7 inches of rain on Saturday. Another 5 forecast for today. That's unusual even by Scottish standards. The firework display was postponed . Perhaps they'll try to reschedule it for tonight ?
We drive down to Edinburgh. It takes an hour and a quarter to get to the crossing. When we get into town the traffic is solid and parking impossible. We do what we have to and then quickly retrace our steps. The weather was so bad that the fast InterCity trains stopped at Newcastle leaving Scotland cut off by flood water on the tracks. The local farmers aren't taken by surprise. They have been preparing for the fact that global warming will make the North prone to heavier bouts of rain.
This morning I come downstairs, turn on the lights in the snug and look out across the fields to a landscape lashed by rain and wind. A day for staying close to home . Yesterday, I started on an interesting book about the Mediterranean. I can say the economy of eighth and ninth century Egypt was something I knew literally nothing about. Now I know it was an economic powerhouse and that there were more Christians than Muslims in the country until the 10th century. This is the sort of book that comes into its own on a 7 inches of rain day.
In the garage 'The Font' discovers an old gallon jug. My parents had it made by the local potter for the late Queens coronation. It's large bordering on the impractical. What do you do with something like that ?
After a careful wash and polish we find that the artist decorated the jug with a cheeky lion ...
..... and a very relaxed looking sun. It's all very 1950's. It will need to be found a place in the house where it can be seen. A year after the move the downsizing and the triaging of 'effects' continues. Rainy days are made for triaging.
11 comments:
Hari OM
The pottery is a one-off, extra-special item. There is bound to be a window sill somewhere in the LWCBD upon which it can nestle? YAM xx
The smiling lion and sun have an echo of Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious, as well as the jaunty "tonic to the nation" style of the Festival of Britain in 1951.
What an interesting object, and the lion is delightful. Space must be found!
With the very personal history of the pottery and it's interesting decoration, it should find pride of place somewhere.
Could we do a swap, some of our relentless sunshine for some of you rain? Though I am aware of the old adage "Be careful what you wish for" - is a straight swap included?
The potter had a great deal of fun producing that jug. It's splendid.
Even the potter was happy with the new Queen. A great piece.
The "honi soit qui mal y pense" adds another cheeky note to the jug! It does deserve its own wee niche!
I'm delighted the fabulous jug survived several serious moves over the years. It must have been well packed or was just very lucky. It certainly deserves pride of place in your newly renovated wee house.
It's funny to know that both the Font and I were triaging in the garage yesterday, although I didn't find anything nearly so wonderful as your jug. We finally got all the shelving installed last week, so we no longer have an excuse for the boxes that are still piled up everywhere.
What a find in your garage! Has the sporran been located? Never too early to start looking!
Love the jug! Perhaps you could display it in the middle cupboard of your new glass-fronted kitchen cabinets (with a couple of the glass shelves removed) so it is there to make you and "The Font" smile every time you walk into your new kitchen.
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