General Chat

Pottering around in the parlour when there is a dull thud on the ceiling. Rushes to the Stannah and glides elegantly upstairs to the Primrose Room.

Cherry dear are you all right dear? I thought I heard your dainty footsteps on the highly polished parquet flooring dear. Cherry, are you there dear? Hello? Hellloooooo!

Pat-trish-aaaaaah! Come and get your delicate shoulder on this door and bash it in. I will not have any unpleasantness in my house.

Aaaaah, that better, what a strong gel you are dear, to be sure.

#rushes over to dear Cherry, who is lying postrate on the floor with foam coming from the corner of her mouth#

Cherry dear, speak to me, speak to me dear. what is wrong? Tell you dear friend what has befallen you. Yes dear, I will come closer, and yes you may whisper in my ear.....................................Oh I say dear! That is very unpleasant..............do you think I shall get the stain of regurgitated mushrooms from my chiffon blouse?

Buck up dear, I need to get to the Closing Ceremony immediately, if not sooner.

Pat-trish-aaaaah.....................bring the Castor Oil.

Praying I do not smell of digestive acids
Auntie Petunia

Well dinner was very nice thank you Mrs Beaver, it is a long time since I have had a fish sandwich. But seeing as you live near the River, then fish it must be...........

I walked Cherry back to the lampost and she said that I should get a new battery for my hearing trumpet. Cheeky madam.

She said her name was Sherry. Sherry baby, and that she was a friend of Frankie. Makes a change from a friend of Dorothy I suppose.

Here come my dear friends Susan, Edmund, Lucy and Peter traising along with their fur coats. I shall tell them of the imposter. No lashing of ginger pop and potted shrimps for her I'll be bound.....................

oh how strange ....... I shut myself in THAT wardrobe, against my better judgement after what happened before but I was anxious to escape Petunia and the rolling pin. Its made of marble, doncha know, so packs a heavy punch in the wrong hands. Having said that - Petunia has never used a rolling pin to cook with in her life.

Well, the next thing I knew, the wardrobe door was opened, and Petunia's delicately shod feet entered and I was kicked, yes kicked, against the back of the wardrobe and the wood parted and I fell through the gap and into another dimension, or so it seems. This must be the land of Oz because I can see a little girl wearing ruby slippers (I trust the rubies were supplied by Swarovski), and a cowardly lion and a tin man.

Oh look at all the mushrooms, which reminds me ... I had to miss my supper so I am very hungry. I will pick one mushroom and just take one one little biiiiii ........

*thud*

CC

#stands under the lampost in the Snow. My goodness it is cold out here, I just hope that I can find somewhere to hide if The White Witch comes along on her sleigh, now what is the time? I am sure I was to meet Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter under the lampost..................I hope they manage to keep themselves warm............if only Aslan was here, he would know what to do..........

Hello, I can here footsteps coming along the wooden flooring, then the soft scrunch as the snow meets the boards.

Is it Susan, she said she would like an adventure again................
Hello? Hello? Is it you Susan?

Oh my! If my name was not Tumnus, I would swear I was the white rabbit............

It IS someone in a fur coat, but not either Susan or Lucy!

Tell me dear, what is your name?

Oh, Cherry? I see..............well now you are here, shall we go and have supper with Mr and Mrs Beaver?

Walks purposefully off in the direction of the Riverbank..........................

*running up to the attic, poste haste*

puff pant ... now Petunia dear, do put that rolling pin down - the tea towel was Susan's suggestion and I was just following her advice. We are old friends are we not? pant puff ... I hasten to stress the word "old" is more appropriate in your case than in mine. puff pant ... what happened to all the other parasols you had made to your exact requirements the last time you went away. pant puff ... oh I think the only place I will be safe tonight is in THAT wardrobe ....... I hope I do not have another experience like the last one. That was some "trip" indeed. :-D

*falling over one's own feet, and shuts the wardrobe door
Oh - its all dark in here ! :-S
CC

Good evening dear Friends,

I have taken a dar orft from the Village, as the Closing Ceremony is tomorrow and I want to cut a dash in front of The World.

I have been buying for the Cruise today. As you probably know I get most things made to measure, or at least made to my exact requirements.

I think I have spoken before of a dear little Emporium in New Oxford Street that makes walking stick, parasols and umbrellas. They know me very well down there, and are always pleased to see me. They know I like individual attention, and possibly that is why when I enter the premises they disappear to the back room so that I have the Owners sole attention. Preens.

I have ordered two parasols, one dainty umbrella, I cannot abide these great golf efforts, and a feminine walking stick, for when we go ashore. I always think it add a touch of class to hold a walking stick. Plus it has the added advantage of whacking the locals when they try to foist their tat onto you at the harbour.

I then ventured into New Bond Street to the bootmaker. Do you know it is very rare to get high-buttoned boots these days. I have had a slightly lower one cast and the last will be ready in a couple of days. Then they will make my requirements from kid-leather. I do not hold with 'breaking in' shoes, they should be soft enough when bought. I have returned many shoes that do not bend with my feet, therefore my tootsies are like a childs. No callouses, corns or hard skin.

Then to the Milliner for my sun bonnets. I think a feminine panama hat will suit for the hotter climes. I have also ordered a fur hat for if it gets chilly in the evening. I do not know if it is PC anymore, I seem to remember someone throwing a cup of coffee over me the last time I wore my fox stole...............

Have a lovely holiday dear Teresa. Keep up the medal winning dear Upsidedown Susan, your athletes have such lovely fresh faces. It must be all that fresh air.

Lesley, just keep doing what you are doing.................doting. It will keep you young.

Cherry, I am sorry if I am confusing you with my requests. Surely you know the difference by now.....................we are old friends. No?

Now, the put my purchases away, I shall take them into the parlour first. How strange, Cherry did not say she had bought a new Standard Lamp. How very artistic, a female form with a tea towel for the lampshade. I shall just try it out.

Oh no....................................my poor Pat-trish-aaaaah what have they done to you?

Hunting Cherry down with a rolling pin.................

Auntie Petunia

Have a lovely holiday Teresa. Put your feet up and relax and fret not over those of us who are left behind ....... ;-)

CC

hello Susan, I was watching a tv show which claimed that up to about the end of the 18thC tattooing was the "preserve" of the upper classes. But, when the lower orders starting emulating and aping their betters, the upper echelons decided that tattooing was decidedly outre.

My cousin came back to the UK for a holiday and her husband accepted a beer from one's first husband. Coz's OH took one sip then said "Oh - its COLD" - and MFH replied "well of course it's cold". Apparently everywhere else that Coz's OH had been to, he'd been given warm beer and had concluded everyone in Britain drank warm beer. Not in my house they dont, one does have some standards.

*rushes off to find a table cloth to throw over Pat rish aaah's head.
CC

hello Lesley, it's always nice to find a fellowette with whom I have things in common. No not Chiswick Common, I mean points of view. Each "younger generation" will do it their way I suppose. In my day it was winkle picker shoes and beehive hairdos and fully flared netted skirts. Mind you I looked most elegant, but papa didnt approve of the teddy boys that flocked around me begging me to go dancing with them down at the Palais. And then I woke up ..........

I expect that when my tattooed daughter is my age, she will not approve of the younger generation.

Do give Emilie and hug and a kiss from me. Be reassured that I do not need to pluck stubbly chin whiskers ...... at least, not when anyone can see me and I clean up afterwards so there is no evidence.

CC

so glad to see your back Petunia dear. I mean .... you're back. Well of course I took you seriously. Normally you say what you mean and you mean what you say, so how am I meant to tell the difference?

Not that I frequent the local swimming pool but I hear little boys like to stand on the highest diving board and point the way down.

Now, it is my turn to take *you* to task dear. One's first husband is Old Spice. You cannot claim that honour. I'm one of the spices too, and no, it is not nutmeg.

*wondering where all the hairy mess on the carpet has come from ..... ooh look a pair of gold plated tweezers ..... !
I wonder what those would be worth at the shonky shop.
CC

Morning ladies and big hugs to baby Emily :-D :-D :-D

We are orff on our hols very soon, the house is spotless and fridge, freezer and cupboards full. I think FTE is looking forward to being fed roasts and nice dinners :-D
In laws will have a change of location and can get on the bus and Poole about the countryside.

I have recorded the closing ceremony and will be watching for Auntie organising proceedings :-S
Little Mo will be running tonight so I look forward to seeing him.

We are orff to Freshwater in South Wales and will be meeting up with SIL and BILand the Niece and Nephew fruits who are also staying in the valleys :-D

Google pip for now

Teresa :-D

CC, I shall pass on sharing the boxroom with your moggy if you don't mind :-S....
My OH has threatened our two if they get a tattoo... Don't know what he thinks his threat will acheive, he has barely raised his voice to them in nearly 30 and 25 years... It was left to me to be the 'baddie'. I doubt our female fruit will get herself adorned, diamonds are more her thing. However the male is making noises about it and I won't be at all surprised to see a bit of ink imbedded in his skin :-D. My brother has my maiden name crest on his arm. Here and across the pacific, the old methods of tattooing are still carried out and they look very painful indeed.

Petunia, I quite agree with you about swimming pools, the stench of chlorine is quite too much after a long period of time and the humidity does play havoc with ones hair.
Please do visit our Kiwi House, I don't know the exact address, just ask the bin men, wherever they have collected a HUGE amount of empties is probably where you should head :-D. I must warn you though, kiwi blokes and bloke-esses don't drink warm beer - ever. *** shudders at the thought ***.
I hope Patrishaaaa has quietened down now? Perhaps you should do like they do to budgies and throw a cloth over her head??

Without wishing to sound miffed, we have won 12 medals in total, four gold, three silver and five bronze. Our lady sailors won the gold overnight and our bmx lady won a silver. For a small population we do very well. Sadly our hockey girls were beaten for bronze but they have played out of their skins this Olympics so should hold their heads up high.
I was saddened to hear one of our track athletes apologising for not winning a medal. No apologies needed, crikey, not everyone makes an Olympics, let alone a final :-).

How is baby Emilie ? Melting hearts I bet. Two of my closest friends have grandchildren, I used to think I could wait for a new enfant to grace our family, now I know I shall be singing from the roof tops if ever I am so fortunate. Imagine being able to spoil a child and then hand them back to their parents. Karma ? ;-)

I hope everyone is as happy and healthy as they can be, have a lovely weekend,

toodle pip
Susan

Hello Auntie Petunia you are so right the evenings are drawing in :-( Oh dear auntie please do not let those girls call you old what about The Spice (of live) :-D

Susan well done to your NZ ladies for wining gold in sailing :-D tongue in cheek of course as they beat GB :-|

Hello CC
We met Emilie yesterday afternoon in hospital then again this afternoon at home when I dropped the pram off :-D ME biased not at all but she is a beautiful baby:-D
I absolutely do not understand the fashion of tattooing especially on females. :-(

Lesley

Wheezes onto thread, and flops into chair...............

I have been in that dratted Swimming Pool all day, and I think that chlorine has gawn to my chest. I am never very good around the Pool, and I have never ventured to do what that male swimmer suggested in the Pool either. Our local pool has some chemical in it that when a small person decides to add to the volume, it turns blue...............

Now I really must take you to task dear Cherry, I KNOW I said to lock her in, but really! Did you actually think I meant it? Well, of course you did dear, or you would not have done it................it took me a couple of hours to calm the poor hysterical wreck down. Time that I do not have at my age!

Long tresses dear Upsidedown Susan? Pat-trish-aaaaah has barely a fuzz on her noddle. Not since she went orft to where dear Teresa lives, and took part on that Festival, and returned with her head shaved, multiple piercings and tattoos. Albeit henna ones.

Do point me in the general direction of Kiwi House dear. You know I like to do my bit for International Relations. Now that I have my tikki I am sure to be welcomed with open arms.................... I can commiserate with them how few medals they have won in the Olympics. But of course we cannot compete at the Rugby with your All Blacks.

Or course we are now rehearsing the Closing Ceremony. And what a show it will be. I may even join Sporty, Baby, Ginger, Scary and Posh on stage. They can call me Old Spice. Titters.

I trust that dear little Emily is thriving Lesley dear. She probably has the 'talcum powder' smell already. Such a lovely smell. Give her a kiss from me. I have plucked my whiskers today.

The nights are drawing in already dears, all the tall buildings are lit red with the setting sun. The London Eye is lit too. They are currently displaying red, white and blue on the radius. Gosh we are all so proud.

Standing to attention and singing Land of Hope and Glory
Auntie Petunia

hello Lesley and how is the little one today? I expect she is ruling the roost already. Ignore all the experts and let baby have a dummy. If babies dont have a dummy they will find something else to suck on. Dummies can be taken away. Thumbs can not. Have you been able to visit Emilie yet?

Sighs ..... I do not understand the need of the younger generation to indulge in tattooing. Its all right for Jolly Jack Tar, and some male rock stars, but ..... its not feminine is it. I dont understand my daughter at all.

CC

sorry Susan I thought you were using "an endearment" for the NZ embassy. I didnt know there was a Kiwi House cafe at all but as you know I am living in an olympic-free zone.

Having said that - there is much excitement in the area where I live because one of the medal winners is a local girl. Its made the local district paper.

I hope the puppy wont need surgery but if it comes to that fingers Xd all goes smoothly.

I didnt realise how serious the volcano eruption was, the news report I saw was only a brief mention and I thought it was a one off.

Well - of course you can crash at my pad, if you dont mind sharing the bed in the box room with The Cat ... not to mention her litter tray. You can get up at 3 am to let her out of the window when she starts squealing for the garden. LOL

One night, a week or so back, I woke up at 3 am to go for a wee walk across the landing. The cat also woke up and started demanding to go out. I trained her to exit via the back bedroom window, to save me going downstairs. So I told her No and got back into bed. She retaliated by using her litter tray and stinking out the entire house. Even Sleeping Beauty couldnt have slept thru that stench.

CC

Good Evening.

Thank you all for your congratulation messages, champers and cigar, I would have been more than pleased to have everyone involved in the delivery, fruit and partner I think must of had other thoughts we were not informed of any developments only of the birth. :-( :-)


CC yes the V Festivals are similar to Glastonbury as Teresa said there is a festival in Chelmsford another in Stafford they are run in conjunction, I remember the first time I saw our eldest first tattoo she was getting out of the car and as she bent I saw it and said WHAT is that on your back, nothing was her answer, funny sort of nothing.

Hope you have a lovely holiday Teresa.

Oh dear Susan are you very close to these erupting volcano's? I hope your puppy recovers sufficiently over the weekend and doesn't need the operation.

Auntie Petunia have you had another busy day at the Olympics did you manage to see the ladies synchronised swimming, such elegance, I do hope you have a quieter welcome home this evening :-D

Lesley

Hi CC,

Kiwi House is a cafe/pub started up for Kiwi's in London to go for a bit of home, not our Embassy...

Fruit works freelance and contract so more often than not, travels to jobs.

Puppy went to the Vet today, back Monday to check eye. Vet thinks an op is on the cards. There is damage on the eyeball so they will take excess skin from under her eye and lift it up over the eye ball and stitch to keep the eye closed to help healing :-S. Fruit is mortified. ...

Our news is telling us that Tongariro is causing concern, :-D. Three scenarios:
1: eruption was a one off
2: another similar eruption - steam
3: if the magma rises and pushes through the shallow surface, we could be in for a bit of fun....

As for White Island, the ash spewing forth is currently at a low level.. may it stay that way I say.

Can I come and stay at yours please :-D.

hi Susan, I knew there was something I meant to mention - the volcano in the North Island was on our news. I hope no one was hurt. Houses can be repaired, cars can be bought, but people cannot be replaced.

I didnt know about the embassy though because I havent had time to switch the news on and OH is now hogging the lounge TV. I am sorry this has happened.

What a shame the puppy barking caused a neighbour to call Noise Control. I presume you and said neighbour arent friends? Stick some pins in a bit of wood to get your own back, LOL. Did your fruit get the job?

CC

*expostulates*

Petunia dear, I distinctly heard you saying this :

"I trust that dear Cherry has kept an eye on dear Pat-trish-aaaah today, locking her in her room if necessary. I will not have her making a spectacle of herself...........or me. I have a reputation to keep!"

when you contacted us via your bloooberry before, so please do not blame me for what happened, or for Pat rish aaah's misconstruance of the situation. I did NOT throw away the key. I put it in a safe place. And we all know about "safe places".

Anyway - what about all the times you have locked me in my room, with Tricki Woo on guard, and swanned off to St Jumbos or to the Sisters of Perpetual Misery. Did I bang on windows? Did I write defamatory notes? No I didnt. I sat quietly and waited patiently.

(*thinks ....... then again, I wasnt virtually kidnapped and replaced with Tricia .... oh dear.)

Hummmppphhhhh I suppose I will now have to stitch up all the sheets and towels. Shame, those monogrammed ones would have been just right to line a drawer with, for the baby to sleep in.

CC