Loucheness.

The weather has changed. It's raining lightly which doesn't seem to bother the latest round of new graduates who are determined to enjoy themselves no matter what. They stand chatting on street corners oblivious to the drizzle.  I'd have to congratulate the university gardeners who have kept the place looking spick and span all through graduation week. The flower beds continue to emit cheery brightness and have only suffered minimal high jinks damage.  After today the town will gird up for the graduation ball on Saturday and then go into hibernation for a month or two. The actor Alan Cumming was awarded an honorary degree yesterday. The bubbly ( overly bubbly ?) American lady academic who introduced him as a 'frolicking pan-sexual sex symbol' raised a few eyebrows amongst the more staid Presbyterian professors :https://youtu.be/VqvCZj549p8?t=4248

The students of course were not bothered by her enthusiasm or 'sauciness' although the chaplain ( on the far right ) maintained an inscrutable look.

This weekends graduation ball is a good enough reason for us to head somewhere quieter. The fact the farmer has put out a bird scarer in the field behind 'The last wee house before Denmark' also informs our decision to travel for a few days. It booms out every five or so minutes to scare away the legions of rooks that have descended on the wheat field.

We head down to York on the train which runs on time and takes three and a bit hours. When it works the railway system is a marvel. It's years since we've been down here.  'The Font' has heard about a hotel in a grade 1 listed building in the shadow of York Minster. From where the cab drops us off the street and the surrounding buildings look less than impressive.

Once checked in we find the place to be a surprise and a delight. The staff are welcoming and efficient ( when was the last time you went to a hotel where they seemed genuinely pleased to see you ?). On one side of our room is the Minster on the other the Roman Walls. The hotels shady garden (with a hotel dog)  nestles, hidden, between the two. Whoever knew places like this still existed ? The rooms are decorated in shabby chic Georgian antique style which is pleasingly comfortable although foot boards on beds are problematic.

In the evening we go to a restaurant with the very Northern name  'The Whippet Inn'. Again the staff are friendly and efficient and to our surprise, for a place with such an unprepossessing name, the food is better than good. Angus is delighted to find a 2015 Pomerol at a price he can't believe. It must have been forgotten and has languished on the wine list for years. To one side of us a young 2nd Lieutenant from the Parachute Brigade is taking his girlfriend out for dinner. He has a 'commanding' parade ground voice that enables everyone around to hear their conversation.  He's done 90 jumps so far this year with no problems. On his 91st he's broken his ankle. This may have career impacting consequences. He is expecting to be smothered in sympathy but his pretty companion seems inclined to the view that if you throw yourself out of a plane for a living you should expect the occasional broken bone. The wounded warrior should perhaps read this :https://andrewchen.substack.com/p/lies-per-second-meetings-per-decision

It's still light when we get back to the hotel. There's time to sit and have a glass of champagne as the sun sets. York is busy during the day and deserted after six pm.

Hotel dog ignores us. She seems to know that we are not the bearer of Jaffa Cakes and are therefore of no interest to her whatsoever. Despite the fact that it's late ( and getting to a temperature the English find 'fresh' ) the bar staff are happy to bring out a second glass of champagne. It's good to know that comfortable hotels still exist. 

This was interesting :https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/we-cant-afford-to-keep-cutting-taxes

July 4th reading. Feather beds :https://birdhistory.substack.com/p/everyone-had-a-feather-bed-da4

Surprisingly interesting insights into an ethylene cracker :https://edconway.substack.com/p/a-dying-industry-dies-a-bit-more

Research into hotdogs :https://beyondtheabstract.substack.com/p/the-most-popular-study-ive-ever-published

Seat 11a :https://observer.co.uk/style/features/article/the-man-in-seat-11a-and-our-obsession-with-sole-survivors