( haymaking in hungary )
Attila #2: ‘I am very lazy’
Day 6. 23 July 2004
Friday. I wake close to 6 o’clock with the remnants of a very, very weird dream – impossible to recount or describe – that I am sure can only have been brought on via an excess of lard.
It seems that I am not alone at still be sleepy after the night before. Atilla, himself, is having a lie-in, after he declares often that “I am very lazy”, and that that phrase, well, “It’s my favourite” (Attila #1). The tractor ride to the orchard soon shakes the remnants of any sleep from us, and by 6.30 we are warmed up and working with our scythes.
Most of the group head down to the lower, more open part of the orchard to finish off from yesterday. Helen, Jessica, Judy and I go with Imre to the top of he orchard and work beneath the old, twisted and knarled plum trees in the more orchardy part of the orchard. Prior to breakfast we are privy to Imre’s Scything Masterclass, wherein we learn how, when held correctly the upper, left hand should be close to the body and should not move much, but rather act as a pivet from which the scythe will move. The right hand meanwhile should be pushed forward, close to the ground, taking small, incremental cuts as you shuffle forwards. It’s also easier to cut grass when the dew is still fresh…
Have you thought about writing non-fiction travel articles for magazines? There’s definitely a market for that sort of thing, and you write about your travels extremely vividly, with lots of carefully-observed details that I’m sure would go down well in print…
You really thing it’s good enough…?
Travel writing? Do you think my kind of “travelogue” would be that interesting for other people to read? They don’t say so much about the country and the people do they… then again, I guess Bill Bryson doesn’t say that – just tells little stories… Maybe it’s something I need to think about? Do you know of any magazines that publish that kind of thing?
Re: You really thing it’s good enough…?
Yes, I do think you could work your travelogues into essays. A lot of litmags like what is fashionably termed ‘creative non-fiction’, and with the little story-like elements I think you could turn your travel experiences into really great essays. I’m thinking of magazines like the London Magazine and Stand, just off the top of my head; also you might even consider writing for some of the ‘popular’ magazines – magazines like (don’t laugh!) The Lady and People’s Friend regularly publish travel articles. Definitely something to think about!
Cool – Gömörszőlős sounds unreasonably attractive! 🙂
And I agree about the travelogue idea – expanding and polishing would be needed, of course, but the the way you write about the things you write about could appeal to all kinds of magazines.
I think I’m going to have think about this idea seriously. I shall finish the holiday write up first!