I'll take the high road and you take the low road...

Scotland: Sunshine, Trackside Chaos & A Very Beautiful Cat

I took the low road — or at least the LNER — and after a quick London pit stop found myself heading north for a month in Scotland. The plan was simple: volunteer at the Commonwealth Games, squeeze in a couple of weeks of cat‑sitting in Musselburgh, and enjoy some classic Scottish summer weather. I had pictured myself striding across misty hills, waterproofs rustling, dramatic grey skies overhead. Instead, it felt more like Greece.

For two glorious weeks I lay and walked on the beaches along the North Berwick coast, basking in sunshine and 24‑degree heat — my perfect temperature. The only giveaway that I wasn’t in the Mediterranean was the sea, which was absolutely freezing. I wasn’t even slightly tempted into a daily dip, but the wide, quiet beaches and rugged coastline more than made up for it.

Mark joined me for a week, and we continued our World Cup viewing in secret. There were enough Argentinian shirts on the streets of Scotland to make cheering on England not the best idea.

Catching Up & Cat‑Sitting

The month gave me a chance to reconnect with old friends from student politics: lunch and a wander around Edinburgh Student Union with Mike Day, catch‑ups with Karen Willey, and generous hospitality from Gordon Archer and Susan during the Games. Bridget and Kevin briefly appeared from Ireland for some Commonwealth Games action. And of course, there was Lucy — the beautiful Musselburgh cat who briefly adopted me. And the adorable Johnny Cash, Gordon and Susan's dog who I now consider as one of my best friends.

The only downside was my ongoing stomach issues from earlier travels, which temporarily killed my obsession with food. Imagine going to Scotland and not eating a pie, haggis, black pudding, sausages or shortbread. Unthinkable. I’ll simply have to return and make up for lost time.

Volunteering at the Commonwealth Games

The second half of the month was devoted to my dream role: call‑room volunteer at the track. In theory, it was perfect — being with athletes in the final moments before they stepped onto the field of play, checking spikes, attaching numbers, escorting them to the toilet, and then walking them out to the track.

In practice, it was… less organised. And you all know I hate disorganisation.

On the first day, we arrived at 7:15am as instructed and then had absolutely nothing to do until 10:35. We worked alongside technical volunteers; many were lovely, but one or two were determined to shout at us at every opportunity. I don’t think I’ve ever been yelled at so much in four shifts. I’m glad I did it, but my evaluation form was not exactly glowing.

Still, there were unforgettable moments. The sheer volume of Deep Heat athletes slather themselves in before racing — especially the African athletes, who were horrified by the “low” temperatures. The weather had dropped to around 18 degrees, colder still for evening events, and the rain was relentless.

And then there was my big moment: the men’s 400m. Barnes from Jamaica had forgotten his accreditation, and it fell to me to sprint to the warm‑up track — about 400 metres away — to find it. With the help of a Jamaican coach, I located it and made it back to the call room with about twenty seconds to spare. My knees were screaming, but I felt like I had made a contribution. I enjoyed getting around Glasgow, it was a chance to get to know the city better and the e-bike pass that came with being a volunteer was a bonus.

With only four shifts, I had plenty of time to watch other events. The weightlifting was brilliant as always, the gymnastics awe inspiring. indoor bowls more tense than I had imagined and the netball varied depending on the match — but sitting near the mothers and aunts of the Malawian team was unforgettable. No one cheers with such joy, volume, or frequency. I love live sport and it really was a great 10 days viewing.

Looking Ahead

I’ve enjoyed being close to home just as much as being on the other side of the world. Glasgow’s cooler weather was a delight, and it’s still a thrill to be able to do what I want, when I want.

Next up:

• a short hop to Ireland to visit Bridget and Kevin

• walking the coastal path of the Isle of Wight

• a week’s kayaking on the Norfolk Broads with Sheila

• and then Madagascar in October

For the rest of August, I’ll be catching up with friends and family, brushing up the CV as I will eventuallyhave to go back to work, and making the most of everything London offers — a few Proms, some theatre, a bit of cricket. London remains, without question, the best city in the world.