Negotiating Fables

'Book of Moments' is a collection of overheard conversations from the Friday market in Totnes, recorded between 11th November and 16th December 2022. Both notebooks are handmade and bound in red canvas (10/11/22). Scroll right to see inside the left notebook...

Left notebook: a handwritten account of the fragmentary conversations that made it to the final draft (digital copy below).

Right notebook: the original. It contains all the 'lost' landscapes of places & conversations that didn’t make it. It remains shut in order to keep private details off record. It was burnt on January 1st, 2023.

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/ Book of Moments

Morning, morning you two.

I’ve been asleep, I need to be more awake with it.

It’s been a long time since we’ve been here mum…

[Seagull squawks from the rooftops]

Not that much sun comes here.

Something about you has become quite fixed.

[Bollywood music plays from a radio]

He’ll stay in a place for quite a while and then he’ll flip.

Thank you. Thank you.

No, no you’re right.

Just keep an eye on him, he does have some reservations.

Yes, yes that is an invitation…

He’s been in jail four times.

There’s something wrong about the timestamp…

As the woman gave me the book she glared at me.

Do you believe in free speech?

[Mobile phone rings]

I came onto Hinge through Magic Noah.

The best rice you can get!

[Coins in a box]

DAUGHTER!!

You can’t hold Caroline directly responsible for it.

[Coins in a pocket]

I had a lightning cable that worked like that…

Not spicy hot. If you hear my story… I have a sheep farm.

Ohh that’s a nice puffer.

You like that? This is the store I got the vintage clothes from. Quiet today.

[Cash register beeps] £5. Should we get these ones? That’s an outrageous amount, we don’t have space for that! I’m going to work for no money at all at this rate. [Inaudible voices] Hoi, hoi… I didn’t see you. I’m thinking if you want more for the week… I’m probably going away… so if you want more of something?

No, no it’s okay. Buy what you need for this, for this moment. Courgettes? I don’t know. Is it just easier for me to have my own basket? You’re staying until what, Sunday? Uhh yeah, I think so. I might leave Sunday. Maybe Monday. That’s my feeling for the moment.

[Vegetables weighed in a silver bowl. Rustle of brown paper bags.] It’s £1.98 for three pieces of chard. £1.98! It’s a bit much. It’s expensive, no? Hello, hello how are you doing?

My brain is mush. I really like the big ones. Ohh yeah, yeah no, I’m deciding whether to go for it or not. Or try to go back to West Pylos… Yeah, I can’t make my mind up yet. I’m halfway into buying some land… Whole box is £1!

Who was that? I met him at a rainbow gathering.

Should we get a box of bananas? Yeah, why not. [Low gurgle of a truck engine. A motorcycle passes up the high street.] We’ve got loads of lemons. Heya… [Female singing vocals accompanied by a guitar play from a radio.] Hi, can I help at all?

Thank you. I just wanted to see the prices. [Another motorcycle passes]

£3.50 there. Thank you. Is that crab over there?

That’s £6.50 there. Hello. Hi. Alright. Hake or haddock?

One hake fillet, please.

How much is the salmon for like one portion for a meal - average? An average portion? About £3.50. Not the cheapest salmon sadly these days. Unfortunately, salmon’s gone right up.

Card or cash today?

Would you like a receipt? Hello. £9 please. Lovely. Do you need a bag for that one? Biodegradable.

JASON. JASON.

Hiya. Onions on yours? [Crackle of meat on a spit] I have yes mate, I have, yes. I’ve gone burger mad. Everyone’s going for burgers. I’ve started a fashion haven’t I?

They went mad last week -- burger after burger after burger. Do you have any chicken thighs? Whatever’s there is there. If it’s there it’s there. No, it won’t be then. [Spatular on metal. Blood sizzles.] There’s a shop in Buckfastleigh that’s taking our meat now madam. Yes ma’am. We’ll tally it up. Sausage, bacon, peppered steak… traditional pasties: steak & stilton, steak & ale… Spanish sausage rolls, ohh yeah and chicken & vegetables… Sausage bap for this gentleman here. Yep. Afraid not, no. It’s really good value. I’ve only got brown rolls, is that okay? [Squeeze of ketchup]

There’s a new shop in Ashburton… If you go to the post office in Ashburton. By Buckfast Abbey. 4, 4, 4, 44, 4.

15,000ft no, no… it’s the highest you can go without oxygen. They do it at umm, umm. What’s the place called? 30 miles past Exeter. Umm. It’s about 150 quid. But brilliant. It’s extremely professional. But it was only a couple months ago. But the weather… you could see the Isle of White. 12 or 15,000ft is the highest you can go. It was absolutely unbelievable. I went with my daughter. She’s going to uni and all. But I wanted to be first out. If I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it. I wasn’t fazed. I’ve got to be honest, I wasn’t fazed. I did really enjoy it. But umm. I mean, just the falling out bit, I mean you just tumble…

That’s what you got to do lad.

Buy this little piece of silk up there.

[Car playing loud music passes up the road] Beautiful day. YOU ALRIGHT CHEEKY. [Women laugh]

I do 48hrs a week. I’m dying on shift.

Is this late lunch or an early dinner? It’s got the crema right. I’d say so. You know the underground car park?

Hi there…

Okay, alright. Late night? Her cakes are amazing! Lovely to meet you.

You know, if I’d done something… you know, but I didn’t.

How’s it going? I loved the range of accents - the scousers. It came like that!

Where is she?

Ahh, wow. I’ve got no cash John! I don’t think they take card.

Mum… Mummy!!!

Can I take a picture of you two?

Do you want to go that way or do you want a banana? [Murder of crows circle the sky. Christmas music plays.] We simultaneously forgot about the second child! You toerag! Do you want a chocolate or something? Should we go inside and get some warmth? We want to get walking and get the blood moving.

Don’t worry, I’m not a vegan. Everyone is so friendly here, isn’t it, it’s so nice.

How much is the boat?

I feel overdressed. I’m sorry, it’s £10 now? I’m quite happy with it. How are you doing? Yep, yep. I’m just doing my choosing.

Two sugars?

Ahh, the sun’s just disappeared. Alright, you paying for your own? Now, are you leaving that there?

Is he from the same place?

I shall think of you sitting languidly on your sofa… When we broke up… World Cup final Sunday. These are hand-painted by my uncle in Kashmir. I’m as warm as toast, I’ve been moving all morning. It’s funky, isn’t it?

Adios, Adios. It’s a lovely colour isn’t it? I’ll be back. It’s very old-fashioned. He used to be an engineer on ships.

Have a nice weekend! I’ve come all this bloody way to see you… Christ. Can you pick up those two little chairs? Ahh, bless her…

Aww, you’re a lovely man. Ahh yeah, it’s been busy at work. Daddy? Right here, right now? Here we are, sir. Can I please have a cheese twist? [Carol singers. Man plays a guitar.] These are £5, these are £8. Stars & moons are a three-piece set for £7. Oi! Hello.

This is the same but a different colour. Half the population of London is the population of Croatia. 4 million? 4 million is it? My stepmother is friends with her. £8.70 please. [Radio: …because it’s journalist work…]

Thank you! Thank you very much. I’ll be coming here again! That’s alright, I’ll be here. I’ll be back. It’s a long time since I’ve had one of those. There you go. There’s five and that’s ten. Have you seen the boat? [Dreams by Fleetwood Mac plays from a stereo] I’m in the market. Okay. You won’t get that for £1. I’m quite happy to hand it all over if they do want it… Ahh, I feel overdressed now. Yeah? Ask that guy… Ciao, ciao. We could get this on the way back. … that’s why I enjoy our conversations so much. Well these look like treasures don’t they?! Probably not tiny but small. These all I got left now. Don’t worry, nobody will know. Lovely, I’ll take those. That’s okay.

Thank you -- have a lovely Christmas! Right on! Right on! One cheese roll?

Happy Christmas! Have you got any shopping to do? So it’s dry under here… so you could set up here. Don’t worry, they’ll work around you. Then here…

Alright, thank you, have a good day.

Right, let’s find mummy. Yum! Okay, sweet. I’ll show you in a minute when we get some signal…