George and Venetia Make a Stand

The people on this side of the demised lane won't talk to the people on the other.

The story being that Tim, the previous owner of Blaine’s house, over on the other side, had put in a planning application to build sixty-two houses on the land between his back garden and Tesco Metro. Objections were strident, planning permission was denied, Tim in high dudgeon sold Eight Magpies to Blaine and moved away.

Quite far.

Suki, from this side, added, ‘Decrepit old George and Venetia, who were already living on the land behind Tim's house - so would presumably have been most impacted – to this day won’t speak to either mummy or the Bodings.’

'But why?' I asked.

'Because of the objections to the planning permission.'

'But the planning permission was denied,' I said. 'Tim - developer - moved away. Blaine bought his house.'

'Exactly.’

Oh.

Blaine himself told me, 'Actually, while all this with the planning permission was just getting a bit warm, at one of the bloody horrible Christmas brunches she used to host, inviting everyone from along the lane, Clemency [Suki's mother] apparently gave stately old George some Viagra, and town worthy, JP, church flowers committee chair Venetia a dildo. Which the whole lane watched them open. As Tim had it, George was slow on the uptake, but Venetia went into a silent squawk state. Clemency was so drunk, pissing herself laughing, she headbutted a door. Venetia said, "George, please do not thank the terrible woman. Gather yourself up, we're going".'

Ah.

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