Yaxley Farcett sat back in the armchair in Anne Worthington's study. She obviously wanted an audience and he wanted to find out more about the woman so, why not ? He nodded with the expected enthusiasm when Mrs.Worthington motioned to him if it was alright 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. 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 new comers to the area, but as they say; 'There ain't 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 
we all know began in the late sixties with hippies and flower power.
we all know began in the late sixties with hippies and flower power. However, in the Fens, drugs served a quite different purpose and were never actually referred to as such. They acquired 
quainter homely medical terms such as 'Godfrey's Cordial' and 'Mrs.Winslow's Soothing Syrup'. The opium was taken for the purpose of self medication and way of dulling the senses. 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 all the events we have involving 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...
quainter homely medical terms such as 'Godfrey's Cordial' and 'Mrs.Winslow's Soothing Syrup'. The opium was taken for the purpose of self medication and way of dulling the senses. 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 all the events we have involving 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... '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 was 1993 !!!' Anne Worthington paused and asked her one man audience what he thought of her efforts. Yaxley, having expected to bored rigid, actually found himself to be intrigued by the thought of Stoned Fenman slouching about the fields like a load old hippies at Glastonbury trying to find their way to the 'Vegan Fry up' tent. He had visions of Clunch and Hummer laying on their backs just 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...
[Next Episode - Episode 22]
[Next Episode - Episode 22]
