Tuesday morning scenes from a quiet town by the North Sea.

A heatwave down south in London. Their third this year. Up here the mercury is expected to hit (briefly) a heady 16C.

The village hall has been quiet since Scotland dropped out of the World Cup. This morning it's a hive of cheerful activity. The local teenagers are getting everything ready for the excitement of the Norway v England game. A freshly ironed white floor to ceiling  'projection' sheet is being hung from the rafters by the kitchen door. The tournament has, until very recently, been a master class in civic mindedness and good sportsmanship.

A rather fine display of orchids in a window in town.

Old surplus undergrad gowns are being repurchased at the university shop. They're not worn as frequently as they used to be but provide a useful defence against the cold North Sea wind.  First years seem particularly keen on them. There are still a few students around but 99% seem to have gone. Trains south have been booked solid.

Peking Duck flavoured seaweed chips in the farm shop. I wonder if you were blindfolded and asked to taste them if you'd recognize that the flavour was Peking Duck ?

The wooden sign at the front of the bakers window display of fudge donuts  says it was the winner of the monthly shop window award. If so this is a 'remarkable' achievement and says a lot about the standard of the other window displays.

Some bar owner has clearly understood how to attract the high rolling American golfers into their premises. The first floor windows are a veritable riot of July 4th red, white and blue.

Great carving :https://x.com/tongbingxue/status/2074043241012551977

When is the mind at its best ?:https://www.psypost.org/when-do-humans-reach-their-psychological-peak-a-new-study-points-to-late-midlife/

More on AI thinking for itself :https://www.noemamag.com/when-the-machines-deserve-our-consideration/

For recent grads a super serious take on how to get on . How this dropped into my inbox I have no idea  :https://www.jessicariedl.blog/p/so-you-want-to-work-in-washington