My Life's Ingredients

Last full day of my Mutti’s visit, and despite the weather being not the best (overcast, very windy) we decided to take the girls to Portobello Beach (my mum LOVES walking along the promenade, having a wee cappuccino at a wee cafe overlooking the sea). When we arrived it was still quite windy, and the sun wasn’t really out much, but after the first couple of moments (taking shoes & socks off, walking the loooong way to the water – tide was out), we actually got some sun! A lot of those little “beasties” about … beached already, or still drifting in the swell.  Way back when I was a child I was told that jellyfish would come to the shore when there’s a storm (that’s the Mediterranean jellyfish at least) – not sure if there’s a different reason for British ones? I also tried to figure out what kind of jellyfish it is, I think it’s a “blue jellyfish”, but if not, maybe someone wants to correct me? After a while the Hobbits got a bit fed up with the water, sand and shells...

We managed to have someone else to look after the girls, so my Mutti (girls’ Oma) and I went out into town to take in the Fringe and do some shopping. We started with a  look around the International Book Festival – first time for us both. The “Spiegel tent” is beautiful, think next year I’ll go in on one of my “Hobbits-free days”, enjoy a cuppa and a nice book! I bought some small guides for walking in Edinburgh & Stirling while Mutti was writing some postcards. Doesn’t Mutti look like she’s an author ready for book signing?   Next stop was Lakelands – I wanted to get some Doctor Who Cookie Cutters (and feel a return visit coming along to get the one with the Cyberman and also to get the chocolate mould …   Quick walk through St. Andrew’s Square (no East Lothian touritsty things out this time) to St. James’ Centre where we had a subway for lunch – yum. Onto a bus to get up the bridges, then we walked up and down the Royal Mile to take in the “Fringe Atmosphere...