Yesterday was a milestone day. First, I got my mobile set up. It is known as a “pay as you go” phone. We have these in the US but they’re mostly used by drug dealers and not by wee men in corduroy sport coats. Here, this is not the case. For those who wish to call, e-mail me and I will send you my secret number. After all, I am a blog celebrity and I don’t want the world to bother me on my mobile whilst I am gallivanting about town.

Another significant thing happened. Like in the US, here at the University of Glasgow local nightclubs and other event centers have promotions during “freshers” week, or the week of registration for first year students. So on a number of prominent street corners on campus, there were loud, brash, young people distributing any manner of things, like flyers, free cups of tea, sweatshirts, and the like as promotions to get other young people off to their clubs.

Nobody offered me anything. Students around were offering other students things but when they looked at me, they figured I was likely not the kind of fellow who went to nightclubs. One girl even withdrew a flyer she had already offered to me. For this, of course, I am thankful. However, I did find it a touch insulting. I mean, I look youngish, I think. I could pass as a fellow who liked to booty-shake the night away, right?

No, I think instead I look like the kind of person who was likely to ask someone whether they had a permit to distribute flyers. This is the simple nature of my maturation that manifests itself in an outward appearance of moral rigidity.

The other significant event yesterday was that I got thoroughly, completely, absolutely, soaked. I haven’t talked about the rain yet. This is surprising because it rains every day. I am not joking. There has only been one day I have been here when it didn’t rain for at least a few minutes. Today was an all-day annoying drizzle. The kind of rain that makes you feel silly for carrying an umbrella, but if you go for a long walk (as I did), you get soaked to the bone.

So if you visit, bring your wellies and a sturdy coat. Umbrellas, from what I’ve heard, are useless in the winter because of the wind. To combat the elements, like in Das Boot, I am thinking of growing a beard, which will likely come out lopsided on account of my diminished ability to grow hair on the right side of my face and head. I think its because I sleep on my right side, but it could also be because I’m right handed.

I thought we’d try something on Wee Isherwood for this weekend. I would like readers (all 5 of you) to send any question that they may have for me about all of this, for lack of a better word, stuff. I’ve been here for almost two weeks and the honeymoon is slowly wearing off. I don’t know what you want to hear about my Scottish adventure – so – if you post some questions I can try to answer them. ALL questions will be considered no matter how simplistic, mundane, silly, or just plain weird. Respond in the comments section to this posting so all can see. Those who prefer privacy, e-mail me. The better the question, the better my response. Whoever sends the BEST QUESTION, wins a postcard for their fridge from Scotland (oooohhhhh). I alone will judge.

Cheers,

Ian

ps. The picture is of a canon from Stirling Castle. I just thought it was cool.