The mother of all parties

Sunrise on a quiet Scottish Sunday morning. We're coming to the time of year when it doesn't ever get properly dark in these northerly parts. It's certainly too light to be in bed so we're up and about by five enjoying the good weather. The farmer is already hard at work. He's installing an irrigation system to water the potatoes he planted three weeks ago. Six girls wander onto the beach and then run into the sea. Their screams tell us all we need to know about the water temperature. I'm guessing they've finished their exams and have been out all night celebrating. Jet lagged golfers wander the streets. Their body clocks tell them it's dinner time in Pebble Beach but the chance of finding anywhere open for something to eat at this time of the day is zero.

The tide is in so the sandcastle competition is on hold until it goes out again. The dog walkers have the place to themselves.

The black sheep in their enclosure on the foreshore are surprised to see anyone up and about. The farmer tells us they may ( or may not ) be sheared this week. The swallows are back. They dip and weave through the long glass on the dunes. We chuckle as they swoop around us. There's no doubt whatsoever that they're showing off for our benefit.

Lemon sole, monkfish and some dressed crab from the fishmonger. The fishmonger is about to send a consignment of lobster off to the restaurant in one of the local 5 star hotels. ' I cannae get enough of them at this time of the year ' he observes while weighing the monkfish.

A photographer is snapping a wedding couple on the zebra crossing. I think he may be trying to catch the young couple with a Beatles 'Abbey Road' vibe. The utilitarian architectural  backdrop of the Bank of Scotland and the scaffolding surrounding the town hall may, or more probably may not, provide this. A red Mazda comes down the road and waits while the couple make it onto the pavement.

The final week of exams starts tomorrow. There is something in the air that says the mother of all parties is in the wind. This rousing sound is on the car radio as we drive home :https://youtu.be/lzHI32aHz_M?t=17

The weather :https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-16/weather-forecast-accuracy-bom/105297540

Religion and science :https://iai.tv/articles/the-big-bang-cant-escape-its-religious-beginnings-auid-3171?_auid=2020

Men v women :https://www.sciencealert.com/men-are-dying-from-broken-heart-syndrome-at-twice-the-rate-of-women