A CUCKOO IN CANDLE LANE by KITTY NEALE

 A CUCKOO IN CANDLE LANE

by

KITTY NEALE

THE BLURB:

She stepped into the narrow hall, eyes clouding when she saw her dad's coat hanging on the rack. Sick with disappointment, she crept upstairs to her room, clambered into bed, and curled into a tight ball under the thin blankets...

In 1953 Elsie and Bert Jones move to Candle Lane full of hope for the future. Although Elsie desperately misses their comfortable house in Wimbledon, she is determined to make a success of her new life.

They are a warm-hearted family, and Elsie soon makes friends with her less fortunate neighbour Ruth and her daughter Sally. But before long Elsie realises that all is not well in the house next door...

THE REALITY:

Another south-London-based book, when it didn't seem so long ago that I'd just read one. I'm from north of the Thames, so am a bit unfamiliar with life there; although I have ventured to those parts before (crikey, I'm making it sound like it's the other side of the world!) In fact, the other side of the world does feature, when Arthur (spoiler alert!) briefly emigrates to Australia but returns home when he suspects he's the father of Sally's baby...

Enough of the skipping ahead and, seeing where the book was going, I did kind of do that with a flick through, so settled down to finish the novel properly. I do like the way history (the Queen's coronation) and social history (the advent of post-war council housing) intertwines with this book, but then it wouldn't make sense for it to be written any other way. I do like the way community really mattered in those days, and it is something that's been sadly lost. I also liked the way there were lots of jobs available in those days- oh, to have that abundance of opportunity now!  Nowadays unemployment and underemployment are a massive problem, and this country is in a mess.  

Serious issues were tackled throughout this novel- from child abuse to wife beating, homosexuality and teenage pregnancy- and I did enjoy reading about the various characters, who were a well-rounded and engaging bunch. I also picked up on the love, and conflicting emotions, as some characters behaved in a way outside of society's dictates. What John and Lottie were up to was quite obvious, and at times I wanted to kick Sally- our leading lady- for her lack of realisation. I also wanted to kick her for not being open with Arthur at any time, when if she had, she might have found happiness earlier. Mind you, if she had, then there wouldn't have been as much of a story! The older characters of kind shopkeeper Sid and seen-it-all granny Sadie were probably the most warming. My parents would have sprang from that generation, but they did come across as more stiff-upper-lip and censurious, and less generous of heart towards others and their faults, so this book did touch a raw nerve.

For me, the best parts of the story were regarding Sally's psychic gift, and how she saw the world through her feelings and peoples auras. I'm glad she split up with (spoiler alert!) hypocrite John and found her happy ending in the shape of her Arthur. Heavens, given the descriptions of him, I quite fancied him myself! I love the way she called her “angel” baby Angela- I've used that exact reference in my novel, The Reject's Club, myself. This Kitty Neale offering is worth a go; the go and read my novel once you're done!

SPITALFIELDS CITY FARM YOUTUBE VLOG LIVE...

 My Spitalfields City Farm YouTube vlog is now live!

Link:-

https://youtu.be/bjXq9CWEyts

Spitalfields City Farm is free to enter (although donations are always welcome) and easily accessible via public transport (always important as I don't drive.)

The farm dates back to 1978, when it was created in response to locals mouring the loss of their allotments, due to building developments in the area.  They have a little shop selling produce grown on the farm, plus handcrafted gifts and some inviting-looking chilli sauce.  Many items are produced locally- there is a real community feel about this place.

Come and take a walk in my shoes and I'll show you a lovely, friendly pig who, according to the farm's website, is called Holmes.  Named after Sherlock, perhaps?  I will also show you a one-eared ewe called Beatrix, and a one-eyed duck called Jemima.  There is Derek the donkey, who apparently is an accomplished artist who likes to paint, holding the brush between his teeth!   The farm has an annual Goat Race, where two competing goats, (one representing Oxford and one representing Cambridge) have a race to coincide with the boat race.  I kid you not!!!!😉  Seriously, I could not make this stuff up!

As you know, I will always be a writer before anything else, and my Spitalfields City Farm blog contains more info, link:- 

https://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2024/11/miss-elaineous-visits-spitalfields-city.html

Remember to like and subscribe, and don't forget to follow my blog as well!

TTFN

The Miss Elaineous

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THE MAGIC COTTAGE by JAMES HERBERT

 THE MAGIC COTTAGE

by

JAMES HERBERT

THE BLURB:

We thought we'd found our haven, a cottage deep in the heart of the forest. Quaint charming, maybe a little run-down, but so peaceful.

The animals and birds couldn't have been more neighbourly. That was the first part of the Magic. Midge's painting and my music soared to new heights of creativity. That was another part of the Magic. But the cottage had an alternative side.

The Bad Magic.

What happened to us there was horrendous beyond belief. The miracles, the healings, the crazy sect who wanted our home for themselves, the hideous creatures that crawled from the nether regions, and the bats- oh God, the bats! Even now those terrible things seem impossible to me.

Yet they happened...

THE REALITY:

Compelling and dramatic blurb on the back of a book I'm reading for the third time around! The first time would have been in the late 1980s, when the story was serialised in my mother's Woman magazine, and the accompanying sketch of the enchanted cottage was just beautiful- I think it was the same as this one, which is by illustrator Julie Williams:-

I also love this illustration, which is in the flyleaf of the book:-

But (and this has happened before with me) I remember both as appearing transposed, with the round part and the steps to the right. Hmmm. That's just my mad head! The second reading was in the early 2000s when I re-read the book, and that time I was inspired, I think, after watching a TV programme with a roundhouse in it. This time I insisted on having a copy which featured the cottage illustration on the front (my previous book didn't) as this one is intended to be a bookcase stayer.

Enough of the history! Back to the story and this has artistic and relatable main characters; he a musician, she an illustrator- and brilliant add-on people such as down-to-earth, plain-speaking-yet-humerous musician Bob, and equally as straightforward butch lesbian Val. Mycroft was suitable creepy, Kinsella suitably fake and Sixsmythe- whose old-worlde name kind of relates to the quaint village atmosphere stressed throughout the novel- the epitome of a vicar. The links with magic (always an interest of mine) kept me compelled, as did the detailing of this lovely little cottage itself, and the way the good magic began to evolve in terms of strengthening Midge and Mike's relationship; and nurturing the local wildlife. It wasn't spelled out, but I guessed that our successful main couple were in their thirties, and quite modern (for the 1980s) in that they were just co-habiting and didn't seem to plan on getting married, despite their true love for one another. With mentions of crackly phone lines (there was no internet or mobile phones!), this is very much a novel of its time.

The bad magic was interesting, but maybe (and this is only a maybe) a tad too drawn out- some of the later chapters, where the couple visited Mycroft and he came to wreck havoc within the cottage could perhaps have been condensed (although I did like Mycroft's weird pyramid room...) I loved the twist in the tale when deceased Flora Chaldean, who owned the cottage before Mike and Midge, puts in an appearance and tells Mike (spoiler alert!) that it's he who has the magical powers rather than Midge, and I especially adored tame squirrel Rumbo and am (another spoiler alert) so glad that he returned back to life after being attacked by the bats (incidentally, I didn't find the bats initially scary in the same way that Mike did). I enjoyed the way drug use was explored, and certainly thought the way Midge's parents died was tackled with balance; although there was a purposeful amount of too-much-information that bordered on gore; but then I believe that that's this authors style, and indeed, this book is considered tame for James Herbert.

This is one atmospheric novel, very much worth a read and yes, I would certainly love to live in a cottage like this; only maybe one less remote and in a more urban setting.

MISS ELAINEOUS VISITS STEPNEY CITY FARM...

I just had to complete the East London troika and visit Stepney City Farm; following my visits to nearby Spitalfields City Farm, blog link here:-

https://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2024/11/miss-elaineous-visits-spitalfields-city.html

...And Hackney City Farm, blog link here:-

https://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2018/12/miss-elaineous-visits-hackney-city-farm.html

Hackney City Farm vlog link here:-

https://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2024/07/youtube-hackney-city-farm-vlog-live.html

Back to Stepney City Farm, and it was created in 1979 by local East End residents.  It sits on a site which was occupied by Stepney Congregational Church, which was bombed in 1941 during World War II.  It used to be called Stepping Stones Farm.

Here's the colourful sign on the road as you approach this community farm.  You can see a building facade behind the sign, and the remains of Worcester House, the old Sunday school and the Stepney meeing house can be seen onsite.

The East End of London suffered a serious pasting during WWII, and Worcester House dates from between 1450-1550.  It was once know as "King John's Manor," although locals called it "King John's Palace." 

Here's a farm map, and a warning...

Goats, and the farm supplements its income by breeding animals to be sold for their meat, with goat meat being the most commonly consumed meat in the world.

The goats were doing their own thing and didn't seem to want to interact with me!  The females breed with goats from nearby city farms once a year.

The farm is committed to ethical farming standards regarding the sale of its meat and eggs.

A polytunnel is a modern version of a greenhouse.  As well as being used by their onsite café, fruit, vegetables and flowers grown here supply top London restaurants.

The farm also sells its produce onsite, and offers advice and encouragement for those wanting to grow their own plants.

The rustic lake to the back of the garden warns of deep water...

Ducks having a spash around- look closely and you can make out two in the paddling pool.

This farm does not raise ducks for their meat, although it does sometimes sell their eggs.

Sheep, and this is the only city farm I've been to (that I'm aware of- feel free to correct me) that sells its livestock for its meat.  It is very open with promoting that and- lets be honest- everyone needs to know how their food gets to be on their plate.

A closer view, and there are three breeds of sheep here at the farm...

The are rare and hardy Soay sheep; Ryland sheep, which are shaggy and need shearing once a year; and Manx Loaghtans.  Some of the latter can have four or six horns, and even the females usually have horns!

The farm is committed to the protection and preservation of heritage breeds...

This is a working farm; very rustic, and warnings abound!

This boar is a Berkshire pig, and he's called Mars.  A Berkshire is the oldest recorded pedigree pig breed in Britain.

He was alone in his sty and didn't want to pose for a photo.  He jusy showed me his curly-tailed bum instead!

The pigeons took an interest in the poultry section.  Maybe they were trying to scrounge some feed?

The chickens are only used for their eggs- none of them is in danger of going into the cooking pot!

They were certainly socialble, and came right up to the fence...

The chickens are a mixed flock...

That looks like Burt to the right of the photo, and he's a Derbyshire Redcap.  I used to believe that hens needed a cock to lay eggs, but they don't.  They do, of course need a rooster to produce chicks!

Local schools incubate and hatch chicks for the farm every Spring...

There are two rare breeds included in the flock, and the building of the farm's Poultry Paradise is a work in progress.

A Farmers' Market is held here every Saturday, selling fresh London/ home counties produce.

These are rare Buff Orpington ducks...

They are frequently referred to as "pond ornaments!"  They are a friendly breed, and these two were certainly inquisitive enough to come and say hello to me.

Ducks and drakes pottering around by their pond...

Another deep-yet-scenic lake.  The farm is a charity and various spaces can be hired for parties, corporate and learning events and for film/ photographic shoots.

There are 64 allotments on the farm, and these can only be accessed by their holders.  There's apparently a 23 year waiting list for an allotment!

Directional signs and a warning that pigs can bite!

The sow is called Plum...

...She has a litter of 8-12 piglets every summer.  Some are used for meat; some are passed on to other farms.

I just loved the way the piglets all followed their mummy in an orderly line!

💓

One cutie enjoying the mud!  We all know where they end up, though.

A lovely, fun pig sign and peaceful donkeys grazing...

The donkeys are called George and Dunstan, after nearby churches.

They are the oldest animals on the farm, have taken part in nativity and Palm Sunday events and George has even been the ring bearer for an engagement proposal!

😁

These are rare Brecon Buff Geese, and have a friendly temperament (geese can often be cantankerous!)

I took this during my second wander around the farm, when they had their heads under their wings and were resting.

I suppose it's their polite way of telling me to bugger off!

There was another sheep in this paddock when I gawped in from through the railings, but this one was now all alone.

I like the way my camera picked up the glint in its eye!

Rabbits in their hutch, and this place is certainly worth an hour of your time.

The rabbits were happy to pose for me!

Apparently, they also house guinea pigs and ferrets, but I didn't see any on this occasion.

Wandering through the stables...

Behind the tables you can see the Classroom and the Garden Deck.  The Farm Café is currently closed while they search for a new operator but, until one is found, there is a is a pop-up Cabin Café at weekends. 

The farm is home to four cats, but I only saw three...

Another moggy, and apart from the ferrets, the cats are the only carniverous animals on the farm.

This black cat crossed my path, so I hope it brings me some luck!

This joyful artwork is a map of the farm, and it appears to be made from plastic lids!

💙💚💛💜

The farm has three resident artists who sell their work on the farm.  They produce woodworkings, pottery and contemporary mixed media landscapes, and also hold classes and workshops.

This was a nice day as I used to work not far from this area, so it was a real nostalgia trip.  I also got to venture down to Watney Market in Commercial Road, and I'm so glad to say that it's still thriving in these difficult, uncertain times.

Stepney City farm, I will return. 

Until then,

TTFN

(Ta ta for now)

Miss Elaineous

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