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BB2438
: Same Procedure?
Thursday
19th December 2024
“Which
way round are we going?” asked Robin after
Tony and I had met him at Kirkby Lonsdale’s
Devil’s Bridge. “Same procedure as
last year?”
“No,"
I answered. "It wasn't last year,
it was ages ago and you weren't with us.
It’s the other way round to BB1130
: Turn Again Whittington."
“So,
not the same procedure as last year?” he
continued, grinning.
"What
is tickling you?” I asked.
“Same
procedure as last year. Have you not
seen the film?”
We
crossed the road and entered the fields
on the right bank of the River Lune.
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It
was a lovely day. In the distance
we could see Ingleborough.
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Much closer
were birds that we failed to identify plus
an egret flying down stream and a swan paddling
upstream, which must have been a considerable
effort as it was quite full and flowing
strongly.
We
asked Robin to tell us more. He explained
that “Same procedure as last year?” was the
running gag in a short movie entitled "Dinner
for One". Although English-made, it
is little known in England but is a cult
film traditionally watched every New Year’s
Eve in Denmark, Germany and other Northern
European countries.
We
would have asked for further explanation
but attention was required for the sections
of path that were perilously close to the
river then the Burrow Mill hedge tunnel.....
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.....
which led to a track where
tractors had made puddles that were getting
larger and larger and deeper and deeper.
I
had told the boys we could have lunch at
the Dragon’s Head pub in the village. They
though I meant inside but I knew that it
was long closed- even back in 2011. I
had anticipated there might still be somewhere
to sit outside. There wasn’t. An
extensive and expensive restoration was
in hand. The stone mason told us it
was likely to take three years to complete.
It certainly looks like being a high
quality dwelling judging by the other buildings
they had previously developed in the village.
Up
the hill is the Saint Michael the Archangel
church.
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Here, as expected, was a bench
in full sun and a view across the graveyard
to Ingleborough. Perfect for lunch
and for Robin to continue the tale.
It
is about Miss Sophie’s 90th birthday and,
as usual, she is hosting a dinner for her
four gentlemen friends, Sir Toby, Admiral
von Schneider, Mr. Pomeroy, and Mr. Winterbottom.
It is a four course meal and at the
start of each course she exchanges toast
with each of them in turn. The
same procedure every year.
OK,
we nodded, unimpressed, then left to examine
the Church before heading up a road said
to be unsuitable for large vehicles which
led to High Biggins. This is an ancient
village with many fine houses, some old,
and some very new but mostly built in sympathetic
style.
We
took the footpath across Queen Elizabeth's
School rugby pitch then through the school
grounds and onto the narrow lane flanked
with smart terraced cottages leading down
to the town centre. The main street
was blocked due to the recent massive fire
that had destroyed, amongst other things,
Tony's favourite shop. To see why
he loved it so much, visit their website
why, visit
their website GR and RD Taylor’
whilst you still can.
Sadly, it seems highly unlikely that
it will be reincarnated.
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We
had heard that Ruskin’s View was closed
but that is not the case. It is the
path beyond it that is closed.
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The
view is much as it must have been in his
time except that the barn, painted multi
coloured as a protest against a lack of
planning consent, is still decorated although
now somewhat muted.
The
steps down to the river are called the Radical
steps, very aptly. They are exceedingly
steep and frighteningly uneven. We
survived and made our way along by the river
......
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.....
to the bridges and back to the car.
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Parking
is currently free in Kirkby Lonsdale so
we drove to the town centre and headed for
the Barn I have previously
been critical of this ale house but I have
to say that either it has changed or I have
as today I found it a very pleasant place
to sit and quiz Robin as to why the film
was so interesting. He explained.
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It
is Miss Sophie's 90th birthday
and a table has been laid for
her and her four suitors who
are all long dead so she is the only one eating.
Every
course is preceded by James the butler asking
"The same procedure as
last year, Miss Sophie?"
which leads to the response
"The same procedure as
every year, James."
Each
course is accompanied by a different drink
and James has to act the part
of each suitor in turn to take sherry, wine, champagne
and port with Miss Sophie. By the time
James has consumed 16 drinks he is extremely
drunk.
I will draw a curtain over
what happens next. You’ll have to
watch for yourself. The film certainly made
me chuckle.
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As
we left, Robin asked “The same procedure
next year?”
“Quite
possibly the same procedure every year,
Robin,” we replied.
Don,
Thursday 19th December 2024
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