I went for yet another blood test this morning, but this time, instead of leaving Archie in the house, he came with me and waited patiently outside the surgery. In and out - only one wee vial today - they’re keeping an eye on my kidneys, for some reason. Good.

From there we walked across the road and went round the graveyard, but the sun wasn’t quite reaching it yet, we were too early.

JR went to the supermarket later, so Archie and I took a walk down town. Well, we bussed down to the Mile, and walked up to the castle. The town was mobbed. Hardly heard English spoken. I love that!

We hung around on the Esplanade for a while. I like offering to take photos of folk. One couple, German I think, said ‘Very very thenks!’ I found the well for the witches who were hung or burned at the stake in the 1500 and 1600s there. Hundreds of them, mostly women, of course. (Extra 1)

The Owl man was standing in his usual place, but there was also a woman, who had the teeniest wee owl (Extra 2) on her gloved hand. It’s a Scop’s Owl from South Africa, apparently. It had the cutest little ears and eyelashes… T’was then that I noticed its EYES. They were HUGE. And BLOOD RED. It had spotted Archie and was GLARING at him. He was oblivious. Until he wasn’t, and then panicked and started barking at it. We left hurriedly.

Down to the Grassmarket, which was actually looking quite tidy in the sunshine. Then up the Vennel steps, very very slowly. Archie posed at the top, of course. Across the Meadows, with a few sit downs. What a glorious day, not cold at all. 

Called in to see Dougal and his mum, with their house guest, Bonnie, at the moment. What a big deep bark wee daschounds have!

I was very tired when I got home. Archie and I dozed on the sofa for the rest of the afternoon. (9,085 steps)