Written by Rod

Hamish is adjusting to the Scottish climes by sleeping in past 8 in the morning, which is fine by us. It’s Wednesday morning and we have decided that today will be a home day. Balancing tourist activity with down time is something we need to be conscious of at all times.

It’s another foggy/misty day. This marks about the 8^th time I have employed the phrase “Scotch mist”. It just seems entirely appropriate. When asked, the night before, how we should fill in our home day, Hamish begins by suggesting that he and daddy light the fire first thing in the morning. The boy is a chip off the old block. The fire consumes me for much of the rest of the day. Belinda said that I was “giving it CPR” every time she looked up. It’s a lovely day to be inside and we pass the time with games, TV, drawing activities and so on. Hamish also does some of the above. Belinda has also been organising accommodation in Berlin and Krakow – there’s still a few weeks to be planned and she is taking advantage of the bad weather and good wifi. At the end of the day, I struggle to remember the last time I have not even opened an external door, much less stepped outside.

My medications have been giving me some grief, I hope. General malaise/light-headedness, etc. But I try to soldier on and not be a burden to anyone.

I check the weather forecast for Aberdeen, which is about 40 km away, on 3 different web sites. They all differ. However, none mention fog (wrong) and they all suggest mostly fine/sunny weather (completely wrong) over the next few days. They seem to have to invent many different expressions over here for “mostly cloudy”, so as not to sound too repetitive: sunny at times, cloudy at times, periods of sun/cloud, partly sunny/cloudy, mostly sunny/cloudy, sunny with periods of cloud, cloudy with periods of sun… Belinda tells me to stop checking; Scottish is the only word needed for the local forecasts. However, we do not mind. We expected the weather to be a bit bleak. And it is not that cold, with maxima of about 12.

It’s Thursday and Hamish awakes at 8:30. We are heading to Dundee today, which is about an hour south. Belinda drives there through the fog. I feel a bit light-headed for driving, but just suggest that she have a turn at the wheel so that I can admire the foggy scenery. Don’t want her to worry about my health.

Dundee is interesting, with a most impressive bridge across the Tay, which Sat Nav suggests we drive across, even though it is not on our way. The “if possible, do a U turn” message is not well received half way across a 2 km long bridge. We spend 2 hours at Discovery Point. This is a terrific spot which houses many interactive displays, as well as the ship upon which Robert Falcon Scott sailed to Antarctica.

After this we try to head off on foot to explore the city. However, a recalcitrant 5 year old and worsening weather mean we head back to the car. The whole of the harbour area is currently behind boards, getting a “revitalisation”. If you come back in a year or two, Dundee should look spectacular, on a nice day.

We take the scenic (coastal) route on the way home. The fog is now especially scenic.

We stop at the local supermarket. I finished my meds this morning (tried to keep this low key) and I am looking forward to having a drink in a day or so. I am delighted to find that they stock our favourite brand of Jacobs Creek bubbles! I have one final try at seeing if my Fly Buys card is accepted, to no avail. Belinda books Hamish in for a hair cut down the street, whilst we are still in a spot where they speak something approximating English.

It’s dark when we get home, at 4:30, and I realise I will need some more coal for the fire. I head to the coal bin downstairs (I kid you not) to re-stock. It’s also Guy Fawkes Day and we see fireworks out the window, about 10 metres away. Listening to ‘Absolute 80s’ internet radio. They had a competition to meld a band’s name with a fireworks theme. Men at Fireworks got a mention, or was it Firemen at Work? I think the medication has messed with my memory, but I will keep this to myself.

Addit: (by Belinda)

Just to add, Rod’s medications state: medication may cause hallucination leading to confusion. This was evident overnight when Rod started punching me in the ribs in his sleep. “Stop that!” I said. He did. This morning I asked what he was dreaming about, he said that I was being mean (as if) and he was trying to push me away (nice).

Also, my beloved failed to mention my final grades were released today and I have officially finished my degree. Two assignments I finished whilst in Europe. I am celebrating Scottish style by drinking a Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer, 500ml, straight from the bottle.