Monday, April 02, 2007

Scarecrow

I spotted a rather funky scarecrow this morning. At least, I think he was a scarecrow: transplant him to the Tate Modern and he’d easily pass for one of the exhibits. Standing around 5ft tall, he has a face and body made from black Guinness cans and white Stella Artois cans. I wonder if his creators drank them all in one go, or whether they saved up the cans, Blue Peter-style? I reckon I know what his artistic interpretation is though: Newcastle United-supporting farmer turns to drink due to single payments scheme cock up…

There is a scarecrow festival held not far as the crow flies from where I saw this splendid specimen standing stark in the early morning sun. Each August Bank Holiday, Rennington is taken over by tableaux of scarecrows in a variety of attitudes. There is a bride and groom, a farrier, dancers, even a scarecrow cop with a gatso gun.

I am very fond of scarecrows. I like to think that, Worzel Gummidge-like, they awaken when the sun goes down. Unlike the sinister china dolls that pretend innocence, then spring to life the moment the door is closed, I believe scarecrows are benign. Just like the Jolly Green Giant, I find it comforting to imagine them striding across the night-time fields, keeping the crops safe from harm.
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26 comments:

  1. Anonymous2 April 2007 at 19:42

    I can just imagine the scarecrows popping down to Tate Modern to use those really funky slides they have..

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  2. Anonymous2 April 2007 at 19:48

    Sorry to ask a silly question, but why is there some text which says 'My email is mended - hurrah' on the top right hand corner ?

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  3. Mutterings and Meanderings2 April 2007 at 19:50

    Anon, it was broken and now it's not. I suppose I should remove it now.

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  4. Gill2 April 2007 at 20:58

    Those china dolls give me the creeps- especially the ones with teeth..

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  5. Anonymous3 April 2007 at 00:36

    eminem - i suppose that answers my question, but it doesn't appear to do anything when you hover over it -not that it matters, i was just curious.

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  6. Mopsa3 April 2007 at 07:08

    Time for a scarecrow competition perhaps - would one work in my polytunnel? Do they scare off mice? I am overrun and all my pea plants have been eaten at the pea just put in the pot stage. What about one on the roof? Would it stop the jackdaws building a nest in the chimney pot? Endless possibilities.

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  7. Mutterings and Meanderings3 April 2007 at 08:33

    Anon, email is on profile page. Offending text is now gone!

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  8. rilly super3 April 2007 at 08:50

    oh gosh, I think you were closer to the mark than you thought with your Tate Modern comment M&M, that's Tracey Emin in the photo

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  9. Gone3 April 2007 at 08:58

    Hi, just to let yopu know I have officially started a petition this morning to bring back the word "hurrah" to your blog. How do you ever expect to achieve the greatness of your mentor Enid Blyton if you do not include the word HURRAH? WE want it back HURRAH< HURRAH< HURRAH.

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  10. Zig3 April 2007 at 09:12

    Scarecrows are great aren't they? There's a scarecrow festival in the next village along from here every May day bank holiday weekend - we love it even though the quizz attached is too hard for us!

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  11. Mutterings and Meanderings3 April 2007 at 12:31

    Gill - those dollies are pure evil. Did you see the ones on Barbarella? Shudder..

    Mopsa - get some cats! However, I think you should build some scarecrows anyway cos they look good ..

    Rilly, cruel but perhaps true - how typical of you ...

    Grocer - Enid Blyton: you wot? I suppose she was also a bad tempered old crone who didn't like kids. However, I will endeavour to get more 'hurrahs' into my copy from now on...

    Ziggi - I am a huge fam of scarecrow festivals

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  12. Anonymous3 April 2007 at 14:39

    gill - wasn't there another film where the scarecrows come alive ?

    I can't remember the name of it, but it was very frightening !

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  13. Anonymous3 April 2007 at 16:21

    jeepers creepers, anonymous

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  14. Anonymous3 April 2007 at 16:22

    ...or was it the wizard of oz, always get them mixed up

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  15. Gill3 April 2007 at 16:55

    I think a scarecrow also comes scarily alive in Dennis Potter's Pennies from Heaven.

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  16. Mutterings and Meanderings3 April 2007 at 17:43

    Tonight, he has acquired a Stella Artois dog ..

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  17. Karen4 April 2007 at 10:12

    I had one of those china doll things (I was bought it as a present) and I hated it. I'm sure I saw it blink a couple of times!

    I was especially glad that I had given it to charity by the time I saw the Tommyknockers (I think it was that) where all the toys come to life and kill someone. Terrifying.

    Scarecrows are great but again Stephen King has spoiled them for me because of the one in The Stand.

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  18. Mutterings and Meanderings4 April 2007 at 20:27

    Curiouser and curiouser ... he wasn't there at 7am today, but he was tonight. I wonder if our wittering about scarecrows has given him life ....?

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  19. Anonymous18 August 2007 at 05:20

    Great article! Thanks.

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  20. Anonymous18 August 2007 at 11:33

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