The 75th anniversary of the publication of George Orwells 1984. Through the day Radio 4 has actors reading whole chapters of the book. A very adult way of commemorating the event. How concisely Orwell wrote. It's something of a shock to discover that what was considered prescient in the 1950's and 60's is even more prescient now.
A beautiful morning on the beach. There's a 4x4 and a group of folks out at the spit. They're the rescue service dealing with a young dolphin that's misjudged the tides and got stranded on the dunes. A cheer goes up when it regains the strength to swim out to sea.
In town it's the start of wedding season. Graduates are allowed to marry in the university chapel so the days pre and post graduation are a busy time for the Chaplain. With pipers playing and kilts much in evidence it's apparent that the 'distinctly Scottish' way of life here is very much alive. I try to take a photo of a kilted and extremely tall cleric ushering folks into the nave. Sadly I fail.
Old Rolls Royces are buffed up and readied for bridal duty. A line of them drawn up by the kerb. You could probably pick up one of these old things for £5,000 but somehow they have a mystique more modern cars can't match.
Some say 10% of students marry other St Andrews students. Others say it's closer to 20%. Being marooned in a small town far from Big City lights for four years tends to have that effect on 20 somethings. On mornings like this it gives the place a decidedly happy feel.
Bemused tourists watch the goings on in a ' have we wandered into a theme park ?' sort of way.
Weddinged out we stop off at the wee bakers in the village to the South of us. They have products I've not seen in 50 years. When was the last time you saw Haystacks ?
Empire biscuits remind me of my grandfather. The name alone bears witness to an earlier time. How much longer will places like this exist ? This bakers also makes the best Tattie Scones so our custom is assured.
9 comments:
Those 'haystacks' are not something I've come across before in over a quarter of a century of living in Scotland.
Cheers, Gail (who is wondering what proportion of 'twentysomethings' are getting married these days).
On July 4th NPR staff read our Declaration of Independence over the air waves. Perhaps this year reading Orwell might be appropriate here as well.
I've never heard of 'haystacks' and only dimly recall talk of Empire biscuits. St Andrews may be the last bastion of the Empire.
Pink Empire biscuits are a bit of a shock - normally white up here. They used to be called German biscuits, but were renamed in WW1, along with the Royal Family. The St Andrews University chaplain is tall and kilted - perhaps that was who you saw. Having just received the St Andrews alumni magazine (by dint of being parents of an alumna who donate to university funds), I can attest that marriages between those who met at St Andrews are numerous.
I've never heard of "haystacks " either and although the Empire biscuits look vaguely familiar, the name isn't.
How many of the numerous "twenty somethings" St. Andrew's weddings will stand the test of time? I've read recently that marriage for that age group is rare.
I remember as a child our local bakery would feature haystacks. The confections you show look similar, which if memory serves, was jam soaked sponge coated with coconut? It was considered a "fancy" adult treat and one we wouldn't dream of requesting.
The phone in your pocket, would shock Orwell. What will the next 20 years bring?
I am sorry to be missing the reading of 1984. Your mention of it has sent me down a rabbit hole looking for it, though, resulting in my bookmarking BBC, whose shows look terrific. I participated in A Public Space's mass reading of War and Peace, Moby Dick and Ulysses, which was similarly read aloud daily by various readers over the course of a couple of months. Great fun!
Nina
Burger? China? Please...
PS: Good news about the dolphin :)
Post a Comment