The start of the holidays...

Back in sunny Scotland for the Summer. Brilliant. So nice to be in a temperature where my hair is not a constant afro and my mascara isn't smudged under my eyes making me look like some kind of demented banshee.

In Ho Chi Minh City it got dark soooo early at night that in a strange way, despite the heat, it almost always felt like it was winter. The light nights of Scotland are fantastic. On my first night back I went to my cousin, Nick's, leaving party and there was still light in the sky at midnight! After years of thinking I was done with the Scottish weather and brutal winters I am a changed person. Rain? Aye. Snow? Belter. Seasons? Absolutely - I'll take four.

After a year of dinners consisting only of one baguette and half a packet of dried "chicken" flavour noodles (with no MSG added - it may be there in the first place but they didn't ADD any extra. Bonus.) I am LOVING the food in Scotland. There is something wrong if a day goes by and I haven't indulged in at least one cake or pastry. Today was a two cupcake day. You can't argue with that. I have also been reaquainting myself with the wonders of steak pie and fish and chips. I would like to take this time to big up the humbled pickled onion. Pickles rock.

It's been great catching up with family and friends. I have been galavanting around the place and going on drives in my folks' natty new car. I've seen plays in the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow; jaunted (is this a verb?) round Edinburgh; gulped cider at T in the Park; hung out at King Tut's for Diamond Sea and even triumphed in one round, yes, one round at the pub quiz in the mighty 'Tyre. (It takes 8 minutes for the light from the sun to reach the earth and a female lobster is called a hen. FYI.)

So... tomorrow it's off to Dublin for a few days.