3 ships.

3 cruise ships sheltering in the bay this morning. One huge Dutch one at the seaward end and two smaller American ones of the super-luxury variety closer to shore. This is the first time we've ever seen so many in one place. The farmer thinks that they're being rerouted from destinations in the Indian Ocean to the dull safety of northern waters. If he's right the passengers are going to find that the weather isn't all they'd hoped for. The farmer also tells me he's sold all of this years potato harvest to a company that makes oven chips. The prices aren't great but with the cost of fertilizer and diesel soaring he wants to lock in some some certainty with his cashflows. 

The local airport in Dundee will stop offering direct flights to London as of the first of September. Another quiet hint that the impact of the Gulf war will be bigger than most people think.  The airline says there's a review ' of its strategy '. This must unnerve those who rely on its service to get to the western isles. In another sign of economic turbulence the wine merchant that used to offer free delivery is now charging £12:95 for courier service.

A braw morning. On the beach a husky loving family are out walking their dogs.

At the farm shop Whisky Shortbread.  Angus wholeheartedly approves.

However, he is not tempted by Dark Chocolate and Haggis Spice.

The ducks that nest outside the Shawarma shop have returned. Students and locals give them a wide berth. Of all the places they could choose to nest this has to be one of the worst. They come back year after year to the delight of local two year olds.  At certain times of day there is a long tail back of push chairs as mothers heading back from dropping of their elder children at kindergarten detour here with their youngest. The ducks seem oblivious to the toddlers shrieks of delight.

The calves are slowly adjusting to the excitement of village life. 

It may not be Shanghai but life in a small town has its recompenses.

Scotland should build data centres. It has a lot of offSHore wind power that's not connected to the national grid . This Virginia example indicates how much money there is to be made :https://x.com/dylanmatt/status/2050252241152675878

Mundane but vital technology :https://www.construction-physics.com/p/how-an-oil-refinery-works

Plus ca change. We're all pre-Roman :https://www.science.org/content/article/modern-european-family-predates-fall-rome-dna-reveals?et_cid=5944876

Traffic in Jakarta :https://indevelopmentmag.com/jakarta-transit-transformation/