Oedipa is right about the garden; quintessentially English.
The village itself is almost a parody of English village life with a demographic, racial and social profile not dissimilar to a bad Agatha Christie novel.
Bath itself prides itself on its slightly "alternative" outlook and attitude. Its a small city, very beautiful and very wealthy and so can afford such attitudes.There are very few retail chains within the city, no hypermarkets and a myriad of specialty cheese, fish and meat shops, art galleries, antique dealers et al. Whilst the rest of the country obsesses about football..Bath ( pronounced Baaaaarth) barely has a team and instead follows rugby with a passion.
We now have the only working natural Spa in Britain; being Bath this dates back to the Roman times naturally. Its controversial in so much as all the "locals" like to moan about how much "they" have had to pay in their local taxes to have it renovated and how expensive it is. I went on its second day, after the reopening, and have to say it is fantastic if you like that kind of thing..which I do.
The village is just ( 400 meters) south of the city limits but its an important 400 meters. It means that we are not under the control of Bath City Council but have our own Parish Council; a body that is important in approving planning applications and setting the tone of the village. Previously headed by a retired admiral it is now controlled by two cliques; a group of those who were born and breed in the village and resent any influx of "newcomers" ( ie people who moved to the village within the past 10 years or so) and a group of Christians. I have never, and I have lived in many villages in the rural south west of england, come across a village where the influence of churchgoers is so marked. It doesn't help that, within the village, there is a little meeting hall for some Evangelicals as well.
At the moment we, in the pub, do well. I am posh enough to be accepted as the "right sort of chap" by those with authority and power and Anna, Damian and Tomas are polite and friendly enough to be well regarded despite their Polish origins. Not only does this bring financial benefit in terms of custom into the pub but it also means that my plans to rebuild the ladies bathrooms and landscape the gardens to include a pergola have, after a couple of discrete conversations, been given an informal approval and it has been suggested that I need not apply for planning permission. Legally, of course I have to apply for planning permission. This is a listed building and any changes to it require the permission of the government.
All of which is jolly nice but....the village can be slightly stultifying. There is a central government policy to build new houses all across the country. The residents and parish council are up in arms about this as this would mean a further " influx" of outsiders and would, possibly, lower the value of their houses. Houses that are spectacularly expensive; a tiny, terraced cottage with two bedrooms and no real garden is on the market at the moment at some $ 450,000. This is a house that, in more normal areas would be regarded as only fit for young couples just starting on the property ladder. The other two houses that are on the market at the moment cost over $ 1 million and $ 4 million respectively.
We do have a plan however. As tax paying residents of the village we have votes for the Parish Council elections. There is an electorate of probably 300 people of whom about 150 would actually vote come any election. The pub effectively has a block of 4 votes and, through various relationships can probably muster around another 15 votes guaranteed. 20 odd votes would certainly be enough to get someone elected to the council and so I am trying to persuade Ana, the Polish Bar manager, that, come the next election, she should stand. The whole idea of a 20 something Polish migrant worker being elected to the Parish Council in this village has me giggling hysterically. Everyone in the pub , with the important exception of Ana, thinks it a splendid idea.
And isnt that boring my friend? Why dont u write a brief post with the main idea? Is it coz u want to seem so ....british and posh?
Keep it simple and write abt sausages, just like King!
Posted by: Cris | August 24, 2006 at 02:49 PM
Limey, as some people say..."it's MY blog and I'll write about what I want". Heh.
I enjoyed the post. I also hope you can get the Poles not only elected, but devise a master plan to have them running Bath in five years.
Whatever happened to your plan to import a Mexican cook and serve enchiladas?
Sounds like Baaarth is the polar opposite of NYC. Don't know if I would survive there. Personally, I like a big melting pot, etc, etc.
Posted by: Oedipa | August 24, 2006 at 04:40 PM
You'd love Bath Oeds. they've just spent £80 squazillion on a new spa which opened 2 years late and had to be closed down after about a month because of safety issues. Quintessentially English!
Posted by: King Of The Hill | August 24, 2006 at 05:01 PM
£450,000 gets you a squat in Willesden btw Limey!
Posted by: King Of The Hill | August 24, 2006 at 05:04 PM
TY, Oedipa. Rest assured, I shall :)
But its lovely, King. Worth every penny of taxpayer's money so that I can enjoy subsidised steam rooms and roof top thermal pools....:D
Posted by: Stephen | August 24, 2006 at 05:13 PM
I'm planning a jaunt to the west country quite soon, and intend to sample the sensation of tax money oozing through my pores.
Posted by: King Of The Hill | August 24, 2006 at 06:00 PM
Oeds just has no sense of humour these days! You should really be a lawyer and protect the innocent!
Well congrats my british ones for the unfunctional Spa!
Posted by: Cris | August 24, 2006 at 06:39 PM
I hope your plan for the Poles comes to fruition!
Posted by: pea | August 24, 2006 at 06:52 PM
Was it Freud who said that jokes are half-truths? I forget...
Cris...it's just that it's often difficult for me to discern when you are just "joking around" as your word choices and the contexts you often comment on or in leave me quite baffled and more often than not struck by what seems to be a bitter or barbed tone instead. It's probably partly due a cultural or linguistic barrier.
If I misinterpret your remarks when you're "just kidding around", I apologise. And no, I'm not always in a joking mood. I work 12 hour days writing code when I'd rather be writing poems for one thing.
Still not sure what to say to your "lawyer for the innocent" remark. I'm guessing that is more directed at Stephen than at me.
One thing's for sure, if I did get a Law degree instead of my MFA, I'd make more money representing the "innocent" AND the guilty (often it's difficult to tell the difference between the two, wouldn't you agree?). Just joking of course...
Posted by: Oedipa | August 24, 2006 at 08:50 PM
Put the Poles in office. I will vote for her. Hell Yes!!
Posted by: Patrick | August 25, 2006 at 01:18 AM
Relax Oeds, you see how relaxed Stephen seems? He is not at all bothered abt my remarks, why would you dear? But you would definitely make a good lawyer! Dont take all so personal, we are not enemies, just ppl commenting on Village Life 100 when Baaarth becomes a metropola with a spa in it!
Im sorry if my agressiveness in my blog upset you Oeds. I just dont get why should you try to defend ppl you dont really know well and make scenarios that are not always concording with the reality... but i guess thats just you, too passionate in statements.
Cheers!
Posted by: Cris | August 25, 2006 at 05:30 AM
Yes Cris. Me being just too passionate in "my statements". Thank god I choose the path of poetry writing where I can just be really logical.
Or maybe I'll go and make a few posts about all of this on my blog.
Naw. Seems a bit over the top, come to thing about it. Even this response is pretty much pushing it I guess.
Posted by: Oedipa | August 25, 2006 at 07:09 AM
Its ok Oeds, you can state even the most passionate statements i dont really mind. I like you and enjoy your blog, your sofa, your new apt. and your gay friend Juan.
Posted by: Cris | August 25, 2006 at 02:19 PM
Come on, this is far too civilised. Sheesh. Where can you go for a decent catfight these days?
Posted by: King Of The Hill | August 25, 2006 at 06:07 PM
King i am coming to England so make sure u got that sausage functioning! I might even verbally abuse u if u wish!
Posted by: Cris | August 25, 2006 at 06:08 PM
Er...I'm washing my hair...
Posted by: King Of The Hill | August 26, 2006 at 02:44 PM