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| Sunday, 28 December 2003 |
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Weekend meander : If old acquaintance be forgot .... We are back home in the forest-and the queen is with us. It was only last week that the announcement was made that Queen Titania had decided to stay on in Sri Lanka. Things have since taken a dramatic turn. We sent an urgent message to Merlin to take a firm decision on the matter. The queen cannot be allowed to take a unilateral decision to stay back in Sri Lanka; Merlin's 'stay order.' While this may be seen as some as a violation of a woman's rights,the fact is that WE are supreme in the forest and the queen is subject to our will. 'We cannot condone this. Her majesty should have the right to stay back in Sri Lanka if she wanted to.' That was Bottom. But Bottom is a good soul and does not see the seriousness of such matters. Quince then cautioned Botty that he was liable to be charged with high treason for saying such things. Whatever or whatever, Merlin's order, delivered from Sherwood, saw that the queen returned to England, whatever the fortunes of the Sri Lankan Advisor (SLA) to her majesty. Snow lies on the ground, thick and fast. The Little Blithe Spirits are still recovering from the flight from Sri Lanka and are not to be seen. It was a wonderful flight-on Sri Lanka Airlines, of course. It was chartered specially for us forest folk, so that we had the time of our lives. Bottom was in his element what with all the sparkling wine SLA serves so lavishly at all times of the flight. Even Puck had his little dribble or two, and then entertained all of us with a special Christmas skit. Puck's skit was on the SLA but Quince brought immediate censorship into force. Nothing was to be even hinted about the SLA because of the queen's friendship with the Sri Lankan. That was that. The queen was not herself on the flight. A mood of sadness had taken hold of her which everyone on board sensed and tried to do something about. But Queen Titania is not easily distracted. Her moods last for hours, even if Bottom tries to cheer her up. It is the 28th of December and we are happy to be back, although there are tensions in the frosty air. Sri Lanka Airlines which, coincidentally has the same initials as the SLA, did their best to help the queen on the flight; they even provided the music that she favours-all the seasonal carols and even our own 'Green Sleeves,' which is one of Sherwood's signature tunes. Will Scarlet and Alan a'Dale sing it most of the time in summer. We arrived back home a few days before Christmas, actually with the England team which was on another flight back home after its tour of Sri Lanka. We got back to t right royal welcome in Sherwood. Actualy, we went to our part of the forest through Sherwood because our domains were snowbound and Robin O'the Hood was pleased to invite us to use Sherwood where they had laid on a fantastic reception, with even the good friar putting on a cabaret which he had labelled 'Mead on Wheels.' It was absolutely hilarious and featured all the Merry Men with even Maid Marian joining in. The cold was bitter and Queen Titania looked out of this world in her silver fox robe which had been designed and made during the summer so that she would not suffer a moment's chill on our return home after the Sri Lanka tour. There several fires sending out spraks into the winter chill,meats roasting on several spits and chestnuts roasting as well in several fires. The fragrance of Christmas pudding filled the air, mingling with the savour of roasting vension and other meats. But the queen was sad. That was obvious. She seemed to witdraw into her mink robe, nursing her glass of hot mead in her hands and staring into the fire. Where was the SLA at that moment? Could that have been what she was thinking? We cant control her thoughts,of course, but we do have the power to wean her away from such thoughts. But this is Christmastime and Bottom and all the rest tried their best to make her feel better. The queen does indeed have the capacity to snap from one mood into another-sometimes too fast, we think. She did manage to smile when Friar Tuck and Puck put on a special Christmas skit of the cricket in Sri Lanka that we had just enjoyed. But we think that it was really bringing the queen pleasant memories of that memorable stay in the Southern Sri Lankan city of Galle where we got our first taste of Sri Lankan cricket,lusty as it is. Pyramus and Thisbe, Puck, Bottom, Starveling, Snout and the rest were in a huddle. With only three days to go for New Year's Eve celebrations, they were planning the party. The whole thing was to be a big secret, Quince announced, with no details to be let out at any cost. But it leaked out that Robin O'the Hood and his Merry Band would also be attending-and that meant that it was going to be a really merry 'do.' It was so cold that hardly anyone could even talk about the New Year party. But Bottom is never too cold to talk about an inpending celebration, especially an event such as New Year's Eve. Our Christmas was merry and very, very white, in the words of a song that would be a Big Hit several hundred years from now. There were fires almost everywhere and singing, dancing and merriment in everywhere. The Little Blithe Spirits were decked out in special winter outfits of silver and white, and Puck was resplendent in red and green with winking jets all over his costume. The queen was in her silver fox robes with gold and silver sequins and Indian jeek embroidery-the latter an idea she brought back from her famous shopping spree in Sri Lanka when everything suddenly seemed to go all awry with us. Silent night. All is calm, all is bright. But bitterly cold. Suddenly Bottom rushes in followed by P&T rushing like dervishes for the cold, to announce that the SLA was expected to arrive for the New Year's Eve celebrations. 'That calls for a warmer,'with Auld Lang Synge. Bottom said. Hot mead all round! Oberon |
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