Show Time

This is the first day at the week-end when I have woken in our bed in Edinburgh since late June. While I love being away at week-ends, it is good to be here. It is a beautiful morning newly light at 6.30; from my windows I look out across tree tops that remain green in late August; and here at least this city is quiet, save for the pounding footsteps of Sunday morning joggers. Not far from here (comfortable walking distance) festival goers in rented flats, hostels and hotels will be pulling bedclothes over their heads, cursing the amount they drank last night, yet planning at the same time their itinerary for the day. In three or four hours time they will be on the streets, clogging the pavements in a colourful, culture seeking mass. I like the fact that they are here and enjoy this city, but I love it when they go home. The first week in September is often sunny, but cooler, the visitors have gone and the city returns to its normal, workmanlike (perhaps even dour) self. While all this is culture is fine that it truly this city at its best.

We went on Friday night to stay with friends in their cottage in Glenshee. It is in a great spot with superb northerly views towards the higher hills at the north end of the glen. As has been our habit over the last few years we went to the local highland games and (sadly FMD depleted) agricultural show. We went to another highland games earlier in the year as we were in the area and were bearing a vague invitation to the chieftain's tent where we were looked after splendidly. The chieftain (while perhaps at first glimpse looking like a caricature of a highland laird) is probably the most impressive individual I have ever met, charming and with a sharpness of mind that belies his 87 years and with records as a sportsman, academic, soldier and businessman, coupled with an involvement in the communities he inhabits in Scotland and London, which, while most importantly (although I suspect not to him) amazing achievements, say much about this supposedly busy generation's relative lack of contribution. We enjoyed both games, and in this miserable summer the sun, quite properly, shone on both of them. It is the Glendale Show on Monday. We had planned to take the day off (no bank holiday here) and go, but work has intervened. I hope the sun shines on it. We are working hard on retaining flowers and encouraging any form of vegetable growth, in what has been a poor growing summer in our garden, for our village show at the end of September. Last year we had our most competative friend staying. We are not sure we can handle the pressure to perform this year.