Dead Flies And Sherry Trifle

Geoff Le Pard, who entertains us so hugely with stories on his TanGental blog, would have us believe that he was once a lawyer. This cannot be true. No teenager could have had such a past profession. And Geoff is surely in his teens. Who else could so convincingly represent the mind of a nineteen-yer-old, as he does in ‘Dead Flies and Sherry Trifle’, which I finished reading yesterday?

Dead Flies...026We know that this writer is a master of dialogue, which he uses to great effect in this tale of intrigue, crooked dealings, bullying, and burgeoning sexual angst. It is funny too. I won’t reveal the story, but every time I read the name of the character ‘Nigel Sodding Parsons’ – almost always ‘Nigel Sodding…….’, I heard the voice of the hapless Harold Spittle, and could hardly stifle a giggle. Doesn’t that strike a chord with anyone who has experienced the pungent wit of adolescent relationships?

The setting is on the fringes of The New Forest, where Geoff grew up, and where I now live. The story, with its focus on interplay between the characters, and its rising tensions, could take place anywhere. The period, for those of us who lived through the UK’s scorching summer of 1976, is well described; the heat of the sun synchronising so well with that of Harry’s hormones.

Nice one, Geoff.

Amaryllis

Today, the amaryllis that Frances gave us for Christmas produced its final bloom;

Crocuses

whilst our crocuses are reaching their peak.

Billy

Helen brought her grandson, Billy, for a visit this afternoon. I made a print for him to take home to Stephanie and John, his Mum and Dad.

Shelley joined us later on.

After our guests had retuned to their homes, Jackie drove me,

Lymington River 1Lymington River 2

via the Lymington River mirror,

Hatchet Pond 1Hatchet Pond 2Hatchet Pond sunset 2Hatchet Pond sunset 3Hatchet Pond sunset 4Hatchet Pond sunset 5Hatchet Pond sunset 6

 to catch the sunset reflected on Hatchet Pond,

Sunset on heathland

and the flooded heath near Beaulieu.

This evening we dined on Thai prawn fishcakes followed by smoked haddock and Davidstowe cheddar cheese fishcakes, with ratatouille, carrots, green beans, and mashed potato. We both drank Louis de Camponac sauvignon blanc 2014.

38 comments

  2. Derrick, you are a star of the first brocade. Thank you so much for the fabulous review – I’ve half a mind to steal it for my synopsis! I am very grateful. PS the pictures of the river are wonderful!

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  4. Great review; I will check out the author’s blog.

    The reflections are definitely an improvement on the original – too bad it doesn’t happen when I look into the mirror but if it does, I’m in trouble.

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  7. Great review, Derrick.
    As for the photos, they’re all beautiful, particularly the sunset shots. That said, I must say, little Billy steals the show…oh, that face…how sweet!

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      1. Your blurb for Dead Flies and Sherry Trifle sounds interesting! I have a lot of my to read list, but I’ll keep it in mind to go and read those teaser chapters sometime…

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  10. How lovely that you reviewed his book–it sounds like great fun. Don’t know if I can get it here. Your photos are luscious. I actually though the light was winking at me from between the trees…stunning light on water series.

    Reply

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