Brian

This is Brian's last full day in Edinburgh. So much has been going on that I've not been able to sit back and digest the time I've spent with him. It's all been so wonderful, he's been such a joy to hang out with, and now it's all coming to a close without me being able to prepare for it.

I can't believe I've just said hanging out. Those Yanks certainly rub off on wee Minge!

My brother, after chaning his plans several times (without telling me), came up with his wife, child and sister-in-law on Friday. It was quite stressful, but would have been even worse without Brian and Ian's calming influences. My brother, although I love him dearly, has no sense of planning or organisation at all and has a very short fuse. I'd better say no more on the matter or this might turn into a rant.

Brian returned to Edinburgh himself on Saturday and I was so pleased to see my wean.

My brother's sister-in-law was desperate to see Edinburgh's nightlife and so I accompanied them into the city on Saturday night. Brian and Ian graciously looked after their wee bairn while we went on a pub crawl. I felt terrible enough about this as it was. Can you imagine how awful I felt when we returned to find the child had plagued them with an eveing of ugly drama? Isabella vomited on Brian, soaking him from head to toe with baby spew. And we're talking projectile vomiting, here.

I just didn't know what to say, and still don't. I can find no words to express my shame, guilt and remorse.

I accompanied Brian to the Book Festival yesterday and we had a fine old time. We then went for lunch and met up with Ian. The two of them then went on to the Castle and I returned home to let the dogs out for a tiddle. I then returned to the city myself in the early evening after Brian's visit to one of Edinburgh's historical attractions. We went to a New York/Italian restaurant, stuffed our faces and then came home, early(ish) to bed...

And now today.

We've just come back from a visit to a wee chapel just outisde of Edinburgh. Ian and Brian have gone into town and I'm here blogging. I'm just about to make the bed in which my brother and his wife slept last night, them having left this morning. Brian will have his own room again tonight after having slept in with us last night. I hope my snoring didn't keep him awake! I'm off to the dentist now and then will meet up with my buddies after that torturous experience. In a reversal of yesterday's activities, Ian will then return home for a while so the dogs aren't too long without toilet time and then he'll meet up with us again later. We're hoping Alan will make it into the city and come out for a meal with us.

This evening, we're planning on watching Beautiful Thing. It's one of my favourite films of all time and I'm longing to share it with Brian.

Then, off to bed we'll go, the morning will come and Brian will be gone.

I'm very sad about that, dear reader, more sad than perhaps I should say. I wish he could stay a bit longer, perhaps ten or twenty years. Or longer.

Oh, and please excuse my vagueness about his movements. I'm aware that this holiday is very special for him and don't want to steal his thunder by trying to write about his experiences myself, especially before they appear on his blog - Destination Scotland.