toadstooltales

I left home this morning to be met with a thunderous deluge falling thick and fast, and filling more than half the roadway in front of me. It was wide and long and rather deep. I took my four wheeled motor carriage very slowly through the murky water, and noted the sandbags laid on the left side of the road to soak up the excess. Wasn't working , I noted, and wondered if the nearby hedgerow homes had been flooded overnight.
There was no stopping the rain today, and we shall have more tomorrow. Warmer, but wetter. I have been busying myself today with with planning and organising the accessories for our weekend party.
I will finalise everything tomorrow.
Pendragon has gone to work in Outer Nissrevin for two days, counselling some lost souls to betterness. I miss him greatly when he works away .
I keep busy though, with tidying and refurbishing our precious toadstool home.
i have had lots of calls to day from our weekend guests, checking the arrangements. I still found time to ponder my outfit for our afternoon soire.Two choices predominate, both of them black.
I have a chinese jacket and jacquard skirt, or black linen jacket decorated with pastel embroidered butterflies. Sounds as though it overeggs the lily, but it is tasteful and rather special.
With black palazzo pants, and a shapely top, it may be the talking point of our event.
Dilly Gumm, my cleaning operative comes to call tomorrow to freshen the house for Pendragon's return. I'll let Dilly have a look at my prospective wardrobe and see what she thinks. Dilly is no slave to fashion but has shown herself in the past to have a keen eye for items which come together in harmony to show one's finer features to advantage. Dilly works hard, and takes a pride in her work, no matter how unappealing the task may be. She is currently de- greasing the Willow oven, and that's no small operation. But she sings merrily to make the task go faster, and never pouts resentfully when asked to get her hands dirty.
She talks little of her family these days. I know she trusts me not to mention her private business outside to anyone, but right now I feel she just would rather not go there. It is for some reason too painful.Coming to work seems to give her solace for whatever troubles her, but still behind the eyes a weary sadness hangs heavy.I have grown to admire her tirelss struggle to keep her family afloat financially, and her measured approach to the big problems of the world. Dilly sees everything through practical spectacles, strips away the trimmings and grasps the mettle of a situation.
I enjoy talking to her, and listening to her matter of fact views from the battlements of ordinary life.
We will stop for tea and a scone at 11.00. Always tea and always eleven.
Wally our toadstool cuckoo barely bothers to come out when Dilly comes, as she is so exacting in her time management. I had to tap twice on the
wooden clock face last week before he deemed to emerge and signal the hour. His disgruntled feathery grimace spoke volumes but I matched it with one of my wry "dinnae no' dae that, Wally " looks, and he fairly picked up his step.
Pendragon does not return home till Saturday, so I shall spend Friday evening watching the digital picture box for an hour or two and perhaps press a few vestments along the way.

More tomorrow, dear friends, from Amarantha, the Rainbow Faery, keeper of the finest little toadstool in the West.

There has been a fracas at the Ladies of Mercy Charity Shop. Impossible , I hear you say, surely not among such cultured and refined denizens of Dingley Dell. Unfortunately yes, this afternoon, and after a morning of dedicated labour and happy co-existence.
But.......sometimes, the brownie and the elf don't mix, and tensions explode into one to one conflagrations.
I was positioned at the top of the landing, where my parchment cases are maintained, when the shriek went up from somewhere down in the main shop floor. Two loud voices were heard, graven insults flew back and forward, and others on the landing beside me fled down below to see what had occurred. Ten some minutes later.......silence. I was shocked, not daring to think what might have happenened, and wondering whether to follow suit, and see if any assisstance was required.
Too late for that, for as I tidied up a pile of second hand map- readers, I heard footsteps on the stairway, and two flying harpies appeared beside me on the landing. I was astounded to see whom it was.

Mula Nimbletink , our most refined elven assistant, was one protagonist.
The other, Gamborina Stampblast was maybe of a more exciteable nature.
Poised together, straight in front of me, they stood like two stags waiting to attack. They did not wait long. The bellowing and insulting started forthwith. It was not clear exactly what had started it, but both felt the other to be in the wrong, and attacking the other's dignity. One suggested the other to be of commoner stock, while the other retaliated with accusations of pomposity, snootiness and treating others as being of lower sensibilities.
I was both shocked and transfixed by the animal nature of their confrontation. They seemed only seconds away from physical assault.
I was worried for both of them, and thought that I should attempt some cursory intervention without offending either.

I heard my voice emerge from somewhere, squeakily bidding them to cease or at least refrain from the altercation becoming more vicious. They drew themselves to a halt at the sound of my appeal ,stared at me as though I were some strange apparition, for five whole seconds, then looked back at each other , and started again.
I was at a complete loss.
I did not have to think of what to do next, as Nias, our leader appeared at the top of the stairway, pointed a scrawny finger towards the upstairs annexe, and they headed off with her to discuss their personal grievances about the other.
I just stood for a few minutes more, and wondered if I had really witnessed such a ridiculous melee.
I had.
I don't know what Nias said to them, but they emerged sometime later, heads bowed and looking sheepish, and resumed their various duties.
I don't think the matter is solved,though, for I observed at various junctures in the afternoon, scurulous looks passing between them and ominous poking of elbows when they had to pass each other.
I hope our esteemed customers observed nothing. But know that little passes the good folk of Dingley Dell. We will make the pages of The Daily Scandal yet !
Talking of that fine rag, I must remember to get Portamus Cumberpatch on the woodland phone tomorrow , and arrange a time to discuss my Xmas column with him. My original assignments for him were only contracted till August, but he has indicated that he would like me to do several to finish the year, and discuss further opportunities for Amarantha's ramblings to grace the leisure section in the New Year.
The next few weeks are going to be busy and after today's horrific outburst, not going to pass without incident, so it seems.
Tomorrow I journey to Brigantia to fetch some items for our Family and Friends lunch.
Sunday looks to be a fun day, and I am very much looking forward to meeting up with those I love.
Stay close to those you love, my friends, and if arguments take their toll, remember that tomorrow is another day, and that grievances tend to float away in the wind if people resolve to get beyond them.

Much Love to you all,from Amarantha Willow, mistress of number five Lobelia Drive, fifth toadstool from the left.

I had to set out early today to post my early parchment orders. It was lonely in the toadstool without the usual chirping cheerfulness of Pendragon. His cup of acorn tea and slice of rye toast were missing, as was his odd singing or whistling in the bathroom. He was working overnight in the Metropolis Hospital . I busy myself with tasks when he is away, tidying or cleaning, planning or making . It can be quite a productive solitude ,it is really only the mornings that I feel a little by myself. Pendi and I are not often apart, thankfully.
Afterwards I headed off to pass out some late invitations to colleagues at Dingley Dell Academy. Sadly those we sent out four weeks ago seem to have been caught up in the dreaded Mail Stoppage of October 2009. Some replies have arrived, others have not been replied to yet. We are checking with everyone and asking them to use their e-box to let us know if they will be there. It is sorting itself out now, so I am starting to relax about it.
There are still many things to be done to prepare for this merry event on Sunday. Some flowers, some favours, some sweets for the imps are all on my list of things to do.
I don't know what to wear. I don't want to wear my fabulous betrothal gown, as it is too ornate. My wardrobe has many items in it which would be suitable for a smart, casual event. I just need to work out how I want to look.
Tomorrow I spend the morning in the Dingley High Street All- New Ladies of Mercy Charity Shop. I spend Wednesday Morning and Thursday Afternoon there usually, but sometimes more often when special events are coming up. I take care of their used parchment section, as they feel I have the knowledge and expertise. I also do their window adornment for Special Days and Events. It can be fun ; I have decorated for the Faery Fair, for All Souls Eve, and now I am preparing my display for Christmas.
I will tell you more as I go along.

I love the Winter Solstice, and all the celebrations it involves. I have just started to collect my gift items for friends and family, and will advance in earnest when the family party is over.

The Charity shop is very plush and modern, with donated bargains of vestments, hose, hats, outerwear, woolly knits, toys, parchments, pottery and much more besides to rummage through.We are always busy.
I sometimes have to renew the parchment shelves several times in a morning. The shop is under the command of Nias Thinshanks, a very smart and effective manager, of middle years . She is sweet to us all, and just wants everyone to enjoy themselves in the workplace.
We drink copious amounts of acorn tea while we labour, and laugh at every funny event that comes to pass. Helpers of all ages give their help during the week, some from the old shop, and others like myself have newly entered the fold.

This afternoon I need to finish my winter planting. Some dozen or so plants are still sitting below our front windowsill ,waiting to be planted. We have had some rather serious wind storms in the last three weeks, but everything planted seems to have dug its tiny plant heels in and survived the worst.
Pendi wants a celery quiche for tea, so I must make preparations fairly soon. An hour to mix, an hour to bake and an hour to rest on my laurels looking at my fabulous workmanship.

Best wishes to you all my dear friends, may all your fine flans rise to perfection.
More on the morrow of the Fearless Faery's ploys, and our antics with other people's cast-offs.
Much Love to you all, from the Rainbow Faery, mistress of number 5 Lobelia Drive.

The grey days of November are screaming heavy woollens and earmuffs to all here in Dingley Dell. We have been getting colder for some time now, and I have had the odd irreverent sniffle to fend off. Pendragon remains his old healthy self, leaving home in the morning with heavy tabard, grey woolly hat and leather mittens to steel himself against the winter climes. I remain in our oaken four poster for an extra half hour before I plod my way to the newly refurbished bathroom for a 15 minute soak.
The trees are still looking beautiful,with orange ,yellow, red and golden hue.
But the temperatures tell a different tale, that Autumn has sung its last ripe song and Winter Chill is marching on to nip our noses and redden our cheeks.
I remain busy with my used parchment business, am settling even further into part time chores with the Charity Shop, and married life to Pendi keeps me ever busy maintaining the svelte little home we like to call Flowerpot Cottage.
We have laid a new pathway in our front yard, pink and blue stone ,and filled buckets and pots with violas, pansies, primroses,and herbs, with our stout little dwarf shrub ,the rosy berried berberis, taking centre stage among the blooms.
Our gardens front and back continue to be populated with gnomes and fairies, garden folk and forest animals, helping in their own way to keep away the pests and provide some extra colour and homespun charm to our land of mellow fruitfulness. Around the back we are still sorting out plants and pots, earth and debris, to clear the garden for Winter, leaving it ready for the first flush of Spring. Mandolini and the Backyard Boys have weathered storm and deluge recently to protect our backyard patch from succumbing to dampness and mould.
The slugs have gone for the year, for which Pendi is grateful. He unleashed several successful strategies in his fight against their munching ways. They quietly staggered to their inebriated demise with several carefully laid beer traps. The Black Froth of the Guiness Berry proved to be particularly overwhelming for their slimy wanton attacks.

We party with family and friends on Sunday, a further celebration of our marriage vows. We very much look forward to the carousing and general jubilation this will incite.

I have warm turnip pasties and a celeriac broth to heat for Pendragon's supper ; not the most celestial of meals, but one certain to stimulate his immune system, and add greated strength to his mineral deposits.

I am visiting Brigantia tomorrow, to buy some simple favours to tempt my guests on Sunday , find something lovely to wear, and maybe make some parchment purchases for my business stock. Busy days my friends, but sure to keep me from peering at neighbours' nonsense, or from trying to advance their lives.
The Fearless Faery has been holidaying in Sunny Climes, and the Shilpits seem to be trying to make their way down a theatrical road. The Primpoles on our right have been "primpoling" their garden with a few red azaleas and some greenery. Never ones to forget to be thrifty, the Primpoles, but sadly it will take more than a little frothy fern to detract from their scraped and scanty lawn , rent asunder by the vagaries of their errant wildebeests.

More tomorrow,- you definitely need to know more, my dear friends, about Dingley Dell's finest .
Love and crab apple dumplings to you all,

From Amarantha Willow, the Rainbow Faery,

Next week's schedule is going to be very busy. I have spent much of today organising next week's projects. On Monday I am working in a group of artists,making sketches at one of our local theatres. My follow-up task will be to choose selected sketches to paint up. Lots of focussed work with creative juices primed and ready.
On Tuesday, I catch up with business work, and do my usual parchment runs in the nearby towns. Wednesday finds me helping in the new Charity Shop where I am in charge of the parchment marketing, Thursday finds me at the Faery Physio and the Community Radio Station, and then we are back to Friday again. Maybe I'll get some me time then, but it's more likely I'll be catching up with toadstool tidying, garment laundering and garden development.
It is good to be busy, especially when I love all the things I am actively involved with.................
Working at the Charity Shop arose out of the blue. You will all remember how much I loved the charity project run by the Ladies of Mercy, and was broken hearted upon its demise. However it has performed the old phoenix trick of rising from its own ashes, bigger, better and in new premises.
Way back in May,it was announced in the Daily Scandal , our local broadsheet, that the Charity had found a new home, and would be requiring new volunteers. Some of the former volunteers were quite elderly, nay, even quite ancient in fact, and they felt they could not undertake a new enterprise, so the door was open for me to sweet talk my way into a much cherished role as Parchment Coordinator. I do other tasks as well, but sorting and pricing the myriads of parchments handed in, takes much time and patience. It is a task close to my heart, though, and I feel that this is a skill I have to offer.
I have made many new elven friends, and met many differing types of elven folk on both sides of the counter. Some quite astoundingly magnificent in their commitment to their Charity posts; some quite outstandingly notable by their strangeness, their thrawn demeanour, or their obvious ability to "create a storm in an empty toadstool."

"There's nowt queer as folk", especially woodland folk , and the infinite complexity of their range of odd behaviours, is fascinating to observers of the populace as myself.
Pendragon delights in my Wednesday tales of things seen and done in the name of good works. But life at Dingley Dell Academy , with its own peculiar band of denizens has fitted me well to observe the rich tapestry of beleaguered souls presented to me mid-week.
I spent the afternoon looking out and organising my art materials for Monday, then ventured into the gardens front and back to continue planting out our winter display.
The new paving in our front garden makes it look bigger. I have only started potting up the new pots,but the four now ready do look stunning. Pendragon phoned me twice when I was out there - once to tell me he has found a goblin tiler to complete our bathroom makeover, and secondly just to determine how I was, and to wish me telephone hugs and kisses before he started his overnight shift at the Metropolis Infirmary. I miss him on Fridays. No one opening the door at seven and calling my name; no one telling me how fine his supper was; and no one to cuddle up to after lights out.
He will be home tomorrow.
I was knee deep in flowering winter pansies, when I heard a snigger from behind. I knew before he spoke, whom it would be. Shilpit Senior ,the goblin from number 3. I didn't look round ,hoping he would just take my silence for absorption in my task. But no- silence just seems to incite him to further menace.

"Is that you working on your little garden ?" he said. He laid special emphasis on the words " working " and "little", and on both occasions it was with a derogatory sneer.
I turned ."Yes, it's very little I said." But small and beautifully formed."
He turned his back to me. "Oooh, he said, just like yourself, eh ?"
I didn't answer him this time. He always had to have the last word, and it was always carved out to be slightly demeaning. I continued with my dibber and spade, and when I looked round discreetly a few minutes later he had gone. I couldn't enjoy my relief for it was immediately followed by a flashback of our last encounter. The Fearless Faery and I had been enjoying a mid-morning chat across the fence, when the sniggering voice from number three interrupted us. He did not wait for us to offer any reply but immediately went into a gormless tirade as to why Pendragon and I were dollarts to have paved our front garden, plus a treatise on how the workmen had undertaken the work, a blur of technicalities neither of us wanted to hear, and then completed his pontification by stating that he would never have had THAT paving, ever.

"It's not your garden," I said."You don't have to have it. But we do want it, it's our garden,we love it, and that's what matters."

He just stared at me , aghast that I had had the audacity to answer him. That was not what he had expected. He quietened to a peep for a few seconds, then finished by adding, "You've got the best garden now. It used to be mine, but it'll be you now."
I turned back to my planting. It had completely missed his goblin sensabilities that maybe that was not important to us. We were not in a race to bypass the Shilpits. We just wanted to be enjoying a lovely garden space.
He sidled off towards his front door, banging it shut as he entered.
It would have been easy to counter his nonsense with equal insults but to what end.
The Shilpits have problems of their own a-plenty, no need for me to exacerbate them.
Tomorrow, I have to spend a little time at the Charity shop tidying my parchment empire. There will be lots of time to complete the morning with lunch at the Buttercup Bistro, and a meander round the Dingley Dell Used Parchment Emporium.
Later,Pendragon will make a stunning supper, and we'll talk till the night falls.
On Sunday, I have calls to make on the woodland phone to catch up with Piccallilli Peasegood, and old friend Revillatta Windspa.
I'd better leave a good part of the day free for that, as such calls can eat up a whole afternoon. Pendragon usually punctuates these get-togethers with at least a couple of acorn coffees delivered to my perch in the Blue Room.

May your Saturday find you busy with your favourite things, my friends, and Sunday take you to your favourite spots. May a weekend of warmth and harmony be yours.
From Amarantha Willow, the Rainbow Faery, from number five.

Pendragon was awake and threatening tea and toast very early this morning. He had some time off today and was going to devote it to fence adornment. We have been working very hard to upgrade our gardens front and back, as we enjoy growing things so much. In the back space, we are retrieving a much overgrown growing space, and have renewed all the fences and the paving. Never ones for bland beech or murky mahogany, we have chosen to paint all our back fences in a glorious bluebell blue. Very cheering no matter the time of year, it seems to enhance the plant and flower colours, and even on the cold days,gives a semblance of warmth and real beauty.
I crawled out of bed (after the obligatory tea and toast )to find him already started on the fence, and with half the work completed. Still a little groggy, I staggered through the usual early morning personal health and beauty chores, had a rushed breakfast of corn flakes and fresh soya milk, before planting a firm farewell kiss on Pendragon's cheek . I left him to his painting while I headed off to complete a few postal tasks, and a morning session at the Community Radio Network in Dingley Dell.
Gerromica Dieselgorff can't make it in today, so I have been summoned to fill the 11-2 pm slot. I am not sure if her listeners will feel that I am filling her slot, as she has a strongly classical feel to her show (all lyres and lutes ), whereas I use a more eclectic approach to both the music and the chat. Working at the Community Station is always a joy,every show I do is a new work of art, and I can never say no to any additional shows offered to me.

We have moved to new premises , with state of the art audio equipment, and refurbished studios, so working there has never been more enticing.
Luck and some interested wealthy well-wishers have combined to provide the necessary geld to re-set the station to such a quality to ensure its long term future.
I do Mondays mid-morning, plus the temporary Thursday spot (Gerromica may be some time in returning, I heard today ) should satisfy my lust for broadcasting to the elven masses for some time to come.
My four -wheeled motor vehicle was stacked on front and back seats with paraphernalia for my show. More seemed better than less as I was going to be working at short notice.
Indeed the showtime passed very quickly as it happened, and at 2.00pm, the presenter following me put his perky head round the door and whispered hello. I was just signing off, so we exchanged some light banter, and I packed my large clutter of materials once again.
Dimpo Flibbersnip is quite a lively fellow, but not really one of my favourite presenters. He is not the ideal person to be passing on your show to. He makes patronising remarks, and slightly insulting comments about your musical choices, and you are never sure whether he has made them seriously, or whether your listeners have taken them seriously.
I shall have to grin and bear it while I do my Thursday stint , but it won't be pretty and it won't be easy.

Lunchtime had passed when I left the studio, but I found some carrot soup still on the menu at the staff canteen, and eked it out with a wheatberry roll with almond butter.A little wizened elven crone was on serving duty, and despite her clear lack of competence with anything culinary, she did finally present me with something hot and carroty.
This gave me sufficient strength to get back on the road and head for my old toadstool home in downtown Thyros. I am decorating it at the moment and preparing it to become my new office and storage premises for my used parchment business. Our toadstool home has become rather cramped trying to maintain storage for the myriad of stock I now have, so Pendi and I have made an executive decision to use my former home as an ideal substitute. It is starting to look ready for transfer of the business equipment. I shall still retain some workspace at home in my Blue Room, as I work from my e-mail box quite a lot there too. But Thyros is very close by, so I shall ultimately spend time working in both places as it suits.
Tomorrow will also be busy I fear, as I have a further early trip to Brigantia to visit the Geldmeister, and in the afternoon I am booked in for an afternoon stint at our new Dingley Dell Charity shop. So much to do !
But I shall tell you more tomorrow. I have some root mash to make for Pendi's dinner ( what, more carrots !) and a country pie to make.
Roasted peppers and broccoli on the side, and a glass of dark berry wine to wash it down. He is such a lucky man. Radio presenter, entrepreneur , charity worker, stunning home cook,- is there any beginning to my talents ?

Till I return to my e-mail box to speak to you all of Friday's delights,
may the sun shine on as it did today. Be sure to be home before the night falls, and the cold wind gathers.
Love and fresh parsnips to you all.
From Amarantha Willow,the Rainbow Faery, and a cast of thousands in Lobelia Drive.

Rain has rather devastated my plans today. I woke to the joint sounds of rain bombarding our bedroom window and Pendragon whistling one of his favourite tunes, as he mashed my early morning cup of rooibos and vanilla tea. He brought it up to me, along with a perfectly toasted and buttered piece of rye sourdough bread, pecked my sleepy cheek,wished me a wonderful day, and then strolled downstairs to head off for the tram to Metropolis. I did eventually rise , but was slow to bathe and re - organise my day.
I carried out some paperwork,necessary to my used parchment business,washed a few of Pendi's smalls, watched the rain lashing further on to our front garden, dried a few of Pendi's smalls, then reached for my waterproof overtunic,determined to seek at least some of the day in the outside world. You can see that the stunning pace of my day was driving me to seek a little elven interaction, or at the very least to view the rest of the Dingley Dell populace from a soggy distance.
I had a few stores to collect from the supermercantile and the drive to and fro , woke me up to almost being fully conscious .
I hate days such as these , when I struggle to achieve the most from them. There are so many tasks in hand, and I have so many projects seeking completion.
My new life as Pendragon's wife is making me very contented and happy. Pendi makes me happy, so aware is he of the stuff of life which makes my world go round. He always wants the best for me, and for me to make the best of myself in every corner of my interests.
Our wedding day , on the 30th May, seems a long time ago now. It was such a special day. The sun shone all day, and the ceremony took place in the sunshine ,under a bower of green leafy trees. We had twenty -five guests, either friends or family, there with us to witness our ceremony, and join us for a luxury feast afterwards.
Pendragon looked stylish in his dark tunic and hose. My made-to-measure burgundy gown dazzled in the summer light, and my bespoke headwear, laden with handmade flowers was to prove a major talking point.
We were so happy, no visible nerves at all. Queen Brighid the Bright delivered the vows for us to confirm, and a stunning personal address which we will remember always. Behind us our company of well-wishers, clapped and cheered at the giving of the ring, and the first kiss.

When the rain stops I shall venture out to our front porch to check that our winter pansy plants have survived the deluge.Autumn is pushing its rusty nose through the door, chilly winds have begun to blow across the Big Water, and smart cloaks and woolly tunics are beginning to replace the lacey weeds of summertime.

Time to rustle through your recipe sheets for your damson and blackcurrant recipes, my dear friends, to begin the baking of bread for warmer, more filling meals, and to watch the landscape turn from silver and golden glow to russet ,ochre and orange twill. It is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, and we must all rise to the celebration of cooler climes.

May the last few days of summer sun be yours ,unhampered by the showers of this day. Long,windy scarves, and soft, knitted wrap-me-ups are only a whisker away.
From Amarantha, Mrs. Willow,the Rainbow Faery, matriarch and keeper of toadstool number 5. More from the toadstool tomorrow.

Just married, this Saturday past, surrounded by Family and friends. A day to remember, to revisit whenever the clouds are grey. We holiday in the principality of Feranche for ten sunny days. When we return, further tales from the toadstool will unfold.

Till then, dear friends, may the kiss of sunshine alight on your waking hours, and your days be noted by your earnest endeavours and blissful leisurely interludes.

From Amarantha Willow, the Rainbow Faery, mistress of the fifth toadstool to the left in Lobelia Drive.

Dingley Dell has cast off most of its winter weeds and today was bathed in sunshine. Bright blue warm sky was punctuated liberally with white puffy clouds and wherever we walked the heat of the new day followed us.
I have had another busy working week, selling new and used parchments to allcomers, and only found small pockets of time to rest, relax and celebrate my working freedom this week.
Pendragon was working into the early hours at Metropolis Infirmary last night, so I spent a lonesome Good Friday house cleaning, garden weeding, and reviewing our wedding arrangements.
I got lots done, but I do miss Pendragon when he is away. His sunny smile, his even temparent and his endless ability to encourage and see the best in me, were glaringly absent from our house ambience.
This week was littered with appointmnets. On Tuesday the Faery Seamstress
arried out her penultimate fitting of my bridal gown. It is so beautiful, and fits my elven frame so perfectly. My maid of honour, Catalysta, came with me to have her fitting ,and to make pertinent comments on the style and progress of my gown.
We shared a happy lunchhour in a sidestreet bistro before making our way down Dassunda Row to Seamstress Teggamarra's studio.
She is such a lovely person and her talents in gown design are manifold. Catalysta and I left an hour later feeling confident in how we are to look on Betrothal Day.We found an art gallery and teashop on our way back to the tram, where we shared our thoughts and contentment with Teggemarra's work to the accompaniment of two acorn lattes and a large chunk of pear and frangipani tartlet.

On Wednesday I met Pendragon in the High Street of Dingley Dell. He threw his arms around me, gave me a Pendragon sized hug, and we sought a quick lunch at the Buttercup Bistro.We were to seek an audience an hour later with one of Dingley Dell's wedding officials to rummage through our paperwork. We ordered soup and wheat-free brown rolls,and chatted gaily, one to the other. It was only as we scraped our lentil broth bowls clean that I noticed Aristotle, the Boggart boy, leaning forward on the food counter, to catch a closer look at my companion. Oh, dear, I thought, first of all,- Aristotle clearly hasn't thought that there might be a Mr. Rainbow Faery. Secondly I thought,- oh good, at last he will realise there is no longer any purpose in carrying around a crush for me as large as his maiden Auntie Jessamine.
He did look miffed,and kept scrubbing at the same spot on the glass counter so he could maintain a clear vantage point to monitor the happenings at table Willow. He twice passed our table on his way to delivering lunches to other diners,and on both occasions bumped Pendragon's chair quite hard before apologising profusely to him,then looking at me for some sign of recognition. I just kept my head down. I didn't want Aristotle's pathetic langouring to invade the peace and happiness of my day.
Pendragon surveyed Aristotle quizically at the second bumping,then purposely moved his chair permanently out of the Boggart boy's path.
"I think he's got it bad", was all he said,throwing me an amused glance,then laughing to himself quietly.
I just wanted to stand up and say, "Aristotle ! Stop this foolishness now ! " I am much too mature and sophisticated to be your companion at the teentime boggart allnight raves. Believe me , you'd be less than keen if you saw how I disintegrate after midnight.!"

But I didn't. I just hoped he would see sense when he was finally alone ,and able to contemplate what he had seen at the lunchtime service.
Pendragon finally put the seal on things,by waiting for my return from paying for our meal, then confidently throwing his arma around me and planting a Pendragon sized kiss on my elven scarlet lips.
I melted in his arms. I laughed at his sudden show of affection. I could hear the muffled giggles from the bistro waitresses behind us,but did not dare look in Aristotle's direction. Hopefully the die was cast and Pendragon's timely show of possession would be enough to wake him up from his delusional love mist and send him scurrying back to seeking after pixies of his own age.
We left and I didn't look back. Pendragon is a very wise man. He knew what was required . A simple show of dominance and territorialism from one elven male to another, was enough to bring protocols back to the norm.

We hope.

On Thursday I went parchment hunting in Brigantia. A wild and windy day, but it kept me moving from one treasure trove to another. I was standing in the middle of the main pedestrianised walkway, when I heard a scream of recognition. Not just a scream, but someone behind me actually laid hands on me and turned me around. It was Revillatta. Revillatta Windspa. My dearest friend of many years, but someone I have not met up with for quite some time.

"Amarantha !" she called again with a smile.
"Revillatta!" I called back, and we just hugged. we went for coffees,and talked well into the afternoon. Previous plans took flight,but the afternoon felt really worthwhile in her company,reminiscing, exchanging news,and meeting her new pixie grandson Sligo.
Revillatta and I will always be friends ,even though life's happenings separate us for long periods. In coming together the in-between years just fade into insignificance and we take up friendship together instantly. We danced together once in our theatrical histories, saw each other through ilnesses, family trials, and work successes. We are true friends. And now she is coming to my Betrothal Ceremony in May, to wish me well again. How wonderful.! How complete !

Tomorrow is Eastering Sunday. We hope for a long walk, one of Pendragon's fine dinners, a host of garden planting, and some letter writing in the SunRoom. I hope,my dear friends,that Eastering weekend is bringing you sunshine and as many flowers as you would wish.
Tulips and narcissi abounding, pansies and geraniums to the fore.
More tales from the fifth toadstool to the left - very,very soon.

From Amarantha Willow, the Rainbow Faery.

Finding time to write to all of you, my dear friends , has been difficult in the last few weeks. Partly due to having lots of betrothal tasks to do, to having social engagements in the afternoons on more days than I think is really good for me, to a rapidly expanding used parchment business, and to having a small resurgence of my problem with my favourite writing hand due to repetitive strain injury.
I have tried to leave time everyday to achieve some epistolary work,but there have been too many outstanding tasks and too little time left to complete them. So I do have lots to tell you and I will have to take a few sessions to catch up with you as the Faery Physio is only allowing me a very short time each day to prattle on my electronic box, as she says I need to rest my left writing paw.

Pendragon and I are in the midst of our final preparations for our May Betrothal Ceremony. The Faery Seamstress has almost completed my dress. I see the final version on Tuesday 7th. My headdress is being made by Gribbgea the Embroidress. I should see that too on the 7th. She is designing it from scratch,and I have no idea what form it will take. It will be red, and sumptuous, though.
I have visited the place where our ceremony and feast will take place, and returned overwhelmed by the beauty and aura of the setting. Set in acres of countryside, wildlife come and go as you wander through, and inside each room ,the palatial nature of each strives to outdo the one next door.
We are going to have such a lovely time, and a wonderful day, I know we are. Surrounded by friends and family, we will take our vows in the Garden Orangerie, and feast afterwards in the Rennaissance Atrium.

I have ordered our invitations, special favours, some pretty cupcakes and have only the floral decorations to decide upon. Lots of white and red, I feel, will enhance our dining experience. I have booked my appointments with the Faery Beautician, who will be perfecting my hair ,face, eyebrows and nails on the day. So exciting, and only nine weeks to wait.

All is well within the neighbourhood,although we have not seen lots of our neighbours recently. They are only now beginning to reappear from within their toadstools, after a long cold winter in Dingley Dell. The coldest for many a year.

The Fearless Faery is still giving us cause for concern. I emerged from my four wheeled motor carriage yesterday to find her outside in her garden with her wildebeest, Daisy. I spoke cheerily to her as I teetered up the path,laden with supermercantile bags.
As I got nearer to her though I realised that she was not going to look me in the eye. She spoke to me with her head down,and seemed to be hanging on to Daisy to hold her up. She had been imbibing the fruits of the alcoholic beverage it appeared, and was distinctly the worse for wear at four oclock in the afternoon. She had just emerged from her own four wheeled motor carriage, and had been driving three sheets to the wind.

I could not bring myself to taint our friendship by mentioning my concerns . I don't think my opinion would stop her, and maybe I can help at some point, when she wants help. Pendragon just shakes his tawny head when I tell him. It is very difficult to know what to do or what to offer. I just hope she stops sometime soon.

The Shilpits at number three have been very elusive for the last few weeks. Bu they are back. Wally spoke to me earlier today as he passed our garden. He is always very polite(quite unusual for a Shilpit) and willing to offer help at every available opportunity.

His brother Oggie only offers a scowl. Dad Shilpit has been almost invisible during February and March. No doubt when he sees us breaking sweat in our little toadstool garden ,weeding and planting, he will emerge to give us his untimely and unrequested advice. A goblin with only slabs wall to wall can hardly be expected to offer pearls of wisdom on the subject of rhododendrons and wisteria.

I spent the morning in Brigantia today,tracking down parchments,and sharing coffee time with friends. I came back with my motor carriage loaded just as the rain began to patter on the daffodil heads lining our front pathway.
I love watching the vagaries of the weather,-from inside only , looking out.It is raining again, and the blue has long since left the sky. Grey clouds promise we will be wet throughout the weekend.
Pendragon is hving a roast dinner tonight. Roast salmon, roast vegetables and small roast potatoes. I will welcome him home,feed him, then cuddle up to watch my favourite Faery Soaps with him on our leather settee.
We are a happy pairing, my dearest chums.Remember that now Spring has come, you must remember to push your time pieces forward one whole hour this weekend. On Saturday night, so they say. Wally our house cuckoo is already looking very smug at the thought that he will have to stumble out and mark the passage of time once less than is customary.
March fever is now about to give way to some April tomfoolery and we can only hope that we can carry this out in temperatures of at least double figures.

Tomorrow I'll tell my tale of garden groupies, postal petulance and Daily Scandal "scandal".

Till then,take care, and much love to you and yours.
Fom Amarantha Willow, the Rainbow Faery.