The world of the books
Little Muddlebury
A green with a duck pond, a post office and tea shop, a farm with a very muddy field, a stone bridge over the brook, a show ground on Steep Hill, and the seaside at Muddlebury-on-Sea twenty minutes away.
The village
A green with a duck pond, a post office and tea shop, a farm with a very muddy field, a stone bridge over the brook, a show ground on Steep Hill, and the seaside at Muddlebury-on-Sea twenty minutes away.
The Old Depot
On the edge of the village: Nissen huts, a workshop and a fuel pump nobody uses any more. This is where the young ones live and work.
The Heritage Yard
Next door to the depot: a small museum with a rope barrier and a very proud sign. Home to the three elders, who have seen everything and are the ones the young ones go to for advice.
Jobs, not ranks
Carrying, pulling, towing, rescuing, delivering, exploring, floating, climbing, snow-clearing and running the village show. Every job is one a real owner would recognise from a rally or a show field.
How to spot a Green Machine
Eyes on the windscreen, never in the headlamps. Mouth on the grille or bumper. Rosy cheeks. Real markings kept as decoration: stars, roundels and registration plates. Painted in loose watercolour over fine ink line, among hedgerows, poppies, dry-stone walls and church spires.
Some familiar faces
Harry
New in the village, eager, and can't fit anywhere.
AM General HMMWV (Humvee)
Wolfie
Calm, sensible, everyone's older brother.
Land Rover Wolf (Defender XD)
Henri
Willy's French cousin: polite, and romantic about lunch.
Hotchkiss M201 (French-built Jeep)
Fiona
Very kind, organised, counts heads.
FV432 personnel carrier