It's me!

Living my best life. Indeed, living my only life, if certain people are to be believed, and others disbelieved.

I appreciated the responses that I got to yesterday's “milestone” post. I was aware of milestones in Blip – the idea of reaching a number of posts that is round, or satisfying for some reason – and I was aware that I was posting for the tenth time. But I don't think I'd properly clocked that I was reaching a milestone, and that that post would thus gain much more attention than usual.

So I got lucky with my choice of photo yesterday, choosing a suitably high-brow Maya Angelou quotation. Thanks Maya. It felt good to be welcomed into the community with some comments from strangers, including by amandoAlentejo, who is also friends with keibr and HarlingDarling. Thanks to all who read my post(s) and especially those who said hello.

(My next milestone should come early next year, if I make it, with my 100th post to Blip. Let's see!)

On Friday, I woke relatively early, so that I could have a relaxed time getting ready for my second date. In particular, I wanted to make some banana cake to take with me as a gift, but also, selfish, so that we could hopefully enjoy some together with a cup of tea. It didn't turn out brilliantly, it was a bit too dry, but it was acceptable. And it smelled right, at least!

The trains that would've got me to Glasgow at an appropriate point for my date were all Class 170 Turbostars, which are, let's say, not my favourite. If I'm paying full price, and I've got the spare time, and I've got the choice, then I certainly will leave an hour earlier, if it means that I can luxuriate on an InterCity 125 instead. And that's what I did.

The extra hour gave me a little time to walk around central Glasgow, get some food, and pop into the Apple Store to have a look around and make some enquiries. I ended up trying on the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), which are seriously impressive and I might have to get some. I think I'll return soon to replace my iPhone's aging battery and to indulge in one of those 30-minute one-on-one demonstrations that Apple are giving on their new Vision Pro device. I'm quite intrigued (although there's no way I'll be dropping £3500 on one until I've seriously hit the jackpot).

My date then met me off the subway in Hillhead, and we had a lovely leisurely and unexpectedly-long walk in the Glasgow Botanic Gardens and along the Kelvin, before cooking and eating some butternut squash risotto together. We again enjoyed each other's company, and I left already looking forward forward to our third date, which should be next weekend. The excitement continues!

Today's photo was taken in the botanic gardens by my date. We were both struck by the incongruity of these straw bails wrapped in pink plastic that were dotted around the gardens. I'm not sure why, but I think it is something to do with the “GlasGLOW“ light show that is currently being held in the gardens in the evenings.

And so, if you don't already know me: that's how I look!