Chit-chat over the back fence.

My Scottish neighbor, K., a robust 93-year-old, was out in his backyard today when I was trying to entice one of my cats to come back over the fence from having jumped into another neighbor's yard. My cat was studiously ignoring me, so I put the bowl of kibble down and K. and I got to talking. He mentioned that his apple tree had approximately 20 apples growing on it. Last year there were just 7 apples (he had made a pie!) and the year before only 1 apple. The tree has been in the ground for the last 20 years; I don't really understand why it took so long to produce fruit and neither does my neighbor. I made a point of bringing up the fact that a small pine tree was growing just inches from our shared fence on his side. I asked if it were a volunteer and K. told me that his wife had actually bought it at a yard sale down the street for two bucks. Why it was planted at the fence is a question I did not ask (tho' I do want to know). 

At one point, we got on the topic of politics. I may have brought it up, to be honest. K. was and still is a fairly keen golfer, so I mentioned that The Donald was over in his home country getting the welcome he deserved. 'That man is a real head case', K. said. I haven't heard that expression in years, but I think it applies here. 

The late Janey Godley back in 2020, 'greeting' t-rump in Scotland.