The royal visit and the dawn chorus

The sun is shining, the birds are singing and another week passed – as it invariably does. Three blogs from now, after the bread round will be reporting from the Mini marathon. I’m still running but the  kids, all back for the summer, have now decided that we need to do circuit  training in the evenings and my leisurely training as been upted with “weighted squads”, stepping, skipping, push ups and the hated plank. If you don’t know what that is, don’t go and find out, just leave it!! Apparently it is a good sign that all muscles are sore and apparently I will be fit and slim by the end of the summer. I believe it when I see it and point blank refuse to try “pull ups from hanging” and readily complain that I am way too old for this lark while secretly being thrilled with having found this escape route before middle age came and claimed another lazy one for early retirement of all muscles. 

Anyway, last Thursday was the royal visit in Kilkenny. It was a good day, a sunny day and Kilkenny did look amazing and photographed really well. The Castle was looking its best and hosted, what to all accounts and purposes seemed like a royal garden party from way back when – with ball games, good food and good fun. The market was set up on the parade – inside the barriers which were set up along the road and half way down the parade. Security is of course paramount and in this case probably one big headache so we didn’ t mind coming in early, we didn’t mind the sniffer dog in the stall, we didn’t mind having to come back in through airport security – and we didn’ t mind the long wait either. What I did mind was that whoever organised this didn’t realise that our customers belong to the market. They are people who come every week, some of them coming out especially when the weather is terribly because they know we need them most on those days. We know each other and we work with each other but for this occassion not one of them was considered part of the market. Instead, 20 min before the royal visitors were due, the market was flooded with a very well dressed group of strangers – pretending to be customers. 

Then came the helicopters and the girls around us got excited. Some choppers put down – I presume in the park – and soon the cavalcade of cars appeared at the market – to the girls leaning over the barricades to find out “ What is she wearing? Can you see them? ” Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall wondered over the market, bought things, chatted and genereally did what they came to do – provide a photo op for as many people as they could. Camilla very patiently stood at our stall and chatted until the photographers told her they were happy. I don’t really like the world of photo op, reality tv and pretend but it was very nice that she made the effort and I fully realise that a visit like this is nothing but extremely hard work for her as she must know that for every minute of the day, someone has put a lot of effort into whatever they do. With the best will of the world, she – or Prince Charles cannot possible do justice to everyone but they did try so hard and that is all they can do. Once the market visit was over and the party in the Castle had started, the garda in charge somehow couldn’t find the courage to let our customers into the market and – for us anyway – the day soured a bit as €400 worth of bread sat on the table. We started to sell across the railings, walking along with our sample tray and bringing baskets down to the barrier. When the customers finally made their way in, it was too late for many, lunch was over and a loss loomed for many traders. Such an unnecessary downer after a day where everyone made a big effort. Just a suggestion for future events. We don’t only have the castle and the pretty roads, we also have very reliable, honest and well mannered citizens, real customers who can be relied upon to take part in these events without causing danger or embaressment to anyone. Sometimes, keeping things a bit more real and honest can be a good thing in these days of pretend. 

Anyhow, we have the photograph, we have the experience, we sold the bread and we recovered the sleep and all is well as we look forward to a “normal market” tomorrow.  Oh – and she was wearing a very nice green coat and yes, she paid and yes it was with Euros. I am not sure why, but those are the two most asked questions....

Oh, and if you want to sample an early morning this Sunday – or next – come and join us for our annual dawn chorus at 5am. A bird walk in the woodland of Kilfane – followed by breakfast in the bakehouse.  A free event, we take donations for the Carlow/Kilkenny homecare team. Please book in though, because we can only take 12 each morning.There’s nothing like an early morning spend outdoors, followed by a good breakfast. See you there.