Harry and George

The sight of a young man walking along the road in a chicken costume a sign that St Andrews is rapidly transitioning from a golfing destination into a 'college' town.

Another beautiful ( but chilly ) morning. We head along the coast to look at a little coastal church the farmers wife has said is beautiful and worth visiting.

When we get there we find the place locked. Three little House Martins peer at us from their nest in the roof of the church porch.

From nowhere two gentlemen appear in the churchyard behind us. 'We've been up a ladder ' says one. " Cleaning out the gutters " says the other. They turn out to be Harry ( 82 ) and George ( 83 1/2 ). Harry has a baseball cap. Their wives are in the Church Hall making jam. They ask if we'd like to see inside. Harry is a bit of a wit. He points to the sign telling us there's been a church here since 1243. " God wanted it to be ready by one o'clock. It got finished just in time'.  Both gentlemen chuckle contentedly. How many times must this attempt at a joke have been cracked ? Harry roots around in his rucksack and finds the church key which he hands to George. Both of them complain about the House Martins. ' I'm forever washing poop off the porch floor ' says George in what is clearly faux irritation. There's no doubting the church routine revolves around the young birds. Both men stand looking upwards at the nest while making soft chirruping noises. They do this in an unselfconscious way as if it's the most natural thing in the world to converse with House Martins. When you're in your eighties you can do what you want. George tells us this will be the second brood of the season and their departure is expected sometime next week. They will - I'm certain - be missed by their two guardians.

The two gentlemen fill us in on the history of the place. The kirk has a congregation of forty or so. More if the weather's good, fewer if there's a gale blowing in from the sea. So far this year they've had six christenings which after a few lean years they both think is wonderful. " The young parents want a grounding ". Harry is particularly proud of the fact that the woman who played the harp at the Kings coronation came and gave a concert here. ' The place was packed'. The church has a choir and an organist but if the organists back is playing up they've got a Boom Box and a tape of ' Your 25 Favourite Scottish Hymns' as an alternate source of music. George is supposed to take the Boom Box home with him after the Sunday service in case anyone tries to steal it but he's doubtful anyone in their right mind would want it. " They've got better electronics than that these days ". The tape has become stretched so they're thinking of buying a replacement.

Before we leave we're shown a wooden plaque commemorating a local family who lost three sons in the last war. All were in the RAF. " We're proud of them " says Harry in a tone of voice that could make you forget they died before he was born. The family still live in the big house at the end of the churchyard. After the culling of the sons in the late unpleasantness it's a different branch who live there now. George informs us that there's gravel blocking the drains in the Church Hall kitchens. ' Clearing it out will be our job this afternoon '.

It can safely be said that Scottish identity has not been entirely subsumed by globalization. The Celts may have lost their giants but they still treasure their heroes.

Another of those things I'd never thought about :https://www.history.com/news/when-did-the-white-flag-become-associated-with-surrender

On the radio this piece by a composer we've never heard of :https://youtu.be/j7sD0AqrpZ0