Placement and Pentlands
So...I've finished my first full week placement in SDS and really enjoyed it. Lots of information to take in so my brain felt rather frazzled by Friday, but feel I've learnt loads about the organisation and have been able to sample the kind of work that goes on (eg career advisor in schools, based at the office, helping unemployed young people). I spent the remainder of the week travelling to the other SDS offices in the region (Dalkeith and Penicuik) so met lots of people and am now a confident driver!!
On Saturday we drove just 10mins to the start of the Pentlands and had a lovely walk (http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lothian/capital-view.shtml) up round the back of the Midlothian dry ski slope with nice views back over Edinburgh, and then down through a small village called Swanston. Took about 1.5 hours, and we encountered a variety of wildlife along the way (see photos!) We then took a drive over as far as Portobello which is on the coast about 3 miles east of the city centre...a nice little seaside town with a promenade along the beach. It kind of looked like it would have been really busy and touristy 30 years ago, but now was just quite laid back with locals walking their dogs along the prom. Today we did some work in the morning before walking into town - we took a route through Merchiston (nice area with lots of posh houses) and along the canal to Fountainbridge then over to Stockbridge to have another look at the Sunday market. It was just as busy as last time, Glenn went straight to one of the food stalls and got a homemade Cumberland sausage and onion bap while I had a little browse around. We then had a little stroll through town before walking home. Hopefully this nice weather will last and we'll get some more walks in over the next few weeks. Back to the lectures tomorrow!
