The village finance committee have decided that communal bunting for the Coronation would be an unaffordable expense. There is £108.32 left in the 'entertainment' budget after the New Year and Burns Night festivities. This is hardly enough to allow for 'contingencies' and bunting. The bench on the village green may require a coat of varnish so allowance has to be made for that.
Decorations will be left to individual households although there is no objection to those who wish to string 'tasteful' bunting at a suitable level across the street. Those doing so should be mindful of the height of the new Post Office delivery van. Tickets will be sold (£20 a head ) for the Coronation dinner which will be a 'pot luck' affair. The village secretary observes that there will be a barbecue option with steaks provided by 'Ned', one of the village farmers. The organizers already have a 'sufficiency' of promised casseroles and cream sponges. Some chicken or pasta dishes would be welcome as would sherry trifles. Angus and the retired thoracic surgeon agree to coordinate the wine supplies. This is a polite way of saying we shall provide the champagne. The committee chairwoman notes that 29 villagers attended the Easter morning service. It is hoped that more will show up at the kirk at the Thanksgiving service for the new King. Two of the kirk elders have been away on a 'Ring for the King' course . It seems that every bell in the country will be rung as the coronation takes place.
Sunday morning. We head off down the track towards the village. Sophie is immediately distracted by a pigeon which requires stalking. Sophie is good at stalking. She is not good at stalking quietly. In fact she has all the stealthiness of a small rhinoceros. The pigeon has ample warning of her presence and remains untroubled.
16 comments:
It was always only a matter of time before Angus's generosity and expertise regarding Champagne was recognised by his fellow villagers.
Nobby communes with the local corvid population daily in the park.
Thank you for the lovely read.
I quite like the theory. Clearly the man thinks Britain is South East England, however,
We so enjoyed reading today's post. The pictures were brilliant as always. Sophie, the pigeon and the crow together with the wonderful scenery - sublime!
Wendy (Wales)
A beautiful new home for the three of you.
And how many coronations will there be in a lifetime? Celebrate while you can. Has Scotland become home for Angus?
I’ve also been enjoying all the details of the village plans for the Coronation. I’m feeling like I’m part of it.
It is obvious that
Sophie is enjoying her new environs -many more stimuli for the “old” girl.
Thanks so much for your daily writings - I read the blog every day and only comment infrequently.
Please keep it up!
JoAnn on the eastern shore of Maryland
Will the Font be providing a chicken or pasta addition for the villagers to enjoy?
Good to see that Sophie hasn't lost any of her stalking instincts - no matter how noisy they are!
You'll be known in future, in the wee village, for your generosity with Champagne, Angus, but do they know about borrowing your ladders - or have they been left with the Old Mayor in deepest France profonde?
I enjoyed reading about the village's deliberations regarding the Coronation - they seem to have their priorities straight, as evidenced by asking Angus's help in "coordinating" the wine. It is lovely to know that Sophie is so settled in Scotland. I think that PONs are like that - wherever their flock is is home. Our African Grey parrot Lucky had a distinct relationship with our departed PON Cherry. She often shared her snacks with Cherry, but she's a gifted mimic and she also used to shout "Cherry, come!" and "Cora" ("bad dog" in Japanese). After Cherry died she stopped. Now, all of a sudden in France, it's back. As I am typing this, she is shouting "Cherry, come!". I think it's probably just the acoustics of the rental house we are currently living in, but it's kind of spooky and it makes me realize how much Cherry would have loved it here, with the fields and the puddles and all the new smells. Charlie doesn't have the same working dog genes, and he's still a little unsettled by it all.
Lisa, can't help but wonder if Cherry responded to Lucky"s "Cherry come!" call.
That last picture o Sophie is beautiful! I'm enjoying reading about the coronation plans. I agree, a once in a lifetime event!
Jake of Florida, it's entirely possible, especially as we have brought Cherry's ashes with us to France and they are sitting on the kitchen counter well within earshot of Lucky!
Angus, your post about looking at Blue Nun before 10am reminded me of this article I read a while ago called “The Curse of the Blue Nun” which you might enjoy reading. Blue Nun is certainly memorable. Now you and the surgeon are coordinating wine supplies what do you think the village response would be if you took a few bottles of Blue Nun’s Gold Edition (German sparkling with flakes of 22ct gold) for the Coronation Dinner? I am guessing they are expecting expensive champagne to be provided, and will be interested to know what you and the surgeon decide are suitable beverages for such a memorable occasion. https://wineeconomist.com/2010/02/21/curse-of-the-blue-nun/#:~:text=Blue%20Nun%20and%20brands%20like,not%20expensive%20and%20sophisticated%2C%20either
Lisa in France - Of one thing all Polish Lowland owners are entirely sure - a PON always walks alongside its flock. Always.
“Ring for the King” most excellent!
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