Education, education, education

I've been following a facebook thread in which my cousin's daughter and her friends are sharing the agonies of applying for secondary school places for their sprogs.  How times change. Back in 1962, when I'd passed the 'qually' in Primary 7 at the wee Grove, I was called in to see the headie and told I was going to the big Grove for a six-year (ie A-stream) course. And then after that - OK, some application forms later, but nothing so vulgar as an interview - I was off to St Andrews for a grant-assisted degree course (of which I made a complete pig's tit, but nevertheless came out with an MA...). Sometimes one is thankful one is old - and getting an old-style pension.

Still, my arithmetic hasn't deserted me.  Observations in Sainsbury's today: Gin, 1.0l: £17. Gin, same brand, 0.7l: £18. Tea, 40 bags: £1.50. Tea, same brand, 80 bags: £3.50.  Pays to have one's wits about one.

All this despite the cold that our landlord in Porto so generously passed on.  I had to dip out of today's art class, and for fear that my voice would desert me at an important moment, have cancelled tomorrow's day at the other hobby.