History

Here’s the most amazing thing I’ve seen so far: when it starts to rain, the rental car’s windshield wipers begin automatically. Do North American cars do this? I own a Cavalier and ’96 Astro Van, so such futuristic features are unknown to me. Hey, I’m still amazed by remote keyless entry.

I visited the museum here in Dornoch yesterday and found out more about my grandmother’s birthplace two miles from here--Embo. “Bo” is a Viking suffix that means “large farm.” Nearby are Skelbo and Skibo castles, the former a ruin but the latter a five-star hotel (Madonna got married there. There’s a whole section devoted to her in the museum!). Anyway, here’s a cool tale about the battle of Embo: Sigurd the Viking double-crossed Maelbrighte the Pict in AD 895, captured him, cut off his head, and strapped it to his saddle. While riding away in victory, Maelbrighte’s head bouncing to and fro, Malebrighte’s tooth pierced Sigurd’s leg. Sigurd got blood poisoning and died. Cool.

The telly here continues to intrigue me. Some of it is awful, but most of it is incredibly witty and entertaining. However, I know I’ll find it difficult to go back home and resume watching Corrie Street knowing what I know (Britain is nine months ahead with their episodes). I tried not to watch, but I caved.

The library is closed tomorrow, so I won’t be reporting again until Friday. There's a General Election here tomorrow, so Don, a political junkie, is excited. However, we only have one telly, so it may be the battle of Embo all over again.

p.s. Don shot an 82 today and I shot a [CENSORED].
I'll have some more pictures for you next time. I forgot my memory stick!!