Soaking up the love

Readers, you were entirely correct in guessing that the reason for our recent trip down to Edinburgh was not, in fact, to attend one of Taylor Swift's three weekend gigs at Murrayfield Stadium. 

It turns out that Caryl, a lovely American lady Gail met 18 months ago on her Cuba bike tour, was in town for a couple of days and Gail had promised to take her for a hike up that well known Edinburgh landmark, Arthur's Seat, on Monday morning, 

We were super-lucky that some other lovely friends, John and Françoise, were in residence at their top floor flat in a beautiful Victorian house near the Edinburgh University King's Buildings, and they kindly allowed us to stay there overnight. 

I made myself quite at home, of course. 

 

On Monday morning we found Caryl, finishing her breakfast in a congenial and dog-friendly café in the Canonmills area of Edinburgh.

This intrepid Florida-based lady had just completed a cycling tour around northwest Scotland. She'd been doing battle with gale force winds (not uncommon in this part of the world) and was undaunted by the prospect of ascending Edinburgh's famous extinct volcano.

The weather was fine, and how wrong Gail was in thinking it might be quiet up there on a Monday morning. A good proportion of the plus 200,000 fans who'd attended Taylor Swift's concerts at the weekend appeared to have stayed on and were also clambering around the craggy summit of Arthur's Seat, enjoying the spectacular view of the city. 

On the way down we ran into these delightfully attired young ladies from London.

I do believe that meeting me was the highlight of their trip to Scotland's capital city, although Gail is cautioning me against entering into a popularity contest with a certain Miss 'Tay-Tay'! She says I wouldn't want to inspire the megastar to write a song about my shortcomings...

Anyway, all in all it was a splendid couple of days. 

Is Gail a Swiftie...?

Shortly after yesterday's morning romp around Duthie Park (so good to be back there) Gail hastily bundled me into the car and announced we were heading to Edinburgh for a couple of days.

No-one living in Scotland, not even a WFT with little interest in global superstar pop phenomena, can fail to have been aware that a certain Taylor Swift was performing three sell-out concerts at 73,000 capacity Murrayfield Stadium in our capital city this weekend. 

Could it be that Gail is secretly a Swiftie? 

You'll have to come back on Wednesday to find out what we've been up to.

Meanwhile, after a brief immersion in the refreshing water of the River Dee, I just need a moment to 'shake it off'...

A walk in 'Auld Reekie' and some quiz answers

So Gail and I said goodbye to the quiet fishing town of Eyemouth on Friday morning and took a final quick peek at fog-bound Coldingham Bay before heading north.  No swimming for Gail this time, but several other middle aged ladies were cavorting in the waves with great apparent enjoyment.

Next stop was Edinburgh to meet up with friends Françoise and John for a gentle stroll up Blackfold Hill.  Gosh, doesn't Auld Reekie look dry at the moment?

And I was hot and thirsty. 

We were home in Aberdeen by evening and, wow, I must say Gail and I were most impressed by the response to our Nature Friday quiz! We had great fun reading all your answers. 

Everyone did brilliantly, of course, but that was to be expected as we know our readers are super smart and knowledgable. 

So gold stars to all who entered the quiz. Below, a few comments on the answers.

#1 Yes it was of course doggy paddle.

#2 Most of you already knew that the adder is a venomous snake. Extra fun fact - it's only poisonous one we have in the UK.

#3 We're pleased to note that all our readers are aware of the dangers of straying too near the edge of steep cliffs.

#4 Several good guesses here, but Gail thinks Rosy of the LLB Gang was most likely correct in suggesting I'd detected the presence of a vole

#5 You all seemed to struggle with this question. Perhaps the lack of Nature Friday relevance put you off! The correct answer is 'Biscoff'. Well done Dalton and Benji for coming close with Biscotti.

#6 Yes it was a rat. Full marks to YAM-aunty for scientific rigour in giving the species name Rattus rattus. 

#7 Perhaps no surprise that our friends Millie and Walter and their super-observant bird-watcher Mom did best with this question, spotting the gulls on the rooftops as well as the more obvious ones in the foreground, 

#8 Several creative answers here. We like Cecilia's suggestion that the rat disguised himself as a Black Sheep, and Rosy's idea that what we are seeing in this picture is a Black Sheep convention. And yes Ruby, it will indeed always be the Black Sheep of the family who is made to clear up after Christmas dinner...