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The CBB -> St Clare's House

#1: The Glimpse - complete Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 12:31 am
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How we love our little tea parties. At first it used to take us considerable effort to conjure up the trappings – the delicate bone china tea service, the silver tea-pot, the plates of dainty cakes, the thinly cut sandwiches. The comfortable armchairs and the fireplace - purely for effect of course, for we have no need of the fire for actual heat, as all we need is provided for us here. We no longer have such a physical need for the food and drink either, but it is a question of creating the right ambience for our little gatherings.

We have been friends for so very many years – we grew up together, playing all manner of games, in and out of each other’s houses, those long schooldays. Next came the endless delight of swapping stories about our young men – sedate walks in the afternoons, dances in the evenings. Bridesmaids or matrons of honour for each other in turn. And then, despite being scattered to all the corners of the continent, managing to stay in touch after our marriages and keeping our friendship going, indeed strengthening it, along the years. The time spent writing and reading those long, weekly letters; the vacations we enjoyed with each other, swapping our experiences of our children as we watched them playing together in the sunshine.

Ah yes, after a lifetime of friendship we have so much in common, so much to talk about. It is the chatting, the remembering, reliving the good old days, that keeps us sane in this place, with so much time on our hands.

We were unusually excited at today’s get-together. Euphestephania, or Steffy as we call her, has joined us at long last, and we had been busy showing her the ropes. She is the very last of our little set to arrive, so now we are all together again - Steffy, Fanestralletta (Fanny), Gioginahallena (Georgie), Annapersephonia (Annie) and myself. Poor Steffy is rather confused by the place – to be honest, I think she is suffering a touch of dementia, something the rest of us mercifully seem to have avoided. But perhaps she will be better when she gets used to it here. It is good to be all together again.

We were chatting away merrily, recalling the occasion when Georgie narrowly escaped engagement to that dreadful Peterson boy, when Fanny drew my attention to a delivery boy heading in our direction with an O.O. card.

“It’s probably for you again, Sophie” said Fanny, with just the slightest hint, I thought, of rancour.

And it was indeed addressed to me.

“Hurry up,” said Annie, “or you’ll miss the window. It’s probably that great niece of yours again – she’s apt to invoke you at the drop of a hat.

I got to my feet as quickly as I could and headed off to the nearest observation station – fortunately there was one fairly close by. The girls all followed me – we had a tendency to share our Observation Opportunities – although we always knew to back off if an intimate or private family moment was in progress. But mine were usually just Joey mentioning me in passing, rather than calling out to me from the heart, or experiencing the intense longing of the deeply bereaved. The windows she opened were therefore usually short and the scenes cheerful and enjoyable to witness.

And so it was on this occasion. We crowded around the little window and watched. The Maynard family were seated around the breakfast table reading their mail and, it being the school holidays, I had a lovely glimpse of all the children, from the littlest ones to the triplets – looking so very grown up these days. My adorable little Len, now Head Girl – I can hardly believe it! At the top of the table, of course, was Joey – the very favourite of all my great nieces – such empathy, so vibrant, so caring, so alive. She had evidently just finished reading out a letter from her latest adoptee, young Adrienne, thanking Joey for awarding her the scholarship that would enable her to attend the Chalet School. Madge’s wonderful school – such an achievement - I’m so proud of the girl.

After such a very short time, no more than a quick peek really, the cloud began to reform, and the happy scene faded. Fanny sighed. “Oh, such a lovely family. Thank you so much for sharing that with us.” She put her arm around my shoulders to lead me back to the cloud where we hold our tea parties, whilst I discreetly wiped a tiny, ethereal tear from the corner of my eye.

“What on earth has Rob wished on us – a modern version of Goody Two Shoes? My only Aunt Sophonisba!”. Adrienne and the Chalet School

(Edited to correct Sophie's name!)

Last edited by Cryst on Sat Sep 23, 2006 8:49 am; edited 1 time in total

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

Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 3:14 am
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Wow, Cryst, that's clever!!!

Thank you!

#3: Author: Alice, Location: London, England

Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 8:17 am
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What a good idea! Thanks Cryst.

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

Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 12:08 pm
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Wonderful!

Thanks, Cryst Very Happy

#5: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:33 am
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So that's who she was.

*giggles*

And very sweet, as well. Smile

#6: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 2:19 am
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Loved that, Cryst. Thanks. Laughing

#7: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:17 pm
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I really enjoyed that, Cryst. Thank you.

#8: Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:22 pm
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what a wonderful idea. It took me a while to work out what was what - those names!!!

I did love that idea though, I must admit. And wonderful execution of it as well.

Thanks Cryst Smile

#9: Author: MaryR, Location: Cheshire

Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 11:14 am
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Very creative and original, Cryst. I loved it. Laughing

#10: Author: Lulu, Location: West Midlands, UK

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 11:01 pm
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How original! Thanks Cryst, that was lovely.

#11: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 11:47 pm
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Very clever, Cryst. Talk about a careful reader! Shocked

#12: Author: Loryat,

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:33 pm
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Who were these people? Sorry, am maybe not such a careful reader!

#13: Author: CatherineS, Location: Smalltown, West of Scotland

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 3:36 pm
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A great idea, Cryst. Thanks very much. Very Happy

#14: Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 3:41 pm
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Loryat wrote:

Who were these people?

As far as I can remember, most of the names did *not* appear in the CS books. They are however, really quite close in age and excentricity to "Sophonisba", the name that Joey uses in an exclamation when she is startled about something.

Cryst was just being clever. and weaving a story about Jo's use of the name, and for that, other similar names are needed.

I think that's all there is to say about that!

Thanks once again Cryst. Smile

#15: Author: Loryat,

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:05 pm
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Ah, I get it! I liked this story. It had a real air of poignancy for me.

The CBB -> St Clare's House

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