Way out West (incorporating Way up North)

The magic of cricket.

I like it when Test Match Special, or its one day equivalent is on the radio, I let them burble away gently in the background, tuning in occasionally when something happens. Up 'til now, I hadn't thought that there was much enthusiasm for cricket in Aberdeenshire. So, I was somewhat entertained today, when the first ODI ground to its eventual conclusion, to look out of my kitchen window (the radio is in the kitchen) and find an attentive ring of little faces, comprising: two grouse, five rabbits and three deer. It was like bloody Bambi, as soon as the game finished, they shook off their hypnotised state and vanished. Thank god the sheep don't share their enthusiasm, there's more than two hundred of them!
By way of a post-script, about half an hour later, I was making my supper and gazing absently out of the window when I observed a blinged up low rise Golf GTi very gingerly making its way down the track towards my house. I thought little of it, occasionally boy racers take the forest road, realise that it really isn't a rally track and then discover that there aren't many places where a car with lowered suspension can turn round without grounding themselves. I realised, however, that the car was stopping and politely went out to see how lost they were. As I approached, the door opened and a giant Aberdonian unfolded himself; 'Excuse me,' he said, 'do you have any kittens for sale?' I peered into the dark interior, and realised it was crammed with small girls, a wicker cat basket perched on their knees. 'Ah,' I replied sagely, 'you'll be wanting Ballochan.'
Truth is, of course, there are only two destinations beyond my gaff; Birse Castle, and Ballochan, the former is very small and only occupied on significant huntin'n'shootin dates, and the latter is a working farm, so it isn't usually that difficult to work out who is trying to get to where. Sometimes I feel that Disney has a lot to answer for, at least he never tried to anthropomorphise sheep.

posted by Lampy @ 6/30/2012 11:34:00 am