It was my birthday yesterday and I worked half a day then met up with friends after work for some drink fuelled fun.
The weather was the worst Wellington has to offer, torrential non-stop rain alongside a cold southerly which means umbrellas are quickly destroyed. For some reason I chose harbourside pubs to celebrate in so we arrived in the second pub with hair plastered to faces. I had to stick my head under the hand drier, it was that wet.
Anyway that aside I had a great time, and some fun conversations including reliving our childhood memories of Badjelly the Witch, a comic fairy tale told in audio form by Spike Milligan.
I clearly remember down the years being terrified at the moment where the witch is coming up the stairs with a big sharp knife to eat the children with peanut butter. It is a really evocative childhood image.
I think Badjelly is a very kiwi thing despite Spike Milligan being British because it seems that an audio version of the story was regularly broadcast on NZ Radio when I was little. People of my generation who grew up in NZ (even if only briefly, like me) all seem to have a good memory of it although I think there's relatively little knowledge of the story in the UK. The next generation are getting it from their parents or teachers too - Emma from work's kids are well aware of the story so Badjelly's place in kiwiana will be perpetuated.
We are contemplating dressing up as characters from Badjelly the witch for Hallowe'en and/or Rugby Sevens. So many to choose from: Binklebonk the goblin, Dulboot the giant, Mudwiggle the worm, Dinglemouse or Jim the giant eagle. Or of course Badjelly herself.
I particularly love the bit where Tim and Rose ask Dinglemouse what he was before Badjelly the witch turned him into a mouse. "I was a banana" says Dinglemouse.
Classic.
The weather was the worst Wellington has to offer, torrential non-stop rain alongside a cold southerly which means umbrellas are quickly destroyed. For some reason I chose harbourside pubs to celebrate in so we arrived in the second pub with hair plastered to faces. I had to stick my head under the hand drier, it was that wet.
Anyway that aside I had a great time, and some fun conversations including reliving our childhood memories of Badjelly the Witch, a comic fairy tale told in audio form by Spike Milligan.
I clearly remember down the years being terrified at the moment where the witch is coming up the stairs with a big sharp knife to eat the children with peanut butter. It is a really evocative childhood image.
I think Badjelly is a very kiwi thing despite Spike Milligan being British because it seems that an audio version of the story was regularly broadcast on NZ Radio when I was little. People of my generation who grew up in NZ (even if only briefly, like me) all seem to have a good memory of it although I think there's relatively little knowledge of the story in the UK. The next generation are getting it from their parents or teachers too - Emma from work's kids are well aware of the story so Badjelly's place in kiwiana will be perpetuated.
We are contemplating dressing up as characters from Badjelly the witch for Hallowe'en and/or Rugby Sevens. So many to choose from: Binklebonk the goblin, Dulboot the giant, Mudwiggle the worm, Dinglemouse or Jim the giant eagle. Or of course Badjelly herself.
I particularly love the bit where Tim and Rose ask Dinglemouse what he was before Badjelly the witch turned him into a mouse. "I was a banana" says Dinglemouse.
Classic.
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