Freedom From The Mundane

The Beaujolais Breakfast

Image: Jessica Melling

Saturday’s Beaujolais Breakfast raised £2,633 for Marie Curie Cancer Care, a result double any previous year and proof that it is possible to have a fabulous time while doing good things for others.

The day was a scream from start to finish. I have only made to writing about it in my blog today, but if you were following my Tweets you would have been able to follow my adventure out to Stagg’s Pub in Musselborough.

I arrived at 9am, and after registering was handed a full glass of fresh Beaujolais—my first of many that day. I was also given a plastic knife and fork and a large polystyrene tub in which my Full Scottish Breakfast (bacon, sausage, beans, black pudding, scrambled egg, mushrooms, tattie scone, tomato, toast) could be located. Lovely jubbly, and filled my belly right through until late evening.

My work pal, Julz, turned up and introduced me to many of her rugby chums, and a surprise was waiting for us both when a bloke who works for us was also there and playing in the band that had been hired to entertain us later in the day.

Once everyone had been fed it was down to the raffle. I never one anything despite the fact the only thing among the many bottles of booze, chocolate, rugby and golfing items was the water pistol! Onto the auction and the first two Lots were two of my books, FRINGE FANTASTIC and STELLA, the sum of around £50 (I think) being raised by them both. The winner of STELLA had bid for it for his daughter and I was happy to sign a message for her (handwriting not as good as it probably should have been!)

The rest of the day was taken up with dancing to the band (a cover band made up of ukeleles called FC Ukelele!), talking to loads of people (I met a Director of Swansea City FC) and watching the England v New Zealand and Scotland v Australia Rugby Union Autumn Test matches. Scotland won in an amazing match and a second wind was discovered by most.

I eventually called it a day at 9pm and headed home in a taxi. I was knackered but had a great day and I’ll be doing it again next year—this time with a camera!

So far this week I’ve been reading intensely. I’ve begun ruminating about certain aspects of the stories I have “in progress” as well as the poetry I have written so far this year, which quite honestly amounts to quite a lot now. I’m just not sure what to do with it all but I guess I’ll figure that out when it comes—naturally.