Today was a day of consolidation, washing was done, supplies were bought at our local ScotMid before we finally ventured into town late in the afternoon. During the latter part of the Ireland leg Mr P had been noticing that his previously very efficient Skeeches shoes had somehow managed to begin to allow water to enter them. Now these shoes were on their third tour of duty to the UK as well as having survived four or so years in Oz so they didn’t owe anything. Nonetheless it was a little upsetting to find a quite significant cut in the toe no doubt caused by one of those sharp Irish stones that had caused our tyre such grief.
Needing to staunch the water flow purchasing a replacement pair of shoes was the first order of the day. On the off chance that a repair might be able to be done, the offending shoe was bought with us. On the way into townwe were highly amused to see a pair of workers erecting a new bus shelter, straight off of the back of a trailer.
Erecting a Bus Stop Edinburgh Style
Upon reaching the nominated shoe repair shop all thoughts of an easy solution were thrown out the window by the sign in the repair shop window advising that he was not open that day until the 25th.
Realising then that new was the only way to go we visited a number of shoe stores the staff of which were all extremely helpful and attentive without being overbearing. The service was so good that when we finally settled on a pair we felt quite guilty that we hadn’t also purchased from the others. In the end the final clincher was a 50% off offer on a second purchase which meant that Ms V could also buy a pair of waterproof goretex shoes as well.
Back on the Golden Mile heading for another of the free Edinburgh museums, the museum of childhood, our attention was attracted by a familiar accent. Now Ms V normally shies away from street theatre and buskers but in “Bruce” the Aussie busker’s case we found ourselves drawn to join the very large crowd being entertained. Now maybe it was the accent and so familiar humour, maybe it was the sunshine or maybe it was the so obliging “marks” that Bruce picked from the crowd but we stayed for some 20 or more minutes until the end of the show being thoroughly entertained by his wit and repartee.
Let's All Do What Bruce Does
Given this diversion our visit to the museum was somewhat curtailed however we did see amongst the exhibits some vaguely familiar playthings from our childhood. Back on the street we caught up with first Miche and then Mickey who had finished work for the day for some coffee and more late night shopping on the way back to the flat and a “home cooked meal”.
M&M Dinking
