Vernacular typography No.2

I'm back briefly for my Friday vernacular typography series. Today is 'M. Evans', a sweet shop.

On first impression these letters look similar to last week's Estate Office but they are not quite in the same class. The M and E are OK, the V is a bit light but then the A completely loses its way. You can almost see what happened - the A might have been a reversed V shape but the thickness of the strokes prevented a sensible crossbar so the letter has been squared up and rounded off uncomfortably, leaving a domed shape that looks more like a helmet than a letter. The N, like the V is too light (compare it to the strokes of the M) and the S looks upside-down. Again there is a redundant full stop after the M - but the last painter forgot to paint it.

Nevertheless, this does convey the character of the quaint shop very well. I didn't actually venture in today, but judging from from past experience, inside you will probably meet an elderly lady (maybe she is the M for Mary) who will extract information from you something like this (responses left out)...

"Hello, - lovely day..."
"Shame about the wind..."
"And the rain..."
"Are you living nearby..."
"Oh yes - a lovely place...."
"Where would you be exactly..."
"So that would be ....'s house then...."
"So you will know Mary your neighbour?..."
"So, let me see... She will be P's cousin who married the sister of S"
"Oh yes - so you will be settling in just fine then?"
"Now.. So... Will it be just the bottle of water for now then?"

And by the time you reach home, Mary, P and S will have heard that you were in Bantry today, even without a phone call being made.

Sorry I have not been Blipping - I don't really have the head-space for it at the moment - and it does tend to intrude.