Yesterday dry and bright. The evening grey and cold. This morning dry and bright again. Through it all that eviscerating Norwegian wind keeps on blowing.
On the beach there is a joyful reunion between the yappy Pomeranian and Sophie. To be entirely truthful Sophie isn't so keen on the Pomeranian but she is keen on the Pomeranians owner who dispenses treats liberally.
Treats dispensed - and happily devoured - the family diva heads off onto the vastness of the shore in search of adventure. There are always gulls to chase - or even better oystercatchers. For the PONette life is never dull.
We walk back through town . 'Silence exams' signs sellotaped to doors. I'm guessing that the exam schedule is being reworked so that foreign post-grads can get home before the Coronation brings Britain to a halt. The good thing about small universities in difficult to reach places is that the personal 'touch' still exists and schedules can always be 'readjusted'. Term is supposed to finish on May 11th but it seems everyone will be gone before then. Then there will be a period of calm before the influx of brightly attired golfers. Hotels and restaurants like golfers. They are much bigger spenders than the students.
Two ducks seem completely unbothered by the fact that a Polish Lowland Sheepdog is trotting towards them down the street. After walking from one end of the beach to the other Sophie is too tired to do anything other than emit a half hearted yap of disapproval. The ducks don't even glance up.
Signs outside the town kirk tell us that the City carillonneur is having a recital. Whoever knew there was such a thing as a carillonneur ? You can't get a name that's much more Scots than Callum MacLeod. The recital is ostensibly for St.George's Day but I'm guessing this is his excuse to let the town folk hear the tunes that will be rung out on May 6th. God save the King is a cert. I'll put money on Land of hope and glory. What else will he be ringing out. ? Rule Britannia ? If I could learn how to post videos on the blog I'd record some of it. We shall drive into own for a glass of wine and sit ( weather willing ) at a pavement cafe and listen . We have become adherents of the view that you take your excitement where you can find it .
Angus and Sophie stop off at the bakers for a whole meal loaf. The cakes on offer are certainly not of a type you would find at a bakers in France. Sophie is given a piece of broken ginger bread man by the woman behind the counter. She is unsure about this. It's perhaps just a tad too exotic for this hour on a Sunday morning ? Sophie rarely spits anything out. Today she does.
13 comments:
A carillonneur is one of the main characters in the feel-good French comedy, 'Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis', starring Dany Boon. Set in carillon country of the Nord Pas de Calais. On the strength of the film this summer we visited the delightful little town in which it's set, Berges, and saw the actual belfry with our own eyes. And some of the disconcerting Géants du Nord.
My goodness, imagine Sophie actually rejecting a treat, but ginger is an acquired taste. Thank goodness that she was able to fill up with the Pomeranian lady's treats.
Those cakes don't look particularly inviting and seem aimed at children, rather than a discerning PON.
A close up photo of the Pomeranian is requested, so readers can play at guessing which is the front and which is the rear end. (Apologies to any Pomeranian owners out there...)
I have a feeling Aberdeen's Coronation celebrations are going to be more low key than in St Andrews. Enjoy the carillon recital, weather permitting...
Cheers, Gail.
To easily post video on your blog, set up a YouTube account (use an alias if you want) and then put the link to each of Sophie's videos in your posts.
Hari Om
...even easier; if the video clip file is no larger than 25mb, you just need to click the 'insert video' icon that sits right beside the 'insert image' icon on the blogpost toolbar. It can take a few minutes to up load - then you just resize it as you desire.
I would have hoped that at least the tunes might be more country-specific; a burst of Highland Catherdral or Loch Lomond, anyone? YAM xx
Next time try one of the green things
Actually, considering what's on offer regarding breads or pastries in our small town, that display case looks quite appealing...Except for the green things. However, Sophie being an arbitrator of treats, particularly pastry slivers, might be on to something.
Canada has a Dominion Carilloneur (or should I say, Carilloneuse, as the position is currently held by a woman) who plays the Peace Tower Carillon (Peace Tower as in the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa).
Yes, the green baked things are decidedly different. Frogs?
Celebrating St George's Day in Scotland? Whatever next . . .
I would love to listen to a carillon recital, particularly while sitting at a cafe and enjoying a glass of wine. Not having that possibility, I am hoping that we might be able to see some of the Lyrids meteor shower this weekend. We are not exactly in the middle of nowhere, but this should be much better than the middle of Tokyo.
Yep. We're not in France anymore! I love the beautiful ducks just hanging out in town.
Sophie, you are not in France anymore.
Do I spy Empire cookies at the bottom right of the bakery display?
I wondered about St George's day being celebrated in Scotland as well? When I was at University in St Andrews in the 60's the make up of the student body was 60% Scottish 40% English. Very few students from other places,occasionally met some Americans following their parents university choice.It would be interesting to find out how many students were actually from Scotland.
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