Up early.

Last night a wonderful moonrise. We stand at the end of the garden and watch eight deer settling down in the shelter of the stone field wall. They completely relax when we head indoors. The navigation lights on the new wind farm can be seen on the horizon.

We're up at four thirty. 'The Font' is heading on a day trip to London on the first flight from Dundee. " No need for you to get up " I'm told in that tone of voice that makes it clear this is exactly what I should .

Driving back into town from the airport the bookstore is busy. At one end of the store the staff are having their morning meeting. This is a serious affair.  At the other end a group of youngsters from the local primary school are being given a tour of the travel section. The five year olds are having a whale of a time and the ensuing noise levels are rather higher than you would expect in a book store. Bookstores are a great place for playing hide and seek.

I've ordered 'Stay Alive' ( which has had good reviews ) and pick up a copy of 'Exit Stalin' about which I know nothing. One of the staff members tells me he's reading a book - Advance Britannia -  I recommended to him. It's written by Alan Allport a professor at Syracuse and is 'reinterpretative' history at its best . He's enjoying it.  One of the joys about a small town is the interesting conversations that pepper the day.

In this mornings light the little cars paint has perhaps more blue to it than grey. It's one of those colours that can change depending on the weather. While we were away it was taken in for it's first service. We've managed to run up 20,000 miles since we got it. The young salesman who delivers it back wonders if we'd be interested in a new one. I decline his kind offer. " Maybe next year " he says hopefully. To make sure there are no hard feelings he calls me 'Pal'.

The Justin Timberlake/Tiger Woods cinema has an eclectic choice of movies. Wuthering Heights has been very popular with female students. The man restocking the bar tells me male students have been less enamoured.

Freeze or boil ? A constant challenge :https://gwern.net/shower-controls

Centenarians rarely get sick :https://x.com/davidasinclair/status/2028153528611463608

The oracle of Delphi was high :https://www.popsci.com/science/oracle-of-delphi-drugs/

Trapped overnight :https://x.com/seconds_0/status/2025852864724410699