Good lord that was a bruising night. I feel like America is the kid whose mother just lost a prolonged custody battle with an alcoholic father. Now the law has decided we have to go live with him for 4 years, and all we can do is hope he will let us see our friends, get us to our activities and not kill us by in a drunken rage during that time. Amazing we expect our kids to go thru this regularly. At least we’re somewhat better equipped to cope.
The thin silver thread of good cheer from yesterday came to me from regular reader Lavelle Suilin who teaches philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. Apparently the nearby town of Dunkeld has an annual parade and wheelbarrow decorating contest with prizes for the best entry. If you doubt whether this is the unabashedly quaintest tradition in the history of the entire country read the rules for entry below.
Parade Rules
Here are the Simple Rules:
1. Your wheelbarrow must be a normal one-wheeled garden wheelbarrow.
2. The wheelbarrow can be decorated with any theme you want. Extensions can be added to enhance your display but they must not touch the ground.
3. The wheelbarrow must be able to be wheeled by one person. You are allowed a driver and a team of up to 4 attendants (who can cake turns if the ‘driver’ gets tired). All can be dressed to enhance your theme!
4. On arrival at the judging ring in Stanley Hill the driver must take over and perform a figure of 8 in front of the judges.
5. Judging will be based on the look and originality of the wheelbarrow decoration, the turnout of the wheelbarrow team and the handling of the barrow in front of the judges.
This year there was a very special surprise honoring the beavers at the nearby Loch of Lowes. YES! And because we are beaver central we have rare footage.
Now as fate would have it, it’s our 31 anniversary. In its honor, I had hoped to be presented with my first ever female president. But it looks like I will have to wait for that particular gift.
