"She’d thought then that if she could paint like that, she didn’t mind learning a few rules, and she’d leave Surbiton with its stupid shops and stupid people and her dad going on about how Maggie had a firm hand on everything and go and live somewhere else where she could paint pictures of the Pope screaming all day." What a great sentence. It contains worlds and evokes the early 80s in England so beautifully.
I spent a year listening to early 80’s pop, watching tv of the time, anything to get me back there, all of my own memories leaping up to be heard. What a time it was.
Starting to really feel Bridget’s pulse, love how she found herself in The Scream.
And the details you offer are so fun Eleanor, this one made me pause and laugh out loud. “Miss Jenkins came in looking flustered and pink in the nose as usual, her thin wispy hair waving like the plants in the slightest breeze, even her breath would do it.”😉
You have me rooting for Bridget as a quintessential adolescent rebel in her first stages of rebellion. Loved the line about the crumpled flyer as the poor relation, both for the its descriptive powers and the way Bridget catches herself thinking as her mother thinks.
And you're teaching me "British" Creche. Until I looked it up, I was wondering why men were necessary at a protest to work the scene of Baby Jesus being born.
Ha! Yes, I’ve made the decision all the way through to use the right words without explanation, and hope non-British readers will look things up if they don’t know what I’m talking about.
Thankfully nobody ever asked me to run a creche, I was much too irresponsible for any such duty back then. Hanging around and smoking rollies, that was my function, and I did my bit unstintingly.
Maggie Maggie Maggie OUT OUT OUT
[Which suddenly makes me think about how there was a complete lack of all this second-wave feminism where we might be acclaiming Ms Thatch for her marvellous achievement in making it to the top in a man's world. Somehow the urgency of survival in a knife-edge nuclear world made that seem very irrelevant.]
"She’d thought then that if she could paint like that, she didn’t mind learning a few rules, and she’d leave Surbiton with its stupid shops and stupid people and her dad going on about how Maggie had a firm hand on everything and go and live somewhere else where she could paint pictures of the Pope screaming all day." What a great sentence. It contains worlds and evokes the early 80s in England so beautifully.
I spent a year listening to early 80’s pop, watching tv of the time, anything to get me back there, all of my own memories leaping up to be heard. What a time it was.
I am that girl - I adore my art teacher ... Marvellous writing
I had an art teacher like Miss Jenkins in high school. Had no idea how lucky I was. Solidarity!
Me too!
Bacon was an inspiration in one of mine...
Also, can never think of Bacon without remembering this https://thehabit.co/knowledge-is-power-france-is-bacon/
Cute - made all the more confusing by the two F. Bacons ;)
When I don’t know what to do I go and stare at his work.
Bridget! And I already adore Miss Jenkins. Can’t wait for the next installation. :)
I adore Miss Jenkins ❤️
God this is so brilliant, I am so fucking glad you're writing this ❤️
🙌
You go Brigit! And Miss Jenkins will be a valuable ally.
Your reading is also really engaging
Starting to really feel Bridget’s pulse, love how she found herself in The Scream.
And the details you offer are so fun Eleanor, this one made me pause and laugh out loud. “Miss Jenkins came in looking flustered and pink in the nose as usual, her thin wispy hair waving like the plants in the slightest breeze, even her breath would do it.”😉
I love Miss Jenkins. You will see …
The energy of each installment!
Bridget takes charge, as only a child and central character, at least here, can do.
So happy to be reading your prose in serial again ♥️
Thanks, Willow 😊
Oh love the photo!
Eleanor,
You have me rooting for Bridget as a quintessential adolescent rebel in her first stages of rebellion. Loved the line about the crumpled flyer as the poor relation, both for the its descriptive powers and the way Bridget catches herself thinking as her mother thinks.
And you're teaching me "British" Creche. Until I looked it up, I was wondering why men were necessary at a protest to work the scene of Baby Jesus being born.
Ha! Yes, I’ve made the decision all the way through to use the right words without explanation, and hope non-British readers will look things up if they don’t know what I’m talking about.
Did you ever see this 30 second commercial?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OQWFZZE-DY
I didn’t, but have now! yes, revert to me for translations when necessary…
Thankfully nobody ever asked me to run a creche, I was much too irresponsible for any such duty back then. Hanging around and smoking rollies, that was my function, and I did my bit unstintingly.
Maggie Maggie Maggie OUT OUT OUT
[Which suddenly makes me think about how there was a complete lack of all this second-wave feminism where we might be acclaiming Ms Thatch for her marvellous achievement in making it to the top in a man's world. Somehow the urgency of survival in a knife-edge nuclear world made that seem very irrelevant.]
So much to say about this, but it will have to wait until the end. Maggie Maggie Maggie OUT OUT OUT
I'll be waiting patiently just as I wait for more episodes of this intriguing story Eleanor.
Really compelling!