Don Giovanni And The EU Girls.

06/03/2006

Although rather overcast and misty the temperature rises to the giddy height of 15 degrees, and the brightness of green on field and in forest almost hurts ones eyes, perhaps the summer season will be with us after all our storms and cold weather. Save for the odd frost damaged plant the only other sign of our unusual spring must surely be reaching June without a midge bite; I cannot remember this happening in the past, although the buggers are around to-day, but not in great numbers. There do seem to be many more wasps then usual for this time of year, and I have been stung by one ingrate whilst attempting to rescue it from a Hendrick’s and tonic, now it must be the death sentence for any other yellow peril that may buzz too.

Much of the end of the week has been taken up with the visit from the European tobacco farming advisor. We were on stand-by on Wednesday that an N. Papadopoulos would be in contact within 24 hours and could we provide a car and driver to collect and guide N.P. from Edinburgh for the rate of £500 per day. As this is about four and a half times the income of any local cabbie, I had no hesitation in sub-contracting the deal to a delighted Tanya’s Taxis for £400 per day. Tanya duly delivered N.P. on Thursday after our advisor had spent 24 hours lavishly entertaining certain MSP’s with agricultural interests at The Caledonia Hotel, Edinburgh. Tanya was dressed in what I believe is the current style of a white Tutu with black leggings, with I felt a trifle androgynous, however I was swiftly hushed by dearest Dottie as she stepped forward to open the car door for our advisor. I was delighted to discover that this expert was Nana, a slim, Mediterranean six-footer, who after a half hour chat on Tobacco was whisked away by dearest Dottie, Tanya and Mhairi to discover the glories of the Tower of Glen Trollaigh and our new gardens. A great party followed with many gifts exchanged, our delight in our guest increased ten fold when she produced tickets for Scottish Opera’s Don Giovanni for that very night. Tanya sourced a twelve seater, and with Romanoff at the wheel, off we all sped to The Theatre Royal, Nana kept on picking up all the tabs, and courtesy of the EU tobacco growers, we had the most marvellous evening, Scottish Opera has come in for some considerable stick over the past two years, but this was world-class stuff. Tanya and Nana kept us awake on the early hour’s drive back to Glen Trollaigh with many a recital of the Mozart/Ponte arias, not forgetting Nana’s wonderful story that, had Elvis Presley appeared as the anticipated daughter of Mr and Mrs Presley, he was to have been christened Elvira. Both Nana and Tanya have managed to stay on at The Great Tower of Trollaigh, and I have my turn to introduce them to the pleasures of the hill and the river over the weekend. Viva the EU, yours aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.