A Short Long-Weekend in May

It’s been a short long-weekend. It is Victoria Day. They don’t seem to celebrate it here like they do in other provinces. I guess it’s not considered politically correct. But it has been a busy time nonetheless. Friday evening we attended a movie screening at the theatre in town, a movie that made my own films seem like comedies. But it was powerful, although depressing. Life can be like that at times.

The outdoor Farmer’s Market – a misnomer since it is mostly crafts and baking, at least at this time of year –  opened Saturday with a flourish for the fair weather season. A new Town Crier greeted the crowd. A fiddler entertained. People were happy to be out and about.

We’d already been to the garden store to pick up plants for our deck pots. Then, after planting them, we went for a walk in our village and later to the pub across the river to hear a kilted friend and neighbour play his wonderful mandolin. We chattered and laughed and sang with others. A pint or two of local beer filled out the occasion and my bladder.

Sunday was hot at 30 Celsius. Too hot for the end of May. I suppose I must be getting old. The mirror says “yes”, but my mind resists. Fortunately, on our side of the river there was a nice breeze from the water and a bit of tree shade. But I had already, early in the day, transplanted a small lilac, watered and fed some of our many still young perennial shrubs, and gone for a walk while I waited for John to return from his Sunday duties. Then, following lunch on our upper deck, we went to a rare plant sale, as observers rather than purchasers because our garden is full. This was followed by a lovely and leisurely stroll in the Historic Gardens alive with spring bloom. After dinner, not to let the moss grow under our feet, we attended a wonderful choral concert in town.

Today, Monday, we were, as is usual, up early. But by 9:30 a.m., after breakfast, and following our daily exercise routine, fiddle practice and time spent reviewing the script of my most recent play, I wondered what I would do for the rest of the day. Fortunately, it is a more seasonal temperature today. I do have a fiddle lesson after lunch. John is at his easel. And we are thankful we have the energy to be so active, and the sense to put our feet up from time to time so that we might sit back and watch the ebb and flow of the tide.