Tough it out.

Another day of sea fog. Out here on the coast it gets to a high of 16C by lunchtime before falling back into single figures. We debate whether we should turn the heating on again but decide to tough it out. I think of mowing the lawn but don't. A lot of the young families who work at the university are away but, judging by the mountain of empty beer cans outside the village hall, there was a good turnout for last nights England v Norway match.

A very serious man on the Sunday morning news programme says that things have kicked off again in the Gulf. He warns of an August shock to oil prices. This is followed by a very British and altogether more cheerful story about newts. The sports commentators go on about how well England did in the heat and humidity. I would have more sympathy with this view if someone remembered they were playing Norway who were suffering just as much ( if not more so ).

In the farm shop redcurrants are cheaper than blackcurrants. I would have thought it should be the other way round.

Despite the early hour the scones have nearly sold out. This is a sign that the tourist season has arrived. Edinburgh folk with their sophisticated palates are much in evidence. There's already a small queue of second home owners outside the cheesemongers.

A bird, perched on a rubbish bin, looks longingly in the window of Subway. It is completely transfixed by the wonders within. 

In town the sea fog has broken up and is a half hearted affair. Out here on the coast its dense and impenetrable and soaks up the sound of the birdsong. The BBC weather forecast tells us 'exposed sea coasts' can expect more of it. In France the old mayor phones to say it's 38C and he's waiting for a thunderstorm to clear the air. 

Amid the tourist places a restaurant that's worth visiting in Charleston :https://www.vernschs.com/samplemenu

An Indian take on Beethoven :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGnmZepyn3o

The best part of Hangzhou :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNcFyT1vsZI&t=44s

Very Norwegian says ' The Font' :https://www.nasjonalmuseet.no/en/exhibitions-and-events/national-museum/exhibitions/2026/dont-be-afraid.-an-exhibition-about-death

This is one of those  places that is very quiet and remote :https://www.historyextra.com/period/stone-age/ness-of-brodgar-new-excavation-update-mystery/