Patterns and Tones: Her Majesty's Sticky Wicket Croquet Club

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Her Majesty's Sticky Wicket Croquet Club

"Her Majesty's Sticky Wicket Croquet Club No. 1" 2016

It was a late summer's afternoon when Lady Christiane Cegavske paid us a visit. It had been some time since last we met and when I saw her raven hair, and her wry smile - I knew she hadn't changed a bit. Years before she left Los Angeles, Christiane had gathered a group of croquet enthusiasts and had inaugurated Her Majesty's Sticky Wicket Croquet Club. The games were usually played on rough terrain and preferably up hill in an unorthodox pattern.

Wikipedia states that "in the game of croquet, the phrase "sticky wicket" may refer to a hoop (wicket) that is difficult for a ball to go through because of the narrowness of the opening. This usage is confined to the United States." And in true form, each sticky wicket in Her Majesty's Sticky Wicket Croquet Club was strategically placed in a most difficult spot and bent into its proper shape.

Along with Lady Cegavske, who herself is unmatched in her creative outpouring of animated films and costumes, Her Majesty's Sticky Wicket Croquet Club was attended by the glorious mess of magic, Mr. Christopher Wonder and by Dr. Paul Koudounaris author of several books on burial chambers and resting places of the dead from around the world.

The game itself was enjoyed throughout the late afternoon and it was quite dark outside when I left the club playing in the failing light. There was a soft breeze blowing but you could tell the season was turning, reaching towards the darker nights ahead.

All ways here you see, are the Queen's ways.

Julie Green
October 22, 2016