Volunteering, honeysuckle and deer

Left the office just after lunch to drive to Dumfries. We may not have broken the record for the hottest day ever in Scotland. But the overall intensity of heat I can’t recalll before. All the way down the car thermometer was registering 28 - 31.5oC. Some of that will have been reflected heat from the road. But the air was hot.

It was even hotter as I crawled, in full sun, in a traffic queue following an accident up ahead. Quick shower once at the hotel then on to Threave Gardens for a panel member and volunteer recognition event. The sun streamed into the cafe area. Certificates were handed out and speeches were made. One panel member: 31 years. Combined experience for Dumfries and Galloway: 429 years.

Frank Gourlay, standing down as Depute Area Convener after 2 periods was thanked by me on behalf of the national team and by the AST themselves who had commissioned a drawing of a horse’s head - see extra.

After a lovely “afternoon tea” people headed off. As I was staying overnight in Dumfries I took time to visit Castle Douglasand Rockliffe, then drove around overlooking the Solway Firth with its vast expanses of sand with the tide out.

I had the car windows open and most of the time, in the hot still evening (still 24oC on the car) the air was full of the scent of mainly honeysuckle. On occasion, cut grass. And once or twice manure! Took me back (the honeysuckle) to evenings in Ireland. Or Easter time in Portugal with lemon and citrus blossom filling the air.

To round off the evening a young roe deer kept out in front of the car and disappeared into the bushes. Barely time to brake, let alone capture a photo.