‘Season of mist and mellow fruitfulness’… Ah it takes you back to the classroom, when wasps were drunken with the fruits of the forest, and girls lay across their desks, their heads on their arms just wishing to be out, and free from the droning monotone of a teacher warbling the beautiful words. Now I am old and wild and wearing purple, and am at liberty to walk where and when I like and the season has been wonderful. Dry, crisp and leaves have been stubborn to fall. I have had such a good few weeks here – home in the city, with friends to visit, friends to stay, meals to cook, eat and share, and wine to be drunk in cosy bars in the Grass Market. I caught up with old school friends, Sheila and Susan and husband Mike, and we walked through the Botanics and along the Water of Leith, and then I met with Catriona over from Australia and we sat out amongst the fading roses and it felt like yesterday that we were together in the Highlands, in her Dad’s hotel, the Kintail Lodge. And finally a lovely flying visit from Helen and Henry, from Australia, who had just come from eastern Europe and managed to zoom up to Glenelg and see the beautiful mountains and sea and imagine that they were characters in The Highland Games! All good stuff, and now John and I are off to Amsterdam, and we shall walk by the canals and stare at Van Gogh (well, his paintings) and I shall look for stones that might have fallen out of the dykes. I loved that story of the little boy that saved Holland by stopping the gap with his little finger; and then it’s on to Rome. I am very excited about that, and we both have sensible shoes and plan to see it all before getting the train to Florence, and then San Gimignano where we shall meet up with Natasha, Leo and Bonnie! I will celebrate my BIG birthday! Then on to Venice and finally to Milan. Oh we shall be SO cultured, and plump, and full of olives, figs and ambrosia, whatever that is. I believe it’s the food of the gods, although I seem to remember it was a brand of rice pudding. I did have a nice walk the other day, which ended up having to climb up about a 1000 steps, so was quite puffed. I sat down on the grassy verge by the bridge going over the river, and a cyclist passed by and shouted something. I thought he was French so I shouted back ‘Bonjour!’. After a minute the words sank in, ‘Dinnae do it, dinnae jump!’ I must have looked suicidal!! So referendums have come and gone, the high focus on Scotland has waned, the tourists have almost gone and the students have returned. Edinburgh is ticking on into the next phase. It has been lovely to enjoy the calm days, along with the wasps and the giant spiders. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this one walking calmly along the city pavement. But for now, it Ciao from me, or as we say here, Cheerio!