Garnet Took
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 7: A Little Goes a Long Way
Great chapter. I especially liked the exchange between the stable-hands. The remarks about the smell of the cheese were especially funny. If I'd have been Tim I'd have told Nibs to take the cheese on the first trip.
It probably really was a good idea for Tad to ride the rest of the way with Ferdi. He really had had quite a bit more to drink than was probably good for him.
I wonder what the reaction will be if that ham ends up on the table before Ferdi gets back to attend breakfast. In a way, I hope that doesn't happen.
Thanks.
GT.
Author's reply
It was probably tact on the old hobbit's part to attribute Ferdi's disability to the nonexistant knock on the head rather than too much to drink... The next best thing to a designated driver, I suppose, would be someone to ride alongside and steady him in the saddle, and discretely guide the ponies where they ought to go.
I'm glad you liked the stable hands; that was one of my favourite parts.
As to if the ham ends up on the table before Ferdi gets back... hmm...
I'm hoping to finish posting this story by the weekend, but don't know if I'll manage. Have been sleeping instead of getting up early to write, lately. Guess I must need it.
Dreamflower
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 7: A Little Goes a Long Way
I do so like a cautious hobbit, LOL! For the first time Ferdi noticed that the old hobbit wore braces as well as a belt. *snort*
Truly, though, I am glad of his caution, and that Ferdi will get home safely with company.
And you are so perfect at setting things up, so that nobody knows what's really going on! I could have just died as Starfire calmly lets himself into his stall, and then the stablemaster making all sorts of assumptions. *giggle* At least none of Ferdi's dire fears about Pippin leading a search party in the cold will come true. (And this is very nearly as sneaky as little Pippin going to Bag End with no one any the wiser! I *still* want to know what Paladin and Eglantine thought when they *finally* found out...*grin*)
I am *so* loving this.
Author's reply
Thanks! I'm so glad to hear you're enjoying the story!
It was diverting to try to work it out so that no one was the wiser about Starfire's arrival. I *really* didn't want Pippin leading a search party in the cold rain... In about another month and a half, he's got to be feeling well enough to take his wife on a lovely spring picnic!
As far as Paladin and Eglantine finding out... I'd thought it would be funny if they found out years later, but it appears that they actually find out only about a year after the fact, when Pippin brings a stray conjurer home...
...but that one's pretty far down the list, unless I lose another game of forfeits in a meme or something. LOL!
Larner
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 6: And All the Little Children, that Round the Table Go
Poor Ferdi won't be any shape tomorrow to do much with his bairns, I'm afraid. Poor, poor, now definitely muddle-headed Ferdi! Hope he doesn't fall from THIS pony!
Garnet Took
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 6: And All the Little Children, that Round the Table Go
He may die of a fall or the chill, but he'll certainly feel no pain. I hate to say it, but I hope he doesn't have to stop anymore or he'll never get home. He'll just drink himself into a coma simply being a good guest.
Thanks for a truly entertaining Yule tale.
GT.
Author's reply
I think you and I are of the same mind. The good thing about First-Footing is that it's self-limiting. There's only so much territory you can cover in the first hour or so after midnight. And the closer you get to towns (like Overhill, say, or Hobbiton) the more likely that someone else has been there first! Whew.
harrowcat
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 6: And All the Little Children, that Round the Table Go
I just love the idea of a drunk and disorderly Ferdi! I am glad that he got away from those dogs - including Fang! And here I was thinking that only Farmer Maggot and Hagrid had dogs called Fang!
Author's reply
D&D Ferdi, a new concept.
O, I forgot Hagrid's Fang! I was thinking of Farmer Maggot, actually.
Pearl Took
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 6: And All the Little Children, that Round the Table Go
Ah, this is a joy to read :)
"Of course, they'd probably find it hard to credit that he was the special assistant to the Thain, in his sodden, inebriated state."
Hehehehe I'm sure they would!
MEWD! You're a wonder, m'dear, a wonder :)
Author's reply
Thanks!
I don't know that I've ever been called a wonder before!
Bodkin
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 6: And All the Little Children, that Round the Table Go
Pimpernel will never believe that Ferdi was just trying to get home to her and the little'uns. She'll be convinced that he wanted to try out every offer of alcohol available along the way. And he'll have enough mufflers to set up a stall in Tuckborough market.
And Pippin will never stop teasing him. (Which will be good enough for Ferdi! Just as long as he doesn't endanger his health any further.)
A true Took indeed.
Author's reply
Poor Ferdi. Even when he tells the truth it's so fantastic that nobody in their right mind would believe him!
Cousins. They have memories longer than elephants', and they never let you live things down.
Dreamflower
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 6: And All the Little Children, that Round the Table Go
Oh dear! He'll be first footing all the way home! *giggle* I can't imagine what kind of state he'll be in...
...*grin* but I'm sure you can!
Author's reply
First footing all the way home, what a picture!
But I think he beat the rush, and got all his drinking in early... Poor fellow, he really *doesn't* have a head for spirits. It's either *why* he drinks so little or *because* he drinks so little. Wonder which?
Of course, the longer it goes after midnight, the less chance of being "first" and so the less danger he's in... and a good thing, too!
demeter d
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 6: And All the Little Children, that Round the Table Go
Next one so soon! Again, just darling. By now perhaps he HAS intaken more than is good for him. We shall see how far he and that pony get this leg. It does seem like there are some very hospitable Hobbits around.They seem to be real little people that i would like to meet.
Author's reply
Well, I write from one to two hours a day, not always fanfic. In fact there are stretches where all the writing is for RL demands and there's no time for fanfic, and there might be a couple weeks in between updates. But when the RL workload eases off, I get to post a chapter a day in whatever story seems to be flowing at the moment.
I do find hobbits to be fascinating folk. Frustrating at times. But I think they have good hearts.
Larner
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 5: Putting his Foot in It
How wonderful to see Harlo and Birdie, and poor Ferdie, facing Fang and his own fears. Poor Hobbit! Heh!
And the deafness and repeated stories in stereo, and mulled wine--lovely, lovely descriptions.
Garnet Took
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 5: Putting his Foot in It
Poor Ferdi. This has got to be the strangest Yule he ever had. No. Wait. Forget I said that. We're talking about Ferdi after all. At least the dog was just protective of his masters. A good thing in their situation.
Hope there are no more difficulties in his way, but knowing Ferdi, there's a great deal to come.
Sorry I'm so slow reviewing. Now, I'm off to the next chapter.
GT.
Author's reply
LOL! It may be the strangest Yule to date. There may be a stranger one in the works, if he spends Yuletide in Gondor someday. Not sure about that yet.
Actually, the story is winding down. I had hoped to finish it by the weekend. We'll have to see.
I appreciate your taking time to comment!
Bodkin
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 5: Putting his Foot in It
And I quote from an Internet source:
In the UK, Darby and Joan is still a way to describe an elderly and mutually devoted married couple who live a placid and uneventful life, often in humble circumstances.
Author's reply
What a lovely description! Thanks!
Bodkin
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 5: Putting his Foot in It
Now, I always thought that Fang would be just the right name for a chihuahua. And Blossom for a rottweiler.
I don't blame Ferdi for being a bit offish at the sight and sound of dogs - his experience of them is Not Good.
And the mutual incomprehension of this bucolic Darby and Joan is most entertaining - four years' worth of First Footing gifts in one go? Although the four mufflers will come in handy.
I'm not surprised he gave up. But much more First Footing and he'll be in no condition to run any further!
Author's reply
I actually knew a chihuaha named Fang. He was named for Phyllis Diller's husband.
Must admit I never knew a rottweiler named Blossom. But I did know one named "Kewpie" (like the doll). AKA "Cutie Pie" and "QP". Go figure.
Darby and Joan?
Thanks!
demeter d
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 5: Putting his Foot in It
Well, he had thought about going First-Footing. And he was warmed, and fed, and a bit drier. Now if he only has not taken in so much wine that he can not remember the way home, he'll be all right. I giggled the whole way through this. Harlo and Birdie reminded me so much of Billy Crystal and Carol Kane's old couple in "The Princess Bride". And, a radio station in the city where we lived when my grown children were little used to play an original Christmas story about a couple on the American western frontier, starring a grumpy old man named "Harlow"! This brought back some memories.
Author's reply
I had forgotten about Billy Crystal and Carol Kane! What a hoot! I just might have to dig out "Princess Bride" again; it's been years since we watched it.
A grumpy old man called Harlow! LOL!
(But Harlo is anything but grumpy!)
Dreamflower
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 5: Putting his Foot in It
ROTFL! I nearly choked on my tunafish sandwich! *golly*wipes eyes*
I adore Harlo and Birdie! And Fang! (Do you suppose they've had Fang for four years? It would account for no First-footers all that time!) And I suppose it was lucky for Ferdi that it had *only* been four years.
And gee whiz, this exchange sounded familiar:
Birdie grabbed her husband by his shirt and pulled him closer to shriek into his ear. 'He needs something warm!'
'Nay,' Harlo said genially, leaning down to pat the hairy head of the dog. 'Fang'll do him no harm!'
Sounds like many a conversation with my late mother-in-law, LOL!
Author's reply
Shrewd guess. Fang is about five years old, I think... he probably wasn't quite so fearsome, his first Yule, but when he reached his full growth...
As to Harlo and Birdie, they came about because I was missing my brother more than usual.
My late brother was so very gifted at story telling. He could take the stalest old joke and breathe fresh life into it.
I still remember him going on and on about his hard-of-hearing coworker. Seems the guy had got a new hearing aid and was in raptures about how well it worked.
John said at last, 'Oh yeah? What kind is it?'
The guy looked at his watch and said, 'Oh, about two-thirty!'
He had us ROFL, literally.
harrowcat
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 5: Putting his Foot in It
I was grinning by the end of the first sentence! Fang indeed! Mind you, being so isolated the couple may need a big fierce dog!
Author's reply
Fang, indeed. Perhaps they ought to have named him Puff! *g*
I'd imagine the sons who are out tending the sheep feel better about leaving the old couple, knowing Fang is there.
Larner
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 4: The Game's Afoot
Aha--a Grip in the Northfarthing, eh? Poor Ferdi, bad luck appears to be raining down on him, along with the overflow from the clouds. What a way to spend the turning of the year.
Author's reply
This is really strange. I see you've written lots of reviews for this story, but I don't see any author replies. Did I reply, and did the replies get lost when the story was accidentally deleted during site maintenance? Or was I really that rude?
Looking forward to the visit!
demeter d
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 4: The Game's Afoot
Oh, dear! Poor Ferdi! Maybe if he is lucky, the owner of the hut owns all of those loose dogs, and can round them up! How very nice that he is as much worried about what the folks at home will think as he is about himself. Do go on, this is getting good!
Author's reply
Oops, missed replying to this.
Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Citrine
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 4: The Game's Afoot
Heh. Oatley reminds me of family stories about my maternal grandfather, except he would've talked a tin ear off about the virtues of mules, rather than pigs;o)
I'm glad to see another story about Ferdi, but uh-oh. I hope that big dog's bark is worse than his bite.
Author's reply
LOL, virtues of mules! Lovely!
I do think the dog's bite is as bad as his bark, or perhaps worse, but all he needs is a firm hand.
He's very much modeled after the dog my dh brought home from the Humane Society when we moved into an inner urban neighbourhood and dh had a job that took him away from home some nights.
Very vicious in appearance, and I had no doubt he'd rip chunks off of anyone who tried to get in the house when dh was gone. Fiercely loyal and protective of his family, though.
Funny how I miss the old brute.
Garnet Took
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 4: The Game's Afoot
Ferdi just can't win sometimes, can he? First wild dogs then one on the inside of his hoped-for refuge. Soemhow I don't think he's going to get a kind welcome there.
Thanks for the quick update.
GT.
Author's reply
Well, if it were up to the dog, he probably wouldn't. LOL!
(The dog is modeled on one I used to know and love... *g* and just as crotchety)
Dreamflower
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 4: The Game's Afoot
Oh dear! Poor Ferdi! I certainly called the "it pours" part right--literally!
I love that his concern is to get back in time to keep Pippin from coming out and searching for him. Once more we see the way hobbits in general tend to always think of others first.
And I am very curious to see what happens next.
Author's reply
It pours indeed, and in more ways than one...
Larner
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 3: Best Laid Plans
Oh, dear, misjudged himself, I think....
Hope Starfire will be able to keep him in the saddle.
Garnet Took
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 3: Best Laid Plans
Oh no! Now what has happened I wonder. I hope Starfire is all right. Ferdi does seem to have dreadful luck. For some reason I picture his theme song as "Gloom, Dispair and Agony On Me".
Please update soon.
GT.
Author's reply
O poor Ferdi! I have never heard that song. Good thing, probably!
Starfire is the sort who lands on his feet. Altho I do feel for him, bearing bacon and ham and smelly cheese and being something of a magnet for the attentions of stray dogs.
Dreamflower
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 3: Best Laid Plans
Oh dear, poor Ferdi--to use another cliche, it never rains but it pours, LOL!
I'm fascinated by your mention of Bolham. Have you ever mentioned him before? He sounds a lovely, Robin Hood-like OC. Be fun to hear a bit of his adventures.
Author's reply
We've been absolutely immersed in Robin Hood lately. Guess his spirit sort of sneaked into the story.
LOL!
harrowcat
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 3: Best Laid Plans
Oh, Lindelea! What a spot to leave him in! Do update soon please!