104 – The Red Doors of Progress

The Parish Council is deliberating. Since Malvolio Claxendell arrived in Gwair, this tiny previously obscure quarter of Hay-on-Wye has seen the unbridled proliferation of  festivals and esoteric culture. Dido Doolittle of Back Room books defends her rival. Little that has happened recently is Claxendell’s fault. Many others however are bewailing the day that the hordes from Hove arrived with their lavish cultural tastes. The Chairman highlights the economic benefit that the influx has had. ‘More has been gained than threatened’. However like old-timers anywhere the original residents resent ‘thems as paints their doors red’. A decision on giving permanent recognition to the festival cycle is postponed for a few days.

103 - Rapid Thought Displacement Therapy

There are few self-promoters as brazen as Doctor T.E.A.Barrie, the Alternative Therapist who claims that Rapid Thought Displacement Therapy (his  bowlderised rebranding of Mindfulness) will effectively cure a wide range of physical disorders. The rarely offensive Abdul Hasib ibn Burd calls this Instant Quackery. Doctor Barrie's talk at today's session of the Gwair Architectural Biennial is entitled 'Plans for the Iatroclinic', about the new centre he is building. In effect however his spiel is a sales pitch for Rapid Thought Displacement Therapy. Unfortunately for Ernesto Wrackham, the 'good doctor' has also contracted Emile Kirsipuu to design the new treatment centre. Now both buildings will be tarred with the same brush.

102 - Kirsipuu's Masterpiece

Tom's meeting with Malvolio Claxendell is more fraught than the pleasant tea-time he spent at Shambhala with Samuel and his entourage. No doubt this is due to the tensions over the planned development known now as 'Kirsipuu's Folly'. Malvolio Claxendell is giving his strong support to Wrackham, and has agreed to give a talk at the Gwair Architectural Biennial. He is presenting a survey of subversive architecture, hoping that this will increase support for what he considers to be Kirsipuu's masterpiece. Tom agrees to listen to Claxendell's presentation, even though he knows full well that Claxendell's talks are generally the same whatever the advertised subject. This one is no exception.

101 - The Life Journey

All is peaceful now at Shambhala. Sonia has returned to her international high life, and Rabbi Oud Ramonides is administering the necessary post Sonia soothing balm treatment. Samuel is ever-grateful, especially today, for his old friend Tom Purdue is due to visit, and he wants the vibes to be just right. Kolya has been rescued from his treatment plan, and Lustral is happily locked away from other people, in his library. Tom arrives full of news from the folk at Seven Dials, and describes his journey through the Wye Valley, an account so detailed that it is effectively the story of his journey through life. Leporello Swinson serves the tea.

100 - Tattlin's Tower of the Third Internationale

Kirsipuu is used to rabid opposition to his designs, but Wrackham is besides himself. As a self-proclaimed 'Travel Ecologist' Wrackham believes that he inhabits the moral green highground, and cannot understand the logic of the arguments against him. The wiley Kirsipuu however comes up with a canny strategy. He suspends work to allow the opposition to hold an enquiry, and meanwhile establishes the Gwair Architectural Biennial, a festival of all things structural. The speed at which this is organised outfoxes the opposition, and already today Radio Four is covering the first session, a multimedia presentation on Tattlin's Tower of the Third Internationale, the 400 metre spiral with rotating glass chambers.

99 - Spelt Bread

Through the shimmering dawn Abdul Hasib ibn Burd, the Lebanese Poet-Philosopher, sees a distant figure on the horizon.  It is Tom Purdue who has been following the Wye Valley Walk, and has climbed up to the Begwyns in search of a close-up view of the rare and elusive Montagu’s harrier (circus pygargus) which he managed to photograph from afar, having recognised its elegant flight. Lapricia Organdy, who is spending a few days with Hasib, ties up her unfortunate hound, Sennacherib, who tends not to appreciate strangers. By contrast Hasib’s flirtatious cat  has perfect manners. Lapricia and Hasib welcome Tom with a glass of wine and a loaf of spelt bread.

98 - The Three Degrees

Word spreads quickly throughout Gwair. There is little enthusiasm for Kirsipuu’s radical sliced conical design concept, and the suggestions for the Piranesi rear raise deep concerns amongst the more conservative residents. Ernesto Wrackham however is oblivious to the disapproval and submits his plans to the parish council. However the parcel of land in questions is subject to a border dispute, and no-one knows under whose authority the planning permission should fall. As a result there are no formal objections and building starts without significant delay. The Three Degrees Protest Group mounts an immediate campaign to slow the construction process, and again tractors are deployed to block access to the site.