Why a FAIRY?

[Sheffield_Tiger]

I thought fairies were busy engaging in black market activities with children's milk teeth - not too busy to visit me this morning just to add that extra Monday feeling to an already hung-over beginning to the working week.

But why a fairy?

I'm sure mine was more of a goblin. Even a mischievous pixie perhaps? An imp or a sprite? Why do fairies want to go around being such a bloody nuisance?

Glad it was the back tyre though rather than front as I first felt something wrong hurtling down a dual carriageway at 35

 

[661-Pete]

I've wondered the same too. In my mythology, 'fairies' were supposed to be good folk, unlike 'pixies' or 'goblins' which were mischievous. Ah well, let's see what Wiki has to say:

The word fairy derives from Middle English faierie (also fayerye, feirie, fairie), a direct borrowing from Old French faerie (Modern French féerie) meaning the land, realm, or characteristic activity (i.e. enchantment) of the legendary people of folklore and romance called (in Old French) faie or fee (Modern French fée). This derived ultimately from Late Latin fata (one of the personified Fates, hence a guardian or tutelary spirit, hence a spirit in general); cf. Italian fata, Spanish hada of the same origin.

'Fate' eh? Well, perhaps it means we're all fated to have one of those wretched happenings, despite our best efforts...

 

[Tynan]

it's a nice idea to consider it a random visitation from a fantasy creature rather than a piece of something sharp and unpleasant ramming through your tyre

although the end result is the same

front flats aren't as scary as everyone goes on about, unless they blow out, there's still time

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

it's a nice idea to consider it a random visitation from a fantasy creature rather than a piece of something sharp and unpleasant ramming through your tyre

although the end result is the same

front flats aren't as scary as everyone goes on about, unless they blow out, there's still time

Don't need to tell me about front blow-outs..

..on sharp bends

I was much younger and more supple then thankfully, though the gravel rash to my left cheek was an interesting look

 

[hackbike 666]

Yup I've nearly come off due to front tyre p*nct*r*s.

 

[Trumpettom001]

I suppose that's one advantage of mountainbikes - a puncture on one is fairly benign... you'll find yourself thinking "odd - then suspention seems awfully soft all of a sudde.... oh wait"

 

[ufkacbln]

I see the propoganda has worked.......

Fairies, Faeries etc have always been "otherwordly" and their morals and standards certainly not the same as ours

Some of our great stories show how fickle the Faerie race is an example of this - take "Thomas the Rymer"

The best work is Robert Kirk's Secret Commonwealth and he should know as he fell foul of them:

ccording to the mix of legend and fact, Robert used to walk up Doon hill every day for exercise. On the 14th May 1692 he set of for his daily stroll but collapsed and died on the hill, his body being discovered later. The Reverend Patrick Graham, one of Kirk's successors in the early 19th century outlined what happened next. Apparently Kirk appeared to one of his family after his funeral and told him to go to his cousin, Graham of Duchray, and tell him that he was not dead. He had actually fallen in a swoon on the hill and been carried away to fairyland. His release could be obtained at the baptism of his posthumous child. He predicted that he would appear in the room at the baptism, and that Duchray should throw a knife over his apparition to release him from captivity. At the appointed time Robert Kirk appeared as predicted, but his cousin failed to throw the knife, either in terror or surprise, and Kirk left through another door. To this day he is said to be in the fairy realm, although others have suggested that he is now a mediator between the two worlds.

 

[hackbike 666]

Is that Captain Kirk?