Here we go again!

OK OK I heard you! Not. I am on Sarah and Simon's laptop and it is much easier to type than on the "mobile devices" so will just carry on.
I have had a cheeky wee wine with Megan Linwood since I posted on 28th May (and I thought it was 29th - just shows you  how confused I am) and am about to go and stay with her in Aberdeen this weekend, 21st 22nd 23rd, so am very much looking forward to that. A ceilidh I believe in a remote place somewhere outside of Aberdeen so am limbering up the singing voice and trying to recall some of the old Scottish tunes Mum used to play on the piano (and which made me cry as a kid, and I am no better now!). Will be fun seeing in the summer solstice up there as it is still light in Edinburgh at 10.45pm and will be even lighter up there, I guess.
Last weekend I had the priviledge of staying with friends in Selkirk in the Borders as it was their Commom Riding which is always held on the first Friday after the second Monday in June! Have a look - search for Selkirk Common Riding and there is a heap about the custom. Enough to say I was awakened at 4.30am on the Friday for the procession ending in the square at 7am (on the dot) with a pipe band and a silver band to follow. Horses leaving then to start the 3 hour riding of the boundaries to ensure no pillaging, reiving and raiding has occured either from other Scots or the English (commony referred to down here as Sassenachs! derogatory term). Also commemorates the return of the solitary surviving Selkirk soldier(my goodness that is a tongue twister) from the battle of Flodden holding his blood soaked flag! The casting of the colours is a magnificent feat - the flags are huge - but I guess you had to be there..... seeing upwards of 380 horses (we lost count) thundering up the gritted streets is spine tingling - only one had to be shot after breaking its leg! After the Casting at midday, we walked to a venue where the Colonials gather (anyone who was a Souter and has now moved overseas) and downed a few bevvies. Some returnn every year just for the Common Riding - from Canada, USA, Oz, NZ and they all do a "turn". Didn't get roped in this year but sang Waltzing Matilda with the aussies. I tried to stay up until midnight (Jim and Mary did!) to go down and observe the "Reel" being danced by kilted bonny lads and their lasses at the Ball, but caved in at 10.45 and slept like a log until 8am.
What a great weekend and the weather was kind this year so all good.
So, that was last weekend. My duties with Maisie have been very pleasurable and I have been here to see her learn so many skills - like blinking at Granny almost on command, sitting on her own, giggling excitedly, shuffling herself forward (in the name of crawling) to reach her goal, clapping her pudgy wee hands and generally just being a happy wee lass. Mind you she doesn't have a lot to complain about, Sarah and Simon are doing a great job with her and I feel priviledged to be entrusted with her care while they are away at work. She did a Personal Best crawl yesterday, from the lounge to the kitchen where I was sewing, (just finished her smocked dress) and she squeaked her way along the floorboards til she could see me. It is quite heartening to have her cry when I disappear from view, she seems to like having me in her sight - very special time, all too soon she will be all grown up and think I know not much at all! (Possibly she will be right?!).
I sit here with the laptop, beside me is the Frog (my Samsung tablet mini which is my new best friend - its green!) and an iphone at the ready!! Surely I have enough technology to keep me in touch when in Europe? I can thoroughly recommend the Tablet (thank you to Geoff Small for his excellent after sales service) as it covers everything I need. I have photos to put on here when I figure out how - the Blue poppies in the Botanics are spectacular and I walk there often with Maisie, sometimes meeting Sarah after school for a coffee. The most special view of the skyline of Edinburgh from there - just wonderful.
Enough already!Watch this space for some exciting (I am a little nervous I admit) adventures in the Med.
M