Sunday was rather a quiet day in the fifth toadstool from the left. Pendragon and I were busy indoors, when we would definitely have preferred to be out. The day was much too cold for walking, and we were busy clearing out cupboards,to finally get rid of the excess baggage we seem to be storing. Two large black bags were filled,by which time Pendragon felt that he was due an acorn latte and I a double mug of peppermint tisane, as a reward for our labours. While he was busy with our copper kettle,my gaze drifted outside to the shenanigans happening in the toadstool opposite. Number 10 toadstool faces us,the home of the Dagworts. Mimsey and Jeraboa, witch and warlock, were out in their front garden,he with a hacksaw and she with a huge pair of secateurs. Both were working energetically to hack back large areas of overgrowing greenery at the edge of their lawn. Well, that is not strictly true. Mimsey was working energetically,while Jeraboa just seemed to be walking about the garden picking up bits of hewn down tree, and passing them on to their daughter Ariadne. He cut a strange figure for a warlock,in his zipped up doublet and cut-off hose.Grey baggy hose, to boot. He clearly had worked out that if he just kept moving,both Mimsey and Ariadne would not clock that he wasn't doing very much at all. Ariadne was carrying all the debris round to the back of the house.Mimsey was hacking and throwing the rowan branches in her offspring's direction,so she wouldn't have to carry them so far. And the canine mutt,a beautiful taupe coloured hound was running around,between them all ,trying to get their attention. A calm,steady,good natured hound, unlike the Primpoles' wildebeests, he was in the mood for playing, and he clearly felt that all this hacking and carrying ,was a game he should be a part of.He persisted in jumping up on any of them who happened to be carrying the long branches. Finally ,all three of them stopped,doubled over in laughter at the hound's antics, and the bold canine finally got the fondling he desired. At last, a happy family scene in Lobelia Drive ,and there have not been too many of them lately.
Mimsey and Jeraboa tend to be a rather introverted couple, not socialising much with the other denizens of the cu-de-sac. Always pleasant when you encounter them, but not really needing the attentions of others,very self sufficient ,in a community sense.Witches and warlocks are not known for their friendships with other elven folk,so it is no surprise to find them suspicious of such overtures. But they seemed a merry band, racing round the garden in their ill matching garments. Mimsey does not appear to be a lover of contemporary styles of vestments,nor does she appear to spend much geld on hair management, but nor does she have the usual warts,green spots and plague of boils, that I have come to associate with the witching kind. I think she has rather a kind face. Certainly she loves her family. I cannot imagine the coven to which they must be attached,holding much quarter with that. A magnificent pile of greenery,branches and twigs ,is now stacked in the middle of their back garden. I suspect the whole avenue will be waiting with baited breath to know the final destination of this heap of botanical ruin. Will it be incorporated in the Dagwort daily spells, will it be used to adorn the Dagworts' celestial shed, or will it form the foundation for a Dagwort barbecue pyre,some midsummer Saturday night ? Celtic anthems droned in the back garden are a sure sign of the latter.
I have bought more plants for our garden today, - nemesia, sweet williams,and anterrhinniums.Flowerpot Cottage is much in bloom today.The seedlings planted last week are already double in size,and the older plants already bursting with colour.Pansies with large yellow heads, my celebration rose (a present from my sister.Little Nell ), and my blue trailing lobelia, are all catching the eye of passers-by and visitors to Lobelia Drive.
I returned from Dingley Dell Community Radio rather earlier than usual. A problem in the airwaves caused the transmitting system to come to a rather sharp close. I left five furious engineering elves,all squabbling about the possible cause,and walked home in the sunshine. Breakdowns do happen occasionally. Possibly a bird on the wire, a fungus in the rooftop,or a stop in the ballcock -who knows ? My listeners no doubt cherished the twenty minutes of lively faery banter that they did get, and will no doubt join me next week for a whole lot more. I now have a little "me" time that I wasn't expecting. I made myself a particularly healthy lunch of salad leaves, red bell tomatoes,and lemon hummus. Twelve sweet little hedgerow berries were a juicy finale,with a cup of sparkling stream water.I feel more energised already and very virtuous. The juniper fudge ,though,in my tunic pocket,may prove too strong an attraction to resist before the afternoon is out. My long walk to the mailing slot before dinner should help to neutralise a little unwarranted confection. Tomorrow I visit the Hair Management Technician myself. This means a journey into Brigantia,over the Big Water,very early in the morning. The dew will hardly have fallen ,when I will be revving up the four-wheeled motor carriage, and setting off for the day. Melissander, my hair weaver, is also going to design my hair for my betrothal ceremony next summer. Tomorrow she will put the red sunlight back into my locks and trim those fluffy tendrils which have grown too far. Pendragon loves when I visit the Hair Management Room, as he says I always sparkle brighter when I return home. He admits to loving my burgundy locks,and says they add to my fiery faery personality. Pendragon is a fellow who remembers the importance of compliments. He knows they make my eyes shine and my heart sing. Much harmonious communications to you all,my friends, and may the new day bring a smile to every face. From Amarantha,the Rainbow Faery.