The CBB :: View topic - A letter From Ailie

#1: A letter From Ailie Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 2:10 pm

Dear Sybil,

It's the first Saturday of the new term, so it's letter writing time. I haven't had a minute to put pen to paper before, and it's only because I don't have any mending that I've got time to write a letter now. Matey has been in a very bad mood so far, so we've all had to be careful not to get on the wrong side of her. It's not anything I've done, just that we've had three new girls start this term and none of them had marked their clothes and things, so Matey is very annoyed about it. You know what it's like when Matey's on the warpath.

What I want to tell you is how nice it was to be able to stay with you in London for a few days before coming back to school. Janice has asked me to say thank you as well, though I know she's writing to you as soon as she's finished her letter home.

I really like Hugh, it's great to have someone like him as a new brother. When I was told that you were getting married out in Australia, it seemed a bit odd that I was getting a sort of brother that I'd never met before. And it was really nice of him to bring me the gold cross and chain to make up for me not having been able to be at the wedding.

I was really glad that you came out to Guernsey to see us all, it was one of the best times of the whole holiday. Hugh's beach games are great, we had a lot of fun, and it was good to be able to go swimming so much because you were both there to help look after us.

It's funny, Josette cried after you'd gone, even though she knew she was going to be living near you in London. I suppose it was because we'd all had such a good time and she didn't want it to end.

What I really want to say thank you for is the time we spent in London at your house. I think it's a lovely house and you're lucky to have it to live in. I really enjoyed all the sightseeing that we did, and so did Janice. I liked being able to look up the Mall and see Buckingham Palace at the end of it, and the Tower of London was really creepy in places, especially the bits that are underground. The Planetarium was super, I'd never realised how big the Universe really is, before. In fact, everything about our stay was wonderful, the trips out, the cinema and actually going to a posh restaurant one evening.

I've had a letter from Daddy, he says that Mummy's still not well, so she's got to stay in the clinic. He also said that the twins and I are going to the Quadrant for the Christmas holidays. It will be great to see all that side of the family again, and I love Uncle Dick and Auntie Molly, and being able to go out for long walks and join in the Christmas fun. We always have a good time when we're there, but I'm hoping that I'll have the chance to see you when we're passing through London before Christmas, or, if you can't manage that, on the way back.

One thing that's been puzzling me is that I haven't seen or heard anything from Aunt Jo yet this term. Usually she's over at the School and I get an invitation to go there for tea. There's an odd rumour going round that she's having to manage everything by herself, though she's got an oh pear girl to help her. Someone said that Anna was ill over the holidays and she won't be able to work any more, so Aunt Jo has to do the housework. And someone else said that Rosli was working for Mrs Graves and Mme Courvoisier now, that's why they're back in school, teaching part time. Mrs Graves is really keen on games. You should have heard her when we kept dropping the ball in netball, worms weren't in it!

I must finish this letter now, as we are taking picnics and going for a ramble and we have to be back for tea, and the Prefects are coming out to round us all up.

Thanks again for the lovely stay in London. I hope that you'll find time to write to me, it would be really nice to hear from you. Give my love to Hugh and say that I'd really like to see him again.

Lots of love,

Ailie.

#2: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 2:27 pm

Thanks for that Jennie - so good to see that the visits etc were all a success.

I note that this universe is taking over - my sympathies, I know exactly how that feels. Laughing

#3: Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 2:33 pm

That's a lovely letter from Ailie, Jennie - like Lesley, I'm glad to see that all the planned visits and reunions were so successful, and hope that the relationships will only strengthen with time.

It's nice to see a little of the school from Ailie's viewpoint, too.

#4: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 3:02 pm

Lovely letter linking all the strands!

I love the

Quote:

she's got an oh pear girl to help her

A very typical schoolgirl howler!

thank you Jennie.

#5: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 3:08 pm

Lovely to see Ailie's point of view as well. You have a built a superb Russell/Maynard empire of drabbles Jennie, thank you.

#6: Author: Amanda M, Location: Wakefield

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 3:43 pm

Thanks for that lovely letter from Ailie, Jennie. It ties all the stories together really well.

Star Wars

#7: Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 5:48 pm

Good to see it went well and the sisters were all happy Smile

Love the oh pear comment!

#8: Author: Kim, Location: Tipperary, Ireland

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 9:35 pm

Brilliant Jennie. Great to see that the clan is sorting itself out and making up for lost time

#9: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 12:08 am

Such a sweet letter from Ailie! Thanks Jennie

#10: Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 10:56 am

Fabulous to see Ailie's point of view and what a lovely letter for Sybs to get

Thanks Jennie

#11: Author: Lyanne, Location: Ipswich, England

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 12:25 pm

Still snorting with laughter over

Quote:

oh pear

because my smutty mind thought that "oh, pair Very Happy

!" was what Stephen thought looking at a part of Angela's anatomy. I'm going to hang my head in remorse now...

#12: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 1:34 pm

Lovely to see they all had a good summer

Thanks Jennie

Liz

#13: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:14 pm

I love the comments about Jo!
Thanks Jennie

#14: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:19 pm

It's nice to see some more of Ailie. It seems every time she appears in the books she's always attached to Janice and she never seems to do anything before she reaches school age.

#15: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 1:26 am

Loved Ailie's version of events. And how lovely and appreciative she was....

The oh pear was brilliant!!

#16: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 7:21 am

Thanks Jennie. Glad to see the reunion was a success.

#17: Author: keren, Location: Israel

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 10:56 am

lovely

#18: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:38 pm

Thank you Jennie. Glad Ailie enjoyed her summer. Hope she does see moe of Sybil as time goes by. It looks like she will need her elder sister if her mum is still in the clinic.

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