The Curse Of The Sunglasses

10/04/2005

As I contemplate the sodden landscape from the windows of the Tower of Glen Trollaigh, I have to admit that I have been fooling myself into thinking that we have had a good summer. The early part was dry and cloudy with average temperatures, however, on the 1st of August, it started raining and blowing gales, only the most ardent Argyll optimist would claim that we have had even half a dry day since then. What is even more galling is that much of the rest of the U.K. has basked in warm sunshine for months. The reason is plain enough; it is all because I bought a new part of sunglasses. I rarely wear “shades” however; I am an ardent collector of the latest style that always end up on a dressing room shelf, never having had to deflect a single UV ray from the baronial eyeballs. This year the must haves were Clic Sports from the states, which I am assured are all the rage and changing hands in London for hundreds of pounds. These nifty numbers have a magnetic gismo on the bridge, where they split or clic, allowing one to put them on without taking one’s Borsalino off, excellent! I have not seen blue sky since I bought them for a tidy sum eight weeks ago. It all reminds me of an expensive purchase of a pair of Oakley Frogeyes in 2001 the day before I set off on a yachting trip to Benodet. Within 36 hours, we were sailing in appalling conditions off the south coast of Ireland, 70 mile an hour gusts, driving rain, huge seas, almost impossible to keep the Ardbeg in a glass. These conditions remained for a fortnight until my cruise was over. I must make a note to purchase new wellies and a heavy field coat next July hoping that the weather Gods will punish me a with glorious 2006 summer! Yours Aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.