Having gone on a 3 week holiday to California several years ago, l found myself in a mountain lion’s den on the Pacific coast highway, whilst driving from Seattle to Los Angeles. To cut a long story short, someone in the group needed a “rest” break and wandered behind a bush.


When they returned they were ashen faced, having come across hundreds of bones scattered around the area. Just at that moment a local rancher stopped to see if everything was alright…and duly informed us that it was a mountain lion’s den!


Well knowing a man in Glasgow as l did, l got out and filled a plastic bag full of bones…..because l knew the thrill they would give this gentleman.


I then ran the gauntlet with those bones hidden in my luggage through the X-ray scanners at Los Angeles International, Heathrow and Edinburgh airports intermingled with a collection of Christmas baubles and tinsel l had bought ( as you do) Not once was l stopped and questioned as to why l had bones in my luggage….


And so l wandered up to room 305 level 2 in the Thomson building of Glasgow University, where l found Stuart up to his eyes in books and his office in flames as usual…..his face lit up when l walked in, but that was nothing to the smile on his face when he saw the bag of bones l had brought him. For my trouble…. I earned a cup of tea and chocolate orange club biscuit….oh yes and the best hug l’ve ever had in my life.


I will always remember that day and all the great times we spent before and after.


Fly high my friend!


My thoughts are with Fiona, Michael, James, Tom, Michael and wee Daniel.


Karen.
XX


PS, The bones turned out to be Kansas white tailed deer…. Stuart was chuffed to bits when he worked that out!