Chapter 42: Time Moves Ever Onwards Plus Taking Stock
Old 'Father Time' forever moves forward. Time waits for no man. Autumn steadily progressed towards Winter. The weather got progressively colder. The nights drew in. This was the part of the school year I hated the most. Each day seemed unending. Everybody was crawling their way towards Christmas and the New Year.
The Bull certainly gave some respite for all of this on a Friday afternoon. A warm log fire, a nice pint of bitter, excellent, and varied food along with a pleasant and varied company. This was a veritable 'womb' you could always return to.
This was the case in Old Slippery's day and it was still the case today, the welcoming public house.
I entered and saw most of the committee members were already there. It was a late afternoon. There was a persistent drizzle which was turning into a steady rain.
Beryl saw me come in and had my pint ready. I was a little late. The Head Mistress had demanded we attend some tedious meeting, at the end of a long Friday afternoon, especially as I had that 'lovely' Year 9 class. I had to somehow contain all their oh so predicable 'wind-ups'. A sheet of A4 with all her comments on it would have sufficed as all she did was preach at us for half an hour. I hated this style of meeting.
I text my wife outlining the situation. I knew too that she was up to her neck in work. I wanted to get back before her and little Jen, so an hour or two at the Bull would do fine.
All the usual members were present. Major Percy welcomed me,
"Ah, how was the 'front line' young David?"
I explained the tedious meeting.
"Ah, the Lady General giving you troops orders?"
Was Humphrey's question.
Professor Hudson added,
"I have had a bucket load of something similar in the academic world. It is always somebody who likes the sound of their own voice. I think in the parlance this is described as a 'power trip'. Pretty much a waste of time. One ends up wanting to gnaw off one's arm. I should think this represents a special kind of hell."
Pamela Parson's concurred.
"Yes, in the media also.'
The Reverend Frampton added.
"Yes, and with meetings of Church of England clergy also."
The other religious parties nodded in agreement.
Maybe with Hindus, Buddhists, and Quakers, it was different, as there seemed to be a suspension of the 'ego', maybe?
Doctor Amelia Smith was also present, Professor of Victorian Studies at an Oxford University College.
She made a very pertinent comment.
"Can I give a vote of thanks to Pamela here? She has conducted an open and fair series of meetings with a very diverse range of different people from many backgrounds. These meetings give the impression of being informal but I know they are very well organized. Everyone has their say, and contributes, consequently huge progress has been made."
Abdullah, the Sufi Imam repeated an important point:
"Again we have recaptured the spirit of the Al-Andalus, in Spain of the Middle Ages."
Percy looked a bit puzzled with this.
The Sufi Imam then explained.
"You once worked in the City of London as a Banker?"
"I did Sir", Percy replied looking even more puzzled.
"Image you had to use Roman numerals to make all your calculations. The Indu-Arabic system is what we all use today. Didn't modern banking partly start in Italy and Venice? Accounting could not have been easy with Roman numerals?"
"These Indu-Arabic numbers came into Europe via the kingdom of the Al-Andalus as did much medical and cultural knowledge from the old Roman and Greek civilizations and much further afield."
"The point I am making is that we can converse as equals no matter what our religious backgrounds and beliefs which was the case than in centres like Toledo in Spain ."
"We have consequently made huge progress. I am honoured to be part of this."
Jane Harrison, being a Quaker, was not given to speaking unless she had to.
"I agree totally with the Iman. To me, this is a Quaker meeting. We all park our egos when we are here."
The scientist present also added that it was a refreshing change for religion and science to come together.
On cue Jane, the new barmaid started cleaning Old Slippery's chair. This soon awoke him. He looked with some appreciation at this young barmaid. Jane had grown used to it.
Beryl's eyes shot to the top of her head.
"Och! Do youse ken that?"
"He never stops drooling over the lassies!"
Pamela Parsons gave a small laugh.
"We are all here because of the Right Hon Jake Horatio Higginbottom. What a journey we have all been on with him. Thanks very much to Detective Chief Inspector John Higgins, we have been able to communicate with him and more than likely, made contact with the Supreme Being, however, you want to describe him or her, etc, because of you."
"He/she has been very careful to show us where to look and not give us easy answers".
Pamela then went onto thank Professor Hudson and Doctor Smith in putting Old Slippery into some kind of a historical context.
"Was he a ruthless bloodthirsty Highway Man, yes he was. Was he always loyal and protective towards the Bull Public House, yes he was and still very much is? He was always the quintessential 'Regency Rake, and Dandy'. He still is and can be vain in the extreme."
"However, he became a successful movie producer, fashion icon, and dance instructor. Old Slipper very quickly adapted to the 21st century, although this did puzzle him a lot at first. Yes, also a slighted lover."
Pamela went on to thank the Detective Chief Inspector and Sid Higgins the landlord for their interventions and influence over the Old Ghost. He was also very protective of his 'children'.
Old Slippery was listening in on all of this. He remembered visiting the Houses of Parliament. He could have easily bought his way into the then House of Commons. Maybe the same now? He remembered it as a corrupt 'talking shop'. He much preferred the Coffee Houses which were them very much a feature of the Regency. These were a lot more genial and were an excellent place to do business. He was also partial to snuff from time to time.
The 'Slippery Jake' meetings had proved highly productive and very worthwhile. Slippery was very pleased he was a central part of these. He totally agreed with the Detective Chief Inspector about the futility of many of these other meetings. The House of Commons was a 'talking shop' in his day. He much preferred the Bull Inn. Of course, he went to the Bull Inn for other reasons. Jane the barmaid was just cleaning a table, leaning over to clear away plates. Slippery shifted his gaze over to her. The Old Ghost was just the same then as now.
"Do you ken, that old perv is at it again, lusting over the young lasses!" Beryl called out. Old Slippery glanced around and gave her a lascivious look. Beryl scowled back.