Thursday, July 4, 2024

Election day.

 


We thought of voting early but will wait until mid-morning. Why channel all the  excitement into the start of the day ?  We pass the village hall which already has a small smattering of farm folk waiting to cast their ballot.  The farmer at the crossroads has shown up in his new blue tractor. He's busily demonstrating its  GPS ploughing system to the High Court judge. We wave and they wave back. Cheerful waving is an ingrained  part of village life. Woe betide anyone too busy to  adhere to this custom. They will be marked down as being 'snooty'. Wavers are also expected to wear a broad smile. 

Surprising to find town busy. Dog owners, voters, summer schoolers and tourists out and about.  We meet one of our neighbours heading down the road with twin toddlers in tow. Her husband is still in bed but she is off to vote. She tells us that presiding officers are keen to have children accompany their parents to the polling station. It instils an understanding of democracy in them at a young age. Angus looks at the two hyper energetic toddlers and wonders if all presiding officers will share this opinion.


As we get down to the harbour the sun comes out.


For those who venture off the beaten track this is a town of small medieval lanes and archways wanting to be explored.


Cashmere still very much in evidence in the shop windows.  This has been a cool and windy summer - perfect weather for cashmere sales. Angus does not approve of  a bow tie with a day jacket.


Sticks of rock in the window of the ice cream shop. Whoever knew that 'rock' was still a thing ? Any passing dentists must suffer from heart palpitations. 


This mornings car radio music - played enthusiastically :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncvfpX2WzRI&list=PLKddJavQIr7qhjFQqPThvSdkHyw1NTvht

Plus ca change :https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/did-prehistoric-children-make-figurines-out-of-clay-180984534/

It seems the King is in Scotland.  Surprised tourists probably think this happens all the time :https://youtu.be/YBRQQXG7h7E?t=138

What answer would you give to this question ? :https://x.com/LibertyCappy/status/1807630863485509784


Bonus picture du jour 





12 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

When I was about five years old my mother took me along to the polling station in Nottingham, showed me the voting slip and how you indicated your choice of candidate and how it was a secret ballot etc. Sixty years later, one can say that the lesson was effective!
Cheers, Gail.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari Om
It'll be late arvo before I'm back in Dunoon, but that vote will be cast. Near thirty years of Aussie compulsory voting stays with me, and frankly, I don't understand how a country can complain about their governance if upwards of forty percent don't make use of this privilege.... YAM xx (who fears if it's raining as it is with me just now, the turnout will be even more dismal.)

Tara said...

Thank you for the lovely pics. Your lanes and archways remind me of Princeton. I wonder how much research went into confirming that that statue is truly NOT shedding tears of blood. If she's in the U.S. right now, she might be legit.

Travel said...

Looking forward to the election results.

Diaday said...

I love going off the beaten track. My sense of direction takes me there often! Lots of unexpected treasures to be found and seen.

Fay said...

In answer to your last question, the first thing that came to mind was, "Good sense"!

WFT Nobby said...

Similar to my answer: "A well-developed instinct for self-preservation".
Cheers! Gail.

Lisa in France said...

My father always took me to the polls with him, and I asked my husband to take our kids to the polls in Japan - he thought it was weird, but I think he gets it now. So curious to see the results in the UK, and things seem to be looking up a bit for Sunday in France. Now on to November.

Bailey Bob Southern Dog said...

Happy 4th of July to all readers in the US! I enjoy the photos you show off the beaten paths. Thank you for taking us there.

Jake of Florida said...

Some media folk have mentioned the irony of a UK election on July 4th, US independence day, while the U.S. Supreme Court just provided the runway for a more kingly president. Huge sense of humor required.

Allison said...

That seems to be a very popular question on twitter. This is my current favorite.

https://x.com/DeathMetalV/status/1801650529333809279

Angus said...

Jake of F - The delicious irony has not gone unnoticed here.