Recreationist tendencies
I’m wondering if people study too much local history or not enough, around here. While the newspapers of the world find all sorts on interesting things to divulge, locally we’re caught up in a bit of a time warp. As if there was something in the air or the drinking water that caused a tear in the fabric of reality.
There’s the local “used to be a church” story that seems to find new variations on a regular basis. We’ve made it through the 400th without the facade falling on anyone’s head. Now that the new year is firmly established, tbe government wants the developer to dismantle the stonework, number and store the blocks and then rebuild the facade in it’s current form. Or something like that. The hotel will have a front that bears no resemblance to the rest of the structure, and a lot of money will have changed hands.
This summer, a group of historical recreationists have chosen to play through the script of a famous battle. Back in 1759, a skirmish that lasted about twenty minutes saw the transfer of this land of ice and snow from one gang to another. A little bit of shooting and marching that left big footprints in the local memory set. You see, the local team lost that game and don’t want anything to remind them of the defeat. Oops, shouldn’t use that word. Let’s try outmanoeuvred. There, that doesn’t hurt (quite as much).
The plan to replay has three levels of government at a loss for words. Some words. Although the planners specifically have not invited any politicians, those crazy elected characters are not going to attend, under any circumstances. Is that clear? I didn’t think so.
