What’s Up in Scotland – Summer Solstice Edition

If you look up Scotland on a world map, you’ll notice it’s way up north. The northern most part of Scotland is further north than the southernmost part of Alaska. In the last weeks, we’ve been marveling at how long daylight lasts. At yesterday’s solstice, we had 17 and 1/2 hours of daylight with sunrise at 4:30am and sunset at 11:06pm! One night in the last week, I was turning in to bed at around 11 and looked out the window and thought – wow, it’s still light enough to read a book outside. We left our new flat after doing some work around 10:30pm one night last week and watched the start of the sunset. I definitely have been sleeping less and eating evening meals later.

In spite of being so far north, Glasgow’s climate is milder than home due to the Gulf Stream current. Winters get cold and sometimes there is a bit of snow, but not super cold. And, summers, well, if so far is any judge, they’re like spring at home. It’s been in the 60’s. I think I’ll likely die when I come home this summer as I now find myself breaking into a sweat when it’s in the 70s. And then there is the rain – it rains about 170 days a year in Glasgow. So far, to me it seems mostly soft sprinkles rather than big storms, but it’s often.

Other big Scottish news – the Scots are in the European Cup Football (soccer) Championship for the first time in 23 years. Tonight’s their third and potentially final match if they don’t win. I’m knocking on wood as the game is still underway with a 1 – 1 tie. I was walking back from the new flat to our old flat tonight and it was fun to see all the folks decked in blue for tonight’s match taking place in Glasgow. Lots of folks having a pre-game drink at a pub – lots of spirit and more than a few kilts. Not sure if it’s from a week full of chatting with Scottish workmen – Rowan, Callum, Owen and Iaian (I kid you not), but I am feeling the spirit. Go Scotland!