Time flies when you're having fun..

February 10th? When did that happen?
Another crazy week of university down..just a couple more weeks and I'll be through this block-  my head is just above water!


St. Mary's Concert

On Tuesday in St. Mary's Cathedral, Rotary held a fundraiser concert where the students of the St. Mary's music school performed: string band, brass band, mixed group and vocals.  They are an incredibly talented young group!

Caitlin brought me to her running group on Wednesday, the Hash House Harriers, who meet at rotating pubs weekly.  I've never heard of this group before, and amazed I've never seen them on their runs, because they are popular internationally.  Two 'hares'  lay out a trail around the city (marked by flour). The Hashers run round the city (in our case through graveyards, over fences) scouting out this path while going down false trails, clearing checkpoints and calling to each other.  After about an hour, everyone ends back at the pub for a social and a speech by the RA (religious advisor) about the night's events and to poke fun at members.  As a 'virgin', I got initiated into the group this week with a welcome pint. 

Friday was Yasmine's birthday! We had a great dinner at her place before going to the VooDoo rooms for a concert.  Great band..The Merrylees.  Earlier on Friday, Sammie and I went to the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art.  They're doing an exhibit 'Death to Death' right now, with different artists interpretations of the human body, sexuality, and death.  Nothing like jarring the psyche every now and then! One of the rooms I really liked was a giant human membrane, which included spices to engage multiple senses.

Ouside the Gallery of Modern Art

'Membrane Room'

I'm continuing with the fiddle and amazed how fast we are progressing! We've learned 3 scales and 4 tunes already! On Thursday, I found out that my professor was playing at the Italian Carnevale (Mardi Gras) that Susi and I had tickets too! There were two bands at the masquerade- Greek and Italian- and we danced to great, lively music 'til we sweat off our facepaint!



View from Blackford Hill

Whenever the sun is shining, I've started picking a direction and just running.  I get lost in corners of the city I may never have found.  This week, I ran into Blackford Hill.  Theres a nature reserve on one side, a beautiful pond on the other, and a great view from the top!







British Bit:  One of the most common, daily practice here in Scotland (and all of Britain) is 'tea time'.  Usually falling around 4 o'clock, pubs and cafes are flooded by Brits looking for their lattes, famous tea and of course, accompanying cakes and scones, to accompany good conversation!  There is a cafe nearby that I really like called 'The Brew Lab'! Sammie and I stopped in for some carrot cake after the museum..yum!