
Mrs. KfC visits Dovegreyreader, a guest post

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Sometimes you come across a book that you absolutely love, and the characters become much loved friends whilst you are reading it, and often well after you have finished it. You imagine them going about their lives and think about them even after the book has found its place on your shelf. Then you hear that they are going to make a movie of the book, and your first reaction is “oh NO – what if they RUIN it for me!” A casting mistake, a film location that isn’t what you had imagined, a voice that isn’t true, there are dozens of ways that your imaginary friends can come a cropper in the film.

DGR at the Endsleigh

Well, I was thinking about all this as my three wonderful friends and I were chuntering along on British Rail across the length and breadth of England last Friday, coming from the Lake District to a much anticipated visit with Dovegreyreader. You see, she had become something of an imaginary friend to me over the last few months since KfC alerted me to her blog. I have been reading it faithfully and had formed an impression of her that I was holding fast, and I kept wondering what if that was what she was really like. I imagined her as a warm funny woman who embraced life fully, who found joy in all things great and small, and who was unfailingly cheerful, positive and a very, very nice person. I had a picture of her buzzing about, knitting, quilting, singing, reading, writing, and laughing. I knew what she looked like, as her picture had been on her blog. As we neared the station, I got a bit nervous – what if she wasn’t like that at all? Yikes!

We alighted from the train (as they love to say on British Rail) and as we were struggling with our bags, before we had a moment to look up, we were caught up in the warmest welcome you could ever imagine. DGR and Bookhound had come to the station 45 minutes early, just in case, and ran up to us, hugged us all warmly with a “Welcome Canada!” that made us all laugh and put us at ease. Bless them, they had brought two cars, as they knew we were travelling with a lot of gear, and they divided us up – Gill and I went with DGR and Sally and Denise and our luggage went with Bookhound. DGR piloted her little Fiesta to our hotel (the Endsleigh, if you know her blog), pointing out all the sights that had been referenced on her blog, and places of interest along the way. Bookhound, meanwhile, had released his inner Tour Guide, and treated his passengers to a jolly good look round the area en route to the hotel, arriving an hour and a half after we other three got there.

The Tinker book-signing

The next morning, DGR picked us up and took us to town where we attended the dearest thing ever – we went to visit the Tinker in Tinkertown. Having been alerted to our visit, he had just finished the hoovering (his flat is spotless – I want him to move in with us!). After a few pleasantries, the Tinker went and fetched 4 copies of his book, and we had a book signing! (The book is called Bugle Boy, the publisher is Long Barn Books and it features a Foreward by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.) He is a lovely man, funny, self deprecating, with a merry twinkle in his eye. DGR is clearly the light of his life, and they have a wonderful relationship. Before we left, he showed us some of his beautiful handiwork – needlepoint hangings that are beautiful to behold. The apples don’t fall far from the tree, do they?

DGR always alerts her readers to special moments so they can calm themselves, and I am borrowing her device here. Get ready for something terrific.


On Saturday evening, DGR and Bookhound came to dinner with us four Canadians. I know you already know this if you have read her blog, but she made each of us a lovely quilted square and then SHE GAVE ME A QUILT! I mean to say that this lovely woman had spent the last six weeks making a quilt for a person she had never met. She really did. I was gobsmacked. It is beautiful, as you can see from the picture. I was moved to tears with the generosity of this gift – who gives of her precious time for six weeks to make a quilt for a stranger? Dovegreyreader does, that’s who. Can you imagine? I’m still trying to fathom this. And so she and Rocky could get down to quilting, Bookhound cleared up after the dinner he had made every evening and delivered a cup of tea (not for Rocky though) so DGR could focus on the task at hand.

But I’m not done yet . The next day, Bookhound made us the most splendid tea you can imagine. Lovely little sandwiches – without the crusts, naturally – scones, clotted cream, yummy jam, and of course the requisite tea. All of this served on a crisply ironed tablecloth in a warm and cheery room. We spent a lovely Sunday evening with them, meeting the Gamekeeper (who is great), his dogs, his ferrets, the neighbor’s cows (two of whom have sexual identity issues), Muffy (the cat), and revelling in the beautiful view we all see out the window in the upper corner of DGR’s blog.

So, Dear Readers, I am much relieved to tell you that Dovegreyreader is every bit as wonderful as I had imagined her to be from reading her blog. She is defined by the generosity of her spirit, her joyful approach to life, and her indomitable enthusiasm for her family, her books and her community. When they make the DGR movie, I shall recommend they cast Vanessa Redgrave (circa 1985) as DGR, Alan Bates as Bookhound, Sir John Gielgud as the Tinker, and Rocky as himself.

It was a gift to get to meet these lovely people.

And if you are one of the few people in the world who has not yet visited dovegreyreader’s blog, here is a link.

15 Responses to “Mrs. KfC visits Dovegreyreader, a guest post”

  1. Trevor Says:

    I’ve been looking forward to this post to hear more about your visit Sheila. What a wonderful account to read! I wish I could have been there as it sounds like many wonderful people got together for a warm and generous time! Sherry and I are trying to think of who we would cast for you, by the way. Names are flying, but none, I’m sorry to say, are good enough.

    Like

  2. Sheila O'Brien Says:

    Thank you Trevor. It was quite wonderful, and Im really enjoying this role as KFC’s emissary.

    Like

  3. kimbofo Says:

    What a wonderful post! I met Lynne earlier this year when she came to London and she is just as lovely as your post suggests. I just wish she hadn’t raised the bar quite so highly with your visit because god knows what I’ll have to do to impress you if I ever I get to meet you in person, Sheila. If I still lived in Oz I’d be able to arrange a picture opportunity with a koala (they frequent my parent’s garden) but here in ye old London town the wildlife’s not so obliging. I could always take you for a wonder along Hammersmith High Street or Shepherd’s Bush Road for that quintessential authentic experience. Can of cheap cider in hand is totally optional. 😉

    Like

  4. Sheila O'Brien Says:

    Well, Kimbofo, I would love to meet you, and gong to a neighborhood pub and having a visit would be perfect. No need for exotic wildlife for me to have a good time, but I do relish a lovley conversation and a good laugh.
    I was lucky enough to meet Trevor, and his terrific wife Sherry last November in New York – this blogging world is pretty great, isnt it?

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  5. My Favorite Lit-Blog Things: July 25th, 2010 « Hungry Like the Woolf Says:

    […] Mrs. KfC visits Dovegreyreader, a guest post (Mrs. KfC guest posts are always a hit round these parts…) […]

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  6. Isabel Says:

    Does DGR have an entire bookcase with Persephone books?

    Loved this post. The tea sounds great.

    Like

  7. Sheila O'Brien Says:

    DGR has many many bookcases – all full to overflowing, so its a bit hard to know what is where. Her house is booklover’s heaven!(and tea lover’s heaven, too)

    Like

  8. Karyn Says:

    An absolutely wonderful, coloutful account of your most special visit – thanks so much for sharing this . You sound very British Mrs KFC – “chuntering along on British Rail”, “We alighted fro the train”, etc – delightful!

    And now you have this most unexpected gift of the quilt to go along with the special sweater that was knit for you in a similar context. You have a very unique gift with people – your warmth, sense of humour and appreciation for the gifts of life. I am glad that you have casted the DGR film. Your next career may be as a film maker (seriously).

    Please continue your guest posts on KFC – the combination of the superb book reviews, and your love and knowledge of history and your personable writing style – make this a superb blog!

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  9. Sheila O'Brien Says:

    Thanks you for your very kind comments Karyn. This visit really was a remarkable thing, and I hope I have conveyed that in this guest post.

    Like

  10. whisperinggums Says:

    Lovely post – and that quilt is amazing. It takes me so long to make even a little quilt that doing something like that for a visitor would be beyond my ken. Hats off to DGR and lucky you. Isn’t the internet wonderful?

    Like

  11. dovegreyreader Says:

    I’m so late getting here to add my thanks to you for this lovely post Sheila and what a joy it was to welcome you to the Tamar Valley, didn’t us have a Devon ball m’dear ! I am just amazed at how quickly Kevin got that wall painted to match the quilt Sheila:-) No, no, I know he chose it from the two I had half-made knowing it would match your colour scheme perfectly and I am so thrilled to see it in that setting. Emily has travelled home and looks very happy there.

    Like

  12. Sheila O'Brien Says:

    Emily has indeed fit in beautifully in her new home, and her new country. We are very happy to be able to see her every day, and remember with fondness the wonderful hospitality you offered in Devon.

    Like

  13. Gillian Howard Says:

    I’m even later in catching up than DGR. I can tell KfC’s readers that the visit was entirely as described by Mrs. KfC and I cannot imagine a warmer reception than that accorded the travelling Canucks by DGR and clan….plus an adopted Canuck from Chicago! Those who are travelling on KfC’s coattails are fortunate indeed!

    Like

  14. Margaret Says:

    I may well be the latest of all to comment on Mrs. KfC’s post having just returned from Ontario, Canada’s own lake district where there is no internet. I do however have some valuable input. When I was to meet Mrs. Kfc for the first time, in a local coffee shop, she described herself of looking much like Ernest Borgnine so that must be considered when casting for her role in the much anticipated movie. In fact she is a bit prettier than Ernie….quite a bit:)

    The visit to DGR sounds like dream!

    Like

  15. KevinfromCanada Says:

    Margaret: There is no way that I am going to respond to your post. Mrs. KfC I am sure will weigh in eventually.

    Like

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