I totally bonded with the locals when all I wanted was a hot bath.

I left my house this morning to go on a hike with my landlord. At that point my internet didn’t work. Coming home all tired from steep climbs and strong winds and a bit tipsy from a post-hike pint my internet wasn’t back yet. I was informed that this provider’s service wasn’t running in the whole ‘hood. Unfortunately, there was a job application deadline looming, forcing me to search for broadband refuge in the local pub. I didn’t want to go to the pub. I even called at my neighbours’ to ask for their wifi password, but they weren’t home. So I grabbed my computer and walked to the one and only pub in Peebles I know and that I’d been to three times before, the County Inn. I politely asked if their internet was working, but blimey, it was not! The barkeeper confirmed that they were using the same dysfunctional provider as I did. A bearded senior at the bar played sadly with his smartphone and sent me to the Crown across the street.

The Crown! I’ve always wanted a good excuse to check out the Crown Hotel, the roughest (looking) pub in town. And so I did. The Champions League semi-final was on - Barcelona getting their asses kicked by Bayern München - and I got myself a ginger beer and sat down in a quiet-ish corner to apply for my job. The game was almost over, but even though the Germans lead by 3 already, the audience was still cheering quite noisily. That didn’t distract me too much though, I just wanted to finish before the game was over, people went home, and I got kicked out of the pub. And I did! Completely shattered I went home and straight to bed - without a hot bath.