The Tolkien Coming of Age Club 2 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Hilde Bracegirdle · 09-22-2006, 04:56 AM

Wow, isn't the swordsman's cottage interesting! Though given my budget a rowhouse would be more appropriate....

Thanks for the link Pio.

Mithalwen · 09-25-2006, 02:44 PM

I have to say, and I do realise that I am lucky in that I live where I can see if not live in the real thing, that I think this is just hideous and twee. It would be like living on a film set or in a theme park. I'd rather have an eco home or a roundhouse.

piosenniel · 09-25-2006, 02:49 PM

Bend, Oregon is a place where many wealthy . . . ahem, Californians . . . own vacation homes, have relocated, etc. etc. So the thought of them wanting to live in a well regulated/theme parky sort of place really doesn't seem too far out, imho

~*~ Pio

Mithalwen · 09-25-2006, 02:56 PM

That makes sense then ... also the prices ... scotches my impression that property prices were much cheaper in the States....

It does remind me of the story (and it may be apocryphal and I know not all americans are like this before I get flamed

... some of my best friends are American...) of the American tourist who when asked what he thought of Windsor Castle, replied that it was great but he couldn't understand why they had built it so close to Heathrow Airport....

Lalwendë · 09-25-2006, 03:30 PM

For it be a genuinely authentic English village it would need the following: a tetchy farmer with several illegal firearms hidden under his bed and who likes shouting "Get orf my land!", a bus service which turns up twice a week, a postmistress who knows everyone's business, a pair of fussy spinster vergers who tut every time they pass the pub and are viciously territorial about their rights to arrange the flowers in church, some sulky teenagers hanging round the back of the village hall, a smattering of aluminium industrial sheds put up by farmers with EU subsidies just to obscure everyone's nice view.

My mum lived in a thatched cottage and woke up one night to find every surface in her room crawling with huge black beetles that had come out of the thatch. So beware if you fancy a 'chocolate box cottage' one day...

davem · 09-25-2006, 03:50 PM

'Bend'

Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Bend
It isn't fit for humans, end
The bland, pretentious, ugly trend
Of plastic thatch

Come, bombs, and blow to smithereens
Those air-conditioned, bright demenes
Fake homes, fake lives, fake thoughts, fake scenes
Fake minds; dispatch.

(with apologies to John Betjeman)

Child of the 7th Age · 09-25-2006, 06:23 PM

davem,

Perhaps you'd prefer Isengard?

Bombing faux houses or their residents into the ground seems a bit extreme. This dwelling is not my kind of thing but I don't see any harm in it, and I like the sculpture Pio found.

Now, I am speaking as a Texan. In the American West, real earth-sheltered dwellings have a long and proud history and were used extensively by the settlers. Simple and sturdy, made of sod, they were incredibly effective in keeping out the bitter winter blizzards. The original ones were a long way from Kitsch, and I suspect that more than one Sam Gamgee type was born in such humble surroundings.

There are still folk in the upper midwest and plains states who carry on this earth sheltered tradition and add a bit of Tolkien into the equation just for fun. See here.

Perhaps you'd like a sod house?

P.S. Where in the blazes is "Valimar"?

Hilde Bracegirdle · 09-25-2006, 06:24 PM

Now for another example of American charm, well sort of. I hope it won't be seeing any bombs, anyway.

The Bake House at the Ephrata Cloister

They've got a room reserved for me, but no place to plug in the computer!
Hilde's room

Snowdog · 10-02-2006, 01:02 AM

G'Day Barrowwights! I had a cup of coffee in my Barrow Downs coffee cup and realized i hadn't been by in ages.

Quote:

Originally Posted by piosenniel

Bend, Oregon is a place where many wealthy . . . ahem, Californians . . . own vacation homes, have relocated, etc. etc. So the thought of them wanting to live in a well regulated/theme parky sort of place really doesn't seem too far out, imho

~*~ Pio

There is the exceptional Deschutes Brewery in Bend though. Love the Twilight Ale, the Mirror Pond, the Black Butte Porter, and the Obsidian Stout!

Oh, a banning! Been there, done that. It doesn't pay to battle the authorities of a messageboard if you wish to stay, even if the mod/admins enforcement of said boards policies seems to you to be uneven.

09-25-2006, 02:44 PM	#2
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	I have to say, and I do realise that I am lucky in that I live where I can see if not live in the real thing, that I think this is just hideous and twee. It would be like living on a film set or in a theme park. I'd rather have an eco home or a roundhouse. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

09-25-2006, 02:49 PM	#3
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Bend, Oregon is a place where many wealthy . . . ahem, Californians . . . own vacation homes, have relocated, etc. etc. So the thought of them wanting to live in a well regulated/theme parky sort of place really doesn't seem too far out, imho ~*~ Pio __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.

09-25-2006, 02:56 PM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	That makes sense then ... also the prices ... scotches my impression that property prices were much cheaper in the States.... It does remind me of the story (and it may be apocryphal and I know not all americans are like this before I get flamed ... some of my best friends are American...) of the American tourist who when asked what he thought of Windsor Castle, replied that it was great but he couldn't understand why they had built it so close to Heathrow Airport.... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

09-25-2006, 03:30 PM	#5
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	For it be a genuinely authentic English village it would need the following: a tetchy farmer with several illegal firearms hidden under his bed and who likes shouting "Get orf my land!", a bus service which turns up twice a week, a postmistress who knows everyone's business, a pair of fussy spinster vergers who tut every time they pass the pub and are viciously territorial about their rights to arrange the flowers in church, some sulky teenagers hanging round the back of the village hall, a smattering of aluminium industrial sheds put up by farmers with EU subsidies just to obscure everyone's nice view. My mum lived in a thatched cottage and woke up one night to find every surface in her room crawling with huge black beetles that had come out of the thatch. So beware if you fancy a 'chocolate box cottage' one day... __________________ Gordon's alive!

09-25-2006, 03:50 PM	#6
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	'Bend' Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Bend It isn't fit for humans, end The bland, pretentious, ugly trend Of plastic thatch Come, bombs, and blow to smithereens Those air-conditioned, bright demenes Fake homes, fake lives, fake thoughts, fake scenes Fake minds; dispatch. (with apologies to John Betjeman) __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

09-22-2006, 04:56 AM	#1
Hilde Bracegirdle Relic of Wandering Days Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: You'll See Perpetual Change. Posts: 1,480	Wow, isn't the swordsman's cottage interesting! Though given my budget a rowhouse would be more appropriate.... Thanks for the link Pio.

09-25-2006, 06:23 PM	#7
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	davem, Perhaps you'd prefer Isengard? Bombing faux houses or their residents into the ground seems a bit extreme. This dwelling is not my kind of thing but I don't see any harm in it, and I like the sculpture Pio found. Now, I am speaking as a Texan. In the American West, real earth-sheltered dwellings have a long and proud history and were used extensively by the settlers. Simple and sturdy, made of sod, they were incredibly effective in keeping out the bitter winter blizzards. The original ones were a long way from Kitsch, and I suspect that more than one Sam Gamgee type was born in such humble surroundings. There are still folk in the upper midwest and plains states who carry on this earth sheltered tradition and add a bit of Tolkien into the equation just for fun. See here. Perhaps you'd like a sod house? P.S. Where in the blazes is "Valimar"? __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote. Last edited by Child of the 7th Age; 09-25-2006 at 06:44 PM.

09-25-2006, 06:24 PM	#8
Hilde Bracegirdle Relic of Wandering Days Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: You'll See Perpetual Change. Posts: 1,480	Now for another example of American charm, well sort of. I hope it won't be seeing any bombs, anyway. The Bake House at the Ephrata Cloister They've got a room reserved for me, but no place to plug in the computer! Hilde's room