> From: PDML [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Chris Mitchell > > On 14 October 2012 09:32, Bob W <[email protected]> wrote: > >> From: PDML [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Chris > Mitchell > >> > >> A friend of mine is the Keeper of the Clock in the church at > Cropredy > >> in Oxfordshire (a place well known to Cotty). He invited me to join > >> him the other day when he went up the tower to do some maintenance > work. > >> > >> Here's the clock mechanism: > >> http://www.mitch.myzen.co.uk/CropredyClock1/slides/_IMG3406-2.html > >> > >> And here's a close-up > >> http://www.mitch.myzen.co.uk/CropredyClock1/slides/_IMG3398-2.html > >> > >> I thought the B&W treatment was right for the subject; there are > >> colour versions in the gallery if you're interested. > >> > > > > That's fantastically Gormenghastian. All that mechanism for one tiny > > clock face that doesn't even have a minute hand. > > > > I picture your friend as Mr. Flay, dry, lanky, with sunken eyes, > > slowing climbing with his long fingers clutching the rope bannister > of > > the bell tower to the sound of cracking knee joints, barely able to > > turn the great mechanism, but driven by 16 generations of family > > service to get the ancient clock dusted, greased and wound until at > > last he throws himself suddenly away from the straining cogs as they > > release their tension and the colossal bell sounds a single mighty > > clang that reverbates over the nearby valleys and meadows. > > > > The peasants look up from their labours; the huntsmen briefly pause > in > > their yarooing flight; the photographers mutter a silent curse as the > > sound wave disturbs their tripod, and Cropredy sinks once more into > > its autumn slumber, forgetful of the world, by whom it is forgotten*. > > > > B > > > > *phrase shamelessly stolen from Gibbon. > > > I knew I could rely on you Bob. Thanks for your dissertation. Here's a > picture of Stephen. Make up your own mind about his lankiness and > dryness: > > http://mitch.myzen.co.uk/EttingtonPark2/slides/_IGP9648.html >
Har! Twins separated at birth, or what?! <http://www.mervynpeake.org/gormenghast/images/flay.jpg> B > Sadly, the clock is wound by infernal electricity now... > A curse on Faraday and his satanic ways! -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
