Milk or dark ?

It got to 19 degrees here yesterday. That's warm for Scotland in March. In fact that's warm for Scotland at any time of the year. This morning the weather is promising more of the same. Down on the shore there's what might pass for a heat haze.

We haven't seen the Chinese man and his dog in months. They're out of the sand  this morning. We wave.  There's no sign of his Puli. We would ask if it's alright but the Chinese gentlemans English is extremely limited.

At the book store a van with a silhouette of a chimney sweep in a top hat painted on the side. This is a particularly Victorian image and not what you'd expect to see in 2026.

Inside the book shop the chimney sweep and his assistant are hard at work. Customers wander by as they lay dust sheets. I wonder how many bookstores have wood burning fires. Probably quite a few in chilly Scotland.

The flower shop on the shopping street looking spring like.

All the milk chocolate Easter eggs have gone. Dark chocolate ones remain. 'The Font' won't touch milk chocolate whereas Angus has yet to find milk chocolate that he doesn't like. On the evidence of the supermarket shelves it seems I'm not alone. Claude, improbably, informs me that 51% of chocolate eaters prefer milk and 35% dark. This is a very unsatisfying AI answer .

'The Font' speaks to the travel agent about next months long haul flight to Shanghai. " We can only hope the flights go " he says with infuriating imprecision. Our booking at the restaurant we've always wanted to try is still good :https://www.trip.com/restaurant/china/hangzhou/detail/longjing-manor-479150/  I'd reckon the chances of the trip taking place is still 50-50. Last nights missile attack on Diego Garcia seems to hint more surprises lie in store.

Africa :https://kappel1.substack.com/p/africas-growth-euphoria?triedRedirect=true

Seems there was more to Rosa Luxemburg than politics :https://orbooks.com/catalog/rosa-luxemburgs-herbarium/

A new hotel in Palm Beach. It looks like every other hotel in Palm Beach. There must be a look everyone strives for :https://www.oetkerhotels.com/hotels/the-vineta-hotel/#/

Radio Scotlands Saturday morning music choice. When was the last time you heard this ? :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdKEbnS1eBE