Last questions & lessons

My housesitter, Rachel (Scott had to leave for Switzerland for work a couple days before), picked me up at the light rail and so we met for the first time. My house looked nice. But so much is in the "wrong" place (like driving in the UK) . We have different senses of style, maybe.

It was nice seeing Quino again though after a second time of petting him he scratched me and got me bleeding on both hands. I guess he was getting me back for abandoning him?

He will miss Rachel and Scott, or do cats even miss caregivers? 

_____<<<______<<<_____

And now a few questions, to end my trip!

Why are ALL the houses cream colored or light brown?

Why does no one but me seem to see the irony of a primary betting establishment sound like it will make you, men (lads), broke?*

What did I buy on my 5 week trip, you might wonder?

(from top left) a mini guide about Loch Katrine, a guidebook about Duart Castle, a map of Scotland,  a poster from Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre in Glasgow; a postcard from Irish artist Phoebe Anna Traquair (1852-1936) at National Gallery, a card of Dark Hedges in Co. Antrim, a postcard by Niki de Saint Phalle, a small blank notebook by Angela Harding (I didn't write much in it), a brooch from Duart Castle gift shop, a postcard of one of Sharmanka's mechanical sculptures, window art from Charles Rennie Mackintosh of rose panel.

My hat wasn't warm enough so I bought a hat and later gloves at the Glasgow Museum of Art gift shop.

My last day I bought some Scottish shortbread in a tin  and a Maclean of Duart tartan scarf for £19.99 at a store on the crazy main street from a very nice Polish woman (but now at home I can't find it! Blimey! I think I left it on the plane)

Shortbread tin with picture of Edinburgh Castle, packets of HP Sauce that's everywhere, and the most common tea, PG Tips.

Why is it not allowed in Scotland to accept euros from the Republic of Ireland? I must have been given some in Ballycastle. The clerk at a convenience store advised me to go to a Tesco superstore or a bank.

Lessons learned:

NEVER put cream in tea! This is an outrage! Only milk. You can put cream in coffee.

Americans who have and use clothes dryers shock the Scottish who are more frugal and environmentally conscious. Scottish folks have racks to dry clothes, sometimes one which hangs from a rope and can be lowered when clothes have to be put on it. Or they go to a laundrette as I saw in Campbeltown.

Always try to chat service people up. Americans tend to just ask for their needs without treating other people with interest and courtesy. Latin Americans would no doubt agree.

The question I got asked a few times about America, is how could we have elected him a SECOND time? And why are there only two political parties?

Thanks for reading!

 *from Lodbroc, probably means "brook used for divination"

https://www.houseofnames.com/ladbrokes-family-crest