Identity and Relevations

Doctor Shravya Tak is the junior partner at the Clavical Square Surgery. In effect that means that she does most of the work. Shravya has an identity problem. She is proud of being Indian (her father was from Benares) but her mother, an American, belonged to the Shawnee tribe of Kentucky, and brought her up to reject the term 'Indian'. She therefore focuses on her Uttar Pradesh background and is currently writting a book about the state. This does not help today however when she is trying to advise Adrian Palamiter. She has made the mistake of asking him to list his symptoms, and is finding it difficult to stop him talking.

A misunderstanding

Adrian Palamiter will do anything for anyone. Having finished his modelling for Annaliese, today he is taking the Pimby Posters around the square. The local political parties have also paid him a few pence to distribute their lavish multi-coloured leaflets. To these Palamiter is attaching a stencilled note (he has yet to master the art of using a printer) inviting the residents to an open air gathering celebrating the presence of Luo Jie (who he now venerates as a god). When he told Luo he had been posing as Jacob ben Isaac Ashkenazi, the poet misunderstood him, and smiled politely.

Annaliese's tribute

Annaliese Singh is creating a statue in tribute to Rabbi Jacob ben Isaac Ashkenazi (1550–1625) who wrote Tze'nah u-Re'nah, an early version of the bible written specifically for women (as it was in Yiddish rather than Hebrew). She is using Adrian Palamiter as her model for the learned scholar. Ashkenazi acknowledged the debt he owed in his research to Rashi (1040-1105), who died 52 years before the birth of Richard Coeur de Lion (1157-1199). The English king died in Acquitaine 5 years before Maimonides died in Fastut (Cairo) in 1204. When he died, Maimonides is thought to have been reading his copy of the ethical works of Avicebron, the neoplatonic poet and philosopher from Málaga, known to us today as Ibn G'virol (1021-1058).

Back Yard Blues

Elwin Gruntley, one of the local councillors who has been strongly promoting the plan to close the Clavical Square surgery, is now recovering in the surgery’s rest and recuperation lounge, having been knocked to the ground in what the police say was ‘a fracas’ at the anti-closure protest. Doctor Maddison’s treatment has proved so efficacious that Gruntley has now changed his stance. This morning he is returning home, but before he goes he is visited by Andrew Scatterly, and together they plan a ‘Pimby’ campaign (Please, in my back yard). The local Clinical Commissioning Group issues a furious press statement.

Dulce et Gabbana est...

With the forthcoming election, Andrew Scatterly has joined the Save Our NHS Campaign.  Just before Easter, he learned on the Activists’ Grapevine that the local Clinical Commissioning Group has decided to close the Clavical Square Surgery and move Doctor Maddison to a larger centre where he can be more carefully managed (you will recall that the CCG has concerns about his approach). Scatterly publicises this plan by distributing a Health At Risk Newsletter, and today there is a large protest in the nearby graveyard. Given the recent polls, members of the local council rush to the square for photo opportunities.

General Practice

Casual passers-by who wonder at the comings and goings at Number 14, have probably missed the discrete sign (unusually modest for our otherwise struggling NHS) indicating that this is the Clavical Square Medical Centre.  In reality it is, and has always been, the GP surgery of Doctor Maddison, an old-fashioned family physician who combines orthodox practice with herbal and homeopathic treatment. His manner (other than his somewhat peculiar eye contact) and his general approach (other than his insistence on imposing a voluntary charge which he donates to MSF) is extremely popular. However the local Clinical Commissioning Group has its doubts.

The nuclear family

The new family who, for obscure but nevertheless considerably important reasons, will hereafter be known as the Smiths, has now settled into Number 18. Amongst their number are the father, Aylesbury Smith, the son, Henry Smith and the holy grandchild, Callum. Unfortunately it is not irrelevant that the grandchild’s nickname is Caligula. Henry’s wife, the honourable Selina, occasionally appears, but her role as peripatetic business guru and advisor to the mature (i.e. geriatric) fashion industry, keeps her well away from the hassles of family life. It takes Lucinda Bartoffel less than three days to gather and then disseminate all this information.

And stops my mind...

Like Arumemcha Burden, we cannot stay away from the Square. So today we let our feet direct us towards those historic porticos, and peek again at the lives of the strange collection of people who live and work there, or just pass through. It is of course no surprise to find Arumemcha Burden himself there, jotting down notes on his iPad and hoping to see a certain Semomile de Preve. When she does eventually emerge, chasing after the toddler, Bruce, she does not see her admirer. But Bruce does, and trips over to the stalker, who now tries to appear busy recording details of the damaged roof at Number 13. 

The square will return

Rumours abound in Clavical Square - that in itself is news.

Spring build

...and slowly words return

L'Universe Graphique de Malvolio Claxendell

The Ideology of Neurosis (Part Two)

NIL DESPERANDUM! (Abdullah Quilliam)

Oversight

Latitude

المدخل أو المجاز المقنطر

Sweet dome

Meanwhile

The mews opposite the shop

Really Žižek

Andalusian Dream

The sound of the effervescent middle-eastern ska band, Kiv Yahol, echoes around Clavical Square, rolling out the notes of their wordless hit Sogni D’Oro. Luo Jie, jangled by the vapours of a potent Malaga wine, is so overwhelmed that words failed him, and over the coming weeks relinquishes the medium of speech. For some odd reason this makes a strong impression upon the sensitive Adrian Palamiter and over the next few weeks he begins to see the reclusive poet and philosopher in a different light. He becomes a devotee, and pledge to spread the word of his new mute Guru.

The influence of Ibn Gvirol on the life of Luo Jie

Once, in this place people spoke and sang, and wrote poems and stories, and talked of Michelangelo. But all that changed on the night after the New Year Celebrations for the year of the Goat. The Chinese poet and thinker, Luo Jie, drank a glass of Malaga wine, and strolled out along the strangely sun-drenched coast. He was pondering the words of Ibn Gavirol, As long as a word remains unspoken, you are its master; once you utter it, you are its slave. In the distance he could hear the strains of the effervescent middle-eastern ska band, Kiv Yahol.

The Taste of Malaga Wine

The sun shines and it feels that everyone is out and busy. It is of course an illusion, but the square looks good as finally Aylesbury Smith his family move out of their temporary abode, and arrive in style (on a horse-drawn cart) with their belongings and smaller pieces of furniture. The real ‘white van’ will follow in the afternoon. The first to greet them is Billy Feather, who knew them from childhood. He emerges (as usual nowadays) from Number 15 (where he and Lissane have been enjoying a lazy breakfast). He apologises again for the altercation with Gordon Surtees.

Chi

As far as Luo Jie was concerned the fact that the New Year festivities were muted by poor weather was actually a blessing. Once the shock of the unexpected confrontation had subsided, he and Adrian  spent a convivial evening discussing the transcendental meaning of belief. When Annaliese went into the office, she found them happily chatting about the effects of the ocean tides on the life force. Now, with the celebrations over, Adrian believes he has rediscovered Faith, and has convinced himself that Luo Jie is the guru who will tread out the New Path and show him The Way.

The Year of the Goat