AWW 25.04,2007. An Unfortunate set of Circumstances!
As you all have no doubt realised, I am a 'glass half full' sort of a chap, and having only one week back here between our UK and China trips, I was really looking forward to an outing with the AWW to catch up on the scuttlebutt, and to ascertain the truth of some of the outlandish events that John had described during his locum.
Imagine my dismay when having mentally prepared for the usual 0930 start at Café Machado, I received an email indicating that Elaine, the proposed leader, had been bullied into bringing the start forward by a complete hour by a senior workaholic insomniac member of the group. " No names - no pack drill" whatever that means!
Still, I was determined to work off a few of the pies and pasties that are a health hazard littering the UK streetscape, and set off at 0700 to meet my pilot to the start, who is annoyingly always at his best and loudest in the wee small hours. Yes it had been raining since 0200 hrs, and OK I had to use the wipers on my way, but I was rather surprised to get the recall from Myriam, who was still wallowing in bed, claiming that her slumbers had been disturbed by a cancellation call.
Now for the Witch Hunt and the formal ascribing of Blame. Let's face it, Stan and Elaine have not had it easy this season! First there was the Morgado de Reguengos Walk which so reduced the soft tissue beneath Myriam's meniscus that she hasn't completed a WW since. Same walk caused such GBH to Jim B. that he wasn't seen for several months, except when he & Myriam met at Hospitâl Particular while having their ailments treated! Then there was a spate of contraventions of the rule passed by sub-committee in a bygone era that 'Thou shalt not arrange the arrival or departure of visitors (Family or otherwise) at Faro on a Wednesday, unless they are self-sufficient'. Then the unheard of last minute cancellation of a walk on 11th April, with no alternate leaders available, because of a case of the 'snuffles' (probably contracted from those self-same Wednesday arrivants!) And now the early morning rain! The gentle rain!! Lord have Mercy!!
The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain of heaven
Upon the place beneath…
And as I sit here at my computer with the weather bar at the bottom of the screen showing 17ºC and sun for later, I too will be merciful!! I missed my walk, but this was out of Elaine's control. Given that extra hour in bed of which we were cruelly deprived, and leisure to study forecasts and look out in daylight rather than early morning gloom, the walk may have gone ahead. I have never been an advocate of leaping out of bed before the system has fully awoken itself, to rush off for an activity which is entirely recreational. You brought this upon yourself you 'morning person'!!!
And on the topic of rain, a motivational quote for those sensitive souls who may have been offended by my cautionary notes above:
"When subjected to the 'rain' of criticism, let's not curse the rain. Let's accept it as a part of life. Let's remember that the more criticism we can successfully handle, the more zest we will experience in our lives." (Shall Sinha)
Better close while my coffee cup is still half full!!
posted by Paulo a Pe | 8:22 am
4 Comments:
What magic ingredient does Myriam put in Paulo de Pe's breakfast coffee that by 8.22 in the morning he can compose a veritable jeremaid which, even so, contains quotations from a modern day disciple of Mahatma Ghandi and from Shakespeare; the latter no mean commentator on the weather, of course. "So fair and foul a day I have not seen" and "to outscorn The to-and-fro-conflicting rain" both remind us how difficult it can be to forecast the day ahead, even in Algarve.
But better no doubt to take criticism than to "suffer the sling and arrows of outrageaous fortune."
So, what does Myriam put into Paul's coffee?
Today's Diplomatic Bag contained a further despatch from AWW's Ambassador to the Court of Titipu, Whittle San writing as follows:
"Oh dear! I thought walking in Tokyo was hazardous, but it looks as though the AWW's are treading a rather narrow path.Hardly the breath of fresh air that I was expecting when opening the blog. Not so much fresh air here in the city, but out in the hills it's much better. Walked for nearly four hours last weekend towards Mount Fuji along the old Edo road. How they managed with sedan chairs and rope sandals I wouldn't know, it was tough going most of the way. The Nips have it worked out, they take the train and cable car to the high lake, then walk back down, taking the bus when the going gets tough. I was the only one going the other way, always remembering to keep left of course. Walking in town has other conventions, single file against the flow keeping to the side when entering a station, single file down the middle when leaving. No pushing or shoving, everyone keeps to his space, but you must conform. Official company memeo to all foreigners, no walking in double file and chatting on the way to work, you must wait at all red traffic lights, and no talking about work outside the office! Walls have ears here, especially since most are made of paper. Lost in Translation, to coin a phrase.
Better luck with the next walk, regards to all, Chris."
What disciplinarian walking precepts will he bring back with him, one wonders.
Maybe one or more of these ingredients in the coffee!!
Round about the coffee go;
In the poison'd entrails throw.
Toad, that under cold stone
Days and nights has thirty-one
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i' the charmed pot.
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and owlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witches' mummy, maw and gulf
Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark,
Root of hemlock digg'd i' the dark,
Liver of blaspheming Jew,
Gall of goat, and slips of yew
Silver'd in the moon's eclipse,
Nose of Turk and Tartar's lips,
Finger of birth-strangled babe
Ditch-deliver'd by a drab,
Make the gruel thick and slab:
Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,
For the ingredients of our cauldron.
Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.
Now who could the Second and Third Witches be!!
This may yet be a record...at least 4 comments on one blog.
The Scottish Play is proving to be a rich vein for those seeking to mine nuggets. Paulo's ingredients sound absolutely great when intoned in a Scottish accent... the 3 witches came, of course , frae Drumnadrochit....but we cana expect the AWW tae lug the Complete Works o' Wullie Shakespeare aroun' wi' them a' the time, sae we'll hae tae conclude wi' the words o' Banquo:
"And when we have our naked frailties hid
That suffer in exposure, let us meet
And question this most bloody piece of work
To know it further."
And those of MacB. himself:
"I drink to the general joy of the whole table."
Post a Comment
<< Home