Page 14 of New Beginnings at the Little Christmas Inn
Brittany shook her head. ‘Not really. Or not whatI’dconsider food. Claude puts on sausage rolls and bacon baps and stuff but no more than that. He’s good at doing food whenever there’s a fundraiser on, though. Like the New Year’s Day Dip, or the Blessing of the Boats Ceremony. On New Year’s Day everyone gets decked up in fancy dress and goes for a swim in the sea. It’s to raise money for the lifeboat fund.’
‘Sounds mad. Think I’d rather just bung them a cheque.’
Brittany laughed. ‘Yah. Probably is. It’s actually surprisingly good fun though. And everyone packs into here afterwards for a bacon roll and coffee. Trust me, you need it after swimming in the sea in January.’
‘I suppose wild water swimming is all the rage but that takes it to another level.’
‘Gosh yes, but I think it predates cold-water swimming. The tradition’s literally been going for yonks in Lullbury.’ Brittany pointed her glass at her. ‘You should give it a try. Clears the head awfully well from the night before.’
‘Maybe.’ Livvy wasn’t convinced. She pulled a face. ‘Not sure I’ve ever had a hangover bad enough to warrant swimming in sub-zero temperatures.’
Brittany giggled.
‘Tell me about the Blessing of the Boats Ceremony.’
‘Ar, that’s a good’un, that is.’ Claude appeared at their table. ‘Hello young Brittany. Haven’t seen you in here for a while.’
‘Hi, Claude. Yah, I’ve been away.’
‘Have you now. Where then? And anywhere compare with Lullbury Bay? Hard place to beat, is this town.’
‘Oh, Australia, Thailand, Dubai, you know.’ Brittany flashed a beseeching look at Livvy.
Livvy let the lie pass. A girl didn’t like the whole town knowing her failures.
‘I don’t know, my lovely. Never stepped foot out of Dorset, my girl. And who’s your friend here?’
‘I’m Livvy.’ Livvy extended a hand. ‘I’ve just taken over The Runaways, I mean The George as it’s now called.’
‘And very nice to meet you.’ He smoothed the points of his moustache. ‘Come in here to check out the competition?’
Claude obviously wasn’t as daft as he looked. Livvy smiled. ‘No harm in seeing what else is on offer in town. I’ve heard very good things about your bacon rolls.’
He grunted. ‘Just the thing on a cold day.’
‘And I hear you cater for the Blessing of the Boats too?’
He scratched his head. ‘Not sure I’d go as fancy as saying it’scatering, like, but it’s my contribution to the day. It’s when the town gets together to give thanks for the boats that fish for us, give us our fun and sometimes saves us from the sea. Vicar comes down, we has a sing-song and a prayer and then all pile in out of the wind.’
Livvy was struck by the sincerity in his voice. ‘It sounds marvellous. I’ll make sure to attend. When does it happen?’
‘Not ’til May. Joke is, we waits until the weather’s better.’
‘And it’s absolutely freezing!’ Brittany butted in.
‘Tis that. But got to do it if you’m a seaside place. That sea out there is a pleasure and our supermarket but it’s a treacherous place if you don’t respect it.’
‘I’ve a lot to learn about living in a seaside town,’ Livvy said.
‘You’m come to the right place.’ Claude gave a wheezy grin, yellowing teeth just about visible beneath his whiskers. ‘Nowhere friendlier. We’ll have you part of the community in no time. Pop next door to the lifeboat station while you’re down here and get a collection tin. Stick it on your bar. Brings in a few pennies.’
‘I will. And I couldn’t help notice your magnificent Father Christmas outside.’
‘Ar, we likes our Christmas, do us Lullbury folk.’
‘So I’ve heard. Is that something to do with the RNLI too?’
‘No, my lovely. That’s The Ninja Knitters.’
