A ROSE

 

I thought you pretty as a Rose

A sweet, scented beauty

So, I gave to you my heart

But you left it broken

And it now lies dying

On a Rose’s bloodied thorns

Snippets of Downshire Life – Guy Fawkes Night

 

Mornington-By-Mere is a small country village lying in the Finchbottom Vale nestled between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest and the rolling Pepperstock Hills.

It is a quaint picturesque village, a proper chocolate box picturesque idyll, with a Manor House, 12^th Century Church, a Coaching Inn, Windmills, an Old Forge, a Schoolhouse, a River and a Mere.

It also had Mornington Field, which had been a military airfield for a hundred years but after that the Mornington Estate exercised its option to purchase it back from the MOD and it also acquired all the buildings and infrastructure on the airfield, which then became a busy commercial industrial estate.

In addition, the old airfield was also used for the Mornington Fireworks display on Guy Fawkes Night, and it was to Mornington Bonfire Night where Nick Armstrong and Sarah Smith were going on their first date.

They were both farmers from farming families, the Armstrong’s worked West Side Farm and the Smiths quite understandably made their living at Smithfield’s Farm.

 

It was dark in the lane as they exited the West Gate from Mornington Field and just ahead of them they could see there was a dog walker smoking a cigarette as some kind of Terrier snuffled around in the grass.

The man took one last drag on it and the flicked it into the darkness and it span through the air like a Catherine wheel.

Which Nick thought was quite appropriate as they had just spent the evening watching the fireworks display, and there was still the smell of gun powder in the damp night air.  

But despite the cold and damp, neither Nick nor Sarah were in any particular hurry to reach their respective homes.

It was their very first date, in fact not only was it their first date together it was the first date of any kind for Nick and the first for more than a year for her.

Nick was seventeen and Sarah was two years older and quite naturally they wanted their date to last forever and they both walked as slowly as it was possible to go without actually standing still.

However they eventually arrived at the gates of Smithfield’s Farm and an awkward silence ensued as Nick shuffled his feet and tried to think what to do next and Sarah waited patiently for Nick’s next move, but when she realized he didn’t have one she took decisive action and reached up and kissed him and then the fireworks truly began, when their first magical kiss, a kiss that neither of them wanted to end, sent their heart soaring into the heavens.

 

Mornington-By-Mere – (42) A Christmas Misadventure

 

Peter Andrew was a big barrel-chested man with a bushy beard and a happy jovial face and along with his wife Helen he ran the Old Mill Inn In the idyllic village of Mornington-By-Mere in the Finchbottom Vale nestled between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest and the rolling Pepperstock Hills.

They had been there for 20 years and had raised two children, Polly and John, and it was the perfect occupation for him but he hadn’t always been in hospitality.

 

He left school when he was fifteen, which was in the late seventies and he was living in Finchbottom with his parents.

The family home was in Shaftsbury Court, a warden run block of sheltered accommodation for the elderly and his mother was the warden.

Peter attended the School nearby which he left at the end of May and he started his first job three days later.

However in the November of that same year his mum changed jobs and the family moved from one side of town to the other, the significance of which would have a life changing effect on him within a matter of weeks.

The house move didn’t affect him getting to and from work as the town had a particularly good bus service, operating a flat fare service on circular routes.

Which meant he could still get the same bus as he did from the old address but from a different bus stop and the price was the same a fact which would have some significance at a later date.

 

His job was as a trainee groundsman with the Finchbottom District Council Grounds Maintenance team it wasn’t by any means his dream job but then he didn’t have a dream job, he left school at 15 because he wasn’t a scholar and he just needed to get a job so he took the first one that came along. 

He enjoyed it well enough, though it wasn’t very fulfilling but then he didn’t think his job needed to be.

He was just happy to be earning after all, but as it was his first year at work he also had his first works Christmas party to look forward to.

It was on the last day before they broke for the Christmas holiday when they had a little works party in the yard where a little Christmas cheer was imbibed and a drink or two were consumed.

Peter was only sixteen at the time and he had only had very limited experience of alcohol and as a result he got well and truly bladdered on whisky Mac, cider and something unpronounceable from Yugoslavia.

So at the end of the afternoon one of his workmates gave him a lift into the town centre and from there he caught his usual bus.

But despite his drunken state he managed to climb the stairs to the top deck and the bus set off filled with Christmas shoppers and a drunken trainee grounds man.

He drifted off on the journey and he suddenly came to and looking out the window he recognized a familiar sight and so he promptly disembarked from the bus.

Peter headed off up the road in the direction of home wishing all and sundry a merry Christmas as he went.

 

He entered through the main doors to the flats and passed the Christmas tree in the foyer and headed straight for flat number one.

At the door he fumbled for his key and presented it to the lock and it wouldn’t fit.

He peered closely at it and he was satisfied that it was definitely his door key so he tried to put it in the lock again, but still it wouldn’t fit and suddenly the door opened and a stranger looked out at him.

“Can I help?” she asked.

“Ah” he exclaimed “my name is Peter and I don’t live here anymore do I?”

The lady, who was the new warden, laughed and agreed with him that he definitely no longer lived there.

Peter apologized profusely and wished her a Happy Christmas and then made his way back to the foyer were there was a public telephone with one of those large Perspex domes over it.

His intention was to phone for a taxi to take him to where he actually lived but after rummaging in his pockets he discovered he had no money for the taxi or indeed a coin to make a phone call to order a taxi that he couldn’t afford.

However as he tried to duck under the Perspex hood he tripped over his own feet and fell into the Christmas tree which ended up on top of him.

The lady who now lived in flat no 1, heard the commotion and came to investigate and to his great surprise she thought it was very amusing to find a drunken teenager wearing the Christmas tree.

“Oh dear” she said laughing.

Deeply apologetic he explained the circumstances of his predicament and the new warden phoned a taxi for him and even gave him the money for the fare.

He thought that was real Christmas spirit and he never forgot her kindness and tolerance and from that time on he tried to keep that same spirit in his own heart at Christmas.

 

On New Year’s Eve Peter returned again to Shaftsbury Court but unlike his previous visit he was stone cold sober and there by intention.

He was carrying a large bouquet of flowers and a thank you card, he wasn’t going to knock on the door, he would have been too embarrassed to see her face to face, so he leant the bouquet against the door frame and turned to walk away.

He had only taken two steps when he heard the door open behind him and he went rigid.

Peter took a breath and slowly turned around expecting to see Mrs Copeland but instead he was face to face with a pretty 15 year old girl.

“Oh you must be Peter” she said looking at the card on the flowers

“Yes, yes I am” he said falteringly

“I’m Helen” she said “Mum’s inside, I think you should give her these yourself”

“Could you give them to her for me” he said

“No I can’t” Helen said “Come on in she won’t bite”

 

So with Helen holding his hand he went into the flat that used to be his home to apologize to her mum and ended up staying until the following year by which time he had a girlfriend.

By the next Christmas he had secretly proposed to Helen and five years down the line he had given up his groundsman’s job and the kind hearted Mrs Copeland was his mother in law.

 

The Clerembeax Palace Hotel and Spa – The Guy Fawkes Bash

 

The beautiful Downshire village of Clerembeax St Giles was situated to the west of Abbeyvale located between Grace Hill and Bushy Down and on the outskirts was the Clerembeax Palace Hotel and Spa and it was the location of The Guy Fawkes Bash, which was first and foremost a costume party, but in addition it was a masquerade.

Finn was staring up at the starry sky when he was approached by a busty red-haired wench wearing a satin mask across her eyes, who sauntered up to him and kissed him wetly on the mouth, which took him by surprise at first, but he soon recovered and returned her passionate kiss with interest and as the pyrotechnic display began it grew in intensity.  

 

When the kiss was at an end she stepped back and removed the mask and he gasped

“You?”

“Disappointed?” Andrea asked

“No, but this has been a surprise” he said “I didn’t think you liked me”

“I know” she replied “but I’ve fancied you for ages”

“I had no idea” he said

“I know that too, clueless aren’t you” she said

“That’s why I had to take you by surprise to get your attention”

“Well it worked”

“So, can I take that I now have your full attention?”

“oh yes” he said “But…”

“But what?” she asked with concern

“I’d like to be one hundred percent sure” he said

“Oh, I think that can be arranged” she said and moved in close for another kiss

Uncanny Love Tales – (033) Remember, Remember, a Kiss in November

 

It was dark in the lane, but just ahead of them they could see there was a dog walker smoking a cigarette as some kind of Terrier snuffled in the grass.

The man took one last drag on it and a red glow lit up his face before he flicked it into the darkness and it span through the air like a Catherine wheel, which he thought was quite appropriate as they had just been to a fireworks display on the village green, in fact the smell of the gun powder and saltpeter was still thick in the damp night air.  

But despite the cold and damp neither Nick nor Emily were in any hurry to get home, it was their very first date, but not only was it their first date together it was also the first date either of them had had.

Nick was fifteen and Emily was a year younger and quite naturally they wanted their date to last forever and so they both walked as slowly as it was possible to go without actually standing still.

However they eventually arrived in the street outside her house.

An awkward silence ensued as Nick shuffled his feet and tried to think of what to do next and Emily waited patiently for Nick’s next move.

However when she realized he didn’t have one she took decisive action and reached up and kissed him and then the fireworks truly began with their first magical kiss, a kiss that neither of them wanted to end, which sent their heart soaring into the heavens.

 

ANONYMOUS ANGEL HIDDEN FROM VIEW

 

I saw you this morning

As I walked to work

You were a little in front of me,

For part of the way,

And you fell beneath my gaze.

I noticed your feet first,

Clad in sporting wear

Your shoes were sexless,

Indeterminate in gender

The only distinguishing feature

Was that they were small, but that was all.

Your black trousers were baggy

And gave nothing away

As was your sweatshirt

Which was large, long and grey,

Reaching down to cover your bum

Your brown hair was medium length

Of no particular style

So could have been masculine or feminine.

Had the necessity not arisen

For you to reach into your back pocket

I would not have noticed

The shape of your buttocks

The movement of which,

As you walked, gave you away

You were most definitely a girl

As I got closer the wind moved your hair

And through the fine brunette strands

I glimpsed in the delicate lobe

A simple feminine stud in your ear.

You continued walking head down

Watching your sexless feet

Afraid to look the world in the eye

Or afraid the world would notice you?

Either one might be true

I was level with you as we reached the kerb

And you looked up in my direction

To check if the road was clear

And I glimpsed your face,

A pretty face, a lovely face,

Briefly our eyes met

Beautiful soft blue eyes

But I could not hold your gaze

And you looked back at your feet

Withdrawing again into your shell

But I know you’re in there now

So, tomorrow morning

I will look for you again

NOT VIRGINIA PLAIN

 

Her hair was red

Of russet tones

Like autumn leaves

Its cascading flow

Framed her face

And beauty shone forth

Its skins purity,

Rich as parchment,

Soft as silk,

Radiated her beauty

Her hypnotic eyes

Were startlingly blue,

With gemstone clarity

And held laughter in them

Her nose was small, delicate

Her lips were thin

But a smile of sweet remembrance

Constantly played about them