Bartimaeus

The time for heading down to the boat was fast approaching. I had a few things I wanted to finish before leaving. I managed to finish a baby cardigan, which kept coming out smaller than expected. Hopefully it will fit the, as yet unborn, girl. 

I sent it off and on the way back from the Post Office, it being a nice sunny day I decided to take in a local event - the canal festival. As I arrived at Lochrin Basin I could hear music. I went to get closer to the live band, but walking around the basin there were photographers taking photos of a game with a ball that was around the size of a football. The players were all in canoes and shooting at high yellow nets. Only later did I find out what the game was called.

The hotel barges staff had the best view. I couldn't see the ball much of the time as there were so many other bits of equipment, in play, was often partially submerged and was the same colour as the teams.

The band had just finished its set when I arrived. They sounded fun and so was their suitably water themed name, The Busking Sharks. Having arrived a bit late I was wishing I hadn't just had lunch. Curry and samosa were available at a stall and they were throwing in extras. They were one of several locally based groups represented and, of course, the volunteer run barges that do community bookings were there and I was invited, by one of the women, on to All Aboard, a widebeam, to take a look. We discussed technique for driving through a bridge that is only a little wider than the boat.

I had finished another knitting project, a second pigeon. This one was more lightly stuffed but otherwise similar. I thought I had a better job. I had now to take one or both to Newhailes House Doocot.

Nye liked the squishier one, even though it lacked the feet and black markings on its tail. Neither of those features really showed up in the doocot. Shane proposed a cycle ride out to Musselburgh and Newhailes so we could get it handed in. I had to think of a name. Nye suggested Homer, but I went with Piran, partly because it begins with P and also as I thought it unlikely anyone else had used that name and it was the name of Gillian's dog, often walked in the Newhailes estate. Nye, Shane and I met up with her and Piran for lunch. I didn't get a chance to see Piran Pigeon in place as they collect them and add all new donations at the end of the week. We went to look at the display anyway. There are twice as many now. Some must have been added using step ladders. They have put a notice to say to leave them there. Perhaps people found them irresistible.

That was another job done off my list, and a nice day out while we were at it. We went to look out for real birds and get an icecream in town. I spotted a new addition to the riverside statue. It may be this was a nod to the Scottish fans who had given a George Washington statue the Glasgow Duke of Wellington treatment, to the amusement of some of the locals. This statue was decorated with a mask and toilet roll in 2020. It is much more accessible than the Washington or Wellington statues.

There is a trail in Musselburgh of places of interest indicated by the arrows shot by the archer. Musselburgh's Silver arrow trophy for archery began in 1603 and is still going, thought to be the earliest known current sporting trophy. It doesn't seem to have the same worldwide following as the World Cup though.

When we stopped for drinks at the harbour. I was amused by a bench with a plaque saying "Mum's bench Sit doon, take in the view and have a blether." 

The view of a harbour or shore are always popular and the leaving do for our choir leader had a beautifully decorated cake on that theme. She composes songs herself and the sea is often a theme. This represented her song Shoreline. 

 We did do some singing. It was of course a celebration but a bit sad too. All good things come to an end though and sometimes it is the start of a new good thing.

Our stay in Edinburgh was ending and so was Scotland's stay in The World Cup. We had one last day before going down. The sunny day gave way to a cool evening. Walking to the flat after a bright, if breezy, walk with my sister, I could see the haar coming near, obscuring the view of the castle.

I had enough time to tick the last thing off my list, buying buttons for the next baby cardigan that I was about half way through, as button shops can be hard to find. The Meadows were looking a bit cold and cloudy.

At night there was a thunder and lightning storm, but fortunately the rain had stopped by the time we were setting off for the station. Despite it not being our planned train and the train company telling people their tickets would be accepted on other trains, I was pleasantly surprised to get a seat and that the train didn't look overcrowded. I wasn't even too hot. 

By the time we had cycled from Droitwich I was very hot indeed, as was the inside of the boat. A drink and a seat on the bow watching the swallows and wagtails in the breeze sorted me out. 

We are moored next to Watt Knot, another Ortomarine boat, but nobody is aboard. We had an evening stroll round the marina where we saw one of their boats, Paintbrush, that is for sale. We know the previous owners and it would have been lovely to catch up with them. They will have new adventures ahead, and so will we.