May brings a good Friend

Jamie arrived in London on Saturday, 7 May. The train had him into Waverly Station, Edinburgh, at quarter past five in the afternoon. It was his first trip to the UK, and I was excited to share our new home and some of what we’ve learned with one of my best friends.
The first night gave Jamie is inaugural look at Edinburgh’s evening life. We at a little tappas place off of Princes Street and made our way back to the Coach and Horses for a few pints. The crowd seemed a bit rough and, perhaps because of the smoking atmosphere and dimly lit rooms, or perhaps because Scots age quicker, we had great difficulty determining the age of many of the people in the place.

I started Sunday off with a run. New life is springing up everywhere in the park. Jamie slept in until 3pm, okay, maybe just noon, jet lag taking its hold, and then we headed to Edinburgh for a tour of the Royal Mile. We climbed to each end, stared at the stone structures that mark the end of the most regal mile in Scotland, and settled in at Deacon Brodies for a pint and a to set a bit. Damien Rice was playing; we stayed long enough for six songs. Because we had dinner plans at Henry and Anne’s, Jamie and I caught the bus home and met Tim and Brent and made our way to our host’s wee little home in southwestern Edinburgh. Henry and Anne always seem to outdo themselves every time we go over there. The lamb (steak for me, b/c Henry knows I hate lamb), the roasted potatoes, mash and veg were excellent! The meal was introduced by a delectable prawn, mixed green leaf and mushroom salad and of course concluded, with a tasty strawberry pancake and ice cream sweet. Our conversation moved back and forth from politics and culture to movies and current events. It was a warm and well spent night. It was Jamie’s 30th Birthday as well, and I hope he remembers his very Scottish birthday for a long time.