by John Glover
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Episode 21 - "Anne Worthington: Part 2" (May 18th 4.35pm)
The shy debutante gave Yaxley a 'thank-you for those few kind words' smile
and began......
"Opium Eating in The Fens !'.......You may be surprised at this, some of you newcomers to the area, but as they say; 'There’s nothing new under the sun' and the same goes for Drug Abuse. Nowadays, unfortunately, the trend is for recreational drug use, which in turn can lead to the horrors of addiction and the side effects of drug related crime. This, as Yaxley thought of all the musicians and people from the entertainment world that had 'indulged', from Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum to Aldous Huxley and considered the possibility that they'd never been away. He kept that to himself though. Anne carried on...
'Apparently....' continued Mrs.Worthington, eyeing Yaxley over her glasses
' the condition known as 'Fen Syndrome' manifests itself in locals by them being secretive, morose and depressed because they live in an isolated backwater with a landscape devoid of all hope. And that quote is only five years old!'
She paused and asked her one man audience what he thought of her efforts so far. Yaxley, having expected to be bored rigid, actually found himself intrigued by the thought of Stoned Fenman slouching about the fields like a load of old hippies at Glastonbury trying to find their way to the 'Vegan Fry up' tent. He had visions of Clunch and Hummer lying on their backs looking up at the huge Fenland Sky and discussing the clouds. But then he thought about Hummer and the part about 'dulling the senses' seemed strangely appropriate. He smiled at Mrs. Worthington. 'Anne. As a townie, I have to say I'm fascinated. Carry on"...
The prologue -
Episode One -
Episode 2 -
Episode 3 -
Episode 4 -
Episode 5 -
Episode 6 -
Episode 7 -
Episode 8 -
Episode 9 -
Episode 10 -
Episode 11-
Episode 12 -
Episode 13 -
Episode 14 -
Episode 15 -
Episode 16 -
Episode 17 -
Episode 18 -
Episode 19 -
Episode 20 -
Episode 22
- Cast List and Episode Index
Comments to Collyinfo
He nodded with the expected enthusiasm when Mrs.Worthington glanced over her notes to see if he was ready for her to begin. She flustered slightly and cleared her throat. 'You must think I'm awful, subjecting you to this after only just having met you, but...' Yaxley held up a hand and said ' It'll do you good to tell it to a stranger. Far better than in front of the family"
Yaxley was being diplomatic as his experience of the Worthington family so far told him that they would have all left the room after her introduction.
as we all know began in the late sixties with hippies and flower power' 
acquired quainter cod-medical terms such as 'Godfrey's Cordial' and 'Mrs.Winslow's Soothing Syrup'. The opium was taken as a painkiller or an intoxicant. The area in which we all live was then described by some as a 'wet disease ridden environment'. In some quarters that opinion still seems to be held. As recently as 1993 a television documentary highlighted the fact that more anti depressants are prescribed in the fens than in any other part of the country. I'm not sure how that can be true though, with the vibrant social life we have at the church and the WI.......'
Yaxley stifled a snigger and Mrs.Worthington asked him if he was getting bored. 'No, no, no....carry on' replied Yaxley...