toadstooltales

Our Antipodean goblin handyman arrived at nine in the morning as he had said. He was very brown of face ,suggesting he had spent some days in the sun,or had been sitting permanently under the make-believe sun lamp. He admitted to having just come back from a lovely holiday ,and to having been many years a footsoldier in the Antipodean army, before arriving in Dingley Dell to marry his sweetheart and make a life on these shores. He set to work on his five tasks,2 indoor,and 3 out,while I made him a warming acorn latte,to give his energy an early morning boost.
He fixed and mended within the next couple of hours,and I got some important business jobs done.
I can see that he did some great work by my new washing line,the new hinges on our shed, and our repaired front step, the new tidy lavatory seat and his gap-filling expertise by one of our elecctric plugs. Pendragon and I are well pleased,and happy that goblin workmen are so skilled and painstaking in their work.
Later I made a short visit to Brigantia to meet with my gardener at my former toadstool. We planned some new shrubbery and some climbing roses for my back garden. Everything looked fine ,and I had a chat with my next door neighbour, Esmee,before setting out to re-cross the bridge.

Some minor shopping needed to be done at the supermercantile in Dingley Dell, but it took a good hour as I dallied so long by the shelves,mulling over a million items I probably did not need. Pendragon arrived home as I was doing a spot of re-arranging in the front garden. Pendragon had been messing around last weekend MOVING THINGS. Moving my precious pots into places where I did not want them to go.
So I started afresh putting them into an arrangement which I felt showed them at their best. The rain was starting to fall when Pendragon merrily pushed open the gate,and strolled up the path. He always strolls,his laid back stroll cultivated once upon a time, when he was not a healer of souls,but a sailor upon the high seas. He rose to the heights of lieutenant commander , a talented navigator and manager of a modern underwater vessel. We only sail together now for pleasure,but it is a favourite pastime of ours when we are on holiday.
Pendragon awarded me his usual firm kiss upon the lips,andd gathered me and my gardening tools up to go inside.
Today I have caught up with some of the tasks not accomplished last week due to my having my head in the artistic clouds. A huge pressing of vestments has been done, and another washing undertaken. I am planning a special supper for Penders tonight. He enjoys the occasional international meal,so I am preparing hot tortillas with a soya bean stuffing and warm salad.............
I also managed a little tidy up in the back garden this morning.My Backyard Boys have done a sterling job this summer of protecting my plants from flying creatures and nomadic beasts. I felt they deserved a hose-down treat,so out came the garden spray and some elbow grease,and the Boys look marvellous in their polished state. Even Verde,who usually hides on these spring cleaning days, looked happy to be so spick and span. I saw Arbuthnot,our live-in black toad, creeping closer to Mandolini to have a look at the goings -on. He successfully managed to get caught in the spray,and seemed chirpier for a cooling shower. I saw him scuttle off back under the wisteria bush,croaking a low croak along the way. I felt the noise was positive, so perhaps he will show himself more readily next time. I am not sure how long he will stay with us, but am sure he will accept squatter's rights as long as the food supply holds.
I love all my garden friends and visitors. They must feel safe in our garden or they would not stay.

The Fearless Faery next door is becoming a regular chatterbox at the fence .She and her beast Daisy often sit out on her lawn when I am gardening. She really seems to have settled down in Dingley Dell,and it is fast becoming a place she feels is home.
The local Academy is now on holiday, which means that there are more sprites playing in Lobelia Drive.It also means that Oggie the Hood from number 3 is out and about creating mayhem. I saw him leave his toadstool early yesterday,check no one was watching (how wrong can he be ? )and head off in the direction of number ten's back garden. He disappeared out of view so I could not see what he was up to,but if I hear either Mimsey or Jeraboa Dagwort complaining about any damage, I'll know where to send them.
Tomorrow will be busy, with some driving around searching for used parchments, a nice lunch in the Buttercup Bistro, and maybe some purchases for the garden.
At eleven in the morning I have an organic facial,and my eyebrow furniture clipped with the delightful Lucorella at the Beauty Parlour.I WILL look beautiful,whatever it takes.

Much love to you all,my friends, and may you all be planning your entertainments in the Great Metropolis Festival in the month of August. Song ,dance,theatre and orchestra, are all there for you in abundance.
Stay mellow and bright till opening night,from Amarantha Willow,the Rainbow Faery.

The last two days have been punctuated by my rushing to and fro,and my having little time to communicate with my friends on my electronic box. I have had to journey on both days to Brigantia,for different reasons. Yesterday I had to collect mail and check out my former toadstool home,and today I had to visit the Geldhouse there,and review possible used parchment buys.
The bridge to Brigantia was very busy,and as I ventured to join the happy bunch of elven travellers already crossing,I noticed a huge fog coming down over the bridge. Before long I was driving very slowly and carefully to stay safe in my little fog bubble.
On the other side the fog cleared quickly and I soon found myself parking my little red motor carriage,and heading off for my first acorn coffee of the day. I sipped it slowly and planned the rest of my morning.
I arrived at the geldteller's window,with all my notes ready to present,so that he could transfer some funds for me ,back to another account. He was tall and dark,and very efficient,and within five minutes my geld business was sorted,and I was back outside to find the rain drizzling down, and the fog redescending on Brigantia town centre.
I skirted round shops looking for used parchments worthy of my attention. I found twelve of them ,in very good condition,and not costing too much. I should make a fine profit from them in time.
We have a workman coming to carry out some repairs tomorrow,so I had some items to purchase for the repairs.
Not the prettiest of items but much needed at the moment.Firstly a new toilet seat,as much like the old one as possible.That means white tongue and groove,and in white wood. I am not sure how our old one is hanging off its hinges,but since Pendragon and I have no idea how it happenend, I can only blame Wally our house cuckoo.
Our woodland phone needs replaced thanks to a fault in the answer machine mechanism ,and in our back garden,I need my lines replaced for hanging up vestments to dry.
I found them all in the mercantiles of Brigantia,and almost gave myself blisters carrying them back to the motor carriage,they were so heavy. For the rest of the day I have occupied myself with home matters,washing, pressing vestments, tidying up my art materials from last week and just taking time to rest and take stock. I had a wonderful week last week,meeting new people,and developing my artistic skills. I really did see an improvement and Daedalus was so positive about my work.
I hope to find one day per week when I can devote some time to Art and Craft.
My work with the theatricals is also advancing. Sunday was all about characterisation,and our auditions will be in two weeks, not far away at all. I am a little nervous just thinking about it.
There is no reason why I should not do well ,but a little trepidation does no harm.

Pendragon seems to think we have more visitors living in our garden at the moment.He found a little black toad answering to the name of Arbuthnot,hopping around in the back garden,last week. An ugly little beast ,he said,one only a mother toad could love. But he was happy to let him find his way to wherever he wanted to go,as we never turn any living creature away. The Fearless Faery next door commented to me that she had seen signs that Bob the Bee was back too. Bob the Bee has been a frequent visitor to our flowers all summer ,and his ample cheeks and fully formed black and yellow body are testimony to his having found more than enough to eat. I found a pale lemon butterfly with tan brown spots hovering round the petunias and dahlias yesterday. She was very beautiful in a pale and delicate way. She did not stop to admire the flowers or pass the time of day, she drank with her long proboscis,and fluttered on her way.
I welcome them all,if they mean us no harm. There surely is enough nourishment for all.
The Primpoles were busy yesterday when I returned from my forage at the supermercantile. Weedy was up a ladder with a tree saw in his hand,grabbing handfuls of beech hedging and lopping it off. He did not seem to be fully in charge of the machine,as he kept having to stop and untangle himself from the cord. A little bit dangerous you might think ,with a fully working electric saw. I think he escaped without injury but I am keeping my eyes peeled for loose bits of Weedy's torso which may have become detached from their tubby moorings. Of course I will return anything I find, wrapped up in two plastic bags to avoid prying eyes.
That's if his own wildebeests don't find them first. I hardly think they will be so circumspect,or selfless in their attitude to a surprise meal of WEEDYBITS.

Magic moments in Lobelia Drive are never far away, and the most magical corner of all is the fifth toadstool from the left. With much love to you all,my friends ,from its owner, the fabulous Amarantha Willow,the Rainbow Faery.

We returned to our seaside venue for the last day of my art course. Everyone was in high spirits as we began the day,as the sun was shining from the moment we set out. It was warm,but as we approached the site for our creative endeavours,we felt the cool notes of a sea breeze wafting past. I set up my painting boards,easel ,brushes and oil paints. I had promised Daedalus that I would carry out another "stone" painting,but this time with "real life " colours. I found a good spot beside the promenade,where I had the sun on my side and the wind seemed not have reached there.
The next two hours passed fairly quickly as I worked my board,and mixed sufficiently varied colours to delineate different stones. I was very pleased with the end result and so was Daedalus.
"This is marvellous", he commented."Well done".
There was an upbeat note to his voice,and inside my heart was doing loop-de-loop,so pleased was I to be praised by the magnificent painter ,Daedalus Cinqefoil.
Lunchtime was approaching,so I washed up my brushes, and my hands ,and headed with some of my coursemates to the local fish eaterie. We all sat outside,smelling the wonderful cooking aromas,and making each other laugh with tales of our morning ploys. Plates of steaming hot fish pie and trays of fat chips arrived to fill our tiny bellies and raise our energy levels for the afternoon fray. I had ordered a bowl of langoustines. They were huge,porky pink examples of delicious seafood ,and I savoured each and every one of them.I drank the remains of my second cup of redbush tea,and went back to my easel to think about my next subject.
It would have to be different from the others. I looked far across the water to see on the horizon three interesting huts next to a pile of fishermen's gear.The sky was pale blue with lilac shot through and the electric blue sea lay beneath. Herring baskets,heaped up tyres, creels and nets were scattered all around,a perfect picture of fishing life in this coastal village of Parr Skiban. I spent the next two hours working on these images,but when Daedalus called finishing time I still had much to do. It will be a pleasure to finish it later.
We all clambered back into the motor carriage and headed back to Cinquefoil's studio.I sat ,eyes half closing ,as the heat in the motor carriage was making me sleepy. I wanted to think about the day,the whole week,and Daedalus's comments to me,as we were packing up our materials. He was packing away our pictures for the day,when he picked up my piece from this morning,of the rocks ,shale and rockpools. He looked at it again and said,in my hearing, "Just excellent,just excellent. " I was so pleased.He does not hand out compliments lightly, although help and advice is a-plenty.
The Steam Engine brought me back to Dingley Dell. The village looked very sleepy,and it seemed I had not really been aware of my home surroundings for the past week,so all-consuming is the course in which we have been enrolled. I took in the garden,the front of the house, the flowers,my garden pals and the surrounding toadstools.It has been good to step out into the creative world,but very sweet to come home. Looking round there is much to do. Clearing dust from floors and surfaces,a mound of elven washing, clearing the unused food from our toadstool ice box, and generally tidying up the debris from my active week. I will rest this weekend,and have a quiet week next week. But I owe it to myself to keep my art work on the boil. Once every week I am going to practise my skills in various venues locally and abroad.I will be returning at some point later in the year to work with Daedalus Cinquefoil again,and further improve my techniques.

I have caught rather too much sun today,as me little red ears and sore neck do betray. I have red around my decolletage,and brown as a berry hands. I need to stay out of direct sunlight for a few days
and coat my sensitive spots with a special cream for sun soothing,supplied by the Alchemist.Hopefully these tender spots will cool down and my skin become tanned. Granny's Unction for snakebites, corn removal, itchy feet and delicate skin conditions works every time !

A thousand feelgood experiences for you ,my dear friends. May you find everlasting friendships and enduring love.May the monkey puzzle tree in your life be forever enigmatic,and fully branched.
From Amarantha Willow, artist and writer,designer and parchment entrepreneur,the Rainbow Faery.

It took half an hour to reach our new venue for today's artistic work. I jumped down from the motor carriage and stared out across the horizon. The harbour ahead was semi-circular,and was well populated with small and bigger boats. There was a wrought iron seat,so I plonked myself down and took in the view.
There was a huge blanket of mist clouding the distant islands,but close to hand there was much to see and draw. I found a small green and magenta boat,with white sails,moored close to the sea wall.This gave me much to work on,as shades of grey,brown,and blue had to be found,plus a startling magenta. I worked until one,painting ,mixing,and mixing again.
Daedalus came to give me advice,and I was thrilled that he felt my choice of subject was very good,and he liked how I had decided to treat it. At five past one,Reeta and I went for a walk to stretch our legs,and to find a place to wash our hands. The nearest spot was a small cafe selling freshly made fish and fat-cut chips. We used the ladies' faciities ,but the smell of fresh cooking would not let us leave.
We both had healthy lunches sitting in our carrier bags,but they were abandoned in favour of the fried fish delicacy.
It was very yummy in my small tummy,and every last morsel was shared between us. The fish portion was whale-sized,and the chips could have filled a tin bucket,so we ate till we were no longer hungry,and passed the rest to a passing teenage goblin boy. He grabbed them heartily and headed off up the harbour road.
Reeta and I talked all the way back towards our harbour pitch to set up for the afternoon session. I was feeling very full from lunchtime and just wanted a little snooze.But the day was getting warmer and my painting time getting shorter,so I had to knuckle down and get a subject to paint. I kept coming back to the wide stretch of dark sand in front of me,and the expanse of stone rubble surrounding it. I wanted to do something different,and I did not want there to be any ships in it.
I found myself dabbling with my charcoal pencil,creating boulders alongside various forms of plant life. Not pretty plant life,weeds to be honest but with pretty blue and yellow and white flowers interspersed.
It looked possible as a study,but when I gathered my brushes and mixed my colours,they did not come out muted shades of grey and brown,but instead were hot red,strong lilac.deep navy and electric green. A bit surreal even for my strong stomach,but it seemed to work.Unusual but individual, and I was happy to work on it with more than a little passion.
Daedalus came up to see what I was up to,and looked somewhat bemused. I had to explain it was a serious study and I wasn't just fooling around. He accepted that ,but murmured low that when I had finished I could move on to "something serious". I remained unmoved by this slight castigation and romped through the rest of the afternoon with my very own masterpiece. I love it. I do. I will hang it in the Blue Room.

Pendragon is in Glencasgill tonight,working with the local university. He will be home tomorrow.So tonight I will go to bed early,set my two alarms,and get some well-earned sleep.
I will lay out all my necessary items for tomorrow,beside my favourite teddy, Arabetha, and be ready to leap into them after a short soak in our white scroll bath. Tomorrow is my last day of working on this style of art work with Daedalus Cinquefoil. I may be able to take some classes with him later in the year. I have had such fun this week,and I hope this will be the first of many such happy weeks painting.

I have not seen anything of my neighbours this week so far. I hope they have managed without my advice and tender ministrations. Next week I shall have to find out how Mimsey Dagwort is doing, does the Fearless Faery still have her beast Daisy, and have the Shilpits kept themselves under control while outwith my observations ?

No doubt I shall have to pull them back from the brink of something before next week is out.
Take care,my dear and trusty mail mates, make sure all your windows are closed tonight, as the wind is to howl for most of the night, and the rain is sure to fall.
Methinks I will be painting tomorrow with my wincheater zipped up to the neckbone,and my scarf firmly wrapped round my sensitive wee neck.
From Amarantha Willow,the Rainbow Faery.

The garden we painted in today was stunning. I pushed open the wrought iron black gate and walked up the higgledy piggeldy stone pathway to discover a secret gardden within. It was on several levels sloping down to the lochside,each level containing plants and trees from all over the elven world. Dr. Opal was a celebrated Ancient Herbalist and gardener,specialising in creating a garden retreat which is both healing and meditative. The potting shed stood at the hilt of the topmost garden area.Grecian urns were close at hand,discreetly placed,and full to the brim with hardy perennials and annual flowers. The copper and slate effects on the urns were highly decorative.The scarlet red begonias were large,like open lips,and were balanced by royal blue lobelia and yellow daisies. Wispy greenery completed the potted displays. Past the monkey puzzle tree, assorted conifers and deciduous specimens we found the stone seat,flanked by a large round copper urn and dragon's blood plants.
The sun shone on us all day,as we worked creating our softly muted shades and many shades of green. A pale elven girl appeared to be our model for the day. She posed ,sitting on the stonework,gazing off into the distance towards the loch.
I managed two pieces of work today. A small study of one of the urns with its background of greenery, and one of the elven girl in her leafy environment. We spent an idyllic day.stopping for tea and a leisurely lunch between sessions. We are becoming a very tightly knit little band ,of ardent workers and helpmates. Daedalus did his rounds,doling out encouragement and praise in bucket loads,and at four in the afternoon,he even handed round the trays of cream tea scones. Such a delightful way to finish an afternoon. I travelled back in the elven motor carriage ,and then on the Steam Engine, in a summery haze. I am very much enjoying my week. I hope I can set aside time to continue my artistic development once the course is over.
Other matters have completely receded this week. Parchment sales are quietly going on in the background,while washing ,ironing and sweeping away the cobwebs in our little toadstool is being left for another day. I am watering the plants when I come home,but I get sleepy very quickly after supper,and just make time to organise myself for the morrow. Pendragon is being very patient with me,as he is making supper all this week,and tucking me in early so that I get enough sleep .
Tomorrow we are visiting the seaside,to paint waves,in-coming tides and acres of sand. Not to mention fabulous skies, and sea-faring boats.
Much happiness to you all my friends,and may the sky be blue for you all day tomorrow. Remember to build your sandcastles in the air and your daydreams in the sky......
From Amarantha Willow,(magenta hair and aquamarine eyes, candy pink cheeks and pale ivory skin ),your very own colour specialist in Toadstool number five, the Rainbow Faery.

Without Pendragon to prod me into getting up early enough, I nearly faltered in my ambition to leave the toadstool by 45 minutes after seven this morning. He was working overnight in Metropolis, and so I set two alarms to ensure I heard at least one of them. I did hear them. Both went off within two minutes of each other,but needless to say,I waited at least another fifteen before I rose at 6.15. I got everything done,but speedily towards the end,and breakfast was a little makeshift in the form of a rasberry and blackcurrant oatmeal roll. Not very healthy or edifying,but I knew I could grab a latte and muesli at Asterbar when I left the Steam Engine.
In Asterbar,I wasted no time in furnishing myself with the ingredients to set me up for the day and read through the Metropolis Times as well.
Daedalus was packing the elven motor carriage when I reached the studio. He was in breezy mood,and so was I,so we chatted about everything from partners to Art.
At ten, we left to pick up the other course members,and headed towards the Metropolis World of Art,to catch their latest exhibition. Daedalus steered us round those paintings which he wanted us to note,as they showed particularly interesting methods which he wanted us to learn and use.
It was a pretty stunning exhibition,and there was muuch to absorb.
We concluded our visit,grabbed a mid-morning refresher and headed for our painting site for the day. The Steam Engine Station !
I know it well,but it is not the easiest structure to paint.
Steel roof,steel overhanging rods and wires. Large metal structures, mountains of steam,and not a flower in sight. I always feel more confident before I begin to paint,if there are some petals and stamens around.
None.There were absolutely none. And little light to boot.
We all looked a little surprised and deflated as we set up our painting stations. What were we going to observe ? That was the burning question on everyone's lips. No one seemed to be in their artistic comfort zone here,but we had to try. There were a few rumblings in the ranks,but despite a rankle upsetting our usual happy atmosphere,we all made a start.
i always begin the same way. By putting on my old checked,paint stained,massively supersized shirt.
I rdon't want to return to my pristine toadstool with oil stains ear-to-ear,so it is necessary to be pragmatic in the vestment department. I dress like a tinker to be honest- old pants, blousons not fit for being seen in good company,and a sweater from the old sweater drawer,especially saved for household chores or aartistic jaunts. So I looked like a shrunken dwarf in a barrel shaped top,so big was it on me. I even had a jumper on underneath my shirt. Sad to say,as the day went on,I still managed to get blue and green patches on my navy trousers. By Friday,if there is enough paint on them I'll join up the patches to make multi-coloured drawers.

I caught the light and shade of a sunny yellow archway on canvas in the morning,and in the afternoon I struggled to reproduce the dark tunnel and its surrounding environment. Not the easiest task,as it called for vigorous and continual colour mixing,and detailing was made harder by being slightly too far away. But I finished the day with two pieces of canvas much improved by yesterday's standards,and two pieces which I like and feel genuinely proud.
Tomorrow we are visiting Dr. Opal's Garden,which is sure to raise our spirits,and engage our enterprise. I have promised myself that I will paint a larger canvas tomorrow,some big,bold flowers,with depth and detail-something to touch the senses.

The elven ladies in my group are very amaiable,and one or two of them are becoming special friends. Mirassima is fairly young and a teacher of small sprites,and we just seem to have gelled.Dorabora is elderly ,but full of good humour,and has great painting skill. She has an "eye" for a well placed image,and tidy skills. Lenya is Continental,has limited elven tongue,but has a natural ability to chose a subject and makes soft muted colours like a master.
We always en dup together at coffee times,and have the same elven twinkle in our silver/blue eyes.

Pendragon is home.I hear his key turn in the front door lock. Tonight he is cooking so I am in for a treat.
Take care my elven working friends.Don't lose your way in the streams of employees who wend their way from the Steam Engine each morning. Off to their respective tasks and glories in rooms full of tension and erstwhile endeavour. Make your conquests,climb your industrial mountains,but remember to leave this aside at least once a day in order to cultivate a smile. And remember to send it out to someone whose day it will transform.
From Amarantha Willow,steeped in light and form this week,from her little blue room in the fifth toadstool from the left. Your very own Rainbow Faery.

Pendragon came with me on Sunday to Metropolis.While I rehearsed with the Theatricals,he went off to watch a cricket match and do some writing. My sessions with the Theatricals are proving to be very interesting and worthwhile. I am getting to know some of the other actors quite well. Knowing them better means I have begun to change my mind about my feelings about some of them. Calico Teasel is quite a dish with his waist length browm hair and fine elven features. He is unexpectedly quiet for an actor,but does open up and talk if pressed gently on a subject which interests him. Salvia Rundoonie seemed stand-offish on week one,but is another quiet reserved character,who warms up with longer association. Jarvus Quaff is friendly to everyone,as is Bidolphor Gentiano,a big made boggart with a huge voice. Chicolitto is harder to understand,as his moods are changeable,going from over-the-top cheerfulness to down-in-the-dumps sulkiness. One never knows where one stands with him. But we are generally a merry crew on Sundays. In three weeks time we will be assigned our roles in the on-going drama project. We are being watched at the moment to assess our dramatic powers. I am hopeful of a key role,but will settle for something short and interesting,if that is what I am deemed suitable for. At the moment we are developing characterisations,and carrying out exercises to heighten our understanding of the play's motifs.
After a thrilling three hours Pendragon collected me and we headed off for lattes and almond pastries.

This morning I was up and around before Wally,our clock cuckoo had even stretched his beak towards the hour of six. I sang and sallied forth to wash,dress and dine on breakfast berries, in preparation for a week of artistic endeavours . I kissed Pendragon goodbye,and headed off to catch the Steam Engine which would take me to that part of Metropolis where Daedalus Cinquefoil has his studio.By nine of the clock,seventeen elven artists had assembled there,all of them ladies,and were exchanging names and cups of acorn tea.
Daedalus welcomed us all,outlined the week's prospectus,and then bundled us into a large 17 seater motor carriage. We headed for the nearby reservoir,a magnificent beauty spot,with a lake,rolling hills and its very own live-in heron. Daedalus demonstrated techniques to us first from the Art movement we were studying and then left us to begin our first studies. I find painting in any medium dfficult,so took a while to look round and get my bearings in this setting. I found a spot with a high hill,dark trees and many coloured moods.I worked on my impression of this until lunchtime,when we all retired to the Reservoir Inn to have lattes and an alfresco repast. I had packed banana and fig sandwiches,with a prune compote to follow. The afternoon was very warm and by the time we giggled our way back to join Daedalus,we were rather sleepy,and a little less in the artistic mode than we might have wanted to be.However I managed another study,of the hilss,the lake and the ubiquitous heron,efore we finished at five. Not my best piece of work ,I may say,but it may take a few days before I find a subject which draws the true artist from me.
I arrived home just before seven,to make my own supper of soya meatballs with celeriac mash. Pendragon is working in Metropolis tonight,so I am spending time,washing today's paint stained clothes,tidying our bedroom,and preparing for tomorrow's artistic stint. We are visiting an exhibition in the morning,then undertaking a cityscape in the afternoon. I do hope my work is better tomorrow,as I like to see improvement as I go along. I will retire early,I think ,to dream of tomorrow's endeavours and make up some of the sleep I seem to have lost over the last few nights. Excitement sometimes takes over when ypu are so looking forward to something.
Many fortuitous forty winks to all of you,my dear friends. If you are travelling to Metropolis tomorrow on the Steam Engine,look out for a sweet elven lady carrying a green folding stool and a large packed lunch. Give her your best wishes and extend to her the felicitations of the day. If she answers to the name of Amarantha so much the better.She will be pleased and you will have something to tell your loved ones about when you return home.
Love and great artistic inspiration from Amarantha Willow,the Rainbow Faery.

On Thursday morning, when Wally the toadstool cuckoo was just bumbling out to mark our breakfast hour at nine, a silver four wheeled carriage rolled up at our front door. Picallilli Peasegood strolled out waving as she climbed the path to meet Pendragon ,who greeted her with a gay "Hello" and a cheery smile. I was nearly ready to leave with one arm in my black waterproof overcoat,and one lace -up slipper boot on my left foot. I was also in the midst of consuming my bran lattice oaty bits,so there was much going on. She seemed primed and ready to make an early start so I gave Pendragon the remains of my breakfast feast,shoved the other arm in my overdrape and with the other slipperboot in my hand ,headed for the door.Pendragon put his arm out to stop me,and insisted that I put my other slipperboot on, so concerned was he that I might fall headlong on to the concrete path. I gave him a mighty farewell kiss,much to Piccallilli's amusement,and headed off to join her at the front of her streamlined all purpose carriage. We were heading for Metropolis to a mercantile full of betrothal bits and pieces. Piccallilli's daughter is getting betrothed in September ,and Piccallilli is making the betrothal cake herself. She was also looking for gift bags and thank you cards. I was just there to have a look and get some idea of what was available for smart betrothals.

We arrived early,to find the mercantile was not open yet. We walked around window shopping for fifteen minutes,rather than hang about outside the mercantile door. In that time we had window- bought a pair of shoes, some parchments, a skirt and overblouson in khaki shades, and a bundle of cheap tea-cloths. It is always cheaper window- shopping rather than parting with one's hard earned geld. Pendragon would be proud of my restraint.

We were first in the betrothal mercantile,so had the full attention of the owner. Piccallilli scuttled to and fro in her black cut -off capri pants,gathering her wanted bits and pieces. I just schmoozed around looking at this and that,but to be honest ,I did not see anything I would have bought. I have seen much nicer pieces in my electronic box catalogues,and intend to send away for most of what I want.
We headed off out into a cloudy morning after Piccallilli paid for her purchases. She used her eagle-sharp eyes to spot a coffee haunt where we could find our favourite thirst quenchers and gossip away the rest of our outing.
Two acorn decaff. lattes and a shared skinny blueberry muffin were duly ordered and we sat in the cafe window to renew our lives since we had last seen each other.Piccallilli has been under a lot of stress over the last few weeks due to her partner and her daughter rowing over betrothal plans. That is what can happen when too many elven folk want to take responsibility for the event. If they had any sense at all they would just leave it to Piccallilli,so good are her organising skills. She seemed a little down at all of this aggravation,but Picci is never down for long,and soon we were drinking large gulps of latte,and laughing over recent ploys.
I told her all my news,about our on-going wedding plans, my new job selling parchments,and my new role with the Daily Scandal. Picci loves gossip,and has promised to pass on any juicy titbits she comes across. Her snippets are always god,but I am not sure how printable they are !

Our conversation turned to Dingley Dell,as it always does. She was fond of her role there,but is as dismayed as myself at the downturn in the Academy's misfortunes under the new regime. Piccallilli had recently helped them out on a trip to foreign climes and was full of stories of misdeeds, misbehaviours and poor treatment at the hands of certain members of Staff. She will not offer to help again,and that will be a great pity,as she has much to offer the little sprites and their parents.
She returned me home to my toadstool by the sea,where Pendragon was waiting with open arms. He was only around long enough to pay the goblin cleaners who were power washing the exterior of our Sun Room,and then he flung his elven arms tight around me and headed off to the Metropolis himself.
I had a small and healthy lunch of salad leaves with lentil loaf,before heading to the Ladies of Mercy Charity shop with two large bags of goods which Pendragon and I no longer needed.
The Ladies were very grateful as always,and said an emotional thank you for my having considered them.
I hovered for a while looking for any worthwhile parchments in stock .There were many to rummage through,and as i appraised each one ,I also had time to notice the busy work of the Ladies themselves.

Lettice Wallmangle was on the counter and Parsimonia Tinkle was tidying up the shelves. I always find it peculiar that whoever is on the counter never seems to notice when customers stand there. I have sometimes dangled for twenty minutes,alongside others, while Lettuce primped some item or looked through her copy of the "Elven Companion",unaware that time was ticking by and you were waiting for attention. And I wonder why one of them always wants to tidy the parchment shelves when you are looking through them.
Parsimonia is very guilty of annoying the elf out of you ,as you attempt to sort out a purchase or two. She did it yesterday again to me. She suddenly appeared at my elbow,demanding to be allowed to tidy the whole display,while I was clearly in the middle of selecting. Of course I let her get on with it.
The Ladies of Mercy are not young,and must be allowed a foible or two, so great is their commitment to raising funds for the elven less fortunate.
I eventually chose five fine examples of elven literature and took them over to Lettuce. She was sorting out knitting needles in a tall tin,and seemed engrossed. I sensed I could still be here at supper time. She was counting them very slowly,and I knew I had a problem building when she stopped,eyed them up and started counting them again.
I broke my silence and merrily quipped, " That's a thankless job you've got there".
She looked up .sensed a kindred spirit, and went into a ten minute treatise on all the other thankless jobs she had to do in the Charity shop. I smiled and kept smiling,while gently shoving the parchments further under her nose.
Eventually Lettuce took the bait and wrapped them up in a jaunty paper bag.
I knew I had done well by listening to her when she leaned over the counter, touched her finger to her pointy elven nose and said in a conspitorial manner ,"That will be seventy elven pence".
I was about to protest that this was incredibly cheap for such incredibly good parchment materials,when she continued," That's all we are going to charge."
I accepted graciously, handed over my geld and hastened past Parsimonia without stopping or looking,in case she decided to tidy me as well before I left the shop.
The parchments are very good quality and are lucky finds,so I have Lettuce to thank for such a fine day's work.

Tonight I will occupy myself with a fine tea of cucumber and tomato quiche,with more salad leaves,and a measure of cranberry wine. Pendragon is dining with colleagues after a late meeting in Metropolis. He will stay at his city toadstool overnight,and join me for lunch at the Buttercup Bistro tomorrow. I am looking forward to a restful weekend before I start my artistic week with the artist Daedalus Cinquefoil in Metropolis on Monday. Five days of professional tuition in the artistic ways of the Influential Movement. Seascapes,landscapes,cityscapes and collages- all will come under the spell of my paintbrush before the end of the week.
If you are in Metropolis this week,my dear friends, stay alert and keep well away from itinerant artists who may have your figurative structure within their sights. But please be kind and encouraging to all who answer to the name of Amarantha,the Willow-the Wisp,the Rainbow Faery.

PS. The Fearless Faery next door tells me she has bought a new mackintosh. Designer and with a belt. And I came across Jeraboa Dagwort at the cheap wine bins in the Supermercantile today. No surprise there then.

I have been staying in my former toadstool at Brigantia for the last couple of days,to get a few essential things done. Taps needed fixed, tidying needed done,and there is still much paraphernalia from past years to sort and hopefully throw out. it was very pleasant to be back for a few days,to remind myself about the very pleasant ambience there,caring neighbours,quiet area, lots of amenities close at hand. I love my new life with Pendragon but there are some things I miss about my former home.
The old toadstool was a little bigger,with more closet space,and the garden very dear to my heart.
I do miss Pendragon wnen I am away from him though,and eventually I just feel I need to get back.
I also had an appointment with Ally Bally Drillhammer on Monday for an overdue filling of one of my incisor teeth. Not a big issue,not giving me more than a niggle,but a problem waiting to get bigger. He was very quiet when I arrived, and stayed that way despite my attempts at merry banter.He seemed to have much on his mind,so I just succumbed to the pain reliving injection and hoped it would all be over soon.
I emerged into the daylight half an hour later,and was thankful the rest of the day was mine.
On Tuesday I went to see Melissander,my Faery Hair Technician,to allow her to touch up my burgundy roots and snip away the extra hair I did not need. It was a very slow,calming experience,as she is a very accomplished technician,and I spend the whole time reading magazines and drinking acorn tea. The technical assistant made me tea and washed my tresses,and gossiped about a million things I am far too old to either undestand or know about. But I smiled long and "of-coursed" hard.
My hair was particularly fetching when Melissander finished,so I hit the supermercantiles of Brigantia to see if I could find some apparel to compliment my new look. Nothing appealed sadly, so I headed off to find some used parchment stores,and check out the bargains. I found a few,although it was difficult to find the really cheap magnificent finds of last month. But those I settled for should bring in a tidy profit.
I headed for home and some catching up with business matters. Pendragon was working in Metropolis overnight, so I settled back to watch a few favourites on the electronic picture box.Pendragon called me to check I had not been lifted by white slave traders, and we meandered for what seemed forever proclaiming our love and devotion.
Today I was up early as I have used parchment orders to post at the Mail Slot. It is quite cold outside,so my burgundy scarf and gloves have re-appeared.I will have lunch at the Steam Engine Cafe, and do some writing as I sip my nettle and peppermint tisane. I need a restful afternoon before concocting a special supper for Penders.
Tomorrow Piccallilli Peasegood is taking me to a specialist shop for betrothal supplies. We should have fun as she is quite the wit. Piccallilli's gossip is the best in the land ,and she spares no blushes as she tells you the most uproarious of tales.
Next week I have a meeting with Portamus Cumberpatch,my editor,so I am already jotting down ideas to contribute to his editorial meeting. I would like to have lots of possibilities to follow up rather than have to adopt Portamus's ideas of what is riveting reading. My gossip column will be as sharp as I can make it ,and will not involve visits to elven women's guild meetings, or sewing bees.Pendragon thinks I may be making a mistake there as in his experience these meetings can be a hot bed of intrigue.
I wonder how many he has been to ? I must ask him. And why was he there ?
I haven't seen any of my neighbours since my return. I wonder what they have been up to since I have been away. I must keep a weather eye on them over the next few days,just to ensure they haven't got themselves in some terrible strife.
Time to dress for my visit to Dingley Dell High Street.
Some smart navy pants, navy tunic and a navy woolen jacket. Sombre like the day,but you never know who you may bump into in the High Street. If it's Queen Brighid the Bright,she'll waste no time in taking you to task over your sartorial inelegance.

Take care my chums,and be careful to whom you give your trust and friendship. If they are dressed in navy pants and tunic,with long burgundy locks,I am sure they will be alright.
From Amarantha,glad -to- be-home Willow, from her electronic box in Lobelia Drive.

I am very worried about Mimsey. Mimsey Dagwort,that is. Since her hedge mysteriously regrew to renewed excellence overnight,she seems to have become a shadow of her former witch hood . She seems to shrink as she passes the aforementioned spot,not daring to look in the direction of its newly sprouted leaves. Not daring to look anywhere, in fact,lest other things and other people catch on to some guilty secret.

Well, Mimsey dear, I rather fear they have.It was never really going to go unnoticed,old girl. While passing the time yesterday,over the garden fence with The Fearless Faery next door,and her beast Daisy, Old Fearless suddenly stopped listening to my incredibly interesting conversation on midge flies and pointed towards the hedge.
"Has that hedge grown back ? "she said. "Already ? That seems a bit odd,doesn't it ? It was well scorched, wasn't it ?"
I bravely tried to continue my oral treatise on the dining habits of the lesser spotted midgefly,but she was having no deviation from her train of conversation.
"It's fully grown" she trickled on. "It was just a hole three days ago. It can't have.........".
I could see a small lantern lighting in her eyes and she looked me full in the eye,with her small black twinkly ones. Only a lie would now do,I could see that. I couldn't let Mimsey down,knowing how she must have been driven to it.
"What ? " I stammered.
All good lies should start with an air of disbelief.
"The hedge ? Oh,I've never noticed. Hole,was there ? Oh,there was,wasn't there. These things grow so quickly,don't they ? We've had so much rain,haven't we ? My garden's bursting with weeds with all this rain. The rain will have spurred it on."
I finished my nervous ramblings with an innocuous smile. This met the black twinkly peepers as they turned ,looking slightly bewildered towards me. She didn't say any more,though,and I hoped she would just let the whole discussion go.

However,as I re-started my general worries over the aggressive habits of seasonal biting insects,both of our attentions were suddenly drawn towards the Primpoles' gate, as Weedy and Severity were leaving with both wildebeests and Number 2 son,Abstemio. There was a fair old racket going on,with barking and woofing,cackling and calling out in rumbustious voices,when I suddenly heard Severity cry "Look at the hedge. The hedge over there. It's grown back. That's a bit of a miracle,isn't it ?"
As she said it she looked at the others and burst into vicious laughter. The others joined her in bursts of laughing ,between pointing and conspiratorial whispers. There was no doubt that they also thought something was afoot and it was not courtesy of Mother Nature.
The Fearless Faery ,sensing kindred spirits in this matter, was suddenly moved to abandon our conversation, shoot through the gate and head in their direction to mull over the pros and cons of what she felt was also something untoward.
I just stood,watching them all from a distance, heads together in mutual condemnation of the Dagwort Hedge. I left them there, hoping that when their childish conjecturing was over they would just go back to their dreary lives and forget about it.
At the end of the day they could laugh as much as they pleased about it,as long as they did not report big Mimsey for spell weaving or unnatural practises. I do not think they would go that far. However,I have to hope that the Shilpits at number three haven't picked up on it, or Mimsey's goose may well be cooked yet.
Today I have a free Sunday from my rehearsals with the Theatricals. Remindur has another engagement so we have been cautioned to learn some lines for next week, and to contemplate the parts for which we wish to audition. There is a part for a mad woman,and Pendragon has said that I was born to play the role. He surely must feel my acting skills are honed to perfection.
Next week is going to be very busy. I have appointments in Brigantia on Monday and Tuesday, parchment hunting on Wednesday ,an appointment with the Faery Physio on Thursday and Friday - well there is sure to be something important and unmissable scheduled.
I hope to meet with Portamus Cumberpatch soon to discuss my new role at the Daily Scandal. He has delightfully placed me on a retainer until I begin my new post as Entertainment/Gossip columnist in August. Broody Rootpulse, cub reporter, has taken over the Agony Elf slot,and although she displays a strong natural skill for problem solving,she does also seem to lack the elven edge of an Amarantha.
Piccallilli Peasegood has been in touch to organise one of our summer solstice outings to somewhere green and wholesome. Preferably with a healthy bistro and good natural cooking on the side.
This is a very special day today for Pendragon and I .This evening we go to one of our favourite restauants for a gourmet meal. We are celebrating our first meeting,our first evening together.In the Dark Palace, both the food and ambience are exciting,and we are sure to have a very romantic time.

Jeraboa Dagwort has just passed our window,carrying another couple of dark green glass bottles to add to his own personal bottle bank. No signs of Mimsey. She is keeping a low profile obviously,to avoid further speculation over the Great Healing Hedge debaucle.
Lobelia Drive is quiet today,if a little blustery around the corners. We were promised temperatures of 18o to 20o,but they have not lasted long.
Pendragon is downstairs enjoying a vanilla and orange hot chocolate,and probably damaging my weekly crossword beyond all recognition. He will deny all when I ask him how he arrived at the wrong answer for no.35,but such is his undeniable charm.
He came, he saw, he conquered my heart. Vive l'amour ,vive la coeur !

Much love and steaming hot chocolate to you all, my romantic friends. May you have the Sunday of your dreams, and the week of your desires. From Amarantha Willow, the Rainbow Faery.

Strange things happen when you take your eye off the elven ball. I was chewing a bowl of oaten munchies this morning,when my eye caught sight of something new across the street. Our toadstool directly faces on to the side of the Dagwort's three up and down ,and their boundary hedge in particular. It has been lying waiting to be fixed,thanks to Jeraboa's incendiary hobbies,and has been lying a good long time. However, this morning,it is as new,no signs of charring,large holes,sundry gaps in the branches or loose boards straddled across the yawning divide. This is puzzling,since there was no new growth yesterday,and no signs of any visiting workmen/gardeners around looking to effect a repair.
So,how can this have been achieved ?
Wishful thinking,you can discount. Miracles are too much to have expected. I can only surmise that there must have been some potion fixing,some spell weaving or some minor mumbo jumbo carried out at number 10 overnight. I shall be watching Mimsey as she passes from now on,to see if I sense any embarrassment or tension in her demeanour. According to the local Grand Order of white witchery to which Mimsey belongs,these kinds of antics have not been allowed for some time.Let nature be the way,they do say,and no tampering with normal regrowth. She must have been sick fed up looking at it,so gross was the disrepair which her lumpen betrothed effected. I must admit to feeling a certain sympathy for her situation,as it was never going to be right any other way.My sympathy has also magnified since I caught sight of the huge cardboard box of mead bottles waiting for collection by the rubbish uplifters today. This represents only one week's consumption,so someone in that toadstool has been giving sobriety a fair bit of battering. It can't be the sweet little Mimsey(although,who could blame her ?),so it must be the red-necked,and now possibly red-nosed Jeraboa. Disobeying the orders of the Grand Order can lead to excommunication from coven for life, so I hope no one else in the close has picked up on the overnight immaculate mend.
I had lots of admin. to do today, and a mighty parchment order to ship,so my feet never touched the pavement till after lunch. I took everything to the Mailing Slot,and sought a little peace and quiet reflection in the Tumbling Weasel Cafe.
Not one of my prettier haunts,,more a last resort saloon,when Wednesday closing has given me no alternative. It was very busy today,being the only one open,and although I found a seat ,I couldn't enjoy the pictures from the window,because the tables were so full,and the view obscured.To add insult to injury,my order of a pleasing plate of coriander and carrot consomme was cold,and my teacup showed signs of overflowing tea leaves. I didn't want to complain.Young Lotus Verbena served me,and she already looked on the verge of tears due to the lack of enough support behind the counter.
I passed the time contemplating my new role as Entertainment columnist with the Daily Scandal, and scanning the present visitors to this little cafe on the prom.
Aster and Curmudgabo Barleymould were sitting across from my table.I hid behind my menu with my head down,to avoid having to acknowledge their presence. They singlehandedly converted the Tumbling Weasel from dull to depressing. Of the two,"She who is in command" ordered,paid, and dictated the size of the other's portion. Curmudgabo just sat listless,doing her bidding,in painful acquiescence to his complete emasculation. He must have been a captain of industry once,but definitely not behind the chintz floral curtains. Aster is an elven lady to be reckoned with, a friend of Queen Brighid the Bright; she moves in the same illustrious circles,with a finger in all the socially advancing pies. Her short,dangerously sculpted white hair, face like a walloped haddock's backside, prim exterior of jacket and skirt bucking any fashionable trend to a fault- all made her an unapproachable and imperious figure.
They left,after a half scone and one cup of dandelion tea,taking their pinched mystique with them.
I left too,with thoughts of Pendragon's dinner,and a little tidying up in mind.
Tomorrow, definitely Brigantia,and more buzzing around.

Much love to you all,my trusty companions of the electronic box .Keep your minds open,your hands full,and stay clear of pinched lips and cold ,cold hearts. Wise words from Amarantha Willow,the Rainbow Faery.

Today much commotion rocked the fifth toadstool on the left as I busied myself tidying up the debris and disorder from the weekend .My latent sniffle continues but my energy level is keeping high.Sometimes I just need a day at home to catch up,and enjoy my lovely surroundings,so the mechanical duster and the steam pressing machine were put into service to help me clear the decks. My used parchment business means that we are living with a bit more boxed clutter,but I am continually rationalising how we use the space to store everything. The Blue Room has very much changed its original purpose,from dressing room space to sharing use as an office and library.
I enjoy working here for part of the day,as I tend my selling business and carry out my writing.The life that I love is all around me,and I can step in and out of it as I wish. I had meant to make a visit to the Ladies of Mercy Charity shop to check out their used parchments,but found myself in the garden after noon struck. The sun was shining for the first time in three days,and it was too good an opportunity to waste. Weeding particularly needed done,front and back. I examined every pot for new and old growth,and checked levels of dryness and for potentially invasive weeds . Most of the pots are doing very well,and showed a great response to the wetness we have had. But there were a few, needing either some new plants, the old having been chewed by the itinerant slug population,or merely a good watering and some weed extinction.
I worked hard,not even stopping for an dandelion tea and a sesame biscotti,until I felt that spruceness reigned,and a smile had returned to the faces of my Jolly Boys, the gnomes of number five.
Mandolini has been protecting the array of pots by the door of the Sun Room for some days now,with Pianolo on hand to assist with his book of garden knowledge.Basso Profundo has been risking paint and limb,hanging out under the wisteria,to offset wandering pests and patrol the shrubbery. Verde has been his constant companion in this task,tending to stray primrose flowers and tiny fallen toadstools. Pots of all shapes and sizes stand in wide array,with a proliferation of begonias,sweet peas,trailing nasturtiums and petunias reaching for the light.The back bed near the fence has received a strong assault by rampant snails and slugs,so all that remains from my May planting are two hardy primroses plants and several stalks. I was almost ready to cry and wail my dismay to the high heavens ,when I saw the extent of the damage. However,not to be daunted ,I replanted the whole bed,with some sturdy alpines,more pink and white begonias, and two hardy perennial shrubs. I have also laid some anti slug gel round the bed to stave them off. I am going to put copper tape round all my pots,and then thumb my nose at any passing slithering traffic.

The Primpoles were sitting in their backyard,both wearing the barest of outfits to catch maximum rays. For sheer devilment ,I might consider raising a flag on my side of the fence, warning of the dangers of exposing your fair elven flesh to ultra viloet rays. I would not wish to offend,so maybe I will hold off until they are both burnt to a crisp before daring to invade their visual space with a warning. The wildebeests were also there,doggedly mooching past the fence every time I stopped there to tie back a loose hollyhock or pull out a dandelion. They pushed their tepid noses through the fence and stared hard at me as though this would be sufficient warning of their powers to clip my bold wings.They growled low,and barked high if I in any way moved closer to the fence. They are such unpleasant beasts that sometimes I think I deliberately set them off,just to witness their level of pique,and hear Weedy ineffectively say "stop that,now" in his tepid little voice. They just howl louder,until Severity joins in with a much sharper "that's enough,now". They usually return to low growling after that. And I stand behind the fence,mouthing "YES !!!",and punching the air.

The Fearless Fairy from number four was out in the front yard when I stepped out of the toadstool to water the plants. We chatted for a while about her forthcoming holiday, her black and white beast Daisy, and the price of fish. Well, not just fish, the rising price of everything in Dingley Dell ,it would seem. We will all surely have to tighten our already straining belts,to cope with this new higher cost of living. I consider myself quite a thrifty little housewife,but Pendragon and I do currently enjoy a few treats we would hate to be without. Mine would be the copious berries I get through in a week,and Pendragon likes a glass of Dingley Dell's best red of an evening. I am sure we will manage,with slightly smaller portions,and slightly longer spaces in between our indulgences.

Tomorrow I go to Brigantia to do some work on my former toadstool,and no doubt will do some used parchment trawling along the way. I mean to have a quiet and restful day wherever I am,with a cheap and cheerful lunch somewhere,and some personal shopping in my favourite haunts.
Pendragon is taking me for a special meal on Sunday to celebrate our First Meeting Day.Flowers will abound,and birds will sing,as we share our reminiscences in our favourite restaurant, The Tartan Turtle.
I will wear midnight blue,Pendragon his best black bib and elven tucker, and we will toast our love and devotion. Happy days !

Much love to you all,my friends,especially to those of you in the Black-Pearl-Crew. I am keeping in touch with them on my electronic box, and hope you may wish to join them too.
Heave-ho-me hearties,and a slug of what you fancy as you splice the mainbrace. From Amarantha Willow,the sea -faring Rainbow Faery.

Sunday started wet,was wet in the middle and finished absolutely soaking. There must have been some moments of dryness,even a little sunshine, but they were bearly noticeable to myself and Pendragon,as we to-ed and fro-ed to Metropolis and back. We took the tram for ease,as we enjoy the walk down to the theatre from the tram stop. We were well wrapped up,but we caught a fair amount of precipitation even waiting for the tram to arrive. I felt soggy sitting on the plush seats,droplets dripping ddown my nose and fingers. Pendragon and I laughed across the aisle to each other,refusing to allow the demeanour of the day to consume us. I was excited about my second workshop with the Theatricals.We had made a good start last week with our workshop about choral techniques. I had learned a few of the names of the faces I worked with, and hoped to renew their acquaintances this week again.
Pendragon and I partook of a decaff acorn latte in the local bistro "Plutos",and had time to flick through the Sunday rags before it was time for me to gather my things and head for the theatre. Pendragon went back to his Metropolis toadstool to do some writing and sort out his laundry,while I played.
The theatre was empty on my arrival apart from our director Remindur. He seemed distracted ,sorting out seating and pushing back pieces of stage furniture. I settled myself down, changed my outdoor slippers for a pair of dance espadrilles and scanned my script. Before long, others arrived,and we were soon merrily sharing our week's adventures,and awaiting our director's call.

Remindur put us through our physical paces with a strenuous warm-up,then instructed us in the "6 stages of tension".We had to work in these 6 stages till we managed to identify the differences. Certainly focussing,but not without moments of fun as well.

He then took us back to our choral work, and we worked on putting physical actions to some of the group words. Difficult at first,but I feel we are showing promise.I am not really sure of anyone I have met in this situation yet,as it can take some time to put down roots.They are a motley band of diverse spirits. I instantly seem to like some;cethers I instantly feel I need to keep more distance from, till I see the true colour of their cloth. Elven women are very intuitive by nature. They can feel warmth very quickly for another soul, or be held back by something unclear but strong emanating across the personal divide.
Floretta was warmer to me,as we had worked together last week,and had rather proved ourselves to each other. Nimballa was full of fun,and seemed to be earnest to engage,but something behind her eyes told me that her interest in others was merely peripheral. Chipolitto was full of jests,and jaunty witticisms,but it was clear if he keeps this up,we will all tire of him before the solstice is out. Empalla from the colonies was more open and told me a little about her life, while faithful Jarvis Quaff,with the soft sad eyes and whitening quiff,was just as nice and easy to work with as last week. We seem to work well together. Some of the team were missing- Bidolphor Gentiano, and the youthful Calico Teasel with his cascading long dark locks and his nervous perusal of all his fellow workshop mates. He is hungry for success and fears friendship with any may mar his ruthless desire for it- I can tell. The next few weeks will be interesting as I strive to tease beyond their outer shells to reach the true spirits within. I wonder how my view of each will change. Remindur is ably managing our disparate approaches and needs.
We worked till the hour of four, when Remindur reminded us that we had done well, and could we learn the first few speeches. We will be involved in auditions very soon,so these first few workshops will allow us to find our acting feet,and show Remindur our capabilities.
I met Pendragon back at the "Plutos",where we had another acorn latte,and devoured an apricot and dewberry croissant.We left to climb the hill again,in more pouring rain. I was soaked through when our tram arrived,and sat on the backseat ,huddled with Pendragon to keep the chilly wetness out.
Back home,I had a hot bath,and reflected on the glories of the day. Pendragon made our evening repast while I finished some parchment business and washed my red fiery locks with sundew shampoo. It brings out the high tones and makes it shine in the light.
We dined in the Sun Room and watched the snails trying to look for shelter under the Wisteria. Just as well the Backyard Boys were there,to keep the slime patrol at bay.
Monday will bring some work in the morning and some household chores in the afternoon. A typically productive day in the fifth toadstool from the left. I do hope my tiresome sniffle is not going to become a fully fledged cold.
Much Love to you all, my sniffle free friends, stay away from draughty tram stops and violent precipitations. From the toadstool drama queen at number five Lobelia Drive,Amarantha Willow,the Rainbow Faery.

Thursday was so jam-packed with activity,I have been recovering my zest for life ever since. The whole day was an emotional roller coaster,from the afternoon assembly with the sprites of Dingley Dell,to the evening meal with my former staff. In between I retrieved my old scarlet jalopy from the Fixing Shed.I seriously grudged the amount of elven geld they took for repairing it,but those feelings were soon replaced by my sheer pleasure at being behind the wheel again.
I dressed carefully for the afternoon.The sprites had only ever seen me in some highly tailored outfit,and I did not want to wear any of them. I wanted to be smart,but fashionable,and wasn't sure my present wardrobe could cope with that.However I chose a matching pretty, navy, summer top and billowy skirt,and dressed them up with white gold necklet and ballerina pumps.The mirror said I looked rather elegant,so I settled for that picture,and headed for the hallowed halls of Dingley Dell Academy.
The older sprites conducted the assembly,and I duly carried out my presentations to those little ones who had won one of the awards,dedicated in the name of Amarantha Willow.My very own Achievement Awards. I feel so honoured that Dingley Dell wanted to set them up in my name.
Anyway the assembly went well and I got thousands of hugs,and waves from my wee charges before I left the building. A small tear did creep in ,as I climbed back into my four wheeled motor carriage .Not because of any regret for having left it behind, but just because the sprites did mean a great deal to me.I saw the evidence that they miss me and I miss them. But we all need to move on,and it will take time.

The evening dinner was held in a nearby country house. We were a very jolly party,and enjoyed a great evening of laughter,reminiscing, and eating copious quantities of gourmet food. I enjoyed meeting all my erstwhile colleagues again,and in truth they remain immensely warm towards me. We went through many critical times there over 27 years, and no matter the difficult momments,we held together and stayed strong.
I didn't get home till the stroke of midnight,and was too tired to even check whether Pendragon was still awake.Wally the cuckoo looked at me disapprovingly as he marked the hour,clearly indicating that no respectable elven type would be abroad at this ungodly hour. I quietly and meekly climbed the stairs,dropped my vestments somewhere on the way,and crawled in beside the lump that surely was the sleeping Pendragon. I lay awake for a while,listening to his rhythmic breathing,and reflecting on the day,before my eyelids closed and sleep took me to the land of dreams.Twenty seven years at my old academy did flash before me in sedate lumps,throughout the rest of the night, but untroubled by regret or any unpleasant recall.
On Friday the toadstool saw quite a bit of sunshine,but for the most part I was away,on my usual hunt for used parchment bargains. I came home with four bags full of interesting finds,and have had to spend most of Saturday sorting them out,and putting their details on my electronic box.
I was working in the Blue Room,when something large and lumpy came into view from my window. It was Weedy Primpole from number 6,climbing up a ladder all the way up to his toadstool roof. I could not resist having a peep to see what was going on. Weedy,white knotted hankie on his head,and khaki cut off hose on his legs,was climbing to the rooftiles to fix his digital aerial. Not an easy job I may say,but one that is certainly overdue. Theit picture box aerial has been hanging in their rowan tree for weeks. I have always presumed that it must have worked from there,or they would not have left it dangling in the wind. It does raise some questions as to what their reception has been like in the last few months if their aerial was not much more than a target for passing blackbirds.
Weedy was up high,while Severity down below,called out instructions to him as to where all the wires went. He was having difficulty picking up the information, and balancing the aerial in one hand, drill in the other, and a fist full of masonry screws in his mouth. Definitely an accident waiting to happen. He kept tipping over,threatening to launch the ladder and himself down onto the concrete beneath. The slight gale force wind in the background wasn't helping matters either.Eventually Severity became so anxious about the perilous situation,that she climbed up behind him and supported him with a swift push to the derrier,and grabbing him round the waist...... ........
Weedy clearly thought his luck had changed, as he wriggled and jiggled,and oohed and aahed, pausing to twist round in a very dangerous fashion to give Severity the Primpole version of a light grope. Severity,definitely didn't want him to think his luck was in,judging by the hefty slap to the head she gave him.He reeled for a minute,then got back to the job in hand.Well there they were,like two dandelions in the wind ,swaying for the next half hour. But the job got done,probably more by good luck than good judgment,and possibly a timely calming of the force four gale.They staggered down the ladder,hanging very unceremoniously on to each other,and disappeared back into toadstool number six. They haven't emerged since ,so I suppose their aerial is now bringing them renewed high definition images and quality sound.

Tomorrow I travel to Metropolis for my second rehearsal with the Theatricals. I am hoping that Remindur will be able to define further my possible role in this intrepid venture. I know we are to present it in several theatres,and possibly a Festival event or two.
Lots of sleep tonight,as I rise early. Got to look my best for an afternoon of soul searching, and playmaking.

Have a wonderful weekend of July frolicking,my trusty friends,even if the sun is little and you need to re-find your winter weeds. Be cosy, and bask in the love of your close ones.From Amarantha Willow,the Rainbow Faery.

Yesterday proved to be one of the more challenging days of the year so far. It seemed to be going well for the first waking hour ,so dressed to impress ,I jumped into my four wheeled motor carriage and headed for the clinic of Dr. Jubilation C. Scroat. The motor carriage holding area was packed, so I had to coast around the surrounding streets to find a large enough space. I was parking my vehicle when I noticed an unusual icon on the icon board. The image seemed to suggest temperature.I was just registering this when I felt a strange warm smell coming thrugh the ventilator. Not a burning smell,just some small sign of overheating. I felt panic rising so I switched off the engine,and sat thinking for a moment or two. Something wrong or nothing ? In truth I did not know.
I switched on again,and the same thing happened. I took the calmest decision I could muster.
I would attend my appointment with Dr. Scroat,then take my vehicle to the nearby motor fixing shed for the goblin mechanics there to assess the risk. These merry boys are the best mechanics in the world,and would not be fazed by a little warm engine.
Jubliation C. was in fine form when I reached his inner sanctum. We always manage to have a jolly appointment,not completely bogged down by tales of woe and ineffective medications. We had one or two minor items to discuss,and I waved him cheerio with a smile. I always feel better when I have seen Dr. Scroat. Unlike many modern alchemists, he actually remembers your elven name. He altered a few health giving preparations for me and I felt renewed.
Once back at the motor vehicle I headed off for the Puffalito Fixing Shed to get the boys to give my little wagon the once over. They looked at me quizzically as I related my tale of dashboard woe,asked for my keys, and told me they would return soon with an answer. They did,some one half hour later,looking tenser than I remembered them. I knew the news was unlikely to be jolly.

Puffalito Head Boy looked me straight in the eye and said "It's the Under Gasket on the engine.You need a new one. We will fix it by THURSDAY."

I stared back,disbelieving. "Undergasket ? THURSDAY? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE JOKING !"

I thought of all the things I would have to do before then,without my motor vehicle.
Sadly he was not joking. He looked sympathetically at me,but I knew I would just have to accept his judgment.I took the tram back home to my litle toadstool,and I cried.
I was still crying on and off when Pendragon came home.
He hugged me tight and wiped away my tears.

"Don't worry ," he said. " You know,Amarantha,I think it is time the old motor carriage took a rest. You need a new jalopy for your travels and numerous exploits in your new life. "
I knew Pendragon was right. Three visits to the Puffalito Fixing Shed this year already were three visits too many. But I would miss my old scarlet jalopy. She has been friend and travel companion for the past six years. But a nice new shiny one................. it did sound appealing..................my tearful peepers dried up a little at this suggestion.
So we are already making plans to view some likely candidates for Amarantha's new carriage before the weekend.
Tomorrow I visit my old stomping ground of Dingley Dell Academy to present two awards in my name ,to the children there. I am already looking out my best outfits to choose something smart and bright with which to mesmerise the wee folk. I shall have to take the Puffalito Minicab Service there as I won't collect my motor carriage till later. In the evening I am attending a dinner for the two teachers retiring from work at Dingley Dell.
I have bought them each a leaving gift with which to start their new lives.
It should be a jolly evening although both elven ladies will be missed.
I have a little time to spare before Pendragon arrives home ,so I intend to tie the unruly hollyhocks back in the backyard. I did some weeding this morning,watched the Backyard Boys at their labours,and planned some selective planting to complete the emptier pots. Everything is blooming and looks wonderful front and back. Neighbours have been stopping to admire our handiwork,but I don't think we can take all the credit. The glorious plantlife and all our garden helpers must also be praised.
The dahlias stand tall and ruddy,begonias white and pink fill the pots profusely, geraniums red and petunias pink reach for the sun. The glory of summer abounds in our toadstool gardens,and our toadstool,fifth from the left ,is full of light and colour. Despite the upset of yesterday,and the poorly nature of my motor carriage,days here are happy ones,and full of promise.

May all your motor carriages be healthy ones,and your visits to the fixing shed be few.A fine July evening to you all,my fine friends, from Amarantha Willow,the Rainbow Faery.