Things happening on today!

It’s very quiet out. Perhaps everyone is still watching the pomp and circumstance or re-runs of the golden coach making its way along the Mall. I’ve not heard any bells ringing but it may just be that we are too far from anywhere with bells. The pub next door has lit it’s wood-fired pizza oven. They must be expecting some celebrators, or maybe celebration-avoiders, to eat lots of pizza. We have closed all the windows on that side of the house. Woodsmoke is not what you want your house to smell of. 

I’ve been avoiding TV and radio news but it’s hard to dodge all the photos in the newspapers online: pictures of people wearing plastic macs as they wait for things to happen and pictures of members of the royal family being escorted under umbrellas to join in the stately procession. I guess it’s raining on his parade! Here, so far, we have fine and mild weather. I’ve hung the washing out to dry.

A friend of mine has been on social media, expressing her disgust at the fact that “Not My King” protestors have been arrested this morning. Warnings were out earlier in the week that this might happen. While I’m pretty sure Charles wouldn’t want his day disrupted, and especially would  not like to have eggs thrown at his regalia, I wonder how he feels about this latest restriction to freedom of expression.

Earlier this morning, out running, I spotted a van parked on the lane, just next to an old gas lamp. Now, some time earlier this year we noticed that the “door” to access the gas mantle was hanging open. The old lamp was looking rather neglected. Some weeks later we spotted a car parked under the gas lamp and somebody obviously “working” on the lamp. Was he repairing it or, heaven forfend, stealing it. We took note of his car number plate so that if there was any news about a disappeared lamp we could point investigators in the right direction. 

This time it was obvious the man in the man had been restoring it, as the gas lamp was neatly back in place, functioning, and very clean. He told me that the lamp post is a listed feature and therefore has to be maintained. He had been doing some restoration work and was taking advantage of today’s lighter traffic to be able to put it back with minimum disruption. Now he was off to check up on the five other listed gas lamps around our area. There’s one in the centre of Dobcross, probably the most prominently placed of all of them. It’s good to see them being maintained properly.

I have been reminded by a few friends that today is Europe Day.was this another recent invention? I wondered. Surely it’s too big a coincidence that Europe Day also Coronation Day. So Investigated and found this: 

“Europe Day is a day celebrating "peace and unity in Europe" celebrated on 5 May by the Council of Europe and on 9 May by the European Union.

The first recognition of Europe Day was by the Council of Europe, introduced in 1964.The European Union later started to celebrate its own European Day in commemoration of the 1950 Schumann Declaration, which first proposed the European Coal and Steel Community, leading it to be referred to by some as "Schuman Day" or "Day of the united Europe". Both days are celebrated by displaying the Flag of Europe.

I’m seeing a district lack of European flags around here! So it goes! 

Oops! Correction: I’ve had my dates mixed up - yesterday was Europe Day. Today is just a coronation!

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!