AN URGENT call has gone out to come to the rescue of a frozen-looking, slightly lop-sided barely-standing bird, just off Montague Street in Rothesay.
The plea to Free The Rothesay Penguin comes but a week after the town’s Christmas lights were hailed as “the best ever”.
But now, in the fresh light of day, the blue and white cheery wee bird has been caged in by red plastic barriers, perhaps for fear he may try to make a dash for the ferry to Wemyss Bay simply to escape the display.
With his wings truly clipped, passers-by have taken to comment about the wee fella’s plight.
None more so than the caring face of Scotland’s ambulance service, Glasgow-based Paul Bennie. He takes up the tragic story …“I was visiting Rothesay
for work today, the third of December. I’m an ambulance driver from Glasgow.” Go on, Paul …
“I was walking in the town centre to get a coffee and do my own small thing to support the local economy. I was admiring the small independent shops and their pretty Christmas window displays, when I had the misfortune of stumbling upon the Rothesay Christmas Spectacle in Montague Gardens.”
What occurred?
“It’s a very sad sight. The tree appears to be deformed, eerily crooked. And then there’s the blue and white penguin? What’s that got to do with Christmas?”
Come on Paul, have you not heard of the shepherds, the Wise Men and Pingu?
“Really? Are Argyll and Bute Council forgetting that Christmas is a Christian celebration? It’s not a wildlife celebration. Where was the nativity scene? Or Saint Nicholas?
“And to crown it all off, the dreadful road maintenance barriers to imprison the penguin and the tree. It’s awful. The display looks like it belongs in Chernobyl.”
Oh dear, Paul, it was all such fun on the night as well.
“Someone at the council offices has serious questions to answer. “I travel all over West Central Scotland, and I have to say Rothesay has the dubious honour of having the worst Christmas display I have ever seen.
“Bah Humbug to Argyll and Bute Council,” said Paul.
