The little black Volkswagen has finally gone. It was collected sometime between ten last night and six this morning. In a village that sees everything it's departure went unnoticed. The villagers are now left to wonder what sort of person would leave their car abandoned for five days.
The old phone box by the exam hall has somehow survived. Most have been demolished or taken away. You try explaining to a disbelieving student that there was a time when mobile phones didn't exist and calls had to be made from these small red cabins dotted around the town. This surviving phone box has now been listed and repurposed into an art installation. It has some seasonal thoughts on events in the Middle East.
The question 'All I want for Christmas is ?' has been painted on the door in red paint. On another panel the artist has provided the answer - 'Freedom, Justice, Hope'. Inside there's an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying on a pile of rubble. There can be no doubting that we live in a university town.
The weather is absolutely abysmal. Layer on layer of cloud blotting out any hint of daylight. England is carpeted in snow and some airports closed. The London based media are portraying it as the end of civilisation. Here it's just extremely wet and windy - which is how it usually is in January. We catch our first sighting of returning students- two laughing lads getting out of a cab and opening up a rental flat down by the theatre. They must have caught the overnight sleeper. By the middle part of next week the influx of students should be well and truly underway and the town will have shaken off its seasonal calm.
In Starbucks a dog and its owner are sheltering from the wind. The dog has its owner well trained. A bacon roll is shared on a pretty equitable basis. Every time it wants some more it turns its head and stares. This silent treatment always works.
Our fancy Christmas chocolates from Gorvett and Stone now ( nearly ) finished.
Pistachio and Cardamon, Tahini, Rosemary and Olive Oil and Chipotle Chilli among the flavours. 'The Font' enjoyed them.
9 comments:
Hari Om
Interesting chocolate mixtures and article links. Hooroo from an uncharacteristically clear sky sunny and dry Dunoon! YAM xx
The little dog looks well wrapped!
Those chocolates lasted well into the new year!
Funny weather here too, though no snow. Just very overcast , windy and cold - typical January weather for these parts.
Today is a Public Holiday, but very few people out and about when I walked the dog beside the sea about an hour ago. 6th January is the day when traditionally children receive their gifts from St. Nicholas. Nowadays they all demand gifts on 24th/25th December and today!
Coppa's Girl
I recognize the look on that little dog's face.
It is always fun being surrounded by bright people, and young students.
Hazelnut Praline would be my first 1/2, of course I would share each one .
We all do!
Re: motels owned by Indian Americans, there is a great film on Netflix called "Meet the Patels" which documents one such hotel. It's a fun film. If it's still there...
It's so wonderful to see the red phone booth repurposed - a link from what was to sharing messages for the future. The Icelandic music was a joy!
Post a Comment