Community

Today's photos are of Comrie's signature building, The White Church and a regular event held there. When the "new" church was built in the 1870s, the White Church became Comrie's community centre. This is where the Thursday Club luncheons are held where, as I've written, for just 2 pounds, a hearty lunch of soup, roll, pudding, tea or coffee can be taken. Each Thursday from noon to about 1 pm people come together for lunch, including school children who come at about 12:30. Sometimes the children eat at a table to themselves, other times they join their parents, grandparents, or other relatives. Volunteers do everything, from setting up and putting away tables and chairs, to cooking, serving, washing up, and cleaning up. Next Thursday is my last time for making pudding during the spring season. For my trouble (and supplies) I get 2 pounds and a free lunch on that day.

As you can see from the photo, the place was crowded yesterday, so much so that the only place we could find a seat was at the Retired Ministers' table which seats 8. Our usual practice is to join another couple at a table for 4, but there were no seats available when we arrived a wee bittie later than we usually do. As you can imagine with all those hard surfaces and so many folks of all ages, it is a loud and clamorous environment for lunch but we love it because it so thoroughly represents all that is meant by the term "community."

Progress Report

This morning at 8 one of the roofers arrived and began nailing things over the studio extension. When I went out to greet him, he said they wouldn't be able to put up any tiles today because the supplier failed to deliver any nails! ("For want of a nail...."). At any rate, supports are being nailed up in preparation for putting on the tiles once the nails arrive. (Sigh.) At about 9:30, however, it began to snow. (Heavy snow showers are predicted for today.) The roofer went and sat in his car until it was over but is now back on the job. While it was snowing, the brickies' van drove up and Mr Jack came to put plastic covering over all his stacks of builders' blocks and over the burlap on the chimney so far. I spoke with him a few minutes before he left. He said if any snow lies on these items and they get damp, it would be unsound to build with them. This is why they can't work when it's frosty or damp. (That still doesn't explain why they weren't here yesterday afternoon when it was warm and dry, but I let that go.) He did tell me they have an inside job they'll be working at today and that if they didn't have that, they wouldn't be working at all. My guess is that is where they were yesterday. But that's how this business goes.

Don is playing golf again this morning and I'm still playing in my studio, although it's a bit louder today than it has been. That's okay, it's the sound of progress!