Mid –week Mumbles.

‘Flu jab time. A reminder in case it’s applicable. We had ours yesterday – it’s worked for the last few years. It isn’t for swine ‘flu – just the ordinary common or garden. If you do have it don’t forget to sit quietly for ten minutes afterwards. I once ignored this and felt quite off for the rest of the day.

There was more in the local paper about the making of ‘Lorna Doone’ and the original article said:

“The Doone gang will be represented by 12 men of over 6’in height who have come with the company from London and some farmers from the Exford and Oare districts.

They have been engaged during the present week or so in growing suitable beards to enable them to invest their film roles with the requisite picturesqueness. Captain D Cole of Exford is mounting those of the company who are taking riding parts”.

The riding scenes were certainly authentic and quite thrilling. The harvest scene, which Joy found quite moving, was shot in a wheat field at Oareford which had been left uncut for the film. When Basil Dean – the producer was having difficulty getting sheep to graze in a particular field he was told:

‘Bain’t grazing ground!’

When the locals saw the film at the Regal they had two grumbles: the Doone gang rode so fast no-one could identify their friends and Lorna should have been a black-haired beauty, not a blonde. I was right incidentally - Victoria Hopper with the screechy singing voice, was married to the producer. And there was the lovely black- haired Margaret Lockwood at the beginning of her dazzling career.

We are off to Fremington on Saturday and the day we return our French son arrives which will be lovely. On Friday I’m having a treat - facial, neck and shoulders massage and a head massage which I find blissful. The facial isn’t ideal just before going away as it can bring out impurities but I can always keep my head down.