About Muddleglum Manor and the inhabitants
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The Manor Hah... anyone want to buy a country retreat in New Zealand for a vast sum of money? |
The Inhabitants
Currently, one man, one women, two cats (and many well fed nesting sparrows and other birds)
Previously in addition, a son, a dog, two different cats, a budgie, many hens and several roosters.
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The Author |
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Melody and Jill |
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Giles the cat takes over the dog's spot. The other cat is Buffy. The names have nothing to do with an outrageous t.v. program .. (hah). Giles is very long, and can stand like a Meercat. He is clinging and timid , except towards his sister buffy, who is not amused by him at all. He wants food if it all possible and has grown huge with age. Not so much fat, as just immense. Buffy is smaller, black, and independent and is curiously, losing some hair with age. |
The Son and heir .. ... Aaron, is now away from home. Has honours degree, is expert computer programmer,
sometimes overseas ( mostly european destinations) as part of his latest job, quite social, and showing none of the
'hang ups' and weakness that his pathetic father does. But really, Aaron has no idea how impressed his father is with
his son's intelligence , programming ability, persistence, and willingness to face new things . He has more writing and
word skill than his father, though he feels he doesn't know what to do with it, and he has a more 'artistic' way of doing
such art as he has done. There is rather odd photo of him haunting his old work place on his web site .. which is
known as 'Roon's house' at the following link >> 
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Now, what should one say about the remaining inhabitants?
About Melody
From Dunedin area. ( South Island, New Zealand). An only child, brought up by Grandmother taking over from a
solo mother - in the days when solo mothers had no support and a tough time from a disapproving society. Seems to
find happiness in pursuing some interest like gardening and being involved socially in hobby groups. Has diverse
talents. Have you ever seen the 'tetris' game on a computer? She can play a true multilayer, 3d version of this very
well, that no one else could even bear to try. A talent for organizing. Has slowed down lately ... a result also of some
13+ years in a vet's office working under almost continuous pressure. In some years, handling work that commonly
needs two people. Some kindness from current employers means she can now work part time.
Interests include;- serious gardening, embroidery, spinning, soft toys, odd painting, wood turning, miniature
making, (walking dog) more gardening - including scented flowers and possibility of dealing in them, reading of course,
.. has a scientific bent in some ways , and talking with friends. Can stand my music, which helps. Currently (2007)
making a little extra money as an "Avon lady " . Do they have these agent/sellers overseas?
She was for perhaps 10 years caught up in a group in Wellington which was devoted, very seriously indeed, to the
pursuit of truth. Not many of your warm fuzzies there, or esoteric weirdness used as an excuse for indulgence .
Despite faults, this was perhaps the nearest to the real thing you will get. I guess that was because it compelled you
to look seriously ... to really face your own limits. It's effects tend to linger.
That's an outline, if she wants she can add here what she feels about everything .....oh. .. I guess not.
About the other possibly human inhabitant .. ... David er ..um .
Earliest memories are of wondering at what he saw about him. Same for the rest of his life. Learned to think
endlessly and to avoid dificulties rather than face them, - because if you wait long enough, most problems go away.
(but so do opportunities of course - and I suppose if you wait long enough every problem will go away in death? )
Was one of five children, simple country child. The valley where he was raised was beautiful, gentle and homely
at times but earthy and basic too. The nearby mountains sometimes seemed magical hazy blue 'otherworld'. Almost a
village style community. Some people and places appear in memory as "archetypal" - rich with associations and the
traditional golden perfection. Steam trains! ran close by. "A city " was a more a wonderful concept of far away,
exotic place than a reality. The nearest one seen occasionally.
Did much reading. Always a dreamer. (Father was a butcher before becoming a farmer with an interest in
amateur radio). Was remote from parents. A bit too self contained. Shared technological enthusiasm with brother.
Good at some physical activity. Discovered early (scientific) sci-fi. Education was limited in a rural part of the
islands of New Zealand, but he could well master a subject if it captured interest. Became christian for a while. Went
to a variety of colleges, but had no urge to go to university, thinking he would rather cruise through work life, and do
what he really wanted in 'spare time.'
Suspects he would have been happier as a some sort of science researcher ... or a writer. It is astonishing that it has
taken a lifetime to realise/ remember, that he likes the actual physical /mental act of writing. Doesn't matter whether
it's good or not, it is the flow of ideas and words that's ... well .. satisfying. Writing seems to help the brain to sort
ideas. Come to think of it, people should be able to work at many things.
Started a 20 year career as a cartographer ( they draw maps ) with the government, and enjoyed the the
discovery of a city very much. Found libraries, and a piano ... he apologises to the inhabitants of the hostel where
he stayed for a few years, for the hours of learning music. Later became involved with the same group of 'seekers
after truth' as mentioned above. Some fairly interesting ( and devastating ) experiences there. This was before 'new
age' and meditating became positively fashionable.
Interests are concentrated in certain fields. Like most, he really enjoys the warmth of being with a compatible
group of people, but has 'hang ups', and a fatal need for being alone. Usually a dreamer /thinker and becomes
obsessed easily. e.g. - when teenage, pop music of the gentler variety. Models, fiddly mechanical things, or some
D.I.Y. project of the sort New Zealand males are expected to handle. ( it is , or was, a cultural norm of this country
that the male likes to imagine he could knock up a nuclear reactor in the backyard in the weekend if he wanted to)
Music as a casual study. Studies of some official philosophy. Some branches of science. Played church organ, a
cello briefly. Mechanical inventions occasionally - a home modified car, electric motorcycle, several battery powered
radio controlled aircraft of unusual design. A little electronic theory and design. Likes walking. Or driving through
countryside. Or being at peace, with the sun shining in a window.
When his son was learning to program a computer he found it fascinating and fairly well mastered the art and
the internals of the particular computer. Decided computer stuff is not really complicated, it's all in having the right
'hands on' information. Decided it is the computer experts who come along and make 'sophisticated' systems that are
hopelessly over complicated.
Has some good bonsai trees that are getting old, one perhaps um.. 40 ? years. Once wrote a book for
private consumption which is currently being rewritten as a loose end to tidy up. Has struggled for years to make
decent synthesized musical sounds, - which is a little difficult on a limited budget. Some recent success though.
The artistic career was full time at start, then when Melody started work, he became a 'house- husband' and went part time. Economic vulnerability made him aware of the problems in society generally. Discovered that he is at odds with the views of most, and a misfit in society. Suspects many others might feel similarly if you questioned them hard enough. Went through a crisis which left him seeing little point in existing. Surprisingly, the brain stumbles across odd things to be interested in as he now drifts through life. It is as though the heart of the normal self has been removed, as if by a brain stroke, and the remants of the old material occasionally spark to life.
Latest excitements
Good grief .. In recent years the author has now reached the dizzying career heights of part time cleaner ! But at least
he finished a book he was re-writing for umm .. for .. well ... someone who might read it one day. Perhaps ... it has
had a rave review by one person anyway. Couldn't be put down by another .... Success!! (It has now been re-edited
for the umpteenth time but is basically done.)
His latest obsession is a digital camera ( fujifilm S3000 .... is it not amazing what printers can do these days?) and wanting a newer car. He has driven since 1990 a Suzuki Alto which has covered some 250,000 k with only the odd repair. A brilliant, economical machine , carries everything .. ahhh ... as long as you don't mind the road noise which NZ. rough sealed surfaces inflict on a light car. I think the noise is getting to him.
The matter of the car was, shortly after writing that, settled by fate. That is, a gearbox problem too expensive to
warrant repair - given the possible life left in car. The car was taken away to be converted to electric power
(excellent!) and a latest model Suzuki Alto acquired.
A much underated vehicle. It is quieter than many larger cars, and zippy.
He has recently become an Avon lady too ... well, a filler of ordering forms. Is there no end to his meteoric career rise !?
So much for that person.
David Lawrence. Nov. 2007 Link back to home ( index) page