(Part 01)
The Purplemere Film Studio’s was a large complex of production spaces and studios that almost fell into disuse but its fortunes were turned around by Peter Lutchford the renowned film director who had turned it into one of the premier film industry resources in Europe.
The complex catered for every aspect of film production including set design, costumes, sound and visual FX, in addition to the stages.
Some areas were in a security controlled zone but there were still a lot of others on the periphery and it was into the small staff car park of one of the companies in a peripheral complex that Jed Anderson drove on a Monday evening at the end of April.
He could see there was only one empty space left so he headed towards that and parked the car.
Jed was just reaching into the foot well to retrieve his book that had fallen off the seat and he could see in his peripheral vision that someone was heading in his direction.
He was a small smartly dressed man, casual smart rather than business smart.
When he reached the car he thrust his head through the open window and said abruptly in a very aggressively unhelpful tone.
“Can I help?”
“No, you’re ok” Jed replied brightly as he returned to the upright position.
“Which company do you work for?” he demanded
“What in this complex?” he asked
“Yes” he barked
“I don’t work for any of them” Jed replied
“Well you’re on private property” he said
“Yes I understand that” he agreed
“Then you can’t park here” he said still in an aggressive tone.
“I don’t work here, but my wife does and I’m picking her up” he explained
“Well there’s no need to be aggressive” he said
“Whoa I’m not being aggressive, I’m just being honest, you’re the one who’s being aggressive, getting in my face and throwing your weight about” he said
“You are being aggressive” he repeated which was the final straw for Jed.
“Look, my wife works here and I’m here to pick her up, end of story” he said dismissively, opened his book and turned his full attention to it as the angry little man walked off muttering something in a thick Scottish accent.
“Unbelievable” Jed thought he heard him say but he couldn’t make out anything else, the man was very Scottish.
Of course when he said he was picking up his wife that wasn’t strictly true, Karen was his ex-wife but the officious Scotsman didn’t need to know that.
Karen and Jed had divorced the year before but it was a completely amicable split because after eight years of marriage they both realised it wasn’t really working.
In fact they carried on living under the same roof for nine months until they sold the house and it wasn’t really very different to when they were married, and it really should have been if they belonged together as a couple, so they knew they had made the right decision.
But even after the divorce they were still very good friends which was why he was still picking her up from work.
Even after they stopped living under the same roof they still lived within half a mile of each other and as the split was so amicable it made no sense to abandon their long standing routine of travelling to and from work together.
(Part 02)
A few minutes after the vertically challenged pompous Scottish git went away muttering to himself Karen arrived down the steps behind him.
He didn’t relay the tale to her about his interlocutor other than to say he had been quizzed about parking in that car park and that would probably have been the end of it had it not been for the fact that the ridiculous little man, who it transpired was the de facto landlord, had made a complaint to the Facilities Manager, of the company Karen worked for.
It was very embarrassing for Karen when she was summoned to the office of Suzy Ford, the Facilities Manager, to be told that her husband had verbally abused the landlord, or at least his representative.
“Ex-husband” she interjected
“What?” Ms Ford retorted
“Jed is my ex-husband” Karen explained to her
“But he still picks you up from work?” Suzy queried
“Yes” she replied
“Is he still carrying a torch for you?” The Facilities Manager asked
“No not at all” Karen replied “he’s just a very good man”
“I wish mine was” Suzy confided “the lousy bastard”
“Ah” Karen responded
“Anyway Mr Clarke has alleged that your ex-husband was aggressive and abusive” Suzy continued “Shouting and swearing at him”
“Nonsense” Karen said
“Excuse me?” replied the FM
“Jed has never raised his voice in anger to anyone in his life, and as for swearing that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard”
“Well Mr Clarke says otherwise” Suzy said and handed her the email she had received from Keith Clarke which included a transcript of the alleged confrontation.
Immediately after the meeting Karen phoned Jed and she was not happy.
She told him that Keith Clarke had accused him of shouting at him and swearing at him and as a result he was banned from picking her up in that car park in future.
To say that Jed Anderson was incandescent with rage when he found out would have been an understatement.
“I promise you that not once did I swear at him or even raise my voice” he said “I may not have paid him the due deference that he was clearly expecting but that was all. In fact if anything he was the aggressor”
“It’s alright I’m not mad at you, but I had to find out your side of the story” Karen said “I didn’t think it sounded like you”
“I can’t believe he lied” Jed said
When Karen relayed her ex-husbands version of events to Ms Ford, the Facilities Manager said
“I have heard that about him from other sources, but unfortunately without proof that he has lied we have to obey the landlord’s instructions”
Jed didn’t mind not being able to pick her up, from the car park, that was a minor inconvenience however lying was something he could not abide.
To Jed that kind of behaviour was quite unforgivable.
The alternative road he subsequently had to pick Karen up from was in fact better for her than the car park was, as it was nearer the exit she used to come out of in the evening so every cloud has a silver lining.
(Part 03)
One evening, about a week and a half after he started parking in Studio Approach, which was a one way street about two hundred yards long which had parking spaces on either side along its whole length.
He was sitting in the car when a little blue Renault Clio began reversing into the space behind him and hit his car, well it was little more than a nudge really.
But the girl driving immediately jumped out and ran around to his side of the car and was absolutely horrified at what she had done.
“Oh my God” she said “I am so sorry”
Not that he thought she had really done anything.
But at her urging he got out of the car to go and inspect the damage, or lack of it.
She had jet black curly hair and he estimated she was mid to late twenties, attractive if not beautiful and was wearing a smart grey suit and dark tights.
He also noticed she had very nice legs and was very curvy, Jed liked curvy, but her legs and curves were not what he was meant to be inspecting.
So he looked at both bumpers and save for the slightest scuff there was no damage.
“I’m so sorry again” she said very flustered
“There’s no harm done” he responded
“Let me give you my details” She said reaching over from the driver’s side and rummaging in the glove box.
“There really is no need” he said admiring the roundness of her buttocks as her movement tightened the fabric of her skirts.
When she returned to the vertical she began scribbling something and then said
“Here you are” as she said it she gave him a Purplemere Studios business card with her name on it.
Sue Moss – Costume Department and when he turned it over her insurance details were written on the back.
“There’s no damage” he said “Honestly”
“We have to do things properly” she insisted
“Do you have many accidents?” he asked already knowing the answer
“No” She said “This is my first”
“I thought so” he said “and actually this doesn’t really count so you still have a perfect record”
She seemed to calm down once he had accepted her insurance details and then she got back in the car and safely completed her manoeuvre.
After which she got out of the car, locked it up and walked off down the road, managing to apologize once more before she walked off.
Jed watched her all the way and admired her walk, and what a walk it was, and just as he was getting an eyeful his mobile rang, it was Karen
“Hi” he said
“Hey Jed” she replied “I’m running late”
“No problem” he responded “how long?”
“About an hour” she replied “But you don’t need to wait, I’ll get a cab”
“No problem, I’ve got no plans” he said “I’ll meet you in the Directors Arms”
“Brilliant” she said “You’re a star”
So he locked up the car and walked off down the road towards the Directors Arms pub.
(Part 04)
Jed got himself a drink and sat in a relatively quiet corner of the bar and then opened his book and had only read about four pages when he heard.
“Oh hello again”
He looked up and saw it was his vehicular assailant,
“Hello Sue” he said
“I just wanted to apologize again” she said
“There really is no need” he replied “but you can buy me a drink”
Which really meant please stay and have a drink with me.
“It’s a deal” she said “and I’ll join you if that’s ok, as long as I’m not imposing?”
“Not at all” he said
As she turned and walked to the bar he had another opportunity to admire her generous curvy form with her buttocks rolling and reshaping within her tailored skirt with each nerve tingling step.
“Very nice” he said under his breath
He watched and admired all the while she was at the bar and when she had got the drinks he watched her again as she walked back towards him and he was mesmerised by what he saw.
When she got to the table she leant forward and put a drink in front of him although he only had eyes for the front of her.
She caught him looking and smiled and then sat down.
“Are you meeting someone?” she asked
“Yes I’m waiting for my ex-wife” he replied and she looked confused so he explained at length the arrangement Karen and he had and Sue looked less confused.
“What about you?” he asked
“Well I was supposed to be meeting my sister but she’s still in Finchbottom” Sue said
“So you are doing me a favour keeping me company until her train gets in”
“I feel so used” he said feigning hurt
“Very funny” she said
“So what were your plans with your sister?” he asked
“Pictures” Sue replied
“Oh yes” he said “Bruce Willis or Keira Knightley?”
“Knightley, I’m afraid” she replied “Helen’s choice”
“Well I fancy the other one myself” he said “Perhaps…”
“I’d love to” she interrupted
“Great” he said “It’s only on until Saturday”
“Saturday it is then” she said just as her phone rang.
She stood up to answer it and stepped outside to get better reception.
“That was my sister” she said when she came back “I have to go”
“Well I’ll see you Saturday then, shall we meet here?” he asked
“Yes” she said “7.30”
“Ok” he replied
“Thanks again for being so understanding” Sue said
“Wait a minute is that how you get all your dates?” he asked
“Pretty much” Sue replied “Bye”
Then he feasted his eyes on her again as she walked away.
“Who was that?” Karen said suddenly appearing
“Just someone I bumped into” he replied
“It looks as though you wouldn’t mind bumping into her again” she said
“Funny you should say that, I’m seeing her on Saturday” he said proudly
“Good for you” Karen said and meant it
“I’m sorry I’m so late, it’s been a pig of a day”
“That’s ok” he assured her “Do you fancy a drink?”
“Oh yes please” she said “as long as I’m not holding you up”
“I wouldn’t have offered if it was a problem” he insisted “as I said I don’t have any plans tonight”
He went and got her a large white wine and himself a coke and returned to the table
“What about you?” he asked
“What?” she said
“Plans for tonight” he explained
“No nothing” she said
“Why don’t we eat then” he suggested “the foods pretty good in here”
“That would be really nice, Jed” she replied “Thank you”
(Part 05)
Jed got menus from the bar and they ordered their food and then they spent a couple of hours on a proper catch up which they hadn’t done in a while.
When they split up, even though it was amicable and they remained the best of friends themselves, some of their friends felt it there duty to take sides.
So it was about the people “they” as the enemy had lost touch with that filled most of the conversation, then they moved on to the more personal stuff.
There was something Karen had been reluctant to tell him, so she thought she would take the opportunity to share the fact that she had been seeing someone else for a couple of months, his name was Peter and she had met him at work.
“That’s brilliant Karen, I’m really pleased for you” he said “but why didn’t you tell me before?”
“I don’t know really” she replied “it seemed a bit insensitive”
“Well for future reference you can tell me anything” he said
“But you haven’t told me” she said in her defence
“Well there hasn’t been anything to tell” he said “I’ve been on a couple of disastrous blind dates and that’s about all”
“Until today” she added
“Yes until today” he concurred and smiled
They finished their drinks and Jed dropped her off at about 9.30.
Even after they stopped living under the same roof they still lived within half a mile of each other and as the split was so amicable it made no sense to abandon their long standing routine of travelling to and from work together.
“Thanks Jed” Karen said “Enjoy your date on Saturday”
“I will” he replied and drove the short distance home.
On Saturday evening he sat at the same table he had occupied a few days earlier which afforded him a clear uninterrupted view of the door.
But even then he still managed to miss her when she came in, he had been watching out for a hot girl in a business suit and black tights.
“Are you looking for me?” a voice said and when he looked up it was Sue.
“Oh hi” he said “I didn’t recognise you”
She was wearing tailored trousers a shimmering top and a short tunic.
“Wow you look great” he said
“Thank you” she said and actually blushed at the compliment and he thought to himself at that moment that Sue Moss was a keeper.
He suggested eating somewhere afterwards so they decided to catch the earlier performance which meant they didn’t have time for a drink.
He let Sue go through the door first, not because he was being a gentleman but rather because he was being a letch and wanted to see what her bum looked like in those trousers, he was not disappointed.
The film turned out to be quite average, the meal was considerably better but the company was absolutely sublime and as first dates go it was the best one for Jed by some distance.
The evening ended with a goodnight kiss by her car and the securing of another date, the following Saturday.
Which he was delighted with but he had always found that second dates were always trickier, because there is an expectation which is not present on a first date and all week he was worried about it.
(Part 06)
Despite the fact that Jed Anderson had spent the whole week in nervous anticipation, when Saturday came all his fears and apprehensions melted away from the moment he saw her and by the end of the night he thought it had even surpassed their first date, which took some doing.
It again ended by her car, but on that occasion with a much more prolonged kiss.
“Next Saturday?” he said hopefully
“Yes” she said coyly “if you can wait that long”
“And if I can’t?” he asked expectantly
“You can come to a BBQ with me tomorrow” she said
“I’d love to” he said
“Good answer, you can pick me up” she said “I’ll text you my address”
On Sunday he picked Sue up as instructed and it was a beautiful sunny May morning and on the journey she filled him in on the family politics of which there wasn’t much to report other than the fact that she and her sister hated their stepfather Keith.
“He’s a pompous, obnoxious, unpleasant little man who isn’t even nice to mum” She ranted
The BBQ was to celebrate their mum’s birthday which was the only reason she and her sister were going.
Eleanor had only been married to Keith for two years but even in that short time he had managed to alienate everyone who was important in Eleanor’s life and Sue and Helen were very unhappy about it.
But for their mums sake they always bit their tongues so as not to upset there her.
That Sunday was no exception and they wouldn’t dream of doing or saying anything to spoil their mum’s birthday.
When they arrived he parked the car outside the house.
“Deep breath, big smile” she said and he gave her hand a squeeze.
“Give me a kiss for good luck” she said and he happily obliged.
They were just about to go through the side gate when there was a call from behind them.
“Wait for us”
They turned around and Jed saw a carbon copy of Sue jogging towards them.
“Hey Helen” Sue said and they kissed and then introductions followed before they all proceeded through the gate.
There were a small group of people milling about on the patio, another group on the lawn and a lone man attending to the BBQ.
While Jed was looking around there was some sudden squealing on the patio, from which he deduced that the sisters had located their mum.
Neither Helen’s boyfriend Ray nor Jed had met the family before so they hung back until the hullaballoo had subsided.
When it had they were summoned by their respective girlfriends to be presented.
“I’m pleased to meet you” he said shaking Eleanor’s hand
“Likewise” she said “I’ve heard a lot about you”
“The sausages are ready?” the man called from the BBQ
“And that is my husband” Eleanor said and waved a despairing hand in his direction.
Jed turned around to say hello just as the cook did the same.
“Oh” Jed exclaimed “we’ve already met”
It was Keith Clarke, the lying sack of shit who had accused Jed of swearing at him and his new girlfriend Sue Moss was the officious pompous gits step daughter.
(Part 07)
When Jed turned around to acquaint himself with Eleanor’s husband he discovered it was Keith Clarke, the lying sack of shit who had accused Jed of swearing at him and his new girlfriend Sue Moss was the officious pompous gits step daughter.
“I suppose you’re going to verbally abuse me again” he said
“I didn’t verbally abuse you the last time” he replied
“What did you do?” Eleanor asked her husband
“Oh trust you to take their side” he said
“My apologies Eleanor but I think I need to go” he said
“That’s it run away” Keith called after him
“Oh do shut up Keith” Sue said
“As for you, how dare you turn up on your mother’s birthday with a married man you little Trollope” He said venomously
“That’s enough Keith” Eleanor said
“He’s not married you pompous arse” Sue shouted “he’s divorced”
“Oh really is that what he told you?” Keith said with distain
“Then answer me this, what kind of man still drives his ex-wife around?”
“A better man than you obviously” Sue said
“That’s enough from you, you selfish little cow” he said “You’re ruining your mother’s birthday”
“No you’re ruining my birthday” Eleanor said
“What do you mean?” Keith snapped “I’m just trying to do something special for your birthday”
“The most special thing you could do for me would be to get out” Eleanor said
“What?” he said aghast
“I want you to leave” she reiterated
“If I go then I won’t be coming back” he threatened
“Good” she said almost spitting the word at him and Keith went a very funny shade of purple and a vein in his temple started to throb, Jed thought his head might explode but it didn’t and he turned on his heels and went in the house.
Helen and Sue ran immediately to hug their mum and they stood in a comforting scrum on the patio and there were a few tears shed.
They may well have stayed there longer but the huddle broke when Keith came back out of the house carrying a small bag and his jacket, then without speaking he left through the side gate followed by a few of the guests, clearly more his friends than hers.
“Now the party can really start” Eleanor said
There was another brief hug fest from the Moss women and then Eleanor said
“Jed, can you take charge of the BBQ?”
“Leave it to me” he said but Sue stopped him before he got there
“Thank you honey” she said and kissed him very provocatively
After an excess of alcohol Jed ended up staying the night, albeit on an uncomfortable sofa.
As the alcohol flowed there was a good deal of talk about Keith Clarke and what a nasty piece of work he was.
Jed was amazed to find out what a mean spirited man he really was, he wouldn’t even allow his step daughters to park in the office car park where their own confrontation took place.
It was apparent that Keith Clarke was a bitter unfulfilled little man who made everyone’s life an absolute misery.
But that said, Jed would be forever grateful to him because had her stepfather not been such a nob he would never have met her, or fallen in love with her so every cloud really does have a silver lining.
Saturday, 18 March 2017
Mornington-By-Mere – (19) April Love
(Part 01)
Mornington-By-Mere was not just a quaint chocolate box English Village it was the beating heart of the Finchbottom Vale.
And although the village was the hub it was the surrounding farms and hamlets that were its life blood.
One such Farm was Mereside on the Southern side of the village.
The Hoddinott family had farmed the land at Mereside Farm for five generation and with fair winds and following seas they would do so for the next five.
The head of the Hoddinott’s was Clive, at least that was what his wife Suzanne allowed him think.
But they were in their mid-fifties and were looking forward to be able to hand the reins’ on to their offspring.
There were three children the eldest was Robert Hoddinott 27 who they knew they could safely rely on to take over the running of the farm to such an extent that the handover would be seamless but they were less sure he would pass on the family name, as he appeared to have no inclination in finding himself a wife.
The second child was Amy who was 23 years old and had no interest whatsoever in becoming a farmer or a farmer’s wife for that matter, not that she hated the farm or indeed farming but she just loved her chosen path more which was teaching and she was a Teacher at the village school.
The youngest was 20 year old April who by her own admission wasn’t a natural farmer like her brother but her contribution to Mereside was invaluable as she was a jack-of-all-trades and there was nothing she couldn’t turn her hand to.
If there was ever a job on the farm that seems hopeless or impossible then April was the “man” for the job.
Nothing phased her, she could look at a problem and instantly see the solution while everyone else stood around scratching their heads and once the job was begun she was relentless in taking the job to its conclusion.
In the years before Mornington Field returned to the stewardship of the St George Family, accommodation was always in short supply and there was always a shortage of quarters for seasonal workers at harvest time.
So many of the villagers would rent out a spare room if they had one or a summerhouse, just to fill a need and earn people an extra shilling or two.
On the farms unused out buildings or stables were often put to the same use.
Those farmers or small holders who were fortunate enough to have a suitable building and the resources could convert them sufficiently to let out to holiday makers as summer lets in addition to harvest time requirements.
On Mereside Farm they were blessed in that regard as there was an old tack room that they could rent to itinerant workers as well as a disused rustic cottage tucked away in a secluded thicket.
It hadn’t been used for anything other than storage since Clive was a boy but the structure and the roof was sound.
Other than that it was in a fearful state when Clive first broached the idea.
(Part 02)
On Mereside Farm they were blessed in that regard as there was an old tack room that they could rent to itinerant workers as well as a disused rustic cottage tucked away in a secluded thicket.
It hadn’t been used for anything other than storage since Clive was a boy but the structure and the roof was sound.
Other than that it was in a fearful state when Clive first broached the idea.
“It’s a hovel” Suzanne remarked
But in response Clive said
“April will soon get it ship shape”
Just at that moment she emerged from the barn with unruly hair and a dirty face
“That’s as maybe” her mum remarked “but she’ll never get a husband looking like that”
Twenty year old April and her older sister Amy, although almost three years apart, could easily have passed for twins.
Though they didn’t resemble their brother Robert in the slightest he was his father’s son and they took after their mum.
They were smaller than their brother, leaner and wiry.
Like their mum they had the fine strawberry blonde hair that all of their mums side of the family possessed, as well as her cool blue eyes.
Where April and Amy differed from each other however was that April had always been a tomboy since the moment she could walk and her sister was a proper girlie girl.
When they were children her sister was always playing with dolls but April would be out playing football with the village boys or climbing trees or riding her bike at breakneck speed along the lanes.
So she spent her teenage years with grazed knees and bruised shins while Amy was indoors painting her nails.
But apart from not wearing frocks and dressing like a teenage boy she was amazingly skilful with her hands and could turn her hand to practically anything.
But as competent as April was around the farm she lived to some extent inside a protective bubble on the farm that kept her safe in her comfort zone.
She had been protected from the harsher realities of the world but in truth April was the best suited to cope with adversity, it actually made her stronger.
When her dad had first spoken to her about making the old cottage habitable she found that she revelled in the challenge.
However when she began the work her brother Robert thought it was too big a job for her to complete in the time scale her dad had in mind, so he persuaded his dad to employ a local guy called Calvin Chance.
Robert had worked with him a couple of times in the past on Estate jobs and spoke very highly of him but she didn’t know anything about him.
Even though he had lived locally for about 5 years and had built up a reputation locally as a solid and reliable worker.
(Part 03)
There were a number of cottages and small houses on the Purplemere road and Dulcets Lane which formed the part of Mornington Village known as Manorside and Calvin lived at Corner House with his Aunt Kay and Cousins Paul and Stephanie.
Calvin had lived there for about 5 years and had built up a reputation locally as a solid and reliable worker.
Apparently he had all the necessary skills to get the job done but April wasn’t keen having some stranger working with her no matter how good he might be.
“I really don’t need any help” April insisted
“But there’s a lot of work” Robert said
“And I’m quite capable of doing it” she retorted
“Well when he gets here you can tell him you don’t need him”
He suggested “And here he is now”
So she span around on her heels to say exactly that.
He was five years older than her, six foot tall with dark curly hair and crystal blue eyes and she thought he was buff.
“This is Calvin” Robert said and smiled as he saw her jaw drop
“Ok Calvin let’s get started” she said
It was the beginning of October when they started on the cottage and right from the start Calvin and April worked very well as a team, she was a great planner and time manager and had good instincts and vision but he knew how to get the job done and they both liked to get their hands dirty.
And even the fact that they both fancied the pants off each other didn’t slow them down.
They tackled the outside first clearing all the shrubbery and undergrowth so they had full access to all four sides of the cottage.
This meant they could attend to any problems with exposed masonry, guttering and windows before the worst of the weather arrived.
They also discovered that the top of the Chimney needed rebuilding which was essential if they were to get a log burner installed.
Neither of them could devote 100 percent of their time to the project as they both had other work to do, but they managed two days a week every week up until the turn of the year and increased it to three days from January through to march.
Once they were satisfied the exterior was completely weather proof and the drains were clear they turned their attention to the interior which was in a much worse state of repair than the outside was.
Floor boards needed replacing, two ceiling had come down and the stair case was rotten.
That was on top of the work they knew needed doing, new bathroom and kitchen, the whole place needed to be completely rewired as none of it was up to 21st century code and the plumbing needed attention on top of which there was no central heating of any description installed.
But first job was to empty the place of 30 years of stored clutter.
“So what are we going to do with this lot?” he asked as they looked at the mess of wood, cardboard, broken furniture, old pallets, clothes, paper and general tatt.
(Part 04)
April and Calvin’s first inside task was to empty the place of 30 years of stored clutter.
“So what are we going to do with this lot?” he asked as they looked at the mess of wood, cardboard, broken furniture, old pallets, clothes, paper and general tatt.
“Bonfire” she replied “Let’s have a bonfire party”
It was a sensible suggestion with November the 5th just around the corner, they already had a reasonable start with the trees and shrubs they had already cut down.
“Great idea”
On November the 5th all the Hoddinott’s were present, plus a few friends from the village and Calvin and his family.
Clive grilled burgers on the BBQ and Suzanne made hot chocolate.
April and Calvin had built a brilliant bonfire and come the day he gave her the honour of lighting it.
After igniting the blaze April stumbled on the rough ground and would have fallen had Calvin not rushed to her aid and in the melee he almost held her hand, but it was momentary and soon passed, but it was a nearly moment.
After the food and drink was consumed and the fire had burned down to a glow they all made their way to the Bonfire night party held in the grounds of Mornington Manor although there hadn’t actually been a public bonfire lit in the village in living memory but the fireworks were quite spectacular and people came from every corner of the Vale to see them.
But despite the crowds Calvin and April stood in close proximity and watched the display together.
April had a friend in the village, John Cooper, who was an electrician as well as an ardent admirer, so she managed to enlist his help with the wiring and she and Calvin did the fetching and carrying and the labouring side of the work.
He was 4 years older than she was and although he was a good looking lad and very personable she didn’t fancy him in the slightest but she liked to flirt with him in front of Calvin in the hope that it might spur him into action.
But by Christmas Calvin still hadn’t taken action and April was not alone in her disappointment.
Both families were growing increasingly frustrated with the pair of them, who clearly fancied each other like mad, for not sorting themselves out.
So the Hoddinott’s made the decision to intervene in their daughter’s love life in the run up to Christmas.
Although “love lives” wasn’t really an accurate description as they had no love in their lives save for what they held for their families and the unspoken love between the hapless couple.
The incident occurred just after the Christmas decorations had gone up in the farmhouse.
It was a bitter cold day and there was still no heating in the cottage so Suzanne went over and told them to come over to the farmhouse for a hot drink.
(Part 05)
It was a bitter cold day and there was still no heating in the cottage so Suzanne went over and told them to come over to the farmhouse for a hot drink.
They didn’t really want to trudge up to the house as they were getting on so well with the work and neither of them noticed the cold they just noticed each other.
But her mum was not going to take no for an answer so they reluctantly complied.
But despite their misgivings it was much less onerous than either of them had expected and the hot drink and a mince pie was very welcome.
But it was as they were exiting the kitchen and putting their coats back on when her mum said
“Oh look you’re under the mistletoe”
“Christmas kiss time then” Amy added
“Don’t be daft” April retorted feeling her face colour up
“Its bad luck if you don’t” her father said
“Since when?” she asked
“Shut up and kiss” Amy said
“No” she replied firmly but looked at Calvin who was also blushing.
“They’re not going to shut up if we don’t” he said
“Alright then” she conceded just to shut them up, but neither of them put much effort into it and the result was so fleeting it was barely a peck.
“Ok then back to work” April said
“Definitely” he agreed
And as they trudged silently across the yard they both shared the same though.
“That was not the first kiss I was hoping for”
They pressed on with the work at the cottage until the end of the year and never spoke of the embarrassing mistletoe incident but on New Year’s Eve they both made the same resolution to ask the other out before midnight.
There was a big party on at Mornington Manor and they were both invited independently, or so they thought, so they were both determined to take advantage of it.
Calvin Chance was very cross with himself for dilly dallying so long, he had after all fallen for her the first moment she said
“Ok Calvin let’s get started”
But what had held him back was a cautionary voice in the back of his mind, not regarding his feelings for her they were steadfast.
No his concern was that if he asked her out and the worst happened, and she said no, it would make it impossible for him to carry on working with her and he would rather admire her in silence than not be able to see her at all.
But on New Year’s Eve he decided he could stay silent no longer.
The same niggling doubts had crossed April’s mind as well but after the mistletoe “non kiss” she had decided it was worth taking the risk.
She had never believed in love at first sight but that first day in October when she turned around and saw him she fell hard.
However having made the decision to speak out proved to be the least difficult part as every time she was about to broach the subject with him they were interrupted, either by her sister Amy or her parents or John Cooper or by a phone call.
Which was why she had drawn a line in the sand and aimed to strike at the New Year’s Eve party.
(Part 06)
At the New Year’s Eve party the same problem that had plagued her for weeks arose again, because at 5 to midnight when they stood alone on the terrace and faced each other.
They were both about to just blurt how they felt when a girl came bursting out on to the terrace and threw up into a planter.
“Steph?” he asked in disbelief and rushed to help her,
Stephanie Richardson was his cousin and they lived together in Corner House on the Purplemere road in the area of Mornington known as Manorside.
“Oh Cal I don’t feel so good” Steph slurred
“She’s drunk” April said somewhat stating the obvious
“But she doesn’t drink” he said
“That’s as maybe but she’s definitely wasted” she pointed out
“I can see that, I just don’t understand why” he said
“Some uninvited guests have been spiking drinks” A strikingly good looking young man said “They are being invited to leave as we speak, I can only apologise”
“No need for that milord” Calvin said to Baron St George
“No need for formalities” he said “Are you alright to get her home Calvin?”
“Yes sir” he replied
“I’m sorry I have to get Steph home” he said to April
“That’s ok” she replied “I understand”
“We’ll look after April” The Baron assured him
“So much for the big plan” she said as she walked home alone.
If the night had taught her anything at all it was that it was clearly not meant to be between them.
Time to draw a line under the whole business, they got on well, they worked well together and liked each other’s company, but despite all of that it was self-evident to April there would never be anything else between them.
With the New Year came the snow and a lot of it and along with it came the realisation for Calvin that what he wanted to happen between him and April wasn’t meant to be.
They got on well, they worked well together and liked each other’s company,
But despite all of that it was self-evident to him there would never be anything else between them.
After a week when the snow had thawed Calvin and April resumed work at the cottage and the atmosphere between them was as cold as the January weather.
But by the end of the month that coldness had once again turned to the warmth of longing.
So they secretly pledged to try again with Valentine’s Day just around the corner.
They carefully selected Valentines Cards and posted them.
Unfortunately because everyone close to them knew the disposition of their hearts, they all sent them cards.
Her brother and sister, her parents, his Aunt and his cousins all send cards, but they got so many cards they both ignored the one card among the many that counted.
So once again all they had was the work.
(Part 07)
Over the months they worked together they saw each other at their best and their worst as they laboured away and as each problem presented itself they solved them one by one with their combined grit.
But by the time the month of April came around as the job came to a close the one problem neither of them could solve was how to make the transition from work mates to lovers.
He had tried to ask her out countless times but always lost his nerve at the last minute and now time was running out and things were getting desperate and he still lacked the courage to act.
For her part though it was now obvious to her that he was never going to ask her and it seemed that fate had conspired at every turn to prevent her from asking him.
“So be it” she said and stuck her chin out resolutely.
“Well you two have done a wonderful job” her father said as they stood outside the cottage
“You should be very proud, I know I am”
“We are” April replied but was feeling too sad to appreciate the compliment.
“So in gratitude, I’ve booked a table for the two of you for tonight at the Old Mill Inn, my treat” Clive said and handed an envelope to Calvin.
“Dinner?” April said suddenly catching up with the conversation “With Calvin?”
“Yes, is that a problem?” Her mum asked
“Nnno” she stammered “that’s fine”
“Good” Suzanne remarked
“Hooray” Her brother Robert added
“Halleluiah” His dad remarked and the group broke up leaving Calvin and April alone.
Calvin was distinctly encouraged by April’s reaction to the announcement of Dinner at the Old Mill Inn that she felt as he did but he wasn’t sure until April said
“I can’t believe we’re actually going out on Saturday night?”
“Yes but its only dinner” Calvin retorted teasingly, “it’s not like it’s a date or anything”
“Oh no Calvin Chance it is not just dinner” she snapped “it’s definitely a date”
“Ok it’s a date” he said and laughed
“I hate you” she said when she realised what he had done
“No you don’t” he said
“No I don’t but that’s not the point” she said
“Is it that important to you then?” Calvin asked
“Yes it’s important” she replied
“So why didn’t you say something?”
“I tried” April replied “Why didn’t you?”
“I tried too” he said “Still it’s done now”
“Yes but you had to get my dad to ask me” She pointed out “And you had to get my dad to pay”
“I prefer to think that he had to pay me to take you” Calvin said “But I could take Katie the doctor’s receptionist instead”
“You’d better not” she retorted “although I could go with John Cooper he fancies me like mad”
“So do I” he replied
“Do you?” she asked earnestly
“Yes”
“So it’s definitely a date then” April concluded
“Yes it’s a date” he confirmed and then they sealed the deal with a kiss.
Mornington-By-Mere was not just a quaint chocolate box English Village it was the beating heart of the Finchbottom Vale.
And although the village was the hub it was the surrounding farms and hamlets that were its life blood.
One such Farm was Mereside on the Southern side of the village.
The Hoddinott family had farmed the land at Mereside Farm for five generation and with fair winds and following seas they would do so for the next five.
The head of the Hoddinott’s was Clive, at least that was what his wife Suzanne allowed him think.
But they were in their mid-fifties and were looking forward to be able to hand the reins’ on to their offspring.
There were three children the eldest was Robert Hoddinott 27 who they knew they could safely rely on to take over the running of the farm to such an extent that the handover would be seamless but they were less sure he would pass on the family name, as he appeared to have no inclination in finding himself a wife.
The second child was Amy who was 23 years old and had no interest whatsoever in becoming a farmer or a farmer’s wife for that matter, not that she hated the farm or indeed farming but she just loved her chosen path more which was teaching and she was a Teacher at the village school.
The youngest was 20 year old April who by her own admission wasn’t a natural farmer like her brother but her contribution to Mereside was invaluable as she was a jack-of-all-trades and there was nothing she couldn’t turn her hand to.
If there was ever a job on the farm that seems hopeless or impossible then April was the “man” for the job.
Nothing phased her, she could look at a problem and instantly see the solution while everyone else stood around scratching their heads and once the job was begun she was relentless in taking the job to its conclusion.
In the years before Mornington Field returned to the stewardship of the St George Family, accommodation was always in short supply and there was always a shortage of quarters for seasonal workers at harvest time.
So many of the villagers would rent out a spare room if they had one or a summerhouse, just to fill a need and earn people an extra shilling or two.
On the farms unused out buildings or stables were often put to the same use.
Those farmers or small holders who were fortunate enough to have a suitable building and the resources could convert them sufficiently to let out to holiday makers as summer lets in addition to harvest time requirements.
On Mereside Farm they were blessed in that regard as there was an old tack room that they could rent to itinerant workers as well as a disused rustic cottage tucked away in a secluded thicket.
It hadn’t been used for anything other than storage since Clive was a boy but the structure and the roof was sound.
Other than that it was in a fearful state when Clive first broached the idea.
(Part 02)
On Mereside Farm they were blessed in that regard as there was an old tack room that they could rent to itinerant workers as well as a disused rustic cottage tucked away in a secluded thicket.
It hadn’t been used for anything other than storage since Clive was a boy but the structure and the roof was sound.
Other than that it was in a fearful state when Clive first broached the idea.
“It’s a hovel” Suzanne remarked
But in response Clive said
“April will soon get it ship shape”
Just at that moment she emerged from the barn with unruly hair and a dirty face
“That’s as maybe” her mum remarked “but she’ll never get a husband looking like that”
Twenty year old April and her older sister Amy, although almost three years apart, could easily have passed for twins.
Though they didn’t resemble their brother Robert in the slightest he was his father’s son and they took after their mum.
They were smaller than their brother, leaner and wiry.
Like their mum they had the fine strawberry blonde hair that all of their mums side of the family possessed, as well as her cool blue eyes.
Where April and Amy differed from each other however was that April had always been a tomboy since the moment she could walk and her sister was a proper girlie girl.
When they were children her sister was always playing with dolls but April would be out playing football with the village boys or climbing trees or riding her bike at breakneck speed along the lanes.
So she spent her teenage years with grazed knees and bruised shins while Amy was indoors painting her nails.
But apart from not wearing frocks and dressing like a teenage boy she was amazingly skilful with her hands and could turn her hand to practically anything.
But as competent as April was around the farm she lived to some extent inside a protective bubble on the farm that kept her safe in her comfort zone.
She had been protected from the harsher realities of the world but in truth April was the best suited to cope with adversity, it actually made her stronger.
When her dad had first spoken to her about making the old cottage habitable she found that she revelled in the challenge.
However when she began the work her brother Robert thought it was too big a job for her to complete in the time scale her dad had in mind, so he persuaded his dad to employ a local guy called Calvin Chance.
Robert had worked with him a couple of times in the past on Estate jobs and spoke very highly of him but she didn’t know anything about him.
Even though he had lived locally for about 5 years and had built up a reputation locally as a solid and reliable worker.
(Part 03)
There were a number of cottages and small houses on the Purplemere road and Dulcets Lane which formed the part of Mornington Village known as Manorside and Calvin lived at Corner House with his Aunt Kay and Cousins Paul and Stephanie.
Calvin had lived there for about 5 years and had built up a reputation locally as a solid and reliable worker.
Apparently he had all the necessary skills to get the job done but April wasn’t keen having some stranger working with her no matter how good he might be.
“I really don’t need any help” April insisted
“But there’s a lot of work” Robert said
“And I’m quite capable of doing it” she retorted
“Well when he gets here you can tell him you don’t need him”
He suggested “And here he is now”
So she span around on her heels to say exactly that.
He was five years older than her, six foot tall with dark curly hair and crystal blue eyes and she thought he was buff.
“This is Calvin” Robert said and smiled as he saw her jaw drop
“Ok Calvin let’s get started” she said
It was the beginning of October when they started on the cottage and right from the start Calvin and April worked very well as a team, she was a great planner and time manager and had good instincts and vision but he knew how to get the job done and they both liked to get their hands dirty.
And even the fact that they both fancied the pants off each other didn’t slow them down.
They tackled the outside first clearing all the shrubbery and undergrowth so they had full access to all four sides of the cottage.
This meant they could attend to any problems with exposed masonry, guttering and windows before the worst of the weather arrived.
They also discovered that the top of the Chimney needed rebuilding which was essential if they were to get a log burner installed.
Neither of them could devote 100 percent of their time to the project as they both had other work to do, but they managed two days a week every week up until the turn of the year and increased it to three days from January through to march.
Once they were satisfied the exterior was completely weather proof and the drains were clear they turned their attention to the interior which was in a much worse state of repair than the outside was.
Floor boards needed replacing, two ceiling had come down and the stair case was rotten.
That was on top of the work they knew needed doing, new bathroom and kitchen, the whole place needed to be completely rewired as none of it was up to 21st century code and the plumbing needed attention on top of which there was no central heating of any description installed.
But first job was to empty the place of 30 years of stored clutter.
“So what are we going to do with this lot?” he asked as they looked at the mess of wood, cardboard, broken furniture, old pallets, clothes, paper and general tatt.
(Part 04)
April and Calvin’s first inside task was to empty the place of 30 years of stored clutter.
“So what are we going to do with this lot?” he asked as they looked at the mess of wood, cardboard, broken furniture, old pallets, clothes, paper and general tatt.
“Bonfire” she replied “Let’s have a bonfire party”
It was a sensible suggestion with November the 5th just around the corner, they already had a reasonable start with the trees and shrubs they had already cut down.
“Great idea”
On November the 5th all the Hoddinott’s were present, plus a few friends from the village and Calvin and his family.
Clive grilled burgers on the BBQ and Suzanne made hot chocolate.
April and Calvin had built a brilliant bonfire and come the day he gave her the honour of lighting it.
After igniting the blaze April stumbled on the rough ground and would have fallen had Calvin not rushed to her aid and in the melee he almost held her hand, but it was momentary and soon passed, but it was a nearly moment.
After the food and drink was consumed and the fire had burned down to a glow they all made their way to the Bonfire night party held in the grounds of Mornington Manor although there hadn’t actually been a public bonfire lit in the village in living memory but the fireworks were quite spectacular and people came from every corner of the Vale to see them.
But despite the crowds Calvin and April stood in close proximity and watched the display together.
April had a friend in the village, John Cooper, who was an electrician as well as an ardent admirer, so she managed to enlist his help with the wiring and she and Calvin did the fetching and carrying and the labouring side of the work.
He was 4 years older than she was and although he was a good looking lad and very personable she didn’t fancy him in the slightest but she liked to flirt with him in front of Calvin in the hope that it might spur him into action.
But by Christmas Calvin still hadn’t taken action and April was not alone in her disappointment.
Both families were growing increasingly frustrated with the pair of them, who clearly fancied each other like mad, for not sorting themselves out.
So the Hoddinott’s made the decision to intervene in their daughter’s love life in the run up to Christmas.
Although “love lives” wasn’t really an accurate description as they had no love in their lives save for what they held for their families and the unspoken love between the hapless couple.
The incident occurred just after the Christmas decorations had gone up in the farmhouse.
It was a bitter cold day and there was still no heating in the cottage so Suzanne went over and told them to come over to the farmhouse for a hot drink.
(Part 05)
It was a bitter cold day and there was still no heating in the cottage so Suzanne went over and told them to come over to the farmhouse for a hot drink.
They didn’t really want to trudge up to the house as they were getting on so well with the work and neither of them noticed the cold they just noticed each other.
But her mum was not going to take no for an answer so they reluctantly complied.
But despite their misgivings it was much less onerous than either of them had expected and the hot drink and a mince pie was very welcome.
But it was as they were exiting the kitchen and putting their coats back on when her mum said
“Oh look you’re under the mistletoe”
“Christmas kiss time then” Amy added
“Don’t be daft” April retorted feeling her face colour up
“Its bad luck if you don’t” her father said
“Since when?” she asked
“Shut up and kiss” Amy said
“No” she replied firmly but looked at Calvin who was also blushing.
“They’re not going to shut up if we don’t” he said
“Alright then” she conceded just to shut them up, but neither of them put much effort into it and the result was so fleeting it was barely a peck.
“Ok then back to work” April said
“Definitely” he agreed
And as they trudged silently across the yard they both shared the same though.
“That was not the first kiss I was hoping for”
They pressed on with the work at the cottage until the end of the year and never spoke of the embarrassing mistletoe incident but on New Year’s Eve they both made the same resolution to ask the other out before midnight.
There was a big party on at Mornington Manor and they were both invited independently, or so they thought, so they were both determined to take advantage of it.
Calvin Chance was very cross with himself for dilly dallying so long, he had after all fallen for her the first moment she said
“Ok Calvin let’s get started”
But what had held him back was a cautionary voice in the back of his mind, not regarding his feelings for her they were steadfast.
No his concern was that if he asked her out and the worst happened, and she said no, it would make it impossible for him to carry on working with her and he would rather admire her in silence than not be able to see her at all.
But on New Year’s Eve he decided he could stay silent no longer.
The same niggling doubts had crossed April’s mind as well but after the mistletoe “non kiss” she had decided it was worth taking the risk.
She had never believed in love at first sight but that first day in October when she turned around and saw him she fell hard.
However having made the decision to speak out proved to be the least difficult part as every time she was about to broach the subject with him they were interrupted, either by her sister Amy or her parents or John Cooper or by a phone call.
Which was why she had drawn a line in the sand and aimed to strike at the New Year’s Eve party.
(Part 06)
At the New Year’s Eve party the same problem that had plagued her for weeks arose again, because at 5 to midnight when they stood alone on the terrace and faced each other.
They were both about to just blurt how they felt when a girl came bursting out on to the terrace and threw up into a planter.
“Steph?” he asked in disbelief and rushed to help her,
Stephanie Richardson was his cousin and they lived together in Corner House on the Purplemere road in the area of Mornington known as Manorside.
“Oh Cal I don’t feel so good” Steph slurred
“She’s drunk” April said somewhat stating the obvious
“But she doesn’t drink” he said
“That’s as maybe but she’s definitely wasted” she pointed out
“I can see that, I just don’t understand why” he said
“Some uninvited guests have been spiking drinks” A strikingly good looking young man said “They are being invited to leave as we speak, I can only apologise”
“No need for that milord” Calvin said to Baron St George
“No need for formalities” he said “Are you alright to get her home Calvin?”
“Yes sir” he replied
“I’m sorry I have to get Steph home” he said to April
“That’s ok” she replied “I understand”
“We’ll look after April” The Baron assured him
“So much for the big plan” she said as she walked home alone.
If the night had taught her anything at all it was that it was clearly not meant to be between them.
Time to draw a line under the whole business, they got on well, they worked well together and liked each other’s company, but despite all of that it was self-evident to April there would never be anything else between them.
With the New Year came the snow and a lot of it and along with it came the realisation for Calvin that what he wanted to happen between him and April wasn’t meant to be.
They got on well, they worked well together and liked each other’s company,
But despite all of that it was self-evident to him there would never be anything else between them.
After a week when the snow had thawed Calvin and April resumed work at the cottage and the atmosphere between them was as cold as the January weather.
But by the end of the month that coldness had once again turned to the warmth of longing.
So they secretly pledged to try again with Valentine’s Day just around the corner.
They carefully selected Valentines Cards and posted them.
Unfortunately because everyone close to them knew the disposition of their hearts, they all sent them cards.
Her brother and sister, her parents, his Aunt and his cousins all send cards, but they got so many cards they both ignored the one card among the many that counted.
So once again all they had was the work.
(Part 07)
Over the months they worked together they saw each other at their best and their worst as they laboured away and as each problem presented itself they solved them one by one with their combined grit.
But by the time the month of April came around as the job came to a close the one problem neither of them could solve was how to make the transition from work mates to lovers.
He had tried to ask her out countless times but always lost his nerve at the last minute and now time was running out and things were getting desperate and he still lacked the courage to act.
For her part though it was now obvious to her that he was never going to ask her and it seemed that fate had conspired at every turn to prevent her from asking him.
“So be it” she said and stuck her chin out resolutely.
“Well you two have done a wonderful job” her father said as they stood outside the cottage
“You should be very proud, I know I am”
“We are” April replied but was feeling too sad to appreciate the compliment.
“So in gratitude, I’ve booked a table for the two of you for tonight at the Old Mill Inn, my treat” Clive said and handed an envelope to Calvin.
“Dinner?” April said suddenly catching up with the conversation “With Calvin?”
“Yes, is that a problem?” Her mum asked
“Nnno” she stammered “that’s fine”
“Good” Suzanne remarked
“Hooray” Her brother Robert added
“Halleluiah” His dad remarked and the group broke up leaving Calvin and April alone.
Calvin was distinctly encouraged by April’s reaction to the announcement of Dinner at the Old Mill Inn that she felt as he did but he wasn’t sure until April said
“I can’t believe we’re actually going out on Saturday night?”
“Yes but its only dinner” Calvin retorted teasingly, “it’s not like it’s a date or anything”
“Oh no Calvin Chance it is not just dinner” she snapped “it’s definitely a date”
“Ok it’s a date” he said and laughed
“I hate you” she said when she realised what he had done
“No you don’t” he said
“No I don’t but that’s not the point” she said
“Is it that important to you then?” Calvin asked
“Yes it’s important” she replied
“So why didn’t you say something?”
“I tried” April replied “Why didn’t you?”
“I tried too” he said “Still it’s done now”
“Yes but you had to get my dad to ask me” She pointed out “And you had to get my dad to pay”
“I prefer to think that he had to pay me to take you” Calvin said “But I could take Katie the doctor’s receptionist instead”
“You’d better not” she retorted “although I could go with John Cooper he fancies me like mad”
“So do I” he replied
“Do you?” she asked earnestly
“Yes”
“So it’s definitely a date then” April concluded
“Yes it’s a date” he confirmed and then they sealed the deal with a kiss.
Downshire Diary – (19) The Girl in the Easter Dress
(Part 01)
It was fast approaching Easter, another significant event in the calendar that held no fond memories for him.
Steve Berry had grown up with a dislike for all family orientated occasion, New Years, Easter, Halloween, Guy Fawkes Night and especially Christmas with all its nauseating jollity and faux fun.
Unlike most of the people he knew he had no happy memories to anesthetise him against those occasions.
His parents were alcoholics and from a very early age he had learned to fend for himself and most of his childhood memories of the big holidays he would rather have forgotten.
That was until Holly Davis opened his eyes to new possibilities and he realised that Christmas could also magnify joy and that life was full of wonderful possibilities.
And as they lay in each other’s arms in the early hours of New Year’s Day, having just made love for the first time, Holly proposed that they run the Pig and Whistle together.
Despite his first doubtful thoughts, when he thought it may just have been post coital exuberance on her part, Steve agreed based on the way the two of them had worked together through the Christmas period and the fact that he had fallen madly in love with her.
When he returned to his day job on January 5th his first action was to hand in his notice, much to the annoyance of his employers and the consternation of his co-workers.
His second action was to put his flat on the market and some of his friends suggested that he was burning his bridges whereas Steve believed he was merely following his heart.
Holly was buying the pub from her Uncle Phil, who sadly would not be around much longer as he was gravely ill.
But even allowing for the discounted price he was asking, she could only just afford it with the sale of her house and virtually all of her savings, which didn’t allow her any extra for the improvements she wanted to make.
She could of course have taken out a mortgage for what she needed but she didn’t really want to begin the endeavour with a huge debt and at the time she had no idea Steve had put his flat up for sale, in fact Holly didn’t even know if he owned his own flat that was until the beginning of February when he said
“I have officially burned my bridges”
“What do you mean Hon?” She said
“I am now unemployed and homeless”
He said and handed her the written offer on his flat
“What are you saying?” Holly asked
“Our nest Egg” he said
“Are you sure?”
“All or nothing” he said
So Steve and Holly became partners in the Pig and Whistle and they sealed the deal in what had become the customary manner of making love.
(Part 02)
The Pig and Whistle had once been the Abbeyvale Railway Hotel, at least up until the second world war when the Station was bombed out of existence by the Luftwaffe.
In the post war years when the much of Abbeyvale was rebuilt a new station was also built, but it was inexplicably sited a mile away from its Hotel.
The Hotel was then sold off in 1948, after the railway network and infrastructure was nationalized and renamed the Pig and Whistle.
It was ideally situated close enough to the town to benefit from foot traffic but far enough away from the hot spots to avoid the weekend binge drinkers and there was another hidden benefit of their location which would not be discovered until much later however.
There were significant improvements made to the exterior of the building by Phil’s predecessor, upvc soffits, guttering and double glazing were installed as well as a number of others in fact it was improved to such an extent that they ran out of money, which was how Phil managed to get it so cheaply.
He and his wife Pat had big plans for the place and were going to throw themselves into it completely, but when she died suddenly the light went from his world as did his purpose for existing and he rather lost interested in the pub and the grand plans he and Pat had.
Once they found some time to draw breath they were sitting in the bar one morning before they opened and Holly asked
“So where do we start?”
“The roof” he replied
There was some remedial work required to the chimneys and some slates had been displaced in the winter storms.
“We can claim for the storm damage on Phil’s insurance and while they are up there they can do the chimneys” he said
“Excellent” she said “That will save us a bit”
“And then we should complete the kitchen extension and the Conservatory” Steve said
Phil and Pat had applied for planning permission before she died but it ran out in April so the clock was running in that regard but Abbeyvale Conservatory’s were keen to finish the job they had started more than a year earlier as they had already manufactured all the panels.
In fact they were so keen Steve was able to negotiate a reduction on the installation cost.
So that was all set in motion and then they turned their attention to the interior and longer discussions followed in that regard but as Holly had worked in hospitality since she was at college Steve deferred to her superior knowledge of hospitality and of all the things she had learned, the one that stood out for her was not to put all your eggs in one basket, you needed to diversify but equally not try to be all things to all men.
(Part 03)
Holly had worked in hospitality since she was at college and of all the things she had learned the one that stood out for her was not to put all your eggs in one basket.
You had to diversify yes, but equally you shouldn’t try to be all things to all men.
It was an old pub and in keeping with the modern trend it had been knocked through into one big open bar, Holly wanted to change that and reinstate the old layout and return it to three separate bars.
The lounge bar for the conversational drinkers, a TV bar for the sports fans and a games room with darts and pool etc. and the conservatory would be for the diners.
“I bow to your superior knowledge of hospitality Holly” he said “I’m just a bean counter, and as such I can say that it would be a relatively small outlay to replace the internal walls and it will be less expensive in the long run to heat three small spaces than one large one”
“So is that a yes then?” Holly teased
It was essential they kept getting customers through the door so they couldn’t afford to have the pub closed for any length of time.
A pub the size of the Pig and Whistle would haemorrhage money at an alarming rate with the doors closed.
Also they wouldn’t be able to pay the staff while they were closed and Holly wasn’t happy with that at all because she knew how tough it was for hospitality workers and they would have to find other work and you then run the risk of losing your experienced workforce.
So Holly decided they wouldn’t close for any longer than was absolutely necessary for the refurbishment and she would keep paying the staff if she could.
So they closed completely for two days for the builders to put in the stud walls between the bars and then they closed the lounge bar for one week to decorate, then a week later they closed the TV bar for a week and repeated the process for the games room.
So by the middle of March all three bars had been decorated and re-carpeted plus the Conservatory was complete and ready for use.
The repairs and renovations plus some new fixtures and fittings cost them just under half of their nest egg which they were exceedingly pleased with.
But they knew that if they didn’t get a steady trade through the doors the remainder would be eaten up just in running costs.
They could put on novelty nights like Pub quizzes, or a clairvoyant doing reading, open mic comedy nights, poetry slams and the like but they planned to steer clear of live music or DJ’s, Holly thought they were more trouble than they were worth in the long run.
Also they had to make the most of the special annual occasions, all those occasions that Steve had a phobia about in fact, but they had just missed out on St Patrick’s Day.
But gimmicks only got you so far, the bread and butter patrons needed a reason to come back for the rest of the time.
The food would certainly help with that especially with the conservatory.
(Part 04)
It was midway through March when Holly and Steve sat down to catch their collective breaths one evening on the patio in the pub garden.
“You know what’s next?” Holly said
“Another drink” Steve said hopefully
“The garden” she said bleakly
It would have been more appropriately called the jungle which had been largely neglected, not only by Phil but also by his predecessors as well because the extent of the growth that had occurred had clearly taken more than a generation.
But as luck would have it there were three regulars who drank at the pub, the Beaumont brothers, who were proper old country boys and the jungle was right up their street.
When they approached the Beaumont’s, they gladly picked up the gauntlet and they and various other members of the family pitched up the next day and got straight down to it and by the end of the second day they had made great progress and as they sat down to an end of day pint Steve asked
“How’s it going?”
He hadn’t anticipated it would take that long with such a large crew and his bean counters brain was doing cartwheels
“Another days clearing” Kenny Beaumont said “But you can at least get down to the River now”
“River?” he said “What river?”
“The Trott” Old George replied
Just at that moment Holly stepped out from the Conservatory
“Did you know the garden backed onto a River?” Steve asked
“No” she replied with surprise
“Well it’s there Missy” Old George said and chuckled
“Well we’d better go and have a look then” She said to Steve and took his hand, pulling him to his feet.
It was a much longer walk than they anticipated, the pub garden which they thought was huge to begin with was almost three times bigger than it appeared to be before the Beaumont’s got to work.
In fact it was bigger than either of them had anticipated and the great bonus was that the garden led down to a section of the river Trott, only accessible from the pub garden.
Holly and Steve didn’t even realise they were that close to the river
“Wow” Holly said as they stood on the bank
“ka-ching” Steve responded
“Spoken like a true bean counter” Holly said and laughed
It was with Easter in mind, the first major occasion of the year since the refurb was completed and their first chance to do something special.
When the Beaumont’s had finished clearing the pub garden there were quite a few large areas of bare earth which needed to be turfed in order for them to make the best use of the garden and the new found view of the river.
And a month later it had taken sufficiently to take a light cut and the overall effect wasn’t bad at all, viewed from the patio.
The improvements to the beer garden would bring in great rewards with summer just around the corner.
(Part 05)
Holly and Steve knew that the improvements to the beer garden would bring in great rewards with summer just around the corner.
It wasn’t quite an uninterrupted view of the river Trott, as they thought it expedient to have a small wicket fence put up to separate the garden from the running water and thus prevent small children venturing to close and being washed away.
Holly had arranged an Easter Egg hunt straight after church, they had invited the children from the local area via Sunday Schools, cubs, brownies and primary schools, the idea being that the children would come along for the egg hunt and their parents would spend over the bar and buy from the BBQ.
Holly and the other girls had been out that morning and hidden the cream eggs and every child who took part would get a ticket for the Easter Egg raffle.
They had an excellent response in the April sunshine and there were so many children they had to go out in groups, the youngest one’s going first.
“Ok Children, only six eggs each” Holly said dressed in a pink puffy dress and a flowered Easter bonnet. “One…Two…Three…Go” she said and off they went in all directions like marbles in a game.
Steve was down by the fence making sure none of them reached the water’s edge and he watched the beautiful girl in the Easter dress amidst the mayhem laughing as the children raced around her and he knew at that moment without any shadow of doubt that he was in love with her heart and soul.
When all the children had their eggs everyone repaired back inside for the big draw, which was tactically delayed to allow the adult’s time to recharge their glasses and it was in the bar after the last prize was won and presented that Steve stepped forward and called.
“Could I please just have your attention for a moment?”
The assembled crowd hushed and turned their gaze on him and he continued
“I would just like to take this opportunity to thank our lovely hostess Holly for putting on such a fun activity today”
An appreciative round of applause rippled around the bar in response and then he added
“And I would like to present her with this special gift”
And Steve handed her with great aplomb, a handmade Easter egg which she quickly unwrapped
“It’s lovely” she said “Thank you” and then she kissed him.
“Read the instructions” he instructed
On the egg was a hand written card which read
“Must be opened upon receipt”
So Holly placed the egg on the table and obediently untied the ribbon holding the two halves of the egg together.
And as they separated it revealed inside, where the handmade chocolates should have been, a small square box.
She handed the egg to Steve and opened the box to reveal that it contained a small Ceylon sapphire ring he had bought in a local antique shop.
“Does this mean what I think it means?” she asked quietly
“I don’t know, do you think it means that I want to marry you?” Steve said
“Yes” she said
“Good because that’s exactly what it means” he replied
“Will you marry me?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” she screamed and the whole place was in uproar and the tills went ka-ching.
It was fast approaching Easter, another significant event in the calendar that held no fond memories for him.
Steve Berry had grown up with a dislike for all family orientated occasion, New Years, Easter, Halloween, Guy Fawkes Night and especially Christmas with all its nauseating jollity and faux fun.
Unlike most of the people he knew he had no happy memories to anesthetise him against those occasions.
His parents were alcoholics and from a very early age he had learned to fend for himself and most of his childhood memories of the big holidays he would rather have forgotten.
That was until Holly Davis opened his eyes to new possibilities and he realised that Christmas could also magnify joy and that life was full of wonderful possibilities.
And as they lay in each other’s arms in the early hours of New Year’s Day, having just made love for the first time, Holly proposed that they run the Pig and Whistle together.
Despite his first doubtful thoughts, when he thought it may just have been post coital exuberance on her part, Steve agreed based on the way the two of them had worked together through the Christmas period and the fact that he had fallen madly in love with her.
When he returned to his day job on January 5th his first action was to hand in his notice, much to the annoyance of his employers and the consternation of his co-workers.
His second action was to put his flat on the market and some of his friends suggested that he was burning his bridges whereas Steve believed he was merely following his heart.
Holly was buying the pub from her Uncle Phil, who sadly would not be around much longer as he was gravely ill.
But even allowing for the discounted price he was asking, she could only just afford it with the sale of her house and virtually all of her savings, which didn’t allow her any extra for the improvements she wanted to make.
She could of course have taken out a mortgage for what she needed but she didn’t really want to begin the endeavour with a huge debt and at the time she had no idea Steve had put his flat up for sale, in fact Holly didn’t even know if he owned his own flat that was until the beginning of February when he said
“I have officially burned my bridges”
“What do you mean Hon?” She said
“I am now unemployed and homeless”
He said and handed her the written offer on his flat
“What are you saying?” Holly asked
“Our nest Egg” he said
“Are you sure?”
“All or nothing” he said
So Steve and Holly became partners in the Pig and Whistle and they sealed the deal in what had become the customary manner of making love.
(Part 02)
The Pig and Whistle had once been the Abbeyvale Railway Hotel, at least up until the second world war when the Station was bombed out of existence by the Luftwaffe.
In the post war years when the much of Abbeyvale was rebuilt a new station was also built, but it was inexplicably sited a mile away from its Hotel.
The Hotel was then sold off in 1948, after the railway network and infrastructure was nationalized and renamed the Pig and Whistle.
It was ideally situated close enough to the town to benefit from foot traffic but far enough away from the hot spots to avoid the weekend binge drinkers and there was another hidden benefit of their location which would not be discovered until much later however.
There were significant improvements made to the exterior of the building by Phil’s predecessor, upvc soffits, guttering and double glazing were installed as well as a number of others in fact it was improved to such an extent that they ran out of money, which was how Phil managed to get it so cheaply.
He and his wife Pat had big plans for the place and were going to throw themselves into it completely, but when she died suddenly the light went from his world as did his purpose for existing and he rather lost interested in the pub and the grand plans he and Pat had.
Once they found some time to draw breath they were sitting in the bar one morning before they opened and Holly asked
“So where do we start?”
“The roof” he replied
There was some remedial work required to the chimneys and some slates had been displaced in the winter storms.
“We can claim for the storm damage on Phil’s insurance and while they are up there they can do the chimneys” he said
“Excellent” she said “That will save us a bit”
“And then we should complete the kitchen extension and the Conservatory” Steve said
Phil and Pat had applied for planning permission before she died but it ran out in April so the clock was running in that regard but Abbeyvale Conservatory’s were keen to finish the job they had started more than a year earlier as they had already manufactured all the panels.
In fact they were so keen Steve was able to negotiate a reduction on the installation cost.
So that was all set in motion and then they turned their attention to the interior and longer discussions followed in that regard but as Holly had worked in hospitality since she was at college Steve deferred to her superior knowledge of hospitality and of all the things she had learned, the one that stood out for her was not to put all your eggs in one basket, you needed to diversify but equally not try to be all things to all men.
(Part 03)
Holly had worked in hospitality since she was at college and of all the things she had learned the one that stood out for her was not to put all your eggs in one basket.
You had to diversify yes, but equally you shouldn’t try to be all things to all men.
It was an old pub and in keeping with the modern trend it had been knocked through into one big open bar, Holly wanted to change that and reinstate the old layout and return it to three separate bars.
The lounge bar for the conversational drinkers, a TV bar for the sports fans and a games room with darts and pool etc. and the conservatory would be for the diners.
“I bow to your superior knowledge of hospitality Holly” he said “I’m just a bean counter, and as such I can say that it would be a relatively small outlay to replace the internal walls and it will be less expensive in the long run to heat three small spaces than one large one”
“So is that a yes then?” Holly teased
It was essential they kept getting customers through the door so they couldn’t afford to have the pub closed for any length of time.
A pub the size of the Pig and Whistle would haemorrhage money at an alarming rate with the doors closed.
Also they wouldn’t be able to pay the staff while they were closed and Holly wasn’t happy with that at all because she knew how tough it was for hospitality workers and they would have to find other work and you then run the risk of losing your experienced workforce.
So Holly decided they wouldn’t close for any longer than was absolutely necessary for the refurbishment and she would keep paying the staff if she could.
So they closed completely for two days for the builders to put in the stud walls between the bars and then they closed the lounge bar for one week to decorate, then a week later they closed the TV bar for a week and repeated the process for the games room.
So by the middle of March all three bars had been decorated and re-carpeted plus the Conservatory was complete and ready for use.
The repairs and renovations plus some new fixtures and fittings cost them just under half of their nest egg which they were exceedingly pleased with.
But they knew that if they didn’t get a steady trade through the doors the remainder would be eaten up just in running costs.
They could put on novelty nights like Pub quizzes, or a clairvoyant doing reading, open mic comedy nights, poetry slams and the like but they planned to steer clear of live music or DJ’s, Holly thought they were more trouble than they were worth in the long run.
Also they had to make the most of the special annual occasions, all those occasions that Steve had a phobia about in fact, but they had just missed out on St Patrick’s Day.
But gimmicks only got you so far, the bread and butter patrons needed a reason to come back for the rest of the time.
The food would certainly help with that especially with the conservatory.
(Part 04)
It was midway through March when Holly and Steve sat down to catch their collective breaths one evening on the patio in the pub garden.
“You know what’s next?” Holly said
“Another drink” Steve said hopefully
“The garden” she said bleakly
It would have been more appropriately called the jungle which had been largely neglected, not only by Phil but also by his predecessors as well because the extent of the growth that had occurred had clearly taken more than a generation.
But as luck would have it there were three regulars who drank at the pub, the Beaumont brothers, who were proper old country boys and the jungle was right up their street.
When they approached the Beaumont’s, they gladly picked up the gauntlet and they and various other members of the family pitched up the next day and got straight down to it and by the end of the second day they had made great progress and as they sat down to an end of day pint Steve asked
“How’s it going?”
He hadn’t anticipated it would take that long with such a large crew and his bean counters brain was doing cartwheels
“Another days clearing” Kenny Beaumont said “But you can at least get down to the River now”
“River?” he said “What river?”
“The Trott” Old George replied
Just at that moment Holly stepped out from the Conservatory
“Did you know the garden backed onto a River?” Steve asked
“No” she replied with surprise
“Well it’s there Missy” Old George said and chuckled
“Well we’d better go and have a look then” She said to Steve and took his hand, pulling him to his feet.
It was a much longer walk than they anticipated, the pub garden which they thought was huge to begin with was almost three times bigger than it appeared to be before the Beaumont’s got to work.
In fact it was bigger than either of them had anticipated and the great bonus was that the garden led down to a section of the river Trott, only accessible from the pub garden.
Holly and Steve didn’t even realise they were that close to the river
“Wow” Holly said as they stood on the bank
“ka-ching” Steve responded
“Spoken like a true bean counter” Holly said and laughed
It was with Easter in mind, the first major occasion of the year since the refurb was completed and their first chance to do something special.
When the Beaumont’s had finished clearing the pub garden there were quite a few large areas of bare earth which needed to be turfed in order for them to make the best use of the garden and the new found view of the river.
And a month later it had taken sufficiently to take a light cut and the overall effect wasn’t bad at all, viewed from the patio.
The improvements to the beer garden would bring in great rewards with summer just around the corner.
(Part 05)
Holly and Steve knew that the improvements to the beer garden would bring in great rewards with summer just around the corner.
It wasn’t quite an uninterrupted view of the river Trott, as they thought it expedient to have a small wicket fence put up to separate the garden from the running water and thus prevent small children venturing to close and being washed away.
Holly had arranged an Easter Egg hunt straight after church, they had invited the children from the local area via Sunday Schools, cubs, brownies and primary schools, the idea being that the children would come along for the egg hunt and their parents would spend over the bar and buy from the BBQ.
Holly and the other girls had been out that morning and hidden the cream eggs and every child who took part would get a ticket for the Easter Egg raffle.
They had an excellent response in the April sunshine and there were so many children they had to go out in groups, the youngest one’s going first.
“Ok Children, only six eggs each” Holly said dressed in a pink puffy dress and a flowered Easter bonnet. “One…Two…Three…Go” she said and off they went in all directions like marbles in a game.
Steve was down by the fence making sure none of them reached the water’s edge and he watched the beautiful girl in the Easter dress amidst the mayhem laughing as the children raced around her and he knew at that moment without any shadow of doubt that he was in love with her heart and soul.
When all the children had their eggs everyone repaired back inside for the big draw, which was tactically delayed to allow the adult’s time to recharge their glasses and it was in the bar after the last prize was won and presented that Steve stepped forward and called.
“Could I please just have your attention for a moment?”
The assembled crowd hushed and turned their gaze on him and he continued
“I would just like to take this opportunity to thank our lovely hostess Holly for putting on such a fun activity today”
An appreciative round of applause rippled around the bar in response and then he added
“And I would like to present her with this special gift”
And Steve handed her with great aplomb, a handmade Easter egg which she quickly unwrapped
“It’s lovely” she said “Thank you” and then she kissed him.
“Read the instructions” he instructed
On the egg was a hand written card which read
“Must be opened upon receipt”
So Holly placed the egg on the table and obediently untied the ribbon holding the two halves of the egg together.
And as they separated it revealed inside, where the handmade chocolates should have been, a small square box.
She handed the egg to Steve and opened the box to reveal that it contained a small Ceylon sapphire ring he had bought in a local antique shop.
“Does this mean what I think it means?” she asked quietly
“I don’t know, do you think it means that I want to marry you?” Steve said
“Yes” she said
“Good because that’s exactly what it means” he replied
“Will you marry me?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” she screamed and the whole place was in uproar and the tills went ka-ching.
Friday, 17 March 2017
Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (18) Betcha By Golly Wow – Roxy’s Tale
(Part 01)
It was Saturday night in Mornington-By-Mere and goods friends Roxanne Kincaid-Smith, Lindsay Cooper and Rosie Parsons were sitting in the bar of the Old Mill Inn discussing their plans for the Bank Holiday.
All three of the girls were born and bred in the village but since starting out on their chosen careers they didn’t get together as often as they would have liked due shift patterns for Rosie and Roxy and the on call Rota for Lindsay.
At 25 Roxy was the youngest of the trio and the eldest child of the Kincaid-Smith family, and she lived in the house she was born in, at 4, Windmill Cottages with her parents Dane and Hazel and two younger siblings Lisa and Alex.
She was a PC in the Downshire Constabulary and was fortunate to have been stationed at Sharpington-by-Sea.
Joining the Police had been her lifelong ambition and getting a posting that allowed her to still live in Mornington was a dream come true.
The only downside to her dream job happened to be that her shift patterns meant she didn’t get to see her best friends regularly enough for her liking.
But a three day window opened up in which all three friends were off duty and furthermore without any other commitments in their diaries, an event rarer than hen’s teeth, so they all decided to make the most of it.
The fact that the three days happened to fall over the Bank holiday weekend was just the icing on the cake.
They had already eaten a sumptuous meal at the Old Mill Inn and followed that up with a significant amount of alcohol which influenced their decision making significantly.
But a decision had to be made, as they had signed up for the Sharpington Day Parade on Bank Holiday Monday.
It was a Charity event which raised tens of thousands of pounds every year much of which was collected by volunteers rattling tins along the route.
And traditionally the majority of volunteers took part in fancy dress and it was that element of the Parade which was vexing the three friends as they didn’t know what to go as.
“It needs to be something different” Lindsay said
“It needs to be something memorable” Roxy added
“I know just the thing” Rosie Parsons suddenly announced
“What?” the other two asked
“Golliwogs”
“What?” the two repeated
“Brilliant eh” Rosie said
“Are you mad?” Roxy asked with alarm “I’m a serving Police Officer”
“So?” Rosie asked
“It’s a bit “out there”” Lindsay pointed out
“Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“Adventure?” Roxy said “They’ll hang me out to dry”
“Oh God just because you wear blue serge knickers doesn’t mean you can’t have a laugh” Rosie said “Besides who’s going to recognise you under the makeup?”
“Oh I don’t know” Roxy said doubtfully
“We could carry tambourines so people will think we’re minstrels” Rosie suggested
“I’m not sure people will see the distinction” Lindsay added
“Oh come on you two it’ll be fun” Rosie said encouragingly
“I’ll remember that when I’m working as a security guard for Quid Busters” Roxy retorted
“Don’t be such a drama queen” Rosie said
“So are you two in or not?”
“Count me in” Lindsay said with bravado and turned her eyes on Roxy
“Ok I’m in” she agreed reluctantly
(Part 02)
In the cold light of day when they surfaced on Sunday afternoon the girls had serious doubts about the wisdom of dressing as Golliwogs for the Sharpington Day Parade but none of them voiced their concerns as they didn’t want to appear wimpy in front of the other two.
The drive over to Sharpington to register was completed largely in silence as they were so hungover from the night before.
Unfortunately it was a trip they had to make, as volunteers for the fundraising effort for the Parade had to register on Sunday afternoon where they would also pick up collection tins.
Fortunately those participating in fancy dress were not required to notify the organisers in advance what they planned to dress up as or to provide a photograph either which was just as well really due partly to the Non PC nature of what they had in mind but mainly as they didn’t know the precise details themselves.
As they walked quietly along the promenade towards the organizers marquee in Jubilee Park the three of them still had great unvoiced misgivings about the costumes.
“What was I thinking?” Roxy asked herself, she was particularly concerned because of the possible implications the prank might have on her Police career.
But as they turned up one of the lanes they spotted something that put all their minds at rest.
They came upon a shop selling a mixture of the usual seaside novelties along with a selection of fancy dress items such as clown masks and reversible wigs.
“That’s perfect” Rosie said holding a clown mask in her hands “No one will see the black makeup under this”
“And these are just what we need” Lindsay said picking up a wig which was black on one side and red or white on the other.
“I think we might just get away with it” Roxy said and as they left the shop with their purchases their collective mood had lightened appreciatively.
They continued their walk up to Jubilee Park and duly registered and were quite surprised at how quickly it was all completed and it was only just over an hour later when they were heading back down the lane again carrying their collection tins.
The journey home was much more typical for them than the earlier one was with all three of them having found their voices again and for the most part they were all speaking at the same time.
But amidst all the incessant chatter, during which it would have appeared to the casual observer that they were all talking and no one was listening, they formulated a plan.
They would drive down from Mornington to Sharpington at “sparrows fart” as Rosie described it and go straight to the Whitecliff Hill Caravan Park where Lindsay’s Aunty Lynn had a static caravan, which she seldom used, but then she did live on the Shore of Teardrop Lake in the Dancingdean Forest, so why would you leave that for a caravan in Sharpington.
Lindsay had already spoken to Aunty Lynn and got her permission although she didn’t say what she and the others were planning to do.
(Part 03)
Sharpington-by-Sea is a traditional seaside resort complete with a Victorian Pier, seafront hotels, crazy golf, The Palladium ballroom, well maintained gardens, promenade, theatre and illuminations, all the usual things to have a great time by the seaside, as well as amusement arcades and of course the Sharpington Fun Park.
Which was the first purpose built amusement park to open in Britain, which had an assortment of rides, like the Rotor and the Wild Mouse, The Cyclone and the Morehouse Galloper, all very tame compared to a 21st century roller coasters but still fun.
But on Bank Holiday Monday the town was taken over by the Sharpington Day Charity Parade.
The road leading to the coast was very busy and even leaving Mornington at the crack of dawn didn’t speed their journey any, as a lot of the roads in Sharpington were closed to the public which slowed their progress, until they reached the outskirts of the town where they turned off and circled around and then up to Whitecliff.
When they had finished changing and had made their faces up they put their clown masks on and the red or white side to their wigs, Roxy plumped for the white while Rosie and Lindsay chose the red.
The clown masks were made from latex and were designed to fit right over the head but because it was still summer and they were wearing nylon wigs they decided to cut most of the back out and put some strategically placed holes in the face.
They were concerned that if their heads sweated too much the black face would run, they needn’t have worried.
To avoid having to black up everywhere they all wore long sleeved tops and gloves and bright red silk scarves around their necks.
The wigs covered their ears so they didn’t need to do them and the clown mask covered everything else.
They were all dressed in Red, White and Blue of some description but Roxy was wearing pale blue leggings, a white shirt and a red waistcoat.
In addition they all wore substantially sized bum bags to carry some essential items for the day.
Roxy had water, facial wipes for cleaning her makeup off and pepper spray incase the crowd got ugly.
When they joined the parade they were about six or seven floats from the front and Roxy was hoping they could get round without having to expose themselves as Golliwogs.
The atmosphere was amazing and they were really enjoying themselves, and they had almost forgotten what they had planned to do.
But as they approached the Pier Rosie gestured to the other two and they stepped through the crowd and went into the ladies and when they immerged five minutes later their clown masks had gone and their wigs had been reversed and they all looked like Al Jolson.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this” Roxy said to herself as they ran back through the crowd
Their arrival was greeted with a huge cheer from the throng as they took up their positions and they collected as much money in ten minutes as Golly’s as they had all the while they were clowns.
But their success was short lived because after about one hundred yards the procession passed by the end of what was known locally as pub crawl alley because in that street, that lead from the promenade to the outskirts of town, had a totally of 27 pubs and clubs in it.
And it was from one of those pubs that a small group of inebriated afro Caribbean patrons saw them and took exception at what they saw and amidst shouts of abuse and threats of physical violence Rosie decided that discretion was the better part of valour and shouted to her friends
“Quick leg it”
(Part 04)
Detective Constable Richard Deacon was twenty-nine years old, six feet tall and was still pencil thin.
In fact when he first joined the Police he was so thin he was known as the stick insect hence the nickname of “Sticky”.
He was on duty during the parade and was in plain clothes and mingling with the crowd looking for pick pockets.
Although in truth he had been following the procession with more interest than he had for criminals once he spotted a small group of clowns go by rattling their collection tins.
They were all dressed in Red, White and Blue of some description but the one that caught his eye was wearing pale blue leggings, a white shirt, a red waistcoat and a white wig.
She was an eye-catchingly shaped, yet robust blonde girl who filled her pale blue legging very nicely indeed, in fact she was just the size and shape that Richard found attractive and ticked most of his boxes.
But it wasn’t just the fact that she filled her leggings to great effect that held his attention there was also something familiar about her gait but he couldn’t quite bring the owner of that gait clearly to mind and he could get no other clue as to her identity because the clowns mask completely obscured the girls face.
He was struggling to recall her and laboured in his deductions when all of a sudden the three clowns broke ranks and headed towards the toilets.
Richard positioned himself so he would see them when they emerged and he could resume his reconnoitre.
But no clowns appeared, though the girls did walk past him, right beneath his nose, he would have missed them altogether had he not caught sight of the pale blue legging clad buttocks, and it was only after he had rightly identified the arse as the one he was previously following that he realised that the clowns had morphed into Golliwogs.
“Holy shit” he said and laughed “This I’ve got to see”
The arrival of the minstrel trio on the parade was greeted with a huge cheer from the on looking throng as they took up their positions and the collection tins were filling up.
But their success didn’t last long because after about a hundred yards the floats passed by the end of pub crawl alley.
Because that street boasted a total of 27 pubs and they were all packed on Parade day, and it was from one of those pubs that a small group of inebriated afro Caribbean patrons emerged and saw the blacked up trio and took exception and hurled abuse and threats of physical violence and moved intimidatingly towards them.
Which was when a shout of
“Quick, leg it”
Rang out and the girls turned and ran, and when the one in the pale blue leggings sprinted in his direction he knew instantly who it was.
“Well I’ll be damned, it’s Roxy” he said
He was more used to seeing Police Constable Roxanne Kincaid-Smith in her uniform, which he found sexy enough but in civvies he was similarly affected and dressed as a Golliwog her allure went off the scale.
The reason her gait had been so familiar to him was that he had been admiring her from afar for the past 12 months as she strode purposefully up and down the corridors, though he had done no more that watch, she was a very popular girl as well as being very attractive and she attracted a lot of attention and he considered himself to be out of her league and not remarkable enough to get her attention.
(Part 05)
When the balloon went up, the three girls all ran in different directions and unknown to them the group of pursuers were halted in their tracks when the appreciative crowd put themselves between them and their prey, but not being aware of that fact, as they never looked back, the girls just ran hell for leather like startled deer and Roxy ran straight towards Richard.
Maybe now he would have the chance to show her that there was more to him than met the eye.
So as she ran towards him he thought of a plan which he implemented without a second thought.
“Come on Roxanne this way” he said and took hold of her hand
“What?” she exclaimed
“Come on there’s no time to lose” he said urgently
“Oh God are they gaining on me?” she panted
“Just run and don’t look back” he urged
They ran across the road between the floats and up Albert Road and ducked down alleys and adjoining streets until they emerged in Victoria Crescent by his car.
He opened the back door and said
“Get in Roxy and keep out of sight”
“Have we lost them?” he panted
“Yes I think so, but keep out of sight” he said then he got in the driver’s seat
“That’s an interesting look” he remarked
“I must look a fright” she replied
“No, I think you look great” he said “but what were you thinking?”
“I know, but Rosie twisted my arm” she responded
“Well Rosie isn’t a serving Police Officer” he pointed out
“No” she agreed
“Well it might be an idea if you got rid of the Othello look now” he suggested
“Good idea” she said and got the facial wipes and began rubbing her face
“Oh shit it’s not coming off, what am I going to do?”
“It will probably need soap and water, hot water preferably” Richard said
“I’m screwed then” she said resignedly
“Not necessarily” he said “Where did you get changed this morning, presumably you didn’t drive all the way from Mornington looking like that”
“Up at Whitecliff” she replied
”What a caravan?” he asked and Roxy nodded
“Ok then cover up and I’ll take you up their” he said
“Aren’t you on duty” Roxy said
“They won’t miss me for an hour” he replied “I haven’t had a meal break all day”
“Ok if you’re sure” she said and covered herself with his hi-vis jacket
He drove out through the Police Cordon and circled around the town and up to the Whitecliff Hill Caravan Park
“Which one is it?” he asked
“17c” she replied from beneath his coat
He followed the road round and parked the car as close as he could get
“Ok we’re here” he said “Where’s the key?”
“Under the mat” was her muffled reply
“Seriously?” Richard said and got out and using the key he found under the mat he opened the door.
He then opened the back door of the car and Roxy emerged with the coat draped over her like a prisoner going into the Old Bailey.
Once inside she dropped her collection tin on the floor and grabbed a few items of clothing and disappeared into the bathroom.
(Part 06)
When Roxy reappeared with a well-scrubbed red face she was wearing a different outfit consisting of baggy white shorts and an equally baggy yellow t-shirt and her hair was wet.
“I need to go and find my friends” she said with concern “They might not have been as lucky as I was”
“They’ll be fine” he said a little disappointed that the pale blue leggings had been replaced
“But they might have been caught” Roxy said
“They weren’t” Richard said confidently
“What makes you so sure?” she asked
“No one could have caught them because no one was chasing them” he said “or you”
“But you said “run and don’t look back”” she quoted “why would you say that if there was no one there?”
“So I could be the hero and rescue you” he said “and you have to admit it was quite exciting”
“Well I can’t argue with that” she agreed
“So would it be safe to call them then?” she asked
“Absolutely safe” he assured her
Having established that all was well with her friends they returned the key to its unoriginal hiding place and Roxy and Richard set off.
“How did you know it was me by the way?” she asked as they drove back into town
“I have a good eye” he said
“Oh God I’m in so much trouble” she said “if you recognised me so might someone else”
“I doubt they looked at you as closely as I do” he remarked
“What do you mean?” Roxy asked
“Erm nothing, it doesn’t matter” he said realising what he had said
“Yes it does” she insisted
“Well you have certain assets that I have become familiar with over the last twelve months” he said quietly “That’s all”
“I didn’t know you were interested” Roxy said “why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because there are always men buzzing around you like flies” he said
“That’s just it, they’re flies” Roxy said “Annoying flies”
Instead of returning to Victoria Crescent he drove into the yard of Sharpington Police Station, first dropping Roxy by the gate and parked up and after a five minute chat with a uniform Sergeant Richard walked across the yard and re-joined her.
“So when are you off duty?” she asked
“About ten minutes ago” he replied
“Good” Roxy said and held his hand as he walked her towards the pier where she had arranged to meet up with her friends.
When they reached the pier and the three girls were reunited he stood aside and watched as first they just hugged and then they found their voices and for the most part of the next five minutes they were all speaking at the same time.
When the chattering huddle broke up Roxy introduced Lindsay and Rosie to Richard and as the last of the floats had gone past they all walked together up to Jubilee Park to hand in their collection tins.
Roxy held tightly onto Richards hand all the way and over the following week they spent a lot of time together and began to get to know each other properly and their burgeoning relationship began to blossom.
But the arrival of a new Detective Inspector and his Sergeant looked like it might upset the applecart.
(Part 07)
It was the 7th of September when Roxy was instructed to rescue DI Boris Katarski and DS Marty Griffin from Sgt Orr on the front desk who had barred their entry into the building for over 20 minutes.
“I’m sorry about Sgt Orr” she said “He can be a bit of a ….”
“Dinosaur” Boris suggested
“Neanderthal” Marty offered
“Moron” The DI added
“Arse” Marty said bluntly
“Well I was going to say tartar” Roxanne said “but if the cap fits”
The light-hearted banter that accompanied them as Roxanne escorted them up to CID held no hint of what was to come.
DC Richard Deacon was waiting by the door to greet them as he was a familiar face.
“Sticky!” the two men said in unison
Boris and Marty had known DC Richard Deacon when he was a wet behind the ears PC at Abbottsford.
Although he was now a Detective Constable and twenty-nine years old, the six foot tall Detective was still pencil thin which was why he was known as the stick insect hence the nickname of “Sticky”.
Deacon and Roxanne momentarily exchanged a look and Boris said
“Thanks Roxanne” and she returned to her duties, though not for long because DI Katarski inherited a minor crime spree on his patch.
The spree took the form of a well organised team of pick pockets and after a review of his resources he realised his team was spread too thin.
Which was why he came out of his office later on his first day and called DS Griffin and DC Deacon over and said.
“Do you remember the spate of pickpocketing we had at the Phoenix Shopping Centre one Christmas in Abbottsford?”
“Yes” they both agreed
“And do you remember how we cracked it?” he asked
It was a big spree at the time and a large number of women had either had their pockets picked or bags stolen while visiting the Phoenix Shopping Centre.
Interviews were conducted and information collated but nothing leapt out at them.
But one of the DC’s, Grace Suddaby used all the information collected and compiled a crime map of the Phoenix Shopping Centre logging various markers such as the location the theft was discovered, shops visited prior to the discovery and the place where they were 100 percent sure they still had the stolen item and with that information Grace’s computer model managed to isolate the crime hotspot to the second floor.
“A crime map” Marty said
“Exactly” Boris said “And that’s exactly what we need here, a crime map to show us where to focus our efforts”
“Good idea guv” Deacon said
“But the problem is Grace is now running her own squad in Northchapel”
“I know so we need someone who’s extremely computer literate to collate the information and give us a working crime map showing us the crime hotspots” Boris said “So, Sticky, do we have such a person in Sharpington?”
“Yes sir we do” he replied “in fact you met her this morning”
So the next day PC Roxanne Kincaid-Smith began her secondment to CID and began work on the crime map.
(Part 08)
Life couldn’t have been better for Roxanne, she had a new man in her life who she was falling in love with and now she had been given a chance to make an impression in CID on secondment to create a crime map.
But she wasn’t feeling quite so fortunate on Thursday afternoon when DI Katarski had a visit from Superintendent Tilbry followed by a meeting behind closed doors and it wasn’t long before voices were raised.
Roxy couldn’t hear what was being said as she was on the other side of the office and she was in the coffee room when the shouting reached its crescendo.
“Damn the pick pockets and damn the burglars” The Superintendent yelled “Find me those Golliwogs”
And he then stormed out of Katarski’s office and slammed the door.
Afterwards DI Katarski explained at length the nature of his discussion with Superintendent Tilbry and the “Golliwog Gate” incident and tasked Marty Griffin to go and speak with the journalist and the organisers the next day.
“Oh guv” he protested and DC Deacon laughed
“And you can go with him to make sure he doesn’t get lost” Boris added
“But what about the collating?” Deacon protested
“Roxanne is quite capable of doing the collating on her own” The DI said and from across the office PC Kincaid-Smith was heard to titter although in truth she was unaware of the enquiry’s they were making having only heard the tail end of the conversation.
“Did you say something Roxanne?” Boris called to her
“No guv just clearing my throat” she replied
Before the end of the day Richard caught up with Roxy in the coffee room and told her what exactly he and DS Griffin would be investigating.
“God Richard I am so screwed” Roxy whispered
“Why?” he said “We’re not going to find out anything, nobody knows anything anyway”
“But what if someone else recognised me, or one of the others?” she said desperately
“Look we’re only making enquiries to get Tilbry off the Guv’s back”
He said “So don’t worry”
But that was like saying “don’t breathe”
The next day Roxy kept her head down and worked flat out on the crime map and tried hard not to think about what Marty and Richard mind be finding out from Molly Westwood who was the Journalist at the Sharpington Courier who wrote the Golliwog piece and Jayne Keeling, who chaired the Sharpington Day Parade Fundraising Committee and she prayed that would be an end to it.
The day was incredibly long and the only consolation was she had identified the hot spot on the crime map where the pickpockets were operating.
Later that day when DS Griffin and DC Deacon walked into DI Katarski’s office she couldn’t make eye contact with Richard for fear that she might cry and when the door closed she was completely in the dark about what was being said inside.
And she was no wiser when the door reopened and they emerged again, and when Richard and Marty walked straight past her and went into an adjacent office and closed the door her heart sank and her stomach turned over.
However had she known that Marty was making a phone call to the Reporter Molly Westwood to arrange to meet her by the entrance to the Pier later, she would have been none the wiser.
(Part 09)
By the time Marty and Richard left the formers office Roxy had left for the day and the moment she got into her car she broke down and cried and when her phone rang and she saw that it was Richard she cried even harder.
All the way home to Mornington she ignored Richards call’s because she didn’t want to hear the bad news but had she been privy to the meeting in Katarski’s she would have known that there was nothing to worry about.
“So basically what you’re telling me is that it was a harmless bit of fun, but somebody in a position of influence wants to make a mountain out of a molehill for reason or reasons unknown”
Boris Katarski said
“That about sums it up guv” Marty said
“And there’s no hope of finding the culprits” DC Deacon added
“I called Molly Westwood last night and asked her what kind of feedback the paper received on her article?” Marty said
“And?” Katarski asked
“A few “appalled” and “disgusted” but the vast majority saying it was just a bit of fun and they didn’t understand what all the fuss was about” he replied
“So public opinion is on the side of reason, but the problem is Superintendent Tilbry isn’t going to let us drop it” Boris mused
“So what do we do?” Deacon asked
“We have to get him to make us drop it” he replied
“How do we do that?” Marty asked
“You need to get better acquainted with the reporter” he replied
“Oh I think he was planning to do that anyway” Deacon remarked
“Good” Boris said
The subsequent phone call behind closed doors to Molly Westwood was to arrange a meeting for Marty to leak a story about undue influence being applied.
Which he did on Sharpington Pier shortly before kissing her in the moonlight.
Molly’s Editor at the Sharpington Courier passed on the story but as expected The Abbottsford Clarion accepted without hesitation as it was a red top tabloid that took great pleasure in rubbishing the police at every opportunity.
It amused the Inspector that he was using their bilious rag to aid the Polices cause.
So when Sunday morning came so did the revelations under the banner headline of “Police Turn a Blind Eye to Pickpockets”
The story went on to reveal how an unnamed, but Senior Police officer had shouted at his juniors
“Damn the pick pockets and damn the burglars, find me those Golliwogs”
The article was filled with quotes from members of the public who had very different expectation of the police and were bemused at the waste of resources on what was little more than a student prank.
As a result of the Clarion story Inspector Katarski was instructed by the Assistant Chief Constable on Monday morning to drop the “Golliwog nonsense” immediately and catch the pickpockets.
To which Boris replied
“We have them in custody already”
Thanks to Roxanne’s stunning work on the crime map they set up an observation and caught the crew of six on Saturday afternoon.
(Part 10)
Roxy did eventually answer one of Richards call’s and he repeatedly assured her that everything was going to be alright but she didn’t believe him until she read the story in the paper on Sunday.
But she still had some lingering doubts until Boris emerged from his office after putting the phone down on the ACC wearing a broad grin and announced to the office at large
“Mark the Golliwog case as closed, and if anyone is interested a vacancy has just opened up for a Superintendent”
A small ripple of applause spread around the office and Richard Deacon walked over to where Roxanne was sitting and gave her shoulder a quick squeeze.
The sound of office chatter regarding Superintendent Tilbry’s transfer was still the pervading sound as the phone in the DI’s office rang.
Expecting it to be another disgruntled senior officer he braced himself and went back inside to answer it.
He emerged a few moments later and his complexion was ashen.
“What’s wrong guv?” Roxanne asked as the first one to notice his demeanour, but soon all eyes were on him
“Lizzie’s collapsed at the shop” he replied, Lizzie was his wife and she owned the chain of Bizzie Lizzie florists.
“Come on then let’s get down there then” Marty said and led him out of the office.
When the news came through that Mrs Katarski had been taken to The Royal Downshire Hospital in Purplemere, Roxy went out to the coffee room and was stood looking out the window muttering a prayer under her breath, one of thanks for herself and one of healing for Mrs Katarski.
Richard Deacon walked up behind her and put his hands on her waist and kissed the top of her head.
“I told you everything was going to be alright didn’t I” he said
“Yes” she said and leant back against him
“I just hope Mrs Katarski is going to be ok” Roxy said
“Lizzie will be fine” Richard said reassuringly “nothing bad is going to spoil it, today is a good news day”
“I hope so” Roxy replied “but what makes you so sure?”
“Nothing bad can happen on the day I tell you, I love you” he said and Roxy turned around to face him.
“You love me?” she asked
“Very much” he replied
“I love you too” Roxy said and put her head against his chest and felt the pounding of his heart.
She wanted to kiss him so much but it was impossible at the station they were lucky to get a 30 second hug without being discovered.
She found it difficult to concentrate once she returned to her desk, a desk she was sure wouldn’t be hers much longer now that the pickpockets had been caught.
She just hoped that her work on the crime map would stand her in good stead to have her secondment made permanent.
About midday DS Griffin returned alone from Purplemere which made everyone think the worst and when he called everyone together for an announcement it seemed to underline the fact.
Richard and Roxy were stood next to each other at the back of the group so she discretely held his hand and her breath.
“As you all know the Guv’s wife collapsed at the shop this morning” he began “The good news is that she has been discharged from hospital and the Guv is taking the rest of the day to look after her, the even better news if that’s Mrs K is pregnant”
“Thant’s brilliant” Roxy said
“You see I told you it was a good news day” Richard added
“Know all” she retorted and squeezed his hand.
It was Saturday night in Mornington-By-Mere and goods friends Roxanne Kincaid-Smith, Lindsay Cooper and Rosie Parsons were sitting in the bar of the Old Mill Inn discussing their plans for the Bank Holiday.
All three of the girls were born and bred in the village but since starting out on their chosen careers they didn’t get together as often as they would have liked due shift patterns for Rosie and Roxy and the on call Rota for Lindsay.
At 25 Roxy was the youngest of the trio and the eldest child of the Kincaid-Smith family, and she lived in the house she was born in, at 4, Windmill Cottages with her parents Dane and Hazel and two younger siblings Lisa and Alex.
She was a PC in the Downshire Constabulary and was fortunate to have been stationed at Sharpington-by-Sea.
Joining the Police had been her lifelong ambition and getting a posting that allowed her to still live in Mornington was a dream come true.
The only downside to her dream job happened to be that her shift patterns meant she didn’t get to see her best friends regularly enough for her liking.
But a three day window opened up in which all three friends were off duty and furthermore without any other commitments in their diaries, an event rarer than hen’s teeth, so they all decided to make the most of it.
The fact that the three days happened to fall over the Bank holiday weekend was just the icing on the cake.
They had already eaten a sumptuous meal at the Old Mill Inn and followed that up with a significant amount of alcohol which influenced their decision making significantly.
But a decision had to be made, as they had signed up for the Sharpington Day Parade on Bank Holiday Monday.
It was a Charity event which raised tens of thousands of pounds every year much of which was collected by volunteers rattling tins along the route.
And traditionally the majority of volunteers took part in fancy dress and it was that element of the Parade which was vexing the three friends as they didn’t know what to go as.
“It needs to be something different” Lindsay said
“It needs to be something memorable” Roxy added
“I know just the thing” Rosie Parsons suddenly announced
“What?” the other two asked
“Golliwogs”
“What?” the two repeated
“Brilliant eh” Rosie said
“Are you mad?” Roxy asked with alarm “I’m a serving Police Officer”
“So?” Rosie asked
“It’s a bit “out there”” Lindsay pointed out
“Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“Adventure?” Roxy said “They’ll hang me out to dry”
“Oh God just because you wear blue serge knickers doesn’t mean you can’t have a laugh” Rosie said “Besides who’s going to recognise you under the makeup?”
“Oh I don’t know” Roxy said doubtfully
“We could carry tambourines so people will think we’re minstrels” Rosie suggested
“I’m not sure people will see the distinction” Lindsay added
“Oh come on you two it’ll be fun” Rosie said encouragingly
“I’ll remember that when I’m working as a security guard for Quid Busters” Roxy retorted
“Don’t be such a drama queen” Rosie said
“So are you two in or not?”
“Count me in” Lindsay said with bravado and turned her eyes on Roxy
“Ok I’m in” she agreed reluctantly
(Part 02)
In the cold light of day when they surfaced on Sunday afternoon the girls had serious doubts about the wisdom of dressing as Golliwogs for the Sharpington Day Parade but none of them voiced their concerns as they didn’t want to appear wimpy in front of the other two.
The drive over to Sharpington to register was completed largely in silence as they were so hungover from the night before.
Unfortunately it was a trip they had to make, as volunteers for the fundraising effort for the Parade had to register on Sunday afternoon where they would also pick up collection tins.
Fortunately those participating in fancy dress were not required to notify the organisers in advance what they planned to dress up as or to provide a photograph either which was just as well really due partly to the Non PC nature of what they had in mind but mainly as they didn’t know the precise details themselves.
As they walked quietly along the promenade towards the organizers marquee in Jubilee Park the three of them still had great unvoiced misgivings about the costumes.
“What was I thinking?” Roxy asked herself, she was particularly concerned because of the possible implications the prank might have on her Police career.
But as they turned up one of the lanes they spotted something that put all their minds at rest.
They came upon a shop selling a mixture of the usual seaside novelties along with a selection of fancy dress items such as clown masks and reversible wigs.
“That’s perfect” Rosie said holding a clown mask in her hands “No one will see the black makeup under this”
“And these are just what we need” Lindsay said picking up a wig which was black on one side and red or white on the other.
“I think we might just get away with it” Roxy said and as they left the shop with their purchases their collective mood had lightened appreciatively.
They continued their walk up to Jubilee Park and duly registered and were quite surprised at how quickly it was all completed and it was only just over an hour later when they were heading back down the lane again carrying their collection tins.
The journey home was much more typical for them than the earlier one was with all three of them having found their voices again and for the most part they were all speaking at the same time.
But amidst all the incessant chatter, during which it would have appeared to the casual observer that they were all talking and no one was listening, they formulated a plan.
They would drive down from Mornington to Sharpington at “sparrows fart” as Rosie described it and go straight to the Whitecliff Hill Caravan Park where Lindsay’s Aunty Lynn had a static caravan, which she seldom used, but then she did live on the Shore of Teardrop Lake in the Dancingdean Forest, so why would you leave that for a caravan in Sharpington.
Lindsay had already spoken to Aunty Lynn and got her permission although she didn’t say what she and the others were planning to do.
(Part 03)
Sharpington-by-Sea is a traditional seaside resort complete with a Victorian Pier, seafront hotels, crazy golf, The Palladium ballroom, well maintained gardens, promenade, theatre and illuminations, all the usual things to have a great time by the seaside, as well as amusement arcades and of course the Sharpington Fun Park.
Which was the first purpose built amusement park to open in Britain, which had an assortment of rides, like the Rotor and the Wild Mouse, The Cyclone and the Morehouse Galloper, all very tame compared to a 21st century roller coasters but still fun.
But on Bank Holiday Monday the town was taken over by the Sharpington Day Charity Parade.
The road leading to the coast was very busy and even leaving Mornington at the crack of dawn didn’t speed their journey any, as a lot of the roads in Sharpington were closed to the public which slowed their progress, until they reached the outskirts of the town where they turned off and circled around and then up to Whitecliff.
When they had finished changing and had made their faces up they put their clown masks on and the red or white side to their wigs, Roxy plumped for the white while Rosie and Lindsay chose the red.
The clown masks were made from latex and were designed to fit right over the head but because it was still summer and they were wearing nylon wigs they decided to cut most of the back out and put some strategically placed holes in the face.
They were concerned that if their heads sweated too much the black face would run, they needn’t have worried.
To avoid having to black up everywhere they all wore long sleeved tops and gloves and bright red silk scarves around their necks.
The wigs covered their ears so they didn’t need to do them and the clown mask covered everything else.
They were all dressed in Red, White and Blue of some description but Roxy was wearing pale blue leggings, a white shirt and a red waistcoat.
In addition they all wore substantially sized bum bags to carry some essential items for the day.
Roxy had water, facial wipes for cleaning her makeup off and pepper spray incase the crowd got ugly.
When they joined the parade they were about six or seven floats from the front and Roxy was hoping they could get round without having to expose themselves as Golliwogs.
The atmosphere was amazing and they were really enjoying themselves, and they had almost forgotten what they had planned to do.
But as they approached the Pier Rosie gestured to the other two and they stepped through the crowd and went into the ladies and when they immerged five minutes later their clown masks had gone and their wigs had been reversed and they all looked like Al Jolson.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this” Roxy said to herself as they ran back through the crowd
Their arrival was greeted with a huge cheer from the throng as they took up their positions and they collected as much money in ten minutes as Golly’s as they had all the while they were clowns.
But their success was short lived because after about one hundred yards the procession passed by the end of what was known locally as pub crawl alley because in that street, that lead from the promenade to the outskirts of town, had a totally of 27 pubs and clubs in it.
And it was from one of those pubs that a small group of inebriated afro Caribbean patrons saw them and took exception at what they saw and amidst shouts of abuse and threats of physical violence Rosie decided that discretion was the better part of valour and shouted to her friends
“Quick leg it”
(Part 04)
Detective Constable Richard Deacon was twenty-nine years old, six feet tall and was still pencil thin.
In fact when he first joined the Police he was so thin he was known as the stick insect hence the nickname of “Sticky”.
He was on duty during the parade and was in plain clothes and mingling with the crowd looking for pick pockets.
Although in truth he had been following the procession with more interest than he had for criminals once he spotted a small group of clowns go by rattling their collection tins.
They were all dressed in Red, White and Blue of some description but the one that caught his eye was wearing pale blue leggings, a white shirt, a red waistcoat and a white wig.
She was an eye-catchingly shaped, yet robust blonde girl who filled her pale blue legging very nicely indeed, in fact she was just the size and shape that Richard found attractive and ticked most of his boxes.
But it wasn’t just the fact that she filled her leggings to great effect that held his attention there was also something familiar about her gait but he couldn’t quite bring the owner of that gait clearly to mind and he could get no other clue as to her identity because the clowns mask completely obscured the girls face.
He was struggling to recall her and laboured in his deductions when all of a sudden the three clowns broke ranks and headed towards the toilets.
Richard positioned himself so he would see them when they emerged and he could resume his reconnoitre.
But no clowns appeared, though the girls did walk past him, right beneath his nose, he would have missed them altogether had he not caught sight of the pale blue legging clad buttocks, and it was only after he had rightly identified the arse as the one he was previously following that he realised that the clowns had morphed into Golliwogs.
“Holy shit” he said and laughed “This I’ve got to see”
The arrival of the minstrel trio on the parade was greeted with a huge cheer from the on looking throng as they took up their positions and the collection tins were filling up.
But their success didn’t last long because after about a hundred yards the floats passed by the end of pub crawl alley.
Because that street boasted a total of 27 pubs and they were all packed on Parade day, and it was from one of those pubs that a small group of inebriated afro Caribbean patrons emerged and saw the blacked up trio and took exception and hurled abuse and threats of physical violence and moved intimidatingly towards them.
Which was when a shout of
“Quick, leg it”
Rang out and the girls turned and ran, and when the one in the pale blue leggings sprinted in his direction he knew instantly who it was.
“Well I’ll be damned, it’s Roxy” he said
He was more used to seeing Police Constable Roxanne Kincaid-Smith in her uniform, which he found sexy enough but in civvies he was similarly affected and dressed as a Golliwog her allure went off the scale.
The reason her gait had been so familiar to him was that he had been admiring her from afar for the past 12 months as she strode purposefully up and down the corridors, though he had done no more that watch, she was a very popular girl as well as being very attractive and she attracted a lot of attention and he considered himself to be out of her league and not remarkable enough to get her attention.
(Part 05)
When the balloon went up, the three girls all ran in different directions and unknown to them the group of pursuers were halted in their tracks when the appreciative crowd put themselves between them and their prey, but not being aware of that fact, as they never looked back, the girls just ran hell for leather like startled deer and Roxy ran straight towards Richard.
Maybe now he would have the chance to show her that there was more to him than met the eye.
So as she ran towards him he thought of a plan which he implemented without a second thought.
“Come on Roxanne this way” he said and took hold of her hand
“What?” she exclaimed
“Come on there’s no time to lose” he said urgently
“Oh God are they gaining on me?” she panted
“Just run and don’t look back” he urged
They ran across the road between the floats and up Albert Road and ducked down alleys and adjoining streets until they emerged in Victoria Crescent by his car.
He opened the back door and said
“Get in Roxy and keep out of sight”
“Have we lost them?” he panted
“Yes I think so, but keep out of sight” he said then he got in the driver’s seat
“That’s an interesting look” he remarked
“I must look a fright” she replied
“No, I think you look great” he said “but what were you thinking?”
“I know, but Rosie twisted my arm” she responded
“Well Rosie isn’t a serving Police Officer” he pointed out
“No” she agreed
“Well it might be an idea if you got rid of the Othello look now” he suggested
“Good idea” she said and got the facial wipes and began rubbing her face
“Oh shit it’s not coming off, what am I going to do?”
“It will probably need soap and water, hot water preferably” Richard said
“I’m screwed then” she said resignedly
“Not necessarily” he said “Where did you get changed this morning, presumably you didn’t drive all the way from Mornington looking like that”
“Up at Whitecliff” she replied
”What a caravan?” he asked and Roxy nodded
“Ok then cover up and I’ll take you up their” he said
“Aren’t you on duty” Roxy said
“They won’t miss me for an hour” he replied “I haven’t had a meal break all day”
“Ok if you’re sure” she said and covered herself with his hi-vis jacket
He drove out through the Police Cordon and circled around the town and up to the Whitecliff Hill Caravan Park
“Which one is it?” he asked
“17c” she replied from beneath his coat
He followed the road round and parked the car as close as he could get
“Ok we’re here” he said “Where’s the key?”
“Under the mat” was her muffled reply
“Seriously?” Richard said and got out and using the key he found under the mat he opened the door.
He then opened the back door of the car and Roxy emerged with the coat draped over her like a prisoner going into the Old Bailey.
Once inside she dropped her collection tin on the floor and grabbed a few items of clothing and disappeared into the bathroom.
(Part 06)
When Roxy reappeared with a well-scrubbed red face she was wearing a different outfit consisting of baggy white shorts and an equally baggy yellow t-shirt and her hair was wet.
“I need to go and find my friends” she said with concern “They might not have been as lucky as I was”
“They’ll be fine” he said a little disappointed that the pale blue leggings had been replaced
“But they might have been caught” Roxy said
“They weren’t” Richard said confidently
“What makes you so sure?” she asked
“No one could have caught them because no one was chasing them” he said “or you”
“But you said “run and don’t look back”” she quoted “why would you say that if there was no one there?”
“So I could be the hero and rescue you” he said “and you have to admit it was quite exciting”
“Well I can’t argue with that” she agreed
“So would it be safe to call them then?” she asked
“Absolutely safe” he assured her
Having established that all was well with her friends they returned the key to its unoriginal hiding place and Roxy and Richard set off.
“How did you know it was me by the way?” she asked as they drove back into town
“I have a good eye” he said
“Oh God I’m in so much trouble” she said “if you recognised me so might someone else”
“I doubt they looked at you as closely as I do” he remarked
“What do you mean?” Roxy asked
“Erm nothing, it doesn’t matter” he said realising what he had said
“Yes it does” she insisted
“Well you have certain assets that I have become familiar with over the last twelve months” he said quietly “That’s all”
“I didn’t know you were interested” Roxy said “why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because there are always men buzzing around you like flies” he said
“That’s just it, they’re flies” Roxy said “Annoying flies”
Instead of returning to Victoria Crescent he drove into the yard of Sharpington Police Station, first dropping Roxy by the gate and parked up and after a five minute chat with a uniform Sergeant Richard walked across the yard and re-joined her.
“So when are you off duty?” she asked
“About ten minutes ago” he replied
“Good” Roxy said and held his hand as he walked her towards the pier where she had arranged to meet up with her friends.
When they reached the pier and the three girls were reunited he stood aside and watched as first they just hugged and then they found their voices and for the most part of the next five minutes they were all speaking at the same time.
When the chattering huddle broke up Roxy introduced Lindsay and Rosie to Richard and as the last of the floats had gone past they all walked together up to Jubilee Park to hand in their collection tins.
Roxy held tightly onto Richards hand all the way and over the following week they spent a lot of time together and began to get to know each other properly and their burgeoning relationship began to blossom.
But the arrival of a new Detective Inspector and his Sergeant looked like it might upset the applecart.
(Part 07)
It was the 7th of September when Roxy was instructed to rescue DI Boris Katarski and DS Marty Griffin from Sgt Orr on the front desk who had barred their entry into the building for over 20 minutes.
“I’m sorry about Sgt Orr” she said “He can be a bit of a ….”
“Dinosaur” Boris suggested
“Neanderthal” Marty offered
“Moron” The DI added
“Arse” Marty said bluntly
“Well I was going to say tartar” Roxanne said “but if the cap fits”
The light-hearted banter that accompanied them as Roxanne escorted them up to CID held no hint of what was to come.
DC Richard Deacon was waiting by the door to greet them as he was a familiar face.
“Sticky!” the two men said in unison
Boris and Marty had known DC Richard Deacon when he was a wet behind the ears PC at Abbottsford.
Although he was now a Detective Constable and twenty-nine years old, the six foot tall Detective was still pencil thin which was why he was known as the stick insect hence the nickname of “Sticky”.
Deacon and Roxanne momentarily exchanged a look and Boris said
“Thanks Roxanne” and she returned to her duties, though not for long because DI Katarski inherited a minor crime spree on his patch.
The spree took the form of a well organised team of pick pockets and after a review of his resources he realised his team was spread too thin.
Which was why he came out of his office later on his first day and called DS Griffin and DC Deacon over and said.
“Do you remember the spate of pickpocketing we had at the Phoenix Shopping Centre one Christmas in Abbottsford?”
“Yes” they both agreed
“And do you remember how we cracked it?” he asked
It was a big spree at the time and a large number of women had either had their pockets picked or bags stolen while visiting the Phoenix Shopping Centre.
Interviews were conducted and information collated but nothing leapt out at them.
But one of the DC’s, Grace Suddaby used all the information collected and compiled a crime map of the Phoenix Shopping Centre logging various markers such as the location the theft was discovered, shops visited prior to the discovery and the place where they were 100 percent sure they still had the stolen item and with that information Grace’s computer model managed to isolate the crime hotspot to the second floor.
“A crime map” Marty said
“Exactly” Boris said “And that’s exactly what we need here, a crime map to show us where to focus our efforts”
“Good idea guv” Deacon said
“But the problem is Grace is now running her own squad in Northchapel”
“I know so we need someone who’s extremely computer literate to collate the information and give us a working crime map showing us the crime hotspots” Boris said “So, Sticky, do we have such a person in Sharpington?”
“Yes sir we do” he replied “in fact you met her this morning”
So the next day PC Roxanne Kincaid-Smith began her secondment to CID and began work on the crime map.
(Part 08)
Life couldn’t have been better for Roxanne, she had a new man in her life who she was falling in love with and now she had been given a chance to make an impression in CID on secondment to create a crime map.
But she wasn’t feeling quite so fortunate on Thursday afternoon when DI Katarski had a visit from Superintendent Tilbry followed by a meeting behind closed doors and it wasn’t long before voices were raised.
Roxy couldn’t hear what was being said as she was on the other side of the office and she was in the coffee room when the shouting reached its crescendo.
“Damn the pick pockets and damn the burglars” The Superintendent yelled “Find me those Golliwogs”
And he then stormed out of Katarski’s office and slammed the door.
Afterwards DI Katarski explained at length the nature of his discussion with Superintendent Tilbry and the “Golliwog Gate” incident and tasked Marty Griffin to go and speak with the journalist and the organisers the next day.
“Oh guv” he protested and DC Deacon laughed
“And you can go with him to make sure he doesn’t get lost” Boris added
“But what about the collating?” Deacon protested
“Roxanne is quite capable of doing the collating on her own” The DI said and from across the office PC Kincaid-Smith was heard to titter although in truth she was unaware of the enquiry’s they were making having only heard the tail end of the conversation.
“Did you say something Roxanne?” Boris called to her
“No guv just clearing my throat” she replied
Before the end of the day Richard caught up with Roxy in the coffee room and told her what exactly he and DS Griffin would be investigating.
“God Richard I am so screwed” Roxy whispered
“Why?” he said “We’re not going to find out anything, nobody knows anything anyway”
“But what if someone else recognised me, or one of the others?” she said desperately
“Look we’re only making enquiries to get Tilbry off the Guv’s back”
He said “So don’t worry”
But that was like saying “don’t breathe”
The next day Roxy kept her head down and worked flat out on the crime map and tried hard not to think about what Marty and Richard mind be finding out from Molly Westwood who was the Journalist at the Sharpington Courier who wrote the Golliwog piece and Jayne Keeling, who chaired the Sharpington Day Parade Fundraising Committee and she prayed that would be an end to it.
The day was incredibly long and the only consolation was she had identified the hot spot on the crime map where the pickpockets were operating.
Later that day when DS Griffin and DC Deacon walked into DI Katarski’s office she couldn’t make eye contact with Richard for fear that she might cry and when the door closed she was completely in the dark about what was being said inside.
And she was no wiser when the door reopened and they emerged again, and when Richard and Marty walked straight past her and went into an adjacent office and closed the door her heart sank and her stomach turned over.
However had she known that Marty was making a phone call to the Reporter Molly Westwood to arrange to meet her by the entrance to the Pier later, she would have been none the wiser.
(Part 09)
By the time Marty and Richard left the formers office Roxy had left for the day and the moment she got into her car she broke down and cried and when her phone rang and she saw that it was Richard she cried even harder.
All the way home to Mornington she ignored Richards call’s because she didn’t want to hear the bad news but had she been privy to the meeting in Katarski’s she would have known that there was nothing to worry about.
“So basically what you’re telling me is that it was a harmless bit of fun, but somebody in a position of influence wants to make a mountain out of a molehill for reason or reasons unknown”
Boris Katarski said
“That about sums it up guv” Marty said
“And there’s no hope of finding the culprits” DC Deacon added
“I called Molly Westwood last night and asked her what kind of feedback the paper received on her article?” Marty said
“And?” Katarski asked
“A few “appalled” and “disgusted” but the vast majority saying it was just a bit of fun and they didn’t understand what all the fuss was about” he replied
“So public opinion is on the side of reason, but the problem is Superintendent Tilbry isn’t going to let us drop it” Boris mused
“So what do we do?” Deacon asked
“We have to get him to make us drop it” he replied
“How do we do that?” Marty asked
“You need to get better acquainted with the reporter” he replied
“Oh I think he was planning to do that anyway” Deacon remarked
“Good” Boris said
The subsequent phone call behind closed doors to Molly Westwood was to arrange a meeting for Marty to leak a story about undue influence being applied.
Which he did on Sharpington Pier shortly before kissing her in the moonlight.
Molly’s Editor at the Sharpington Courier passed on the story but as expected The Abbottsford Clarion accepted without hesitation as it was a red top tabloid that took great pleasure in rubbishing the police at every opportunity.
It amused the Inspector that he was using their bilious rag to aid the Polices cause.
So when Sunday morning came so did the revelations under the banner headline of “Police Turn a Blind Eye to Pickpockets”
The story went on to reveal how an unnamed, but Senior Police officer had shouted at his juniors
“Damn the pick pockets and damn the burglars, find me those Golliwogs”
The article was filled with quotes from members of the public who had very different expectation of the police and were bemused at the waste of resources on what was little more than a student prank.
As a result of the Clarion story Inspector Katarski was instructed by the Assistant Chief Constable on Monday morning to drop the “Golliwog nonsense” immediately and catch the pickpockets.
To which Boris replied
“We have them in custody already”
Thanks to Roxanne’s stunning work on the crime map they set up an observation and caught the crew of six on Saturday afternoon.
(Part 10)
Roxy did eventually answer one of Richards call’s and he repeatedly assured her that everything was going to be alright but she didn’t believe him until she read the story in the paper on Sunday.
But she still had some lingering doubts until Boris emerged from his office after putting the phone down on the ACC wearing a broad grin and announced to the office at large
“Mark the Golliwog case as closed, and if anyone is interested a vacancy has just opened up for a Superintendent”
A small ripple of applause spread around the office and Richard Deacon walked over to where Roxanne was sitting and gave her shoulder a quick squeeze.
The sound of office chatter regarding Superintendent Tilbry’s transfer was still the pervading sound as the phone in the DI’s office rang.
Expecting it to be another disgruntled senior officer he braced himself and went back inside to answer it.
He emerged a few moments later and his complexion was ashen.
“What’s wrong guv?” Roxanne asked as the first one to notice his demeanour, but soon all eyes were on him
“Lizzie’s collapsed at the shop” he replied, Lizzie was his wife and she owned the chain of Bizzie Lizzie florists.
“Come on then let’s get down there then” Marty said and led him out of the office.
When the news came through that Mrs Katarski had been taken to The Royal Downshire Hospital in Purplemere, Roxy went out to the coffee room and was stood looking out the window muttering a prayer under her breath, one of thanks for herself and one of healing for Mrs Katarski.
Richard Deacon walked up behind her and put his hands on her waist and kissed the top of her head.
“I told you everything was going to be alright didn’t I” he said
“Yes” she said and leant back against him
“I just hope Mrs Katarski is going to be ok” Roxy said
“Lizzie will be fine” Richard said reassuringly “nothing bad is going to spoil it, today is a good news day”
“I hope so” Roxy replied “but what makes you so sure?”
“Nothing bad can happen on the day I tell you, I love you” he said and Roxy turned around to face him.
“You love me?” she asked
“Very much” he replied
“I love you too” Roxy said and put her head against his chest and felt the pounding of his heart.
She wanted to kiss him so much but it was impossible at the station they were lucky to get a 30 second hug without being discovered.
She found it difficult to concentrate once she returned to her desk, a desk she was sure wouldn’t be hers much longer now that the pickpockets had been caught.
She just hoped that her work on the crime map would stand her in good stead to have her secondment made permanent.
About midday DS Griffin returned alone from Purplemere which made everyone think the worst and when he called everyone together for an announcement it seemed to underline the fact.
Richard and Roxy were stood next to each other at the back of the group so she discretely held his hand and her breath.
“As you all know the Guv’s wife collapsed at the shop this morning” he began “The good news is that she has been discharged from hospital and the Guv is taking the rest of the day to look after her, the even better news if that’s Mrs K is pregnant”
“Thant’s brilliant” Roxy said
“You see I told you it was a good news day” Richard added
“Know all” she retorted and squeezed his hand.
Mornington-By-Mere – (18) Standing in the Shadows of Love
(Part 01)
Twenty three year old Megan Murray lived at number 3, The Close, in Mornington-By-Mere with her parents and younger brother David.
She was tall, a few inches short of six foot, with Caucasian features, coffee coloured skin and short brown curly hair courtesy of her father Phil, who was white and was a child of the Finchbottom Vale and her black mother Lully who was from Jamaica.
Megan also had a heart as big as a house and felt blessed to have 4 particularly good and longstanding friends.
Apart from the fact they all lived in Mornington and were all 23 years old, the five girls also went to Abbottsford University together.
And it was while they were at University that Lisa Kincaid-Smith, Megan Murray, Carina Crockford and twin sisters Cordelia and Corliss St George performed as the Jackson 5 for the first time.
It was during rag week on their first week when they donned gold lame flares and black wigs and sang “I want you back” and from that moment it became their party piece and one that had been repeated on many occasions since.
So when they signed up for the Sharpington Day Parade on Bank Holiday Monday, a Charity event which raised tens of thousands of pounds every year, much of which was collected by volunteers rattling tins along the route whilst in fancy dress, it was a forgone conclusion who they would dress up as.
Sharpington-by-Sea was a traditional seaside resort complete with a Victorian Pier, seafront hotels, crazy golf, ballroom, well maintained gardens, promenade, theatre and illuminations, all the usual things to have a great time by the seaside, as well as amusement arcades and of course the Sharpington Fun Park.
Which was the first purpose built amusement park to open in Britain, which had an assortment of rides, like the Rotor and the tame compared to a 21st century roller coaster but still fun.
But on the August Bank Holiday Monday it wasn’t the Fun Park people were interested in.
It was the parade that attracted people from all over Downshire and beyond and Carina had an idea to make their Jackson 5 homage even better by having all the girls professionally made up to match Megan Murray’s skin colour which was dark caramel due to her mixed race heritage.
However much to her consternation her suggestion wasn’t greeted with universal approval.
That was mainly due to the fact that the St George girls were very white with pale skin and blue eyes and Lisa was a proper ginger who actually ended up paler when she went out in the sun.
Although their concerns centred more on not wishing to look ridiculous rather than the fear of any offence they might cause.
However their fears were soon put at ease when Carina explained what she had in mind.
Since leaving University Carina Crockford had worked in the makeup department at the Purplemere Studio’s and it was there where she had charge of a group of trainee make-up artists and among them were Karen Cooper and Ivana Holubova, and it was they who Carina had persuaded to make the girls up.
Also she had co-opted the help of Sue Moss and Lisa Mendez from the costume department.
As a result the girls reluctantly agreed to go along with it but reserved judgement on whether they would allow themselves to be seen in public made up and costumed.
As it turned out the makeup and costumes were so good that on the day of the parade no one realised that only one of the Jackson 5 was actually black.
It was only at the very end of the day as they were getting into the car when Lisa’s wig fell off to reveal her ginger hair that a member of the public realised something was amiss.
There was however no public outcry though they got a mention in the Sharpington Courier and there was talk of a Police investigation but nothing came of it and the tale of the Jackson 5 passed into modern folklore.
(Part 02)
When Megan Murray left University she had no idea what she wanted to do with her degree so she took a temp job as receptionist at the Oak Dale Retirement Village and Nursing home in Dulcets Green.
But she enjoyed the job so much she was still there two years later.
Dulcets Green was situated between Mornington and Purplemere it was only a small hamlet quiet and sleepy, which was how the inhabitants liked it.
The population of the hamlet was more than quadrupled by the inhabitants of Oak Dale Retirement Village and Nursing home when it opened.
Oak Dale had been built in the late Victorian period by one of Baron Gabriel St Georges’ ancestors for his wife to live in when he got sick of the sight of her, it was never used for that purpose however as he went mad and shot himself before she moved in.
During the First World War it had been used as a hospital for wounded soldiers from France, in between the wars it was used as a TB hospital, it was used again during World War two as a hospital again at which time additional buildings were added.
After the war it fell into disuse, the Estate maintained it to keep the weather out but didn’t really have a use for it.
That was until Alexandra Barrileau approached Gabriel St George with her plan to turn Oak Dale into a retirement village and nursing home.
Megan liked Alexandra very much and she was part of the reason she had stayed there so long, but mainly it was the people.
Reception was the hub of Oak Dale and that was the place that was her domain, where she saw all of life and an occasional glimpse of Jimmy Chapman.
James Chapman was the same age as Megan and also lived in Mornington and they had known each other since they were kids but they were never friends, in fact he used to pick on her.
When she was at school she was a shy girl, however she was always taller than her peers and with coloured skin she tended to stand out which was the last thing you wanted to do when you were shy and socially awkward.
Jimmy was the son of a farm labourer and was merciless in his teasing but when Megan went off to college and University Jimmy followed in his father’s footsteps and started working on Windmill Farm so they rarely crossed paths after that until the day she started working at Oak Dale.
Apart from being a farm labourer at Windmill Farm, James also did some general maintenance at Oak Dale to earn some extra money.
She was surprised to see him, in fact she didn’t recognise him at first, it had been six years after all, but he recognised her instantly and he was so embarrassed, he still remembered how he had treated her at school, how he teased her mercilessly, she thought he was so mean to her so he thought she would never forgive him.
Even though the reason he teased her so much was because he had a crush on her but because he was young and stupid and a boy he thought the best way to get her attention was to pick on her.
(Part 03)
The first time she saw Jimmy at Oak Dale she did indeed feel animosity towards him for the way he behaved to her when they were kids, so she was distant and aloof but she eventually warmed to him and those feelings of disdain soon evaporated when she studied the fine looking muscular man that the mean spotty youth had grown into, who was so kind and caring that it was difficult to imagine it was the same person.
James Chapman on the other hand continued to wear a hair shirt for two years as he looked at her from afar.
But without the other realizing it, the two of them looked forward greatly to the days he was at Oak Dale.
So imagine her disappointment when he didn’t turn up when expected one day at the end of September, it was particularly galling for her as she had bought a new skirt and blouse at the weekend and had worn it especially for his benefit.
Disappointed but not downhearted she said to herself stoically “There’s always tomorrow”
But tomorrow came and went but James Chapman didn’t.
Nor did he the day after or indeed any day that week.
On Friday afternoon, having given up all hope that she might see him that week she discreetly made enquiries to her boss about him.
Alexandra Barrileau was a small unremarkable looking woman with short blonde hair and green eyes, not unremarkable in an unattractive way but in that she was small and slight and often underestimated because despite her diminutive stature she was possessed of great strength of will and an unshakable resolve.
Which was why after only six years Oak Dale was thriving under Alex’s leadership.
She had turned what was a burden to the Mornington Estate into an asset, which had brought employment to the people of Dulcets Green as well as the outlying areas.
She had achieved this success despite having had no experience in either nursing or care.
Her area of expertise was venture capital and she gave up a very successful career in the field to open Oak Dale.
Her motivation for such a drastic career change was the quality of care her elderly mother received at the end of her life.
In fact Alex found it so indifferent that she chose to do something about it, she couldn’t believe that it wasn’t possible to do better, and she had proved herself correct.
She was fast approaching fifty now and she found her new life very rewarding and found herself on the brink of marriage for the first time, something she had never envisaged when she had been a career woman through and through.
She never regretted it either at the time or since, but now in the quiet hours she had a kindly man to share them.
So when Megan sidled up to her and began a casual conversation she knew exactly what was on her mind which was confirmed when she asked.
“I haven’t seen Jimmy all week, is everything alright?”
(Part 04)
“I haven’t seen Jimmy all week” she said “is everything alright?”
“Yes” she replied “one of his chums broke his arm, so James is needed on the farm”
“Oh” Megan said trying and failing to show her disappointment “That’s good that he’s ok though”
“We’ll just have to get along without him for a couple of weeks”
“Another two weeks?” Megan exclaimed
“You could just go and knock on his door, he only lives a street away from you” Alex said jovially
“I don’t erm… I mean I was just wondering…” Megan stammered and blushed to her roots.
“Nonsense” Alex said “you’re always looking at him doe eyed”
“No I’m not” Megan snapped a little too forcefully
“You fancy him like mad” Alex pointed out
“Well I wouldn’t say that” Megan blustered
“And he’s just as bad”
“I…” Megan began then looked thoughtful for a moment before continuing “Do you really think so?”
“Yes I do” she replied
“I just can’t believe one of you hasn’t made a move yet, after all it’s been two years” She said in disbelief
“It’s not that simple” Megan said with a sigh
“Of course it is” Alex said sharply
“Look I don’t know what it is that’s holding him back, but there’s nothing stopping you”
“What do you mean?” Megan asked
“What I mean is that it’s the 21st century, a woman doesn’t have to wait to be asked anymore”
“I can’t just ask him” Megan said
“Of course you can”
“No I really can’t” Megan reiterated “What if he said no? I would be mortified”
“Honestly Megan you’re a beautiful confident young girl, just ask him” she said squeezed her hand “He’s not going to say no”
Megan spent all weekend mulling over what Alexandra had said and she decided she would take her advice but she drew the line at knocking on his front door.
So she chose instead to wait until they were at Oak Dale where she felt more confident.
The following two weeks passed at an alarming slow pace but pass they did.
But the weekend following those tortuously slow two weeks seemed to last even longer, but by Sunday evening she knew exactly what she was going to say and where she was going to say it.
However come Monday morning when she woke up she had a fever with a temperature of 102.5, dizziness, sore throat, aching muscles, chills and ringing ears.
She got out of bed and went downstairs but as soon as her mum saw her, she sent her straight back to bed and called the doctor.
Because of the flu and a subsequent ear infection she didn’t return to work until the last Thursday of the month only to find out that James wouldn’t be in for the rest of the week but to add insult onto injury he had been in at least some of the time on every day she had been ill.
Megan decided that it was a sign, the universe was telling her that she should stop mooning about over James Chapman and move on.
It clearly wasn’t meant to be and that was that.
And nothing would change that despite what Alexandra had to say on the subject.
(Part 05)
It was Halloween on Saturday and her friends persuaded her to go to the Halloween party at the Church Hall.
The early part of the evening was more for children, with traditional games but later on when the beer arrived from the brewery it was all about the adults.
There were hot dogs and burgers for all age groups courtesy of the restaurant staff at the Old Mill Inn, the pub was closed to diners on special occasions like Halloween.
Megan was there right from the beginning helping with the games and playing with the little ones, which distracted her until they were taken home.
She had a burger and a couple of beers with Carina Crockford and the St George twins but she still wasn’t feeling a hundred percent so she made her excuses and headed towards home.
She was feeling more depressed than ill, if she was honest, had she seen any sign of James at the party she might have stayed but he wasn’t, another sign from the bloody Universe obviously.
She walked back along the wooded path that meandered along beside the River Brooke.
Her eyes weren’t quite accustomed to the dark so she wasn’t making particularly speedy progress but she was within sight of the bridge and only five minutes from home when she was knocked off her feet by a figure in the dark.
“Excellent” she thought to herself “What now Universe?”
Her assailant ended up flat on their back and she finished up laying on top of them, using her phone as a torch she shone it in their face and was surprised to see it was James Chapman but not as surprised as he was when she kissed him full on the mouth.
What brought them to that undignified position was James’s eagerness to get to the church hall because his sister Lorraine had told him she had seen Megan at the party and he wanted to see her.
But he was so eager he rushed headlong through the darkness and collided with someone and that someone was lying on top of him and kissing him so he did the only thing he could do and that was to kiss her back, whoever she might be, although he had a clue, he thought he recognized the perfume, he just hoped he was right.
“Nice one Universe” she thought as they continued to kiss, and what a kiss it was, a deliciously gentle kiss to which James responded in kind, she just hoped he knew it was her.
So when she came up for air she turned her phone torch on herself and hoped he wouldn’t be disappointed with what he saw.
There was little chance of that and in response to her revelation he pulled her face towards him and kissed her again.
As their sensual embrace had been so long awaited neither of them were in any hurry to curtail it.
But they both stopped abruptly, startled by a noise along the wooded path, and quickly stood up and Megan backed into the shadow of an old twisted oak and he joined her there and they huddled together in close proximity saying nothing, the only sound being their breathing which was quick and shallow.
The group of revelers passed only feet away from them and when they were out of earshot they kissed again.
They walked hand in hand across the East Bridge silently, content they had both been granted their most fervent wish, and when they got to the top of the path that led down to her house they came to a halt and he turned to face her and they smile before he kissed her soft lips, in a long and sensual goodnight kiss.
Twenty three year old Megan Murray lived at number 3, The Close, in Mornington-By-Mere with her parents and younger brother David.
She was tall, a few inches short of six foot, with Caucasian features, coffee coloured skin and short brown curly hair courtesy of her father Phil, who was white and was a child of the Finchbottom Vale and her black mother Lully who was from Jamaica.
Megan also had a heart as big as a house and felt blessed to have 4 particularly good and longstanding friends.
Apart from the fact they all lived in Mornington and were all 23 years old, the five girls also went to Abbottsford University together.
And it was while they were at University that Lisa Kincaid-Smith, Megan Murray, Carina Crockford and twin sisters Cordelia and Corliss St George performed as the Jackson 5 for the first time.
It was during rag week on their first week when they donned gold lame flares and black wigs and sang “I want you back” and from that moment it became their party piece and one that had been repeated on many occasions since.
So when they signed up for the Sharpington Day Parade on Bank Holiday Monday, a Charity event which raised tens of thousands of pounds every year, much of which was collected by volunteers rattling tins along the route whilst in fancy dress, it was a forgone conclusion who they would dress up as.
Sharpington-by-Sea was a traditional seaside resort complete with a Victorian Pier, seafront hotels, crazy golf, ballroom, well maintained gardens, promenade, theatre and illuminations, all the usual things to have a great time by the seaside, as well as amusement arcades and of course the Sharpington Fun Park.
Which was the first purpose built amusement park to open in Britain, which had an assortment of rides, like the Rotor and the tame compared to a 21st century roller coaster but still fun.
But on the August Bank Holiday Monday it wasn’t the Fun Park people were interested in.
It was the parade that attracted people from all over Downshire and beyond and Carina had an idea to make their Jackson 5 homage even better by having all the girls professionally made up to match Megan Murray’s skin colour which was dark caramel due to her mixed race heritage.
However much to her consternation her suggestion wasn’t greeted with universal approval.
That was mainly due to the fact that the St George girls were very white with pale skin and blue eyes and Lisa was a proper ginger who actually ended up paler when she went out in the sun.
Although their concerns centred more on not wishing to look ridiculous rather than the fear of any offence they might cause.
However their fears were soon put at ease when Carina explained what she had in mind.
Since leaving University Carina Crockford had worked in the makeup department at the Purplemere Studio’s and it was there where she had charge of a group of trainee make-up artists and among them were Karen Cooper and Ivana Holubova, and it was they who Carina had persuaded to make the girls up.
Also she had co-opted the help of Sue Moss and Lisa Mendez from the costume department.
As a result the girls reluctantly agreed to go along with it but reserved judgement on whether they would allow themselves to be seen in public made up and costumed.
As it turned out the makeup and costumes were so good that on the day of the parade no one realised that only one of the Jackson 5 was actually black.
It was only at the very end of the day as they were getting into the car when Lisa’s wig fell off to reveal her ginger hair that a member of the public realised something was amiss.
There was however no public outcry though they got a mention in the Sharpington Courier and there was talk of a Police investigation but nothing came of it and the tale of the Jackson 5 passed into modern folklore.
(Part 02)
When Megan Murray left University she had no idea what she wanted to do with her degree so she took a temp job as receptionist at the Oak Dale Retirement Village and Nursing home in Dulcets Green.
But she enjoyed the job so much she was still there two years later.
Dulcets Green was situated between Mornington and Purplemere it was only a small hamlet quiet and sleepy, which was how the inhabitants liked it.
The population of the hamlet was more than quadrupled by the inhabitants of Oak Dale Retirement Village and Nursing home when it opened.
Oak Dale had been built in the late Victorian period by one of Baron Gabriel St Georges’ ancestors for his wife to live in when he got sick of the sight of her, it was never used for that purpose however as he went mad and shot himself before she moved in.
During the First World War it had been used as a hospital for wounded soldiers from France, in between the wars it was used as a TB hospital, it was used again during World War two as a hospital again at which time additional buildings were added.
After the war it fell into disuse, the Estate maintained it to keep the weather out but didn’t really have a use for it.
That was until Alexandra Barrileau approached Gabriel St George with her plan to turn Oak Dale into a retirement village and nursing home.
Megan liked Alexandra very much and she was part of the reason she had stayed there so long, but mainly it was the people.
Reception was the hub of Oak Dale and that was the place that was her domain, where she saw all of life and an occasional glimpse of Jimmy Chapman.
James Chapman was the same age as Megan and also lived in Mornington and they had known each other since they were kids but they were never friends, in fact he used to pick on her.
When she was at school she was a shy girl, however she was always taller than her peers and with coloured skin she tended to stand out which was the last thing you wanted to do when you were shy and socially awkward.
Jimmy was the son of a farm labourer and was merciless in his teasing but when Megan went off to college and University Jimmy followed in his father’s footsteps and started working on Windmill Farm so they rarely crossed paths after that until the day she started working at Oak Dale.
Apart from being a farm labourer at Windmill Farm, James also did some general maintenance at Oak Dale to earn some extra money.
She was surprised to see him, in fact she didn’t recognise him at first, it had been six years after all, but he recognised her instantly and he was so embarrassed, he still remembered how he had treated her at school, how he teased her mercilessly, she thought he was so mean to her so he thought she would never forgive him.
Even though the reason he teased her so much was because he had a crush on her but because he was young and stupid and a boy he thought the best way to get her attention was to pick on her.
(Part 03)
The first time she saw Jimmy at Oak Dale she did indeed feel animosity towards him for the way he behaved to her when they were kids, so she was distant and aloof but she eventually warmed to him and those feelings of disdain soon evaporated when she studied the fine looking muscular man that the mean spotty youth had grown into, who was so kind and caring that it was difficult to imagine it was the same person.
James Chapman on the other hand continued to wear a hair shirt for two years as he looked at her from afar.
But without the other realizing it, the two of them looked forward greatly to the days he was at Oak Dale.
So imagine her disappointment when he didn’t turn up when expected one day at the end of September, it was particularly galling for her as she had bought a new skirt and blouse at the weekend and had worn it especially for his benefit.
Disappointed but not downhearted she said to herself stoically “There’s always tomorrow”
But tomorrow came and went but James Chapman didn’t.
Nor did he the day after or indeed any day that week.
On Friday afternoon, having given up all hope that she might see him that week she discreetly made enquiries to her boss about him.
Alexandra Barrileau was a small unremarkable looking woman with short blonde hair and green eyes, not unremarkable in an unattractive way but in that she was small and slight and often underestimated because despite her diminutive stature she was possessed of great strength of will and an unshakable resolve.
Which was why after only six years Oak Dale was thriving under Alex’s leadership.
She had turned what was a burden to the Mornington Estate into an asset, which had brought employment to the people of Dulcets Green as well as the outlying areas.
She had achieved this success despite having had no experience in either nursing or care.
Her area of expertise was venture capital and she gave up a very successful career in the field to open Oak Dale.
Her motivation for such a drastic career change was the quality of care her elderly mother received at the end of her life.
In fact Alex found it so indifferent that she chose to do something about it, she couldn’t believe that it wasn’t possible to do better, and she had proved herself correct.
She was fast approaching fifty now and she found her new life very rewarding and found herself on the brink of marriage for the first time, something she had never envisaged when she had been a career woman through and through.
She never regretted it either at the time or since, but now in the quiet hours she had a kindly man to share them.
So when Megan sidled up to her and began a casual conversation she knew exactly what was on her mind which was confirmed when she asked.
“I haven’t seen Jimmy all week, is everything alright?”
(Part 04)
“I haven’t seen Jimmy all week” she said “is everything alright?”
“Yes” she replied “one of his chums broke his arm, so James is needed on the farm”
“Oh” Megan said trying and failing to show her disappointment “That’s good that he’s ok though”
“We’ll just have to get along without him for a couple of weeks”
“Another two weeks?” Megan exclaimed
“You could just go and knock on his door, he only lives a street away from you” Alex said jovially
“I don’t erm… I mean I was just wondering…” Megan stammered and blushed to her roots.
“Nonsense” Alex said “you’re always looking at him doe eyed”
“No I’m not” Megan snapped a little too forcefully
“You fancy him like mad” Alex pointed out
“Well I wouldn’t say that” Megan blustered
“And he’s just as bad”
“I…” Megan began then looked thoughtful for a moment before continuing “Do you really think so?”
“Yes I do” she replied
“I just can’t believe one of you hasn’t made a move yet, after all it’s been two years” She said in disbelief
“It’s not that simple” Megan said with a sigh
“Of course it is” Alex said sharply
“Look I don’t know what it is that’s holding him back, but there’s nothing stopping you”
“What do you mean?” Megan asked
“What I mean is that it’s the 21st century, a woman doesn’t have to wait to be asked anymore”
“I can’t just ask him” Megan said
“Of course you can”
“No I really can’t” Megan reiterated “What if he said no? I would be mortified”
“Honestly Megan you’re a beautiful confident young girl, just ask him” she said squeezed her hand “He’s not going to say no”
Megan spent all weekend mulling over what Alexandra had said and she decided she would take her advice but she drew the line at knocking on his front door.
So she chose instead to wait until they were at Oak Dale where she felt more confident.
The following two weeks passed at an alarming slow pace but pass they did.
But the weekend following those tortuously slow two weeks seemed to last even longer, but by Sunday evening she knew exactly what she was going to say and where she was going to say it.
However come Monday morning when she woke up she had a fever with a temperature of 102.5, dizziness, sore throat, aching muscles, chills and ringing ears.
She got out of bed and went downstairs but as soon as her mum saw her, she sent her straight back to bed and called the doctor.
Because of the flu and a subsequent ear infection she didn’t return to work until the last Thursday of the month only to find out that James wouldn’t be in for the rest of the week but to add insult onto injury he had been in at least some of the time on every day she had been ill.
Megan decided that it was a sign, the universe was telling her that she should stop mooning about over James Chapman and move on.
It clearly wasn’t meant to be and that was that.
And nothing would change that despite what Alexandra had to say on the subject.
(Part 05)
It was Halloween on Saturday and her friends persuaded her to go to the Halloween party at the Church Hall.
The early part of the evening was more for children, with traditional games but later on when the beer arrived from the brewery it was all about the adults.
There were hot dogs and burgers for all age groups courtesy of the restaurant staff at the Old Mill Inn, the pub was closed to diners on special occasions like Halloween.
Megan was there right from the beginning helping with the games and playing with the little ones, which distracted her until they were taken home.
She had a burger and a couple of beers with Carina Crockford and the St George twins but she still wasn’t feeling a hundred percent so she made her excuses and headed towards home.
She was feeling more depressed than ill, if she was honest, had she seen any sign of James at the party she might have stayed but he wasn’t, another sign from the bloody Universe obviously.
She walked back along the wooded path that meandered along beside the River Brooke.
Her eyes weren’t quite accustomed to the dark so she wasn’t making particularly speedy progress but she was within sight of the bridge and only five minutes from home when she was knocked off her feet by a figure in the dark.
“Excellent” she thought to herself “What now Universe?”
Her assailant ended up flat on their back and she finished up laying on top of them, using her phone as a torch she shone it in their face and was surprised to see it was James Chapman but not as surprised as he was when she kissed him full on the mouth.
What brought them to that undignified position was James’s eagerness to get to the church hall because his sister Lorraine had told him she had seen Megan at the party and he wanted to see her.
But he was so eager he rushed headlong through the darkness and collided with someone and that someone was lying on top of him and kissing him so he did the only thing he could do and that was to kiss her back, whoever she might be, although he had a clue, he thought he recognized the perfume, he just hoped he was right.
“Nice one Universe” she thought as they continued to kiss, and what a kiss it was, a deliciously gentle kiss to which James responded in kind, she just hoped he knew it was her.
So when she came up for air she turned her phone torch on herself and hoped he wouldn’t be disappointed with what he saw.
There was little chance of that and in response to her revelation he pulled her face towards him and kissed her again.
As their sensual embrace had been so long awaited neither of them were in any hurry to curtail it.
But they both stopped abruptly, startled by a noise along the wooded path, and quickly stood up and Megan backed into the shadow of an old twisted oak and he joined her there and they huddled together in close proximity saying nothing, the only sound being their breathing which was quick and shallow.
The group of revelers passed only feet away from them and when they were out of earshot they kissed again.
They walked hand in hand across the East Bridge silently, content they had both been granted their most fervent wish, and when they got to the top of the path that led down to her house they came to a halt and he turned to face her and they smile before he kissed her soft lips, in a long and sensual goodnight kiss.
Downshire Diary – (18) Juliana the Muse
(Part 01)
His name was Owen Carrington and he was a writer and he was sitting in front of his laptop staring at an open page in Word headed “An Untitled Screenplay by Owen Carrington” below it was one other word “The” followed by a space and the pulsing cursor irritatingly waiting for more, but if he were to give it more, it would, like some crazed addict, just keep demanding more and more words, he knew it would never be satisfied.
Owen had reached a hiatus in his writing career more commonly referred to as writers block.
It hadn’t always been like this, he had some success in the field modest though it might have been, and he wrote two novels which were successful, one stage play very well received and several screenplays perhaps less so.
This early flourish had at least provided him with a reasonable return and gave him something of a nest egg, but, and there was always a but, but his early success had petered away.
Luckily he didn’t go all diva on his way up and had been able to survive on the good will of friends and acquaintances on the way down.
He milked all his contacts from University and the wider publishing world and picked up as many writing gigs as he could, a column here and an essay there.
His literary agent was worse than bloody useless so they parted company then he was thrown a lifeline by a close friend when he landed a prolonged spell as an Agony Aunt which he found most enlightening and he even had a three month stint as an Astrologer writing Horoscopes for the Shallowfield and Childean Chronicle while the regular astrology numpty, Mystique, went travelling to the East to find herself.
That gig ended when she returned having only got as far East as Sharpington.
But after that the block returned and he tried everything to break it, he even moved to Paris in an effort to immerse himself in its vibrant and colourful landscape with the hope that it might stimulate his writers bent but he just ended up getting pissed a lot.
So he reached the fulcrum, he was 27 years old staring into the abyss of his thirties and the money he had accrued from his successful phase as an Author was now running dry.
He had a stark choice to make, firstly he could blow the rest of his savings on a ticket to the states and join the swelling number of University graduates already there and try to compete with the fertile minds of those unconstrained by his affliction.
Secondly he could give up writing and get a proper job, a teacher maybe or God forbid an editor or thirdly his personal favourite, pray hard so he could just shake the writer’s block.
As luck would have it, he didn’t need to make a decision, as fate took a hand when his Uncle Glyn died on New Year’s Day and left him his Cottage in Denmead and a small cash sum, more than enough to keep him going for a few more years.
(Part 02)
Owen’s Uncle Glyn died on New Year’s Day and left him his Cottage and a small cash sum more than enough to keep him going for a few more years.
He left it to him because he felt they were kindred spirits, he wanted to be a writer himself but his father made him get a proper job, Owen really liked him and he was a great story teller, and it was his Uncles colourful tales that helped him when he was writing his novels.
His death came as a shock as it was sudden though not unsurprising given his life style.
So that was how he found himself living in a lovely Victorian Cottage in the quaint Downshire Village of Denmead.
It was a very tranquil place though not without its distractions.
From his study he could look out through the open French windows and across the expanse of lawn to a stand of ancient woodland, there was no fence to separate garden and wood the two just merged.
And on the other side of the wood was the hub of the village, the Green Oak, everyone seemed to go there at some point, either for a drink, the restaurant or the coffee suite.
So it was while he was still in the grip of his writer’s block that he set off for a walk through the Normandie woods seeking inspiration.
It was a glorious day at the beginning of May, unseasonably warm in fact and after an hour he had worked up a thirst so he headed towards the Green Oak.
When he got there, there seemed to be a big do on at the pub but he made his way to the bar anyway and he was pleased to see the gorgeous Juliana Molesworth was serving.
Ever since he first met her he’d had a soft spot for Juliana, and he often fantasized about her.
She was only just twenty and he later found out she was home for the weekend from Abbottsford University where she was studying English and creative writing.
Since his arrival in the village back in January and it being known he was a writer it was perhaps not unsurprising that they would gravitate toward each other.
They had talked many times about her various writing assignments, which were her opportunity to pick his brains on writing issues and his chance to admire her at close quarters.
She was five foot eight with short curly red hair, stunning blue eyes and a gorgeous figure and stella legs.
As she was working the bar that day she was dressed in her uniform of short black skirt and crisp white blouse.
“Hello stranger” She said smiling broadly
“I was wondering if you might pop in”
“Hi Juliana” he replied, “I’ve come out looking for a muse”
Juliana raised an enquiring eyebrow
“Writers block”
She nodded understandingly
“Do you want the usual?”
“Yes please” he replied looking around at his fellow guests “oh and have one yourself”
“I’ll have one later, if that’s ok?” she said as she set a pint of Mornington on the counter in front of him.
“No problem”
Just then a loud group of punters arrived at the bar demanding her attention.
“I’ll see you later” Owen said and went in search of inspiration.
(Part 03)
Owen left the Green Oak after finishing his pint, he would have had a second but it was too noisy so he set off for a walk around the village and headed towards the Church of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal and then he spent another two hours strolling around the environs of Denmead and found himself back in Normandie woods hot, tired and still lacking inspiration.
The combination of drinking at lunchtime and the heat of the sun had left him light headed so he was glad to be in the woods within striking distance of the cool sanctuary of the cottage.
He had just stepped beyond the tree line onto the fringe of his lawn when he was hailed by a voice from behind him.
He turned around and saw gorgeous Juliana emerge from the woods, he assumed she must have finished work for the day as she had changed out of her uniform and was wearing a lovely green summer dress and having caught a glimpse of her bra strap he imagined that everything beneath her dress matched.
“If you’ve finished work come and have that drink” he said
“Ok, I was hoping you’d say that” she said and sat on the patio while he opened the back door and went inside, he returned a minute or so later with a bottle of wine and two glasses.
“Did you find her?” She asked
“I’m sorry?”
“Your muse” she clarified
“Alas no” he replied “She was conspicuous by her absence”
“Oh dear” she said “Would it help to talk to me about it”
“Well I need all the help I can get” he said “I’ll get my laptop”
He opened his laptop and set it in front of her and the screen showed an open page in Word headed “An Untitled Screenplay by Owen Carrington” and below it was one other word “The” followed by a space and the pulsing cursor.
“Oh dear” she exclaimed “You really do need help”
“I do have a synopsis” he said defensively
“Can I see it?” she asked
He used the mouse pad to open another word document and then let her read it.
After that they sat and drank and talked and typed for the next two hours when the temperature started to dip so they moved indoors.
“Would you like another drink?” he asked
“I’d rather have a sandwich” she replied
“Oh I think I can do better than that” he said “Do you like pasta?”
“Oh yes” she replied and half an hour later he put a steaming bowl of pasta in front of her.
After the food they sat and drank and talked and typed some more and at some point over the next three hours they both dozed off.
After a nap of indeterminate length he awoke to find Juliana leaning against him with her head on his shoulder and he smiled and kissed the top of her head.
“Come on sleepy head” he said as he gently woke her
“I’ll walk you home”
As he walked her home in the moonlight she suddenly asked
“So am I your muse?”
“If you want the job it’s yours”
“Well you really do need one” she said “But I was really hoping for something more” and she stood on tiptoe and kissed him
“Well why can’t you be both?” he suggested
“Yes please” she replied and they kissed again.
(Part 04)
“Well that was an interesting day” he said as he climbed into his bed and as he drifted off to sleep he reran the most interesting aspects of the day through his head, namely the goodnight kiss with Juliana in which she had said she wanted to be his girlfriend.
He began his sojourn that morning searching for a muse and by the time the day as ended he had found her and she was so much more to him than a muse.
He woke in the early hours of the morning with his head buzzing with words and phrases so he got up and went to his study where he opened his laptop, and selected the page that had become so familiar to him headed “An Untitled Screenplay by Owen Carrington” and below it was one other word “The” followed by a space and the cursor pulsing, impatiently awaiting input, almost like it was tapping its foot as it stood ever ready to receive further instructions so he sat down and miraculously he began to type the words the cursor craved and they flowed out of him like a river, if not a torrent.
Four hours later he stopped typing but only then because he was hungry and he found he had typed five chapters.
Owen was euphoric, with Juliana as his muse and love he had broken his block.
He went to the kitchen and ate a hearty breakfast but decided on a hot shower before continuing and while he was showering his mind was buzzing again but this time it was purely thoughts of Juliana and when was he going to see her again.
He dressed for the day with the intention of going to track her down but when he looked at the clock it wasn’t even 7 o’clock.
So he returned to his computer having deferred his search for his new love until a more respectable hour and as soon as he sat down the river of words flowed again and he continued to write for the rest of the morning and he only stopped then when he caught sight of Juliana coming across the lawn.
He rushed out to greet her and a passionate kiss soon followed and they spent the rest of the day together, with him writing on his laptop and her reading the finished chapters.
So that was how Juliana the muse and Owen the writer came to be together and thanks to a beautiful student his writer’s block was gone, and although he had begun by trying to write a screenplay he actually ended up writing a book which didn’t perturb him in the slightest.
The screenplay would come later and he would collaborate on it with Juliana.
The genre was a new departure for him too as he was more used to gritty crime stories and so he was surprised that it appeared he had a penchant for writing romantic novels, with a hint of bodice ripping.
The knowledge gained from his time as an agony aunt would no doubt be invaluable.
However he decided not to publish under the name of Owen Carrington but rather decided to use a pen name and the one he settled on was Clarissa Greenoak, not chosen because the use of a classy name might lend the book some literary weight but because it was the name of a girl and that always sold better than a man.
His name was Owen Carrington and he was a writer and he was sitting in front of his laptop staring at an open page in Word headed “An Untitled Screenplay by Owen Carrington” below it was one other word “The” followed by a space and the pulsing cursor irritatingly waiting for more, but if he were to give it more, it would, like some crazed addict, just keep demanding more and more words, he knew it would never be satisfied.
Owen had reached a hiatus in his writing career more commonly referred to as writers block.
It hadn’t always been like this, he had some success in the field modest though it might have been, and he wrote two novels which were successful, one stage play very well received and several screenplays perhaps less so.
This early flourish had at least provided him with a reasonable return and gave him something of a nest egg, but, and there was always a but, but his early success had petered away.
Luckily he didn’t go all diva on his way up and had been able to survive on the good will of friends and acquaintances on the way down.
He milked all his contacts from University and the wider publishing world and picked up as many writing gigs as he could, a column here and an essay there.
His literary agent was worse than bloody useless so they parted company then he was thrown a lifeline by a close friend when he landed a prolonged spell as an Agony Aunt which he found most enlightening and he even had a three month stint as an Astrologer writing Horoscopes for the Shallowfield and Childean Chronicle while the regular astrology numpty, Mystique, went travelling to the East to find herself.
That gig ended when she returned having only got as far East as Sharpington.
But after that the block returned and he tried everything to break it, he even moved to Paris in an effort to immerse himself in its vibrant and colourful landscape with the hope that it might stimulate his writers bent but he just ended up getting pissed a lot.
So he reached the fulcrum, he was 27 years old staring into the abyss of his thirties and the money he had accrued from his successful phase as an Author was now running dry.
He had a stark choice to make, firstly he could blow the rest of his savings on a ticket to the states and join the swelling number of University graduates already there and try to compete with the fertile minds of those unconstrained by his affliction.
Secondly he could give up writing and get a proper job, a teacher maybe or God forbid an editor or thirdly his personal favourite, pray hard so he could just shake the writer’s block.
As luck would have it, he didn’t need to make a decision, as fate took a hand when his Uncle Glyn died on New Year’s Day and left him his Cottage in Denmead and a small cash sum, more than enough to keep him going for a few more years.
(Part 02)
Owen’s Uncle Glyn died on New Year’s Day and left him his Cottage and a small cash sum more than enough to keep him going for a few more years.
He left it to him because he felt they were kindred spirits, he wanted to be a writer himself but his father made him get a proper job, Owen really liked him and he was a great story teller, and it was his Uncles colourful tales that helped him when he was writing his novels.
His death came as a shock as it was sudden though not unsurprising given his life style.
So that was how he found himself living in a lovely Victorian Cottage in the quaint Downshire Village of Denmead.
It was a very tranquil place though not without its distractions.
From his study he could look out through the open French windows and across the expanse of lawn to a stand of ancient woodland, there was no fence to separate garden and wood the two just merged.
And on the other side of the wood was the hub of the village, the Green Oak, everyone seemed to go there at some point, either for a drink, the restaurant or the coffee suite.
So it was while he was still in the grip of his writer’s block that he set off for a walk through the Normandie woods seeking inspiration.
It was a glorious day at the beginning of May, unseasonably warm in fact and after an hour he had worked up a thirst so he headed towards the Green Oak.
When he got there, there seemed to be a big do on at the pub but he made his way to the bar anyway and he was pleased to see the gorgeous Juliana Molesworth was serving.
Ever since he first met her he’d had a soft spot for Juliana, and he often fantasized about her.
She was only just twenty and he later found out she was home for the weekend from Abbottsford University where she was studying English and creative writing.
Since his arrival in the village back in January and it being known he was a writer it was perhaps not unsurprising that they would gravitate toward each other.
They had talked many times about her various writing assignments, which were her opportunity to pick his brains on writing issues and his chance to admire her at close quarters.
She was five foot eight with short curly red hair, stunning blue eyes and a gorgeous figure and stella legs.
As she was working the bar that day she was dressed in her uniform of short black skirt and crisp white blouse.
“Hello stranger” She said smiling broadly
“I was wondering if you might pop in”
“Hi Juliana” he replied, “I’ve come out looking for a muse”
Juliana raised an enquiring eyebrow
“Writers block”
She nodded understandingly
“Do you want the usual?”
“Yes please” he replied looking around at his fellow guests “oh and have one yourself”
“I’ll have one later, if that’s ok?” she said as she set a pint of Mornington on the counter in front of him.
“No problem”
Just then a loud group of punters arrived at the bar demanding her attention.
“I’ll see you later” Owen said and went in search of inspiration.
(Part 03)
Owen left the Green Oak after finishing his pint, he would have had a second but it was too noisy so he set off for a walk around the village and headed towards the Church of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal and then he spent another two hours strolling around the environs of Denmead and found himself back in Normandie woods hot, tired and still lacking inspiration.
The combination of drinking at lunchtime and the heat of the sun had left him light headed so he was glad to be in the woods within striking distance of the cool sanctuary of the cottage.
He had just stepped beyond the tree line onto the fringe of his lawn when he was hailed by a voice from behind him.
He turned around and saw gorgeous Juliana emerge from the woods, he assumed she must have finished work for the day as she had changed out of her uniform and was wearing a lovely green summer dress and having caught a glimpse of her bra strap he imagined that everything beneath her dress matched.
“If you’ve finished work come and have that drink” he said
“Ok, I was hoping you’d say that” she said and sat on the patio while he opened the back door and went inside, he returned a minute or so later with a bottle of wine and two glasses.
“Did you find her?” She asked
“I’m sorry?”
“Your muse” she clarified
“Alas no” he replied “She was conspicuous by her absence”
“Oh dear” she said “Would it help to talk to me about it”
“Well I need all the help I can get” he said “I’ll get my laptop”
He opened his laptop and set it in front of her and the screen showed an open page in Word headed “An Untitled Screenplay by Owen Carrington” and below it was one other word “The” followed by a space and the pulsing cursor.
“Oh dear” she exclaimed “You really do need help”
“I do have a synopsis” he said defensively
“Can I see it?” she asked
He used the mouse pad to open another word document and then let her read it.
After that they sat and drank and talked and typed for the next two hours when the temperature started to dip so they moved indoors.
“Would you like another drink?” he asked
“I’d rather have a sandwich” she replied
“Oh I think I can do better than that” he said “Do you like pasta?”
“Oh yes” she replied and half an hour later he put a steaming bowl of pasta in front of her.
After the food they sat and drank and talked and typed some more and at some point over the next three hours they both dozed off.
After a nap of indeterminate length he awoke to find Juliana leaning against him with her head on his shoulder and he smiled and kissed the top of her head.
“Come on sleepy head” he said as he gently woke her
“I’ll walk you home”
As he walked her home in the moonlight she suddenly asked
“So am I your muse?”
“If you want the job it’s yours”
“Well you really do need one” she said “But I was really hoping for something more” and she stood on tiptoe and kissed him
“Well why can’t you be both?” he suggested
“Yes please” she replied and they kissed again.
(Part 04)
“Well that was an interesting day” he said as he climbed into his bed and as he drifted off to sleep he reran the most interesting aspects of the day through his head, namely the goodnight kiss with Juliana in which she had said she wanted to be his girlfriend.
He began his sojourn that morning searching for a muse and by the time the day as ended he had found her and she was so much more to him than a muse.
He woke in the early hours of the morning with his head buzzing with words and phrases so he got up and went to his study where he opened his laptop, and selected the page that had become so familiar to him headed “An Untitled Screenplay by Owen Carrington” and below it was one other word “The” followed by a space and the cursor pulsing, impatiently awaiting input, almost like it was tapping its foot as it stood ever ready to receive further instructions so he sat down and miraculously he began to type the words the cursor craved and they flowed out of him like a river, if not a torrent.
Four hours later he stopped typing but only then because he was hungry and he found he had typed five chapters.
Owen was euphoric, with Juliana as his muse and love he had broken his block.
He went to the kitchen and ate a hearty breakfast but decided on a hot shower before continuing and while he was showering his mind was buzzing again but this time it was purely thoughts of Juliana and when was he going to see her again.
He dressed for the day with the intention of going to track her down but when he looked at the clock it wasn’t even 7 o’clock.
So he returned to his computer having deferred his search for his new love until a more respectable hour and as soon as he sat down the river of words flowed again and he continued to write for the rest of the morning and he only stopped then when he caught sight of Juliana coming across the lawn.
He rushed out to greet her and a passionate kiss soon followed and they spent the rest of the day together, with him writing on his laptop and her reading the finished chapters.
So that was how Juliana the muse and Owen the writer came to be together and thanks to a beautiful student his writer’s block was gone, and although he had begun by trying to write a screenplay he actually ended up writing a book which didn’t perturb him in the slightest.
The screenplay would come later and he would collaborate on it with Juliana.
The genre was a new departure for him too as he was more used to gritty crime stories and so he was surprised that it appeared he had a penchant for writing romantic novels, with a hint of bodice ripping.
The knowledge gained from his time as an agony aunt would no doubt be invaluable.
However he decided not to publish under the name of Owen Carrington but rather decided to use a pen name and the one he settled on was Clarissa Greenoak, not chosen because the use of a classy name might lend the book some literary weight but because it was the name of a girl and that always sold better than a man.
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