Thursday morning on the Isle of Arran

It's been hard to get online in the Isle of Arran,Scotland. Not hard exactly, just a little tricky to get a few quiet moments...

Still, settled in against the drizzle and gusty winds, I am warm an in the comfort of the Cruize Bar, at the Auchrannie Spa resort in Brodick. The only place with free Wi-Fi! A warm and sophisticated oasis. I'm listening to Snow Patrol's "Engines" on my red Nano and trying to download an episode of "The Amazing Race" at the same time.

I was in the local library earlier and did a productive hour job preparing. It was an interesting contrast from my usual haunt, the Chesapeake public library. There were two one on one computer lessons going on at nearby terminals, including what looked like a lady of about 60 teaching basics to an eager lady in her seventies! Lifelong learning is thriving on Arran.

Next to me was a girl, using Gmail but typing in Polish I noticed. I'd heard that many Poles in particular have come to Britain for employment but many are in fact returning, because job opportunities have dried up here and are better back in Warsaw and Cracow.

Oh well, time to pluck up courage and pay 7 quid for a sandwich...