Down South

So I'm home again from Scotland. There must be a folk song that's appropriate, but most of them seem to be about leaving London to rejoin one's ain folk. Well, I'm very glad to be back, and am looking forward to things like being able to go to the cinema with my ain folk on a Tuesday night.

Last week was weird. I drove down from Edinburgh on Monday - a beautiful drive for the first 50 miles or so, along the coast and past Holy Island. After Newcastle, to be honest, it's all very dull and I don't remember much, apart from hailstones. Tuesday and Wednesday, back in the office - Wednesday afternoon, back up to Scotland and out with my team. Thursday, feeling sicker and sicker by the minute, appraisal with the boss, which turned out far better than I had thought. I hadn't had a single piece of positive comment or feedback in six months, so had assumed it would be dreadful, but it was good. Friday - packed up the remainder of the flat, headed back home.

Now I'm back, and I'm exhausted, and very overcome by the amount of stuff I have lying around. I am doing little rushes at the tidying, like a puppy chasing leaves, and then having to lie down.

And I've just been out for lunch with a friend whose wife has left him after 18 months of marriage. My troubles, such as they are, seem very insignificant in comparison.