A very enjoyable few days in a new town for
me. Harpenden Common stretches from outside
the town right up to the start of the High Street and it’s that way I
approached it from the St Albans side.
Almost by chance after a dog walk stop in a layby just out of the town,
we walked over a golf course and discovered an almost perfect spot
for us to stop over for the few days before the Carnival. It was in a small wood alongside the golf
course, which I later discovered morphs into a cricket field and then the real
Common before nestling naturally into the High Street. There was a natural
drive in area, used normally I guess by dog walkers’ cars which now fitted us
plus space for one car. All but one of the
dog walkers would have to find somewhere else to park for a few days.
We settled in to our new home. Young and old oaks brushed the lorry roof and
one tiny branch pushed its nose into my bathroom window when I opened it, as if
checking out this new strange visitor’s abode.
There was a large low sweeping branch which had grown thick with age which
provided the perfect seat just outside my door and the sun dappled through the
leaves giving that magical lighting effect that only a wood in summer can
provide. There were plenty of passing
dogs for my two to protect me from and sniff around after. It was looking good
and it was good.
After an afternoon sleep and a cup of tea
we walked into what I at first thought was Harpenden. A small crossroads with a dozen or so shops
including a launderette, ironmongers, car accessory shop and a co-op. All the essential providers for a gentleman of the
road. A couple of well-stocked charity shops as well which I promised myself to
forage later on my first launderette trip.
The initial good feeling just went on growing.
On our return to the lorry I gathered my
whites together for the first washing and left the dogs for a long sleep. It was a very hot day and the shade offered
by the oaks was welcomed by them and me.
I found a shortcut into town and went to the launderette where the very
friendly, underemployed, chatty assistant told me that what I had thought to be
Harpenden was actually Southdown but that it was a much nicer place. Harpenden
was only a ten minute walk away. She also showed me pictures of her dogs and
garden and exchanged family news. She
didn’t have enough to do. I had a quick skip round the charity shops then set
off into the real Harpenden. She was
right about Southdown, but only just, as Harpenden itself was essentially one
long High Street with all the usual shops and was luckily wide enough to allow
the extremely busy road to pass through it without being too intrusive. It was
the road though that made the place seem frenetic compared to Southdown. What are we doing to our High Streets? The
town was charming and well-endowed with the indies that make a High Street
interesting, a plethora of Charity Shops and a big Sainsbury’s. What made particularly pleasant was the
Common which had not been encroached on and bumped dramatically into one end of
the High Street.
As I returned to collect my whites I saw
two people marking the ground on the Common and found where my Saturday spot was to
be. Luckily, as originally they would
have placed me with the afternoon sun behind the stage shining straight into
the eyes of the audience. Not a good idea. A bit of careful negotiation allowed
a 180 degree turn to the other side of the Common. Perfect.
I pulled onto the Common on the Thursday
night which meant I would have Friday to do a leisurely set up and be even
nearer town. I bought a ticket for Peggy
Seeger who was appearing there that night as part of her eightieth birthday UK
tour and enjoyed her witty and wry octogenarian sung and spoken observations on
humankind.
My shows went brilliantly on the Saturday
and apart from being put alongside a noisy and unattractive eighties fairground
ride, the whole visit was lovely from start to finish. The people of Harpenden, without exception,
made me feel welcome and appreciated. That’s almost all that anyone can hope for
in life.
All the best from a road near you,
Mr Alexander
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