Am sipping on a wee dram in blazing sunshine -who'd have thought - and am definitely starting to feel at home in Leith (and that is not just the whisky talking) . Stephen is still way up north fishing. Some salmon has apparently been caught, including by him, so he is pleased. He is not pleased with the warm weather though (while I am ecstatic) - apparently this means dropping water levels and less fish. For me it means wearing light jeans and a t shirt, sitting in Leith Links enjoying the sun with my fellow Leith (ers?) Chatted with one of our 'landlords'' today (Emma - whose parents we met) and she said they moved here some 10 years ago and love the sense of community. I do understand what she means. As mentioned before, there are a wide variety of people here which is probably in part what makes it so interesting. Reminds me a wee bit of Naremburn when we first moved there.(notice the Scottish idiom)
Was the warmest day so far this year in Edinburgh I was told. Felt like a beautiful sunny Spring day to me. I love the way the Scots make the most of the sun shining. Leith Links was packed with people enjoying the weather. It had a holiday atmosphere. Suspect we are a bit more blase at home - given the amount of sun we see. I took a picture of their blue sky - it looks like it has first been washed with white. Loving the lack of humidity though.
I have been very proud of myself, as have gone to the Leith Victoria Swim Centre every day this week for either a swim or to use the gym. Definitely feel better for it. Feel like a local strolling down the street in the morning with my gym or pool gear on. The pool set up is so different from home but am loving swimming in an old Victorian bathing place. Discovered today that they do not always swim on the right. Not sure why but if you swim in the fast lane you swim on the right but if you swim in the slow lane you swim on the left. They have these signs at the end of each lane with arrows pointing in the direction you are to go and for the slow lane there is a direction as to how many seconds it is meant to take you to do one lap. Nearly caused a collision this morning when started in slow lane swimming confidently down the right side. Confused everyone. Problem is, without my glasses on the signs are all a blur. Also discovered why I look so youthful here; the Swim Centre offers free admission to anyone over 75. Also number of Eastern Europeans doing breaststroke and standing around gossiping in the pool. Would love to take a photo to show back home at my local pool but photos are unfortunately banned inside the complex. Drats.
Still loving the bird sounds all day - they really "'twitter'' and sing here plus decided I love the sound of the cars driving on cobblestones. It is such a soft sound and of course the Scottish lilt is lovely to hear. Still feel too self-conscious to say "'hiya'' to people but suspect I will get there soon .
Passed a terrace yesterday with a bottle of Irn Bru (look it up - a yellow coloured carbonated drink that Scots love), bottle of milk and can of coke on window sill - left here to cool I assume. Did double take, as of course you would not do this in Sydney.
Decided am glad we are out of tourist centre - much quieter and you feel more quickly that you are not just a tourist visiting for a few days. Am enjoying some more normal things that I do at home like swimming and am loving their TV shows. Good grief, the shows that we never see. So much more choice. Watched a series called ''Fleabag'' last night . It was based on a play at the Edinburgh Fringe and stars people like Olivia Coleman (one of my favourite actors) as an evil godmother basically. Got drawn into it and watched all 6 episodes at once. Also caught another adaptation of a play called Charles the III. Had heard of this one. It is based on Charles becoming King and causing mayhem by refusing to just sign off on the legislation Parliament has agreed to pass - particularly one about restricting Press freedom. Again was brilliant.
Also found a Waterstones bookshop down at the Leith Store. So...many...books.. at such reasonable prices. Restricted the temptation to buy another book.... for now. Also discovered there is a "FatFace'' store down at Leith - a favourite clothing store (partly because of its name) and have checked out some restaurants down on the water at Leith for future visits with Stephen. Lots of seafood - looks pretty nice.
Last couple of days have been somewhat stranger given the terrorist bomb in Manchester. Nothing much you can really say about it other than what an appalling act. Flags all at half mast. Increased security at all public buildings of course, with much bag searching and all tours at Parliament House cancelled. Like at home when similar incidents have occurred, don't really notice much change nearer to home, except everyone a bit more on edge.
Have been a bit of a tourist, visiting the National Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art and Portrait Gallery - all in the one day. Loved them all but favourite was Gallery of Modern Art. The National Gallery had some lovely Flemish art which is one of my favourites and a huge Constable which want to re-visit. I will go back there as only saw part of that gallery. The Modern Art Gallery had all sorts of works from surrealists to expressionists and some amazing artist called Nathan Coley who does these cardboard models. Sounds bizarre but one whole room was full of cardboard recreations of 286 places of worship in Edinburgh. Don''t know why but took my fancy. The Portrait Gallery is in this huge purpose built building dating from 1889 - grand neo-gothic in red standstone. Looks very traditional Scottish to me - quite austere. As well as some impressive pictures and sculptures it has this old library (I loved the smell of the old books) that contained phrenlogical heads of famous heads - basically death masks of people from Voltaire to the grave robbers - Burke and Hare and of anonymous people just labelled eg ''ídiot woman''. Pretty sure I saw some TV show in Australia on this collection before we left. Unusual. Favourite painting or at least most memorable was called the Three Oncologists by Ken Currie. It is a painting of 3 oncologists who are real-life doctors and they appear to have been disturbed in the middle of their work. One eg is holding a medical instrument. They have this luminous quality which makes all 3 look ghostly. Quite eerie.
Meant to get to 28 degrees tomorrow and then plummet on the weekend. Hard not to pay attention to the weather, as it changes so rapidly even in the one day. You find yourself listening carefully to the BBC weather report each night and checking the hourly movement in the cloud, sun and rain that they show, so you can plan your day. Time for dinner.
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