What Are You Doing Now?

[burlingtonbertram]

Enid Blyton sometimes describes gypsies as dirty, thieving and up to no good (e.g. in the Six Cousins books and some of the Find-Outers titles) but in other books she presents them and their lifestyle as appealing. The Famous Five find patrins intriguing (Five Go to Mystery Moor), and Zacky (Zachary Boswell) in Enid Blyton's Animal Lover's Book is a kind man who shows Richard and Susan his clean, bright waggon on which he has carved all kinds of animals,and who shares his knowledge of wildlife with the children. He says in the chapter 'Tod the Fox', "I'm no hunter. I've been hunted away too often myself as a boy, because I'm a gipsy - and many folks can't abide gypsies. I've a feeling for the hunted, and I can't give them away." Once again patrins are mentioned, and Enid Blyton even introduces a few gipsy words such as "yokmush" for "policeman" and "disilo", which means "day comes". In the final chapter, Susan remarks that one thing they've learnt from Zacky is "to make friends with everything we can." She adds, "That ought to be Zacky's motto. He should carve it all round his waggon: I MAKE FRIENDS."

I'd say that I'm drawn to the traditional gypsy way of life partly because of Enid Blyton books.

It can't be easy to maintain that way of life now. The jobbing farm labourers aren't often needed on modern, mechanised farms. There aren't many places they are allowed or welcome to camp. Around here they often make the mistake of camping on a playing field or some other public space which doesn't endear them to the residents. Alternatively, there is a facility owned by the council that they can camp on. It is on their traditional Woldgate route but it is an ugly site, all tarmac, and opposite the council refuse tip.

[Katharine]

I'm still in a state of disbelief at something I witness about an hour ago. I was in a local shop, and saw a 7 year old, lying on the floor, holding on to his mother's leg and throwing a tantrum, I think because he wanted a certain food product. His 11 year old sister was 'kicking' him. Admittedly it was more a case of her aiming her toe at him, rather than a proper kicking, but I was still shocked at the behaviour of both of them. It was like a scene from an Enid Blyton story, but sadly I doubt there was a fairy handy to turn the girl into a donkey, and for the boy to receive some other kind of experience to curb him of his behaviour.

[Anita Bensoussane]

It must be very hard to live a traditional gypsy lifestyle these days as you say, BurlingtonBertram, as there are many restrictions on the use of common ground. And even those who do need casual labourers may be wary of employing anyone who doesn't have a fixed address.

[Chrissie777]

Plenty round here. I saw all their skewbald horses tethered along the ridge of Woldgate when I was out cycling this morning.

There don't seem to be any gypsies over here in the US, but as a child in Germany I saw them sometimes. Way back then I was dreaming of living in such a horse-drawn moving wagon (sorry, don't know the proper term for their movable homes).

[Anita Bensoussane]

The traditional term is "vardo", but you also hear "waggon" and "caravan" being used.

[Chrissie777]

Thank you, Anita.

[Francis]

Katharine wrote

I'm still in a state of disbelief at something I witness about an hour ago. I was in a local shop, and saw a 7 year old, lying on the floor, holding on to his mother's leg and throwing a tantrum, I think because he wanted a certain food product. His 11 year old sister was 'kicking' him. Admittedly it was more a case of her aiming her toe at him, rather than a proper kicking, but I was still shocked at the behaviour of both of them. It was like a scene from an Enid Blyton story, but sadly I doubt there was a fairy handy to turn the girl into a donkey, and for the boy to receive some other kind of experience to curb him of his behaviour.

Sounds like Phillip and Dinah! Seriously I could never imagine my sister and I behaving like that when we were young - we wouldn't have dared.

[Daisy]

It's the sort of behaviour you might see in public from children of 2 or 3, but that beggars belief!

[Jack400]

Preparing a route to Lincolnshire.. It all depends on London traffic.
Whoops
Jack

[Poppy]

I'm still in a state of disbelief at something I witness about an hour ago...

It reminds me of when I took my sister to a park earlier today and there was a group of children there (ages ranging from roughly four to ten). There was one young boy swearing and shouting to his friends: another, playing extremely loud music on his mobile phone, and another wading, waist deep in the beck!

[Francis]

I suspect that children who grew up reading the Famous Five books were rather better behaved than
the average.

[burlingtonbertram]

I am doing nothing now and nothing for the rest of the day.

I went out at eight for a cycle; I try and do an hour a day, summer and autumn. It was nice and sunny but with a stiff, sea-breeze. I cycled out of town, and along Sewerby Road - with a lovely sea view looking out onto Bridlington bay. I'm not keen on Bridlington town centre but that side of the town, from that aspect, looks really nice. All 1920's and 1930's middle-class town houses and villas, many painted white. The farmers up at Sewerby have already harvested their wheat fields and there are plastic covered hay-bales in the fields. Up past the gatehouse to Sewerby Hall, and past the grounds; the hundred shades of green of the English countryside to be found in the hedgerows. I go up to the edge of Danes Dyke - a four kilometre long bank and ditch (possibly Iron Age, possibly from the Dark Ages) and now a nature trail. Then, I did the return journey, and went out the other way, taking the road out of Bridlington up to the big hill before Boynton village. More wheat-fields and various other crops. There is usually a big sunflower field but it seems to have been left fallow this year.

After a bath it was off for a haircut and then up to Church to help with clearing out about thirty years of accumulated junk. Home at three and another bath. Now, like I said, I am doing nothing at all until tomorrow because I am shattered.

[Poppy]

I went out at eight for a cycle; I try and do an hour a day, summer and autumn

We have got 'into' cycling and we are going on our bikes everywhere! We are planning a nice 'Famous Five inspired' ride tomorrow with a picnic, perhaps going to the river or a park about 40 mins away. Should be fun! We do like rides in the countryside, though - especially up near the farms where there is always something interesting to see.

[Francis]

Just got in from clearing out the shed - got into all those nooks and crannies that are best
left alone unless you like large spiders and large slugs (over 40 of them.). Sometimes nature in the
raw is not so pleasant!

[Eddie Muir]

Chick and I cleared out our shed yesterday too, Francis and we were surprised at the number of spiders, slugs and creepy crawlies that we found in the nooks and crannies. Agreed - not pleasant!