Friday 21 October 2011

Vandals 0, good fairies 1

When I first moved here, this sad, broken fragment of an old water fountain sat over the brook.



I was told that it had been vandalised last year. When I expressed incredulity (vandals? in our sleepy backwater? our sleepy backwater where nothing escapes the attention of the locals?) I was told with a sigh that yes, vandally things had happened last year. Details were sketchy. As ever, I was careful not to mention that "where I used to live, yadda yadda yadda, vandalism? Tell me about it!" I didn't wish to give the impression that I hailed from Sodom and Gomorrah, UK.

And then early one morning recently, I noticed this:


The water fountain fairies had been in the night.

And no one could understand how this had happened.

Until the other day, when one neighbour gave me the altogether more prosaic version of events. Vandals had not been to blame. Mrs X, whose wall supports the old fountain, had been instructed by the council to remove it, as it was in a dangerous state (although dangerous to what or whom remains unspecified, the brook not being an area where anyone hangs around in 3-inch-deep water waiting for lumps of masonry to fall on their heads).

Mrs X obeyed. The less securely-fastened pieces were removed and stored until a few of the handier husbands or sons got together and repaired, cleaned and reinstalled it. Mrs X had clearly taken its maxim very seriously.

Waste not, want not.


There now, the real story. You heard it from me first.

Don't tell me that nothing exciting happens round here.

15 comments:

John said...

Riveting! With those images, does that count as a pun?

Pearl said...

:-)

Waste not, want not indeed.

I would love that wall/fountain in my neighborhood.

Pearl

June said...

Oh, I'm glad it wasn't vandals. And I'm glad the fountain is whole again!

Maggie Christie said...

What a brilliant tale, made all the better by the words on the fountain. Why is it that so often council = vandals (or am I just cynical?)

Anonymous said...

You know, I think destruction in the countryside or in smaller backwaters seems almost worse than in cities. So glad that this was a tale of reconstruction instead.

Arthur Ransome said...

Very interesting. The fountain is in such on odd position - has the brook (that I would call a burn) been diverted? I take it that it's a drinking fountain, so how is one meant to reach it?

Gwen Buchanan said...

Oh how delightful to have a fountain coming from an old stone wall and all repaired too... Can you still drink from it..

Noelle the dreamer said...

Rachel,

You have me in stitches again! Vandals 0, Faeries 1!!!
I love this story and thank you for sharing as always!
I can't wait for the next segment!
Blessings,

Anonymous said...

So glad it wasn't vandals - what would the world be coming to if you had vandals?! Malcolm is sitting beside me whistling for full time, as Newcastle are a goal up!!

Anonymous said...

I'm glad that vandals were not to blame. It looks good now.

Mari Garcia said...

I wonder if people slip into the creek? but I still would love to live somewhere where there is a beautiful fountain for everybody to share :)

flwrjane said...

Totally off topic....thank you for your no nonsense support.

xo jane

Planet Penny said...

What a nice story, and for once no vandals!

love those cupcakes said...

Good result. Like the Boro's yesterday.

jabblog said...

How nice to live where relatively minor events receive such attention:-)

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