Borderline Madness

Well my time in the Borders is coming to a close. As I prepare to head off into the highlands on Sunday, I can reflect on what has been a journey that reads like an old novel country novel, with the townsfolk featuring regularly in all their scottish glory, and the odd cameo appearances of various Lords, Ladies, and Dukes.
COMIC RELIEF FOR THE AGES
The silouette of two elderly people emblazened within the red triangle of a road sign quite often sighted on my bus trips around the Borders. Forget the children, it's the other end of the generation at risk here!!
FLAMING FLAT
There was a firey incident involving a ryvita and the toaster.
I will not miss the bell connected to the one in reception. Not only is it a real old fashioned clanger, but it is right by my bedhead!
The sweet sound of the butcher chopping up huge carcasses on large stretchers outside. (my window has lovely views overlooking the wondrous glories of the meat world: behind the scenes :) Bizarre, and slightly alarming. I was not flinging my curtains open in the morning I can tell you that!!
GOD SAVE NHS
I will miss the freebies...eye examinations, doctors visits..and if you are under 15 and over 65, almost everything is free!!
DRUG TRAFFICKING
You have to pick up your own vaccination from the chemist!!
SPEEDY SPECS
After putting my glasses through rigourous handling over the last several months whilst travelling, they finally snapped to their death. To my suprise, I was able to acquire 2 new pairs, ready and waiting to give me sight, in the space of one afternoon!
CULINARY QUESTS
Black pudding omelete; haggis (which was acutally quite nice. Rather like mince but with a better texture and taste); 12 Sunday roasts; 120 pints of carbonated liquid. (my retractrion from diet pepsi was successful and I have now lost all desire to drink the stuff)

ON THE HOMEFRONT
Not one day has gone by where I haven't talked about NZ. Everyone has a son/daughter/friend/husband who has travelled/studied/lived/gone on sabbatical there. Even the optician was thinking of moving over!!
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
I have always thought that cleaning public toilets would be the worst job possible, but I was wrong. My eyes were opened (and frequently shut) when I watched a programme about people that clean up after people that have died undiscovered. In the process, leaving a variety of body fluids that seep into floorboards and through the ceiling of the laundramat underneath (not to mention the hordes of maggots that feed off these remains); this job is certainly a winner!