Ullswater

A day of complete contrasts. This morning at the Inn on the Lake, this evening Travelodge, Edinburgh. This morning a wonderful breakfast. Tonight a Subway on the way back to the hotel. This morning, glorious, if cold, Ullswater with its mountains and steamers. This evening the city of Edinburgh.

We could see the impact of storm Desmond on Glenridding, hotels and shops being rebuilt and over half a million tons of river deposits having to be shifted from the village. What tremendous power this now tranquil beck showed during that storm.

We travelled up to Edinburgh for a family 30th birthday party. Only because we were nearly in Scotland. We wouldn't have made the journey if we'd been coming from Kent.

It was a Las Vegas style 30th birthday party complete with roulette and pontoon. We were given $200 in "paper money" to gamble away. In the end my luck was such I put $1500 on the final play just to get rid of all the chips.

So, from the great outdoors to a subterranean gambling den at Martins Wynd provided a final contrast.