Only in my dreams (completed 03/11/05 )

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#1: Only in my dreams (completed 03/11/05 ) Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 6:51 am

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This is my first attempt at writing a drabble, so sorry if it isn't very good!

Con applauded rapturously as the cast took their final bow and the curtain fell for the last time. Then she sank back in her seat, as the usual feelings of inferiority she felt whenever she saw a play such as this swept over her. She’d only ever wanted three things from life. For her mother to be as proud of her as she was of Len and, now, of Margot. To be a successful writer. And to meet the Prince Charming with whom she would live happily ever after, like the heroines of the stories that she’d begun writing almost as soon as she was old enough to wield a pencil. None of her dreams had come true, though, and at 28 going on 29 she supposed it was time that she faced the fact that they were never probably going to.

“Excuse me madam, but, for the third time, might I ask if you would be so good as to let us pass.” An irate voice broke into her thoughts. Blushing violently, Con realised that most of the theatregoers were making their way to the exits and that she was blocking the row in which she was sitting. She jumped to her feet with a muttered apology. That’s me all over, she thought miserably. Con Maynard, always in a daydream. Like the time Auntie Hilda asked me what happened when Daniel was in the lion’s den and I said that Daniel bit the lions. No-one ever let me forget that. That’s probably how everyone I knew at school remembers me – as a dreaming fool.

There were very few other people left in the theatre now: she was one of the last to leave. As she reached the door, her attention was caught by a man of about her own age, or maybe a little older – a very attractive man, she noticed, and somehow oddly familiar – waving in her direction from the aisle at the far end of the auditorium. She glanced behind her to see whom he was waving to, but there was nobody there. She was puzzled. Could it have been that he was waving at me, she wondered. I’m sure I know him from somewhere, although I can’t think where.

She turned round again, but it was too late: he had gone. Of course he wasn’t waving at me, she chided herself. Why would he? I’m imagining things. Like I always have done. She heaved a deep sigh and, leaving the theatre, began walking towards the nearest Tube station, lost in thoughts of all the historic buildings she planned to visit during her stay in London. Suddenly she felt a tap on the back of her shoulder and she jumped.

Last edited by Alison H on Thu Nov 03, 2005 2:48 pm; edited 62 times in total

 

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#2:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:17 am

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Oooooh wonder who it was waving. Is it the same person tapping her on the shoulder?

Looking forward to seeing what comes next - thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#3:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:29 am

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Lovely introduction to Con, Alison, well done.

 

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#4:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:31 am

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Oh this looks good. Thanks Alison, I'll be interested to see where you are going with it.

 

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#5:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:00 am

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Thanks Alison! And who is the mystery man?

 

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#6:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:14 am

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Intersting and poor Con. Who is the mystery man? Thanks Alison.

 

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#7:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:19 am

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You'd better let us find out who it is!

I do like Con stories - yay for more!

 

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#8:  Author: Robin, Location: London Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:22 am

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This does look good Alison - more when you're ready please!

 

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#9:  Author: Róisín, Location: Vancouver for now Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:01 am

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This looks great Alison - wonderful start - I'm hooked already. Here's hoping the stranger is tall dark and handsome

 

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#10:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:27 am

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Poor Con, always having to feel third best.

Give her a big chance now, Alison.

 

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#11:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:29 am

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This looks great Alison, I hope Con gets her chance to shine

 

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#12:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 11:40 am

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This looks really interesting, Alison, thankyou!

I'm now speculating madly as to who the gentleman may be!

 

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#13:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:27 pm

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Thanks everyone! The mystery man will resurface shortly!

“Jane Carew!” Con exclaimed. Then she laughed. “I don’t know why I’m surprised. The heart of the London West End Theatreland is exactly where I would have expected to see you. Every review I read of your last play raved about your performance. Isn’t your next play due to open some time soon?”

“Next week. We’ve been rehearsing all evening: I’m just on my way home now. I didn’t know you were in London, darling. Does this mean that you’ve left the Oberland?”

Chance would be a fine thing, Con thought. “No,” she said regretfully. “I’m just here for a few weeks.”

“Oh well, I’m lucky I caught you then,” Jane said merrily. “You must let me have all the hanes from the Gornetz Platz. I haven’t been there since … well, since we were both bridesmaids at your brother Stephen’s wedding. That was a gorgeous day, wasn’t it? Your mother was so pleased that her eldest son was marrying an Old Chaletian!”

“She was,” Con agreed. Joey had certainly been very pleased with herself at Stephen’s wedding, sitting in the front row of the church in an enormous lime green hat that had obscured everyone else’s view of the proceedings. It had been the same at Len’s wedding. And at Ruey’s. Joey had been as proud as a peacock, boasting to everyone about how wonderful it was to have a long family and boring people with tales of the various achievements of her many children and wards. Except for me, Con thought. She never seems to have anything much to say about me.

“I never thought that Jack Lambert would meet a boy who understood her obsession with engineering, but I was wrong!” Jane was laughing. “Jack’s a terrible correspondent, though, especially now that she’s got little Ruth and little Gay to see to. You must tell me all the latest from her and Stephen. I know: why don’t you come for Sunday lunch tomorrow? I’ve got an old friend from Chalet School days staying with me at the moment … someone you’ve known much longer than I have, actually, whom I’m sure would love to see you too.”

 

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#14:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:41 pm

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Alison H wrote:

sitting in the front row of the church in an enormous lime green hat that had obscured everyone else’s view of the proceedings.

*snicker*

Ooh Jack and Stephen would be a good match! Thanks Alison. Poor Con to feel like that though

 

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#15:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:51 pm

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Jack and Stephen - what a splendid match

*wonders who the old friend is*

Thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#16:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:59 pm

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Wonderful match! Also wondering who the old friend is.

Thank you Alison.

 

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#17:  Author: Robin, Location: London Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 1:16 pm

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*points upwards*

wot Nell said!

 

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#18:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 1:52 pm

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Oh, this looks great! I like Con, grown up but unchanged, and hope she finds happiness, even if Jo doesn't think she is successful. Thank you, Alison.

 

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#19:  Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 2:50 pm

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Jack and Stephen sounds like a perfect match Thanks Alison, I'm really enjoying this!

 

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#20:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 3:09 pm

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“I’d love to, so long as your parents won’t mind my coming at such short notice,” Con said.

“My parents?” Jane looked at her quizzically. “Darling, I don’t still live with my parents; not at my age! I’ve got my own flat! Here, this is the address.” She took a pen and a scrap of paper from her handbag and scribbled it down for Con. “Would about one o’clock be OK? Where are you staying, by the way?”

“With my cousin David Russell and his wife,” Con muttered. She’d tentatively suggested going to a hotel, but her mother had squashed the idea at once. “In a hotel in the middle of London on your own! You’d be going off in a daydream and getting lost, or else locking yourself out of your room. I know you, Con! No: you can stay with David & Co. I’ll ring up and organise it. They’d be delighted to have you!” So much for her plan of trying to have a few weeks to herself, away from everyone and everything connected with Freudesheim.

“David’s wife was at the Chalet School as well, wasn’t she?” Jane asked. “Before my time.”

“She certainly was,” Con said. Another perfect match – Dr David Russell and his beautiful Chalet School-educated bride. Another wedding at which she’d been a bridesmaid. How many times had she been a bridesmaid now? She’d long since lost count. What was that song – something about always being the bridesmaid, never the blushing bride. It could have been written for her.

Jane glanced at her watch. “Heavens! Is that the time? I’d better fly, darling! See you tomorrow!”


Sorry if I'm starting off with too many mysteries and too much doom and gloom - there's a bit of background info to be posted next and then the next few bits'll say who everyone is, and then things'll start to look up for Con!

 

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#21:  Author: RuthY, Location: Anyone's guess Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 3:16 pm

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This is looking very interesting.

Thanks Alison.

Ruth

 

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#22:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 4:06 pm

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So who did David Russell marry?
Eagerly awaiting answers and happiness, thanks Alison.

 

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#23:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 4:39 pm

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This is great Alison. Looking forward to more!

 

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#24:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 5:28 pm

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Mysteries are always good to start off with Alison

Looking forward to meeting up with some old acquaintances

Liz

 

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#25:  Author: ali, Location: medway, kent Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 6:31 pm

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Hurrah, a Con drabble. And it's nice to see Jane again, hope she has some eligible young men to brighten Con's life.

 

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#26:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:54 pm

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You certainly are starting off with some mysteries, Alison.

Thank you.

 

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#27:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 8:03 pm

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Lovely start Alisn - I'm most intrigued!

 

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#28:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:13 pm

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This is fab Alison! I can't wait for all the mysteries to be solved!!

 

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#29:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:17 pm

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I'm really enjoying this Alison. You have the characters just perfect - Jane is exactly herself!

I wonder who David married? *ponders*

Looking forward to more!

 

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#30:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:43 pm

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I like mysteries - and at 28 I think Con is old enough to decide things for herself so I think I might go and poke Joey!

Like this Alison.

 

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#31:  Author: Nicola, Location: Derbyshire Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:53 pm

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Great start, Alison, thank you. Most intriguing and your characters are totally believable. Laughing at the thought of Jack Lambert putting up with Joey as MIL. More please!

 

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#32:  Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 2:59 am

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I'm intrigued too. Poor Con, how did she end up so henpecked?

 

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#33:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 8:08 am

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It was when we went to Oxford that it all went wrong, Con thought as she sat on the Tube on her way back to the exclusive London suburb where David and his family lived. It seemed like such a good idea for Len and I to go to the same college. When we applied, I thought we’d have a marvellous time together, going out and enjoying ourselves, meeting new people, making new lives for ourselves. After all, we’d never really been away from the Chalet School for more than odd weeks at a time before. Even during the holidays we’d been next door to the school, and there’d always been some school business or other going on. This was our chance to go out in the big wide world, and I thought it’d be such fun for Len and I to experience it together. Truthfully, I suppose I also thought I’d have more chance of meeting people with Len around. People were always attracted to Len, and Francie Wilford was so desperate to be friends with Margot that she made Ruey’s life a misery for a while because she was jealous of her … whereas I never really had any close friends at school at all.

We’d both been looking forward to university so much. How was I to know that she’d spend our three years at Oxford studying in her room because she was so worried that Reg Entwistle wouldn’t want her to go out and meet anyone he might not approve of?

Her mind drifted back in time, to the day before the two eldest Maynards had been due to leave for Oxford, when Reg had presented Len with a diamond engagement ring so large than Con had wondered how on earth he had managed to afford it. “Like it, darling?” he’d asked. “You’ll never take it off your finger, will you? I want everyone to know that you’re my fiancée!” Len, starry-eyed, had told Con that the ring was a symbol of Reg’s love. From the way Reg had spoken, it had seemed to Con more like a symbol of possession. Reg had told Len that he’d try to ring her at weekends and in the evenings as often as he could, in a way that might have sounded romantic to some but had been said in a way that made it clear that he expected her to be in whenever he rang. He’d been so terrified that she might meet someone else.

Con, not wanting to go out and leave her sister alone night after night, had stayed in with her, and soon most people at the college had decided that the Maynard girls were stuffy and boring and had left them alone. It hadn’t been any better on the odd weekends when Margot had come down from Edinburgh to visit them: having decided that she was going to be a nun, she was determined not to spend her time out drinking or dancing as other students did. They had even lost touch with Ted Grantley, studying at one of the other Oxford colleges, after Ted had told Len bluntly that she was a fool to let Reg’s possessiveness ruin her student days and the two of them had had a bitter quarrel.

Then, when the three years at Oxford had come to an end, Con and her sister had gone back to Freudesheim to prepare for Len’s wedding. It had been the first wedding to take place in Our Lady of the Snows and most of the school had attended. Within a year of becoming a married lady, Len had become the proud Mamma of twins, and two “singleton” daughters had followed. Con, meanwhile, had stayed at home, writing her first book. She had tentatively suggested, a few months after her sister’s wedding, that maybe she could use some of the money Grannie Maynard had left her to buy a home of her own, but her mother had laughed out loud at the very suggestion.

“How could you live on your own, Con?” she had asked. “You’d never manage! Your head’s always in the clouds. Anyway, I need you here to help me with the little ones. Rosli’s going to work for Len and Reg as soon as the baby’s born, and I can’t possibly manage with just Anna. It’s difficult enough without Len here. How that girl has been a blessing and comfort to me, ever since the day she was born! Always so responsible, always the one everyone can rely on. Reg is a lucky man! Len will be a wonderful wife and mother.”

Len was just that, of course. Margot had completed her medical course with flying colours, and had duly entered the Order of the Blue Nuns and was now working at an orphanage in Brazil. And I’m the “daughter at home”, Con thought. A bizarre expression to use in the so-called Swinging Sixties, but nevertheless one that fits.

I can’t do this any more, she thought. I’ve got to find a life that’s right for me.


Things will look up for Con after this, honestly! Thank you for the nice comments, everyone - it's taken me a while to be brave enough to post a drabble of my own!

 

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#34:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 8:13 am

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I feel very sorry for Con.

Thanks Alison, I am really enjoying this drabble.

 

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#35:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 8:27 am

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Thank you for taking the plunge, Alison - the drabble is great! Poor Con, though, having to take up Rosli's job of caring for the babies yet not being allowed to grow up enough to live on her own. I'm really looking forward to things looking up for her.

 

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#36:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 8:38 am

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Poor Con! Life's been so unfair to her! Well, life and Joey.

 

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#37:  Author: Alice, Location: London, England Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 8:54 am

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Just found this Alison, it is very good. Glad to be able to read quite a few updates at once!

 

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#38:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 12:04 pm

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Isn't Jo selfish in this drabble? Keeping a daughter at home because she can't manage all her children is simply not one.

Con needs to start thinking for herself. She has the money, she's over twenty-one, so go girl, go.

 

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#39:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 12:25 pm

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She took a taxi from the Tube station to her cousins’ home, letting herself in as quietly as she could so as not to wake either the three- year-old twins or their two elder sisters. David’s wife must have heard the key in the lock because she was standing in the hall when Con opened the door.

“Hello Vi,” Con said. “How was the dinner party?”

“Not bad. Mostly other Harley Street specialists and their wives. I know that your Uncle Jem and Auntie Madge were disappointed when David decided to go in for cardiology rather than becoming a TB specialist, but thank goodness TB does seem to be dying out in the West, and David’s career’s going frightfully well, touch wood! I just hope that I didn’t make a bad impression on anyone!”

“I’m sure you didn’t,” Con assured her. She meant it. Vi was the perfect doctor’s wife and the perfect society wife, with her glorious bronzed curls, perfect complexion and lovely manners. Everyone had been delighted when she and David had married. Apart from anything else, it had represented the union of the Bettany-Russell-Maynard clan with the Lucy-Chester-Ozanne clan. Vi had looked like a fairytale princess on her wedding day. Could I ever look like that, Con thought. Will I ever have a wedding day?

Her mind turned again to the man she had seen at the theatre. She still couldn’t place him. Where had she seen him before? Was he someone she knew? Or someone famous? She couldn’t get his face out of her mind.

 

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#40:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 12:27 pm

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Ooooh, it's Vi! And two updates in one day!

Thanks Alison.

 

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#41:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 12:32 pm

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Can you tell I'm bored at work?!!

& I thought one of Joey or Madge's kids would have to marry one of the Chester/Ozanne/Lucy kids!

 

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#42:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 12:51 pm

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Another excellent match Thanks Alison, I hope Con can track down the mysterious man, I like mysteries!

 

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#43:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 1:40 pm

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Vi and David are a great match. Thanks Alison, I'm really enjoying this!

 

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#44:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 2:42 pm

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*ponders possible identity of mystery man*

Thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#45:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 4:13 pm

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I hope Vi is nicer to Con than Joey is! Thank you for the updates, Alison. This is a fascinating drabble.

 

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#46:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 4:23 pm

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Glad to see *some* of the mysteries being solved as we go along, Alison.

Thank you.

 

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#47:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 6:49 pm

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I really want to poke Joey!

Looking forward to Con making a new life for herself and throwing Joey's words back in her face.

 

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#48:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 7:28 pm

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Thanks Alison. This is a fascinating look at Con. Everything you have written seems so plausible. Poor girl.

 

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#49:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 4:59 pm

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Perfect match there Alison!

Poor Con, feeling so alone and cut off at university and then stuck at home. She deserves to go out and have some fun.

 

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#50:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 6:01 pm

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Thanks, Alison. What a great new drabble to return home to!

 

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#51:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 6:42 pm

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Thanks Alison!

(may I poke Joey and Len with sharp sticks?)

 

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#52:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 12:15 pm

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Con managed to find Jane’s flat without too much trouble. She rang on the doorbell, and was surprised when the door was opened not by Jane but by a girl who had been one of Jane’s closest friends at school and whom Con had known almost all her life. “Jose Helston!” she said in delight. “So you’re the friend who’s staying with Jane!”

“That’s me,” Jose said with a cheerful disregard for grammar. “Come on in: Jane’s just putting our lunch out, and we can catch up on all the news. I know that Auntie Joey and Mummy write to each other regularly but I haven’t seen much of Mummy lately: she’s been in Australia sorting out all Grandfather’s business, and I’ve been working in London temporarily.”

“I was sorry to hear about your grandfather,” Con said awkwardly, as she followed Jose inside. It was always difficult offering condolences on a bereavement, and she knew that she wasn’t the most tactful of people. “How is Aunt Elisaveta coping?”

Jose sighed. “Obviously it’s been a difficult time for all of us, but it wasn’t as if it was a surprise: he’d been ill for some months before he died, and we know that he is with Grandmother now. What upset Mummy the most, though, was the Belsornian authorities’ refusal to let him be buried beside Grandmother in the cathedral in Firarto as he wanted.”

Con didn’t know what to say. She could quite understand the Soviet authorities’ decision. The illness and then the death of the exiled King had led to an upsurge in nationalistic and royalist feeling in Belsornia, now one of the 16 republics of the Soviet Union. It was understandable that they should fear that allowing even a small private royal funeral in Firarto might lead to civil unrest, but obviously that would be of little comfort to Elisaveta and her children. Joey, of course, had seen nothing of this and had just railed at length at the “unchristian” attitude of the Soviet government. “I’m sorry,” she said. She couldn’t think how else to respond.

Jose sensed her awkwardness and changed the subject. “How are Auntie Joey and Uncle Jack?” she asked.

“They’re fine,” Con said. “Dad’s spending less time at the San now that it isn’t so busy. I think Mamma would really like to move back to the Tiernsee once Phil and Claire have finished school. She and Dad goes there quite often, more so than ever now that Roger is working at the waterworks there. Then again, maybe she’ll decide to stay out at the Gornetz Platz to be near Len and Reg and their children, especially now that Ruey’s married to one of the San doctors as well.”

She smiled at the remembrance of how Ruey had met her husband. Having returned to the Chalet School as a P.T. mistress, Ruey had been supervising a group of girls practising their boating on Lake Thun on the same day that the good doctor, taking a holiday in Interlaken prior to taking up his appointment at the San, had been swimming there. He had suffered an attack of cramp whilst some way from the lake shore: Ruey, seeing his distress, had swum over at once and rescued him. Girls and staff had talked of nothing else for days, for such a thing had never before been known in the annals of the Chalet School. Jack Maynard had been so shocked on hearing of it that Joey had had to give him a sedative.

“What about you, Con?” asked Jane, who had been putting the food out whilst this conversation had been going on. “You always said that you were going to write. I know that the Company could use a script for a new play: Father says that most of the popular plays have been done to death and that there’s no good new material around anywhere at the moment.”

 

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#53:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 12:21 pm

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Fascinating background information on Elisaveta, and on Ruey's romance.

Thanks, Alison.

 

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#54:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 12:42 pm

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Love the discussion of Belsornia, and also love how the tables turned with Ruey and the doctor!

 

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#55:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 1:13 pm

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*g* at Ruey and the doctor!

I do hope Con will start writing - and get away from Joey!

 

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#56:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 1:16 pm

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Good for Ruey. What a shock, Jack having to have a dose.

 

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#57:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 2:07 pm

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I love how Ruey met her man!

You have Con and her awkwardness just right - thanks Alison.

 

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#58:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 2:32 pm

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Love Ruey's romance! Bet that shocked more than just Jack!

Nice that Con's achievements are appreciated outside her family - perhaps she'll use that and contact Jane's father - I'm sure he'd be heppy to hire her to write new material.

Thanks Alison.

 

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#59:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 4:44 pm

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*Giggling at the Ruey and her doctor story*

Can you imagine what the family tree must look like with all those families interconnected!! *Mind boggles*

 

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#60:  Author: Nicola, Location: Derbyshire Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 8:17 pm

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Alison H wrote:

Jack Maynard had been so shocked on hearing of it that Joey had had to give him a sedative.

Oh, that's hysterical! Thank you, Alison, I'm really enjoying this and looking forward to finding out what happens to Con.

 

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#61:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:49 pm

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Wonderful role reversal!

Thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#62:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 5:31 am

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Love the role reversal!!

 

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#63:  Author: Katya, Location: Mostly Bradford Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:30 am

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Sooo glad I'm not sharing an office at the moment - means I can chortle away to my heart's content!

 

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#64:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 9:03 am

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Con bit her lip. “I did start to write when I went home after I’d graduated. I finished my first book, and then I sent it to Mamma’s publishers, asking if they’d look at it … but they said that they got a lot of material sent to them and that they were sorry but they couldn’t accept it for publication. I’ve written other books and plays since then, but I’ve never had the confidence to send them to the publishers after that.”

“Oh Con!” Jane exclaimed, trying not to sound as exasperated as she felt. “Lots of books and plays get turned down by the first publisher they’re sent to, and just because your first effort wasn’t accepted by one publisher doesn’t mean that you can’t make a success of writing! Why don’t you send some of your work to other publishers? Different publishers are interested in different types of work. I wouldn’t mind betting that it’s really good and that some of them’d jump at it! I’m surprised your mother hasn’t suggested it herself.”

Con looked at the table. “She doesn’t know that I still write,” she confessed. “Her first book was accepted by the first publisher she sent it to, you see. I feel that if she knows I’m still writing and if I send something else – I write mostly plays now - to a publisher and it gets turned down then I’ll look like a complete failure by comparison.”

“Can I tell you something?” Jose put in before Jane had chance to reply. “Mummy was hoping that Auntie Joey would come to be her lady-in-waiting in Belsornia after leaving school, but it never happened because of Robin Humphries being ill and Auntie Joey being needed to help Auntie Madge with all the children at the Sonnalpe. They wrote to each other an awful lot at that time, though, and Auntie Joey told Mummy that her first book, something about a girl called Malvina, ended up in the school incinerator after Matey read it and told her it was a load of rubbish! Mummy always used to tell me that story whenever I was ready to give up on something if my first shot at it failed. Did you really not know about it?”

Con, her eyes opened wide in amazement, shook her head.

“Right,” Jane said firmly. She knew from her own experience how difficult it could be to try to follow in the footsteps of famous parents, and she felt rather sorry for Con now. “That rather proves my point. Have you got any of your plays with you?”

“Two,” Con admitted.

“Then why don’t you bring them here and let me read them? Would you mind? Like I said, we’re on the lookout for some totally fresh material for the Company, and I ‘d love it if we could act something written by you, darling. Now, I’ll just put the rest of the food out, and then we can eat.”

Unfortunately, the doorbell chose that moment to ring. “Oh who on earth’s that, just when we’re about to eat?” Jane expostulated. “Jose, would you mind just bringing the last of the food in from the kitchen whilst I go to see who it is?”

 

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#65:  Author: Robin, Location: London Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 9:06 am

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oooh a mystery caller.
Hope Jane likes Con's play.

and at Ruey!

 

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#66:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 10:11 am

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Good for Jane and Jose giving Con some confidence nd another mystery person, yay!

Thanks Alison

 

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#67:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 10:21 am

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Poor Con! And I'm still giggling at Ruey - good for her! - and Jack's dose, serves him right! Thanks Alison... please put us out of our misery re the mystery caller?

 

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#68:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 11:45 am

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Thankyou Alison, this is excellent.

Good for Jose for knowing just the right thing to say to Con to make her feel better about her writing in comparison to Joey's.

I hope Jane will be able to do something for one of Con's plays!

And - do I spy a little cliff? Who could it be at the door?

I'm really loving all these stories of what happened to the CS girls once they left!

 

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#69:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 12:08 pm

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Thank you Alison. Well done Jane and Jose, fantastic role reversal for Ruey and still wondering about the mystery man and of course the doorbell!

 

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#70:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 1:02 pm

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I really want to slap Jo (as if that was anything new) for knocking Con's confidence as she has.

 

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#71:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 1:11 pm

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Jose headed for the kitchen and Jane went to answer the door, as Con sat and pondered everything that had just been said. She heard the door open, and a man’s voice ask, “Have I called at a bad time?”

“Well, we’re just about to eat, and an old friend’s here for lunch,” she heard Jane say. “You’re very welcome to join us, though. We’re just getting the last of the food ready: we won’t be a minute. Just go through.”

Con heard the sound of firm, manly footsteps approaching, and then the door opened and six foot two of manhood (sorry, couldn’t resist using those particular EBD expressions!) walked into the room. She gasped. It was the same man she had seen at the theatre the day before.

Suddenly, she realised who he was.

 

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#72:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 1:33 pm

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But Alison you haven't told us who he is...

Thank you though.

 

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#73:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 1:47 pm

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Arrrggh!! What a mean cliff! *stamps foot*

Thanks Alison!

 

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#74:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 1:49 pm

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Please may we have some more Alison?

 

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#75:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:33 pm

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*chokes*

six foot two of manhood!! *scoops mind out of the gutter*

so who is this marvellous specimen then?

 

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#76:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:48 pm

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francesn wrote:

*chokes* six foot two of manhood!! *scoops mind out of the gutter*

It's not my expression! EBD used it to describe Jack Maynard in Jo To the Rescue, and again to describe Roger Richardson in "Joey & Co in Tirol"! I just thought I'd borrow it!!

 

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#77:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:02 pm

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I thought that was an update!

Mia *Spoilt brat*

 

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#78:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:18 pm

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Thank you Alison - this is great! But, please, you have forgotten to tell us who the six foot two mystery man is.

 

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#79:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 6:34 pm

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francesn wrote:

*chokes* six foot two of manhood!! *scoops mind out of the gutter*

Joining Fran!

So Joey never told Con about her first spectacular failure when writing - I wonder why not?

Most intrigued as to gentleman visitor, and love that Jane and Jose were able to boost Con.

Thanks Alison.

 

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#80:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 7:01 pm

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Alison, that was not nice. you knew we wanted t know the identity of the mystery man.

Bad Bill Ozanne?

 

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#81:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 10:42 pm

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*splutters*

Thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#82:  Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 3:55 am

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Thanks Alison, this is very clever.


(still giggling about Ruey's romance)

 

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#83:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 7:12 am

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“Con Maynard!” he said, with a smile of genuine delight that lit up his clear-cut face and deep blue eyes. “This is a stroke of luck: it’s lovely to see you again. Did you not recognise an old childhood friend at the theatre yesterday? Or did you just not see me when I waved to you?”

“Con, you remember my eldest brother Freddie, don’t you?” Jose asked, coming into the room with a dish of potatoes, Jane following with the vegetables. “He’s working as an engineer now: he travels around a lot with his job but he’s based in London at the moment. He’s gatecrashed our lunch: I hope you don’t mind.”

“Er..,” Con reddened, unable to think what to say. He obviously knew very well that she hadn’t realised who he was when they’d seen each other yesterday. Freddie grinned at her. “Don’t worry about it. The last time we met must have been at that School Sale of yours that Mother brought us all along to, just after we left America. It was a long time ago: I daresay we’ve all changed a fair bit since then.”

He certainly had, Con thought. She had a vague recollection of a bored-looking boy in his early teens, not very happy at having to spend the afternoon at a sale put on by a load of girls. He’d gone to the same school as her brothers soon after that, she remembered, but hadn’t really had much to do with them, being a good few years older even than Stephen. Now he was a grown man – and an extremely pleasant and attractive one at that.

“I recognised you straight away, though,” he said quietly. “I’d have known you anywhere, Con.”

 

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#84:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 7:18 am

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Oh ho! Sounds good Con - and Freddie sounds lovely!

Thanks Alison.

 

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#85:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 7:33 am

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oooooooh - this looks promising

*wants more*

Thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#86:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 8:22 am

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Oooooh, Freddie Helston! So simplistic, yet I never saw that one coming!

I do so love the manhood phrase - gets me in giggles everytime!

 

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#87:  Author: Robin, Location: London Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:08 am

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ooh, I didn't think of him either, but then I'm rubbish at guessing stuff.

*also giggling at the manhood*

 

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#88:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:33 am

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You might give the poor boy a complex by giggling at his manhood! Thanks Alison, I hadn't thought of Freddie either but he sounds like he has good SLOC potential!

 

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#89:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:27 am

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OOH, let's hope that there's a future for Con there.

 

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#90:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:06 pm

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Seeing her blushing, he made his next remark a little more light-hearted. “I never forget a pretty face!”

“Oh what rot!” Con exclaimed. “Most people think that Margot’s the prettiest one of us three, and some people think that she’s got the most showy looks but that Len’s the real beauty. I’m just the third one of three: everyone knows that.”

“Not at all,” Jane said firmly. “You’re very pretty, Con, and you always were. I remember at that Kate Greenaway sale we did, when you changed your hairstyle, everyone in the school was saying how lovely you looked.” Seeing Con’s blushes deepen even more, she decided not to labour the point any further. “Con writes plays,” she said instead. “She’s going to bring some of her work her for me to look at: I’m hoping that there might be something that the Company could produce.”

“Really?” Freddie, having seated himself by Con, turned towards her, and the two of them chatted away for the remainder of the meal, heedless of the amused glances being exchanged by Jane and Jose. When the time came to leave, he insisted on escorting her back to David and Vi’s. “I’ve really enjoyed meeting you again, Con,” he said. “I hope we’ll see each other again whilst we’re both in London.”

Con smiled diffidently. “I hope so too,” she said.

Not wanting any of the Russells to see her arriving home with a young man and start asking questions, she waited to watch him leave before opening the door. He was as charming and as handsome as one of the princes in her stories, she thought dreamily. Then she laughed at herself. Of course, he was a prince. The terms of the Belsornian Act of Settlement passed after Prince Cosimo’s death had provided for all of Elisaveta’s children to bear the title of prince or princess. He was a duke as well, having inherited his father’s title of Duke of Mirolani. In fact, she realised, now that King Carol was dead, in the eyes of Belsornian royalists Freddie was the Crown Prince of Belsornia, even if he did just go by the name of plain Mr Helston.

She didn’t care about titles, though. He had been so kind and attentive to her, so genuinely interested in everything she said, so polite and yet so friendly. He would be just as lovely whoever his family were. It had been the best afternoon she had spent in a long time.

 

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#91:  Author: Nicola, Location: Derbyshire Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:17 pm

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Thanks, Alison, I'm really enjoying this, and Freddie sounds perfect.

 

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#92:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:21 pm

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Alison H wrote:

She didn’t care about titles, though. He had been so kind and attentive to her, so genuinely interested in everything she said, so polite and yet so friendly. He would be just as lovely whoever his family were. It had been the best afternoon she had spent in a long time.

A genuine interest in Con that clearly she didn't get from her own family - how sad!

Thanks, Alison

 

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#93:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 1:10 pm

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How lovely, he is someone I had forgotten all about, but he fits perfectly in this, with Jane and Jose, and with their mothers being friends, Jose knew just the right thing to say to Con and Joey couldn't object to Freddie..it all ties in so well.

Now why is the song 'someday my prince will come' floating around my mind!

Thanks, this is a lovely story.

 

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#94:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 1:26 pm

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Thankyou Alison, ooooh how exciting!

I do hope this is going to be a nice story, with a nice uncomplicated happy ending!

 

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#95:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 1:54 pm

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Awww, Freddie's lovely.

Quick, Con! Snag him before I do! ;)

 

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#96:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:06 pm

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Con and her fairytale prince - how perfect

*jumping slightly ahead here*

Thanks Alison

 

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#97:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:23 pm

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Poor Con seems to have all her self-esteem knocked out of her by her family. Hope Freddie, Jane and Jose can restore it to its rightful level.

Thanks Alison.

(And looking forward to Con telling her mother that she is a grown woman now, not a child!)

 

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#98:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:42 pm

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AWWWWWW!

That was just lovely!!

PLEASE let it be a happy ending for Con.

 

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#99:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 5:14 pm

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How lovely - thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#100:  Author: Alice, Location: London, England Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:12 pm

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Ooo, it's so romantic. Thanks Alison.

 

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#101:  Author: Sophoife, Location: down under Down Under Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:40 am

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What Alice said.

 

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#102:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:32 am

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Poor Con, how horrible for her to be so overshadowed by the rest of her family. But...has something wonderful just happened?

 

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#103:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 10:51 am

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Thanks for all the comments! I've got my fingers crossed for Con and Freddie ... but unfortunately something's telling me that the course of true love never runs smooth and that it might be best not to rush out to buy a new hat just yet... However, it's early days yet. Here's a bit more.


A couple of days later, Con arrived at Jane’s flat, clutching a folder that held the last two plays she had written. I hope Jane doesn’t laugh at them, she thought. Did she really want to see them, or was she just being polite? She hovered outside the door for a moment, not quite sure what to do. Then she squared her shoulders and rang on the doorbell. Jane came running to let her in.

“Con, darling!” she said, and her voice was so obviously welcoming that Con began to relax a little. “Have you brought me those plays to read? Oh super!”

Once they were inside the flat, Jane began to glance through the first one, whilst Con waited nervously for reaction. After a few minutes Jane looked up, a look of genuine admiration on her face. “Con, this is really good,” she said. “I’m not just saying that: I really mean it. I can’t promise anything, but would you mind if I hung on to these manuscripts and showed them to Father and Mother? These might be just what the Company’s looking for?”

Con looked at her in bewilderment. “Are you serious?” she asked.

“Yes!” Jane said. “I’m a professional actress: I know a good play when I see one, Con: trust me!” Why on earth should someone who could write this well be completely lacking in confidence, she wondered. The Maynards had a lot to answer for: why had they never tried to give her a bit more encouragement, instead of letting her be always overshadowed by perfect Len and troublesome Margot? Well, maybe it was time that someone gave Con a helping hand for a change.

“I’ll tell you what, Con,” she said. “Our new play opens the day after tomorrow, as you know. I’ve got a couple of complimentary tickets for the opening night. Jose’s taking one, but the other one’s going spare at the moment. Why don’t you take it?”

“Oh Jane, I’d love to, if you’re sure,” Con said.

“Of course I’m sure,” Jane said. “And be sure to dress up … because … well, people always do for the opening night!” She smiled at the older girl. “I hope you’ll have a stupendous evening, darling!”

 

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#104:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 10:55 am

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Fab, thanks Alison

*Hopes Jose can't make the opening night and send Freddie in her place instead*

 

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#105:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:13 am

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Loving this, thank you Alison. I do hope they put on Con's play and help her realise how good it is.

 

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#106:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:17 am

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Jane is lovely, and Im sure she will be able to show Con how good her work is. *keeping her fingers crossed for Con and Freddie*

Thanks Alison

 

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#107:  Author: Lyanne, Location: Ipswich, England Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:45 am

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Quote:

Jane said. “And be sure to dress up … because … well, people always do for the opening night!”

And because we don't think Jose will be the Helston there?

 

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#108:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:35 pm

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Oho! Jane is a-plotting!

I'm so glad someone is taking a real interest in Con for herself; hope her self-esteem can be raised.

 

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#109:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:44 pm

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This is lovely and Freddie sounds so perfect for Con. I have my fingers crossed for a happy ending for them both.

 

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#110:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:45 pm

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Jane is lovely

Thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#111:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:38 pm

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how nice of Jane - I do hope the Company like Con's work, and that Joey won't be too put out if they do.

 

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#112:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 5:14 pm

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Con surveyed the contents of her wardrobe despairingly. Why on earth had she let her mother talk her into bringing some of this stuff? This was London, 1968: no-one went around dressed in hand-knitted twinsets. Eventually, she plucked up the courage to ask Vi, who was always immaculately dressed, if she could borrow something of hers.

Vi was delighted. Even in the short time that Con had been staying with them, she’d realised just how low David’s cousin’s self esteem had fallen. Mary-Lou would be sticking her oar right in, Vi thought, but Con’s a grown woman and I don’t really want to interfere in her business. She’s certainly seemed much happier since that day she went for lunch with Jane Carew though. I’m glad that David and I’ve told her that she can stay as long as she wants: the trip to London seems to be doing her good.

The dress they selected was rather shorter on Con than it was on Vi, but Vi insisted that it looked fine. She also helped Con with her hair and her make-up, and both she and David assured her that she looked lovely. Con reached the theatre early and, finding that the foyer was very crowded, decided to take her seat and wait for Jose there. She bought a programme and settled down to read it, becoming so engrossed in reading about the history of Sir William and Lady Carew’s theatre company that she didn’t notice that someone was walking along the row towards her until they actually stopped by the next seat.

“Sorry, Jose, I was just … oh.” She stopped in confusion. Then she blushed furiously as she realised what had happened. “Freddie,” she stammered. “I wasn’t expecting you … I mean, I thought that I was meeting Jose.”

“I thought that I was meeting Jose as well!” he said, grinning ruefully. “Con, do you get the feeling that we’ve been set up?”

They both started to laugh. “It’d be a shame if their efforts went to waste, wouldn’t it?” he asked. “Would you care to join me for a drink after the show?”

 

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#113:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 5:32 pm

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Oh, fabulous, thank you, Alison. I hope they have a wonderful evening.

 

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#114:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 6:01 pm

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Oh I'm glad that Vi and David seem inclined to encourage Con's self-confidence. Thanks Alison

 

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#115:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 6:12 pm

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Well done Jane!

And lovely Vi too - thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#116:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 7:01 pm

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Awww that's lovely. And so glad that Jane, Vi and David all seem to want to help Con.

How dare the Maynards have crushed her self esteem so much?

 

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#117:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 7:44 pm

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How nice for Con that so many people are boosting her self-confidence.

And I do hope the *blind date* goes well.

Thanks, Alison.

 

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#118:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 7:53 pm

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How lovely of Vi and Daveid...and I love the plotting of Jane and Jose to set the pair up.

 

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#119:  Author: Sophoife, Location: down under Down Under Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 7:55 pm

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As Jane herself would say,

"Stupendous, darling!"

Thanks Alison.

 

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#120:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:21 pm

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Oh, how gorgeous. Have a lovely evening, you two!

 

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#121:  Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 2:55 am

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Fabbity! Hope he buys champers for her. All girls deserve a gentleplum to buy them champers.

 

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#122:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 6:36 am

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About time someone did something for her.

Still wanting to slap and poke Jo for not recognising that Con has talent which should be encouraged, not suppressed.

 

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#123:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 8:19 am

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Hehe... sneaky Jose!

 

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#124:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 9:07 am

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Yay. Well done Jane and Jose. Thank you Alison.

 

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#125:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 9:26 am

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The play was a great success. “What a marvellous actress Jane is!” Con said as the curtains fell following a standing ovation from the audience. Then she grimaced. Even now, she felt guilty about using the word “marvellous”. “She’s going to ask her parents to look at two of my plays,” she added diffidently, “but they might not like them.”

“I’m sure they will,” Freddie said. “You should have more confidence in yourself, Con! You’re intelligent; you’re beautiful: you shouldn’t put yourself down so much. Now, where shall we go for that drink?”

Con reddened at the compliments. “Er… I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t really know London very well. You must know it much better than I do, seeing as you’ve been working here.” She hadn’t quite worked out just what his job in London entailed. Hadn’t something been said about him working in London at the moment and travelling around a lot because of his work? It sounded a bit odd, really. Why would an engineer travel around because of his job? Maybe she’d got it wrong.

“What is it that you do again, Freddie?” she asked. “Didn’t Jose say something about engineering?”

“That’s right,” he said briefly.

“And you travel around? That must be interesting. Whereabouts do you go, apart from London?”

“America, mostly,” he said.

“Oh, do you ever get to go to Canada?” Con asked eagerly. “We spent some time there when we were young, you know; and my Auntie Rob lives in Montreal.”

“I only go to Canada occasionally. More often I go to the United States. Look, Con, I’d really rather not talk about this. Can we discuss something else?”

Con bit her lip. All these years everyone had been telling her how tactless she was, and she’d still obviously managed to say the wrong thing.

“Oh, look, Con, I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said hastily. “I just don’t like talking about work on a night out, that’s all. Come on, let’s find a decent bar.” He slipped his arm round her shoulders, and escorted her down a side street and into one of the many West End bars. She was surprised that he seemed to have chosen somewhere quiet and obviously not very popular, but then she reminded herself that the Helstons, despite their royal status, didn’t have a lot of money. Maybe he couldn’t afford to take her to one of the more fashionable places, not at London prices.

 

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#126:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 9:34 am

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Thank you Alison, I'm intrigued by Freddie's work is it just not wanting to talk about it when he's having an evening off or somethign more. Pleased to see him and Con getting along though.

 

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#127:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:25 am

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Oooh, is Freddie a spy or something exciting like that. Poor Con, always left feeling she has said the wrong thing.

 

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#128:  Author: Robin, Location: London Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:32 am

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Carolyn P wrote:

Oooh, is Freddie a spy or something exciting like that.

that's what I was thinking. Or he's plotting the revolution to get Belsornia independent again..
Hope they have a nice rest of evening

thanks Alison

 

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#129:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:59 am

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I was thinking spy too!

Con's upbringing has left such a deep mark, hasn't it?

Thanks Alison

 

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#130:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:01 am

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I'm intrigued! Thanks Alison

 

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#131:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:03 am

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Uh-oh, why doesn't he want to talk about it? That's rather worrying!

Poor Con

 

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#132:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:41 am

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Robin wrote:

Carolyn P wrote: Oooh, is Freddie a spy or something exciting like that. that's what I was thinking. Or he's plotting the revolution to get Belsornia independent again..

I hope it's one of those and not that he's already married with a wife and children secretly stashed away somewhere!

Thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#133:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 2:41 pm

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I think there may be things about Freddie's life that not even his closest relations know about. Oh dear, and I'd been looking forward to writing about the wedding until this. This is a long post because I couldn't find a convenient stopping point in the middle, hope you don't mind!

Still, whilst he might not have had a royal upbringing, there’s something about him that sets him a little bit apart from everyone else, she thought. I don’t quite know what it is, but it’s there. It’s the same with Jose. You’d never know from the way he talks that he’s a Continental, though. He speaks English like a native!

“What are you thinking about?” he asked her as he carefully carried their drinks over to the table and saw her studying him.

“If you must know,” she admitted, “I was thinking how good your English is, considering that it isn’t your first language.”

He laughed. “We lived in England for a while, remember, then we moved to America, and then I went to school and university in England. I had to learn German when Mother decided that we should settle in Arosa, but I was taught both English and French from when I was young. French was always the language of the Belsornian court, you know, even by my grandfather’s time. Very few people apart from Belsornians speak the Belsornian language: it’s said to be a very difficult language for foreigners to learn.”

Con smiled. “It certainly is. It took me ages to get the hang of it.”

“You can speak Belsornian!” His face lit up with surprise and delight.

Con smiled up at him shyly. “Mother learnt to speak Belsornian from Aunt Elisaveta, when they were at school. She taught Len and Margot and me: she said that you could never speak enough languages. I certainly wouldn’t say that I was fluent, but I could speak and understand enough to get by.”

“Con, you’re an amazing girl: you really are!” He reached across the table and took her hands in his. “I hope that you’re going to stay in London for a while longer, at least,” he said meaningfully. “I can see that we’re going to have lots to talk about.”

They stayed in the bar for an hour, chatting about plays that they’d both seen and books that they’d both read. Con was delighted to find that he shared her love of history, and it was with great regret that she eventually said that she’d have to be getting back: it was getting late and David and Vi might start to worry. Freddie insisted on accompanying her in the taxi back to her cousins’ house. “Con,” he said when they drew up outside the Russells’. “I hope you won’t mind my asking this, but I’d really like it if you’d let me have your cousins’ phone number. I’d like it a lot if we could see each other again whilst you’re in London. You aren’t going back to Switzerland just yet, are you? There’s nothing that you need to rush back for, is there?”

Was he asking her if she had a boyfriend in Switzerland? “No, there isn’t,” she said emphatically. “There’s nothing for me to rush back for at all.”

“I’m very glad to hear that,” he said. “I’d like it if we could get to know each other better. Just one thing – it was a lovely idea of Jane’s to arrange for us to meet up like this and I can’t tell you how pleased I am that she did, but I don’t think she and Jose need to know if – or may I say when, because I do very much hope that it’s going to be when - we see each other again. We don’t want people to be gossiping about us, do we?”

 

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#134:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 2:57 pm

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*Wibbling suddenly*

Oh dear - this is looking rather ominous! What has Freddie got to hide?

Thanks Alison!

 

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#135:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:14 pm

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I suspect he's hiding something quite exciting actually! But I'm not going to spoil it... He is lovely! and Con is just gorgeous too - her shyness is really realistic and well done. Thanks Alison - and the post length was brilliant!

 

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#136:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:30 pm

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I never mind about long posts. That was lovely. Thank you Alison.

 

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#137:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:37 pm

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No post is ever long enough when we're enjoying the drabble.

I just wonder what Freddie has to hide.

 

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#138:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 4:13 pm

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I hope Freddie is as nice as he seems, not just too good to be true! Thanks, Alison, this is a lovely story.

 

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#139:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 4:45 pm

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What a nice gentleman - hope he stays that way.

Thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#140:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 6:01 pm

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I was sqeeing up until that last paragraph, and now I'm wibbling a bit!!

 

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#141:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 6:27 pm

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Oh dear that suddenly doesn't sound too good. I'm very worried about Freddie's line of work now

Thanks Alison - more soon please!

 

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#142:  Author: Sophoife, Location: down under Down Under Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 6:35 pm

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Hmmm...Freddie Helston is actually probably perfectly suited to being a real-life James Bond...with more class! Hopefully he wants to keep seeing Con again quiet cos he realises how shy and worthless she feels...?

 

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#143:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 6:36 pm

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Eeeek!

*wonders what Freddie's secret is!*

Thanks Alison!

 

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#144:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:44 pm

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Just read of all of this Alison and it's fabbity


but I am wibbling a little - please don't do anything that will destroy even more of her self confidnece

 

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#145:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:26 am

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A few days later, Con received a phone call from Jane. “How did you enjoy your evening at the theatre?” Jane asked eagerly.

“The show was excellent, thank you,” Con replied demurely. She smiled to herself. She quite understood what Freddie had said about not wanting to be a subject of gossip. She remembered how embarrassed Len had been when she’d found out that their mother had told Hilda Annersley and Mary-Lou Trelawney all about Reg’s interest in her.

Jane, realising that Con obviously wasn’t going to say any more about Freddie, changed the subject. “Con, I’ve got some news for you, and I hope you’re going to be pleased about it. Mother and Father have both had a look at the two plays you gave me to read, and they both really like them – particularly the medieval romance. Obviously we’ve only just started our run of our current play, but once it’s finished they want to do a West End production of your play, and then hopefully take it on a tour of the regions. Obviously they’d pay you the appropriate amount, and consult you on any editing they did. What do you say?”

“Oh Jane!” Con gasped. “Oh I can’t believe it! Thank you so much, thank you, thank you. Are you really sure? Oh you don’t know how much this means to me!”

“I’m getting the idea,” Jane laughed. “That’s great, Con. I’ll let them know. This is wonderful, darling, isn’t it? I’ll have to go now, but I’ll speak to you again soon.”

Having replaced the receiver, Con sank into the chair that Vi kept by the telephone, tears of happiness running down her cheeks.

 

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#146:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:28 am

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I'm so pleased they liked the play. Good for Con, hopefully this will give her confidence a boost

 

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#147:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:32 am

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Yay for Con, just keep Jo out of it.

 

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#148:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:33 am

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Oh yay! Not that I had any doubt, but I am so pleased for Con!

 

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#149:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:37 am

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Yay Con!

Hope she doesn't tell Jo.

 

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#150:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:40 am

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That's great for Con. Let's hope Freddie works out as well for her.

 

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#151:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:47 am

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Yay!

Hopefully they'll take her with her on the tour and keep her away from Joey for a bit longer!

 

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#152:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:49 am

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Yippeeee! What good news for Con!

Still wibbling slightly about Freddie and his secrets - but trying not to worry!

 

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#153:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:53 am

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Huzzah Im so happy for Con, and she obviously is too.

*agrees Joey should be kept out of things*

Thanks Alison

 

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#154:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 12:39 pm

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Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee! Am so happy for Con!

Thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#155:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:21 pm

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Excellent news

 

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#156:  Author: Lyanne, Location: Ipswich, England Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:43 pm

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Ruth B wrote

Quote:

Hopefully they'll take her with her on the tour and keep her away from Joey for a bit longer!

I beg your pardon? You expect Mrs Maynard to - look after her own children?

 

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#157:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:50 pm

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Very pleased for Con - she must be very proud - and it'll be a nuice boost to her confidence. Freddie sounds wonderful - but - niggles with regard to his job, his need for secrecy etc - hope they don't mean Con is hurt.

Thanks Alison.

 

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#158:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 8:05 pm

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I'm glad Con's got some good news at last.

Thanks Alison

 

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#159:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 12:34 am

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Marvellous marvellous validation of her writing. And a great boost to her self-worth!

 

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#160:  Author: Sophoife, Location: down under Down Under Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 1:38 am

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I reiterate, "fabulous, darling!"

 

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#161:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 7:53 am

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She was still sitting there when Vi came into the room ten minutes later. “Are you all right, Con?” she asked. “You look as if you’ve been crying.”

“Oh Vi!” Con could hardly get the words out. “You’ll never guess what. Sir William Carew and Daphne Cibber want to make one of my plays into a show for their company! Oh Vi, I’m so glad I came to London! Are you sure that you and David won’t mind if I stay a bit longer? I’ll help with the children, or do anything else you want me to do.”

“Con, that’s wonderful news!” Vi exclaimed. “Oh I’m so pleased for you. Do you want to ring Auntie Joey and tell her? It won’t hurt David to pay for an international phone call for once! Of course you can stay: you’re our guest; we love having you here. However, since you’re offering to help with the children, would you like to take the twins out next Wednesday? Lesley Malcolm – remember her? – is going to be in London for a few days, and she’s coming to see me. It’s Nanny’s afternoon off, and I don’t see Lesley often and it’d be nice for us to have a chance to catch up in peace and quiet!”

Con agreed readily. Vi’s two elder girls, Madge and Janie, went to a nearby day school, where they would stay until they were old enough for the Chalet School, but the three year old twins, Julian and Barbara, were still under the care of a nanny. Nanny had every Wednesday afternoon off, but it had transpired that Wednesday was the only afternoon that Lesley had free. Con thought that she might take the two children to the zoo. Len and Reg’s children loved going to the zoo.

Now all she had to do was speak to her mother. She frowned. She hoped that Joey would be pleased to hear about the play, but she also knew that she would expect her to return home as planned … and she knew from past experience how good her mother was at persuading other people round to her way of thinking. Something told her that this wasn’t going to be a very comfortable conversation.

I think it may be time for a showdown!

 

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#162:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 8:00 am

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Yes, please, a showdown would be fabulous!

Thanks, Alison, this is so good. And Vi is really nice, even though she wants Con to look after the kids! Maybe Freddie would like to go to the zoo, too.

 

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#163:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 9:03 am

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I'm sure Freddie would like a trip to the zoo....

Definately time for a showdown, come on Con show your mother what you're made of!

Thank you Alison!

 

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#164:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 10:00 am

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Go for it Con - you have friends who will support you if you need it.

Thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#165:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 10:47 am

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Go Con!

 

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#166:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 12:52 pm

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Jo definitely needs to hear some home truths!

Will something happen at the zoo?

 

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#167:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 1:51 pm

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At least Con is aware that Joey can be manipulative - can she have Vi in the background to encourage her when she rings


Or even tell a teeny fib about how she has agreed to help Vi out for the forseeable future on Wednesdays


But fingers crossed that Joey will be really pleased and proud of her - pleeeeease?

 

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#168:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 4:28 pm

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Oooh lots to think about Alison, having just caught up on the last three pages... wibbling about Freddie - why doesn't he want anyone else to know? Also wibbling about this conversation with Joey! I hope that Con stands up to her if necessary!

Hannah X

 

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#169:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 5:01 pm

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Go Con - you can do it!

Looking forward to the showdown Alison!

 

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#170:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 7:53 pm

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Go on Con!

Be strong and stand up to your mother!

 

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#171:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 9:47 pm

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Thankyou Alison

Like everyone else, I'm looking forward to the showdown!

 

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#172:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 7:57 am

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She was right. She began by explaining that she was going to be staying in London longer than she had originally planned, and she didn’t even have chance to impart the news about the play before Joey had launched into a tirade about how thoughtless she was, how she was neglecting her family duty and how she was completely lacking in consideration for others. It was that last remark that finally caused Con to snap.

“How dare you speak to me like that?” she flared. “That is enough! Consideration for others? When did you ever show any consideration for me? All these years you’ve made me feel inferior; you’ve made me feel that I was the one member of the family who didn’t count; you’ve expected me to be at your beck and call and you’ve never once acknowledged that maybe I had a right to a life of my own. Don’t you dare try to make me feel guilty. You’re good at that, aren’t you? Making poor Sybil believe that she was entirely to blame for Josette’s accident. Letting Aunt Stacie, when she was a desperately unhappy kid who’d just lost her parents, think that it would be her fault if Auntie Rob got ill. Always blaming other people for their children’s faults, but never stopping to think that maybe the fact that Margot and Mike were always in trouble at school might just have had something to do with you. Family duty? When did you ever stop to consider Auntie Madge’s feelings when you were young? I’ve heard all the stories about all the times you had her worried sick: don’t think I haven’t! Going off to that ice carnival where Uncle Jem nearly skated over your fingers. Chasing off after Aunt Grizel when she went up the Tiernjoch, and Aunt Elisaveta when she was kidnapped, and jumping into a half-frozen lake after the girls from St Scholastika’s. You always had to be the heroine, didn’t you? You couldn’t just have told the appropriate people and got them to help. Then you even tried to get out of being Head Girl! And it was always Auntie Madge who kept in touch with your aunts in England, never you. As for being thoughtless, how many times have you boasted about having eleven children to someone who for one reason or another never got the chance to have a family? Not to mention telling Auntie Nell that she had to come back because the school couldn’t manage without her, when she was still recovering from that bus accident that she and Auntie Hilda and the others were involved in. And just what exactly did you contribute to the war effort?

“I have had it up to here with your interfering! I know from what Ruey said when she was teaching that you’re always turning up at staff meetings, sticking your oar into everything that goes on at the school, wanting to be involved with every event that’s planned, insisting on knowing about every girl there even though that information should be confidential! Not to mention the way you always want to know about the patients at the San. Well, you are not interfering in my life this time. I’m staying in London and that’s that. So you can stick that on your needles and knit it. The worm has turned!”

Con slammed the phone down. She knew that she should be feeling ashamed of herself for losing her temper, especially with her own mother … but all she felt was a strange sense of release.

 

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#173:  Author: Caroline OSullivan, Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 9:07 am

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Yay for Con Really pleased she said that to Joey. Would love to see Joey's reaction.
Thank you Alison

 

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#174:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 9:17 am

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Sometimes things like that just have to be said, especially when they have been bottled up for so long. Hope that Con's friends in London can still support her now she has said so much to Joey.

Thanks Alison

 

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#175:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 9:55 am

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Woohoo! Go Con!

Hopefully Joey will actually take note of what was said and not just ignore it all.

 

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#176:  Author: Rosy, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 9:55 am

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*applauds wildly*

Go Con!

 

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#177:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 10:47 am

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Glad Con got that all of her chest - Jo is beyond unreasonable expecting Con to fulfill family responsibilities like that at the expense of her having a life of her own

Thanks Alison

 

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#178:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:09 am

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Well done Con, Im glad she had the courage to say those things, as they certainly needed saying. Thanks Alison

 

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#179:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 12:30 pm

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Well done Con - but remember - you may have turned but you're not a worm!

Thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#180:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 12:34 pm

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Well done, Con. Jo needed to hear that, and I hope she takes it on board.
Seconds the idea that Con isn't a worm.

But Jo is.

 

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#181:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 1:51 pm

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Wow! Con was magnificent there. Put in that way, Jo does sound a bit of a monster, though. Thank you for the update, Alison.

 

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#182:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 3:27 pm

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Whooohooo!!!!

Go Con!!!!

I have this wonderful image of Jo sitting there, phone in hand, opening and closing her mouth in a state of complete shock!!!!

 

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#183:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 3:33 pm

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Like a stranded codfish, Vikki?

 

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#184:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 3:38 pm

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Good for Con.

I'm another who'd just LOVE to see Jo's reaction that speech.

 

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#185:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 4:08 pm

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Wonderful! Thanks Alison.

 

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#186:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 10:16 pm

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I've just read all of this and love it!

 

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#187:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:04 am

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Thanks for all the replies ! I'll write Jo's response seeing as everyone is kindly showing so much interest in it!! However, I'd already written the next couple of bits so I'll post them first. I think Con deserves a night out after that speech anyway!

“Is everything all right, Con?” Freddie asked as she walked into the restaurant where they had arranged to meet that evening– having told the Russells that she was meeting Jose - and joined him at their table. They were seated in an alcove that seemed rather shrouded from view. Con assumed that it was just the one that the waiter had allocated to them. “You look a bit … preoccupied,” he added.

“I’ve just had a big row with my mother,” she confessed. “I didn’t even tell her about the news I had this morning. Jane’s parents want to use a play I wrote, for their theatre company.”

“Con, that’s wonderful!” he exclaimed. “Didn’t I say that you should have more confidence in yourself? Oh I’m so pleased for you! I’m sure it’ll be the first of many successes! So why didn’t you tell your mother, if you don’t mind my asking.”

Encouraged by his obvious concern, Con haltingly poured out the whole story of her troubled relationship with Joey, her time at Oxford and her life at Freudesheim since then. She was half-afraid that he might despise her for not standing up to Joey sooner, but everything she said was met with only sympathy and understanding. “Thank you for listening,” she said in a muffled tone at the end. “I’ve never said all this to anyone before. Oh Freddie, you’re so lucky to have a mother like Aunt Elisaveta!”

“I know,” he said. “Even though what she thinks is right for us isn’t necessarily what we decide to do …. I know that she’s always done her best. It hasn’t been easy for her, having to make that dangerous journey to England during the war, and then having to bring up all five of us on her own after Father’s death. Raoul and Guita don’t even remember Father. I had so little time with him: first there was the war, and then it wasn’t long afterwards that he was killed. Now Grandfather’s gone as well, and I regret so much that we didn’t see more of him over the years. There was so much that I never got the chance to say to him.”

Con sighed. “Australia’s so far away. I hardly ever see my cousins Sybil and Josette these days, nor my godmother who lives there as well. And I’ve never seen some of my cousins on Dad’s side: they live in New Zealand. Be grateful for the time you had with your grandfather, though, Freddie. It’s only since I’ve seen my parents with my nieces and nephews that I’ve realised how much we missed out on, with none of our grandparents being alive whilst we were growing up. At least you have your memories.” He’s had so much sadness in his life, she thought, her heart going out to him, and yet he’s so kind and understanding.

 

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#188:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:49 am

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Thanks Alison, that was lovely. It's nice to see them get to know more about each other

 

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#189:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:07 am

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It really was lovely to see them just sitting and talking. It helps us get to know Freddie as well as Con!

What happened to Raphael? I can't seem to remember anything about his death! (I haven't read some of the books for a while)

 

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#190:  Author: Robin, Location: London Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:22 am

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wow, just read the last couple of posts and am definitely interested in seeing Joey's response!
and also intrigued as to Freddie still - think there was something more behind the secluded booth...

thanks Alison

 

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#191:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:27 am

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LadyGuinevere wrote:

What happened to Raphael? I can't seem to remember anything about his death! (I haven't read some of the books for a while)

He was killed in a flying accident. I don't know what EBD had against Elisaveta, but she gave her a very hard time!

 

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#192:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:04 am

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Alison H wrote:

LadyGuinevere wrote: What happened to Raphael? I can't seem to remember anything about his death! (I haven't read some of the books for a while) He was killed in a flying accident. I don't know what EBD had against Elisaveta, but she gave her a very hard time!

Thanks Alison! I must have missed that. Poor Elizaveta indeed! And the children too!

I meant to mention before... I think there was something going on with the booth as well. Could Freddie me using his influence?

 

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#193:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:47 am

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Thank you Alison. Well done Con! And Freddie is lovely.

 

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#194:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 11:34 am

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Just caught up on the last two posts - thanks Alison!

Wow - well done Con for saying all that - Alison, I bet that felt good to write! Looking forward to Joey's reaction!

And it's lovely to see Con and Freddie getting to know one another better and having such sympathy for each other - what a lovely start to a relationship *hopeful smiley*

 

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#195:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:54 pm

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“Mother’s rather envious of Auntie Joey and Uncle Jack, being grandparents,” he said. “She keeps saying that she’s more than ready to be a doting grannie now!”

Con could feel herself going bright red. “Jose certainly doesn’t seem ready to settle down yet,” she said in an attempt to cover her embarrassment.

“No, she doesn’t,”he agreed. “Carl’s got a girlfriend: they met at medical school. She’s a Protestant, though.”

“Oh,” Con said neutrally. She was rather surprised by the tone of his voice. Both Len and Stephen had married Protestants, but in both cases it had been agreed that their children should be brought up as Catholics and neither family had said anything further about it. She thought that it was best not to say any more on the matter: it was easy to offend people when discussing religion, and perhaps Freddie held strong views on the subject. (Hope no-one minded that bit.) “I’m taking Vi and David’s two youngest children to the zoo next Wednesday,” she said, by way of changing the subject.“I don’t suppose that you’d like to come with, would you?” she added diffidently.

“Next Wednesday? Oh Con, I’d love to, but I can’t that day … I’d never get the day off work at such short notice, I mean. I hope there’ll be other times, though. Your mother might not be pleased that you’re staying in London, Con, but I am. And if you need anyone to talk to, about your mother or anyone else, I’ll be there for you.”

 

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#196:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:56 pm

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Hmm interesting. Thank you Alison.

 

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#197:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:57 pm

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Thanks Alison, will there be a third update today? *hopeful*

Didn't mind that bit at all btw - it's fine

 

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#198:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 1:00 pm

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What a lovely dinner - thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#199:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 1:16 pm

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I'm very glad he's pleased, but it's a shame he couldn't get the day off. Stronly suspecting there is something else going on there as well!

 

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#200:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 1:53 pm

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Maybe he didn't want the children to see him as they might talk...
I do like Freddie but there definately is something dodgey about him.
Who is Stephen's wife?
Thanks for the updates!

 

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#201:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:15 pm

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Stephen's wife is Jack Lambert - Stephen always seemed to think that girls were wusses because they weren't interested in things like car engines, whereas Jack was really into that sort of stuff, so I thought they might suit each other!

 

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#202:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:12 pm

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Thank you for the updates, Alison. What a shame Freddie can't make it to the zoo.

 

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#203:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:04 pm

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Just caught up. Glad Freddie is being supportive and looking forward to seeing Joey's reaction. I wonder if she would have been any better if she had known about the play, which does give Con a work reason for staying.

 

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#204:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:11 pm

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Thank you for the lovely updates today Alison!

I still think that Freddie is hiding a big secret!!

 

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#205:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:30 pm

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Oooh thank you Alison.

*wibbling about Freddie's work still*

 

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#206:  Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 12:48 am

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aitchemelle wrote:

I still think that Freddie is hiding a big secret!!

I think he's working for the "Green Left Weekly" and doesn't want anyone to know what his real political beliefs are!

Thanks for the lovely story Alison, hope to see more.

 

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#207:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 7:50 am

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I hadn't originally intended to write much about Joey's side of the story, but here goes! Hope it's all OK!

Meanwhile, over at Freudesheim …

“Joey,” Jack called, as Rufus, Bruno’s successor, jumped up and tried to lick his face. “I’m home. Len’s with me: I passed her on the road as I was driving over and she was just coming to see you.” There was no reply. He was puzzled: it certainly wasn’t like Joey to be quiet. A little concerned, he and Len both made their way into the Saal. Sunlight was streaming into the room and the magnificent Jungfrau was clearly visible through the window, but Joey was sitting on the settee apparently oblivious to it all, her knitting wool strewn along the floor and a pile of Jack’s socks lying undarned on the table.

“Mamma? Is everything all right?” Len asked anxiously. Her mind flew to Margot in South America and Mike on his ship off the coast of Africa, but surely Joey would have telephoned the San at once had there been bad news. She couldn’t quite work out the expression on her mother’s face. Sad? Angry? Indignant? Dazed was the nearest she could come to it.

“I’ve was speaking to Con earlier,” Joey said, bemusement in her voice as if she couldn’t quite believe whatever it was that Con had said. “She said … she said that she was staying in London, that I’d never shown her any consideration, that I’d never acknowledged that she had the right to a life of her own, that I tried to make people feel guilty, that I’d always wanted to be the heroine of everything that happened when I was younger and that I’d never stopped to consider Madge’s feelings, that I was inconsiderate … and that I was interfering.” Her voice thrilled with indignation at this last bit. “Interfering! Me!”

Bravo Con, thought Len. Over the years she’d wished so often that she and Con had been more involved in student life at Oxford, and then when they’d come home she’d seen her sister gradually become more and more weighed down with domestic responsibilities and seem to lose all the hopes she’d once cherished of a writing career. At first she’d been tempted to say something but, mindful of Mary-Lou’s long-ago words about not interfering in her sisters’ lives and not wanting to seem to take sides between Con and Joey, she’d said nothing. Then she’d got caught up in marriage and motherhood, in looking after her home and Reg and the children, in enjoying cosy afternoons with the other doctors’ wives and their offspring, and her world and Con’s had grown further and further apart. It was only when Con had announced that she was going to London for a break that she’d realised, belatedly and guiltily, just how unhappy her sister was. What had happened in London to give Con the confidence to speak out like that, she wondered. Whatever it was, she was glad of it.

 

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#208:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 7:56 am

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Thanks Alison - good to see Jo's reaction.

*hopes Len will follow up on what Con has started*

Liz

 

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#209:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 8:08 am

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I concur! Hopefully now Con has laid the groundwork, Len will be able to help too!

 

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#210:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 8:51 am

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Fantastic, glad Joey is thinking about this! Also hope Len can help out

Thanks Alison

 

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#211:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 9:06 am

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Oh I am glad that you have made Len nice!
Thanks for saying that Jack was Stephen's wife-I've got suchj a dreadful memory at times!

 

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#212:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:36 am

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Thanks for that. It's time someone, Jack or Len, reinforced what Con had to say to her mother. Con's entitled to a life of her own.

 

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#213:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:54 am

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Thank you Alison.

 

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#214:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:54 am

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So really it is all Mary-Lou's fault that Con had a tough time!
What a shame Len didn't intervene to help Con.

 

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#215:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 12:37 pm

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Thanks Alison.

I do hope that Joey's dazedness is the precursor to her changing her attitude towards her children, and Con in particular. I can imagine her being dazed for a while and then talking herself into believing that actually she is in the right and Con is being silly...

I love Len thinking 'Bravo Con'!

 

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#216:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 1:01 pm

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“Well, haven’t you got anything to say, either of you?” Joey demanded, her famously golden voice sounding decidedly tinny for once. “I don’t know what’s come over her. She must have got mixed up with some of those Mods or something. I’m surprised Vi and David allow it.”

“Mamma!” Len exclaimed. “Con’s 28 years old, the same as I am. She doesn’t need anyone to allow her to do anything. You never have been able to see that, have you? She’s right: you’ve never, ever acknowledged her right to have a life of her own. I’m sorry but it’s true. You’ve always expected her to be here, helping with the kids and helping Anna with the housework, and when she wanted to get a home of her own you convinced her that she wouldn’t be able to manage.”

“Well I was right,” Joey said defensively. “You know what Con’s like, always in a daydream. She’d’ve been locking herself out or setting fire to the kitchen or worse. Anyway, am I not entitled to some help around the house? It hasn’t been easy for me, you know, running a house and bringing up eleven children - sixteen with Claire and Erica and the Richardsons - and being an author. I am the only woman in this family who’s managed to combine a career with being a wife and mother: I’m the only one who’s done both. Madge set up the school but she was happy to hand over the running of it to Mlle Lepattre once Jem came along. And women of your generation have far more choices than we ever had, Len, but neither you nor Ruey have done a day’s work since you walked up the aisle. Even Daisy, who’s a qualified doctor, gave it all up when Tony was born. I think I deserve a bit of respect, and I certainly think I deserve some help around the house from my own daughter. It’s hardly as if we charge her bed and board, is it?”

 

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#217:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 1:20 pm

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My Goodness Joey's up herself!

 

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#218:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 1:32 pm

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Good for Len. I am glad she is supportive of Con.

Joey is, I hope, reacting against the hurt she feels. Hurt makes us defensive. I hope when she has clamed down she will take it on board a bit more. Of course Con should help out when she was living at home, but no more than anyone else, fair shares. I think that because Con was at home Joey didn't realise how much she had grown up.

It will be interesting to see how Jack reacts, I think he will be the decisive opinion.

 

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#219:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 3:02 pm

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Loved the way Jo thought Con had met some Mods!

Thanks Alison

 

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#220:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 3:23 pm

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Well when I read 'Mods' my first thought was the Moderators on the CBB

Thanks Alison - Joey's reaction was most predictable! Has she forgotten that she may have combined a career and a family, but she did have Anna and various others to do a lot of the day-to-day jobs?!

Joining Carolyn in wondering what Jack is going to say.

 

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#221:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 4:53 pm

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I think the fact Joey is defensive shows that she knows there is at least some truth in what was said.

Thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#222:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 5:47 pm

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Also feel that Joey is feeling guilty - hope Jack will be on Con's side.

Thanks Alison.

 

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#223:  Author: ali, Location: medway, kent Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 7:00 pm

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Feeling a little bit sorry for Jo - nobody else did anything to make Con feel she could give life on her own a go. Or to get Jo to see the mistake she was making. As in many drabbles, Jo looks mean but it's a lot to do with the way she was brought up and treated as an adult.

However, Go Con, great speech. And as a world famous writer, married to a prince newly returned to his throne it will be sucks to Jo. Of course any other happy ending will do just as well.

 

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#224:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:09 am

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Er, Joey, I would calm down and be quiet if I were you. Don't forget the amount of domestic help etc that you had - and you should be thinking about just why Con is unhappy!

 

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#225:  Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 2:05 am

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Con owes Joey help because who chose to have umpty dozen children?

Pardon me while I spit!

 

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#226:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 6:42 am

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“Oh Mamma!” Len said. “None of us have ever minded helping out: you know that. The trouble with Con was that it’s been too much, at the expense of her leading a life of her own. Can’t you see how you’ve knocked her confidence, always making her feel that all she was good for was helping out around the house, that she had no right to expect anything more from life than being a “daughter at home” and a maiden aunt? And you do have a way of making people feel guilty, you know. Think about what you’ve just said, about deserving help around the house: you employ Anna to do that, and if you really feel that you need more help, although I don’t see why you should, then you should employ someone else, someone who does it as a job, not expect Con to do it instead of pursuing her own dreams. You have this way of saying that you’re not going to say anything more about something, but that whoever you’re speaking to should think it through very carefully, and you know very well that that makes whoever you’re speaking to feel that you must be in the right and they must be in the wrong. Con’s so sensitive that she takes it all to heart.” Her face was serious. “I have to say that I think some of the blame is mine, though. She’s my sister, my triplet, and I’ve neglected her since I’ve been married and had the children.”

“The one who shares the blame is me,” Jack Maynard said heavily. “Len, most of what you’ve just said is correct in my book, but I should have done more. I’m supposed to be the head of the house after all, and I should have seen that Con was unhappy. Many a time I’ve regretted spending so much time at the San when you were all young. Maybe I did it because I felt that I owed it to the world to put something back after I so nearly drowned during the War and was saved. Maybe it was idealism. Maybe it was partly because I was jealous of Jem because he got the baronetcy and the recognition and I didn’t, and I felt that I had something to prove. Whatever it was, I put all my energies into fighting TB, and maybe it made me neglectful of my family. When you’ve got so many children it’s not always easy to give each of them the attention they deserve, and I suppose I always felt that the boys were my main responsibility. The quietest of you were bound to be the ones who missed out, and the one who never pushed herself forward, who never demanded my attention, was Con. Oh I noticed that she didn’t go out much these last few years, that she spent most of her free time in her room, but I just never did anything about it, I suppose.” He sighed. “Oh I’ve got a lot to answer for as well. It’s not like her to lose her temper, though. What exactly did you say to her, Joey?”

 

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#227:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 7:30 am

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Glad that Jack can recognise his mistakes!

 

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#228:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 7:49 am

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Thanks Alison - hope Jo takes in what they're saying to her.

Liz

 

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#229:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 8:43 am

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Nice to see Jack and Len are able to see clearly. *hugs to both*

 

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#230:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:02 am

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I wonder what Jack will say when Jo tells him what she said? Thanks Alison This is great

 

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#231:  Author: Robin, Location: London Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:09 am

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hope Jo can see the sense in what they're saying

Thanks Alison

 

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#232:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:35 am

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Well done Len and Jack. They needed to be kicked into it, but at least they can both recognise where they have gone wrong when they are shown it. If Joey can only accept what they say all will go well. Why do I have this feeling that she is going to continue with the 'no-one understands me' line though?

Thanks Alison

 

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#233:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:14 am

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Tell me off if I'm posting this bit about Joey a bit too quickly. I think I'm missing Freddie!

“I don’t believe you two!” Joey said furiously. “Does it matter what I said? It was totally unacceptable for her to speak to me like that? Whatever happened to respecting your parents? It’s one of the Ten Commandments! Anyway, all I said was that she had responsibilities at home and that it was selfish and inconsiderate of her to say that she was staying in London.”

Len groaned. “Did she say why she wanted to stay in London?” she asked.

“Well … no. I suppose I didn’t really give her the chance, but what is there for her in London? Her life is here, with us and the School and the San. All our lives are here - and she had the cheek to accuse me of interfering in School and San business! Interfering! I’ve been involved with the School since before it even opened, I was its first ever pupil, and I’m the wife of the Head of the San! Of course I’m involved with the School! Of course I’m involved with the San! Len Entwistle, why are you looking at me like that?”

“You can be a bit … much, sometimes,” Len said hesitatingly. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, Mamma, but you do get rather too busy with things at the San, and really people’s medical affairs are private. I know you only mean to help, but even so. As for the School … well, a lot of new girls over the years have been completely taken aback when we’ve told them that they’re invited to tea with our mother, and that you live right next door to the school and you even have a special gate cut in the fence. And you do get very involved with prizegivings and the Sales and events like the Coming of Age celebrations, and … well, you do sometimes intervene in people’s quarrels, like that time Hilda Jukes accidentally hurt Nina Rutherford’s wrist, and then there was that time that Margot overheard you talking to Aunt Rosalie about Ted being expelled from her previous school. I know you’re only trying to help, and I know you love the School, but … well, some people think it’s a little bit odd that someone who isn’t a member of staff should be so involved with things. I’ve even, er, heard people say that you should get a life.”

“What!” Joey exclaimed. “I’ve got a husband and a home, children and grandchildren, and a career! And the reason I invite people here for tea is that they’re young girls, miles away from their homes and families, and I want them to feel that they’ve got somewhere to go to if they need to get away from school. Who gave Jane Carew somewhere to stay in peace and quiet when her mother had that accident? Whom did Ros Lilley confide in when Joan Baker was making her life a misery? And if I get involved in things then a lot of the time it’s because Hilda Annersley asks me to.”

 

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#234:  Author: Robin, Location: London Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:16 pm

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ah, not quite the reaction I was hoping for!
Thanks Alison

 

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#235:  Author: Caroline OSullivan, Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:22 pm

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Thanks Alison. Hopefully Joey will soon be doing a stranded codfish impression when she learns the reason why Con wants to say in London.

 

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#236:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:39 pm

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Oh dear, Joey is *not* taking this well! Oh and of course you are not posting too quickly! *wonders - is it possible to post too quickly?* lol!

Thanks Alison

 

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#237:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:41 pm

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Thanks Alison - I can see this is going to take a lot of tact and diplomacy to sort out - Jo does have a valid point as well, she's just gone a bit extreme about it.

And don't apologise for rushing with the posts - am enjoying this and also looking forward to seeing Freddie again

Liz

 

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#238:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:00 pm

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There's no such thing as posting too quickly!

Jo does have a good point at the end there, but she still needs to look at it from other angles!

 

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#239:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:13 pm

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Thanks Alison, this is great. And it's not possible to post too quickly. I wish I could drabble as fast as you can!

 

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#240:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:38 pm

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Thank you Alison. Im glad Len and Jack are standing up for Con, but how can Joey be so dense. I cant wait until she finds out about the play.

 

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#241:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 2:00 pm

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Not too quick at all!

And I loved Len telling Joey to get a life...

 

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#242:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 2:14 pm

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*pokes Joey*

Good for Len! *giggles*

 

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#243:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 6:01 pm

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Joey needs to learn a little moderation. I know she has done some wonderful things for the School and the girls, but she can be very over-whelming.

*Also looking forward to her reaction when she discovers why Con is staying in London - don't think anyone in the family has had a play produced by a prestigious company before have they?*

 

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#244:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:02 pm

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Quote:

I’ve even, er, heard people say that you should get a life.”

I can see Joey's point too though - she did do all the things she did because she thought it was for the best - she wasn't being deliberately spiteful...

Hope it can get sorted out without hurting anyone...

 

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#245:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:40 pm

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Just caught up on today's post. I love Len's reaction and I am glad that Jack backed her up. I can see Joey wondering where it all came from though since nothing had been said, and she is right about Hilda asking her to get involved a lot of the time.

 

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#246:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:42 pm

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Carolyn P wrote:

she is right about Hilda asking her to get involved a lot of the time.

She didn't really you know - that was an imposter!

(What, me biased? Surely not! )

 

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#247:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:45 pm

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This is really interesting Alison. Jack and Len can analyse their own errors, but Joey doesn't even recognise them. Perhaps deep down she does know, but is afraid to admit it because that means she has to question her own idea of herself.

Lesley, perhaps Hilda has an evil twin....

 

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#248:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:49 am

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I'm off work this morning but stuck in the house waiting for someone to come and sort out the boiler ... and trying very hard to think of excuses not to do that nasty pile of ironing that's looking at me accusingly ...

“Hilda's in a very difficult position,” Jack said quietly. “She has complete responsibility for everything that goes on at the School, and yet if something were to go wrong then it would be Madge who’d have to bear the loss, because she’s still the majority shareholder. I think she relies on you a lot more than she probably should. It’s partly because you’re Madge’s sister and you’re on the spot whereas Madge isn’t and hasn’t been for years. However, it’s also because you’re you, and … well, you can be little bit overbearing sometimes, Joey, and you do rather tend to assume that your view’s the only right one, it does have to be said. You aren’t known as the champion butter-in for nothing, you know. I think you’ve got Hilda feeling that she’s obliged to involve you in everything now. Perhaps you do need to pull back from School affairs, a little bit.”

“Oh what would you know?” Joey snapped. “That School’s been like a family to me. I never knew my mother or my father, remember. Dick was off in the Foresters, and I was only fifteen when David was born and suddenly Madge was spending all her time up at Die Rosen. People like Hilda and Nell and Rosalie and Gwynneth are like extra sisters to me. All my friends at the Gornetz Platz are connected with the School. How can I not be involved with it?”

“That’s another problem,” Jack said. “It was all so different at the Tiernsee. We were very much part of the local community there. Most of the doctors at the Sonnalpe were Austrian, and we were all friendly with the Brauns and the other people around the lake. Here, it sometimes feels as if we live as much in an isolated mainly British enclave as your parents must have done in India. All our lives are so intertwined, everyone at the School, everyone at the San, and of course so many of the doctors’ wives are former Chalet School pupils and teachers. There are so few people in our circle that we’re all far too involved in each other’s lives. At least in India in the days of the Raj there were social clubs and sports clubs for the British to go to, whereas here there is nothing but the School and the San. And the School may hold nothing but happy memories for you two, but I suspect that it’s different for Con. She never had a close friend there, did she? She was always such a dreamy kid, and I’m afraid she got very much overshadowed by you and Margot, Len, and by having you as a mother, Joey. Then she tried her hand at being an author, at being what you are, and it didn’t work out and she seemed to lose interest in the one thing that she’d always wanted to do.”

 

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#249:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:54 am

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Wow, Jack's really looking at this carefully! Kudos to him though, and I do think he's approaching this the right way when it comes to Joey!

 

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#250:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:57 am

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Well said Jack. Thank you Alison.

 

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#251:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:57 am

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Oh how sad are the last few lines - I'm glad Jack has told Jo this
Thanks Alison

Last edited by Mia on Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:06 am; edited 2 times in total

 

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#252:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:04 am

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The Platz is very much a British zone isn't it, no room for the local population.
Thanks for the updates.

 

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#253:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:14 am

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Go Jack!

He's right though, they all know so much about each other.

Thanks Alison. Oh, and you should write lots more drabble rather than ironing.

 

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#254:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 1:25 pm

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Thank you for all the nice replies! Ironing all done now and boiler working properly!

“She didn’t lose interest,” Len put in. “I’m sure she didn’t. I think she just lost her confidence, and she never had that much to start with.” She shook her head. “We should all have given her more encouragement. I’ve heard both of you say over and over again how proud you are of me and the children, and don’t think that I don’t appreciate it because I do, but I can’t remember ever once hearing either of you tell Con that you were proud of her. We’ve all let her down. She’s right. No-one’s shown her the slightest bit of consideration.”

“So now you’re saying that I’m inconsiderate as well?” Joey said indignantly. “Jack, you’ve known me since I was a schoolgirl. Am I inconsiderate? Did I ignore Madge’s feelings when I was at school?”

“You certainly got into more than your share of scrapes,” he said, grinning at some of the memories. “I know you hated being called delicate, Joey, but so does Phil now, and imagine how you’d feel if she jumped into an icy lake and nearly died as a result, or went haring off up a mountain. You were only a kid then, admittedly, but even now you don’t always think. And whilst we’re on the subject of relatives, you never did do much about keeping in touch with your aunts when they were alive, you know. I’m no better, I admit: I don’t write to Mollie nearly as often as I should, and I haven’t seen Lydia for years and she was Bob’s wife after all. It’s like I’ve said, we’re all far too wrapped up with the School and the San. It’s a world that isn’t for everyone … and it’s never been for Con, and we’ve never even let her have her full share of it anyway, expecting her to be some sort of unpaid assistant housekeeper even now we’ve got no babies at home. I must admit that I feel heartily ashamed of myself. I only hope that she can forgive us … and that she can accept that we’re as proud of her as we are of any of the rest of our children.”

 

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#255:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 1:29 pm

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Well, Jack certainly seems to have the right idea. Hope Joey comes round to his way of thinking soon.

Thanks Alison

 

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#256:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 1:35 pm

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Good for Jack! I'm v pleased Thanks Alison.

 

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#257:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 2:49 pm

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Jack is doing well, and Joey seems less vehement in her objections!

Wonder what Con and Freddie are up to in the mean time?

 

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#258:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 3:08 pm

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Poor Con...

I hope Jack will be able to make Joey see sense. Otherwise there could be all sorts of problems in the future

 

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#259:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:49 pm

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Also hope Joey can see the truth in all Jack's saying.

Thanks Alison - intriguing.

 

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#260:  Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 12:11 am

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I do hope that Joey is going to ring Con and appologise.

And I think the rest of her family could be nicer to her as well. Including Len who has also only just realised how they've being treating Con.

 

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#261:  Author: Rosy, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 7:47 am

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Miss Di wrote:

I do hope that Joey is going to ring Con and appologise.

That could only happen in a drabble!

Poor Con - am glad the family are realising what has benn happening.

Thankyou!

 

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#262:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 8:00 am

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“Is this what everyone thinks of me?” Joey had sunk back into the settee and her face had become pale and drawn. “You, my husband, and you, my eldest child, and everyone else? I’ve always seen myself as a sort of sister/auntie figure to everyone around here, and now you’re saying that everyone thinks that I’m an interfering old busybody and that I’ve ruined my second daughter’s life?”

“Mamma, will you stop thinking about yourself and try to think about Con!” Len exclaimed. “We’re all at fault here, but you most of all, and you’re going to have to think very carefully about how you’re going to treat Con in future. If not, you could end up losing her for good. Is that what you want?”

“Have I really got it all so wrong?” Joey whispered. She looked to Jack for reassurance, but his silence told her all that she needed to know.

 

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#263:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 8:21 am

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Awww... at least she got there eventually!

 

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#264:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 8:41 am

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Feel sorry for Jo really - but not as much as for Con - hope Joey can put it right.

Thanks Alison.

 

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#265:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 8:55 am

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Aah at last she begins to realise. I hope Joey can put things right. Thanks Alison

 

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#266:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 9:04 am

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Thanks Alison

 

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#267:  Author: Robin, Location: London Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 9:19 am

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aha, the penny has dropped!

thanks Alison

Now more of Con and Freddie, please!

 

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#268:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 9:44 am

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Robin wrote:

Now more of Con and Freddie, please!

I've very nearly finished this bit - I want to get back to Con and Freddie as well because I'm a soppy cow and I prefer writing romantic stories!!

 

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#269:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:21 am

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Poor Jo, realizing that she annoys people when she thought she was so good to them.

 

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#270:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 12:19 pm

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“I’ve always been so sure of myself, haven’t I?” she asked. “Railroading my way through other people’s feelings and other people’s opinions, because I was so sure that I knew what was best for everyone, so sure that I was right about everything that ever happened. I kept Con at home because I told myself that it was best for her, when really I knew that it was because it was best for me. You, Len, married a doctor and settled down to being a wife and mother, and Margot had her vocation, but even if none of that had happened neither of you would have put up with being treated the way I treated Con. Oh my poor girl! It’s all very well you saying that we’re all to blame, Len, but I’m her mother. I gave birth to her. I of all people should have understood her better: she reminds me so much of myself sometimes, the way she dreams everything into history, but she's so soft, so unsure of herself, so easy to control, whereas I … Nell Wilson told me once that I had the ability to exert great influence over people and that I should use that ability wisely, whereas instead what I’ve done is to browbeat Con into doing what suited me, always. Oh Jack! Oh Len! What am I going to do? Should I ring her, should I try to apologise?”

“That might not be a good idea,” Len said quietly. “Con probably realises that she spoke a little out of turn in some of what she said, but she might very well still be angry and not be ready to speak to you yet. I’ll ring.”

She dialled the number. “Hello?” It was Vi’s voice.

“Vi? It’s me, Len. Is Con there?”


For anyone who's lost track, lost interest or anything else, this is still the same evening ... so, whilst Len and Jack have been making Joey see the error of her ways, Con has been enjoying a (hopefully!) romantic meal out with Freddie. Thanks for all the nice replies and thank you for reading this ! I've nearly finished the Joey bit now.

 

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#271:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 1:05 pm

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Oh wow, so pleased Jo's seen how she's gone wrong and is making amends! Thanks Alison

 

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#272:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 1:10 pm

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Well Done Joey!

Am glad she has realised what shes done.

 

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#273:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 1:28 pm

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She got there in the end!

Hope Con's having a nice time out with Freddie

 

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#274:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 1:34 pm

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Well done Joey. And Len and Jack.

Thank you Alison.

 

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#275:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 2:53 pm

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Good for Joey - can't be easy to realise just how much of a mistake you've made.

Thanks Alison.

 

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#276:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 3:00 pm

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Apologies for today's posting spree - have finished what I was doing at work and can't summon up the enthusiasm to start anything new at 4 o'clock on a Friday afternoon! Thanks to Roísín and Frances for explaining how to put accents on letters so that I can now type José's name properly!

“Con? You’ve missed her, I’m afraid. I take it you’ve rung up to congratulate her? It’s wonderful news, isn’t it? She’s gone out with José: I expect they’ll be having a glass of wine or three with their meal by way of celebration! I wonder if Jane might join them later on, after her show’s finished.” (Sorry if that's confusing - Con told Vi she was meeting José because Freddie didn't want anyone to know that they were seeing each other.)

“Congratulate her? About what? José – José Helston, do you mean? Is she in London? Why’s Con with her? What are they celebrating? And Jane - Jane Carew? Where does she come into it?” Len was completely bemused. Was this definitely Con that Vi was talking about?

“Oh dear, have I let the cat out of the bag?” Vi laughed. “Oh well, I don’t suppose she’ll mind if I tell you. She rang Auntie Joey earlier to tell her, so I suppose you’ll be getting a phone call from Freudesheim later on: I’m surprised the phone lines along the Gornetz Platz aren’t red hot with the news already! The Carews’ theatre company’s going to be doing a production of a play that Con’s written! Isn’t it wonderful? I hope Jane’ll have a part in it: she seems like such a nice girl. José Helston’s staying with her at the moment. Con’s been seeing a lot of them both. I’m so glad that she’s decided not to go home when she planned: she’s been like a different person since she’s been in London. I’ve never seen her so happy. Len? Len, are you still there?”

“Er … yes,” Len said. “Thanks Vi. I’ve got to go now. Love to David and the children.” She replaced the receiver slowly. Her head was spinning with what she’d just heard.

 

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#277:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 3:04 pm

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Three posts in a day - it's like Christmas! Thanks for them all, Alison. It's nice to see Len lost for words!

 

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#278:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 3:06 pm

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Great posts today!
Looking forward to Joey's reaction to Con's big break.

 

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#279:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 3:07 pm

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Glad to see that Vi has noticed how much Con has chakged but that's given Len some food for thought. Thank you Alison and you won't find any complaints about the number of posts from me.

 

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#280:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 3:08 pm

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Heyyyy, there they were all feeling sorry for Con and now this - and love Vi's little innocent comment about how Con has seemed like a different person.

Thanks Alison.

 

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#281:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:52 pm

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Wonderful!

Suddenly they are all seeing Con in a whole different light - hopefully her life will be completely different from now on (whatever happens with Freddie)

Thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#282:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:14 pm

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Whoops!

 

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#283:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 6:12 pm

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Thank you Alison!
I'm glad Jo finally realised what she'd done to Con, and even gladder that she feels bad about it, because it shows that it wasn't deliberate.

 

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#284:  Author: Lyanne, Location: Ipswich, England Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 7:41 pm

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I hope Len realises Con will still want to have the choice of being the one who tells her parents about the play...

 

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#285:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:24 am

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It was the next day when Joey and Jack got to speak to Con: by the time she’d got back from the restaurant the night before, it had been rather late. She listened coolly to what they had to say, but by the end of the phone call all three of them felt that the air had been cleared and that things would be different from now on, although it was bound to take time for the wounds of the past to heal.

“Well!” Jack said, when Joey finally replaced the receiver. “It sounds as if Con’s making a new life for herself. It’ll be strange, her being so far away, but what matters most is Con’s happiness. From what she’s just told us about the play and about Jane and José, it sounds as if that’s something that she’s well on the way to finding, and no-one deserves it more.”

“Yes,” Joey said, wiping the tears from her eyes. “And I’ll try to be more thoughtful in future, I really will, and I’ll try not to get so involved in other people’s business. Above all, I’ll never interfere in Con’s life again. She’ll always be my daughter, but she’s a grown woman now, with friends and a career and a life of her own, and I’m so proud of her – not that I’ve got much right to be. I’ve finally realised something that I should have realised a long time ago. I need to let her go.”

(I think that if – or when!- Con becomes a more successful writer than Joey is, then Joey will probably be jealous. This is the woman who even seems to think how many kids you have is a competition, after all!! However, seeing as Con’s career’s only just taking off and that both Jack and Len are taking Con’s side, I thought I’d let Joey repent of her wicked ways as all good Chalet girls do, and end this bit on a happy note! Hope that’s OK. Enough about Joey now!! Back to Con and Freddie. & thank you for all the replies to my first attempt at drabble writing!)

 

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#286:  Author: Lyanne, Location: Ipswich, England Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:43 am

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Alison wrote

Quote:

I think that if – or when!- Con becomes a more successful writer than Joey is, then Joey will probably be jealous. This is the woman who even seems to think how many kids you have is a competition, after all!! However, seeing as Con’s career’s only just taking off and that both Jack and Len are taking Con’s side, I thought I’d let Joey repent of her wicked ways as all good Chalet girls do...

I think you have got Jo right here - she's had her face well and truly rubbed in what has happened, and she feels she has to portray herself as the perfect mother - when she remembers what that entails! When the novelty of Con's inheriting Jo's talents fades and people refer to Con's talents as her own, not coming from Jo... then the fireworks will start again!

 

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#287:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 8:12 am

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Hmmm, I think Con was exceptionally good-hearted to even consider accepting Jack and Joey's apologies.

Thanks Alison.

 

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#288:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 9:42 am

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Thanks Alison

I'm glad they've cleared the air between them

*looking forward to getting back to Con and Freddie*

Liz

 

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#289:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 11:51 am

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Lovely to read of a happy outcome - thanks Alison!

Now - Con and Freddie!!

 

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#290:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 12:49 pm

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I think Joey has a perfect right to be proud of Con... Con's proved herself well DESPITE Joey's interference!

Thanks for the update

 

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#291:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 1:43 pm

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Thanks, Alison, that was great. Of course you can't start new work at four o'clock on Friday afternoon, it's against the rules.

 

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#292:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 1:48 pm

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The following Wednesday, after Lesley Malcolm had exchanged news with Con and admired Julian and Barbara, Con and the two children set off for the zoo. Con certainly had plenty to think about. The play. The situation with her family. Most of all, the evening she had enjoyed with Freddie. After the rather emotional conversation that they had had about their respective childhoods, they had spent the rest of the evening talking about books they’d both read, music that they both enjoyed, films and plays that they’d both seen and historical places that they'd both visited. She’d been surprised and delighted to find out how much they had in common, and he’d made her laugh which no-one had done for a long time. She couldn’t wait to see him again.

Mindful of the fact that she was in charge of two lively small children, though, she made a concerted effort to stop herself from going off into one of her daydreams. It should be easy enough to get to the zoo on the Tube, she thought. After all, she was used to taking the little mountain trains in Switzerland: using the London Underground should be easy by comparison. However, they were still several stops from their destination when the train ground to a halt and an announcement came over the tannoy. “Ladies and gentlemen, due to a broken down train on the line this service will terminate here. It is unlikely that services will resume for at least another two hours, so we would advise you to continue your journeys by other means. We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause.”

I don’t believe this, Con thought. Oh well, we must be able to get to the zoo by bus. We’ll just have to walk round until we find the right bus stop. She took one child by each hand and set off out of the Tube station and along the street outside. Unfortunately, finding a bus that went towards the zoo proved to be easier said than done, and before long she realised with a rising sense of panic that they were hopelessly lost in an area that she knew not at all and which was obviously not one of the “better” parts of London.

Desperately, she looked around for someone to ask directions from. She wasn’t anxious to make it obvious that she was lost, but she couldn’t think what else to do. She spotted two men hurrying along the pavement, but she certainly wasn’t anxious to approach the taller of the two, a powerfully built military-looking type who kept glancing furtively behind him as if concerned that he might be being followed. Then, with a sigh of relief, she realised that his companion was a priest. Surely a priest would be only too glad to help someone who was lost.

“Excuse me, Father,” she said, “but we don’t know this part of London and we seem to have got lost. Could you tell us where we could get a bus to the zoo?”

Her luck was out. “I am sorry, Madam, but regrettably we cannot help you. I wish that we could, but we do not know London well. A thousand apologies,” he said, in a thick foreign accent. He cast her an apologetic look before continuing on his way.

Now what on earth do I do, Con asked herself.

 

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#293:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 1:54 pm

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Oooh Poor Con! And I'm so glad Joey realised what she was doing.

Thanks Alison

 

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#294:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 1:57 pm

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Oh dear - Con showing her naivety here - hope she can manage to get through this on her own, her fragile self-esteem and confidence will be broken if she has to be rescued.

Thanks Alison.

 

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#295:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 2:33 pm

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Sounds like a typical underground journey!

Thanks Alison... hope she finds her way soon!

 

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#296:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 3:29 pm

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Eep poor Con, but why do I have this feeling they will stumble across Freddie following the furtive looking chap!!

Thanks Alison

 

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#297:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 4:12 pm

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Thanks Alison

*hope Con and the children are not in any danger*

Liz

 

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#298:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 4:54 pm

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*Slips into the drabble and whispers that perhaps Con could try getting a taxi to take them for once. It might be a bit more expensive, but at least they would get there safely.*

Thanks Alison, hope that she gets out of the situation without too much difficulty

 

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#299:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:59 am

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“Auntie Con? Are we lost?” Julian was tugging at her hand. His little face, a miniature version of his grandfather Julian Lucy’s, was looking up at her anxiously. He looked ready to burst into tears.

A few short weeks ago, she’d probably have been ready to burst into tears herself. Not any more, though. “Of course we’re not lost,” she said firmly. “Don’t worry, darling. We just need to find out where the right bus goes from. If there isn’t a bus from here, we’ll just have to find out the name of this road, go in the nearest phone box and ring for a taxi. There must be a shop or something where we can ask.” Julian looked much happier, and Con was amazed at her own composure. Looking down the street, she saw the priest and the other man entering a café. The building looked rather dark and none too clean, but presumably it must be a respectable place if a man of the cloth was going in there. “We’ll just go into that café and ask the way,” she reassured the children.

They were delayed for a few minutes because one of Barbara’s shoelaces came undone and the little girl insisted on retying it herself. Once the recalcitrant lace had been dealt with, Con clutched the children’s hands firmly, walked towards the café and pushed its door open. Then she gasped. Sitting in a corner of the café, deep in conversation, with their heads close together, were three men. Two of them were the foreign priest whom she’d just been speaking to and his shady looking companion. The third man she would have known anywhere. He was, unmistakeably, Freddie Helston.

 

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#300:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:39 am

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*completely intrigued*

Thanks Alison - what will happen now?

 

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#301:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:47 am

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What's Freddie up to?
Will he be cross to see Con?
Will he pretend he doesn't know her?
Hope we find out what's going on soon!

 

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#302:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 11:16 am

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The plot thickens. I'm sure Freddie is involved in espionage, but then, it might have a completely innocent explanation.

Lives in hopes.

 

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#303:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:20 pm

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Ohhhhh, that's interesting. I'll bet Con isnt sure what to make of him beign with a *shady* character. Now I would like to know what Freddie is going to do, and how Con will react. Please may they have enough trust in each other that this will not cause any problems. Perhaps some explanations, but no problems. Thanks Alison

 

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#304:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 2:22 pm

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Oooooh, bet that puts the cat among the pigeons!

 

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#305: Oh no! Author: Le Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 6:33 pm

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Please make Con have a happy ending!!!!!!!! She deserves her Prince Charming!

I have just joined and think this drabble is amazing!

Last edited by Le Petite Em on Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:53 am; edited 1 time in total

 

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#306:  Author: ali, Location: medway, kent Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 6:44 pm

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Vey suspiscious behaviour - and a coincidental meeting worthy of EBD herself - I love it.

 

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#307:  Author: Chalet_school_lover, Location: Gloucester Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:54 pm

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Hmm wonder what freddie is up to! Thank you! I Love this drabble! I hope it all ends happily for Con

 

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#308:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:11 pm

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Thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#309:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:54 am

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Thanks for the nice comments!

Thinking back over it later, Con didn’t know how she’d reacted so quickly. She’d just run out of the cafe, pulling the children along with her. Freddie hadn’t seen them: he’d been far too engrossed in talking to his mysterious companions to notice anything else. She’d gone into a nearby shop and asked the woman in there where they could find the right bus and then, forcing herself to act normally, she’d taken Julian and Barbara all round the zoo and treated them to ice creams afterwards. The two of them had had a wonderful time, even if she hadn’t. What on earth was Freddie mixed up in? He’d distinctly told her that he would be working today. Why had he lied to her? And what exactly was his job, anyway? Why wouldn’t he talk about it, and why would an engineer be based sometimes in Switzerland, sometimes in England, and need to keep making trips to America? What had he been discussing with the priest and the other man, and why had they been meeting in that café? What lay behind it all … and how just exactly was she, who had never been famed for her tact, ever going to find the right words with which to ask him?

 

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#310:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:12 am

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Thanks Alison

Poor Con - hope she can find the right way to bring the subject up. And well done for getting out of there and giving the children their trip to the zoo.

Liz

 

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#311:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:33 am

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Awww, he didn't see her! I don't envy Con having to work out how to ask him!

 

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#312:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:39 am

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(((Con))) I hope she can find the right words to ask him. Thanks Alison

 

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#313:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:59 am

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Hmmmm - Con thinks he didnt see her, but that might not be the case. If he has had some proper training and is some kind of secret worker he may notice everything but know just how to stop it appearing as such, and stop any reactions.

Con did well there though, and I'm sure that the children had a good time even if they might have been rather confused at their rather abrupt exit from the cafe.

I hope this doesnt make things too difficult for Con when she next meets Freddie. Thanks Alison.

 

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#314:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:56 am

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Maybe she should just ask him!!! Poor Con.

Thank you Alison.

 

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#315:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 12:18 pm

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Thanks Alison. I'm looking forward to finding out the truth about Freddie (subtle hint!).

 

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#316:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:01 pm

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She lay awake all night, struggling with the thought that maybe Freddie was involved in something untoward. She’d known many Chalet School girls who, after spending so much time in an almost exclusively female environment (she smiled at the memory of the furore Joan Baker had created by suggesting that dances would be more fun with boys invited too), had developed a romantic attachment to the first eligible young man who’d come their way. Len was an obvious example and Josette was another. Some of the mistresses weren’t much better: she’d heard Ruey remark that parts of the staffroom resembled a scene from a Jane Austen novel whenever an unmarried doctor joined the San. She herself, however, despite her essentially romantic and dreamy nature, had never been attracted to any of the men she’d met either at Oxford or in Switzerland. She’d always felt that she’d know the right man when he came along, and she’d completely and utterly fallen for Freddie right from that first afternoon when he’d turned up at Jane’s flat. And, even with her low level of self esteem, she couldn’t fail to realise from the way he looked at her and the way he spoke to her that her feelings were returned. He was so kind, so thoughtful, so caring. Whatever he was involved in, it could only be something to do with work, and therefore it needn’t concern her.

By the morning she’d succeeded in convincing herself that she was reading too much into the situation. She’d always had an over-active imagination, after all. Maybe the two men he’d been talking to had been business associates of some sort – customers, presumably. How could there be anything suspicious about someone meeting a priest? And the other man had only looked shady: he was probably perfectly respectable. And lots of people travelled about because of their jobs these days. Maeve had travelled all over the world as a courier, and Margot had worked in India and Africa before ending up in South America. She was just too imaginative, that was all. Everyone had always told her that, hadn’t they.

She decided. She would say nothing about it to Freddie. If there was anything that she needed to know about him, he would tell her. Wouldn’t he?

Please don't be annoyed with Con for not asking him yet - the plot bunnies just want a few more things to happen first... Also, sorry if this post was a bit soppy - just wanted to make it clear that, whatever Freddie is up to, he does really care about Con.

 

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#317:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:08 pm

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Aww sweet. Glad to hear Freddie cares about Con though!

Love the line about the staff going all Jane Austen!

 

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#318:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:10 pm

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Lovely and glad Freddie really does care for Con - I hope she doesn't get hurt though. Thank you Alison.

 

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#319:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 2:01 pm

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Love the line about the staff!

 

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#320:  Author: Le Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:05 pm

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The staff sound like my language teachers squabbling over our spanish classroom help 'Carlos'!

I glad Freddie cares for Con but, if the time comes, I hope he'll come clean over his work to make Con feel better!

Mmm what could he be doing with a priest and a shady looking guy in a cafe?

 

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#321:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:11 pm

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Le Petite Em wrote:

The staff sound like my language teachers squabbling over our spanish classroom help 'Carlos'!

I'm jealous! Our language assistants were always girls. I bet none of the staff ever argued over Mr Denny or Herr Laubach though!

 

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#322:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:10 pm

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Intriguing - love the line about the Staff and eligible doctors!

Thanks Alison.

 

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#323:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:11 pm

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I think that's a very sensible decision on Con's part - far better than jumping to conclusions or asking tactless questions.

And I'm so glad her feelings are returned

Thanks Alison

Liz

 

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#324:  Author: Chalet_school_lover, Location: Gloucester Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:58 pm

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Oh I do hope Con gets her happy ending!!!!!! And I also hope that Freddie tells her what's going on! *waits to find out* Thank you Alison, Loving this drabble!!!

 

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#325:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 9:53 pm

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Also love the Austin line!

Poor Con, hope it all works out, you seem a romantic so keeping my hopes up.

 

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#326:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:23 pm

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Sensible Con - I love the detachment with which she views the "scene from a Jane Austen novel"!
Looking forward to finding out more about Freddie.

 

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#327:  Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:43 am

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Alison H wrote:

she’d heard Ruey remark that parts of the staffroom resembled a scene from a Jane Austen novel whenever an unmarried doctor joined the San.

Brilliant Alison!

I'm sure Con can trust Freddie.

 

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#328:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:18 am

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Over the next few months, Con’s confidence blossomed. She was closely involved with the plans and rehearsals for the play, for which she was being well rewarded financially, and was delighted to find that Jane was to have the starring role. Her friendship with Jane continued to grow, and she found herself meeting new people all the time through her involvement with the theatre company. She was sorry when José was recalled to Switzerland by her employers, but they wrote to each other regularly, although Con felt a little troubled that not even José knew anything about her involvement with Freddie. Keeping their relationship a secret had seemed so romantic at first, but as time went on and they spent more and more time together she longed to share their happiness with everyone. She sometimes wondered if Vi and David suspected that she was seeing someone, but, if they did, they had the tact not to ask her about it. Still, she supposed that you couldn’t expect everything to be perfect, and she had very few complaints about the way her life was going otherwise.

On the opening night of the play, Con emerged from the backstage area about half an hour before the curtain was due to rise. It was unusual for the author to be with the cast at such a time, but Jane had insisted that Con had as much right to be there as anyone else did, and they had sat laughing together in the main dressing room as Jane got ready. As she walked into the auditorium, she gasped and tears filled her eyes. There, sitting all together, were Auntie Madge and Uncle Jem, Auntie Mollie and Uncle Dick, Vi and David and all those of her other cousins who lived within reasonable travelling distance of London.

“I hope you don’t mind us all being here!” Dick Bettany said. “We’re all so proud of you, Con. This is certainly a first – no-one in our family has ever had a play produced on the West End stage before. We’re looking forward to it so much.”

“Mind?” she said, wiping her eyes. “I wanted to ask you all but I didn’t want anyone to feel obliged to come if they didn’t want to. Oh thank you all so much for being here. I can’t tell you how much it means to me.” There were hugs and kisses all round, until Con had to excuse herself, wanting to go and wish Jane and the others good luck one last time before the play began.

 

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#329:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:43 am

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Awww thats so lovely, Im glad so many of her family could be there. Im still worried about all this secrecy though! Thanks Alison

 

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#330:  Author: tiffinata, Location: melbourne, australia Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 9:19 am

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This is lovely.
I find Con's growing confidence wonderful.
Thanks Alison

 

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#331:  Author: Robin, Location: London Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 9:23 am

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hope the first night goes well.

Thanks Alison

 

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#332:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:44 am

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Aww, yay for family! It's great they could be there!

 

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#333:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:44 am

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Wonderful for Con to have so much support from her family, bet it puts JO's nose out of joint.

Still I'm getting very worried about the secrecy. Is Freddie hoping to launch a coup to take over Belsornia again and restore himself as the monarch?

 

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#334:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:47 am

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That's such a nice post - how lovely of the family to turn up!

*sniffles cos it's so nice of them*

 

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#335:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:02 am

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Mia wrote:

*sniffles cos it's so nice of them*

I'm starting to sniffle myself now! Maybe the plot bunnies are being too nice to Con ... or does she deserve it after putting up with Joey for so long?!!

 

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#336:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:12 am

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Yes, Con does deserve her success and her happiness.

Hands out poking sticks to keep Jo away from the theatre.

 

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#337:  Author: tiffinata, Location: melbourne, australia Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:41 am

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Maybe Jo might reform and we won't need the poking sticks?

Stick on standby, just in case

 

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#338:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 12:18 pm

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Oh, I am so glad that her family went, and of their own accord as well, how lovely fo them. I hope they give good reports to Joey.

 

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#339:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 12:37 pm

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So glad the family turned up like that - next time I hope Con has the confidence to ask them herself.

Thanks Alison - and no the plot bunnies are not being too nice to her

Liz

 

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#340:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 1:46 pm

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Cannot remember - did Con every tell Joey about the play? If she did then where was she? Surely she ought to be there supoporting her daughter - if she didn't (and can quite understand Con not saying) - how's Joey going to feel when her brother and sister wax lyrical about Con's play?

Thanks Alison.

 

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#341:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:03 pm

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Walking backstage, she pushed the door of the main dressing room open. “It’s only me,” she called. “Just wanted to tell you to break a leg!” Then she stopped as she realised that the person standing before her wasn’t Jane at all.

“I’ll understand if you don’t want me here,” her elder sister said a little unsteadily, “but I had to tell you how proud of you we all are, and to say again how very very sorry I am for not realising that you weren’t happy at Freudesheim. Oh Con, look at you. You’re so elegant, so assured…”

“Oh Len!” Without saying another word, Con threw her arms around her sister. “Oh of course I don’t want you to go. You’re one of my triplets. Mamma told me everything you said to her. Oh I’m so glad you’re here”

“It’s just a flying visit, I’m afraid: I can’t leave the children for long,” Len said when they drew apart. “I’m here on my own: Reg is very busy at the San, and Mamma and Papa…”

Con nodded. She understood. There had been several long, honest and sometimes tearful phone calls between her and her parents, which had gone a long way towards repairing her relationship with both of them, but they had been right to stay away tonight, away from people who might have congratulated them on and given them the credit for their daughter’s success … if a success it proved to be.


I wasn't sure that she'd want Joey there telling everyone that Con got her writing skills from her. However, hopefully next time there is a special day in Con's life the entire family will be there!

 

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#342:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:15 pm

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I'm sure it will be a great success. Perish the thought of Joey going round and saying all that!

Thanks Alison

 

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#343:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:19 pm

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Thanks Allison! And I'm so glad that Len was there for Con!

 

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#344:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:20 pm

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Thank you Alison - that was a perfect response.

 

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#345:  Author: Chalet_school_lover, Location: Gloucester Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:41 pm

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Thank you Alison, I'm so glad Len turned up! I hope the show goes well!

 

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#346:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:58 pm

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Yay for Len! As much as I think Con's relationship with her parents has evolved, I think it was best for them to stay away also.

 

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#347:  Author: Robin, Location: London Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 3:06 pm

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glad len is there - I'm sure a first hand account of Con to J & J will also help.

Thanks Alison

 

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#348:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 3:40 pm

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Will Freddie also turn up?

 

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#349:  Author: Le Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:45 pm

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Oh so happy for Con! Len is so sweet for turning up- v good thing Jo didn't though. Please can Freddy be nice?????!!!!!!!!!

 

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#350:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 7:35 pm

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Oh good for Len.

Now, what is the mystery with Freddie?!

 

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#351:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:14 pm

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Oh, well done Len! Con, I'm sure this will be a success!!

 

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#352:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:50 am

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“Con, you look amazing!” Len said. “Normally people look better for going from the English air to the Swiss air, but it’s the other way round with you. You look absolutely radiant.”

Con wished, not for the first time, that she didn’t blush so easily. “Er, we’d better get out of here and let Jane finish getting ready,” she said. “There’s a little office just down the corridor that I use: let’s go in there.”

“It’s a regular flower garden in here!” Len exclaimed as she followed Con into the office. “Do you mind if I look at the cards on the bouquets? Mamma and Papa and co, Stephen and Jack, the Russells, the Bettanys, the Lucys, oh how nice of Auntie Hilda to send flowers from the school … and, oh, what absolutely gorgeous red roses. I assume that they’re from the theatre company: there’s no card on them.”

Con simply smiled. The card that had come with the red roses was in her handbag: it was silly and sentimental of her, she knew, but she didn’t want to be parted from it. In the sender’s handwriting, now so familiar to her, it said, simply, “All my love, F.”

She looked for him as she and Len took their seats for the performance. There he was, sitting by himself near the back as he had said he would be. “Don’t worry!” he mouthed. He was the only person who knew her well enough to realise that she was nervous. “It’ll be wonderful.”

Freddie was right. The next day, not one newspaper in the country carried an unfavourable review of either the play or the acting. “A playwriting star is born!” one enthusiastic critic proclaimed. “M C Maynard could just be the best thing to happen to the British theatre in years.” Another, more restrained critic, wrote “Much of the historical fiction being produced at the moment is written in a rather outmoded style. M C Maynard, by contrast, promises to be a star for the future.” As she read what they had to say, Con reflected on how much her life had changed in the space of just a few months, and wondered what could possibly be going to happen next.

 

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#353:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:13 am

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Yay! Sounds like it went fantastically well!

And even though she has doubts about Freddie, she still likes him and keeps the card in her bag (not that I blame her, I would too! )

 

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#354:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:23 am

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I've just caught up on over a week's worth of this, Alison, and am still loving it. I'm so glad that the family came and gave their support.

Thank you.

 

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#355:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:16 am

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LadyGuinevere wrote:

And even though she has doubts about Freddie, she still likes him and keeps the card in her bag (not that I blame her, I would too! )

I'd try and squeeze Freddie into my bag so he wouldn't escape So glad the play went well. Hope Freddie doesn't turn out to be a rotter

 

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#356:  Author: Robin, Location: London Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:23 am

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Really glad it went well! And that her and Freddie are getting on so well, whatever his murky dealings are...

thanks Alison

 

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#357:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:24 am

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How wonderful. Thank you Alison.

 

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#358:  Author: Chalet_school_lover, Location: Gloucester Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:42 am

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Thank you Alison! Yay Con is a success!!! Soo glad her life is amazing! She deserves it!

 

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#359:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 11:20 am

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So pleased for Con.

Thanks Alison.

 

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#360:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 12:54 pm

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Thanks Alison - so glad Con's opening night went well.

Hope she sees Freddie again soon.

Liz

 

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#361:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:31 pm

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“I love the long summer evenings,” Con said dreamily as she and Freddie enjoyed an evening stroll through a secluded park a couple of weeks later. “Especially when I’m with you. I wish you didn’t have to go to America. I'll miss you.”

“I'll miss you too, my love," he said, "but it’s only for a couple of weeks.” He certainly couldn't afford to stay away any longer. Suddenly everything seemed to be happening at once, and another chance like this might not come again for years, if ever.

“Shall I meet you at the airport when you get back?” she asked. “Which day is it exactly?”

“No!” he said hastily. “I mean, the flight doesn’t get in until late in the evening, and it might be delayed and you won’t want to be hanging around at the airport. It’s two weeks tomorrow. I’ll ring you as soon as I get back. I’m afraid I’ll be incommunicado whilst I’m there … I mean, it might be difficult to ring because of the time difference.”

“Oh well,” she said. “As it so happens, I couldn’t have made it that night anyway. That’s the night that Vi and David are going to be staying over in Edinburgh because of this medical conference. They'd already told Nanny that she could have that weekend off because a sister of hers is visiting from Ireland, so I’ve said that I’ll look after the children. There’ll only be Julian and Barbara there: Madge and Janie are spending part of their school holidays with Auntie Janie and Uncle Julian. I hope you don't get too bored walking round all those engineering works!”

"Thanks," he said uneasily. He hated keeping things from her, even though he was only doing so for her own protection. Maybe it was time that she knew what he was really involved in. He knew that he could trust her, and, whatever she'd just said about engineering works, she must surely suspect that all was not as it seemed as regarded his work: she was a highly intelligent person, after all. When he got back from America, he decided, then he would tell her. He only hoped that she would want to carry on seeing him once she knew the truth.

 

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#362:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:36 pm

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Ooooooh.....

What does he do? *wibbling*

Thanks Alison. Hope Freddie gets back from America really quickly! (Like, in the next post?)

 

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#363:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:52 pm

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Maybe he should tell her before he goes (hint hint!). Thanks, this is lovely, Alison.

 

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#364:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:01 pm

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So intriguing!! Come on Freddie, give her (us) a little hint!!

 

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#365:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:18 pm

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I think we can safely say he's not an engineer now! I really hope he tells her soon!

 

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#366:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:37 pm

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Tell her Freddie - they'll be problems if she sinds out on her own!

Thanks Alison.

 

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#367:  Author: Chalet_school_lover, Location: Gloucester Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 3:27 pm

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Oooh What does he do? Freddie tell Con before you go! How intriguing!
Thanks Alison!

 

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#368:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 3:39 pm

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As long as he hasn't got a wife and kids in America then I'm sure Con will be able to forgive Freddie!

 

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#369:  Author: Le Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 4:13 pm

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Ooo good he's going to comes clean! Please don't leave us and Con hanging!!!!!! Good for u Freddie!

 

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#370:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 5:29 pm

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Thanks Alison

Hope Freddie has the chance to tell Con before she finds out some other way!

Liz

 

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#371:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:48 pm

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Seem to be having a writing fest today ... had to go on a v boring course this morning and then didn't have much to do when got back to the office.

Fifteen days later …

Julian and Barbara were supposed to go to bed at 6 o’clock. They begged to be allowed to stay up later and Con was tempted to agree, but she decided that she’d better not go against Vi’s rules. Once the two of them were tucked up in bed and safely asleep, she sat down in the living room with the book that she was reading – Glorious Prague, by Charles Stevens whose eldest daughter Margia had been friendly with both Joey and Elisaveta at school. She was finding his descriptions of the beautiful Baroque city fascinating, and had borrowed several books about its history and geography from the local library. They were neatly stacked up on the floor in case she wanted to refer to them during the evening.

She settled down happily on the settee, and was soon blissfully lost in thoughts of Good King Wenceslas, the Hussite revolts and the Thirty Years’ War. She had no idea how long she’d been there when her peace was suddenly shattered by a howl from upstairs. She jumped up, sending the pile of library books flying as she did so, and hurried out of the room to find out what was going on. Presumably one of the twins had been disturbed by a bad dream. She’d better go and calm them down.

 

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#372:  Author: tiffinata, Location: melbourne, australia Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:25 pm

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eeek!

 

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#373:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 8:35 pm

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Thanks Alison! Some lovely detail in there!

 

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#374:  Author: Nicola, Location: Derbyshire Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:47 pm

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Eugh! I think I just went straight over that cliff! I'm really enjoying this, Alison, just caught up on several days worth. Lovely to see Con blossoming with her success, and I'm very intrigued by what Freddie really does. Now please come back and tell us what's going on upstairs!

Thank you.

 

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#375:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:01 pm

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The joys of babysitting!

Thanks Alison.

 

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#376:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:13 pm

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*hopes it is only a nightmare*

Thanks Alison - this is absolutely fantastic

 

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#377:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:13 pm

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Thanks Alison - hope you have lots of days like today

Liz

 

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#378:  Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 5:12 am

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The reviews for the play were fantastic, glad it was such a success. But I have to confess I wonder - what did the negative ones say?

Hope Freddie gets back to England safely. He certainly is starting to feel very James Bondish. Could be worse when you think about the other(shaggadelic) spys who were around in the '60's!

 

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#379:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:30 am

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Eep I hope it's just a nightmare too.

Thanks Alison, Im glad the play was such a success

 

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#380:  Author: Rosy, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:50 am

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Waaah. A cliff. Noooooooo.

 

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