A sunny Monday morning. The news leads with the Hungarian elections where the pro-Russian government has been voted out by a landslide. Seems J D Vances campaign stop last week to bolster the old government didn't work as planned. We also learn that overnight the American President has had a go at the 'weak and terrible' Pope. " If I wasn't in the White House Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican ". Even to a Presbyterian mindset this sounds rather insulting. Keir Starmer who has been criticized yet again in one of these diatribes must feel as if he's in good company. Angus wonders if it's good politics to get into a shouting match with the Pope. Presumably some advisers must think MAGA supporters are Southern Baptists not Catholics.
Three Scotties are heading towards us as we head down the street towards the Old Course. We step aside to let them - and their owners - go by. Scotties have a strangely imperial air for such wee dogs. They exude a ' This is my town and you're in my way ' disdain. The matriarch , on the right, has a particularly no nonsense air about her.
The wee town has been busy over the weekend with the once a year open day for those youngsters lucky enough to have been offered a place here next semester. Proud parents and uncertain teenagers throng the place. Lots of kids from Melbourne wanting to do pre-Med this year. The big question facing them - would you prefer to study in a large city with nightlife or a small town without diversions ? Today the parents and holidaymakers have gone and the students are focusing on exams. As a result parking is easy.
In Starbucks this morning four retired gentlemen from Poughkeepsie inform us they're here to play a round on the Old Course in memory of their old friend Jim. Seems he retired in December but then went on all too quickly to play the sun drenched course in the sky . Rather sweetly they ask me which whisky they should use to toast his memory. " Money's no object " they add. Tonight as the sun sets over the 17th they will stand by the old stone wall in the garden of The Jigger Inn and toast absent friends. For some folks the Old Course really is sacred ground where dreams are played out. They'll start with a 30 year old Macallan and move onto a glass of Laphroaig followed by a dram of Caol Ila to ward off the post sunset cold. The old line attributed to Bobby Jones ( that greatest and most gentlemanly of all golfers ) will be repeated " If I had been set down, in any one place, and told I was to play there and nowhere else for the rest of my life, I should have chosen the Old Course at St Andrews ". It will be, I think, an emotional evening. Their honesty and kindness reminds me of the Arizonans on our Northern Lights trip.
A hint of sea mist as we arrive on the beach.
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Life is sunny and quiet.
Spotted in the next McTears auction in Glasgow :
13 comments:
Hari OM
Oh, my goodness, something about that painting has me wanting to call the RSPCA! All quiet on the 'western front', too...YAM xx
Perhaps the dog is just expressing his unhappiness with the empty food plate, but I wouldn't want that painting on my wall. The president had quite an evening, following up on his diatribe about the Pope with a picture of himself as Jesus. It's kind of funny but it also makes me want to cry - or scream.
Pope Bob will be very mindful of his words (unlike tRump) but he won't back down. The dog looks like he needs love.
Those were three fine recommendations for a toast to an absent comrade. The poor wee pup looks so forlorn, I want to pluck him out of the painting and comfort him. Talented artist however to have captured that expression.
I'm pretty sure the last person to win in a fight with the pope was Charles V.
The painting is heart-rending.
I'd love to know who it is in the White House that thinks posting Jesus like renditions of the President is a good idea.
Agree with Stephanie, that little pup is so forlorn it is heart rending. As for the rantings of the current occupant of the White House, I have no words.
He really is the limit, isn’t he.
I would love to be sitting on the steps at the Old Course in the biting wind, not thinking about world politics, and counting my blessings for that moment.
Having had 4 scotties, now have westies. I like to say the Scottie is the teacher to the westies class clown!!! A Scottie can be quite aloof!!!!
Love the dog painting.
Yeah, that’s going to backfire on him.
I wonder who the artist is? I see sadness but also some hope in the dog portrait though; are you going to take me with you?
The current US administration seems to have no understanding of either subtlety or soft power. The latest utterances may well backfire however.
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