A series of events had landed us in the Scottish town of Peebles, then in a Covid-19 status which allowed access to certain types of visitor accommodation due to the relatively low local rates of Covid-19 infection. Much of the rest of Scotland, however, remained closed. The Scottish housing market, however, remained ‘open’ – subject to specific precautions relating to the viewing of properties. The local hostelry – The Cross Keys – was a handy bolt hole, though on account of the restrictions they stopped serving meals at 7.00 pm and were closed by 8.00 pm.
Our bed and breakfast accommodation in the ‘old town’ was a bit of a lifesaver. The bed was large and comfortable. The heating worked admirably in the depths of winter. The view from the first floor window afforded sight of the River Tweed in full flow.
Breakfast was on a flexible schedule and served by a charming individual of European extraction. His daughter, it appeared, had a star role in the smooth running of the hostelry. We were destined to have Soya milk with beverages and muesli. Each day the ritual of breakfast was repeated. As a conversation starter I was each day poised to ask ‘And where do you come from?’ – where the question very likely reflects the preoccupation and anxiety of the English with those that are ‘not from England’.
Yet as the culture of the border town became more and more manifest, in particular the willing acceptance of individuals from other shores that add variety of concepts, talents and all manner of resources, I began to realise that the question ‘And where do you come from?’ had only one answer- namely ‘Peebles’.
