Lazy day. I woke up late, noticed it was misty outside, and decided to stay in. We’ve had glorious sunny days for a few weeks, so it is a good time to stick to home and clear up a backlog of admin and chores.
I am in Edinburgh for the long summer. This is my first year sampling an annual “evasion” here, the thing to evade being the tropical southern France heat. How different it feels to spend the season full of outdoor activity without a thought to possibly passing out from the high temps and humidity.
And there’s more than enough to do and discover in this pretty city of gardens, cobbled streets, neighborhood pubs and art. I’ve joined a couple of photo clubs which do a good job of motivating me to leave the couch, and I signed up for a weekly French class to prevent language rustiness. In between there are multiple arts festival events and short trips to outlying coastal villages, market towns or a Gothic church. Edinburgh might be an ideal spot.
As an art lover, I find the exhibitions very satisfying. Recently, the Modern Art museum show of photographs from decades of labor, the suffragists, anti-war and civil rights protests included some cracking good ones. What courage and sacrifice.
The display of Scottish colorists at the Dovecot Studios was a happy find. In a few weeks a grand retrospective on Andy Goldsworthy opens. The collections at the major museums are always worth repeat visits.
And there’s walking. Walking for hours to get to know the various neighborhoods, to take the long way there to fall on happy discoveries. To see adverts for pipe band championships, Highland Games and hyper local celebrations.
Of course I miss my social life. As it turns out, some friends from Nice are passing through Edinburgh and it will be an added treat to see them.
Poor France. It is the fastest warming European country. How I’d love to spend these months getting to know the country more profoundly. But it is burning red hot except for slivers along the Brittany and Normandy coastline. I’m not the only one with a summer “coolcation” strategy. I might be able to enjoy my Nice friends here more and more often.
kmazz 
I’ve been thinking about you lately. Delighted to hear from you. Maybe time for a phone call?
B
Thanks for keeping
So glad you are enjoying the beauty (and cool!) of Scotland.
Im glad you’re enjoying the cooler weather! The heat spell over most of Europe, but even the UK, broke about a week ago, it’s beautiful in Nice now, about 25° in the daytime and 22° at night. When you escaped, it was unbearable. I hope to visit one day and I’m sure you’ll be an expert on all the neighborhoods by the time I make it there. Enjoy those misty days snd being closer to family!
Im glad you’re enjoying the cooler weather! The heat spell over most of Europe, but even the UK, broke about a week ago, it’s beautiful in Nice now, about 25° in the daytime and 22° at night. When you escaped, it was unbearable. I hope to visit one day and I’m sure you’ll be an expert on all the neighborhoods by the time I make it there. Enjoy those misty days snd being closer to family!
Good to think of you “cooling your heels” in Edinburgh; hard to bear the thought of simmering France. Wish we could join you for the Andy Goldsworthy retrospective!
Hi Kathleen
Sounds like you are in the right place (Edinburgh) for the summer, and keeping busy. It is mid July and we haven’t been subjected to any heat waves (yet) so it has been a pleasure to keep up my walking as part of my exercise program. My cardiologist recommended adding a light free weights and I have been doing that for about 6 weeks now. I haven’t realized how weak I am but I think I am getting a bit stronger. I am hoping it increases my ability to do things like getting up from the floor.
I have finished a sculpture recently (photos attached). It has been named ‘Lynn 5ft. 8in.’. Lynn has always wanted to taller so I elongated the female figure (to hopefully suggest a tall figure) and made it for her.
I can’t remember if I told you about our New York trip end of April for Lynn’s 75th birthday. We spent a week there that included shopping at a mall just north of the city that is a ‘designer outlet’ and enjoyed spending money for sales that we thought were worth it. During the week we got together with friends I have had since high school and the dental school roommates. It was fun to have these reunions and in August friends from high school and university are visiting Vancouver so we will spend time with them.
Take care and enjoy the summer. Send our regards to Francesca and Paul. Hope they are well and enjoying life.
with love Bruce 
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