Sunday was a perfect morning. Blue sky overhead and a hint of warmth in the sun. Three deer watch us from the middle of the wheat field as we set off on our morning walk down to the shore. There are more deer this year. I'd reckon their population is up by 30%. Perhaps this milder but wetter weather reduces their mortality rate ?
In town there's a light drizzle falling from the patch of cloud down by the cathedral. We park by the chapel and walk to the Italian cafe for an espresso. 'The Font' wonders aloud why there can be blue sky above us and yet we're getting rained on. We settle on winds aloft as being the only conceivable rationale.
Remembrance Day. The Military Police are out in force. Being Scotland the policemen are having a coffee, a sticky bun and a 'wee blether' before the church service. Two of their cars find spaces in front of the cafe. The third has to circle the roundabout and look for a spot by the medieval history department. The late comers are told by their colleagues that 'We've ordered but you can pay'.
On the other side of the road a group of smartly turned out RAF ground crew are standing outside the cafe enjoying bacon rolls. They eat carefully, leaning slightly forward, to stop any grease getting on their uniforms. The airmen are a cheerful bunch. I have the feeling that after the days events they will make their way to the pub for a restorative 'pick me up'.
By the supermarket we catch the unusual sight of the Saltire being escorted across the zebra crossing by a slightly out of step colour guard. Kerbs and slippery cobble stones do not make for precise marching. Shoppers leaving Tesco seem unphased by this martial display.
Heading back to the car we meet four of the military policemen .They smile and wish us 'Good morning'. I'm guessing military policemen are as tough as they come so this friendly greeting is unexpected. They're wearing flak jackets which might be considered slightly excessive for a Sunday morning in a small Scottish seaside town.
Usually Remembrance Sunday is a quiet affair but this year the crowds are out. The church already full by quarter to eleven. Soldiers in yellow day-glo jackets mill around . We're surprised by the turnout. American students and a group of twenty or so retired golfers from Tulsa look on wondering what is happening. The Tulsans ( who are all wearing identical 'Oklahoma Golf' baseball caps and jackets ) ask a policeman ' Are we allowed in ?'. They are. The golfers self consciously doff their caps and stand by the back door in a nervous cluster. " I was in the Navy " one man says to a surprised lady standing next to him. In order to dispel any possible confusion he goes on to add " That's the US Navy ". The pipes start up the Skye Boat Song with that sonorous boom of the bass drum that you only hear once a year - https://youtu.be/P1DRjDXHjLc?t=16 It sends a shiver down the spine. This is definitely not the dreamy Skye Boat Song played as the second song at weddings. Niall Ferguson, a historian at Stanford, once said that these ceremonies remain well attended and personal because the Scots lost a higher percentage of their young male population in the First War than any other nation. Far be it from me to dispute this statement but it doesn't seem possible that this can be right.
7 comments:
I listened to the wreath laying ceremony relayed from the Cenotaph while driving up a deserted Glen Torridon yesterday morning (the camper vans and motorhomes touring the NC 500 are now all tucked up at home for winter). It occurred to me that the annual incantation listing representatives of all the Commonwealth and former colonies who fought with the British in past wars serves a similar function to the daily Shipping Forecast. One might never other hear of these places or be quite sure exactly where they are, but to hear the long list read out loud is somehow comforting and reassuring.
Cheers, Gail.
The weather here yesterday, after early morning high winds, was absolutely perfect too. A day to enjoy in the open air.
I'll give the gizmo a pass - I don't have an ipad and I rarely cook anything requiring referral to a cookery book!
Well, another new word for me today - Saltire. And what a story behind it. Nial Ferguson might be off this time, as I recall your talking about the terrible losses your French village suffered, but when we visited the Regimental Museum at Stirling Castle, the history of just that one Scottish unit was a revelation. It seems particularly important to remember these sacrifices right now, with the world seeming to tilt.
My daughter just requested a similar gizmo for her iPhone - apparently she is now podcasting with her friend and needs a better setup.
Thanks for a glimpse into life.
Like Lisa, I learned another new word today. Thanks for sharing this Remembrance Day with us.
I didn't know the name of the flag either, or the story behind it until I looked it up this morning. Another level of meaning thanks to your blog, Angus. As for the blue sky with rain, it happens here frequently. We call them sun showers.
Thank you for sharing your perfect Sunday morning and your Remembrance Day observations.
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