Friday 18th March (Eighteen Years in The House of Words)


Mr. Kite looked out of his bedroom window onto a cool grey morning and thought. Eighteen years ago today Mr. Kite moved into this home on a wet and rainy Thursday morning. That day was also the hundredth birthday of the houses most well known resident; a young man whose words are movingly read and recited all over the world. One hundred years later words written in the house are also read all over the world. The difference now is that his words were in books and Mr. Kites words are transmitted electronically and read from a computer screen. Inside this house poems, essays, diaries, songs and blogs have been written by numerous residents. The words written within this house have varied from sad and tragic to funny and humorous; words written in this house can bring tears of grief and others tears of joy.

Mr. Kite looks out of his bedroom window onto a modern road but the well known resident, whose bedroom window was above Mr. Kites, looked out on the view described by Jon Stalworthy as follows.

Perhaps the most attractive feature of this room was its uninterrupted view over the Shrewsbury Racecourse and the fields beyond to the majestic hump of the Wrekin. Away to the right he could see Lord Hill's column, then the largest doric pillar in the world, erected in 1816 to commemorate the achievements of the Peninsular General.

Now within the walls of Mr. Kite's house, memorable words and phrased have been written and spoken. Mr. Kite is not a lord and the residents, both past and presents, were not lords, so Mr. Kite's house is not the House of Lords. But the residents of Mr. Kite's house, both past and present, have written words so Mr. Kite lives in the House of Words. Dr. Samual Johnson defined the words in his museum the House of Words and Mr. Kite is using these words.

Talking of museums reminded Mr. Kite that today a museum is opening in Birkenhead for the former well known resident of the House of Words.

Today The Incapacitants had arranged a birding competition. So about ten o'clock it was, 'eyes open; look around',  and the competition was on as they cycled towards the village of Ford in the emerging sunshine. Buzzards soared in the blue sky, Corvids fed in the fields and small birds flitted along the hedgerows. Just before Alberbury they parked The Beasts and walked along a footpath towards Rowton Castle stopping to look at a fine avenue of trees. Chaffinch, Blue Tits, Great Tits were abundant and a Mistle Thrush took off in the field and flew along the avenue of trees. The avenue of trees was obviously planted for a spectacular view from the castle. But Mr. Kite did not have to be a lord to enjoy these trees. Now The Incapacitants were impressed by the sight and sound of Wrens that today had decided to display themselves in the warm spring air. With tails cocked they traveled along the hedgerows popping up at intervals to make sure they were the centre of attention and they were.

Eventually The Incapacitants continued their trip through Alberbury and into Montgomeryshire in Wales where the border has a sign showing a Red Kite. Crossing the border The Incapacitants scanned the bare trees for signs of life but nothing unusual was spotted. However soon they caught a wafting aroma of beer and fried chips coming from The Hand and Diamond where our people were sitting in the sunshine enjoying food and drink. Now The Incapacitants are keen bird-watchers and kept on cycling although they were tempted to try a half. Showing great resolve they cycled past The Fir Tree and then stopped on the bridge crossing the River Severn with with views of the confluence where the River Vyrnwy joins the Severn. The sun had warmed the metal structure and The Incapacitants leant against it searching for birds; they found a Goosander and a Pied Wagtail.

Continuing their journey they past The Tontine and turned right heading back home. Now a few miles further on they heard a liquid 'lee lee lee'; the sound of a Curlew. Looking right the brown shape of a Curlew could be seen flying low over the river bank. The Incapacitants stopped to watch, and listen to the Curlew. Fortunately for them they had stopped by The Royal Hill public house. What could be better than that. Scanning the field on the other side of the river they could see a 'Herd of Curlew'.

So in the warm spring sunshine The Incapacitants watched thirty Curlews fed in the field; and they had a few glasses of Three Tuns Pale Ale; lovely.

When the pub door was locked they cycled back to Shrewsbury spotted a few more species of birds. Now by this stage Mr. Kite's 'Birding Companion' had won the competition. Arriving back in town they went to The Crown's beer garden overlooking the River Severn and talked about the days birding whilst they supped a tipple of Marston's Double Drop and watched Mallards, Goosander and Black-headed Gulls feeding. Cheers from  Mr. Kite.