Hello once again from currently sunny Glasgow.

Its now lunch time and I have a while before our next lecture so I thought I would start a note to you all.  Thursdays are typically histology day this year and today we are working on the reproductive tract.  We also had an excellent ultrasound lab where I was able to use the ultrasound machine to find the ovaries and uterus of sheep and determine pregnancy.  I am finally beginning to recognize organs and structures using ultrasound, although I still often only see blobs and shadows where the prof sees membranes, organs, etc.  We also saw a video on AI in dogs which is part of a series produced by Guide Dogs for the Blind as instruction for their staff. This afternoon I have a class on renal anatomy and then I am finished with classes for the day.  Later, I am heading to the bakery for a couple hours of work. 

Yesterday our vet school riding club held our first BUSA (British University Sports Association) show.  Thankfully, we managed a resounding team win with one of our riders tying for first in the individual standings. I almost came off after my last jump, but managed to somehow hang on and get back in the saddle.  In between my rides it was freezing cold standing around as I was in my show clothes and the team jackets we ordered did not arrive in time.  Only one more show is on the docket for this year.  Its up in Aberdeen and takes place in two weeks.

On Tuesday, a friend and I went to a gardening centre on our lunch break and I bought plants to put in window boxes for my room.  The ledges are about 8in wide outside all of our windows and I have been wanting plants out there all year.  Last weekend I went to B &Q (like Home Base) and bought the planters and potting soil, but due to high winds the outdoor plant section was closed.  I have just finished getting all the plants into the planters and they look great.  I have a pink heather in the middle with ivy and petunias on each side.  I figure the ivy will grow and dangle over the side, which should look nice from the street.  Perhaps they will get enough rain to survive without depending on my memory.

Recently, I had a gentleman from Scottish Power arrive at my door to verify that our flat was unoccupied.  Obviously it was occupied and he told me to call Scottish Power and give them my details as they were about to shut off the power for safety reasons.  When I called Scottish Power they were unable to find my address in their system and asked me to call the company that placed our electric meter to get some identity code.  To my dismay, that second company also had no record of our existance (its kind of like the question about the tree falling in the forest; do we really exist if no one knows we exist?).  I eventually called our letting agent and after several phone calls they managed to somehow solve the problem.  Our letting agent asked if I hadn't though it odd to have never received any electric bills.  I didn't tell her that at this point, not much will surprise me in Scotland and I have no expectations of getting anything when I would anticipate it.  

Last weekend I discovered a very nice little pub/bar, called Cottier's, located in a restored church a few blocks from my flat.  They also have a theatre and a very nice little restaurant which I have yet to try out.  My friend Tiff and I went down on Saturday night for dinner and a drink and I had a fabulous Mexican steak wrap.  The prices are good, the food wonderful, and the atmosphere very friendly.  There was even a real coal fire!  Cottier's is supposed to have live jazz on Sundays so several of us are going this weekend to hang out for a while. 

Well, class is about to start so I will say goodbye.

God bless,
Rebecca