On Blackford Pond

Up to the Big City today, first time in weeks, so there were a lot of things on the 'to do' list.

Bumped into (luckily not literally) one of my cousins at Sainsbury's while topping up with diesel. We hadn't seen each other for three years, so had to have a catch-up, no doubt seriously annoying others queueing at the pumps. 
 
Mid-day, we stopped for lunch at the National Portrait Gallery and had another look at the Hill and Adamson exhibition - photographs taken in Edinburgh in the 1840s, when the art/science was in its infancy.  Hill was an artist and Adamson a chemist - combining their talents produced a series of portraits ranging from ministers of religion to fishermen and fishwives, as well as views of the city. 

Then, just to lower the tone, we called at John Lewis. Nightmare. The St James Centre, half demolished, looks like a war zone. In the store, nothing is where it used to be. Kudos to them for trying to stay open throughout the redevelopment, but it is hard going for staff and customers alike.

Decided to restore sanity with a walk around Blackford Pond before setting off for home.  Lots of water fowl  and gulls, and children feeding them. Glorious sun too. All making for some interesting colours in the water. 

Home now. There's a very bright full moon shining in a clear sky - hopefully that means another good day tomorrow.