Summer in Scotland

Summer in Scotland arrives in batches- days of dryness and sunshine interspersed with days of wetness, flooding and grey skies. This week what the weather man describes as high pressure has brought a lovely streak of decent weather. We haven't seen a drop of rain since the heavens split and let loose a torrential downpour on Sunday- many of the streets near us flooded, leaving us struggling to find a clear route home from church.

But overnight the pools of water and heavy clouds disappeared, replaced by bright blue skies. The chance to wear t-shirts and sandals (and to potentially get some colour) brings the city to life. The main streets fill up with shoppers, sun bathers, out-door cafe/restaurant seating, and teenagers savouring their last few days of freedom before school starts again. Instead of umbrellas, trench coats and wellies, the crowds are clothed in a sea of sandals, sleeveless shirts and swishy skirts.

Today I am sitting in my office enjoying the warmth of the sun and listening to the sounds of bagpipes floating in through my open window. The annual Glasgow Piping Festival is under way- adding kilts, tartan dress and tourists to the mix of those wandering the roads of Glasgow. Since my office is just a couple blocks from George Square, we've been treated to a steady stream of piping demonstrations, drumming and tuning all week. The sound of bagpipes and drums have become the background music to my workday and it is a nice change from the jarring sounds of the construction site across the street or the normal stream of 80's music, which my co-workers turn up in an attempt to drown out the drilling. (The bagpipe tuning and practising over and over of the same musical phrase has been less enjoyable, especially when it took place directly below my open window.)

Sunny days in Scotland are few and far between, and I have come to cherish them in a way I never thought to do when I was enjoying the year round pleasantness of California. When you live through days and weeks of soggy shoes and ominous skies, a little sunshine makes any day a good day.