And so after a pitiful cup of hot milky liquid at the Millstone, which purported to be cappuccino, we completed the sale about 2:45. We handed over the keys and explained the heating system that I may have made a little too complex. Then off up the M6 and the Howgills were looking as beautiful as I have seen them as we approached Shap. We stopped off at Tebay services for tea and a snack to put us on, then settled down to listen to more of Colleen McCullough's The Thorn Birds as we covered the remainder of the 180-mile journey to Eyemouth. The description of cane cutting in Cairns' appallingly humid jungle climate full of poisonous, clawed or biting creatures reinforced our decision to avoid Queensland and probably all of Australia. 

Eyemouth is a small fishing port with a nice beach and a distinct Scots sternness and there are signs of gentrification. It is commutable from Edinburgh. The cottage is very comfortable and we have settled in nicely. There is a cosy first floor sitting room with a view along the prom. 

The owners have been stung by poor tenants in the past but whether this has prompted the blizzard of admonitory notices or has been generated by them is hard to say. Just in case additional advice and prohibitions occur to the owner, a notice board is provided on the stairs. If it all becomes too much a ceramic block bearing the motto RELAX sits in the bathroom window sill. There is a seaside theme and I think that there must be a city in China that produces anchors made of driftwood, lighthouses, faux fishing notices and naive model yachts to which "Gone Sailing" messages are appended. More interesting was the boat we saw in the harbour, on the right in this picture. Must close now as a fish and chip experience is in the offing.