Letter 22
18/02/23 14:29
My Dearest Bunty,
Sir Hector has finally come round to the fact that his smoking is not good for his health and to encourage him, I have decided to stop as well. I have seen advertisements on the television for aids to stop but can you see me walking about the Estate chewing gum or indeed with bits of plastic attached to me? We will be doing it without help, and I have packed away my Rothmans of Pall Mall forever. I am sure that after all these years it will be a struggle but I never was a heavy smoker, unlike or dear departed King George. Brisk country walks should make Sir H and I too tired to raise a Swan Vesta to our habit and I believe that even at this stage of life giving up can help extend the life! You have been very wise in never having taken up the weed.
It is that time of the year again where we are about to interview the seasonal staff. I have talked Sir H around to the issue of uniforms this year but there is little point in ordering at present until we see the shape, size and gender of our staff. I have suggested Racing Green as a colour (very National Trust I know) with the crest of either Sir H's family or of my own Deerestalker clan. Since the house is mine it really should be the Clan crest, but the grounds are mainly from Sir H's inheritance so I will grudgingly give in on that point if necessary. You never know, he may never even bring it up. We have been inundated with catalogues from work wear suppliers touting for business but our small foray into employment for the summer will only be limited to 15-20 people at the most so we cannot take advantage of the bulk discounts. I did suggest that we start to sell sweatshirts as souvenirs of the Estate and that the seasonal staff be kitted out in these but Sir H was adamant that the staff does not look overly casual. I cannot see some of the young men from the village in a shirt and tie during the summer, but I see that there is a point to be made and Sir H is most definitely making it!
We have suffered a really cold snap again just as I though the winter was coming to an end. There is only one good thing about that and that is the frost has sweetened up our root vegetables which are being lovingly prepared by New Cook in a whole range of warming winter wonders from the kitchen. We are being really spoiled here, and I enclose a recipe for a hearty stew that New Cook kindly gave me the other day. Your Countess could do with feeding up over the winter I know and this should do the trick!
The new Vicar called round the other day for afternoon tea. He really is the most charming young man, once you get around the motorcycle leathers and far too short hair. He seems bright and enthusiastic and I now think he will make a decent replacement for Dr Williams, whom I hear is doing well in his new parish in England. He has some new ideas for galvanising the local Episcopal community which will be interesting to see developing, but he is one of those modernisers and when I asked him about his views on women priests and indeed on women elected to the rank of bishop he was most modern. Some things should be left alone I fear. I remember when the Kirk placed a woman minister locally some years back. I had to attend a service just to hear her preach and she was I admit very good. So good that she was soon moved to an inner city Kirk so I was not able to get much out of her stay here. There are so many opportunities for women these days. A good thing I know, as even now I wish I had had the strength and brains to study more than Classics at Oxford all those years ago. I would love to have become a doctor as you remember, but marriage and estate and family came first for me, so like many of our station (except for you dear). Duty comes in many shapes and sizes,
does it not?
Yours as always, Flora
This story first appeared on www.panetwork.co.uk in 2005
Sir Hector has finally come round to the fact that his smoking is not good for his health and to encourage him, I have decided to stop as well. I have seen advertisements on the television for aids to stop but can you see me walking about the Estate chewing gum or indeed with bits of plastic attached to me? We will be doing it without help, and I have packed away my Rothmans of Pall Mall forever. I am sure that after all these years it will be a struggle but I never was a heavy smoker, unlike or dear departed King George. Brisk country walks should make Sir H and I too tired to raise a Swan Vesta to our habit and I believe that even at this stage of life giving up can help extend the life! You have been very wise in never having taken up the weed.
It is that time of the year again where we are about to interview the seasonal staff. I have talked Sir H around to the issue of uniforms this year but there is little point in ordering at present until we see the shape, size and gender of our staff. I have suggested Racing Green as a colour (very National Trust I know) with the crest of either Sir H's family or of my own Deerestalker clan. Since the house is mine it really should be the Clan crest, but the grounds are mainly from Sir H's inheritance so I will grudgingly give in on that point if necessary. You never know, he may never even bring it up. We have been inundated with catalogues from work wear suppliers touting for business but our small foray into employment for the summer will only be limited to 15-20 people at the most so we cannot take advantage of the bulk discounts. I did suggest that we start to sell sweatshirts as souvenirs of the Estate and that the seasonal staff be kitted out in these but Sir H was adamant that the staff does not look overly casual. I cannot see some of the young men from the village in a shirt and tie during the summer, but I see that there is a point to be made and Sir H is most definitely making it!
We have suffered a really cold snap again just as I though the winter was coming to an end. There is only one good thing about that and that is the frost has sweetened up our root vegetables which are being lovingly prepared by New Cook in a whole range of warming winter wonders from the kitchen. We are being really spoiled here, and I enclose a recipe for a hearty stew that New Cook kindly gave me the other day. Your Countess could do with feeding up over the winter I know and this should do the trick!
The new Vicar called round the other day for afternoon tea. He really is the most charming young man, once you get around the motorcycle leathers and far too short hair. He seems bright and enthusiastic and I now think he will make a decent replacement for Dr Williams, whom I hear is doing well in his new parish in England. He has some new ideas for galvanising the local Episcopal community which will be interesting to see developing, but he is one of those modernisers and when I asked him about his views on women priests and indeed on women elected to the rank of bishop he was most modern. Some things should be left alone I fear. I remember when the Kirk placed a woman minister locally some years back. I had to attend a service just to hear her preach and she was I admit very good. So good that she was soon moved to an inner city Kirk so I was not able to get much out of her stay here. There are so many opportunities for women these days. A good thing I know, as even now I wish I had had the strength and brains to study more than Classics at Oxford all those years ago. I would love to have become a doctor as you remember, but marriage and estate and family came first for me, so like many of our station (except for you dear). Duty comes in many shapes and sizes,
does it not?
Yours as always, Flora
This story first appeared on www.panetwork.co.uk in 2005