You never know with scones; sometimes, they turn up unexpectedly. Just when you least expect them, there they are! Our visit to the Grove was typical.

A funeral is often followed by what is commonly referred to as a “funeral tea”. In days gone by, in the Highlands, it would normally be held in the deceased’s house. Friends and neighbours would rally round to provide refreshments for attendees, many of whom had travelled long distances. More recently, however, such events tend to be held in places like the Grove, here in Lenzie.  That’s why we are here.

It’s a purvey!

Lenzie is on the outskirts of Glasgow. In this part of the country it is slightly different. The “funeral tea” is generally referred to as “a purvey”.  At any gathering of mourners after a service, you could often hear kind words said about the deceased followed by a comment on the purvey, usually on the quality and quantity.

A purvey can be anything from a full-blown lunch or supper to a simple selection of sandwiches and cakes. Normally there’s liquid refreshments available for those who want it. On occasion, this can lead to a rather sombre event ending up anything but.  Today’s purvey was a two-course lunch. Afterwards, tea and coffee were served, and you could help yourself from a table of cakes – and scones!

Spooning

We can’t say if scones commonly form part of such purveys – thankfully, we haven’t been to enough of them. But since they were there, they had to be sampled. The jam and cream were supplied in large bowls. You just had to help yourself with a large spoon. Flaws in presentation are entirely down to our lack of spooning finesse. It may be churlish to criticise a ‘free’ scone but ignoring the pathetic presentation, “perfectly adequate” might best describe our scones. Not topscones but perfectly adequate.  Great purvey, though!

Odder

Lenzie is a well-to-do, pretty little town where nothing of particular note ever happens. Boring? Not a bit of it! It’s a blessing when you consider the effects of the earthquake in Myanmar. How many little towns throughout the world would give their eye teeth for nothing to happen?  While  Western countries divert ‘overseas aid’ finances to the production of armaments, it does make you wonder. Because we humans seem to prefer expending our valuable and finite resources killing rather than helping each other. It’s odd! It’s even odder when you’ve just come from a funeral.

G66 5JB           tel: 0141 777 7611           The Grove

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