly nervous about the two boys trip to the US. The eldest starts the new semester at Edinburgh today which occasions her ever so slightly wistful comment " They grow up so quickly ".

In town we pass some students doing something 'studenty' over the spot where Patrick Hamilton was martyred. Three of them seem to watching a fourth do push-ups. We pass quickly by. When it comes to student antics it's best not to ask.

Would this attract you into a restaurant ?

We buy a baguette from the bakers.  The lady behind the counter doesn't so much wrap the baguette as carefully embalm it. Rubber bands are carefully placed over either end of the three layers of wrapping paper.  'The Font' observes that if a French baker was to wrap a baguette with this much time and  care the country would come to a grinding halt.

Todays must read. Trips to China are always interesting :https://www.willsolfiac.com/p/notes-on-chinas-alternative-modernity

The Beatles at their best :https://x.com/historyinmemes/status/2015094995674439955

Things that surprise :https://x.com/curatorWH/status/2009657352274981354

This maybe designed to shock. I'm not sure the author is right saying DJT has an affinity for Scotland. If so he shows it in unusual ways. I'm also not at all sure about the premise or the conclusions about 'exceptionalsim'  but the Pimlico Journal is always though provoking :https://www.pimlicojournal.co.uk/p/americas-turkish-future

We shall go to this. The photos don't do it justice . People still celebrate the aconites coming into flower 900 years after Queens Ermengarde's death - which may say something about the deep rooted traditions around here :https://www.whatsonfife.co.uk/news/2026/01/19/mystery-of-medieval-queens-remains-revealed-in-new-guided-tours-at-balmerino-abbey/

Culture wars :https://davidaaronovitch.substack.com/p/should-british-jews-flee-to-america