Student village

The plane arrived early and I was out of the airport by 7. Hampden Cabs got me to Owen's and a couple of coffees later we were on our way home.

First item on the agenda was getting Meg's room ready for painting. She's had all week, but there's still plenty of piles to be boxed and moved. Then it's pack the car, collect her from Beeslack and sort out her glasses at Shandwick Place. On the way we even squeeze in an exciting trip to the Sainsburys dry cleaner.

It's Catriona's 90th birthday today, and Savages from around the globe have assembled. The sun shines and the marquee in the garden is full, with four generations of revellers. We can't stay long, but get to see the unveiling of the wall of photos as well as a large green cake.

Next on the agenda is Megan's installation in the Murano student village at Glasgow Uni. The place is mobbed with freshers and their parents. There are over 1000 rooms, and I blank out images of Sunday morning carnage.

The flats are cream-painted block work, institutional. The rooms are surprisingly spacious, but the corridors are cramped (and full of chattering young adults). It's already clear there'll be at least one more trip with forgotten items from home.

We eat a last supper of selected gastronomic dainties at The Gannet. We're all fading fast, but relentless to the end, follow this with a trip to the Maryhill Tesco megastore. Fond, exhausted farewells before a nighttime drive back, over the hills, to the relaxing embrace of Planet Acme.