Back in Edinburgh’s chilly embrace


And I’ve missed it. Not so much the chilly embrace (although any embrace these days is a bonus, ha ha) as Edinburgh itself. I walked to work yesterday (my car was back with Edinburgh Audi recovering from 4 weeks in the custody of my colleague Matt), and it was a crisp Edinburgh winter morning. The sky was a dusky pre-sunrise blue, and I loved it. I would miss days like this if I lived somewhere hot like Australia, although by all accounts I haven’t missed very many of them over the last month. And it has been toe-pinchingly cold and damp today, which makes me gaze in wonder at my bottle of Factor 40 suncream. Only a week ago my right leg, having not been sufficiently introduced to the same bottle of Factor 40, was getting sunburned through the non-existent door of a Mini Moke on Magnetic Island.

My apologies in taking so long with this post. I have been meaning to write the final chapter since I arrived in London on Saturday, but it hasn’t happened. People, you have to realise that delectable prose like this takes a bit of crafting and can’t be rushed. And what’s more, I have been jetlagged to the point of falling asleep straight after dinner the last few evenings. Although I confess I’m not sure whether to blame that on jetlag or age.

It is, genuinely, good to be back. I really enjoyed Australia, with its blazing sun and irreverent attitude. I enjoyed a whole new take on Christmas Day, having lunch outside in balmy temperatures, and going to the park afterwards to play cricket. Especially the cricket bit, which also featured on New Year’s Day and other days in between. I loved coming back from a hot day in the city and jumping in my cousin’s pool to cool off. My family over there were more than kind to me, and I very much appreciated their kinship and hospitality. I went to a carol service wearing shorts, and had ice-pops afterwards. I even ate some fruit when I was over there – mango, strawberries, nectarine, watermelon. And others, believe it or not. The food in general was really high quality.

On my last afternoon in Sydney I climbed the harbour bridge, which was a fantastic experience, and the luxury of a beautiful clear day brought home to me just how much of Sydney (never mind Australia) I haven’t yet seen. Maybe one day I’ll go back and see more of the sights, and revisit my old friends the mosquitos, cockroaches, lizards and spiders. And the ants. Everywhere there were ants.

On my last day in Sydney my Powerbook, faithful friend for over 3 years now, died. I feared heat exhaustion, but in fact it was only a minor problem, so minor I was able to fix it myself and not have to phone Jones in a panic.

Just one or two thank yous and personal comments.

The Australia trip was made possible by Mrs Robbo’s suitcase, and the generosity of my employer and my Australian cousins. I am grateful to them all.

DC, I fear that my blog assumed chatroom status some time ago. My posts have long since become a sideline to the main event… I suspect that all this unseemly clamouring for another update is to present you all with a fresh canvas on which to air your comments 😉

Kenny D, I am flattered by your comments on behalf of the ‘Public’, but I regret to say this is my last blog post, unless I weaken and decide to dip my toe back in during my ski trip in three weeks’ time. I have enjoyed blogging immensely, and am very grateful for everyone’s comments.

Must be time for an Empire Biscuit.

19 thoughts on “Back in Edinburgh’s chilly embrace”

  1. Hey Andrew, welcome home!

    If this is then end then I for one am disappointed 🙁 surely your “delectable prose” deserves to be read on a regular basis?

    failing that, maybe you could just start up a chat room/message board on your server! 😉

  2. a hearty welcome, Mr Q. we, your adoring public, salute you.

    enjoy the empire biscuit and a good dose of fruit too.

    may many, many good things be poured upon your head. like a sense of the timezone in which you walk.

  3. Mr Quinn! Welcome home and please don’t quit blogging – I love your posts… and you know, if you do have to quite – there’s always twitter 🙂

  4. Hi! Haxtonmeister here……….I agree with Jones. It’s been fun reading about your adventures.Looking forward to the French Alps in a few weeks time. 9 sinlge people plus the “Haxton 5” – should be a blast!

  5. Haxtonmeister – do have multiple personalities (hence you are not part of the single people)?

    Or maybe you are endowed with more than one partner (hence the use of the 5).

    However, you make a valid point.

    Long live the QuinnBlog

  6. Welcome back Andrew.

    I have your church keys by the way.

    I’m going to join the others in encouraging you to blog on. My pre-work blog reading each morning will not be the same without that “will he? Won’t he? have a new post today?”

    See you soon
    Colin eye

  7. I’m sure we can manage to persuade you to blog on while on skiing hol. The world will be waiting with bated breath for tales of the exploits of the Haxtons plus 9 single folk. Is 9 the maximum number of single people that an elder is allowed to oversee at any one time?

  8. Welcome home, Quinston.

    Naturally, I hope your blog will continue. But, if this really is the end of the road, you’ve hit a most satisfactory final chord.

  9. Awww Awndrew, that’s a bit disappointing. Following your recent enthusiasm on spotting the ‘red hand’ I’d imagined that an entry dedicated to the homeland and all things ‘Ulster’ would be on the cards – it could have been good! Perhaps a bit of cultural music to entertain your public…;-)

  10. your blog is my window from france to engage/observe some Edinburger banter! don’t stop…
    hmmm… biscuits… does Oz do good ones too? 😛

  11. Keep blogging. You’ll find that you’ll reach an inevitable momentum that will see you composing posts in quiet parts of the day.

    Think of it as a socially acceptable addiction

    J

  12. Australia has tim tams. Nothing comes close…. ok penguins come close – but they’re nowhere near as good.(You can purchase these products in Tesco…oh… someone send Dish some tim tams)

    Now Andrew – you should know that you have now come under the “typical whingeing pom” banner as of this evening. I was telling a girl at the church I visited (on broughton street, Kirribilli) about how you (she was talking about her English flatmate) came over for 4 weeks – ie SUMMER and then, from that time deduced that you could not live in a country that was so hot “all the time” (I’ll allow you to note the obvious flaw in that statement) – further – this conclusion was reached after having whinged when it was cool during your stay (I refer to your comments re Melbourne trip) – ie we can’t win with you – if it’s not hot you’re whingeing that it’s not hot and when it is warm (because, my dear, today it is hot – 43 degrees… thank the Lord for air-con) you whinge… even though you chose to come here in summer. Thus – you are now considered a whingeing pom (despite your NI/Scottish background)

    Diana – the whineing Aussie.

  13. Ahhh..the great biscuit debate! Tunnock’s teacakes and caramel wafers are indubitably the best. They leave Tim Tams floundering in their wake. And I have tried Tim Tams.
    And oh dear Andrew – you have aroused the collective wrath of Oz by daring to suggest that its climate is not ideal. Well, we have a beautiful (although not as beautiful as Diana :-)) clear crisp winter’s day here and a good chance of a decent sunset. Hopefully that’s to your liking.

  14. Diana how could you a whingeing pom surely you mean a whingeing ulsterman!

    I am not sure if it is whingeing rather Eyeore melancholy.

    Good to hear from you

    Cathie

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