A public bench has suddenly appeared on our Green.
When we asked the neighbours, they didn't know where it had come from. Somebody from across the road was passing and observed that it was a mystery.
We all agreed that it was a useful addition, nestling as it does among the nascent spring flowers - although how it will cope with winter mud is another matter.
We felt that perhaps some event should take place to mark its arrival. The idea was no doubt driven by a collective urge to be out in the sunshine. Perhaps we should have a seat party?
At a pinch the seat would hold three so most of the villagers (about forty) would need to bring their own chairs. This posed the problem of who should have the honour of sitting on the bench? There being no officials, no mayor or chairman of a neighbourhood watch, there was no immediate answer.
Someone suggested that perhaps the three oldest residents should sit on it but supposing there were four people of the same age? How about the residents who had lived there the longest then? Several families go back for generations - would a possible dispute arise - my family came over with the Armada. Well, mine has been here since the Conquest. Yah. Boo. No, this wasn't the answer.
Yet somebody else suggested that we should need a table, or three or four, so that on the appointed day we could picnic with ease. Should we bring our own food and drink or share it? Was bunting a good idea or was it out of keeping with the rural setting?
Doing some quick calculations a bright spark observed that as there were twenty six dwellings in the village then perhaps each family should have the right of sole occupation of the seat for two weeks each year. It was amended to say that in fairness, one week should be in spring/summer and the other in autumn/winter to benefit from the best and worst the weather might throw at us. A flaw was immediately spotted: what about passers by, hikers and visitors taking a stoll who would see the seat as fair game? This of course was unlikely to happen in winter, but...
Perhaps a committee should be formed, members elected, a chairman, secretary, events organiser? The fine details have not been finalised. The nitty gritty has yet to be sorted out. Meanwhile, the new bench remains virginal, un-satupon, a object of curiousity - until such time that someone nicks it.
