Crofters, Cottagers and Signs of Things to Come

[steepholm]

As I walked through Stokes Croft today, I saw a wonderful composition. In one corner of this alcove (currently with very different graffiti) lay two tramps, one on top of the other, kissing with tender vigour, while in the other corner sat a huge Alsatian dog, presumably belonging to one of them, staring patiently at the mystery with gentle brown eyes that saw and understood all. It was lovely and touching to see, and I longed to photograph the scene, but delicacy and prudence both forbade it.

Instead I made do with this perplexing sign, which stands a few yards further south at the edge of the Croft, looking towards some unlovely flats and the start of the city centre proper:



The sign has been there for some weeks, and certainly looks quite official with its council logo - but the claims it makes veer between the impossible and the highly unlikely. Is this aspiration? Satire? Art? Where is Marcel Duchamp when you need him?

And who won Britain in Bloom in 2014?

Comments

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

...huh. Rogue or else very inaccurate time travellers?

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

It has to be a fake, but by 'eck it's a good'un :o)

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

It is, isn't it? That's probably why it hasn't been taken down yet. :)

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I'm amazed that the Council hasn't done anything about it: it's been there at least a month. When the sign pointing to Wells suddenly acquired a convincing addition informing us of the distance to Timbuktu, it disappeared pretty sharpish.

[lilliburlero.livejournal.com]

The world of civic floral competitions is a very strange one. I wouldn't rule out time travel. Clonakilty won the Entente Florale in 2000 and 2009...which is nearly as unlikely
I know this because of Dave Lordan's poem below, in impeccable Corkonese.

Ode on winning of de Entente Florale

For Joseph Lordan

Told ye so. Told ye we could win it
‘Spite de filth o' de likes o' ye
With yere baseball caps and yere baggy pants
Yere ghetto blasters and yere nigger music
Yere flagons and yere Mitsoobeachies
And de trainee hoors hanging offa ye.

Rollin in muck ye are, de flays ating ye.
Manged an’ stinkin like tinkers’ mares
like yere faaders and mudders before ye
but I’d say yere not too sure who bore ye
Shir who pished you out Twishty? De milkman?
De coalman? One o' Fossetts’ weepin clowns?

This here’s ‘come a champion little town
All down to good people like me.
We’ve patched every crack with vines ,
Blossoms cover every stain. Tis like paradise,
‘ceptin ye, ye shnakes, ye divils, ye dirty filthy
feckin animals. Ye give us all a bad name.

--Dave Lordan

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

If Stokes Croft ever does win, it should take this as its anthem.

[ewein2412]

i'm sure perth won in 2014. We win every even-numbered year and I can scarcely believe we didn't claim the title in 2012 also.

[benicek.livejournal.com]

Surely satire? I hope. At different times in my life I have lived within walking distance of both Stokes Croft and Wanchai. I suppose they both have histories of being the unsavoury end of town.