'The Font' heads off to London on the first train. Within ten minutes I get a text saying the conductors announced there's been an electrical malfunction in the catering car and there will be no hot breakfast or hot drinks. Half an hour later I get another text saying that there seems to be no food at all on offer - hot or cold. Bottles of water are handed out so 'The Font' may arrive in London hungry but not dehydrated. Another text brings the news that the problem may be fixed at Newcastle and a bowl of restorative porridge provided.
Two very lively Jack Russells alongside on the start of day walk. They escort me as far as the cattle grid and then race back for breakfast with their older sister.
All the shells have gone from the beach. Brought in by yesterdays high tide and washed away by this mornings. Today there's no sign of Pomeranian lady or Archie the arthritic labrador. The two spaniels who hared along the shoreline yesterday are back and are busy chasing each other through the dunes. Perhaps it's the northerly wind that's keeping everyone else indoors ?
The towns cafes are still closed for 'refurbishment'. Most will re-open tomorrow. I never , ever, go into the student union but today it's open - so I do. It's an anonymous space that is big on neon lighting. Student gathering place minimalism aiming at being cool. I am the oldest customer by a factor of two and quite possibly a factor of three. The coffee here also comes in a cup the size of a bath tub but is better than yesterdays offering. Todays coffee can best be described as 'weak' rather than 'mysterious'. That qualifies as an improvement.
The Gentlemans outfitters displaying some very dapper mannequins. I can't work out whether the window dresser has a good sense of humour or whether someone who works there really thinks this is what the stylish farmer should be wearing. Black shirt and brightly patterned tie is very 'Sopranos' although the tweed cap isn't.
'The blissingis of God be heirin' the motto above the door on a house facing the Episcopal church. Is the motto Old English or auld Scots? I'm guessing the Presbyterian sentiment means it's auld Scots although the spelling is unlike anything I've seen.
The pub facing the old newsagent is also closed for refurbishment. In his first year as a student Angus used to pop in here for a start of day breakfast of a pint of heavy and a steak pie. Times have changed. The pub has a new menu that includes buttermilk pancakes. If they were open I'd pop in and try them. Scottish Filthy Fries also appear on the menu.
15 comments:
As a veteran traveller on the East Coast Line, I'd always recommend carrying emergency rations - food AND water!
I hope Angus's eyes pass the travel test and we can look forward to his reports from Japan next month. Plenty of scope there for interesting and diverting observations, I suspect.
Cheers, Gail.
The window display is a catch-all, gentleman farmer crossed with wide boy.
Hari OM
mmmmmmm I haven't made pancakes for a while. Neither have I yet had brekky - guess what...?! YAM xx
One of my daughter's friends when she was at St Andrews was from Baylor. They do seem to send a lot to Scotland.
So many new hotels in Kyoto these days. When we first started going there, there were only a couple of tired old "luxury" Japanese hotels. It was such a missed opportunity, and then all the international chains came in and pushed aside the locals. This one might be Japanese? Arashiyama is beautiful. Kyoto is cold in February, but probably not by your standards. I wonder if the student union at St. Andrews is new? I seem to recall our tour guide saying they didn't have one when we visited about five years ago.
Glad the coffee was an improvement. An interesting menu, many things to try.
Your "looking up" photos show that there is more to see than eye level. Those little details share a story, tell a history.
Diaday - the town is a very prim old Presbyterian lady that only slowly reveals her secrets - and then only to the watchful. Nothing flash here. Maybe that's why it's so popular with kids from the States ( who make up 20% of the intake ) and who find having everything in walking distance makes it quite unlike anywhere else.
5 buttermilk pancakes slathered in Nutella, now that’s a way to start the day!
Angus, I marvel at your ability to find tiny adventures out of day’s wanderings. I’ll look forward to what you find to report in Kyoto. Best wishes for positive news form the eye doctor.
JoAnn
Hoping you get the "all clear" from the eye doctor. The student union looks much like the one at USC.
A quick google suggests it's 16th century Scots
Here's hoping that the Font is doing some posh shopping in London!
Pam in NH - You can be 100% sure of it. That is why Angus is staying firmly at home.
Arashiyama looks like a beautiful place to visit. I always find something new through this blog as had never seen a room, for three, with one 2.8m wide bed and glass-walled bathroom advertised before!
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