March 2023
Letter 27
15/03/23 14:36
My Dearest Bunty,
What a carry-on seems to be developing in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh! The population is shrinking in Scotland and no one seems to know what to do about it. I am sure that First Minister McConnell has his eye on the ball with this, as it seems that Ireland will be bigger in population in the next twenty years or so if the outflow of people of working age from Scotland is not stopped. I put this down to a lack of love and understanding of the scenery and traditions of Scotland by those youngsters in the Central Belt. I would ensure that there is a strong sense of national pride instilled in them whilst still at school. I know that in the past Scotland had faults and in the main that women were not appreciated for their economic and social contribution, but times have changed and the young people have more opportunity now in Scotland than at any time in the past. Do you know what I would do? I would create a Scottish passport, and only those who have worked in Scotland for fifteen years would be able to get one. Naturally the Scottish Parliament would have to oppose applications for a UK passport for those who have not met this criteria. Is that too strong? Something has to be done to stop the 'brain-drain' to the South East of England and beyond, and drastic measures are required now to stop this getting worse. Not only that, but the numbers of children being born is decreasing as well, but there is one good thing on the horizon and that is that numbers of marriages are increasing after those dreadful years when it was common to be 'living together'. How I hated those days as it smacked just a little of 'taste and try before you buy'. I know we are of a generation where divorce rates rocketed once the Sunday papers stopped being interested in the latest divorce 'scandal' and we have seen marriage slip in popularity, but it is such a wonderful event for a girl to experience. Possibly the only day in her drab life where she is truly a 'princess' and looked at in awe. I know that is how I felt on my wedding day to Sir Hector, and remember it with much fondness and humour! What parties there were on the Estate for our nuptials! I am sure the locals still talk about it.
We had an application to the Registrar General of Scotland approved last year as you know and now can host weddings on the Estate in the Great Hall, but so far these have been few and far between. I have had an approach from a rather shady character in London who suggested that we combine our licence and his bridal carriage business, which he is hoping to expand to the North East. My dear, what a fright I got when I looked into his operation on the internet! One of his coaches is straight out of Walt Disney's 'Cinderella' and is a confection of the most questionable taste. On seeing it, Sir H was heard to mutter 'It looks good if you are a Southern Sharon' and I have to agree, although I secretly laughed at the idea of the pumpkin coach negotiating the cattle grids that are all over the local area! Can you imagine anything in poorer taste? I would fine those people who see that as a mark of class for a wedding day! What is wrong with a Bentley?
What a shame it is that you never had the opportunity to marry. You would have been an excellent wife, what with your cooking skills and home economics, but I guess that Mr Right walked Right On Bye in your case. Still I hope you are able to rejoice and celebrate in my successful marriage, which is coming up to forty years soon. Can you believe it? Where has the time gone? Sir H is now in his seventies, still looking sprightly but I wonder what will happen to him as age and infirmity grow? There are some good homes run by the Kirk I know, and some very expensive ones in the private sector, but I cannot imagine putting him in such a place, however good and cheerful. I think I will have to keep looking after him in his dotage - may that be a long time off!
Yours as always, Flora
This story first appeared on www.panetwork.co.uk in 2005
What a carry-on seems to be developing in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh! The population is shrinking in Scotland and no one seems to know what to do about it. I am sure that First Minister McConnell has his eye on the ball with this, as it seems that Ireland will be bigger in population in the next twenty years or so if the outflow of people of working age from Scotland is not stopped. I put this down to a lack of love and understanding of the scenery and traditions of Scotland by those youngsters in the Central Belt. I would ensure that there is a strong sense of national pride instilled in them whilst still at school. I know that in the past Scotland had faults and in the main that women were not appreciated for their economic and social contribution, but times have changed and the young people have more opportunity now in Scotland than at any time in the past. Do you know what I would do? I would create a Scottish passport, and only those who have worked in Scotland for fifteen years would be able to get one. Naturally the Scottish Parliament would have to oppose applications for a UK passport for those who have not met this criteria. Is that too strong? Something has to be done to stop the 'brain-drain' to the South East of England and beyond, and drastic measures are required now to stop this getting worse. Not only that, but the numbers of children being born is decreasing as well, but there is one good thing on the horizon and that is that numbers of marriages are increasing after those dreadful years when it was common to be 'living together'. How I hated those days as it smacked just a little of 'taste and try before you buy'. I know we are of a generation where divorce rates rocketed once the Sunday papers stopped being interested in the latest divorce 'scandal' and we have seen marriage slip in popularity, but it is such a wonderful event for a girl to experience. Possibly the only day in her drab life where she is truly a 'princess' and looked at in awe. I know that is how I felt on my wedding day to Sir Hector, and remember it with much fondness and humour! What parties there were on the Estate for our nuptials! I am sure the locals still talk about it.
We had an application to the Registrar General of Scotland approved last year as you know and now can host weddings on the Estate in the Great Hall, but so far these have been few and far between. I have had an approach from a rather shady character in London who suggested that we combine our licence and his bridal carriage business, which he is hoping to expand to the North East. My dear, what a fright I got when I looked into his operation on the internet! One of his coaches is straight out of Walt Disney's 'Cinderella' and is a confection of the most questionable taste. On seeing it, Sir H was heard to mutter 'It looks good if you are a Southern Sharon' and I have to agree, although I secretly laughed at the idea of the pumpkin coach negotiating the cattle grids that are all over the local area! Can you imagine anything in poorer taste? I would fine those people who see that as a mark of class for a wedding day! What is wrong with a Bentley?
What a shame it is that you never had the opportunity to marry. You would have been an excellent wife, what with your cooking skills and home economics, but I guess that Mr Right walked Right On Bye in your case. Still I hope you are able to rejoice and celebrate in my successful marriage, which is coming up to forty years soon. Can you believe it? Where has the time gone? Sir H is now in his seventies, still looking sprightly but I wonder what will happen to him as age and infirmity grow? There are some good homes run by the Kirk I know, and some very expensive ones in the private sector, but I cannot imagine putting him in such a place, however good and cheerful. I think I will have to keep looking after him in his dotage - may that be a long time off!
Yours as always, Flora
This story first appeared on www.panetwork.co.uk in 2005
Letter 26
11/03/23 14:33
My Dearest Bunty,
As you know it has been the Estate policy to open the grounds and House to the public on Easter Monday, but this year Easter falls so early that much of the necessary work will not be completed in time. I had to sadly agree with Catriona the Estate Manager that it was more important to have the grounds up to scratch and looking wonderful, and the House spring cleaned within an inch of its life, rather than to have coach loads of disappointed visitors remarking on the 'stoor and oose' - as she called it - on the picture frames and under the furniture. I must say I was most shocked at her as I think our winter charladies do a fine job but even I have seen some of the so-called 'oose' drifting across the Main Hall in the winter sunshine and I have had to sadly agree. Spring-cleaning is now at the top of the list of jobs to be done before the end of Easter. As if I had not enough to do in that period, what with my commitment to the Church at that time. I shall get the ladies who 'do' to bring in more cleaners in order to make the place spick and span.
Do you remember me writing about the new vicar in my local church? Well he has turned out to be just what we needed to revive the congregation. I still have my doubts about his short hair and fast motorcycle, but even I have to move with the times. He has struck up a good friendship with the local Kirk minister which should see great dividends as time progresses, not least at the Sales of Work and Jumble, although I NEVER go to the latter as it seems to be tables groaning with old and threadbare clothing not fit to be sent to the poor in Darkest Africa. However Sales of Work are great events, I do like the cake tables and allow Sir Hector to have a flutter or two on the Tombolla, where he only ever seems to win bottles of HP Sauce for all the tickets he buys. I will not have that in the House so he keeps it in one of the sheds, where he and Ruaraidh the gamekeeper I am sure have sneaky bacon sandwiches out of the range of my rather good nose! Men! What strange creatures they are, wanting to spoil lovely Ayrshire bacon with that mix of molasses and dates! The very idea! He says the same about my morning toast with Marmite, but it does remind me of breakfasts at Cheltenham Ladies College where that seemed to be the only spread available to us!
We had some samples of the shirt embroidery arrive the other day and I must say it is wonderful. I understand that a computerised Singer machine takes all the hard work out of this task and that it is only a few moments before the Crest is seen above the heart of the shirtfront. What a marvel technology is these days! I remember having some embroidery placed on my blouse for taking my Seat in the House of Lords and it took weeks for Granny Grogan, the local seamstress from the village to get it done, and even then it was nothing much to look at. Such a pity my ermines covered up the tweed suit I was forced to wear that day, as I would have made a stirring sight I can tell you.
Oh my lovely House! I have been following all the debates and to-ing and fro-ing going on in the last months as the Peers flex muscle over plans started in 'the other place' as we were told to call the House of Commons! I can see that the Lords has changed a lot since the Reforms and they seem no longer content just to meet old friends and dine in the Palace, and are expected to put in the hours as if they were in Trade! What a change, and I am sure, not for the better. How I miss an early afternoon tea waiting for the Law Lords to finish their reporting. I never was able to enter whilst they were debating, but I am sure it must have been thrilling to see the Great Brains at work. Most of them left the Chamber before we took up our deliberations. I myself stuck to things I know about: farming, landowning and occasionally fishing.
Yours as always, Flora
This story first appeared on www.panetwork.co.uk in 2005
As you know it has been the Estate policy to open the grounds and House to the public on Easter Monday, but this year Easter falls so early that much of the necessary work will not be completed in time. I had to sadly agree with Catriona the Estate Manager that it was more important to have the grounds up to scratch and looking wonderful, and the House spring cleaned within an inch of its life, rather than to have coach loads of disappointed visitors remarking on the 'stoor and oose' - as she called it - on the picture frames and under the furniture. I must say I was most shocked at her as I think our winter charladies do a fine job but even I have seen some of the so-called 'oose' drifting across the Main Hall in the winter sunshine and I have had to sadly agree. Spring-cleaning is now at the top of the list of jobs to be done before the end of Easter. As if I had not enough to do in that period, what with my commitment to the Church at that time. I shall get the ladies who 'do' to bring in more cleaners in order to make the place spick and span.
Do you remember me writing about the new vicar in my local church? Well he has turned out to be just what we needed to revive the congregation. I still have my doubts about his short hair and fast motorcycle, but even I have to move with the times. He has struck up a good friendship with the local Kirk minister which should see great dividends as time progresses, not least at the Sales of Work and Jumble, although I NEVER go to the latter as it seems to be tables groaning with old and threadbare clothing not fit to be sent to the poor in Darkest Africa. However Sales of Work are great events, I do like the cake tables and allow Sir Hector to have a flutter or two on the Tombolla, where he only ever seems to win bottles of HP Sauce for all the tickets he buys. I will not have that in the House so he keeps it in one of the sheds, where he and Ruaraidh the gamekeeper I am sure have sneaky bacon sandwiches out of the range of my rather good nose! Men! What strange creatures they are, wanting to spoil lovely Ayrshire bacon with that mix of molasses and dates! The very idea! He says the same about my morning toast with Marmite, but it does remind me of breakfasts at Cheltenham Ladies College where that seemed to be the only spread available to us!
We had some samples of the shirt embroidery arrive the other day and I must say it is wonderful. I understand that a computerised Singer machine takes all the hard work out of this task and that it is only a few moments before the Crest is seen above the heart of the shirtfront. What a marvel technology is these days! I remember having some embroidery placed on my blouse for taking my Seat in the House of Lords and it took weeks for Granny Grogan, the local seamstress from the village to get it done, and even then it was nothing much to look at. Such a pity my ermines covered up the tweed suit I was forced to wear that day, as I would have made a stirring sight I can tell you.
Oh my lovely House! I have been following all the debates and to-ing and fro-ing going on in the last months as the Peers flex muscle over plans started in 'the other place' as we were told to call the House of Commons! I can see that the Lords has changed a lot since the Reforms and they seem no longer content just to meet old friends and dine in the Palace, and are expected to put in the hours as if they were in Trade! What a change, and I am sure, not for the better. How I miss an early afternoon tea waiting for the Law Lords to finish their reporting. I never was able to enter whilst they were debating, but I am sure it must have been thrilling to see the Great Brains at work. Most of them left the Chamber before we took up our deliberations. I myself stuck to things I know about: farming, landowning and occasionally fishing.
Yours as always, Flora
This story first appeared on www.panetwork.co.uk in 2005
Letter 25
02/03/23 14:33
My Dearest Bunty,
What a busy time we have had on the Estate in the last days. As soon as the advertisement for jobs went up in some local Employment Exchanges, they were on the phone to us with lists of names, some of which had worked here before but most of them never. It has been a challenge for us to sift through the applicants I can tell you and Catriona the sturdy estate manager and New Cook have been well satisfied with the potential employees for their respective areas. Cook has taken on some of the school canteen ladies for July and August and thinks she will be able to survive the late summer on her own. I have to agree as most of our visitors come in that period, avoiding the area when the midges get too much. What dreadful creatures they are! I have of course been left with the bulk of the applicants: those to work as guides, serving food and arranging the parking. I am sure I have not been lucky in getting the cream of the local unemployed I can tell you.
This was confirmed with the first group of applicants. We decided it was better to interview them in a group, give them some tests in basic English, arithmetic and then to chat in a group to see who were the brightest and to weed out potential grumblers. I well remember years ago employing a young man to take the car parking fees. He was a most miserable sort and not the face I wanted to greet my paying visitors I can tell you! I believe he gave up his position mid way through the season to go for a job as an actor of all things. I hope he gets comic roles, just to see a smile cross his face from time to time!
Our first group of applicants was a fairly mixed bunch. Some of them have had older siblings who have worked on the Estate before and were quite aware of what is in store for them. Some of the girls were most polite, but experience tells me that they can be the most trouble as they spend most of the day arranging dates with the most unsuitable element form the local village and come in to work looking the worst for wear - if they arrive at all! I was pleasantly surprised at how respectable the young men looked at the interview - not a facial piercing to be seen. That is what I had hoped for, although some of their hair could do with a good beaten egg wash or even a proper cut. I remember Daddy taking dear departed Alexander for his end of summer haircut at the Court Barbers in Jermyn Street in London before he returned to Eton. That was always a special treat for Alexander as the afternoon was often rounded off with tea in the Peers' Dining Rooms at my Beloved House of Lords. Who could have imagined that Alexander would only have his seat for the shortest of times after Daddy passed?
Well the arithmetic and English tests were fairly simple, and all passed through that I can say. It is good to see that some remnant of the Good Scottish Education still exists here in the North East, as I read in the occasional Scotsman (when no Telegraph is available) that the Central Belt suffers from a great decline in the basic education that young people need to equip them for the workplace. What a shame! That would never have happened if Scotland produced an army of school madams in the mould of the Nanny I had as a child - or indeed of the strict ladies we had during our time at Cheltenham!
The boys are quite happy to hear that there is going to be a uniform. I expect they need to keep their hooded sweatshirts and saggy denims for impressing the young girls in the village late into the evenings. What a young lady these days sees in an untailored, callow youth I shall never know. It seems slightly disrespectful in my view and downright rude for a man of any age to display the tops of his underwear. I was quite alarmed when I saw that coming onto fashion on one of the cable channels. A lady should have no idea about the neither garments of the male until after the wedding night. Oh I sound so pompous writing that, but you get my drift.
Yours as always, Flora
This story first appeared on www.panetwork.co.uk in 2004
What a busy time we have had on the Estate in the last days. As soon as the advertisement for jobs went up in some local Employment Exchanges, they were on the phone to us with lists of names, some of which had worked here before but most of them never. It has been a challenge for us to sift through the applicants I can tell you and Catriona the sturdy estate manager and New Cook have been well satisfied with the potential employees for their respective areas. Cook has taken on some of the school canteen ladies for July and August and thinks she will be able to survive the late summer on her own. I have to agree as most of our visitors come in that period, avoiding the area when the midges get too much. What dreadful creatures they are! I have of course been left with the bulk of the applicants: those to work as guides, serving food and arranging the parking. I am sure I have not been lucky in getting the cream of the local unemployed I can tell you.
This was confirmed with the first group of applicants. We decided it was better to interview them in a group, give them some tests in basic English, arithmetic and then to chat in a group to see who were the brightest and to weed out potential grumblers. I well remember years ago employing a young man to take the car parking fees. He was a most miserable sort and not the face I wanted to greet my paying visitors I can tell you! I believe he gave up his position mid way through the season to go for a job as an actor of all things. I hope he gets comic roles, just to see a smile cross his face from time to time!
Our first group of applicants was a fairly mixed bunch. Some of them have had older siblings who have worked on the Estate before and were quite aware of what is in store for them. Some of the girls were most polite, but experience tells me that they can be the most trouble as they spend most of the day arranging dates with the most unsuitable element form the local village and come in to work looking the worst for wear - if they arrive at all! I was pleasantly surprised at how respectable the young men looked at the interview - not a facial piercing to be seen. That is what I had hoped for, although some of their hair could do with a good beaten egg wash or even a proper cut. I remember Daddy taking dear departed Alexander for his end of summer haircut at the Court Barbers in Jermyn Street in London before he returned to Eton. That was always a special treat for Alexander as the afternoon was often rounded off with tea in the Peers' Dining Rooms at my Beloved House of Lords. Who could have imagined that Alexander would only have his seat for the shortest of times after Daddy passed?
Well the arithmetic and English tests were fairly simple, and all passed through that I can say. It is good to see that some remnant of the Good Scottish Education still exists here in the North East, as I read in the occasional Scotsman (when no Telegraph is available) that the Central Belt suffers from a great decline in the basic education that young people need to equip them for the workplace. What a shame! That would never have happened if Scotland produced an army of school madams in the mould of the Nanny I had as a child - or indeed of the strict ladies we had during our time at Cheltenham!
The boys are quite happy to hear that there is going to be a uniform. I expect they need to keep their hooded sweatshirts and saggy denims for impressing the young girls in the village late into the evenings. What a young lady these days sees in an untailored, callow youth I shall never know. It seems slightly disrespectful in my view and downright rude for a man of any age to display the tops of his underwear. I was quite alarmed when I saw that coming onto fashion on one of the cable channels. A lady should have no idea about the neither garments of the male until after the wedding night. Oh I sound so pompous writing that, but you get my drift.
Yours as always, Flora
This story first appeared on www.panetwork.co.uk in 2004