Bouillon thrives.

Another day, another tongue lashing. Seems we Brits don't 'produce' when it matters. This makes four ( or is it five ?) nights in a row where we've been singled out for criticism. Thankfully, the farmers wife is blissfully unaware that America takes a poor view of us. For the time being there is a sanity maintaining family omerta over discussion of the boys trip to the World Cup. She's keeping busy. The guest room is being spruced up for the visit of the daughters boyfriend from Jackson Hole. We quietly wonder if the boyfriend is prepared for a chaste Easter in the guest room of a draughty Scottish farmhouse ? Is there anything as 'stressful' as a meet the parents weekend ? 

Parked outside the town kirk a van advertising 'Mayo, Dressings, Sauce and Bouillon'.  This has to be one of the more specialized ancillary services on offer. It summons up pictures of Edwardian ladies retiring to their hotels after a nine holes for a restorative cup of steaming beef Bouillon. 

The super expensive apartment block that Donald Trump tried to buy and turn into a hotel ( he was unsuccessful in obtaining a loan from either of the two Scottish banks he approached ) is a hive of activity. Two large preternaturally shiny black BMW limousines are disgorging guests onto the pavement outside. American golfers and their long suffering wives are starting to arrive in time for Easter. The apartments will be busy over the summer and will then be abandoned for the better part of nine months. When I was a student the building was a female hall of residence with a ferocious battle axe of a warden who checked to ensure male visitors were gone by 9 pm. For teenage Romeos and Juliets intent on spending the night together careful planning and impeccable execution ( and furtive silence ) were vital.  Knotted sheets tied to the terrace railings provided the easiest egress. Amazing to think that  such prurience was the order of the day 50 years ago.

The days getting longer. We're out and about before the first players have started  their breakfasts. 

Across the road from the Old Course is the Golf Museum. This has a modern cafe on the first floor. For a long time it stood empty and then became a somewhat lack lustre restaurant serving burgers and fries. This morning workmen are swarming all over it. The trendy seafood restaurant has taken it over. Soon it will re-open as a modern 'lifestyle' restaurant. I'm not sure what a 'lifestyle' restaurant is but it's got to be an improvement on what's gone before. For golfers the location is about as sacerdotal as it gets. 

Picture of the day with accompanying comment :https://x.com/adefty/status/2033626526722195947

Why Roman Britain collapsed. Climate change ain't new :https://www.zmescience.com/science/history-articles/tree-climate-roman-britain-rep/

Chinese exams :https://www.forkingpaths.co/p/how-exams-drive-history

On the basis of this research it's amazing anyone comes to study in Scotland :https://www.nber.org/papers/w34944