summer in the city

I had a day out in Edinburgh today. 

First of all, I wanted to see a particular painting in the National Gallery. I caught the train from Lockerbie and was at the gallery as it opened, so had the painting to myself for a while. It is also in an alcove with four beautiful embroideries by Phoebe Anna Traquair and a very moving painting called "Avatar".

My second (and most important) reason for coming here was to see Luke, Maria and Otter. Luke and I had a picnic lunch in a park while Otter enjoyed retrieving his ball. Luke had brought me some lovely things from the Company Bakery in Musselburgh where he works. We walked on down to a park near Alien Bloc, the climbing wall where Maria works, and the three of us enjoyed some nice summery time hanging out in another nearby park by the Water of Leith  before it was time for Maria to go to work. Luke tried out some of the routes which Maria had been setting, while I had a cup of tea and watched from the sidelines with Otter.

I'm home now. It's been such a lovely day.