It's cold. Not the usual mundane cold but the sort that pummels your lungs when you breath in. This morning we head along the beach wrapped up in more layers than you would think possible. Angus is wearing a bobble hat on which is balanced a baseball cap he's found on the back seat of the car. 'The Font' is wearing a coat with a fur lined hood. This look is practical but makes conversation difficult in a ' What did you say ' way.
The frost that carpeted the sand when we were here yesterday has gone but the sea has that 'I'm thinking of turning into ice' look. Not to be outdone the air has that 'you can see for ever' translucence that only air in the North has.
After thirty minutes of this bracing weather we head off to the small cafe by the town kirk. Angus is in need of something restorative to combat the cold. A slice of millionaires shortbread will do the trick. 'The Font' wonders how Angus manages to retain the taste buds of an eight year old. We both roar with laughter which causes the students queueing up for coffee to look at us concernedly. Late teens assume anyone over the age of forty has had a humourectomy. Perhaps , looking at the way we're dressed, they think we're on day release into the community. This makes us laugh all the more.
Christmas seems to have grabbed the collective psyche. Wreaths are appearing on doors, garlands wrap around shop windows and the trendy restaurant suddenly sports a nine foot tree in the lobby. Angus quietly wonders if the restaurants juxtaposition of the tree , the small lobby and alcohol fueled ' term is over' revelers will prove to be an accident free combination.
It's revision week ahead of next weeks exams. Panic has now struck the student body. The streets, usually full of bar hopping sophomores, are deserted. In the restaurant three tables are taken. We have one of them, the two others are taken by Californian couples who look as though they've dressed for the Ventura summer . It is the style over practicality look. Will they make it back to their hotels without suffering from hypothermia ? I'm guessing the Californians are here because getting tee off times in late November is a synch.On our way out of the restaurant the Christmas street lights catch a flock of seagulls who wheel around in the night sky like sparkling stars. We wander along the street thankful for living in such a 'dull' and well ordered corner of the world.
11 comments:
Is it time for Angus to start giving his tray bakes marks out of ten? For millionaire's shortbread he might consider crispness of the shortbread element, quality of the chocolate topping and, most importantly, consistency (gooey-ness) of the caramel sandwiched in-between.
Cheers, Gail.
WFT - Todays gooeyness factor a satisfying 9.4/10.
I knew something was missing from your posts, Angus, and now I know. It's the croissant/cake ratings! Sadly though, you have no furry companion to share and disagree. The street looks pretty with the illuminated trees.
Hari OM
While also a little excited at the reintroduction of consumables ratings, the medic in me is a tad concerned at the substitution of MillSbread for Crsnt on a daily basis! That part of me also very excited by the article on the mangrove medicine. YAM xx
Have fun and leave them wondering why.
Thank you, Gail, for delineating the ingredients; I never would have imagined a chocolate-looking square would be filled with.... caramel!
The Font's and your laughter woke up the students better than any coffee! My husband also has the taste buds of an eight year old. Thank you for introducing millionaire's shortbread. I'm adding it to my Christmas cookie baking.
Humourectomy...a word I shall use whenever possible!
I went to college for a few years on the New York/Canadian border, and your recent posts remind me how intoxicating the north (relatively speaking) can be. I feel sorry for the Californians, however, and hope the golf makes up for the climate shock.
I was in Ventura on Sunday, and it was definitely not summer! It was beautiful; clear, very windy. It felt as though you could walk to the Channel Islands. But the temp was in the 50's, not the 80's!
Let out on license but generally harmless - the young have no idea!
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