Migratory routines.

A beautiful Friday night. The pavement cafes busy with youngsters enjoying a drink or two in the late evening sunshine. Star crossed lovers sit staring into each others eyes before they face the sweet sorrow of being parted for the summer vacation. Tearful hand holding is one of the migratory routines particular to small college towns the world over. We've been invited to a talk on the Gulf War. The lecture theatre is packed to the rafters with earnest students. We, as oldies, have reserved seats on the front row. The speaker says that the world is running a deficit of 14 million barrels of oil a day and that something must give in the next three to four weeks. There may be a 'convulsion' in the price of oil. 'Convulsion' is said in a tone of voice that makes it clear that this is something extremely unpleasant. The students ask probing questions which hints that they would make a much better job of running the world than later generations. Their thoughtfulness always makes me feel optimistic. By the end of the Q&A we're still unsure whether the war is close to being resolved. Certainly, the trip to China didn't bring any relief in this matter. I shall keep the tank at least three quarters full of petrol.

One of the village gardens has turned into a mass of bluebells. Can anything cry out 'I'm in Scotland ' as much as a garden full of bluebells ?

Something small and delicate and exotic  is growing in the grass near the potato field. It looks to have seeded here by chance. We pause to admire it. The village is about to enjoy a brief but exceedingly colourful summer as the wild flowers burst into bloom. The farmers wife  is taking the 17 year old son into Edinburgh shopping.  It has suddenly struck them both that the weather in America might be hotter than it is here in Scotland. The elder brother - who is also off to the World Cup - will meet them for lunch on Thistle Lane. He's just had his 19th birthday and is in the middle of end of term exams and is feeling 'hard done by'.

A squall blows in from the North Sea. It arrives just as we make it back to the car.  A young couple are up early having their wedding photos taken before they tie the knot in chapel at 10:00 am. The groom has to help the brides dress from billowing upwards in the wind. He plonks his hand firmly on her backside. This is perhaps not the most decorous of looks as they wait for the traffic lights to change.

This early the golfers waiting to tee off can't get a drink at the nearby hotel but they can get a cup off coffee. Titleist baseball caps are this years 'must have' golf accessory. They are everywhere and I mean everywhere.

The strawberry hut is now open. In the summer we live on strawberries. At the moment they are at their start of season best. We still miss the savoury flavour of the Gariguettes in France.  They weren't better, just different.

The Birdman of Oswiecim. Interesting but should this house be used for exhibitions ?  :https://archer.counterextremism.com/

Poor mice :https://www.sciencenorway.no/dental-health-drink-natural-science/a-researcher-gave-mice-unlimited-coca-cola-heres-what-happened/2663159

Shocking. 21st century and there's not a single woman to be seen at the table:https://x.com/BrigidLaffan/status/2054933606376583204

The way the world sees it :https://time.com/article/2026/05/15/trump-xi-us-china-summit-analysis/