Wednesday 6 April 2011

The things whose name must not be spoken

I saw a friend of mine who runs a charity shop here in Bath last night, stepping out of the door wearing these and about to walk through town in them for a bet. I told her to watch out for Canadians wearing plaid shirts and carrying base-ball bats - she might get a few broken toes.

I'm off to the Isle of Portland in a minute. I'm going to select some stone for the next couple of projects. I'll take a camera just in case there's anything interesting to show you when I get back - which maybe tomorrow as we might spend the night in the area for a little holiday.

Portland is called an 'island', but it is connected to the Dorset coast by a thin road flanked on one side by the mighty Chesil Beach, and a Ministry of Defence naval base on the other. A German bird-watcher friend parked up near the base some years ago and began looking through his binoculars at the local wildlife. A few minutes later, Military Police arrived and arrested him. When he arrived at the interview room in the inside, they knew his name, address, date of birth and place of residence - all from the French number-plate on his old Renault 4. It took him about 4 hours to be released.

Interesting if confusing fact: If you say the word 'rabbits' in a pub on Portland (or anywhere else there) you will be taken outside and soundly beaten by the locals. It is virtually illegal to say the name of the creatures when on the island. I'm not sure why, and I'm not sure if they know either. I'll have to try to stop myself.

12 comments:

  1. Oh, go on! If anything so you have a story to come home with. Perhaps you could wear rabbit slippers ...
    Is Portland stone famous? I think I've heard of it before, maybe it is from your blog.

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  2. A mine of information this blog today Tom! Enjoy the trip and hope you find a lovely piece of stone.

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  3. Excuse me while I slip into a plaid shirt and find my baseball bat. All right then, bring on those slippers.

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  4. I'll keep that in mind about the 'r' word.

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  5. My lips are 'sealed'.(as opposed to feet)

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  6. You couldn't wear those slippers for anything else but a bet! When you mentioned you might be off to the Isle of Portland a while back, I looked it up on the internet. I remember 'Portland Bill' being mentioned on the shipping forecast. It looks fantastic there, especially with this sunshine. Have a great trip!

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  7. Those slippers are right up there with people who come down to a buffet breakfast at a hotel in their pajamas. You must find out about the rabbit word issue but not the hard way please.

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  8. slippers in the street....

    how very ASDA!(WALLMART FOR YOU AMERICANS)

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  9. You couldn't wear them out clubbing could you?

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  10. I hope you had a nice trip and found the perfect stones. I love those slippers and now I'm curious as to what bet your friend lost?! And thanks so much, now if I go to that place I will probably say rabbits and get my rear end kicked!

    Kat :)

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  11. All your comments were good thanks, and I will do a little post on the trip tomorrow. I think the prize has to go to Joe Bloggs for his (old but always acceptable) 'clubbing' joke.

    Meanwhile, I am going to post a little light entertainment which will come down tomorrow in place of higher-brow stuff.

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  12. Do we still have the gruesome seal hunt....yes we do....I'm ashamed.....

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