She smiled, beckoning from the shop window. Most fetching. Inexpensive. I succumbed. Once inside, an assistant described the moulded piece as polished cement. Black polished cement. And the lady was called
el gordo negra (beautiful black fat lady). The woman made her sales pitch, "Spanish derivation. From Brazil". Brazil? Spanish? Portuguese? Whatever. "Only one sold per district," the clincher. Home went
el gordo negra to reside in pride of place beside the Chinese jade. Great contrasts.
A month later an identical moulding turned up as a door stopper at the local butchery. Our 'beautiful black fat lady' moved house immediately to the orchid igloo where she lingered many summers in the company of beautiful blossoms. Hot and steamy like the rain forests of Brazil. In this shot, the beloved
el gn accompanies an old Aussie favourite. An orchid named
Dendrobium Gatton Sunray. Yellow Oncidium orchids
Thai Dancing Ladies tickle her toes.
