The Never-ending Story of GOBLIN’S CREEK
(Suz Neave – Zambia) - 16 August 08
On a far off island, far from anywhere lived a population of goblins. Not the sort of goblins that hide in forests waiting to cause mischief to unsuspecting visitors. These lived like you and me, in tiny wooden houses with high pitched thatched roofs.
Fenly was an old man goblin that had the noble job of providing the inhabitants of the island with fresh water from the creek that ran past his house. With a huge wooden wheel that had a series of small buckets attached, water was drawn into a series of multi coloured pipes. A different colour for each part of the island.
Fenly was very proud of his job and was known as “The Goblin of the Creek”.
One day three mischievous goblin children were jumping on one of the pipes that happened to lead to the mayor’s house. The pipe could not hold their weight and as they played the pipe cracked under them and water started seeping into the ground. The mayor was having his morning shower when, full of foaming soap in his face his water suddenly stopped flowing. Jumping around blindly he screamed a scream that could be heard throughout the village cursing Fenly.
Poor Fenly was banished from the island by the red faced angry mayor. No words of reason were accepted. Fenly was stuffed into a glass bottle and tossed into the sea. Months later the bottle smashed around poor old Fenly of the Creek, as it was thrown onto the rocks here on the shores of St. Helena Bay, by the powerful waves. Fenly crawled to the shore relieved at last reaching land but also scared at being alone in this unknown part of the world.
Peter & Daleen Dick (South Africa) - 1 January 2009
Fenly crawled to Stompneusbaai where he built a beautiful house at the end of the street. He invites people to stay but they come and go as the waves of the sea! He therefore puts a spell on them to always come back and stay in the house at the end of the street!.
Michael & David Schonfeld (South Africa) - 4th January 09
So when you’re near Goblin creek, be careful – you’re sure to be caught under the spell! Strangely enticing, the spell has entranced - not only people like you and me - but all sorts of crazy creatures. Creatures that coo, creatures that crawl, creatures that crow, creep, cuddle and even claw. Furry creatures, feathered creatures, dull creatures, colourful creatures, one by one and two by two they have found their way toward Fenly’s spell, shed all the cares of their lives and simply stayed.
Among the creatures, some possess extraordinary and rather enchanted abilities. Knowing Fenly, I’m pretty sure he magically endows the creatures with their unusual talents to help make life around the house even more enjoyable – further strengthening his spell. For example, a cluck of a few very happy but otherwise quite ordinary hens, have found themselves laying larger and larger eggs each morning. You might think the hens would become disgruntled at having to accommodate such uncomfortably large offerings however, being generous souls they actually take a great deal of pride in their newly super sized packages.
Also, amongst the flourishing foliage, a shy tortoise has found himself intermittently overhearing some of the other creature’s casual thoughts. Although he would never purposefully do any harm, he is, unfortunately, completely incapable of keeping anything to himself. As much as he tries to be discreet, there is no way he can resist sharing the things he hears with Fenly as soon as he hears them.
In addition to the extraordinary talents of the creatures, the garden itself has begun behaving rather extraordinarily too. Beneath the heavy branches of the tree Fenly calls “the tree of unasked questions” a kind of a waterfall, fountain-like spring has sprung right out of the bare earth! The water spouted by the spring has pooled, forming a pond in the shade under the majestic tree…
Graham & Mabel Martin, Stanley & Hazel Megahey, (Ireland) 1 February 2009
One day four Little People who were really Irish Leprechauns were traveling along the road from St Helena Bay towards Stompneusbaai . They were looking for somewhere to rest awhile. Now it was Fenly’s turn to cast his spell over the Leprechauns who arrived at Goblin’s Creek all full of wonder. The beautiful garden quite took their breath away. They decided that they would rest awhile in the nooks and crannies around the big pond. What fun they had hopping from stone to stone and hiding amongst the bushes.
To their delight they spied the feathered birds which in Ireland are called chickens and roosters. They crept up on the chickens and tickled their toes, stroked their wings and played with the roosters Nandoo’s and Kentucky’s red combs. The poor chickens were puzzled by the strange Little People and fluttered away.
Leprechauns are mischievous Little People from Ireland, but loveable. They often cast spells on the unwary. If you look hard enough you may to find them in Goblin’s Creek garden. Be very careful though, especially if you are offered three wishes! Wishes granted by Leprechauns never ever turn out the way you expect!.................
Elaine Richardson (Stompneus Bay – South Africa) 11 March 09
(featuring guests – Ferenc & George Nyāry – Hungary)
It is believed, so the story goes, that Fenly himself made a wish, although he didn’t actually even realize it, for even a wish that is just thought and is really desired and not even spoken out loud can come true. The Lebrechauns just seem to know!
So now, a very interesting thing was happening at the beautiful house, which Fenly called Goblin’s Creek because he had been “Goblin of the Creek” in his old home for so long. Fenly himself was not without some wonderful talents. Oh yes, he had looked after the water when he had lived with the other Goblin’s and he always did it to the best of his ability and indeed he was very proud of this, but there had never been time for anything else – he had worked such very long hours. If truth be told he had always had a secret yearning, a deep longing to do other things, beautiful things.
Here at his new home it was different. Although he was busy he still had time to dream and not just dream, but to actually allow the dreams to surface!
One day while sitting under the beautiful majestic “tree of unasked questions” contentment seemed to fill him, a peace stole over him and with that the flowering of the gift just started to happen in the strangest way! His little fingers started to move and he plucked a little colour from here and a little from there, a little thread of moon beam and a little ray of sunshine, a little sound of bird song and a little sound of waves, a little bit of gull cry and a little thread of bumble bee, a few threads of butterfly, a little bit of “wind through the leaves” and a little hoot of owl, a thread or two of spider web, quite a few of sunset and some sunrise threads as well………… and oh! my friends the picture grew and how happy Fenly was. The clever little fingers wove and at the same time a joyful tune sprang from his lips, almost like the sound of a babbling happy little brook, but actually even better! And of course a thread of that went in too ……..and then one day the picture was finished!
Fenly, being a caring, sharing person wanted to share it with everyone! So he hung it right in the hallway of his house. The tapestry type picture was of Lords and Ladies of a bygone era, beautifully clothed in a garden scene. Of course he couldn’t just hang it up like that so he made a frame and what a good job he did of that! The deft little fingers found a flower or two, a bit of this, a bit of that, a bead or two and lo and behold it was done and how majestic that turned out to be.
Now one day some people came from another country. Not that this was unusual at all! Many, many guests came from all over the world to Goblin’s Creek. These people were from a country called Hungary. The one gentleman guest pointed to Fenly’s picture and said ‘Goblin?” Well Fenly quite understandably thought he meant one of the figures in his picture. “Oh, no! no! no!” he cried. How could this man think that one of those beautiful figures was a goblin?!! You see Fenly was quite aware that goblins aren’t really very pretty. But what Fenly didn’t know was that when you are good and kind to everyone a little light is lit inside of you and the kinder you are the brighter the light gets and indeed it makes you very beautiful, but how Fenly came to realize this is another story for another day.
The more Fenly said “No! No!” the more the man said “Goblin? Goblin?” Finally, the man made a weaving motion with his hand and said “In French language there is a type of hand woven tapestry called Gobeline”. “Ahhh”, said Fenly, understanding dawned on his wrinkled, kindly face and he then proceeded to explain to his guest what Goblin in English meant. They all had a jolly good laugh, but really it was quite strange …………don’t you think?!!!!!
The Goblin’s Creek Malagasy Two-Step
by Paul A. Burns - Washington DC - April 2009
At 5 minutes to 5 every morning without fail, the plucky and haughty rooster Fenley sings a cock-a-doodle- do. Now as you would have probably guessed by now, this is Fenley’s signal to wake up the other farm animals to start the day. However this otherwise typical farm ritual is rendered extraordinary because at Goblin’s Creek that cock-a-doodle-do is also the start of what is know as the Goblin’s Creek Malagasy Two Step. Just out beyond the fishpond, and thru the garden and into the henhouse there you will find old merry, McGregor from Madagascar leading the other chickens in their morning chicken dance. With a brisk jolt forward, and a twist to the left and a flip-flap of the wing to the right up-high, a quick 2 steps back and a final dossie-do and before you know it all the Chickens are doing the Goblin’s Creek Malagasy Two-Step and working up a sweat.
For many years, old, merry McGregor and his chickens did there happy morning dance without fail. But not everyone at Goblin’s Creek liked the Chicken Dance. And of all the animals that detested the chicken dance the most were the cats of Goblin’s Creek - Josie, Lerato and Lizzy. They were not fond of dancing at all, particularly at 5AM since they had to work the night-shift sewing and weaving little mittens and caps for all the animals on the farm for winter. So at 5 minutes to 5 when the sun is rising and the chickens began to dance their Malagasy Two-Step, the cats are ready to snuggle up on their nice soft, cushion in the barn and sleep.
On numerous occasions they complained to Fenley to tell the chickens to cease and desist with there infernal morning dancing. But old Merry McGregor would not hear of it. He would only prance back and forth, flip-flap his wings and shout a cock-a-doodle-do and tell Fenley that as chickens they had the right to dance at Goblins Creek. So after months of trying to negotiate a settlement between the chickens and cats, Fenley gave up.
Soon thereafter, on the way home, the cats began to harass the chickens – first it was a kick on the henhouse as they passed on their way to work or at other times they would in unison climb on the roof of the henhouse and with their cats' claws extended stomp and scratch on the tin roof. And of course everyone knows, the one thing that all chickens hate most is the sound of a cat’s claws scratching on a hard surface.
One day Josie, Lerato and Lizzy decided to play a trick on the hens. They concocted an elaborate story about the sighting of a fox in the vicinity of Goblin’s Creek. According to the cats, the fox had been seen talking to a local hawk and that the two were planning a raid on the henhouse that very night. Fenley and all the chickens were in a uproar clucking and flapping their wings.
The chickens were so afraid of the imminent raid that it was difficult for them to make a decision. Seizing upon this lapse in leadership, the cats offered to provide security and stand guard to defend the cats if need be. However in exchange for saving their lives, they must agree to never do the Chicken Dance ever again. Fenley and the other chickens where so afraid they immediatedly agreed that this would be a good idea. But old merry, McGregor of Madagascar was livid and danced and flapped his wings in protest. For him, this was an outrage and tantamount to cutting off his wings!
That evening Josie, Lerato and Lizzy convened at the henhouse. At sunset the plan was put into action, Josie was posted at the door, Lerato was on top of the henhouse with her binoculars and Lizzy could be seen crotched in the mulberry tree that provided shade for the henhouse during the summer months. While the chickens were firmly locked in the henhouse, it was agreed at 8 minutes to 8, they would all meet at the henhouse door and at the appointed time they would create a mock fight. From inside the henhouse, there could be heard a terrible ruckus with all manor of scratching, clawing and hissing. For 8 days straight at 8 minutes to 8 this practical joke was played on the unsuspecting chicken population of Goblin’s Creek. But on the ninth night, and after 8 days of no Malagasy Two-Stepping, old merry McGregor of Malagasy had had enough. In fact, he had become suspicious long before this, because he had noticed that neither Josie, Lerato nor Lizzy had any physical sign
s of being in a fight. There were no scratches, scars, bruises or black eyes that he could detect. ‘How could this be’, he thought. So on this night instead of staying perched in a corner, he decided he would peek out of the henhouse window to try to see the fight. Just like clockwork, Josie, Lerato and Lizzie could be seen convening and the henhouse door, they could be seen holding their mouths snickering and laughing, then jumping up and down, hissing and making all manner of noise. Then, just at that moment, old Merry McGregor of Madagascar threw the henhouse door opened and broke out into his famous Malagasy Chicken Two-Step. He was prancing back and forth, flip-flap-flopping his wings and shouting a cock-a-doodle-do that could be heard all the way to Cape Town. Now Josie, Lerato, and Lizzie were so startled and although they had heard the infernal noise of the Malagasy Two-Step for years, they had never seen it performed. It so frightened them; they thought it wa s a war dance and that the chickens were going to peck them to death. They took flight and ran as fast as they could and hide in the trees out in the meadow just beyond Goblin’s Creek.
After that fateful night, the cats never again went near the henhouse for fear they would be attacked by the Chickens, led by fierce, old merry, McGregor of Madagascar. So if you ever get a chance to visit Goblin’s Creek and are fortunate enough to be up at 5 to 5 in the morning you, too, might witness the most extraordinary of events, the Chickens of Goblin’s Creek doing the famous Malagasy Two-Step.
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