I was out and about in the village at midday after sleeping a couple of hours after work. It was lunchbreak at the school and Trelawnyd was rife with the screaming voices of children at play.
The noise is like the sound of planes circling in their waiting pattern for Liverpool or Manchester or the hum of early morning traffic on the main road.
You only hear it when you think about it.
I was reminded by two villagers that it was Meirion E 's funeral at the village chapel on Thursday.
Meirion E and his nemesis Meirion H ruled our Flower Show during it's early years.
Both entered their home grown produce into the vegetable classes and both men were as quietly competitive as any two men could be without coming to blows over their monster marrows or longest runner beans.
Their rivalry was legendary.
Every year, and as nonchalant as Margo Channing stalking through the cocktail party in All About Eve. Both men would arrive after judging, silently calculating each others' wins and assessing each others exhibits .
One year Meirion E would win the overall winner's cup the following year Merion H would win.
It was a standing joke in the village for many, many years.
On Thursday I won't be the only representative from the Flower Show Committee to pay their respects at the funeral.
Part of me wants to take along one of the Show's special rosettes
The ones that say " Best In Show"
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This afternoon, I watched episode 5 of The Walking Dead . A true indulgence as I never watch tv during the day.
It was a quiet and rather hokey episode where the grieving Maggie (Lauren Cohen) and Sasha ( Sonequa Martin Green ) team up with the wily Jesus ( Tom Payne) to effectively overthrow Gregory (Hilltop's leader ) in order to set up a new home out of Alexandria.
I kind of enjoyed the play and dynamic between the the weak Gregory, and the new leader Maggie and her defacto lieutenants .
However it was all a bit neat to see adoptive daughter Enid turn up to complete the new "one big happy dysfunctional family"
Sasha and the big blue eyed Jesus!
I love people like that - these days I think they only exist in village shows.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who enters the local fair each year, I think the Best In Show rosette idea is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteMerion H must be in deep mourning. Who wants to lose one's fiercest competitor?
ReplyDeleteMy dear John, do stand by for Merion H to snuff it at Meirion E's funeral - not to be beaten and outdone at the last hurdle. What's a death among feuding marrows?
"Best in Show"? Grand idea. Bring two rosettes.
U
Meirion H died a couple of years ago...now end of an era me thinks
DeleteYes, John, no sooner had I pressed "send" my comment it occurred to me that the other one had "pre"deceased - already as it were, now all ready for continued and renewed combat - assuming that they'll meet each other again in heaven. Can you imagine their mutual delight? Each brandishing whatever has grown largest in their great garden in sky. Assuming St Peter to be a benign judge: "...And in first joined place are ..."
DeleteU
Bring the "Best In Show" Blue button. I think it is a lovely thought.
ReplyDeleteBut I think your Quiche battle with your village friend might just be the next contest.
cheers, parsnip
Do it John.
ReplyDeleteYes, sounds like the end of that era.
ReplyDeletePerhaps next time you take in a new animal you could call it Meirion after those two men. Better than depositing a marrow on the grave in place of a wreath.
ReplyDeleteI like that idea, Yorkshire Pudding :)
ReplyDeleteI like your idea too. I think that it would be a fitting tribute. A warm and wonderful memory.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad as the old stalwarts in a community are lost, one by one. You've written a sort of eulogy here, which is very nice, John.
ReplyDeleteThank you jenny
DeleteDamn. I was hoping for a photo of your arse with a rosette pinned to it.
ReplyDeleteYou are obsessed with my bumhole me thinks
DeleteIt's the same in our village John. We're losing the oldies, one after another. Sad.
ReplyDeleteI think others would have really enjoyed seeing that purple rosette
ReplyDeleteI think your 'Best in Show' rosette on the coffin would be very much appreciated!
ReplyDelete