Dog centric behaviour.

It's the Kings official birthday . As we pass the club house the sound of the national anthem can be heard playing on a radio in the kitchen. The rest of the country may be going through a period of change but the BBC still adheres to the tried and tested constitutional routines.

The six thirty am crowd down by the first tee are remarkably affable. They take group photos, slap each other on the back, bring out pictures of children and greet other golfers with the line "You guys from the States too ?". There is near universal delight when it's discovered they're not alone in foreign parts. The service, or lack of it, on United and American is compared with partisan passion. These incomers excitement about playing the home of golf is palpable. Blue skies and warm weather help. Large black BMW limousines owned by Glasgow Chauffeur Drive companies deposit guests off the overnight flights  at the 5 star hotels. The arrival of the limousines is an indicator we're moving into peak tourism season. Those enormous Volvo rental cars with the latest '26' registrations and boots large enough for golf bags are now seen everywhere. Three of them are parked outside chapel in spaces reserved for this mornings wedding ceremonies. The drivers have ignored the bollards and 'No Parking' signs. The college porters are not pleased. Four gentlemen park outside the club house. They are in a horrendously coloured bronze Range Rover which can't have been cheap to hire. A club steward quickly tells the driver to move on , which he coyly and apologetically does.

On the second tee one gentleman drops his club and rushes over to talk to two ladies out walking a pack of Huskies. He is clearly a dog person and the Huskies are overjoyed to meet him. One stands on its hind legs and gives him a lick. The three other members of his foursome shout our " Hurry up Scott. We don't have all day ". They don't quite phrase it like that but you get the gist. The others play on. We heartily approve of this gentlemans dog centric behaviour.

We have the beach pretty much to ourselves although the solitary figure of the lady with the Pomeranian can be seen half a mile ahead of us. This fleeting pre-July  quiet time is a joy although graduation with its processions and parties is even more joyful.

This morning it's the turn of the fish and chip shop to be spruced up ahead of the graduation ceremonies.

We visit the wee house in town. Friends from America are due to arrive next week. The roses have grown wild in the sun and their scent hits us as soon as we step out onto the terrace. We both agree that what should be a sun trap of a garden has turned into a jungle. The lady who looks after it was here a week ago. We phone and ask her to come back again - urgently. It is a time when pruning needs to be replaced by lopping. The young sparrows who are nesting in the gutters flutter in and out of the climbing roses. It is a source of amazement just how much noise a group of sixty or so young sparrows can make.

Remember when America was open all hours ? :https://x.com/chris_kratovil/status/2063104382116266382?s=61

Coffee and caffeine :https://www.acsh.org/news/2026/06/11/coffee-doesnt-taste-caffeine-heres-why-50166

The same thing is happening with our roads :https://nypost.com/2026/04/17/opinion/why-la-is-letting-its-streets-crumble/

Todays tartan army video. Kilts and Miami temperatures sound uncomfortable :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVlViDSBSq0