General Chat

indeed that was Jessie Matthews, Petunia dear, and she didnt only throw her cares over her shoulders. Indeed no. She drank as well !! like a fish, so I heard.

Oh yes. Fancy being a nosy old bat always poking her fingers and her nose into other peoples' business. Who does that remind you of? I do remember my dear lady Mama commenting about something that her own Mama had said to her, in particular about those who joined the police force to catch criminals. Of course, Grandmama was born in 1883 and things have changed - but Grandmama said "it takes one to know one".

Shall we spend Valentines Day alone together? Forget Patrick, the rogue that he was. Dont wear your brooch. Let us paint the town red instead. Wear your warmest fake fox furs, persuade Pat rish aaaah to crank up the tuktuk on a cold frosty night, and we shall be two merry old dears down at the Old Bull and Bush. I hear they do quaite edible carveries now, since Mr Jugg took over the establishment. If Beatrice's prominent adams apple isnt too worn out from all that deep singing she does, perhaps she could meet us there.

I was so genteel I didnt have pockets in my drawers, but my drawers were firmly shut every night to keep the dust out, and still are. It cuts down on the dusting, if drawers arent left open. And I have never been obliged to remove boogers in person, I blow my nose most discreetly then dispose of the evidence hygenically. Also, I know how to use my sleeve most discreetly when I have run out of freshly laundered lace handkerchiefs.

Oh what a to do. Another heeBay purchase has arrived in a smashed condition, because the idiot seller put the breakable item into a plain brown envelope and didnt even write Fragile on the envelope, instead of wrapping the item in bubble wrap and putting it into a protective cardboard box. This means a second fight to get my money back, and another trip to the post office to return the damaged item to the sender. I hope he she or it reads my message soon and supplies the return address and agrees to a full refund, but to be on the safe side I have reported this latest "smashing" incident to heeBay customer service. I hope there wont be a third incident, there was something else I had my beady eye on.

What sort of sender uses plain brown envelopes ........... !!

Good evening dears.

Oh dear Cherry, Mrs Dale Diary. That was that Jessie Matthews who threw her cares over her shoulder, I do believe. She was always worried about Jim. And generally made a nuisance of herself. Always trying to help some poor soul. What a nosey woman she was. Imagine being like that!!!!!!

As usual dear Upsidedown Susan, I shall be spending St Valentine's Day in quiet solitude. I shall be reflecting on times gone by. Imagining what might have been with my own True Love. Of course I shall wear the cameo brooch, and maybe break out a small bottle of fizz to toast him. That was of course before that trollop Juana got her mitts onto him. That was when he was young, fearless and handsome. That was in my salad years, when I was a beautiful young gel, with the world at my feet. That, that, was a long, long time ago.........................Sobs.

Now, of course I feel I must clear up a little thing Cherry. We are, of course, all genteel Cherry dear. We are all well brought up young gels. We know when to tuck a napkin into our collar, to save ourselves from slipping soup. We know when to tuck our lace edge hankerchief into the pocket of our drawers. We also know how to discreetly remove a boogedy from our nostril without drawing attention to ourselves. We know when to be vocal, and when to be silent. We are ladeeeeeeze!!!!

Do let us know how the arrangements are going on dear Susan. Let us get excited together!

I hope you are not working too hard dear Teresa. I bet you have seen a fair few fractures over the past few weeks, have you not? Where is your fruit now dear? Still somewhere warm, lucky gel!!!!

I shall retire early tonight dears, there is to be football on the television tonight. No doubt the noisy neighbour will be yelling his head off!!!! How common!

I have an orchid coming into bloom dears, I cannot remember the colour, so that will be an exciting surprise.

Toodle
Auntie Petunia

Susan I have a scanned image of a plate-type photograph, I dont remember the proper name of these things. The scanned quality wasnt very good although the man's face is clear-ish, and I put the image through Photosuite but there wasnt much real improvement. I think its wonderful that some of these plate pictures have survived to the present day.

Valentines Day? what is that please. Are husbands meant to do something nice for their wives??? ;-) Mine wouldnt know what Valentines Day was if it hit him on the head.

I went to another antiques fair this morning, and found a red spill vase which is a fair match for one I already owned, its a little higher than my original one (which was found at a school jumble sale many years ago) but is the same style and colour, so I'm happy with it. I saw a lovely citrine pendant, I have long wanted one, but as the price was £60 I decided to leave the moths in my wallet. A sign on another stall made me chuckle - it read "Haggle spoken here". I only ever achieved Interim level Double Dutch. However, I know quite a few people who speak Advanced Double Dutch.

I hope this coming week doesnt find you working too hard. Do eat sparingly, to make sure you can still get into your MoB outfit on The Day !!!
*ducks* :-D :-D :-D

Morning Ladies,

Genteel ?. Not sure that word fits 'moi'..... I too like your new picture Petunia. You sure have a large collection. My Mama has one of a long lost relative, it is actually pre paper photos. It is a plate type picture, mounted in a small box behind a glass plate. Most interesting and very old.... Don't ask me exactly how the gentlemen is related to me.

CC, glad you went for the Chinese and I didn't end up cooking the lamb. We went next door for chicken instead. The lamb will be cooked tonight.

Tis Monday again so that means back to work I go. Why is it Monday comes around so quickly?. Answers on the back of a postcard please. :-).

Ladies, are you expecting a Valentines this 14th?... My Oh and I don't bother. Many years ago, OH sent me some long stemmed roses. Well, they arrived in a long black box with a cellophane window, looked like a b**%y miniature coffin, still makes me shudder. Ungrateful wench that I am. Oops, I knew genteel is not me :-D... Now we do not celebrate the day with gifts, far too commercialised. That said, fruit will deliver flowers for the local florist as an extra earner.. :-).

~~~~~ to Lesley, you are conspicuos ( spelling? ) by your absence dear. I hope all is well with you and yours?.

~~~~~ to Teresa, are you well again now?. I hope our current weather holds for your fruit :-).

Time to get on with my day,

toodle pip
Susan

I just noticed the amendment, Petunia dear - a Genteel Tale of Everyday Life. Are you trying to match Mrs Dale's Diary?

BTW - I do like your new dress. And the distant pose makes you look much younger, slimmer, and more elegant. But the expression on your face looks as if the dog had just mistaken your leg for a sapling !! :-D

corrrrr a chinese take away? I don' 'alf fancy some prawn balls with lashings of sweet n sour sauce, or pork balls would do. And a portion of egg fried rice, with lashings of sweet n sour sauce ...... its been years since I had a chinese take away, ever since I had to go on that strict hospital diet. I believe this is the Year of the Snake? Shall we be slithering to the dining table? Should I wear a kimono or a cheongsam?

*clears throat and trills* THREE LITTLE MAIDS FROM SCHOOL ARE WEE-EEE ......... *chokes*

Talking of broken china - I ordered a very expensive (well, expensive to me) Carlton ware three leaf dish, and the idiot seller sent it wrapped in a piece of paper, second class recorded, and the sorting office managed to smash this plate into many pieces. All because the idiot seller was too lazy (and he admitted it himself) to go out and buy some bubble wrap and use an adequate cardboard box. He put the dish in a sheet of paper in an old dog dried food carton. I am devastated and no exaggeration. These dishes are whilst not quite rare, very hard to come by. The seller has agreed to refund the money I paid, following agreement that I return the broken pieces to him so he can make a claim against Royal Mail. I hope the refund offer includes the return postage. Or there will be trouble, and I will make it.

Well I think I shall toddle off to the kitchen and put the kettle on and make a nice pot of tea. What biscuits would you like Petunia? Bath Oliver? or Bourbon creams, or Niece? What's that dear? Nice? yes dear, biscuits are Nice.

Thank you dear Cherry, I do not drink Milk. So I will not get off my horse to drink it!!!

I am still a little chafed by the leather harness, and I dont think I will every sing contralto again. Beatrice has nothing to worry about. A soprano is more in line I think.

Dear Upsidedown Susan, it is a little time since I bought anything from dear old M & S. They do not have the selection of sophisticated colours anymore. I do not know who they are catering for, but I think it is colour blind 15 year olds. We are in shocking pinks and citrus colours this spring, apparently! Tutty tut.

Thank goodness I have kept up with the insurance, my china seems to have diminished since dear Cherry arrived. I keep seeing tiny fragments of porcelain on the hallway, but not the actual objects.

As it is Chinese New Year, I shall be ordering a banquet from The Lotus Blossom tonight. Alas, I think we will be sitting at the dining room table, rather than the cushions and low table. My predicament will not allow me to sit on my knees, I may not get up again.

Pouring over the menu. Delicately wiping the corners of my mouth.

Auntie Petunia

what's that dear? you still feel like you're walking like John Wayne?
the hell ya do !!!!!
:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

well Petunia dear, I suppose your recent experiences make you the oldest swinger in town ....... ;-)
*proffers dear Petunia a Mars bar*
I must say dear, that is a lovely little Shepherd & Shepherdess Meissen ornament you have in the passageway of the West Wing. I mean, that WAS a lovely little Meissen ..... dont worry dear I have swept up the pieces and hidden them in a drawer in case Mrs Danbury is around.


M&S often have sales Susan, but anything I'm interested in is rarely in the sale, or if it is in the sales, it is rarely in my size.
As Mrs Berry is having the day orf, I am jolly well beetling over to yours for some yummy roast lamb din-dins. I'll help with the washing up. I have a smashing technique for clearing dirty dishes :-D
Many years ago I was pottering in the garden when I disturbed a huge black spider, up to that point I'd never seen such a big one. Whilst Wagon Wheels have diminished in size down the years, and ceilings are lower than they were when I was two years old, I swear that spiders and wasps have grown larger.

Petunia,
Better to have ridden a horse than eaten one :-D..... I wish I had been a fly on the wall in the chapel.. Lordy, what a picture you paint.. Scotchbrite? Ye gads, imagine the stir you could have caused...
I do not like meeses, and I like spiders even less. Yesterday while gardening, I was scratching amongst a rocky garden, collecting fallen leaves barehanded.. Next thing a HUGE spider ran out of the foliage... I have never seen such a large spider in our garden. I, err, dealt to the spider. No doubt it will rain soon :-(.

CC, your dinner sounded interesting, though hold the olives :-S, dreadful things...
A rumble through M&S sounds fun. Do they have sales on now before the Spring fashions emerge?. I have not bought any clothes at all this season... :-(. Oops, bar my posh frock of course.

Our dinner out last night was very nice, we sat outside for quite a while then retired inside to eat. Yesterday was a gloriously beautiful day. May we have many more before the season changes. :-)

Tonight I am cooking a leg of lamb :-). Delicious. I will have to make a trip to the supermarket to purchase a few root vegetables. Of course they are sky high in price at the moment. Such is life. I shall invite fruit and partner over, though fruit doesn't eat lamb so I may need to cook a piece of chicken :-(.

Better get moving, OH is outside washing the old car, I have a bench full of dishes that need dealing too. Then there is the ironing, cleaning the windows and whatever else I can be bothered to do.

Tis true, a womans work is never done.

Toodle pip,
Susan :-)

Enters the thread, legs akimbo. Very much as if one has just dismounted from an 'orse!!!!

Oh dear, if I knew then what I know now, I would not have offered to help clean the rafters, polish the gargoyles or dust the vaulted ceiling. Are you sitting comfortable ladies? Then I shall begin.................................deep breathe!

Well, there I was this morning, bright and early, standing outside the church, waiting for the other ladies. Not that I have to wait to be let in, as you know, I have a key. But there is something spooky about that church, that I cannot go in alone. Maybe there is something afoot. Usually about 12 inches! titters.

We made ourselves a refreshing cup of tea, and allocated our jobs for the morning, then the men with the Equipment arrived. Great strapping lads they were. At least that is what we expected. But no. Just two elderly gentlemen, and some ropes, harnesses and pulleys that had seen better days.

I decided that since I was Organiser in chief, that I should go up first, and clean one of the fresco's on the upper wall. It is the Last Supper, and extends over 20 feet, I fully expected to just give it a quick whisk over with a scotchbrite, but was informed that it took meticulous cleaning with proper solvents, and cotton buds. Blow that for a game of soldiers, thought I. So I decided that some of the wooden carvings could do with a flick over with a feather duster.

Good job I was wearing my bloomers, that is all I can say. I was trussed up like a chicken ready for the oven, and then connected to a rope, which was connected to a pulley. One, two, three and up I went into the air. Do you know? When looking up, it is never as high, as when looking down. They fastened the rope, and I swung there. Not wishing to waste any time, I began cleaning, and polishing. These carvings had not seen a duster since they were first placed there. Mouse droppings as well. Ugh, Now I know that hickory, dickory, dock is true. Meeeeses can climb!

Satisfied with my lot, I motioned to be let down. I motioned again, not wishing to look down. When I did. Everyone had gone to tea! So there I was, swinging. The harness cutting into my btm, and my upper leg. One does not use the word...........thighs. And I waited. And I waited.

Half and hour later, I was lowered to the ground. My head swam, and my legs had turned to jelly, and my feet had pins and needles. And I came to earth with a bump. No amount of tea could make me feel better, and so I left in the tuk-tuk.

Do you know? I swear there was a slight smile of both Pat-trish-aaaah's and Cherry's face as I hobbled in. I am very, very sore!!!!

I feel just like John Wayne.

Mortified
Auntie Petunia

Good evening all !! After an afternoon visiting two emporiums - The Range, and Hobbycraft - my credit card began feeling the strain and I had to return home ... and here I am now, with a cup of Redbush tea, warming the cockles of my heart. And probably in the nick of time as night has fallen, and the rain started persisting down as well.

Petunia do please be careful dear when you clamber up on to the rafters dear, couldnt you persuade Pat rish aaaah to do the dusting?? Trusses ??? surely the roof doesnt have a hernia?

No I never watch Mr Bruce Willis, if I can avoid it. The thought of him not wearing a vest ... no, perish the thought.

I wonder what Mrs Berry is cooking for our dinner tonight ....... I rather fancy a thick meaty broth with pearl barley and dumplings; followed by baked apples and custard.

Stop Press .... Martin Clunes has confessed that he would love to be in Downton Abbey. Well, Lady Mary is going to need a new love interest, isnt she, after she has recovered from her bereavement of course. :-D :-D

Good King Dick.................doesn't have a ring to it, does it?

Almost as bad as the catchline from Dick Whittington, but we will not go down that road. Not will it be paved with gold!!!!!

I am sitting here watching CDWM. There is a young man who cannot wear a shirt. He is walking around in a vest..........................apparently showing his non existent muscles. He is very pleased with his little self! How deluded he is!!!

Talking of vests, did you see that nice Mr Willis the other night. I cannot quite make up my mine if he was being rude, or ironic.

I may be missing tomorrow dears, I am dusting the rafters of the roof, apparently it involves trusses and pullies. I shall let you know how I get on.

Pip Pip
Auntie Petunia

Come along now Petunia dear, you can wear your normal clothing. I am fully recovered.

Now let me out of my room !!! The sneezing is not infectious, its caused by dust motes because Pat rish aaaah keeps scarpering off to Essex instead of doing the cleaning.

*hears door being unlocked". Aah, that's better.

Petunia dear, I accidently opened a letter addressed to you. It is from a gentleman called Richard Plantaganet Broome Rex, who writes that he has been framed for murders he did not commit. He has just been released from prison and will no doubt be seeking compensation for his long incarceration. However, he hopes you will read his letter and advise him on how to reveal the true killer who he believes to be a gentleman who bears the name Henry Tudor and was considered by many to be an upstart but Henry took over the company that Richard had previously run.

Richard is of excellent breeding, descended from forebears of excellent breeding.

Henry however was not so well bred, so he married a lady whom all considered to be well born (and she should have run the company after Richard). Alas her mother was quite common and as if this wasnt bad enough Henry's bride's father (Edward Four) was not his fathers son but the son of a peasant who Edward's mother met in Rouen. This was well hushed up at the time and only came to light when someone went poking through French parish records. Richard however was the true son of his father and had every right to inherit his father's mantle, had Henry not ousted Richard and taken over the company.

As if things werent bad enough for Richard, Henry and his "not so regal" wife had four offspring who went on to run the company, giving themselves Heirs & Graces, when in reality they were descendants of that lowly peasant through their mother's father, Edward Four.

One of these offspring was called Margaret, and she was married off to James Stuart and its her reputed descendant who is in charge of the firm today, so as you can see it is a very long-established family business - except, that Margaret Tudor Stuart herself was a descendant of that peasant - which means that the CEO of the business may also be descended from that peasant.

What is Richard to do, he asks, should he warn the current CEO, or should he just let the matter go. And how can he prove that Henry Tudor committed the crimes?

Well Petunia dear, I am inclined to believe Richard is innocent. He sent a recent photograph, and I think he is rather handsome. What do you think?

good evening ladies, a rather damp one where I am. No, not that. It's spitting with rain outside.

Thanks Susan for your kind get well wishes. As things turned out, it was just a 12 hour virus, so dear Teresa will not be troubled. I couldnt believe how it went, from waking up yesterday morning feeling very ill and "virusey", then following an afternoon nap starting to feel better very quickly. This morning, I was my usual self, and after lunch I shifted my buns and did the banking, fetched some shopping, and ran various errands which mainly comprised of wandering in and out of charity shops. And, naturally I inspected M & S as part of my regular stock rotation audit !!! :-D

My poor garden is suffering from the excesses of winter. Never mind, spring will be sprung very soon, because my bluebells are peeking through. Do enjoy your Dinner Out on Saturday.

To answer your question, OH cooks the occasional meal. If he hadnt been willing to cook I would have starved last year when I got back home from hospital following my operation. My Dad used to cook, and dont tell my dear lady mamma but I preferred Daddy's roast potatoes to mummy's!! Dad's special recipes included a meaty broth with pearl barley and dumplings, and his baked apples stuffed with sultanas, and custard, were to die for.

Guess what I am eating tonight. No not duck a l'orange. I fancied a bread pizza. One crust of bread, topped with Sliced mushrooms, carrots, sweetcorn, green beans, covered with cheese, and grilled to melt the cheese. With a "side serving" of pimento stuffed olives. Yumm!! I havent done one of these in ages.



Thank you Teresa for the chicken soup. I hope the Rabbi blessed it first before I ate it. Lochshen soup has long been considered most beneficial in helping to cure ailing people. No doubt it was the soup that restored my equilibrium. But I think the strepsils I sucked yesterday morning played a part too :-) Not to mention your excellent nursing skills.

Perhaps its a case of physician heal thyself? I hope both your and FTY are soon recovered. But, you didnt catch anything from me.

Following on from the shaking and shivering, and ice cold feet, of yesterday morning, I have today purchased a pair of M&S ankle slippers. MFH considers them to be quite "lairy" but none the less he put them on my feet as I was struggling to "get down there".

The Dreams were back in force last night. One was influenced by family tree research. The other involved a puma in the back garden. And I hadnt even been eating magic mushrooms. After my Bread Pizza, I wonder what I will dream about tonight ....... ;-)

Dons surgical mask. Green gown, and white gum boots.

Oh dear all these germs, I will not allow them to penetrate the walls of Motie Towers.

I have locked Cherry in her room, I can hear her sneezing behind the closed door. My ear trumpet has picked up dear Teresa too. I will not have illness in these quarters.

I shall send Pat-trish-aaaah to tend to you both. She seems to know her way to Essex well enough now. Just make sure you send her back again. In a decent skirt!!!!

Very cold today, I have been peeking from beneath an alpaca blanket, I cannot bear the cold weather, and would seriously hibernate if I could.

I am pleased you are comfortable with the outfit dear Upsidedown Susan. I would hate to do anything that would mar the Big Day. Counting down now dear. I am soooo excited.

Take care in this inclement weather dears, mind out for webbed tootsies.

Pip Pip
Auntie Petunia

My OH does a good fry up and Christmas dinner Susan, he once made toad in the hole, the toad was raw and the hole burned.

Humph the bad fairies are here. I to am under par, FTY has passed his devils germs on to me, I am armed with vic, tissues and many cups of tea. I will cook a hearty turkey casserole tonight to ward orff the flipping thing.

Hope you are feeling a bit better Cherry dear, sending some cyber chicken soup down the hatch.

Teresa :-D

Good evening ladies,

CC, I trust you are feeling 99.9% by now. We can't be having you under par.!! Plus Teresa doesn't tolerate illness :-D.

I have been out in the much neglected garden again today. Oh dear, I am feeling ashamed of myself.. I have filled the trailer with cuttings so have come to a halt for now. I need to get a bit of colour into the garden tout suite... I think the seasons may be against me. Too late to plant summer annuals and possibly too early for Autumn plants. It is a beggar being a 'reluctant' gardener. Oh for a greenfingered fairy to pop into my life :-).

I am a little cross, today I received my order of cookbooks (paid for ), three ordered ( one each for me, and each fruit). Two only in the parcel. :-|. I have emailed the supplier and will wait for their response.. Luckily I had kept the order confirmation. Tis a cookbook full of healthy recipes... Pretty pictures ;-).

I have just opened the book at random and lo, a recipe for Brussel sprout medley. A hot salad by the looks , yum indeed. I will have to wait until winter for fresh sprouts. I can't imagine my OH will eat the salad.

Oh and I have been invited out for dinner on Saturday evening, hurrah, one meal I don't have to cook... Any meal I don't have to cook tastes delicious !!. Ladies, do your OH's ever cook?. I don't think my Papa ever cooked a meal for us either. I have one friend whose OH does most of the cooking. What a luxury.

As my tummy is rumbling, I had best get on with preparing our evening meal.

Have a pleasant day :-)

Susan

good afternoon ladies. I have been cosssetting myself today. I got up this morning, and shortly afterwards went back to bed as I felt rather poorly. Inbetween the reclines I pottered and did dusting and laundry of which I have much to catch up on. I was supposed to do shopping and banking today but I figured that one day in bed now, might prevent several days in bed later. I had a nap this afternoon and started to feel a little better but am still not feeling 99.9%.
Dont worry about my washing Teresa - nothing goes outside to blow in the breeze, because it comes back in covered in blackfly, the joy (not) of living near a river.

Glad you are up and running Cherry, be careful the washing doesn't blow orfff the line. If your wind is as bad as ours is here you could be having problems retrieving your garments :-D


Teresa