FYI: There are 6 posts below and a new slideshow!! Saturday is update-the-blog-day :)

Number of times I’ve had my windows cleaned by random Scottish men: 1

Ian and I went out on Wednesday morning to the auction house. We’re looking for some desks to enhance the surface area in our house for our various desky activities. We didn’t really find anything we liked so we left without making any commitments (but it was pretty amazing to hear a Scottish auctioneer). We stopped by Tesco on the way home which delayed our arrival a bit. When we got to our street, we were totally dumbfounded by the fact that there were two men up on ladders cleaning our windows (which were very well covered in giant seagull poo). We were caught off guard enough to stand on the corner for several minutes debating whether or not we should go into our own home which these two men had now had the pleasure of viewing through our open curtains (they saw things like, a thoroughly tornadoed bedroom, a chicken carcass in the kitchen from dinner the night before, and chairs scattered through our living room with one of those giant exercise balls among them – all for very explainable reasons.. but I wasn’t there to explain.. I secretly want to have a spotless house all the time, but I hide it well). We pulled up our britches and decided it’s our house, so we’re going in! And to our relief, they started climbing down their ladders. So, as we walked in we were discussing how this might have come about. I thought maybe it could’ve been Fife Council that does it to keep the city looking nice.. but not without a bill.. Then I thought, ‘they’re not going to send us a BILL are they??’ We decided not to worry about it and just enjoy the clean windows. We’d been wondering for weeks what people do about getting their windows cleaned here because ours were so icky.

The next morning, I asked about it at work.. You know, if it’s normal to have 2 random guys show up to clean your windows with no warning. They said no. So we decided it must be something that our landlord has set up for us. Thanks landlord!

Number of times I’ve been woken up by bagpipes: 1

We stayed out late last night (Oh and by the way, we were out past 1am and when we were walking home, there was still light in the sky over the ocean. It was significant, very visible light, not just the exaggerations of someone who wants to make the amount of light here in the summer time seem crazy.. I mean, that is crazy! We were shocked.. anyway..) and decided to sleep in this morning since neither of us had any activities until 10. The alarm had gone off a few times and we were still snoozin. Then, in my sleepy stupor, I thought I heard bagpipes. At first I thought it was the radio alarm, but they just wouldn’t stop! Then I realized – they’re outside my window!!! So I got up to peek out and there was a little procession going down the street of a police car, a bagpiping band, some people hold flags that said something about the Royal Legion I think, and a whole bunch of elderly women. And they were carrying poppy wreathes which is a sure sign they were headed for the war memorial. I’m not sure what it was for, but I looked up this day in Scottish history and here’s what I found…

June 14 1789 - Whisky distilled from maize was first produced - by a clergyman, the Rev Elijah Craig. He called the new liquor "bourbon" because he lived in Bourbon County, Kentucky.

June 14 1940 - Queen Mary, Aquitania, Empress of Canada, and Empress of Britain arrive in the River Clyde with the first contingent of Australian and New Zealand troops.

June 14 1946 -
John Logie Baird, inventor of the first television, died.

June 14 1966 -
Walter McGowan wins World Fly-weight Championship.

So, I still don’t know what the procession was for, but I was commenting to Ian how much I love living in our apartment here. Since we’re right on the street that leads up to the cathedral, most of the processions and events happen over this way. So, even though we never have any idea what’s going on ahead of time, we can still catch them as they come past our house :)

Number of times I might have been pooped on a little: 12

Next topic.. I think I might be getting pooped on when I walk to work. I know you’d think I would know if that was happening, but I’ve been feeling these little tiny drops of something hit my face occasionally as I walk under all the trees on South Street. I asked one of my coworkers if she’d ever experienced that, and after a good laugh she said she didn’t think so, but she’d try to remember to pay attention in case she did. (I’m thinking maybe I should stop asking my coworkers things after writing this post… I must sound completely ridiculous) So, I’m not sure what it is, but I’m not imagining it.. When it first happened a couple weeks ago, I was convinced it was poo, just a little tiny bit, and it landed on my lip so naturally I kind of freaked out. But, I was almost home so I just made sure not to lick my lips until I got home and clean. Then I felt it AGAIN on another day. And it just keeps happening. It could be wetness from the trees, but it is just a little disconcerting..