We say 'good morning' to the farmers wife. A practical woman in a blue boiler suit. Her old Jack Russell, one of the three that trot down the farm track at break of day, has died. The dog kept going right to the end but yesterday opted to stay at home, curled up in the warmth of the kitchen. ' She didn't even want to chase the mice in the barn'. A trip to the vet showed tumors on her lungs and stomach. In the evening the vet makes a 'house call'. The wee thing now lies in the vegetable plot by the back door. A place where the house lights linger. This morning Sophie greets two Jack Russells heading off down the farm track to the shore. Some village routines never change.
Paying students £150 to wear their kilts ( plus free breakfast and lunch ) has brought out the canny Scots boys - in force. I don't think I've ever seen so many kilts. The producer clearly thinks that the locals wear them every day. The group of 50 or so American tourists disgorging from a bus on a day trip from Edinburgh can't believe their eyes.
On the lawn behind the chapel a group of students are being taught how to do the Highland Reel. This is not something that every Scots boy is good at doing... and it shows. The man from the film company does his best, his very best, to hide his impatience at their ineptitude. Sophie looks on in amazement. Down at the bus stop there must be the better part of 300 kilt clad boys and tartan festooned girls waiting to head off for a photo shoot.
9 comments:
Paws in water Sophie has made my day!
I agree Ruth - I can imagine the performance!! You do keep towels for emergencies in the car, don't you Angus?
I had a pony that hated the waves at the beach and turned on a sweating, eye rolling performance unless it was a very calm day. I learned to check the tides before we went down. But he loved swimming in rivers. Goodness, I hadn't remembered that in nearly 60 years!!
I feel for the farmer's wife - how good of her to do the kind thing immediately.
Poor Sophie - it's not nice when a girl's paws get all wet and muddy. Oh dear, do the crowds mean no chance of a bacon roll? That really doesn't make for the start of a best day ever.
I too, feel for the lady who has lost her Jack Russell - something we dog lovers all have to face. It's a duty to our furry companions that never gets any easier.
All those tartan clad youngsters must have made the American tourists' day!
I have a feeling that this series of The Crown is going to be even more cringe-worthy than its predecessors. I remember an early episode where the Queen and Philip were in an unharmonious period early in their marriage. The Queen was shown pruning red roses in full and perky bloom in the depths of the Scottish winter.
At my children's school in Edinburgh learning Scottish country dances was inescapable. When it came to Christmas and end of year balls they could all reel, and what's more loved it. Just goes to show - if you're a Scottish male, always pack your kilt wherever you go. There could be £150 in it.
I laughed at the sight of all that tartan. What a false impression for the American tourists.
One of our Dalmatians hated getting his paws wet but would happily run through long wet grass.
I'm sorry to hear about the Jack Russell, and send best wishes to the practical farmer's wife. It's a year ago today that I said the final goodbye to dear Bertie. Having another canine companion around helps, even a very naughty one like Nobby...
Sad news and silliness, a normal routine.
What about the young ladies in their long dresses? A gala event with their kilted young men to show Kate and William later in their relationship?
The Crown loves it's gala events! I love seeing all of the kilts!
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