Weekend, #6 of Scotland, and Pinot Noir

 
Photos: Daniel C.

Okay, just in from a decent run in the driving rain. I think it's raining in Calgary, so to everyone out there in the rain, including all the readers in Glasgow and Edinburgh - enjoy it. It's just rain.

I ran past One Devonshire Gardens tonight as I always do, and felt a little uneasy watching the waiters open wine and the chefs at work in the kitchen. I miss that life a bit.

But. It's time to catch up on the current life... Yes folks, still alive after a weekend I will never forget for the rest of my days. Friday saw me leave work about two hours late, and incredibly stressed, but a long walk home in the sunshine was helpful in clearing my head.

Week's end

Photo: Daniel C.

Relaxing at home tonight as always, and having a cold beer after a really long week at work. Perhaps I'll have a cup of tea later, but for now content watching the brilliant Rufus Wainwright sing and chat on the Jonathan Ross show.

Right, some thoughts for the day. I was putting the finishing touches on part one of the Sunday Herald's newest weekly feature today - I think we're calling it Clean up your act Scotland - and decided to head out to the city's main square to chat with a few folks about litter. Interesting, yeah?

It was a beautiful day - for Scotland anyways - so I took my time hanging out, enjoying the sun and the people walking past. Did some reporting to. I hate to bother people when they're relaxing, but I was intrigued by a gentleman who sat down beside me on a bench in front of the city chambers. I had a good chat with a gentleman called David, 62, who comes from Hamilton just south of Glasgow.

Thursday update

Photo: Daniel C.

Friends, I’m just in the door from the eight miles, and feeling like I owe you a wee post tonight. Last night I think I was just too tired to string sentences together, and as I was nodding off alone on my couch, I felt it best to just drag my weary bones to bed.

I had about a hundred things to share, but deleted a draft of about 500 words I had written up, at which point I was ready to throw my laptop at the pale white wall. Actually, I have told you a white lie already. I came in from my run, put down the groceries, and grabbed my camera to run back out into the night.

You see the things about Scotland is even on days when it’s grey and dreary, the sky always breaks in the evening, where layers of thin white cloud seem to float among the magnificent colors of the setting sun. At the start of June, it was never dark here; in the wee hours of the morning the sky was always this pastel blue, and the sky seemed unchanged between dusk and dawn. Tonight reminded me why I love just walking around under the Northern skies here – just like June, just like every night.

Drowning in News, and learning to swim

Photo: JLM.

  Dear friends,

Today I have not much to share, but a few things to say. Today is just another day in the life, and I'm taking a break from reading and writing, outside of this blogoteque of course. Today is one of those days where I sort through news headlines and stories, and really find myself unable to handle the breadth and importance of the information out there.

I became increasingly frustrated with not only the state of affairs the world over, but also the fact that I can not adequately keep up with all the stories and situations I want to. My insatiable thirst for news about the world and for stories about places and the people there will keep me reading and learning for years to come. I love talking to people about anything at all, and tell as many stories as I can.

"So let us change what we can, and accept what we can't...."