Advocacy Is No Ctrime

The Scots are used to the cool weather, it would appear, walking around in shirt sleeves and light jackets. When it gets drizzly, they don hats or hoods and sometimes carry umbrellas, but usually it’s the tourists with the umbrellas. Many Scots wear tights and the young people sometimes have the kneecap area cut out, or worn out, of their tights, perhaps a take-off on the ragged jeans fad that we saw in the US some years ago. They wear sturdy boots and shoes much more often here than in Dublin. Scarves, and capes and shawls are worn by both sexes. Lots of young men here have the same frame and stature that Jon does. Once both Beth and I thought we saw him coming in the crowd but it wasn’t him.

One morning I looked out the kitchen window of our apartment and across the way, a couple men had set up a table and were passing out leaflets. Their signs said “Advocacy is not a Crime” and “Justice for the Whistle Blower”. They were engaged in animated conversations with those pedestrians who accepted the leaflets. I saw other signs that indicated disrespect for the status quo was acceptable. There is an impression that the Scots feel their country's independence requires their constant regard and attention. They fought longer than we did for ours and their protagonist was much closer to their shores. We could use some of their vigilance.

Today the Edinburgh Castle was so shrouded in the mist that its outline was barely discernible. We went to the National Museum for an hour, each going to the area of one’s choice. I enjoyed the exhibits related to Scotland’s efforts to free itself from British domination and the exhibits about their scientific advances in medicine, mathematics and astrology. After that we headed to Wagamama again for lunch. We wandered through various shops and stopped to watch a street entertainer get himself out of a straight jacket. We saw a woman in one mini market who had so many piercings in her face, she looked like she had on a mask. Beth stopped to speak to her and later looked her up in the Guinness Book of Records. She has nearly 10,000 piercings, external and internal, in her body. 

At the Dr. Marten shoe store Jon and Beth each bought shoes; then looked for an extra duffle bag to get their purchases home. I was pretty tired when we got back to the apartment; the drizzly, misty weather may have added to the discomfort in my joints, but after some rest and a hot cup of tea I was soon feeling much better.

We are packing up again. We have enjoyed the apartment, We've made oatmeal for breakfast and fixed our supper from food we purchased in the food store just down the block. Beth flies back to Seattle tomorrow. Jon and I will drop Beth at the airport in the morning and then we will drive north to Inverness for a few days. Everyone who mentioned the weather today, meteorologist or salesperson, says we will have better weather tomorrow. That would be nice.