For Enchanted Village read Llareggub
Last night, I went to the Marine Theatre at Lyme Regis to see Guy Masterson's show Under Milk Wood. It was a wonderful one-man encapsulation of the comedy, sadness and lyrical beauty of Dylan Thomas's radio play. The dreams and nightmares of ordinary people in a small town, wishes that will never come true and memories of the long-dead.
It is a book I remember well from school, where we read it in class and I was always cast as Polly Garter, with her dress up over her head having babies. It has been in and out and around my brain for years: 'And before you let the sun in, mind it wipes its shoes.'
My own Enchanted Village is a bit like Llareggub, with its own versions of Ocky Milkman, Dai Bread and his two wives, No Good Boyo, the Ogmore-Pritchards, Organ Morgan, Willy Nilly the postman (he knows the contents of all the letters he delivers) and the long-suffering Mr Pugh, who fantasises about murdering his dreadful wife.
As I write this, Mr Grigg has just popped next door to invite Mr and Mrs Champage-Charlie to supper. He has been gone for three-quarters of an hour. It won't be tea he's drinking. I have some arsenic waiting for him if he's there for too long.
Earlier, a cast of characters gathered for hot cross buns and cups of tea in the village hall. The rain lashed down heavily, choir practice ended early - they're martyrs to that church - and there was a smell of wee on the stage.
Celebrity Farmer just drove by in his tractor - the Porsche might come out on Easter Sunday -and a for sale sign has gone up on the shop. And in the hall, Nobby Odd-Job was in charge of the raffle, Darling Loggins sulked because she didn't win the chutney and the Sheepwash children and Number One Son never turned up because they were still in bed.
Up on the hill, Mr Loggins bashed down the Love Shack until only a Parthenon gable remained.
'Someone's coming to take the windle,' he said. I think he meant window. He said 'chimbley' in the next sentence.
Down by the sea, walkers at Lyme Regis mooched along the Cobb.
The steps known as Granny's Teeth gleamed in the sun.
Waves lashed the end of the Cobb.
Drenching silly passers-by.
While, down the coast at West Bay, the sun came out.
And the golden cliffs waited quietly on the eastern wings.
Happy Easter weekend, wherever you are.
That's about it.
Love Maddie x
It is a book I remember well from school, where we read it in class and I was always cast as Polly Garter, with her dress up over her head having babies. It has been in and out and around my brain for years: 'And before you let the sun in, mind it wipes its shoes.'
My own Enchanted Village is a bit like Llareggub, with its own versions of Ocky Milkman, Dai Bread and his two wives, No Good Boyo, the Ogmore-Pritchards, Organ Morgan, Willy Nilly the postman (he knows the contents of all the letters he delivers) and the long-suffering Mr Pugh, who fantasises about murdering his dreadful wife.
As I write this, Mr Grigg has just popped next door to invite Mr and Mrs Champage-Charlie to supper. He has been gone for three-quarters of an hour. It won't be tea he's drinking. I have some arsenic waiting for him if he's there for too long.
Earlier, a cast of characters gathered for hot cross buns and cups of tea in the village hall. The rain lashed down heavily, choir practice ended early - they're martyrs to that church - and there was a smell of wee on the stage.
Celebrity Farmer just drove by in his tractor - the Porsche might come out on Easter Sunday -and a for sale sign has gone up on the shop. And in the hall, Nobby Odd-Job was in charge of the raffle, Darling Loggins sulked because she didn't win the chutney and the Sheepwash children and Number One Son never turned up because they were still in bed.
Up on the hill, Mr Loggins bashed down the Love Shack until only a Parthenon gable remained.
'Someone's coming to take the windle,' he said. I think he meant window. He said 'chimbley' in the next sentence.
Down by the sea, walkers at Lyme Regis mooched along the Cobb.
The steps known as Granny's Teeth gleamed in the sun.
Waves lashed the end of the Cobb.
Drenching silly passers-by.
While, down the coast at West Bay, the sun came out.
And the golden cliffs waited quietly on the eastern wings.
Happy Easter weekend, wherever you are.
That's about it.
Love Maddie x
Happy Easter, Maddie - to you and Mr Grigg and your odd cast of characters.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed looking at this morning's photos - we're having a similarly windy morning here too. The trees are swaying alarmingly.
Your post had a very Under Milk Wood feel to it. Lovely pictures, although it looks windy. I'm not very good with breezes. Such a lightweight.
ReplyDeletefantastic pictures! we haven't been down your way for ages but you've inspired me...time to book a holiday
ReplyDeleteMaddie, thank you so much for this non-Easterish post! One can only read so many blogs dotted (or filled with) pink bunnies and yellow chicks and pastel everything else. The same message of renewal and rebirth comes across ever so elegantly in your wonderful photos! Good job!
ReplyDeletebtw, I suspect Mr. Loggins was "bashing down" something in liquid form while he was demolishing the Love Shack.... :) Hope you're having a great weekend!
Amazing photos, great blog. My hubby always says chimley, it makes me so annoyed!
ReplyDelete