There is, for a reason I may have been told but have now forgotten, a certain rivalry and even “bad blood” between the neighbouring villages of Wilden and Colmworth. They share a vicar along with the village of Ravensden. We in Colmworth no longer have a pub or a school. Wilden is blessed with one of each as well as a Church. When we were house hunting in the area we were taken to see the “old Post Office” and it’s five acre plot that was surrounded by village houses. It didn’t feel right, neither the house and field nor the village. In contrast Colmworth immediately felt like “home”. Soon after we moved into The Gables we went for a walk across the fields towards Wilden. We were spotted and by the time we reached the pub

we were being followed by a bald headed, multi tattooed large fellow in a ford escort. He stopped the car at an angle, blocking our path. “You were seen walking across the fields, not on the footpaths. Someone called me because I run the neighbourhood watch”. We assured him that our intentions were merely to stroll and not to steal or spy on the inhabitants of Wilden and we were let on our way. I breathed a sigh when we saw the spire of St Denys church in the distance, signifying that we were close to Colmworth again.

Notwithstanding my antipathy to Wilden, I ventured into enemy territory today to attend their annual May Day Fayre in the grounds of the village hall.

I was greeted warmly if somewhat warily and asked if I had attended last year. No I had not. I bought a few puzzles for grandson from the secondhand toy stall and some trinkets for granddaughter from another. The plant stall was promising and I cane away with two plants whose names I have already forgotten. I returned to my car past the church

and as I opened the car door and switched on the ignition I saw a face at the window of the adjacent house as the curtains twitched. Bye bye Wilden – I am going back to Colmworth and I don’t think I have contravened any local bye laws except for slightly parking over the entrance to someone’s driveway.