Thursday, November 7, 2024

Looking to the future is what students do.

 

The students are having serious post-election meetings. This is what students do - or at least the 20% of them who are Americans.  For 2028 they're counting on Shapiro, Slotkin or Beshear to take up the torch although they think Vivek rather than Vance will be the opponent. The speakers at the colloquium ( a very college town word )  think that the Senate will flip in 2026 after two years of accelerating inflation. You've got to admire twenty year olds - they always look to the future. Turns out we know - or at least have had a couple of dinners with - the guy who is likely to be Treasury Secretary. Who ever would have thought that Fluoride in water could be such a controversial issue ?

The cheerful Filipinos have finished harvesting the cauliflower field and have now headed inland to make a start on the cabbage harvest. The Portaloo that stood in a  corner of the cauliflower field is transported inland on the back of a trailer pulled by the farmers new tractor.


The large old houses down on the cliff tops are looking very smart. Some have become university lecture halls. Others have been subdivided into more manageable sizes. One is the home of the Principal. The heating bills for these large windowed, heat draining, Victorian buildings must be huge.


Back at the last wee house before Denmark we're waiting for the remaining hay bales to be taken into the barns. The local airbase is again busy. The Russians haven't wasted any time to remind everyone of their presence. Typhoons take off and land all day. Somewhere, beyond the horizon there must be another flotilla heading from Murmansk through the North Sea. 


A History of Britain in ten enemies arrives in the bookstore. The next time I'm in I must take a peak inside to see who makes the cut. France for sure, Germany ditto. Danes, Vikings, Dutch, Spaniards are probably also included. Who else is there ?


This morning we see a track suited runner pass the war memorial. As he passes, he stops, stands smartly at attention and salutes. He then carries on with his morning jog. This is the first time we've ever seen anyone do this. He's a youngster in his early twenties so he's probably in the military and studying International Relations here.  Sunday morning will see the towns Armistice Day commemoration.  Hearing the echo of the pipes lingering in the still air is about as Scottish an experience as you can get.

15 comments:

Virginia said...

That huge Devon house has only got 70+ years on its lease, plus a renewal for 50. I’d be suspicious of that.

Angus said...

Well spotted. That probably explains why as a farmhouse with sea views it's priced as it is.

Jake of Florida said...

See that southermost blue area on the Florida peninsula? That's where we live. Many universities.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari Om
Ye Gods... Does that change the emphasis of "being a Red"? Or is that too historic a reference for most folks? YAM xx

WFT Nobby said...

In contrast to Jake of Florida's comment above, I note that the state where I spent two years is the one that doesn't seem to boast a single 'college town'...
Cheers! Gail.

Jake of Florida said...

Oklahoma!

WFT Nobby said...

Correct. But the map now has me wondering about the definition of 'college town' as the Oklahoma is home to several universities e.g. OU, OSU, Tulsa.

Jake of Florida said...

I wondered that too

jabblog said...

The Devon house is rather soulless - not a book in sight.

Coppa's girl said...

I, too, found the Devon house totally characterless and devoid of any charm.

Travel said...

Looking forward to 2026 and 2028

waterdog said...

I think Angus deserves a finder’s fee if one of his blog followers jump into the house in Devon. BTW many realtors prefer that owners remove pictures and other personal items (books) prior to showing the home.
JoAnn

Stephanie said...

There are only two red counties on the entire coast of California, one in the south and another at the very top of the state. That is where I live, a distinction I'm not proud of today.

William said...

Oklahoma hasn’t produced blue county result in many years. The only hopeful sign is Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City, which was 50% to 48% for Harris. And that includes a lot of white flight suburbs. Not so good for OU(Norman), OSU(Stillwater), and University of Tulsa.

rottrover said...

That Devon farmhouse could house a number of blue expats!