The sun tries its best to break through the scurrying clouds as Monday dawns. Despite its best efforts the mornings windy and decidedly fresh. We've been up since four thirty talking to men in dark suits about weighty matters. Sophie, oblivious to matters weightier than audacious C-A-T-S, has been asleep with her chin on my right foot. As long as there's a foot to rest her chin on she knows all's well with the world.
Down in the valley our morning stroll is interrupted by the arrival of the farmers two dogs. The farmer sits in his little white van and checks for any overnight wind damage while he drives , slowly, along. The two dogs run alongside. They bark with unbridled happiness as they run. This valley is their universe and they're immersed in it body and soul. Having caught sight of Sophie they bound towards us. Sophie greets them with calm aloofness. They are delighted to see this long haired vision of loveliness. She, however, has no intention of joining in their shenanigans.
Their impatience soon gets the better of them . She stands on the bridge and watches the farmers small white van and the two hurtling farm boys disappear into the distance. They have a valley to explore. Sophie has verges to check for badgers poo. Everyone is, in their own way, happy and fulfilled.
Time to open the church. Despite the door being firmly closed the gales have blown a layer of water under the gap at the bottom and into the church. Let's hope that it dries out in this mornings breeze. Somehow leaves have made their way into the porch.
Someone has been in to label the light switch in the porch. The upper switch is for the external light. The lower switch the lights inside the church. I wonder if the old mayor has done this for my benefit? The locals seem to treat Angus as if he's a sandwich short of a picnic so this is quite possibly a well meaning aide memoire for my new role as church door opener.
4 comments:
If they really thought you are "a sandwich short of a picnic" they would have also added words in English on their new signs just for you! Unless you purposely get things wrong, they will soon learn you are more than capable of your new, and perhaps now lifelong, role as door opener.
There are times when being thought a sandwich short of a picnic is a definite advantage! But then you are a foreigner, Angus.
So Sophie treats her admirers with disdain - very sensible!
It occurred to me too that the real indication of 'two sandwiches short of a picnic' status would be when the signs appear in English.
I am happily imagining Angus interrupting his early morning phone calls be saying "sorry guys, I need to attend to important matters, the church door won't open by itself..."
Cheers! Gail.
You were born more than 20 kilometers away, you will always be "not from around here." Good to see Sophie maintained her dignity and didn't want to bound along with the farm dogs.
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