Shall I tell you about some of the people of Fleams?

Shall I tell you about some of the people of Fleams?

This is Mr Fenwick Bentley



He is known as "Wick" in the village.  His cry of "I'm not completely goggles yet!" can be heard amongst the cries of the curlews on the moor.

His best friend, whom he has known since childhood, is "Drum" Campane.  Together they have many adventures.


This is Mrs Japonica Bentley

 
 



 

 

 

She is known as "Nica" in the village.  In Fleams, the best of all possible villages, she cultivates her own garden.  She knows her wort-cunning from her wart-charming, clever old thing.

Nica is a renowned yarb doctor and gossip-wife.  She is in touch with gossip-wives around the country, and correspondents with them, not necessarily secretly, but she doesn't talk of it.

 

 

This is their daughter, Miss Fennel Bentley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Known as "Fenny" to her friends, this quiet woman introduced Kate W. Aimson to the occult uses of Parma Violets (amongst other things).

 

 



Summer's Here and I'm off to Fleams

Hurrah! Hurrah! Summer's here and I'm off to Fleams.  I've got two bags of Wotsits, a bottle of water, lots of loo roll and a stout pair of walking boots.
Note - although I use loo roll in the field, I don't leave it there.  I wrap it in a plastic bag and bring it home in the front pocket of my rucksack.  I have read the leaflet "How to go when you're out" and always abide by it.
Now I'm sitting beside the gate that leads to Lamaload via Shining Tor.  I can see Sollers and ladies' smocks; swallows and butterflies.  It seems to me Button Sarah has passed by, very recently.  She loves gateposts and stiles.  Is that the tinkle of buttons I hear?  Somehow it's there in the hot air.
Talking of hot air, perhaps you have never heard of the things to which I refer.  Read on, and all will become clear.  Well, when I say clear, I mean clearer. I'm not that clear why there are two burst balloons and a ticket stub (credit card payment) from The Opera House in the pocket of my denim jacket.  I'm remembering Kathryn Tickell on tour, but why the remains of a red balloon and a blue balloon?
This is not clear, but I know I'm at home on my land because I can hear the curlews calling and the wind in the trees like water.