a new view

I braved the flight and surprised family and friends coming back to scozia for chrimbo and hogmanay. it's a welcome break and nice to see the wide open spaces I know so well. with the festivities in full swing it is easy to see why people are that bit bigger in the west. the other main oddity is the amount of dog shit everywhere. it takes a keen eye to walk the streets of scotland and remain clean.

I wasn't working up to the visit overly but there was a small list of things to do and try - most of which I've accomplished: many pints of 'heavy' have been downed, many friends and family rooted out and lamb curry had. luckily all have stayed as good as I remember them.

the meetings have been often fleeting but there is much to be said about even the briefest of eye to eye exchanges. the space is a big issue too - I hadn't realised quite how unspoilt the place is, one or two big retail parks remaining the worst of it. houses too blow me away with their high ceilinged, vast rooms.

the main news seems to be same sex marriages becoming legal (with the already infamous headline in one tabloid being 'elton takes david up the aisle') and the impending smoking ban which kicks off in march. luckily, some things change but thankfully the view off the west coast remains unaltered.