The Chalet School, Specialist Language College
The CBB -> Starting again at Sarres...

#1: The Chalet School, Specialist Language College Author: Cryst PostPosted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:53 pm


This is set during “Ruey Richardson at the Chalet School". I'm afraid I'm having to repost it in several pieces.

Nell and Hilda were sitting in the latter’s pretty little sitting room making the most of their last peaceful evening before the hustle and bustle of the start of term. They were reflecting on developments over the summer holiday period as Hilda poured the coffee.

“Weren’t we lucky that Señor Romero’s school were willing to waive his notice period and let him come for the start of this term?” said Nell.

“Yes, a definite stroke of luck,” replied Hilda, “though I’m a little concerned that we haven’t received a written reference from them yet.”

“But you spoke with them on the telephone, didn’t you dear? And they spoke very highly of him?”

“Oh yes indeed, Nell, but I always like to see it in writing. Still he’ll be arriving tomorrow, and we’ll be able to make up our own minds very soon. He’ll need a sheepdog, of course. Which member of staff shall we assign to him?”

“Tricky,” replied Miss Annersley, “I suppose it should really be Jeanne - as Head of Languages she will be mentoring him, after all. But…” she hesitated “I’m not really sure. It doesn’t seem quite the thing. Do you have any other ideas? Someone younger maybe? Or a male member of staff? But there is only Mr Denny.”

“I think you’d better go with Jeanne”, Miss Wilson confirmed. “I’m sure they’ll all chip in with advice and so on and pretty soon make him feel welcome.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right.” replied her co-head. “It’s a shame we didn’t manage to appoint an old girl to the post of Italian mistress. Still, we have it in the hands of the agency, and I’ll be going over to London next week to conduct the interviews, so hopefully we’ll have someone very soon.”

“How many candidates has the agency shortlisted for us, Hilda?”

“Just three, but they are an impressive trio, and I’m looking forward to meeting them. Hepzibah Angelina Cameron is my current hot favourite, though she is still quite young. Italian mother, father is Scots. She has a good degree in Italian from Oxford, and has spent several lengthy summer holidays with her relatives in Sicily, so should be fluent.”

“Oh yes, Hilda.” Miss Wilson brightened visibly on hearing the name. “She even sounds like a chalet school girl.”

They laughed, and settled down to their coffee and game of rummy.


Last edited by Cryst on Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:10 pm; edited 18 times in total

 


#2:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:57 pm


Rosalie Dene, Chalet School Secretary, was in the school office, efficiently working her way through the mountain of letters that always arrived at the start of each term, particularly at the start of a new school year. She was in her element - calmly answering the phone, dealing with girls and staff, filling out receipts for parents who had sent cheques for their daughters’ school fees, ordering supplies of various kinds, directing the deliveries to their various final destinations, whilst putting the finishing touches to the school timetable. She did so love her work.

Breaking off briefly, she glanced out of the window. It was a late summer’s day, the sun shining in a brilliant blue sky, and for the thousandth time she drank in the glory of the majestic snow capped mountains framed by the pretty flowered sprigged curtains at her little window. It was then that she noticed Hans. The post boy was staggering up the steep path from the village to the school, his post bag dragging heavily at his shoulder. Sweat was running down his face. She ran to the door and insisted he come in and sit down for a moment.

“Hans, sit thee here for a minute and I will fetch thee a glass of excellent home made lemonade.” She dashed off to the kitchen, returning to find the boy slightly recovered. “Vielen Dank, Fräulein” he said, downing the lemonade in one. He handed over the contents of his bag. The problem was caused by a gargantuan, heavy, thick, brown package. He handed it over thankfully, along with the rest of the mail and, glad to be unburdened, went on his way with a whistle.

Rosalie cast her practised eye over the large package and the other items. The more routine items of correspondence she held back, but she took the items requiring the Headmistress’s personal attention through to her sitting room, where Miss Annersley was just settling down to enjoy her morning Kaffee and Kuchen. “Thank you my dear. Will you join me in a cup of coffee?”

Rosalie had an idea how the correspondence would be received, and declined politely, pleading pressure of work.

Miss Annersley looked through the items. The large package and a smaller envelope she correctly identified as from the Board of Trustees. She put them aside, thinking to herself that she would share them with Nell later. The final item had a Spanish stamp and was postmarked from Barcelona. “Aha, at last,” she thought, and was just about to open it when there was a knock at the window. With a sinking heart she waved back at Joey, invited her in for Kaffee and, with a sudden flash of prescience, slid the envelope out sight under a pile of papers. She had a feeling that this could be one piece of information that she did not wish to share with “The Spirit of the School”. She would, however, feed her the latest diktats from the Board of Trustees, as they might stem the otherwise obligatory flow of chatter about the latest tedious exploits of the vast Maynard clan.

She popped her head into Rosalie’s office and asked her to see if Miss Wilson would like to join them.

 


#3:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:59 pm


Hilda had opened the large package and was spreading out the contents on the coffee table in front of Joey and Nell.

“…and then the day after that they all went to the Salt Mines of course I stayed at home with the Second Twins as I was getting the house ready for Daisy and Laurence’s visit and that was the night that poor little Charles went down with appendicitis and Len was ever so good getting up and making him a hot drink but there was nothing for it she had to wake Jack up and Chas was rushed to the hospital and gracious me then we found out that the Rosomons and the Richardsons were related and Ruey is so glad to be coming to school you know she had only a few rags when they were living with her father that man is a complete lunatic space travel indeed and if I hadn’t taken her shopping for some dainty little frocks she would have outgrown them all and she was so pleased with her new uniform and Len has been speaking French and German with her that girl’s is a born teacher and …”

Nell caught Hilda’s despairing expression and interrupted loudly “Good Lord, Hilda, what have you got there? It looks most interesting. Ah, more initiatives from the Board of Trustees. I daresay we’ll need your advice on these, Joey.”

Joey stopped, mid flow. “Ooooh goody. Yes, let’s have a look. I’ll take this one, as it’s only about three inches thick. It’s called ‘Every Child Matters’. Well!! Yes ….. of course ….. did they think we thought they didn’t?” She picked up the glossy folder and was instantly completely absorbed.”

Hilda looked at the remaining items. “Here you are Nell, you have this nice colourful fat one – “Schools White Paper - Higher Standards, Better Schools for All - More Choice for Parents and Pupils”. I’ll take the rest of the bits and pieces and more minor items.

They all settled down to read, sipping their coffee and nibbling at the delicious bread twists.

Hilda leafed through the myriad loose papers, leaflets and brochures variously sighing, groaning, frowning, laughing, and looking puzzled, and putting each one as she finished it into the amply proportioned waste paper bin she kept nearby for such occasions. She then turned to the second, smaller envelope from the Board of Trustees, read the contents with more interest, glanced across at Joey and slipped it out of sight to discuss later with Nell.

Nell herself was wading though her assignment with signs of growing irritation. About half way through she lobbed the whole thing accurately into the bin, declaring scathingly, “this one is just endless, vacuous rhetoric. Imagine - someone must get paid to write all this rubbish.”

“What’s yours about, Joey?” Hilda asked.

Joey summarized. “It says it’s a new approach to the well-being of children and young people. The Board of Trustees wants every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to: Be healthy; Stay safe; Enjoy and achieve; Make a positive contribution; Achieve economic well-being.”

Nell replied caustically “Tut tut, very bad form to use the word ‘achieve’ twice in such close proximity. I think we have most of that covered, don’t we? There are plenty of Doctors around, plus the San and Matey, to make sure they are all healthy. Most of them assimilate into the spirit of the school quite quickly and seem to enjoy their time here and achieve some sort of results in lessons or games, even the duffers. They all ‘make a contribution’ every year via The Sale and The Play. If their parents are rich enough to send them here we don’t have to worry about their economic well-being. It’s just the ‘stay safe’ bit that we need to work on, really, with all these accidents we keep having. Though we haven’t actually managed to kill anyone yet, I suppose.”

“Is there something we have to do about it to stop them snaffling some of our money like they did with the Specialist School thing?” asked Hilda.

“Not that I can see,” relied Joey. “In the bin, then?”

“Yes!” the other two chorused gleefully.

“Well that was fun. Thanks for the Kaffee, Hilda, I must dash now – the babies will be wanting their lunch.” With that Joey departed, without having disclosed any purpose at all for her visit. Hilda was glad to see her leave. Señor Jose Manuel Romero was due to arrive very soon, and Hilda would greatly prefer not to have Joey present when she received him.

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The little red sports car had climbed easily up the hairpin bends on the mountain road up to the Görnetz Platz and was now speeding along the plateau towards the end of its long journey to the Chalet School.

Cecil was playing happily alone in the sunny garden of Freudesheim, with Anna keeping an occasional eye on her out of the window. Jack had rigged up a little swing in the apple tree, low enough for the little girl to get herself on and off, and Cecil liked nothing better than pottering around trying, with singular lack of success, to swing herself more than a few inches in either direction. She had never even tried to escape onto the road before, and anyway there was so little traffic that it had never been a major concern, but today she had heard the sports car and seen a flash of bright red through the trees and the buildings and her curiosity was aroused.

She ran out onto the road just as Jose Manuel came round a bend. He saw her in the middle of the road directly in front of him and managed to screech to a halt and narrowly avoid the child by swerving into the entrance of the Freudesheim driveway. He leapt out of the car, ran round the front bumper and heaved an enormous sigh of relief as he realised that she was unharmed. He scooped her up into his arms and asked, her, in fluent German, where she had been going. She answered in English “I saw the red car and came to see you.” He switched effortlessly to equally perfect English. “And where is your mother, you little black-eyed beauty?”

“There’s Mamma!” replied Cecil, pointing to a tall, woman who was making her way towards them. Her black hair, coiled in plaits over her ears, matched the child’s in colour and texture, and they were unmistakeably mother and daughter. Joey saw an elegantly dressed young man, of medium height and slim build, with corn coloured hair, worn a little longer than the norm and somewhat tousled from the long drive in the open-topped sports car. As he walked up and proffered his hand to shake hers, she realised that his eyes were the most unusual pale brown she had ever seen, almost yellow, with sparkling green flecks. His face and arms were lightly tanned, and he had a smattering of freckles across the top of his nose. He was clean shaven, but gave the impression of perhaps not having shaved for a good few hours.

She was slightly alarmed to see her daughter in the arms of a total stranger, but he very quickly explained the situation and put her at ease. “Good morning, please allow me to present myself. I am Señor Romero, about to take up the post of Spanish master at a school near here, and the driver of this vehicle. This young lady was loose on the road, and I narrowly missed her as I came round the corner. I thought perhaps I should make sure she was safe before I went on my way. I don’t think she is hurt at all, and she doesn’t seem to have been the least bit bothered by the experience.” He set her back on her feet and she took Joey’s hand.

Joey was mesmerised and, unusually for her, lost for words. What a charming young man - impeccable manners and such a gentle way with the child. This man was born to be a husband and father, instinctively good with children. She said “I’m Mrs Maynard. I have very close connections with the school, and several of my children are pupils there. I’m sure we will meet again. Thank you so much for taking the trouble to see that Cecily was in safe hands.” She smiled at him. He met her eyes with his and smiled back.

“Could you direct me to the school, please?” he asked.

“Yes of course, Señor, you are very nearly there.” Joey pointed out the next drive down the road, which led up to the school. They said their goodbyes and as Joey was turning back into the house, Cecil, normally a reserved child, ran over to Jose Manuel, held up her arms to be lifted, and gave him a kiss. “Thank you, nice man. Bye-bye,” she said. He solemnly set her down again and waved as he got into his car and sped on his way. Joey turned once more for the house, and made her way slowly in, not quite trusting her knees, which suddenly seemed to have turned to jelly. The blonde Spaniard was going to have quite an impact up the hill, she predicted.

 


#4:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:03 pm


It was almost lunchtime. There was never much school work done on the first day of term. Girls were based in their classrooms with their form mistresses, and the day was spent on pleasant tasks such as handing out text books and seeing to stationery requirements. The girls were called out in turn to unpack their trunks, under the careful supervision of a prefect or Matey. Thus it was that many of the girls and staff were able to move to the windows as the little red sports car was heard coming up the drive. Señor Romero waved merrily at the rows of open mouths, and brought the car to a stop, parking it neatly in front of the main school building with a little flourish. Miss Annersley, also hearing the commotion, came out of the front door to greet him.

“Ah, good morning, Señor Romero. I hadn’t realised you were coming by car. How nice to meet you again.” She proffered her hand to shake and blushed profusely as the young man instead raised it to his lips. “My dear lady, the pleasure is all mine. I am so looking forward to working with you.” A collective gasp came from the open windows. Miss Annersley turned round towards her school and under her icy and dignified stare the crowds rapidly dissipated.

“Perhaps you would move the car to the garages at the rear of the building? You may park it next to the two school cars. I’ll walk round and show you to your quarters and then you’ll just have time for a quick wash before lunch. Matron will help you unpack this afternoon.”

After some discussion it had been decided that Jose Manuel would be given a room in the wing of the kindergarten building that had been allocated to Herr Laubach. That peppery old gentleman was none too pleased at the prospect, but after considerable persuasion on the part of Miss Annersley had agreed with considerable ill grace, to give it a try. She walked round to his separate entrance and knocked sharply at the door. Señor Romero had by now parked his car and removed his suitcase from the back seat, and was standing beside her.

“Herr Laubach,” she said, as he answered the door, “allow me to present Señor Romero. Jose Manuel, this is Herr Laubach. Until very recently he was Art Master at the school. He has now retired and has very kindly agreed for you to share his apartment, at least for the time being.”

“Hhrmph”, grunted Herr Laubach, standing aside for the younger man to enter. “Your room is down this corridor here, I will show you. Hilda, I will bring the young man over for lunch presently.”

“Thank you Herr Laubach,” replied Hilda, hoping against all hope that he would at least try to make his young colleague feel welcome.

“Adieu Miss Annersley. Thank you so much for the most charming welcome.” Señor Romero bowed slightly, met her eyes and smiled. In spite of herself Hilda felt warmed by his gaze. She felt herself to be in the presence of a young man of great charm and sincerity. She was suddenly taken aback by a stray and most unusual thought that sliced through her normally calm, slightly aloof, professional demeanour. “If only I were twenty years younger,” she reflected.

 


#5:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:07 pm


The girls and most of the staff were already assembled for lunch when Herr Laubach and Señor Romero arrived for theirs. Miss Annersley waved for them to join her and the other staff at the top table, and a general hush descended as they walked the length of the dining room. They, however, were oblivious to the curious eyes that were following their progress. They were deep in an animated conversation about the great masters - comparing notes on their favourite works of art, and enthusing about art galleries they had visited. Herr Laubach had a hand on the younger man’s shoulder and so easy was the conversation that they looked for all the world as if they had known each other for years.

“Ach, Miss Annersley”, said Herr Laubach with a broad grin, “why did you not tell me that Jose Manuel has such an interest in art? He has been browsing my little library of books and has brought some watercolours of his own to hang on his walls. He has considerable talent. We have been planning some outings in his car together to sketch some of the great landscape settings of the region.”

Señor Romero smiled modestly, “But my little paintings are nothing compared to the works hanging in your apartment, my friend. It is a privilege to be staying in such a place, with such a master.”

Miss Annersley raised an eyebrow. She certainly need not have worried about Herr Laubach being rude to his new flatmate – they were getting on like a house on fire!

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The conversation at the staff table at Mittagessen was a delight. Señor Romero was introduced to each of his new colleagues in turn and he very quickly found an interest in common with each of them.

To Mr Denny he revealed, somehow with engaging modesty, that he had a soft high tenor voice and experience of performing in a variety of situations. He was very quickly snapped up for a duet with Joey to be performed at The Play.

He was very quickly on first name terms with Matey after revealing a life long interest in regimes for the care of the sick and displaying extensive knowledge of cod liver oil, castor oil, laudanum, oil of cloves, and other preparations favoured by that good lady. He promised to visit her to show her how to prepare a cough linctus that his grandmother used to make.

He impressed Jeanne Lachenais with his ideas for introducing Spanish into the lower school, using a variety of innovative teaching methods that she thought would be sure to stimulate their interest. He revealed that his mother had been a fine seamstress and promised to show Jeanne some embroidered panels that he had brought with him to brighten up his new lodgings.

He revealed to Anna Mieders that he liked to cook whenever he had the opportunity. He knew ten different ways to make pastry, understood the purpose of bain-marie and double steamer, and could recite the setting temperatures for jam, toffee, fudge and various other confectionary items. He was dying to try his favourite recipe for seedless alpine blackberry and crab apple jelly and they arranged to go gathering together, with a jam making session to follow.

With Rosalie Dene he discussed various timetabling methods he had used at his previous post, where he had responsibility for this role. He was accomplished in shorthand and typing and volunteered his services at any time she needed assistance.

To Peggy Burnett he let slip that he was a talented sportsman. He could ski and skate, was a qualified tennis umpire, and in his youth had played hockey for the Spanish under 18 team. He promised Kathie, Nancy and Peggy a game of tennis in the very near future before the courts became unplayable.

In short, he charmed and delighted everyone. Hilda watched, as captivated as her colleagues, and pleased that he was settling in so well. But for some unknown reason, somewhere in the back of her head alarm bells were very faintly ringing. She had a very busy afternoon of appointments ahead of her, but longed to find time to get back to her study to open the letter from Barcelona and read what she had guessed was the long awaited reference from his previous school.

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At the end of a long and busy day Hilda and Nell were relaxing in Hilda’s sitting room. They had excused themselves after Abendessen when the rest of the staff made their way to the staff room for their coffee, and Hilda had just made them a pot of their own. She poured, and sat down with a pleasurable little sigh of relief.

“How did your first day of term go over in St Mildred’s, Nell?”

“Oh, you know, the usual start of term chaos, but I think all the girls have arrived who were supposed to, and none who weren’t expected, and they all seem to be sorting themselves out. Not too bad, all in all. But tell me, Hilda, what is this that I hear about the new Spanish teacher? Everyone is raving about how charming he is, how handsome, what a good linguist, how well he is fitting in. I’m beginning to think I shouldn’t let him too near the girls in my establishment if he is all he is made out to be.”

“Ah, it’s not just the girls you need to be careful for, Nell. Some of the staff seem to be fluttering their eyelashes more than usual since his arrival, and I believe that even Matron was sporting a touch of lipstick this afternoon!”

“Good gracious!” laughed Miss Wilson.

There was a knock at the door and Matron herself came in. “Just come to report, Hilda, that all the girls are unpacked, the juniors are tucked up in bed and all is quiet on the Western front.”

“Thank you Gwynneth,” Hilda replied and, with a wicked glance at Nell, “and was Señor Romero’s unpacking up to scratch?”

“Oh yes,” Matron swelled with pleasure, “Jose grasped the routine almost instantly, and put everything away correctly, very tidily and almost unaided. Such a nice young man. He is going to be such an asset to the school.”

It was just as well that she left them to their coffee together as soon as she had finished her report, because the co-heads found themselves in considerable difficulty suppressing fits of most un-headmistress-like giggles.

No sooner had they recovered than there was another knock at the door. It was Jeanne Lachenais. “I’ve just come to show you the plans for starting to teach Spanish”, she said. “Jose Manuel and I have been pouring over the plans this afternoon. He has some excellent ideas, you know. We have been looking at the timetable, and he has been explaining his methods. I must say, it all sounds very exciting. We are starting the juniors with a lesson a day, and will offer the subject to the upper fourths as an optional examination subject. He has had a word with Rosalie, and between them they can fit it all into the main timetable. Perhaps you wouldn’t mind making an announcement about it at assembly tomorrow morning? I’ve prepared a list for the girls to sign up and will pin it on the noticeboard at the back of the hall. I hope we will get enough interest for us to have a viable group.”

“Oh,” replied Hilda, with another glance at Nell, who missed it because as she was studying her feet and concentrating very hard on not smiling, “I’m sure that won’t be a problem at all, Jeanne. In fact I hope there won’t be a stampede! I have already seen some of the girls with their noses in Spanish phrase books this afternoon trying to get a head start.”

“Yes, isn’t it amazing? I’m so pleased the girls are getting enthusiastic about the new languages.” replied Jeanne.

At that, she too left the Heads and headed off to the staff room to join the others.

“Well. And when do I get my introduction, Hilda?” giggled Nell.

“Very soon, Nell, very soon,” replied Hilda. “But first, I must have a look at this reference I received for him this morning. I haven’t had a single moment to read it, and I’m dying to see what it says.” She slit open the letter and started reading silently.

“Oh for heaven’s sake, Hilda, read it aloud, please!” Nell exhorted, and so she did.

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Escuela San Pedro
Barcelona

The Chalet School
Görnetz Platz
The Oberland
Switzerland 31 August 1954

Dear Miss Annersley,

José Manuel Romero

First of all, please accept my apologies for the delay in providing this written reference for José Manuel. Since our telephone conversation I have been struggling with my conscience. I was sorely tempted to allow him a completely new start at your school, but in all honesty there are certain circumstances that I feel I must share with you. It would be unfair of me to do otherwise.

José Manuel Romero joined this school as a newly qualified teacher, straight from University in Paris. He worked here for three years until he successfully applied for the position at your school.

As I hope you will by now have discovered, José is an extremely charismatic character. He has delightful manners, a genuine interest in everyone he meets, and the ability to relate to people of all ages in a very personal way to rapidly gain their trust and friendship. He is the most talented teacher it has even been my good fortune to work with. He is patient, kind, inventive, inspirational, and completely dedicated to his profession. He has an innate ability to hold the attention of any class, and discipline is never an issue for him. His pupils are genuinely enthralled by his lessons. He achieves excellent results and enables every member of the class, from the brightest student to those who find learning more of a challenge, to achieve their full potential and, in very many cases, go far beyond it. He forges excellent relationships with his fellow members of staff, and is always willing to undertake extra duties and engage in extra curricular activities. In short, he is universally adored. It was with great personal sadness that I said goodbye to him - I had come to look upon him almost as the son I never had.

You must understand that we are a church music school, providing choirs for regular services and important religious occasions. We are an all male establishment - most of the staff are members of religious orders, and we lead a fairly quiet and cloistered existence. In this simple establishment, José shone like a star.

The trouble started when a group of boys in the middle school developed what I believe in English you call a “crush” on their young master. I can only describe it as a form of hysterical attachment – they almost literally worshiped the ground he trod. They moped and daydreamed, became withdrawn and silent. Some refused to eat. They only really came to life in their lessons with José. Some of the parents got to hear of this and misinterpreted the situation completely. They started to withdraw their sons from the school. There were rumours of impropriety, but I am completely convinced that absolutely nothing untoward happened. There is not a shred of evidence to support the accusations, and I know with deep certitude that José did nothing other than exert his own brand of innocent charm.

It is my earnest hope that in the less rarefied atmosphere of the Chalet School, and with a clean slate, José will achieve his huge potential as a gifted languages teacher. He had very little knowledge of the effect he had on the pupils. I certainly did not pass on any of the accusations to him. He may have gathered that something was amiss, but fortunately he had already decided to move to a specialist languages school where he could make a greater contribution, and had applied for your post whilst this was going on. This is why I felt it was appropriate to waive his notice and allow him to join you sooner.

I hope you will forgive me for not having mentioned this on the telephone, and I hope that you will feel that I acted in the best of interests of your school as well as José. I wish you all the best in what I am sure will be a most successful appointment.

Yours sincerely,

etc etc etc

Hilda laid the papers down on the table in front of her, looking troubled. Nell thought for a moment, then gave a broad grin and said, “Well, well, Hilda, whatever next? You have surpassed yourself this time, and managed to find us a saint!”

 


#6:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:23 pm


It was Tuesday evening, the end of the second day of term, and having enjoyed an excellent Abendessen, Hilda and Nell were as usual relaxing in the privacy of Hilda’s sitting room whilst the school busied itself with its usual range of evening activities.

“I still haven’t come across the fabled Señor Romero, then Hilda,” said Nell, slightly petulantly. “How’s he getting on? Any reports from his classes?”

“Well he hasn’t started with the fourths yet, but a couple of classes of juniors have had their first Spanish lessons today, and by all reports it’s all gone down very well. He’s been playing a word and phrase recognition game with them, so they’ve learnt quite a bit of Spanish whilst having a good deal of fun. Mind you, the staff who have the girls in the periods immediately after his have been reporting that the girls have been unusually subdued – or ‘dreamy’ as Nancy put it.”

“Hmm,” replied Nell. You’ll have to keep an eye on that, bearing in mind what his reference said. How has the uptake been with the upper fourths?”

“Oh, heavens, that sheet of paper was covered with names within 10 minutes of the announcement”, replied Hilda, rolling her eyes. There are only two girls who haven’t opted for Spanish. The sudden surge in interest in languages is very suspicious. Most of them have declined the opportunity to take French and German on to public exam level, despite all the practice they get in those languages, yet here they all are, rushing to do Spanish. One can only think that the visible charms of the good Señor have more than a little to do with it.”

Nell laughed. “Well, I’m now looking forward to my introduction even more, Hilda. Actually, a couple of us at St Mildred’s were talking about him in the staff room. We imagine that his timetable must be quite light until Spanish has been going in the school for a couple of years, so we were wondering if you could spare him for a couple of periods a week to do a spot of conversation with our girls. Nothing academic, but enough to help them get by if they even find themselves in Spain, or sitting at dinner next to someone who speaks Spanish but not much English. It would just be a nice extra little string to their social bows.”

“I don’t see why not,” replied Hilda thoughtfully, “though I’ll have to have a chat with Jeanne about it before I can agree. Will he be safe with the older girls, do you think? Some of them are developing into quite sophisticated young ladies these days.”

“Well, I’d say it can’t go too badly wrong – after all Mary-Lou’s in that crowd and she can be relied on to keep them all on the straight and narrow.”

“Well of course, Mary-Lou does have plenty of common sense. Yes, Nell, that’s an excellent idea. I’ll run it past Jeanne next time I see her.” Hilda changed the subject. “Now then, there is one last little letter from the Board of Trustees that I need to discuss with you, Nell. I kept it from Jo when she was here yesterday – you’ll see why when you read it. It needs a bit of careful thought.” She retrieved the letter from its hiding place and passed it across to Nell, who remarked with some relief that at least it wasn’t the usual tome, then set to work to skim it rapidly.

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Nell put down the letter. “Well, the cheek of them, Hilda. And where on earth do they get these idealistic and completely unworkable ideas of theirs? They seem to be declaring it one of your performance targets, so I suppose you’ll have to go along with their plans for ‘modernising the curriculum’ and ‘developing the girls in the round’, although I can’t say I agree with the insinuation that we don’t already pay full attention to all aspects of the girls’ development.”

“Yes,” Hilda replied. “I’ve reread the letter several times and I’m pretty darn mad about it, I can tell you. But I really can’t see any way out of it. I’ll just have to find a way of doing it – or at least appearing to do it – until they forget about this particular brainwave and move on to their next set of faddy new ideas and revised performance targets. We’ll somehow have to get at least some of the school started on … now what did they call it? … oh yes, PSHE - Personal, Social, and Health Education - and Citizenship.”

“Well,” replied Nell. “we’re going to have to either employ another mistress or have one of the existing staff teach it. Maybe you could start off with just the youngest forms, and explain that we are gradually building it into the timetable for the whole school as they work their way up through the school. Would that be enough to keep them off our backs, do you think?”

“Yes, you’re right, Nell. If we timetable it this year for the youngest children, say up to and including the upper thirds, then that should do the trick. The kindergarten children can be taught it by their own teachers, who can fit it in as they please, but we’ll have to make some special arrangement in the timetable for the main school. Poor Rosalie. She’s just reworked the whole thing to fit in the Spanish, we’ll hopefully be in the same situation with Italian very soon, and now we’ve this PSHE thing to cram in too. I think I’ll have a chat with her about the timetable first, then discuss the issue of who is going to teach it with the staff at our next full staff meeting. I’ve a feeling they are not going to be greatly enthusiastic though.”

Nell gave Hilda one of her rare mischievous smiles, and replied “Are you going to invite me in, Hilda? I’d hate to miss the sight of them all clamouring excitedly to be the first to volunteer for this one!”

The two women laughed, and putting away the letter, settled down for a companionable gossip before turning in for the night.

 


#7:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:28 pm


This bit is an update ....

Up bright and early, Joey ensured that everyone was breakfasted and waved Jack off to work. Anna and Rösli were well up on the housework, knowing that this morning they would be asked to look after the children. On Wednesday mornings once a fortnight, regularly as clockwork, Joey washed her hair. And it was quite an operation. First she uncoiled the plaits she wore over each ear, then she unplaited the hair and brushed it out. She sat by the bath and leaned over it to wash the hair, using a pail to rinse it thoroughly. Then she dried it as well as she could with a towel, brushed it and used a comb to remove the tangles. She finished off drying it by the fire or, on a warm sunny day, outside. This early autumn day was neither cold enough for a fire, nor warm enough for Joey to sit outside in the sun, so it was 11:30 before she finally declared it dry enough to plait. Then came the coiling and pinning. Sometimes the hair went easily into place, but not this morning – as sometimes happened, wisps of hair escaped the plaits, pins fell out, and it took several attempts until Joey was pleased with the result. She was exasperated with the whole performance.

“Well. That’s it,” she thought. “The time has come. I’ll see if I can persuade Anna and Rösli to have the babies tomorrow as well, and I’m off to Interlaken for the day. I’ll see if I can find a hairdresser like that nice Michel in Innsbruck and see what he can do with this lot. She scrabbled through her drawers until she came across the magazines Michel had left with her, and she turned the pages, browsing through the various styles on offer. She settled on one, and mentally added in those auburn streaks that Michel had suggested.

This time her resolve to go through with it was strong. She was pleased with herself and trotted off downstairs to make the arrangements for her outing the next day.

 


#8:  Author: RóisínLocation: Gaillimh, Eire PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:40 pm


Thanks for reposting Cryst - I missed this when the board went down Very Happy

 


#9:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:55 pm


As she had hoped, her domestic staff declared themselves delighted at the prospect of having sole charge of the infants for the day so, with that taken care of, Joey settled down to the task of locating a suitable hairdressing salon in Interlaken. She started by phoning up Hilary Graves and Biddy Courvoisier to see if they had any recommendations. They were astonished to hear of her plans for a restyle, and she vehemently swore them to secrecy. She wanted this to be a surprise for everyone, including Jack (and indeed, so it would turn out to be).

Both young women, being less well-off than the Maynards, tended to use a little salon in a back street off the main shopping area, which provided value-for-money, if uninspired, styling. Biddy made a point of advising Joey to make sure she gave her instructions carefully, otherwise she would end up with a very prosaic style, identical to that of 95% of the good matrons of the city. The establishment was run by Kunigunde Bottcher, a middle-aged woman of Polish extraction, who had married a local man after the war. Joey phoned the salon and was able to make an appointment for around lunchtime the following day, just right for her train times. She was all set. As she walked away from the phone past the hall mirror, she patted her coiled plaits wistfully. “Well, old friends” she said to them softly, “we’ll soon be parting.”

 


#10:  Author: Alison HLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:13 pm


Hooray for the demise of the earphones - about time too Laughing !

 


#11:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:02 pm


The staff were disgruntled. Miss Annersley had made it known at Frühstück that there was to be a staff meeting during the mid-morning break, running over into the next period if necessary, with the prefects in charge of the classes for the duration. The staff had been asked to collect their Kaffee und Kuchen promptly and make their way to the staff room as soon as they could. This did not bode well for the staff. In the past few terms there had been several such occasions when they had been summoned to a meeting at short notice, and each time it had meant an increase in duties, or some additional, seemingly purposeless, administrative burden. There had been endless reorganisation of staffing structures and timetables, budget discussions, and “initiatives” from the Board of Trustees to implement. Their much prized free periods had been gradually eroded and their free time eaten into in myriad other ways. Their mid-morning break, usually a convivial and welcome breather in their hectic day, was never given up lightly.

Miss Annersley had invited Nell Wilson over from St Mildred’s to join the meeting. The PSHE curriculum would eventually be extended to the older girls, and so she had something of a stake in this development.

“Thank you for asking me over, Hilda. Bit short notice though – why the rush, my friend?”

“Ah, well, Joey often magically materialises five minutes before this sort of affair, and she was spotted making for the early morning train this morning – on a shopping trip to Interlaken for the day, no doubt. I though I’d make the most of the opportunity.”

“Oh, good thinking, Hilda. She’s the last person we need taking an interest in this. Now, do you want a hand arranging these chairs before they all come eagerly rushing in?”

Between them they arranged the chairs in some semblance of order for the meeting, and had just completed the task when the staff started to arrive, Kaffee und Kuchen in hand. There was some jostling for places, with Miss Ferrars and Miss Wilson casting smug looks round the room as they managed to secure the prime seats – flanking Señor Romero on one of the larger sofas.

 


#12:  Author: ChairLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:55 pm


Thanks, Cryst. I look forward to seeing what Joey is going to do with her hair instead. I'm sorry the staff are losing so much of their spare time.

 


#13:  Author: LizBLocation: Oxon, England PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:34 am


Cryst wrote:
“Ah, well, Joey often magically materialises five minutes before this sort of affair,


Maybe it's a special gift of hers Laughing

Thanks, Cryst

 


#14:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:05 pm


“Good morning ladies and gentlemen”, Miss Annersley said loudly to make herself heard over the hubbub. Her colleagues obediently silenced their chatter and looked resignedly in her direction. “I think we are all here?”

“I thought I should seek your views as soon as possible on a particular curriculum enhancement that the Board of Trustees have asked us to undertake immediately. They are asking us to teach, throughout the school, a closely prescribed syllabus for PSHE and citizenship.”

“Syllabub?” said Frau Meiders, “Ach aber ja, meine Hilda, I have such a recipe and can easily teach it to the girls if this is required by the good trustees. But we must take care, I think, not to add too much alcohol.” She laughed merrily at the thought of a class of tipsy schoolgirls, before continuing, “Is that all, Miss Annersley? Then are we free to go? I was hoping for a second helping of these excellent bread twists.” With this she stood up to leave, and several of the younger staff rather mischievously made to follow her.

“Syllabus, …bus, with an S, Anna, not …bub with a B. A programme of study,” replied Miss Annersley with a hint of irritation creeping into her voice. And, no we haven’t quite finished yet. Please sit down again everyone.” They complied, grumbling, and Miss Annersley waited for silence to descend once again.

 


#15:  Author: Alison HLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 9:03 pm


I look forward to seeing who will be teaching PSHE Laughing !

 


#16:  Author: Guest PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:38 am


“PSHE. Personal, Social and Health Education. Relationships, a healthy lifestyle, self confidence, responsibility, and so on,” she explained, her intelligent blue eyes wandering around the room to gauge the reaction to her words. “We are being asked to teach it to each class for at least one period a week.”

“Oh, whatever next,” cried an exasperated Miss Wilmot. “Do they really think we don’t cover this already in a million ways every day at this school?”

“I know, dear, but we must comply with these regulations,” replied Miss Annersley mildly. “Nell and I were thinking that we would introduce it with just the juniors this term, then gradually extend it throughout the school. Perhaps one of you might volunteer to take a lead, and several of you would be willing to teach the extra period?” She cast her all-seeing blue-grey eyes around the room, willing someone to come forward. Most of the staff had discovered an irresistible fascination with their shoes, and did not meet her gaze, but José Romero did, and almost immediately put himself forward.

“I have very few timetabled periods as yet, Miss Annersley, and would be delighted to assist,” he volunteered.

Ignoring a strange cough from her co-head at her side, and several amused glances between the staff, Miss Annersley replied “That is very good of you, Señor, but we do have some other ideas to discuss with yourself and Jeanne that would fill up your timetable, and anyway, until we have established this new subject, I think it would perhaps be best taught by one of the female members of staff.” Ignoring, also, an exaggerated sigh of relief from Mr Denny’s corner, Miss Annersley continued. “Are there any other volunteers?” Not a peep from the assembled staff. No-one so much as twitched.

 


#17:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:41 am


Sorry, that was me. I forgot to log in.

 


#18:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:43 pm


Thanks, Cryst. Just fancy, Jo Maynard without a Belgian bun stuck over each ear.

 


#19:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:28 pm


“Well, if we cannot staff this ourselves,” she said, with the slightest hint of menace in her voice “we must look to bring additional staff in from outside for the very few hours a week that we need to cover. The timetabling will be very difficult to arrange of course, so it will be just for a few odd hours spread randomly throughout the week. So that means that we will be looking for someone, perhaps, who lives nearby?” The piercing gaze of her grey-blue eyes continued to roam the room, but no-one cracked. “We would, of course, be looking for a woman, one with teaching experience. Preferably, as there will be sexual and reproductive issues to explore, a married woman with children. But one who has childcare in place, as she will need to be able to leave them.” Again she looked around. One or two of the staff were staring to look uncomfortable. “And we need someone who is steeped in the culture of the school, as it is most important that these lessons about responsibility, getting on with other people, and so on are taught in the context of our community here at the Chalet School. So, an old girl would be ideal.” Like gimlets, her steel-grey eyes swept the room, examining each mistress’s face in turn as once more as she gradually tightened the screw. “Now – how on earth would we ever find such a person?” she finished up.

 


#20:  Author: LizBLocation: Oxon, England PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:25 pm


Oooooh who will break first under this threat! ROFL

Thanks, Cryst

 


#21:  Author: Kat PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:03 pm


*gigging most reprehensibly*

Excellent Cryst, thank you very much!

 


#22:  Author: ChairLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:04 pm


Thanks, Cryst. I can understand why the staff are reluctant to volunteer.

 


#23:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:54 pm


I call that blackmail!!! Twisted Evil

 


#24:  Author: Alison HLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:50 pm


I hope Joey doesn't have to teach the class that the triplets are in - how embarrassing would that be for them Laughing ?

 


#25:  Author: RosyLocation: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:58 pm


This is fab. Am looking forward to more of this!

 


#26:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:47 am


Kathie Ferrars, having instantly recognising the subtle blackmail for what it was, was the first to give way. “Yes Miss Annersley, I do see your point – we would be most unlikely to find anyone matching that person specification. I think under the circumstances I might be willing to take on one period of PSHE – at least initially to see how it goes.”

“Thank you, Kathie.” Hilda now had the end of the tunnel in sight. “Are there any other volunteers?”

One or two hands were starting to creep up when José suddenly spoke out “Ah, but Miss Annersley, I have an idea. I met a most charming lady the day I arrived. She lives just on the doorstep, and certainly has young children – I nearly ran one of them over. I think she mentioned that she had been a pupil at the school. I wonder if Mrs Maynard would be interested in the position?”

 


#27:  Author: ChairLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:48 am


Thanks, Cryst. I wonder how Hilda will explain why Joey might not be such a good choice.

 


#28:  Author: RosyLocation: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:00 am


Cryst wrote:
One or two hands were starting to creep up when José suddenly spoke out “Ah, but Miss Annersley, I have an idea. I met a most charming lady the day I arrived. She lives just on the doorstep, and certainly has young children – I nearly ran one of them over. I think she mentioned that she had been a pupil at the school. I wonder if Mrs Maynard would be interested in the position?”


*giggles* I'd love to be a fly on that wall!

 


#29:  Author: Kat PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 12:46 pm


Twisted Evil Lets see Hilda get out of this one!

Although I'd really pity the pupils if they have to be taught by Joey...

 


#30:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:17 pm


A sub-audible groan ran around the room and Hilda stopped in her tracks, thinking hard for a way to deflect this suggestion. She was too slow. Quick as a flash Nancy Wilmot, recklessly motivated by her sense of mischief, and oblivious, for the time being, to any annoyance this would cause to her personally in the future, replied, “Oh what a super idea, José. Of course - we must ask Joey. That’s fixed then. Was there anything else, Miss Annersley?”

A horrified Hilda shook her head mutely and, as the bell for the next period sounded, indicated with a wave of her hand that the staff were now free to return to their teaching duties. Hurling various insults in the direction of Miss Wilmot, and complaining loudly, they duly shuffled out.

Hilda glared at Nell, who, by the time all the staff had left was doubled up with laughter, tears streaming down her face, her handkerchief wringing wet. “It’s all very well for you to laugh,” said Hilda crossly, “but what am I going to do?”

“Well it rather serves you right for trying to force their arm like that,” replied Nell, “though, I have to say, it was very skilfully done – until it all went horribly wrong, that is. I don’t see that you have much choice, really. You’ll just have to ask Joey if she’d like to do it, won’t you? You could see if any of the other old girls still around would be interested –the obvious ones are Hilary and Biddy, but they’d both find it difficult in their current circumstances.”

“Well, I’ll think about it and see if I can’t come up with a better idea, but otherwise you’re right. I have no choice. Damn and blast.”

 


#31:  Author: ChairLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 7:00 pm


Thanks, Cryst. Joey might not be the right choice, but Hilda got what she deserved after she tried to force the staff to give up even more of their free time.

 


#32:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 8:31 pm


Whilst the co-heads were discussing her future career prospects, Joey had arrived at Interlaken and found her way to “Haus Kunigunde”, which turned out to be a shabby little salon in a row of somewhat neglected little shops in a back street. She looked at it from the road and almost lost her nerve, but remembering that the place had, after all, been recommended by two of her oldest friends, she steeled herself and went inside. She was greeted by Frau Bottcher in person – a plump, fussily dressed, middle aged woman wearing her own greying hair in thin, straggling plaits, looped together at the back to form an untidy bun. She spoke with a brusque manner, her attention focussed on another client sitting by one of the mirrors. “Ach, good day, Frau Maynard. I am Kundigunde. Sit here please. I am finishing this other lady and then I will come to you.”

Joey sat, as directed, and looked around. The little salon was clean and businesslike, but lacked the luxurious and decorative little touches which had created the relaxing and reassuring professional ambience of Michel’s salon in Innsbruck. When eventually Kundigunde had finished the rather unexciting shampoo-and-set and her client had paid and left, she approached Joey and asked “Now Frau Maynard, you said on the telephone that you would like a restyle and colour. What did you have in mind?”

 


#33:  Author: RosyLocation: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:21 pm


*waits in anticipation*

This is great! I'm really enjoying it!

 


#34:  Author: TaraLocation: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:33 pm


Frau Bottcher?! Laughing Don't do it, Joey, run for your life.

Oh, poor Hilda, she so nearly succeeded. Serve Nancy right if she has to end up taking PHSE herself!

This is delightful, Cryst.

 


#35:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:58 am


It was perhaps a shame that Joey had not brought with her the magazine containing the photograph of the hairstyle she had chosen. However her supreme faith in her own linguistic ability was so strong that she felt sure that she could adequately describe her requirements in whatever language was necessary. “A shoulder length cascade of jet back curls with subtle auburn highlights”, is what she would have said in English. Whether it was Joey’s translation into German or Kundigunde‘s understanding of the German language that was at fault we shall never know, but this instruction was not to have the effect intended by Joey.

 


#36:  Author: Alison HLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:31 am


Laughing I suppose I should be sympathising because I've had a few hairdresser disasters myself!

 


#37:  Author: RosyLocation: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:32 am


I can't wait to hear more about her hair....

 


#38:  Author: ChairLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:17 am


Thanks, Cryst. I wonder what the end result will be.

 


#39:  Author: BeckyLocation: Newport, South Wales, UK PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:32 pm


*Giggles*

Having had hairdressing disasters I should be sympathising, but I can't wait to hear what happens to Joey!

Thanks Cryst Very Happy

ETA: Alison, just realised I posted almost the same comment as you did - sorry!


Last edited by Becky on Sat Apr 15, 2006 3:12 pm; edited 1 time in total

 


#40:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:46 pm


Warning - this is not for the squeamish, so if you are that way inclined, please brace yourself ...

Kundigunde started by asking bluntly, “Und are you vishing to take your hair home?”

Joey had not expected this question and was too taken aback to give a considered answer. She merely nodded uncertainly. With very little ceremony, Kundigunde unwound the plaited discs, leaving the two long, black plaits hanging over Joey’s ears and down beyond her waist. Grasping a plait firmly in one hand, and a large pair of scissors in the other, with one swift, almost brutal, movement Kundigunde severed the plait a few inches below Joey’s shoulders and secured the end thus created with a rubber band. Equally swiftly she repeated the amputation on the other side, and turned her back briefly on her bewildered and somewhat shell-shocked client. With a few deft movements and several pins she reconstructed the coils of hair, turned back round and presented them to Joey with a flourish. The earphones looked exactly as they always had – except that they were no longer attached to Joey’s head.

“Here you are, Frau Maynard. You will like to have these to hand down to your children. Where is your handbag?” She located it on the floor at Joey’s feet, opened it, and popped the two discs inside.

Joey felt a rush of mixed emotions. Triumph – a feeling of having finally taken the plunge and moved her life forward. Regret – there would be no going back now. Bereavement – the earphones and she had been through almost a lifetime of adventures together; this was like losing an old friend. Excitement – anticipation of the new image she was about to create. Apprehension – concern that the effect would not be pleasing.

Alongside the emotions, Joey was aware of a cacophony of uncomfortably loud sounds. When Kundigunde asked her to move to the sink to have her hair washed, her voice sounded unnaturally loud. A radio blared in a corner of the room – why had she not noticed it sooner? Water thundered out of the taps that Kundigunde had just turned on; traffic roared along the street outside the salon.

 


#41:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:58 pm


So she could hardly hear anything, that's interesting.

 


#42:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:31 pm


Kundigunde was efficient and competent at her profession, but could not be described as gentle. She scrubbed and pounded Joey’s scalp over the sink, catching her ears several times with her sharp nails and dousing her with alternating bursts of scalding hot and freezing cold water. She then dragged out the tangles with an ancient comb, and rapidly trimmed the remaining hair, roughly pulling small sections of hair this way and that, bending Joey’s ears when they got in the way, the sharp scissors all the while whistling around Joey’s head. Next came a series of applications of foul smelling preparations, which stung Joey’s skin and made her eyes water, periods under the dryer, further washing, scrubbing, and wringing, a bewildering and undignified exercise with a rubber cap and a crochet hook, more chemicals, more washing, more scissors, more dryer. After a couple of hours of this treatment, and on an empty stomach, Joey was starting to feel faint, and endured much of the ordeal with her eyes closed.

 


#43:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:14 pm


Have just caught up on this, Laughing Laughing Can't wait to see how Joey's hair ends up.

 


#44:  Author: BethCLocation: Worcester, UK PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:24 pm


Laughing Excellent, Cryst - I've also just caught up on several parts of this and am very much looking forward to Joey's new hairstyle and her proposed involvement in PSHE... Thank you!

 


#45:  Author: TaraLocation: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:56 pm


Can't wait to see the finished product - poor Joey, after all her high hopes!

 


#46:  Author: Guest PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:27 pm


Eventually Kundigunde declared herself finished, and held up a hand mirror for Joey to inspect the back of her new hairstyle. Joey looked carefully, and with mounting horror. The overall length was as she had requested, and the curls seemed to have approximately the effect she had envisaged. The problem was with the colour of the highlights. Some were, indeed, the subtle auburn colour she'd had in mind – but the others! In places the highlights were bright orange or vivid pink, sometimes a rich scarlet, but on the whole the most visible ones seemed to Joey to be a brilliant shade of pillar-box red.

"My God, Frau Bottcher, it's bright red!" she exclaimed. "Ja, meine Frau," replied Kundigunde proudly, "it has come out very well, I think. But I should warn you that the colour will not remain this good for longer than two or three months – over time it will start to fade and blend in with your normal hair colour. When this happens, you must come back."

 


#47:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:28 pm


500 lines please Cryst.

I must remember to log in.
I must ....

 


#48:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:30 pm


Looking forward to seeing what Joey does now. that hairdresser needs shooting!

 


#49:  Author: MiaLocation: London PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:31 pm


hehe I love the pic!

 


#50:  Author: RosieLocation: Huntingdonshire/Bangor PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 11:00 pm


*giggling madly*
I was just thinking 'This needs a picture', and lo and behold, there one was!
Thank you Cryst!

 


#51:  Author: Cath V-PLocation: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 7:17 am


Never thought I'd say this....but I feel sorry for Joey!

Thanks Cryst.

 


#52:  Author: Alison HLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 7:34 am


Poor Joey Laughing !

 


#53:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:23 am


Oh my!!!! Shocked Laughing


May we see everyone else's reactions soon please Cryst?

 


#54:  Author: ChairLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:38 am


Thanks, Cryst, for the updates and the picture. I am wondering if she will be returning!

 


#55:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 12:59 pm


Thanks, Cryst. That seems a bit of a severe punishment, even for Jo. Mind you, that's what you get for choosing an economy hairdresser.

 


#56:  Author: LizBLocation: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 4:16 pm


Cryst wrote:
500 lines please Cryst.

I must remember to log in.
I must ....


*lol" I keep wondering why there's no orange tags, then remember I have to login twice!

Thanks Very Happy

 


#57:  Author: RosyLocation: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth PostPosted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:25 pm


Thankyou! This is hilarious. Am so glad I live alone sometimes!

 


#58:  Author: francesnLocation: away with the faeries PostPosted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:36 pm


Brilliant!

I can't wait to see what people will say.....

 


#59:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 8:54 pm


Despite her consternation Joey managed to keep reasonably calm, but her instinct was to get out of the salon as soon as she possibly could. Perhaps she should have pursued the matter immediately with Frau Bottcher, but this was not where her instincts led her. She maintained her composure long enough to pay the bill and politely bid farewell to the hairdresser, who was completely oblivious to the effect her handiwork had had on her client, and walked quickly out onto the street. She had taken only a few steps when a woman and small child walked by – the woman giving her a surprised, surreptitious glance as they went past but the child turning back, pointing and crying out “Mamma, look at that funny lady’s hair!” Joey rummaged in her handbag and found a headscarf which she quickly put on. By now the shock was starting to set in. Trembling, and only just managing to keep the tears at bay, she headed straight for a nearby café, retreated to the darkest corner, sat down gratefully and ordered a coffee.

It took ten minutes, and two cups of the strong, milky coffee before she started to rally. “Right then, Joey my girl,” she told herself sternly, “Stop being a spineless jellyfish, and let’s see what sort of stuff you’re made of. I can’t just pretend this hasn’t happened – and I can’t sit here all day. What are my options?” She got out her little diary, turned to a blank page at the end and started a list. She wrote:

Options

1. Go back to Haus Kundigunde and ask her to put it right.

2. Find another salon and get them to fix it.

3. Sit here for ever.

4. Throw myself in the river.

5. Slit my wrists.

6. Phone Jack and ask him what I should do.

7. Act like a victim, enlisting the sympathy of my friends, staying indoors, and crying a lot, while I wait for the colour to fade.

8. Hold my head up high and pretend I like it, that it is the latest fashion, while I wait for the colour to fade.

9. Get home somehow and try to fix it myself by cutting it shorter.

10. Smooth the hair down to my ears, pin it firmly, stick the amputated earphones over the top, apply black boot polish to the red bits, and hope no-one notices that anything has changed.

She sat and considered for some time, assessing the pros and cons of each of the options. Then, resolved, she said to herself, “Well, there’s only one choice really, isn’t there? I’d better get on with it.”

 


#60:  Author: BethCLocation: Worcester, UK PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:03 pm


Laughing
So...?
*tries to ignore the CBB faction shouting "4! 4!"*
Thanks, Cryst!

 


#61:  Author: Alison HLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:22 pm


I quite like the idea of no 10!

Hope she doesn't try no 9 - trying to correct hair disasters yourself tends not to be a good idea Laughing .

 


#62:  Author: TaraLocation: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 10:32 pm


Oh, love the list of options. I like 10, too ...

 


#63:  Author: FatimaLocation: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 3:30 am


Yes, number 9 worries me, too! 1 is the most sensible, but I'm hoping she goes for number 8!

Thanks, Cryst.

 


#64:  Author: RosyLocation: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth PostPosted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:53 am


*giggles*

I know what I'd choose...

 


#65:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 8:06 am


Her mind made up, Joey quickly paid her bill and slipped into the tiny toilet at the back of the café. She whipped the headscarf off with a flourish and stuffed it into her handbag. Looking into the little mirror she fluffed up the curls and braced herself. “If I can persuade myself I like it then everyone else will just fall into line,” she declared. “After all, I’ve been a fashion trend setter before – I was the first person in the Alps to make exchangeable linings for my hats to match my dresses, and now everyone does it. Anyway – it’s probably not as red as I think – I expect my mind is playing tricks on me.” If nothing else, Joey had plenty of courage. Deciding under the circumstances to forego her planned shopping expedition, she squared her shoulders and set off briskly for the station.

As she walked along she was very conscious of the turning heads of the passers-by, and in one of the seedier streets near the station a car cruised past her slowly, driving very close to the kerb, the male driver eying her hopefully. But such was Joey’s air of confidence that he, and all she met, took her as she intended them to – a fashionable, elegant, self assured young woman, sporting the very latest in stylish hairstyles.

 


#66:  Author: LizBLocation: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 8:40 am


Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy

Well done, Jo!

 


#67:  Author: Alison HLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 8:55 am


I wish I had her confidence!

Good one Jo Laughing !

 


#68:  Author: RosyLocation: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:18 am


Good for Jo.

 


#69:  Author: KathrynWLocation: London PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:47 am


Thanks Cryst, what a fabulous new hairstyle Joey is sporting! Laughing Laughing Laughing

Kathryn

 


#70:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 12:15 pm


Personally, I thought solutions 4 & 5 would do the trick, but then I would.

 


#71:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:03 pm


The journey home was fine. Her fellow travellers gave her rather strange looks at first, but Joey merely beamed back at them and after a while they stopped looking, quickly absorbed back again into their own daily worries and insecurities.

Arriving home, she had a moment of slight panic when Phil burst into tears at the sight of her, but with a quick cuddle she soon settled down. Cecil was delighted to welcome her home again. Raising her arms to be picked up, she stoked Joey’s hair with appreciation, squealing “Mamma got pwetty wed curls, Cecil want wed curls too.” Anna and Rosa looked a little wary at first, but Joey soon brought them round by declaring “I’m so pleased with the new hairstyle – just what I’d hoped for, don’t you just love it?” and, whatever their real feelings, they had no option but to nod in agreement.

It was Jack’s reaction she had been fearing the most, but in the event even that went smoothly. Her wise and kind husband, after a quick double take, rose to the occasion splendidly, with kiss and a loving hug. “Oh I do like the new hairstyle, Joey. Of course I’ll miss the old headphones, but it was time for a change, wasn’t it, and the new style is just so you – outgoing and confident with just a little hint of derring-do.”

“You don’t think,” she asked, for the first time letting her act lapse slightly, “that the red tint is perhaps a little bit too bright?”

“Oh no, Joey, not at all,” he replied gallantly and with no apparent hesitation. “It’s perfect.”

The rest of the evening was uneventful and Joey was relieved and pleased as she slipped into bed, though she had an ominous feeling that somehow she had got off too lightly, and that this couldn’t last.

 


#72:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:10 pm


And? We want to see her get it in the neck. Please.

 


#73:  Author: FatimaLocation: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:20 pm


Jack was really nice and tactful there!

Thanks, Cryst.

 


#74:  Author: Alison HLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 3:06 pm


Laughing Jack played that very well!

Hope not everyone else does though Laughing .

 


#75:  Author: KathrynWLocation: London PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:11 pm


Thanks Cryst, how lovely Jack was there...I think I'd have a hard time answering Joey without lapsing into giggles myself Very Happy

Kathryn

 


#76:  Author: ChairLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 6:33 pm


Thanks, Cryst. It's good that she has been able to wear the hairstyle with confidence.

 


#77:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 8:14 pm


Miss Annersley was at her desk, her hand hovering reluctantly over the telephone. She could think of no escape from her predicament, and was on the point of phoning Joey. She sighed heavily and dialled the number. Joey answered the phone herself with a typically cheerful salutation. “Top of the morning Hilda, and what can I do for you?”

“I was wondering if you could pop up here for Kaffee and Kuchen, Joey. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Oooh, that sounds mysterious. Nothing wrong with one of the girls is there?”

“No no, not a thing, don’t worry - this is something quite different.”

“Are you going to give me a clue, then? Animal, vegetable, or mineral?”

“No Joey, you’re not going to winkle it out of me, you wretched creature, you’ll just have to wait until you get here.”

“Right-ho, Hilda, though I’m now consumed with curiosity,” laughed Joey, “I’ll see you at about 10:45.”

Putting the phone down, Joey braced herself once more. She had been hoping for a little more time to get used to her new look before putting in an appearance at the school.

She spent longer than usual deciding what she should wear. It was strange how the new hairstyle didn’t seem to go at all well with anything in her wardrobe. It was difficult to tell whether it was the curls or the colour, but somehow the old clothes just didn’t work any more – everything looked frumpish. Joey could feel another shopping expedition coming on. In the end she settled for one of her favourite lime green twin sets with a black skirt, and applied her make up with a little more care than usual.

 


#78:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 8:51 pm


Lime green and bright red, what a wonderful combination. Laughing

 


#79:  Author: ChairLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:10 pm


Thanks, Cryst. I wonder if Joey will be able to help with the dilemma.

 


#80:  Author: TaraLocation: Malvern, Worcestershire PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:01 pm


I wonder if this new Joey will take them all by storm and be a brilliant PHSE teacher! Loved her confident attack on the world, and Jack was a lamb. Oh, and loved the 'exchangeable linings' Jo had invented for her hats! Laughing

 


#81:  Author: Cryst PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:09 pm


Thought I might as well post this last little bit before you all disappear into the ether for a week. Hope I've got the trips the right way round ...

Morning break had already started when she made her way through the little gate that connected Freudesheim’s grounds to those of the school, then across the playing fields, and around the side of the school to the front door. The younger girls had hurried their drink and snack, and were making their way outside as quickly as they dared, intent on catching as much fresh air as they could on this fine autumn day. Thus a stream of girls filed past Joey as she made her way into the school. They were too well-mannered to stare, yet unable to hide their astonishment as they greeted her. She was all too aware of the flabbergasted looks of the approaching girls and the babble of hushed comments behind her.

Con was the first of her daughters she met. Lost in her own little world, despite the chattering around her, Con would have walked straight past her mother had Joey not stopped her. “Oh hello Mamma,” Con reached up to kiss her mother. “Have you met the new Italian teacher? He is just divine. I’ve started writing a new play set in Venice.” She went dreamily on her way. Joey giggled. How bad could it be? Con hadn’t even noticed!”

Len came by next. Like her father, Len had the wisdom to find the right words and the self-control to keep her face straight. “Hello Mamma. What are you doing here? You never seem to be away from the place. I love the new hairstyle by the way – it really suits you, and it’s so fashionable. Good for you.” She too kissed her mother and went off with her friends.

“Two down, one to go”, thought Joey, proud of her eldest daughter’s mature reaction.

It was then that Margot came round the corner and caught sight of her mother. Her blue eyes flashed in horror. “Oh Mamma, whatever have you done to your hair? It looks dreadful – how could you? What will people think of me with a mother going around looking like a clown? And how dare you, anyway - I’m the only one supposed to have red curls in this family. And at least mine are natural!” With that, the girl burst into tears and flounced off.

There is no doubt that Joey was rattled by Margot’s reaction. But she didn’t try to go after her to plead with her, nor rebuke her for her rudeness. “It’s just the shock. She’ll need time to get used to it, but she’ll come round,” Joey told herself sensibly. Determined not to be upset, she continued into the building and made her way to Miss Annersley’s sitting room.

 


#82:  Author: KathrynWLocation: London PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:58 pm


Thanks Cryst, I can't believe we're all going to have to wait a week to see Hilda's reaction to the curls!

Thank you Very Happy

Kathryn

 


#83:  Author: LizBLocation: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:18 am


*giggling madly*

Thanks, Cryst Laughing

 


#84:  Author: Kat PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 2:26 pm


Laughing Fab Cryst, absolutely fab!

 


#85:  Author: ChairLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 6:44 pm


Thanks, Cryst. I'm glad that Joey wasn't too upset about Margot's remarks.

 


#86:  Author: francesnLocation: away with the faeries PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:25 pm


Yay!

Good for MArgot - bout time someone told Jo how it really is. Can't wait to see Hilda's reaction.

 




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