Letter Four
06/12/22 12:53
My dearest Bunty,
Wonderful news! The Ball was a great success and as a thank you for all my hard work, Sir Hector has presented me with an aeroplane ticket to London. I shall be arriving at Gatwick on Monday next to spend some time shopping for Christmas. I can spare you a couple of hours and if you can make it then let us have lunch at Fortnum's on Piccadilly. I have not been there for such a long time and I hope it has not changed much. You know that so much has changed in London over the years, and not too much for the better in my view. I am staying near my Beloved Lords, but I shall NOT be crossing that particular threshold this trip, even though I am allowed into the Peer's Dining Room, if not to the Chamber itself. Honestly, does this current government not realise what council it has lost by dismissing the services of us Hereditaries? Yes I agree some of us could not make it too often and that much of the business was far above my head, but I did love going in to make my voice and vote count on those issues that directly affect me: fishing, tourism and such. There was always a little group of us who met up at Division Time talking about how our estates were faring. I must say, that little group of Peeresses in Their Own Right was a dwindling happy band, but we knew what was what and what was not.
I shall not be heading to Harrods's this year for tea gifts and Christmas Puddings. Sir H has put his foot down on that little expense and insists that if Tesco Luxury Christmas Pudding is good enough for our Dear Queen then it is good enough for our staff. How I miss the old sixpence in the pudding.... The coins now are too big and rough and I am sure that would do damage to the denture if bitten inadvertently. There is something about Christmas that I love, and this year I hope there is snow for our trip to Midnight Carols, as I would like Dr Williams, our local Vicar to hear me with my fine voice singing 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing'. Sir H will not be joining me this year at the carol service after his fall last year on the porch step. Episcopal churches can be death traps to the unwary, so you watch out when you go to the Anglican service yourself - I shall not be able to visit you in a hospital if you break your ankle as Sir H did last year!
I shall be leaving the Estate for only three days, as I must be back in time for the local School Nativity Play. How pleasant it is even in these politically correct times to see the little ones re-enacting the Christmas Story, it brings a tear to my eye when I see them and even Mr and Mrs Sian, our lovely Sikh postmaster and mistress, have their little one in the show this year, now that is Ecumenical for you. I noticed that Mr Morrison the postman is getting on a bit. I shall drop a word into Mrs Sian's ear when I am next in the PO telling her that I think he is getting past it. The new van he drives has speeded up his round somewhat I believe and he can deliver parcels at last, but I do miss a young man on a bicycle delivering my post. It is most pleasant to hear a cheery whistle in the morning when I am taking my Lime marmalade on cook's homemade bread.
Some modernisation schemes are a step too far I believe. There is to be a meeting in the Kirk hall next week to discuss application to British Telecom for broadband in the village, although why some of them need broadband access to the internet I shall never know. I can just imagine what they all are searching for in their spare time. If I had my way the single men of the village would still be out tilling the local fields and taking cold baths, it never harmed Sir H he tells me, and frankly I have to agree.
Let me know if you can make it for lunch next week. I hope this is not too much short notice.
Your ever friend, Flora
This story first appeared on www.panetwork.co.uk in 2004
Wonderful news! The Ball was a great success and as a thank you for all my hard work, Sir Hector has presented me with an aeroplane ticket to London. I shall be arriving at Gatwick on Monday next to spend some time shopping for Christmas. I can spare you a couple of hours and if you can make it then let us have lunch at Fortnum's on Piccadilly. I have not been there for such a long time and I hope it has not changed much. You know that so much has changed in London over the years, and not too much for the better in my view. I am staying near my Beloved Lords, but I shall NOT be crossing that particular threshold this trip, even though I am allowed into the Peer's Dining Room, if not to the Chamber itself. Honestly, does this current government not realise what council it has lost by dismissing the services of us Hereditaries? Yes I agree some of us could not make it too often and that much of the business was far above my head, but I did love going in to make my voice and vote count on those issues that directly affect me: fishing, tourism and such. There was always a little group of us who met up at Division Time talking about how our estates were faring. I must say, that little group of Peeresses in Their Own Right was a dwindling happy band, but we knew what was what and what was not.
I shall not be heading to Harrods's this year for tea gifts and Christmas Puddings. Sir H has put his foot down on that little expense and insists that if Tesco Luxury Christmas Pudding is good enough for our Dear Queen then it is good enough for our staff. How I miss the old sixpence in the pudding.... The coins now are too big and rough and I am sure that would do damage to the denture if bitten inadvertently. There is something about Christmas that I love, and this year I hope there is snow for our trip to Midnight Carols, as I would like Dr Williams, our local Vicar to hear me with my fine voice singing 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing'. Sir H will not be joining me this year at the carol service after his fall last year on the porch step. Episcopal churches can be death traps to the unwary, so you watch out when you go to the Anglican service yourself - I shall not be able to visit you in a hospital if you break your ankle as Sir H did last year!
I shall be leaving the Estate for only three days, as I must be back in time for the local School Nativity Play. How pleasant it is even in these politically correct times to see the little ones re-enacting the Christmas Story, it brings a tear to my eye when I see them and even Mr and Mrs Sian, our lovely Sikh postmaster and mistress, have their little one in the show this year, now that is Ecumenical for you. I noticed that Mr Morrison the postman is getting on a bit. I shall drop a word into Mrs Sian's ear when I am next in the PO telling her that I think he is getting past it. The new van he drives has speeded up his round somewhat I believe and he can deliver parcels at last, but I do miss a young man on a bicycle delivering my post. It is most pleasant to hear a cheery whistle in the morning when I am taking my Lime marmalade on cook's homemade bread.
Some modernisation schemes are a step too far I believe. There is to be a meeting in the Kirk hall next week to discuss application to British Telecom for broadband in the village, although why some of them need broadband access to the internet I shall never know. I can just imagine what they all are searching for in their spare time. If I had my way the single men of the village would still be out tilling the local fields and taking cold baths, it never harmed Sir H he tells me, and frankly I have to agree.
Let me know if you can make it for lunch next week. I hope this is not too much short notice.
Your ever friend, Flora
This story first appeared on www.panetwork.co.uk in 2004