Bartimaeus

I find myself saying "going home" when we are out and about in England and meaning back to Bartimaeus and it can also mean coming back to Edinburgh. We had arrived in a downpour. The skies were cloudy next day. Welcome to Scotland! 

Edinburgh is in the east and isn't usually too wet, but it remained overcast. I didn't need to have sun, to enjoy meeting Lesley for coffee the next morning and having a longer blether than we had on her surprise boat visit earlier in the month.

I wasn't seeing any butterflies but there were plenty summer flowers. Further down our street is a magnificent clematis. My one has small white flowers and is earlier flowering and so they are all long gone. This one has large deep purple blue flowers and my mum had one on a wall in the house I grew up in, so I love seeing it. The house owner was in the garden and I admired it and asked if it was jackmanii. She didn't know the name of the variety, as the clematis was already there when they moved in, so I was happy to share what I remembered my mum calling it.

On Wednesday I caught up with Peter, who then came for dinner after work. I did a veggie chilli with sides and Nye cooked a chocolate pudding with sauce and served it with strawberries, raspberries and cream. 

The sun emerged on Thursday. I went to see my sister for a walk. A small white butterfly had thought it warm enough to come out, in our street.

However, as I sat on the bus, heading west, the sun receded - it was cloudy on her side of town. Still it wasn't cold, balmy even, as we climbed a hill and we saw a peacock butterfly, near the top. I had strawberries, raspberries and cream to dish into bowls on top of the hill, in stead of coffee in a flask. The cream had been pouring consistency when I left the house but a bit of jiggling had thickened it by the time we got there. We reminisced about the fruit in the garden and accompanying cream substitutes. I remembered having them with evaporated milk, as cream was only delivered one day a week, on Saturday, to allow a Sunday luxury - often our baked puddings were served with milk, and there was no baking on Sunday anyway!

Friday was cloudy but I had a spring in my step setting off to meet up with my friend Rhona. We were meeting at a cafe in Dalmeny with her parents, where she goes most Fridays. On the way St John's church was looking impressive and the saltire was flying high.

The West End is historically known as a smart area. The side where I waited was aiming to attract the tourists, with whisky and tartan shops, expensive hotels behind and the castle also in view.

Across from the Queensferry Street bus stop, were a kilt shop and acclaimed restaurant. I have never been but heard others book it well in advance for special occasions and the menu always serves six courses., on a variety of themes that change over the year.

My bus was in time and despite the dull sky, I was taking in the impressive views, passing the place where our wedding took place. Over the Dean bridge I glimpsed the river but it is mainly thick with trees and perched buildings. The Water of Leith is a tiny stream for a city river, unlike the Seine or Thames.

Approaching Dalmeny, near South Queensferry, much larger bridges were dominating the landscape. Crossing on the way to work in Fife, had not afforded me the opportunity to enjoy the view. I was too busy worrying about driving, work and paying the toll. I also approached head on from a busy dual carriageway, rather than this angle, from a small country road. 

I had a delicious hot cheese scone with my tea and blethers on various topics. I was surprised when John, Rhona's dad's friend, asked me how Bartimaeus was. I gave him a very brief overview of the possible technical upgrades as a guinea pig for innovators. John seemed a man with an interest in engines, and I  wasn't going into detail. There was a variety of other summer outdoor topical chat, featuring butterflies, gardening, (runner beans has been handed over from John to Rhona's mum), cricket and Rhona's parents upcoming diamond wedding anniversary, which I discovered was on my birthday. Rhona has brought me a gift, which I stowed to open on the day.

 As we were leaving, my bag heavier with produce available to buy for a donation, I briefly chatted to another regular who has a part share in a boat. He is hardy as he is going to it in November. I will look out for Heron as it is not far away in Staffordshire. I may have seen it recently already. 

Waiting at the bus stop a friendly lady chatted to me during the very short wait. The rail bridge was bright in the distance, between the stone houses.

Grey skies didn't make me dour. I had had a great dose of Scottish hospitality. Back in Edinburgh, the city streets are full of strangers. I thought a craft fair was on but it was just being set up, so I ducked into the One World shop for a browse and surprise purchase.

As I was approaching the Meadows on Brougham Street, I saw a young gull in a recessed doorway between two shop fronts. It looked uncertain, shifting foot to foot, not brash and squawking. A man behind me started to talk to me about it. He had used a cardboard box to steer it away from the traffic. I hoped he hadn't got pecked for his trouble. He wanted to help it. He was meant to be going for a run, but he had been diverted by helping the youngster, still with a few fluffy feathers. Someone came to the doorway to go in. The gull wasn't territorial and moved away. It walked up the street towards the Meadows so we followed it and the Meadows seemed to be a good place for a bird and for a runner and was on my way home.

I saw a new shop and remarked to him that though I lived locally too I was mainly living on a boat and each time I come back I see changes. He was immediately interested in me mentioning the boat and eagerly asked lots of questions about what it was like. It was a life he fancied. I talked about the friendly and community feel there was on the canals. As I made to leave he asked me an unexpected question. "Do you write?" I shared the blog link. He seemed very pleased to have had our chat and shook hands with me before heading for his run.

I don't know if John will read this, but it was very nice to meet him and hear his enthusiasm. It seemed an uplifting experience for us both. Meeting him was rather like one of the things I like of the boat life that you meet strangers and have an interesting chat. On the towpath, it should be no surprise that you meet people with an interest in boats, but in the heart of Edinburgh, it was an unexpected bonus.