St Cuthbert's Way - A Perfect Village

As we walked into Morebattle, the well-tended verges were dotted with picturesque flower beds. But by contrast, overhead, a thunderous roar announced the passing of a typhoon jet. 

We were hoping for lunch at the community-owned pub and set off down the main street. 

At once, a woman of similar age to us crossed the road to speak to us: 'Welcome to Morebattle. The women's loos are there. The men's are round there. Are you heading for the community pub? I'm afraid it's shut because it's a Monday. But you can get a lovely cup of coffee at the village shop, and they have a gazebo!'

'The village shop it is, then.'

We passed more flower beds and the quaintly named Teapot Street and Thimble Row, bought a vegan magnum each and consumed them amid the field geraniums and nasturtiums of the community shop's sunny back garden. 

And all would have been perfect if the war plane had not circled back and cleft the sky with thunder once more. Even the most peaceful and friendly village is touched by these troubled times.