Just looking ...

A long day began with the 9.20 ferry to get us to Edinburgh in time to take our eldest grandchild out for a birthday present - more than a week early, but done today before holidays end and life becomes harder. Joined by her little sister, we had lunch in Frankie and Benny's, where a quick word to the waitress on the way in ensures that there will be a riotous moment later on when the background music gives way to the raucous strains of a happy birthday song (which at the moment I can't find on YouTube - not the usual one!). Everyone in the restaurant - there were several family groups - clapped and Granddaughter looked suitably abashed. She knew what the form was ...

The photo, however, comes from the first shop she had on her list for post-lunch shopping: we had to visit the perfume department in Debenhams. Not to buy, but to spend about half an hour trying all the tester bottles ... It was rather lovely; we dispatched Granddad and wee sister to do another errand and the two of us emerged much later, giggling and smelling exotic. 

Later I did buy her stuff: a couple of books, a long cardi, some bath bombs called Unicorn Poo. We'd traversed the whole floor of Ocean Terminal and Grandma managed to remain upright. After two sons, it's wonderfully different to do something like this - I had a ball. 

A footnote to this lovely afternoon was the journey home from Edinburgh, where an accident on the M8 and the resulting traffic jam saw us skittering through the centre of old Glasgow - the bits east of George Square that I don't know very well - with the help of Google Maps. We made it, and we made the ferry we were aiming for.

Result!