Dispatch #1 - Scotland

Part 1

The first time I was able to clearly distinguish the varying levels of cleanliness between the different gradations of Mitteleuropa (German to Austrian to Swiss) to Scotland. Much to Scotland’s favour, the comparative untidiness imbues character, a comforting carelessness which always gives an agreeable first impression on returning, and an accompaniment to the natural friendliness of people which I often miss more than anything else. Much more difficult to fly with a toddler than a baby. The wee man is incredibly precocious, and people are amazed by the range of his bilingual vocabulary – but I can sense their annoyance that he won’t stop talking. He was asleep when we took off, but he was very excited about being in the air. ‘Having children is like gazing directly into the eyes of God’ – something I read somewhere, not sure where, that stayed with me.