The Sweltering Heat in Scotland… yes, you heard it right!
June’s heatwave came to an end - and some magnificent storms were viewed from the safe spectator vantage point of the other side of our living-room window! Thunder, lightning, torrential rain – even the wind-strewn seagulls took refuge in the park. Must be an omen that August this year is destined to be glorious… well, we live in hope. Thankfully, for sports fans, Wimbledon and The Open at Muirfield saw some sunshine. Mind you, didn’t seem to agree with Tiger this time around.
Accommodation Update
We are gearing ourselves up once more for Festival madness – fully booked for the whole of August, except for 3 nights in the Balfour Apartment, and lots of interesting guests are coming to stay.
See you Jimmy…
But, more immediately, we are looking out our tartan scarves and regalia for tomorrow night and (drum roll…) - The Gathering - the biggest parade of Pipe Bands ever to congregate in Edinburgh – around 8,000 pipers will march from Holyrood Palace up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle tomorrow evening. All our guests have tickets for the whole weekend’s events, but, Philip and I will be making a mad-dash for the evening procession only alas – promise to take a photo or two and reveal here… Stirring stuff I am sure.
The mention of Scottish pipe bands brings a smile to my face as I recall our last guest – a delightful child, Kambree, from Sante Fe, who is blind and was desperately keen to hear a Scottish piper ‘in the flesh’. (Hello wee Kambree – we miss you!) She asked me: ‘Do Scottish Pipers play Country & Western Music?’ I love it. Doesn’t it conjure up a delightful picture in your mind… line dancing thrown in the mix?
All of Philip’s fans will be relieved to know that, following his op last month, he is returned to form once more – tinkering, pottering, treasure hunting for that elusive Roman horde, and gardening away in all weathers… He can be seen in a field near you every weekend if you look hard enough.
I was so keen to take a photograph of the garden at its peak, that I missed it – for the second year running. Mid-June is the time – I will have it slotted in the diary for next year and take some pics of the roses in abundance, surrounded by lavendar and climbers all around and up the walls. In early morning, the scent is heavenly. The foxes are still here and can be seen daily – this garden seems to suit them perfectly.
Am keeping it short and sweet this month to avoid becoming even more of a perpetual bore.
See you here again in August! Adios for now.
Debbie
