The Therapy Zone

Sign Posts

   I know what you are thinking, what a damned, blood stupid subject for anyone to write an article on. Well of course signposts can be very useful when you want to find your way to the Labour Exchange, or the Town Hall, not to mention the Cafe, and Old People's Home. But what about the signpost "walk on the grass" it appears to be an invitation to demonstrate ones individuality, ones defiance against the village, when we all know the sign should read "don't walk on the grass."

   And what about the ridiculous signpost, "free sea," I mean what's it all about? I always thought the sea was free in any case! And is this sign indicating that the water in this pool and that of the fountain is salt water, taken from the estuary? If that is not the case, then this signpost is nothing but a meaningless mockery, and the most ridiculous signpost ever painted!

   Dennis Chinnery played the role of Gunther, one of the two gunrunners in the episode of Many Happy Returns. This is what he had to say regarding some "personal pain" during filming of a particular scene.

    "There was one sequence where Pat had to set fire to something. I had to come into the galley, as Gunther, and he caught me around the neck, and the idea was to strangle me and pull me along the corridor and put me in one of the cabins, which he did. On the first take the strength round my neck was so great that I thought "I'm going to pass out!". He's got so much energy and so much strength and he's thrown himself into the part so much, and he's got so much to do that I thought "I'm going! I'm going". Anyway I was Ok, but I thought I'm going to have to mention this to him, and I was very nervous and very worried about saying it to someone I didn't really know - I admired, but didn't really know to that degree, but I must because I knew he was going for a second take, and I thought it's going to happen again. Anyway I did pluck up enough courage and mentioned this to him, and he was so nice, and he said "I'm sorry about that. It's very unprofessional of me to do that. I should pull back on stunts like that. We shall go for the second take right now. And don't worry I'm sorry." And we went for the second take and it was fine. Perfect. So I've never forgotten how marvellous and professional he was."

   The Village's administration sees to it that no technology is wasted, that previous devices can be developed to a new use, such as the "Magic Box" pictured here. Basically it is a money box, when a coin is put in the slot the mechanism is activated, and a little hand comes out of the box, collects the coin and disappears back into the box, along with the coin. The "Magic Box" was adapted at once, and is now part of the security system in the Town Hall, to collect "Security Pass Discs."

    Yet more dramatic technologies have been developed right here in the Village. Electrical force fields which guard the entrance of the Town Hall, and security points within the Town Hall. Cordless telephones, automatic opening doors such as we see with 6 private and No.2's residence the Green Dome. Then there's the "Beam" which when used to disable "living things," such as a Pigeon which was brought down as I recall with the "Beam" set at minimum strength. I think the search team did very well in finding that one Pigeon, downed by the "Beam." Possib;y this was the electronic defence system invented by the Rook, who thought all nations of the world should ahve it, as it would have meant peace.

    Then there was the General, adapted for use here in the Village along with Speedlearn. Although the General was actually developed by the Professor. The "Sublimator" which is used in conjunction with Speedlearn, puts the information, subliminally, onto the cortex of the brain.

   The thing on the right of the "Sublimator" is a gyroscope,

    So you see, the Villages administration does not simply deal in information, but also relies upon technology, and allows nothing to go to waste that cannot be adapted for another use here in the Village. Take the Tally Ho newspaper dispenser for example. This device somehow puts me in mind of my old mum's washing mangle!

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