With its back to the tidal River Nene, this was the South Brink Farm Shop on the A47 just to the west of Wisbech. In 1999 I'd been out on the Fens and on my way home I pulled in here."Do you mind if I take a photograph?" I asked politely. "You might as well" the proprietor said from his easy chair "Every other f----r does". I loved it. The handwritten signs shouting out like a market trader, the impromptu temporary feel to everything. Just look at that wheel-less Allinson Wholemeal Bread van sitting there. I had to buy big onions at £1.50 a stone, and think I said as a parting shot "As the French onion seller said as he sold his last onion: that's shallot". I can't be absolutely sure but I think he said "F--k off."
I drove by last April with the redoubtable Ron Combo, and noticed that it was not only closed but very substantially burnt to the ground. Anyway, if you'd like a signed A4 glossy print I'll knock one out (as they say) for twenty quid. Just drop me a line.
5 comments:
What a delightful story, and it made me wonder whether bing told to f--k off was a recurring theme in your lifetime here on Earth?
You know it is Carl. And worse. Much, much worse.
This is marvellous. It reminds me of the old corrugated iron sheds I remember seeing in the Vale of Evesham. Fruit was sold from them, and at the right point in the season plums or pears could be had at knock-down prices. One or two, neatened up mostly, remain. Most have fallen into desuetude and then fallen down. The language was rarely as ripe as the fruit, though, as far as I can remember.
It was always a feature of trips to Norfolk. Nice to see it again.
Phil: 'desuetude'. I like that.
Alan: Another 'Pastoral Peculiar' on the way to Norfolk, that also appears to have gone, is the payment hut shaped like a giant strawberry at a PYO site on the bypass around Dersingham. Fortunately I've got a photograph of that too.
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