Scottish Beauty

The noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees, is the high road that leads him to England! Samuel Johnson

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If you’ve ever known unhappiness, how will you know you’re happy?

How wonderful when dreich, cold-damp mornings metamorphose into bright, warm and sunny afternoons. We are thrice blessed when there’s no shabby weather at all.

Fellow traveller in a harsh money-focused world

Yesterday was a case in point. Heading for meeting in the Scottish Borders from my beloved East Neuk of Fife, I travelled by train.

Next to me, a young man sat somehow screwed-up against the window. Knotted  in his unnatural foetal position my fantasies about his situation were all bad.

I started to imagine what must have befallen him:

• drug overdose
• severe stomach bug
• thrown out of home
• escaped from a secure unit … from suicide watch
• newly bereaved
• aghast at the thought of having to make conversation with an old stager

Later, I learned his situation in an unexpected way.

Beautiful city

Edinburgh Waverley Station is a grand place to change trains, the more so on a glorious day. There was time to spare, so I scaled the Waverley Steps and took a video panorama of the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSU0CHHcarM?rel=0]

Beautiful borderlands

Back on the train, I found a seat facing forwards and set-off on the recently rebuilt rail line to Tweedbank. If you ever get the chance, take it. Samuel Johnson was wrong, for there are equally noble prospects along high roads … without having to leave Scotland – here is proof:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kqBQXDvhY0?rel=0]

My tragic young man … journey’s end

At Galashiels, I saw my young man get off the train. We’d travelled together farther than we knew. In his scruffy, ill-fitting clothes, he rushed into the arms of lovely young woman with a dog. Their happiness was as bright as the day, and I knew, whatever happened next, today is as good as it gets.

Many more todays for us all, please.

© Mac Logan