A Spa For All Seasons #writephoto

Posted on Oct 9, 2022 by TanGental

This week’s #writephoto prompt is

The Tiddle: A Spa For All Seasons

While Little Tittweaking’s name supposedly came from a throwaway comment by Daisy Doesit after she spied water dribbling from a small hill, the medicinal properties of the waters around Little Tittweaking were well known to previous generations. The Romans may have focused on Bath because they had not found a very warm welcome in Shower, where the thermostat was famously temperamental, and the Vikings preferred mud – history did them no favours by focusing on their export of pillage rather than soil moisturising – but the Anglo-Saxon population appreciated what a ‘dribble from the tiddle’ did for them.

To ancient man, unaware of chemical compositions and immuno-boosting proteins, the fact the water tasted of cherry compote was sufficient for its attractions to become widely known and appreciated. Over time, that flavour was lost to memory and the innocent waters flowed uninterrupted. It took the reintroduction of beavers to the area for the flavour to return and a study to conclude that it was the result of the beaver’s diet of buttock-hawthorn berries that was the cause.

Naturally, this revelation did nothing for the proposed spa’s early publicity, but Connie Fidence wasn’t easily put off. In an interview the day after the report was published confirming the water’s unique properties were the result of berry shit, Connie dismissed this as a problem, sure, in time, it would be seen in its proper context. ‘Over the history of the River Tiddle, I’m sure a lot of its waters have been passed,’ she was quoted as saying.

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
This entry was posted in #writephoto, carrot ranch, creative writing, flash fiction, humour, little Tittweaking, miscellany and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

17 Responses to A Spa For All Seasons #writephoto

  1. John W. Howell says:
    Oct 9, 2022 at 8:37 pm

    Berry shit is never a problem to someone like Conne Fidence. Waters pass indeed.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Peter's pondering says:
    Oct 9, 2022 at 9:31 pm

    We were always happy with our village water. Every drop was passed by the laird!

    Like

  3. tootlepedal says:
    Oct 9, 2022 at 11:01 pm

    The water looks strangely brown for cherry compote but you can sell anything to some people.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. robertawrites235681907 says:
    Oct 10, 2022 at 6:53 am

    Hi Geoff, you never disappoint.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. derrickjknight says:
    Oct 10, 2022 at 10:12 am

    Displaying a masterful grasp of history

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Pingback: #Writephoto Round-Up – Woodland – New2Writing

  7. Jemima Pett says:
    Oct 14, 2022 at 4:16 pm

    Oh, the opportunities for pun-ishment! As a Dorset gal, I was brought up sniggering at the Piddle…

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.