Influencers and the North Sea.

The summer doldrums and the media are desperate for news. This morning the saga of Harry and Megan dominates the six am radio broadcast. There now seems to be some uncertainty as to whether they're coming home for good or just for a year. Why they want to leave California still hasn't been explained. It also seems that Megans return to acting might not now be taking place. After sating our interest in the junior royals the news reader moves onto Trumps trade war with Canada and more Russian attacks on Kyiv.

The cabbage harvest was in full swing until the new - and hugely expensive - machine developed a fault. Further work has been suspended until a 'part' arrives. There is some uncertainty as to when this might be. It has to come from the Netherlands  which means clearing customs.

Three middle aged gentlemen swimmers can be seen in the fresh water pool below the castle. We meet the retired pilot out walking his dog. He tells us that taking a dip in the pool has become a big 'thing' on Instagram. A couple of years ago the number of swimmers willing to brave the North Sea could be counted on one hand. Now, in the summer at least, there are scores every day. This says a lot about influencers and the power of Instagram.

There's a couple walking a Westie along the pier. They're watching a  man in a Zodiac shouting to a mate on the sand. In these parts that counts as excitement. From the cloud patterns I'll wager we're in for one of those highly changeable Scottish days when we get all four seasons in quick succession.

Twenty minutes later , our ten thousand steps done, we return towards the car. There's a group of youngsters lifting a canoe onto the beach. This seems to be a more complex manoeuvre than you might imagine.

They join a dozen or so boats that have been taken onto the sand by the rowing coach and his team. It would seem that eager student rowers are already returning in readiness for the new semesters team trials. A marquee has been put up to enable the officials to keep out of the sun. This might best be described as a triumph of hope over the local climate.

On the other side of the harbour a small fleet of foreign camper vans are parked up against the old abbey walls. In the evening the passengers sit out on deck chairs, cook and chat affably to each other in a mix of languages. I'd like to think the pilgrims who came here in the middle ages would recognize their successors.

Elvis doesn't cut it any longer :https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/economic-growth-makes-graceland-less-impressive/

I'd never seen the chart in this piece :https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/debt-and-tax-cuts

Friday night is no longer a 'thing' :https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/23780231261478215