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The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=7322

Author:  Fezziwig [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:49 pm ]
Post subject:  The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

I'm a total newbie at this (and a bit shy about posting it) so I hope it's in the right place and that it's okay! If not then Mods please move it/delete it!
Thanks
Nick

The End of a Chapter: Part 1

“Tigs! Hey Tigs, where are you?” Melodious tones roused the young girl from her daydream and she scrambled up to a sitting position in the hammock and waved vigorously.

“I’m here, Mum. What did you want?” Her mother, shading her eyes from the sun with a delicate hand, spotted her and crossed the pretty rose garden of Freudesheim to reach the shady nook where the hammocks were.

“I was just checking up on you sweetie” she smiled lovingly “Nothing particular, only it is a big day for you, the end of a chapter, really, and I wanted to be sure you were ok.”

“It’s not that big a day really, Mum”

“Perhaps it doesn’t feel like it, not for you. It maybe just feels that way for me. My firstborn lamb being all grown up and finished with her last year at school. You’re eighteen tomorrow. I can’t believe it! It makes me feel, well…elderly!” She smiled at the young girl. “And there’s university beckoning; your whole life ahead of you.” She laughed a little ruefully “I think I might be a little jealous!” She sat herself down on the short fragrant thyme rich turf next to the hammock.

“Jealous? That’s not like you Mum. Thou shalt not covet as the Bible says”

“Well, just a teeny bit of coveting. I never really got to do all those things which you will, I hope anyway, get to do. I’m so glad you haven’t any definite career plans. I was all set, I knew exactly what I was going to do and it never came off. Reading English will be a great start. I just want you to go, have fun and see where life takes you. And you’ll be free of all responsibility for a while. It’s a special time. I want you to work hard and do well, but I want you to have a good time and enjoy yourself.”

“I’ll try my best. But I haven’t really had that much responsibility. “

“You were Head Girl Tigs! That’s a pretty responsible job in a school the size of the Chalet School. And you’ve had to help out with the rest of the rabble. When you are the eldest of six you tend to end up with a bit of responsibility. I know all about that my child! There were eleven of us”

“Yes, but you did have the Aunties to help out.”

“True, but being a triplet was never all jam you know! I feel sure they’d agree with me about that, if you asked them. We tended to get labelled! Len the eldest, you see; the responsible one. Con, the moony middle one; and Margot the naughty one or the youngest triplet, depending on the day of the week! It was lovely having two sisters to be friends with, but I did feel like we came as a multipack sometimes. People called us ‘the trips’ you know. Still, it’s nice to be a rarity in some respects. Your mad old granny was very proud of having triplets! Mind you, did you see her today; clapping and cheering like she was still a schoolgirl after your speech? Some of the dignitaries were giving her very strange looks”

“Well, she always said she’d be part of the school even when she was aged and in her bathchair”

“Yes. But I didn’t think she meant it! Not in quite that way at least. Bless her. She’s very proud of you too. Has been from the first second she saw you. She was showing you off before I was even out of bed. I don’t think your father or I got to introduce you to anyone on the Platz, you know. Why, her very first grandchild to be shown off to all friends, relations and random visitors. The look on her face you’d have thought she’d done all the hard work herself. Of course she was such a rock when I came home that I didn’t really mind. I was worried that she’d be disappointed that I hadn’t done what I’d made up my mind to do! ”

“And was she?”

“No, not disappointed at all. She was surprised of course. She knew I was coming home, but turning up on the doorstep with a husband in tow, she wasn’t expecting that; but she never made me feel that I had failed or that I was in any way a disappointment. I think she’d been more worried than she let on about the epilepsy. After all, I made a pretty spectacular job of it. I had a massive, full blown fit in the middle of a lecture and then another. I actually stopped breathing in the ambulance on the way to the hospital! Uncle Jem was in the country, luckily and popped over to supervise the doctors, so I got the latest treatment and the best neurologist. Even so, the medication took a little while to work well and control the fits, and they thought I needed a bit of recuperation; time to recover and to take things more easily. I had really thrown myself into the course working as hard as I could, you see, and I took no time off at all. It seemed so very important that I kept pushing myself. I would sit writing essays late into the night. Looking back that drive to keep on working was probably a symptom of the epilepsy. In fact it was clearly brewing whilst I was still at school; it just never came out until they showed us that film and the flashing lights triggered it. If there’d been a cinema up here we might have discovered it sooner.” She smiled up at her pretty daughter, listening in the hammock.

But then I may never have met your father. He was a clerk in the private patient’s office and came over to “take down my details”. We still laugh about that now.” She remembered, with a smile, the first time she had seen her tall, dark and very shy husband, “Anyway, I’d not come out to give you a recap on family history. But I do want you to remember to have fun whilst you’re away.” She gave her daughters hand a gentle squeeze. “I’ll miss you”

“I might meet a man and be back here within a year, like you” Tigs squeezed her mother’s hand

“If you meet a man as wonderful as your father, then I won’t object... Although getting married at 19 or thereabouts as your Granny and I did, well, it seems awfully young to me now, although it didn’t at the time. I would like you to travel a bit before you settle down to having kids though. I’d lived in Canada and England before we moved out here so it wasn’t too bad, but I never got to see all the countries I’d planned to. It’s not impossible to travel with children, but the more you have and the older they get, you know, when they need to be schooled it’s harder to hop on a plane and jet off! You see why I’m a tiny bit jealous? You have all these things in front of you!”

“You’ve no regrets though Mum?”

“Goodness me, no. No regrets. It was love at first sight with your Dad, so we got married at the very earliest opportunity and you came along within the year, then the others at respectable intervals. And with all of your Aunts and Uncles all over the world nowadays, it’s been nice to be the one that gets to see them all when they come home. Even if they are never all home at the same time, I’ve seen them all fairly frequently.” And I think it was nice for your Granny to have one of us home and having children early. It meant plenty of playmates for you too. It’s been a very happy life.”

“Wasn’t it hard living so close to Granny? Didn’t she interfere when you were setting up home?”

“Not too much! But you know Granny, she gave us a fair bit of advice, but you don’t have to take advice do you? She did perhaps raise an eyebrow when we called you Tiger Lily but I always rather loved the Indians in Peter Pan! I shan’t be offended if you prefer to go by Lily whilst you’re away, by the way. After all, no-one calls me Mary!”

“I like having an unusual name. I might drop the Lily and keep the Tiger!”

“It’s up to you.” she said, getting up “Now come in and have a drink and some lemon biscuits. The house is ready for all the guests that are coming. We need to start getting things ready for your party tomorrow. I’m very much looking forward to it. Granny has threatened to dance to some of that new fangled pop music, and I’m pretty sure she’s being serious.” The two burst out laughing, and Tigs climbed out of the hammock and swiftly smoothed the crumples out of her frock.

Margot waited for her to stand up, then threw her arm across her eldest daughters shoulder and they strolled across the sunlit gardens towards their happy home.

Author:  sealpuppy [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Wow! What a brilliant ending! I was trying to guess which Triplet it was, all through. And love Tiger Lily.
More please, :D

Author:  abbeybufo [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Lovely! Really enjoyed that, thank you :D

Author:  Joanne [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

This is really good, I do hope there is more to come!

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

I was thinking of Con right the way through that, you had me fooled! Thankyou, that was lovely.

Author:  ammonite [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

That was lovely, thanks.

Author:  keren [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Actually i guessed margot

Author:  JB [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Thanks. I guessed Len - but I really enjoyed it anyway.

Author:  janetbrown23 [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

What a great start to your Drabble writing career. I loved that.

Author:  Liane [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

I thought it was Con, for some reason.
Hope there's more to come.

Author:  Lesley [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

I thought it was Con too - it would be a good explanation for why she had all those 'moony' episodes. Pleased Margot was so happy though.


Thanks Nick

Author:  cestina [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

I guessed right! Lovely, thanks Fezziwig :)

Author:  MaryR [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Beautifully written, Nick, and of course you had us all panting to find out which triplet it was. :lol:

Author:  clair [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Looking forward to more of this one - love the name Tiger Lily!

Author:  cal562301 [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

I confess to being another of the 'thought it was Con brigade', but I was happy to be proived wrong.

Really enjoyed this. Hope there is more to come.

Author:  Fezziwig [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

i'm so glad you liked it! Thank you for all your lovely comments. It's a bit like sending your newborn baby down a river on a raft and hoping nothing bad happens! I'll start you off with a snippet of chapter 2 that i'm happy with, but it might be a while before I get the rest posted. It's stubbornly wandered off a little and I need to get it back on track!

Thanks again for the lovely comments! And a prize for all of those who guessed the triplet!
Nick




Part 2 England

Len picked her post up from the doormat and flicked through the letters. She discarded the two bills and then came to a pastel green envelope with ‘Miss L. Maynard’ written in a flowing script. “That’s from Con” she thought. There was a plain white envelope too, with a neater, easier to read hand. “Margot”, she thought.

Margot’s letter was very enthusiastic, full of plans for the holidays. Tiger Lily’s birthday party, lunch at the Auberge so the kids could enjoy the echoes, an all day ramble with a picnic tea, a big tennis party, overflowing onto the school courts if necessary. Lots of fun planned for the whole of the family. Len put the letter aside with a sigh and went into the kitchen. She flicked the switch of her electric kettle rather more sharply than she intended. Sometimes, and it really only was sometimes, she felt as though Margot had stolen her life. It had been her plan to marry young and have the big family; live on the Platz in a pleasant chalet with a glorious view of the Jungfrau; be her mother’s confidant and friend, and yet, Margot, who had fully intended to forsake all that, had somehow ended up with it whereas, she, Len, had not!

Author:  Sarah_G-G [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Ooh, what happened to Len?

This is really good, thanks for sharing it with us! I couldn't decide if the first bit was about Len or Margot and kept swithering between the two until you gave us her name. :oops: Tiger Lily seems like a great character though (that was where I re-decided it was Margot, incidentally, as I couldn't see Len having really liked the Indians in Peter Pan) and I very much look forward to the next part!

Author:  Abi [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

I had no idea. :D This feels so beautiful and sunlit, especially the first part. I do wonder what happened to Len, though.

Author:  janem [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

This is great. Fantastic start and I confess to assuming the first triplet was Len.

Can you imagine Joey's face when the baby was announced as Tiger Lily!

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

I want to know what happened to Len! Please don't leave us in suspense too long. After all, it was EBD herself who said (to paraphrase) that characters write the best books, not authors.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Thanks am really enjoying this

Author:  Lesley [ Wed Feb 10, 2010 5:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Thanks Nick

Author:  JB [ Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Oh good, there's more. But what happened to Len?

Author:  Kyrrie [ Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Oh this is lovely. Part 1 was so beautiful. It fits Margot so well.

Very intrigued to hear Len's story.

Author:  linda [ Wed Feb 10, 2010 2:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

This is intriguing. I at first I thought Tig's mum was Con, but then I did plump for Margot, but I'm now wondering why Len didn't follow the path that EBD laid out for her. Whatever happened to Reg?

Thanks Nick, this is great.

Author:  Fezziwig [ Wed Feb 10, 2010 7:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Okay, here's the rest of chapter 2. I can't find my copy of "Jo to the rescue" so if there's a kindly soul that has a copy handy and wouldn't mind skimming through and answering a couple of simple questions for me could you say so and I'll pm you. I can carry on without but it would be nicer to just be sure of my facts. Thanks so much. Nick


Part 2 England

Len picked her post up from the doormat and flicked through the letters. She discarded the two bills and then came to a pastel green envelope with ‘Miss L. Maynard’ written in a flowing script. “That’s from Con” she thought. There was a plain white envelope too, with a neater, easier to read hand. “Margot”, she thought.

Margot’s letter was very enthusiastic, full of plans for the holidays. Tiger Lily’s birthday party, lunch at the Auberge so the kids could enjoy the echoes, an all day ramble with a picnic tea, a big tennis party, overflowing onto the school courts if necessary. Lots of fun planned for the whole of the family. Len put the letter aside with a sigh and went into the kitchen. She flicked the switch of her electric kettle rather more sharply than she intended. Sometimes, and it really only was sometimes, she felt as though Margot had stolen her life. It had been her plan to marry young and have the big family; live on the Platz in a pleasant chalet with a glorious view of the Jungfrau; be her mother’s confidant and friend, and yet, Margot, who had fully intended to forsake all that, had somehow ended up with it whereas, she, Len, had not!

Thinking rationally, she was actually very happy. She enjoyed her job as senior mistress at a big school on the south coast; the head would be retiring in a year or two and she was in a prime position to take over. It had been a particularly trying term, thought Len, kneading her aching eyes, with a very nasty and difficult case of bullying, an outbreak of hepatitis among the junior girls, one of whom had almost died and the usual assortment of girlish mischief. It was much more than any teacher should have to cope with in one term. She was ready for a holiday. That was the problem. A couple of weeks at the Platz, lots of health giving air and creamy milk were all that was required and she would return to England fully restored.

She brewed a pot of nice, strong tea and turned to Con’s missive. There was a little news of the twins and she was looking forward to seeing Len at Freudesheim. Con corresponded regularly enough, but hers were very slender letters. She saved the bulk of her writing for her novels.

The tea finished, Len turned to packing. She had selected a card with a nice verse and a very pretty charm bracelet as a gift for her eldest niece. Len got on very well with Tiger Lily. She had been to stay at the cottage a few times in the past couple of years. Len found her bright and intelligent, funny and out of all Margot’s children the one she had the most affinity for. It would be nice to meet up once she was settled at university. Len didn’t have much free time, but would delight in an occasional weekend in London with her niece.

In Scotland, Con was partly packing and partly gazing out of the window. It was a mild afternoon and a warm breeze floated through the house carrying the scent of roses and reminding Con of Freudesheim. She could hear the cries of Freddie and Jane as they played in the garden and wondered how they would get on with their cousins. Freddie and Jane were very self contained, ”Twinnish” thought Con, breathing in the fragrant air with its tang of salt; and their cousins were much more gregarious. She thought that perhaps Clover and Froniga would be good company for the twins. There had been suggestions and invitations for the twins, indeed for the whole family, to move into Freudesheim so the girls could attend the junior branch of the Chalet school but Con had calmly declined. She was extremely happy in the Scottish highlands; indeed she had initially fallen in love with the place when she had hot footed it up there, so anxious to see Margot after her collapse.

She had gone back a few weeks later to be a witness and sort of bridesmaid at Margot’s wedding to Alistair McAllister. After university she had decamped to a damp cottage in a remote village by a grey-pebbled, stormy shore to write her first novel and helped by just one or two strings pulled by her mother, it had been a phenomenal success. Combining just enough history, mystery and romance they appealed to grandmothers and granddaughters alike in search of medieval, Tudor or Anglo Saxon escapism. She had met her English artist husband at a soiree thrown by the local laird who thought that it would be nice for the two to meet up. Con had been extremely reluctant to commit to a serious relationship, worrying that her artistic flow might be stemmed if she had to attend to mundane tasks like darning her husband’s heather mixture socks and making his tea.

However, she had agreed to marriage once it was clear that the twins were on the way. Usually very serene, she had been very slightly ruffled by the thought of explaining the circumstances to her mother and had caved in to Donald’s persistent requests to become his bride. Twins are often premature and it was easy to claim that they had made an early entrance into the world and simply deduct a pound and a half from their perfectly healthy, perfectly normal birth weights of 6lb 2oz (Jane Isobel) and 5lb 10oz (Frederica Josephine) and attribute their auspicious and rapid gain to the superior quality of Con’s milk.

The twins were nine now, identical, pretty, dark haired girls like their mother. Equally placid, they had been schooled at home and were already trilingual; quadrilingual if you counted their own private language which they spoke when alone together, and in no way lacking in education. Con had steadfastly brought up her children in her own way, they still often slept together with their parents in the family bed and they had been breastfed for longer than most folk would consider decent. However Con did not particularly care for anyone else’s opinion and the girls had continued to thrive. She liked the routine they had established, lessons in the morning, the girls out to play after lunch whilst Con wrote, then more lessons before tea. Donald painted; sometimes they all painted, and occasionally Con made pottery. It sold well enough in the tiny shop off the tourist information bureau on the quay along with the copies of her books under a slightly dog-eared “local author” sign.

Con fastened the cases and left them for Donald to lug down into the hall when he came out of his studio. Their flights left at 10am in the morning. She pulled her long black hair into a plait and went to call the girls to lessons.

Author:  ammonite [ Wed Feb 10, 2010 7:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

I love how Con deceived Joey over the births of the twins!

Thanks for more of this. :D

Author:  cal562301 [ Wed Feb 10, 2010 7:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Glad Con is so happy, even if her lifestyle is slightly unconventional. Love the children's names!


Wonder how happy Len really is with the life she has made for herself.

Looking forward to more of this. Thanks.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

I like the sound of Con's life! And I'm pleased it's not just me who has Joey's children being ever so slightly naughty pre-marriage :lol:

Thanks for the update - feel free to PM me, and I can skim it for you!

Author:  Lesley [ Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Love Con's unconventional lifestyle - and the fact that she cares little for others' opinions. :lol:


Thanks Nick

Author:  Abi [ Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Con as an adult sounds delightful and I love her slightly unconventional lifestyle.

Author:  JB [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Quote:
It had been a particularly trying term, thought Len, kneading her aching eyes, with a very nasty and difficult case of bullying, an outbreak of hepatitis among the junior girls, one of whom had almost died and the usual assortment of girlish mischief. It was much more than any teacher should have to cope with in one term.


Disappointed in Len. I'd have thought life at the Chalet would have prepared her for at least one life-threatening incident per term. :)

I'm so pleased that Con has such an independent life (my favourite character). Am really enjoying this story.

Author:  Fezziwig [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

The girls initially had an outbreak of hepiitits, so it was very nearly a lot worse. I'm a very poor typist!

Nick

Author:  JB [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Fezziwig wrote:
The girls initially had an outbreak of hepiitits, so it was very nearly a lot worse. I'm a very poor typist!

Nick


I'm so glad I put down my coffee before reading this. :lol:

Author:  cal562301 [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

JB wrote:
Fezziwig wrote:
The girls initially had an outbreak of hepiitits, so it was very nearly a lot worse. I'm a very poor typist!

Nick


I'm so glad I put down my coffee before reading this. :lol:


Me too, as I seem to have taken residence in the gutter, alongside you! :oops: :lol:

Author:  Fezziwig [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Can you imagine Matrons face when she discovered that!

N

Author:  Fezziwig [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Just a bit more

Part 3: Switzerland

Len climbed down from the train and looked around for a familiar face. It was crowded on the platform and the train was a little late getting into Interlaken. She searched rapidly around the crowd for Margot’s red head or her father’s greying one as she moved slowly through the crowd towards the exit and it was whilst she was craning her neck that she almost fell backwards into someone.
“Oh! I do beg your pardon.” she began, turning and then suddenly, feeling sick to her stomach, she realised that she knew exactly who she had stumbled upon.
“Len! Oh my God! Len!” the man exclaimed.
“Mr Entwistle.” she forced herself to say through tightened lips, feeling that she was actually watching herself having this encounter.
“Of course, I know why you are here. You’ll be coming to Freudesheim for young Tiger’s birthday. She’s a lovely young thing. Reminds me very much of you at her age. Do you need a lift up to the Platz?”
“No, thank you. Someone from the family will be meeting me” said Len stiffly.
“Okay then. I’ll see you later. Lovely to see you again.” said Reg cheerfully and with a wave, made his way through the exit.
Len collapsed onto the nearest bench, feeling like she had been punched. The one person she studiously avoided on her trips to the Platz, whom she hadn’t seen for many years, clearly could still send her feelings spiralling out of control.

Author:  sealpuppy [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Love Con's life and Margot's, but worried about Len. Reg? After all this time? Let's hope he's improved, but also worried that she can only be 37-38ish, so there's time for quads, trips, and twins by the time she's 40ish. She doesn't sound happy with her life though, so perhaps Reg and the Platz would be better.
(As long as they don't import hepitits to the School, which would have Matron up in arms. :shock: )

Author:  cal562301 [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Poor Len. No doubt you're going to explain what went wrong with her and Reg.


Please?

Thanks for the update.

Author:  JB [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

"Mr Entwistle"? Hmm. Very interesting.

Author:  Sarah_G-G [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Yay, two posts to catch up on! :D I love the sound of adult Con and her lifestyle, but am now wibbling slightly about Len!

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

I sense a story here! Please tell us what happened between Len and Reg!

Author:  clair [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

What happened between Len and Reg - we've always thought she should dump him but this seems to be the other way round.

More please when you have time :)

Author:  Fezziwig [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Suddenly she felt a gentle touch at her shoulder; a tall, sandy gentleman stood in front of her, looking solicitous and kind. He had a twinkle in his blue eyes and a slight Scottish burr to his voice.

“Miss Maynard?”

“Yes…”

“Miss Maynard, I’m Alexander McAllister. Margot’s brother in law. I’ve been sent to fetch you. There was some sort of problem at the clinic which your father had to attend and Margot was all set to come to collect you and then decided at the last minute that she needed to completely rearrange the furniture. It seemed prudent to get out the house and I saw my opportunity and took it”

“Oh!” Len was still reeling from her brief encounter with Reg and couldn’t think at all clearly.“Thank you, that’s very, I mean, that’s, good of you, shall we, get on then?” she stuttered.

“I have orders to take you to a patisserie and give you coffee.” he said as he eased her to her feet.

“I’m fine!” Len said, quite sharply. He did not look perturbed by this, but drew a little closer and spoke softly in her ear.

“If I may be quite frank with you, Miss Maynard?” he said, smiling slightly. ”I am under orders from my sister-in law, Mrs Margot Mc Alistair to take you for coffee and éclairs. Now, I don’t know if you have ever met Mrs Mc Alistair, but ‘No’ is a word that she does not care to hear and I would not dare to return if I had not obeyed her instructions!”

Len managed to relax a little over the delicious milky coffee. She searched through her handbag and found a couple of aspirins, which she swallowed, explaining that the journey had left her with a slight headache. Alexander was pleasant company. He was very easy to talk to and so politely interested that she found herself telling him all about the dreadful term. She just about contained her emotions when she told him of Jenny the child they had almost lost and she had to move swiftly on to the exploits of the naughty middles to prevent the tears from falling. When she had finished he looked at her and said
“Miss Maynard. I have always believed that a problem shared is a problem halved. By the time you’ve talked things over with your parents and your sisters you’ll have shed most of the burden and you’ll start to feel much better. At least I very much hope so.” He stood up and paid for the coffee.

“Now then, I have to say I’m looking forward to my holiday, I have only been up here a couple of times before and I’ve never really seen much of the countryside. I’m very much looking forward to seeing everything. I assume that you pretty much grew up around here?” he said as he held the door of the little patisserie open for her.

And so the journey to the Platz passed very swiftly and pleasantly indeed as Len pointed out the things to see and recounted some of their childhood tales.

Author:  ammonite [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

He sounds nice. :D

Thanks for an update.

Author:  shesings [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Intriguing...........! I like Margot married to a Scotsman and Con living in the Highlands!

Author:  cal562301 [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Enjoying this and wondering whether a second triplet will marry a McAllister!

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

cal562301 wrote:
Enjoying this and wondering whether a second triplet will marry a McAllister!


Ditto! Thanks for the update, that was lovely.

Author:  JB [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

I'm liking the sound of him.

Author:  Fezziwig [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Further up the Platz there had been a flurry of excitement with one of the patients that had sent Jack dashing from home to help out.
“Maynard! I just got back from Basle. I hear there’s been a problem?”

“Entwistle! Good conference I hope? Mrs Stevens has had another pulmonary haemorrhage. We’ve got her safely intubated and on intensive care, but it’s not looking good. I wouldn’t have left when there’s a crisis, but as you’re here I feel I can go. I have to pick up Con and Felicity and their families. Do you mind taking over?”

“Not at all, old chap, you get off. Funnily enough I bumped into Len, quite literally, at Interlaken just now. She’s hardly changed at all. Hopefully, we’ll get time to have a chat at the party tonight. Assuming I can get away, that is. I’ll go and review Mrs Stevens now and see what needs to be done. I’ll see you later Maynard”

The Sanatorium at the Gornetz Platz had evolved into a world renowned centre for pulmonary and cardiac care. Professor Entwistle was their most eminent specialist, at the forefront of transplant technology. Dr Maynard was quite relieved to leave things in his capable hands and get back to his family.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Oh, dear! Something tells me that it's a meeting which won't go well.

Thanks, I think, for the update.

Author:  Abi [ Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Gosh, what on earth happened between them? Reg seems relatively unaffected, yet Len is obviously still suffering the consequences of whatever it was. Can't wait to see what it was!

Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

This is very good - I do like your Triplets, they seem lovely people. I am another one wondering what has happened between Reg and Len...

Author:  shazwales [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 10:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Only just found this so read it straight through.Love your Triplets,looking forward to seeing some more please.
Thank you.

Author:  Kyrrie [ Fri Feb 19, 2010 5:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Wow, what an interesting dynamic. I'm longing to know what happened leaving Reg so collected about bumping into Len. And poor Len.

Thank you, this is really interesting.

Author:  Cath V-P [ Fri Feb 19, 2010 11:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

This is fascinating; thank you very much.

Author:  Fezziwig [ Fri Feb 19, 2010 6:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

I have 2 chapters incubating. Just struggling with the end of chapter 5. It won't do as it's told!! Chapter 6 is good as gold and behaving beautifully but can't come out to play until 4 falls into line! Hopefully that will be some point soon.

Nick


Edited because I got my chapter numbers mixed up!

Author:  Fezziwig [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

For those of you who like a little challenge, all Margot's children are named after literary characters so you might like to guess at the books that she was reading whilst pregnant. They are mostly fairly obvious.

Nick

Len was pleased to get to Freudesheim. As she got through the doors Margot who was coming downstairs, hurled herself down the last three steps, straight at Len and held her tight in a huge bear hug.

“I’m so pleased you’re home” she said joyously” the first of my big sisters to return. I’m so happy! I’ve got loads of fun things planned, I want you to have a good rest and some fun!” she released Len and whirled off to the kitchen, calling “Mama is on the terrace and the kids are about somewhere! Go on out, I’ll bring coffee”

Len and Alexander went out onto the terrace, where Joey was sat in a comfortable cushioned wicker chair; she got to her feet as soon as she saw them and held out her arms to Len enfolding her in a very tender embrace.

“My poor child, you look done in. Come and sit down, both of you. How was the journey Len?

“I’ve had worse,” Len replied” The train was late but that was all. No crashes smashes or spills, thank goodness.” She spoke lightly enough, but Joey detected the strain and tension in her voice, and realised how close Len was to breaking down.

Margo stepped carefully on to the terrace with a great tray of coffee and biscuits.
“I was going to do you ‘English tea’ but there didn’t seem much point as you’ve only just come from there. I thought you’d prefer coffee today!” laughed Joey to Len

“Mama hosts people for proper tea made with tea leaves in a proper tea pot, for all the English folk who are pining for England and for all the new girls at the school.” Margo explained to Alexander “It breaks them in gently!”

“I like to meet them all and size them up. We’ve had some real characters in the past. And we’ve had some very notable successes. We’ve rarely had any failures though, I’m pleased to say. That’s why I like to get the girls over here, to size them up and get a feel for their personalities. I like them to feel they can come to me if they can’t approach one of the staff.”

“I wish we had someone to do that for our little lot.” Len sighed “we might have avoided a lot of this terms trouble if we had.”

“It certainly has been a trying time hasn’t it?”

Alexander politely excused himself so the women could have a proper family chinwag. As he left he gave Len’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. Len recounted the events once again to Joey and Margot and once again felt lighter after the telling.

“I can’t remember such a term as this. No wonder I’m getting grey hairs.” Len said
“Well,” Joey said, “What you need to remember is…”

Just then, from the bushes at the far side of the lawn there was a cry of “Look! Auntie Len! Auntie Len is here! Hooo-ray!” and a compact and sturdy red-haired bullet of a child ran full pelt across the grass and flung himself at Len. At the first cry, Len had taken the precaution of stowing her delicate china coffee cup safely under her chair. Rudolf was Margo all over again and was responsible for most of the breakages in the household. At almost 11 he was a real pickle and insisted on sitting on Len’s knee, or trying to!

“Rudy, no, you can’t get on my knee, you baby elephant, you’re much too old now! Here.” and Len moved her chair slightly to accommodate him at her feet. The others drifted across more sedately, Tiger Lily with her reddish brown hair; Catriona, two years younger, looking remarkably like a blue eyed Con, with her long dark hair and eventually Clover and Froniga, affectionately known as Frog to the family, looking rather grubby and clearly having been up to some mischief somewhere by the impish look in their eyes.

They greeted their Aunt with hugs and kisses. They were all very fond of her for she was a regular correspondent and rarely a week went by without one or the other having a letter..
“I’ve got your present in my bag Tigs” Len said “come up and get it later. It’s for you to wear at the party, if you want to.”

“Have you got a present for me?” Rudy asked as Tigs was saying thank you

“Rudy!” both Margot and Joey exclaimed in unison, horrified

“Yes, you little imp, I have,” Len informed him “But I shall give it to your Mum to put away for your birthday as usual.”

“I just wanted to check” he said a little subdued.

“Would I forget any of your birthdays?” Len retorted

“Right, all you kids scram.” Margot ordered. “You’ll be seeing plenty of Auntie Len these next two weeks. Get off again for a bit. We’ll be having abendesson when Auntie Con and the family arrive and then you’ll have to get ready for the party tonight!”

As they went Len leaned back in her chair and shut her eyes briefly.
“Do you want to have an hour’s rest?” Joey asked eying her closely “You should have time if you go up now. You’ll be a washed out specimen at the party if you don’t I fear.”

“I could use a quick nap.” Len owned

“Yes, you look like it. I forgot to tell you that there’s a new surgeon at the San. I believe she was at your college at Oxford. I don’t know if you know her. Her name is Caroline Henderson. She seems to go by ‘Caro’ though. She’s a tall girl with short blonde hair. ” Joey said.

Len thought back to the girls she knew of, that had studied medicine.
“Nooo. “ Len mused “I can’t place her although the name does seem familiar. I’ll keep thinking on it. And maybe it’ll come to me.”

“Perhaps you’ll know her when you see her tonight.”

“Tonight?” Len was momentarily confused. “The party you mean? I thought it was a family thing.”

“It was to start with and then it turned into a more of a ‘Platz’ thing, didn’t it Margot?” said Joey.

“Well, yes, but there’s room for them all and the more the merrier really.” Margot replied “Caro is such a sweetheart I’m sure you’ll get on even if you don’t know her.

Len suddenly felt as if she had been turned to ice, even as the sun blazed down on her. In that instant she had recalled and properly understood Reg’s last words. ‘I’ll see you later’ he had said. The shock of the encounter had overwhelmed her and she hadn’t processed what he had meant. He was going to be at the party and she was going to see him tonight. Horrified, she managed to get to her feet .

“Lovely. Well, I’ll go and have a lie down then.” Len just managed to get out the words in reasonably normal tones and as quickly as she decently could, hurried off to her room.

Author:  ammonite [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Ahh poor Len, I hope she has a good rest.

Thanks for updating :D

Author:  JB [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Poor Len. Am I the only one havng a bad feeling about Caro and Reg?

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Can't wait to see what happens between Len and Reg! Thankyou.

Author:  sealpuppy [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 6:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Eek, worrying about Len and Reg's meeting now.
And love Froniga's name - Elizabeth Goudge fan? (I love Clover too, and I know where that comes from!) :)

Author:  Abi [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Oh dear, very worried about Len now. Even the family don't seem to realise her feelings - what can have happened?

Thanks Nick :)

Author:  Fezziwig [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Part 6

Len had not managed to sleep. Her encounter with Reg played over and over in her mind every time she closed her eyes. Vainly did she try and block it out using every relaxation technique she had ever heard of and the minutes passed like hours.

She was quite glad when the sound of a car and an increase in hubbub from downstairs told her that the others had arrived. She tidied herself swiftly and ran downstairs to greet them. There was much noise, hugging and exclaiming over how the twins had grown, and everyone admired Daniel, who was Felicity’s first child, a delightfully, chubby boy of six months who just beamed at everyone and chewed his fat fists. Anneli, Margot’s household mainstay, delighted to have a real baby to care for soon whisked him off to the nursery which had been thoroughly scrubbed for his arrival.

Abendesson was practically ready so everyone filed through to the Speisesaal. The children were allowed to sit and eat with the grownups, which made for a slightly chaotic sort of meal with a happy buzz of chatter and because she was sat between Con who had had an idea for a novel on the plane and who’s mind was fizzing away just as much as Len's, and Donald who was deciding which view of the mountains to paint first, no one noticed her increasingly furrowed brow and troubled eyes. No-one lingered to chat after the delicious meal as everyone wanted to get ready, so Len slipped away unnoticed, her mind working nineteen to the dozen.

Author:  Fezziwig [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter

Part 7: Getting Ready

There was a tap at Margot’s door as she was dressing and immediately Len flew into the room like a whirlwind and shut the door firmly behind her.

“Len! What is it?”

“Margot, my goodness! Look at your underwear! What would Matey say?”

“I have no idea!” said Margot, hurriedly putting on a pretty peignoir. ”Probably that it wouldn’t keep my kidneys warm? Or, equally possibly, she might say that my taste in underwear is my own affair. Surely you didn’t come in just to suggest I wear my gymmers and a liberty bodice under my frock”

“I need to speak to you. Listen, is Reg really coming tonight?”

“I imagine so. I invited most of the san lot. Some of them are on duty of course, but I should think that he’ll come. He might have to operate though. That patient Papa went up to see didn’t sound at all well.

“It’s just that, you see, I bumped into him as I got off the train to Interlaken and that was bad enough. I really don’t want to meet him again.”

Margot who had never really known why things had broken off between Len and the doctor decided to indulge in a little wilful misunderstanding.

“I don’t blame you. I fully intend to avoid him myself if possible. He’s just come back from a conference about heart lung transplantation and if he’s got to talk to Barnard then he’s going to be boring for England. He went on for 45 minutes about the importance of controlling lactic acidosis and hyperglycaemia following heart transplant last week before I could extricate myself politely. Still, he’s a very good godfather to Arty. D’Artagnon Reginald. I think it has a very distinguished ring to it.” she said, brushing her hair, She could see Len’s tortured face in the mirror and decided to be kind.

“Seriously though Len, why don’t you want to see him? I thought the two of you were ancient history. After you broke off things he really threw himself into his work. He’s really made a name for himself in medicine. He’s one of our best surgeons and he has a very sympathetic manner. Opinionated really is the worst I can say about him”

“Well, he came to see me when I was at Oxford and he wanted to…he suggested that we…well! You know! I didn’t want to...you know. I wanted to wait, but he said that as we were engaged it was okay and so we should….get to know each other better. I’d talked to Mama before we all came away and promised her that I wouldn’t do, wouldn’t, you know….” Lens face was a livid scarlet. Margot had also had the little talk from Joey and guessed what Len was actually referring to. Margot felt she had personally hadfollowed the spirit of the chat if not it’s every letter. Len seemed to have memorised it.

“And did you?” said Margot, intrigued.

“NO! I let him kiss me, and, and, and, well, things but certainly not all the way. He was pretty persistent, but I just didn’t want to! .We rowed about it dreadfully and we called each other some names, said some pretty awful things and I threw his ring back at him and told him to find someone who would give in to his ways. I threw myself into teaching and that was that. It was just awful. So I’ve never….”

“Never what?”

“Never, you know…Margot. I was scared!”

“But Len, Why didn’t you talk to Mamma, or me, or even Con?” Margot put her arm round her triplet. “Honey, I don’t know what to say. I can only tell you what I’ve told Tiger Lily only last week. Your body is your own and if it feels wrong, then it is wrong and don’t do it!”

“But Margot!” howled Len “What if I made the biggest mistake of my life?”

It took a good 15 minutes to mob Len up. Margot sent down to the kitchens for a hot sweet cup of tea and a very large glass of wine. She took a large, comforting swig as she worked out what to say. Margot drank very little on account of her medication but felt that there were times when a large glass of wine was a medication in itself!

“Firstly I can’t believe that you made it to senior mistress if you can’t say the word ‘sex’ in front of your own sister. Secondly, perhaps Reg just wasn’t the one. You were very young when you got engaged and he is a fair bit older than you. Ten years is a lot when one of you is very young, or very old. I can only speak from my own experience, but I just knew when I looked into Alistair’s eyes that he was the one for me! I think that growing into a friendship is just as good as love at first sight, but you and Reg never got much opportunity for things to unfold naturally. He’d decided how things would be before you were old enough to know your own mind. I’m fairly sure that Con would say something similar. Look how long she resisted Donald before she agreed to marry him.”

“I’m not sure that Con did resist Donald. She’s much more lax than I could ever be.”

Relaxed you mean. Con has her standards, don’t be fooled. But never mind Con this is about you. So, did you never contact Reg again?”

“He sent me loads of letters.”

“Saying what?”

“I don’t know. I just burnt them!”

“Len Maynard, you are a total …”Margot was lost for words and searched vainly for a suitable epithet ”…idiot.”

“ I know!” and Len broke down in floods of tears again.

Just then there was a tap at the door. Margot hastily ushered Len into the en-suite bathroom and pulling her peignoir a little tighter went to open it. It was Tiger Lily.

“Have you seen Auntie Len, Mama? She told me to come and collect my present, but there was no answer when I knocked at her door. I’ve looked downstairs and I can’t find her.”

“Oh! I’m not sure Tigs. I know she’ll give you your present before the party, if Auntie Len says a thing then she always means it, “Margot spoke a little louder than usual and hoped that her voice would carry through the bathroom door “so don’t worry. Can you just run up and check that Frog and Clovy have washed all the bits that show and that they have actually come clean. They seemed to have a definite tidemark at Abendesson! Thanks sweetie. I’ll be up to see you shortly.”

Shutting the door again, she turned back to the bathroom and had just gone in to Len when there was a second tap on the door. Margot sighed. She had planned a relaxed and leisurely toilet and a few quiet minutes with her daughter before the party. She hadn’t imagined that Len would need counselling about something that should have been settled 17 years before. Opening the door she discovered her father.

“Oh, hello Papa! Is everything okay?”

“Yes. I just had a telephone call from Reg. He sends his apologies that he won’t be able to make it tonight. Mrs Stevens had another haemorrhage and he thinks the only thing to do is operate. Good chap Entwistle! Excellent surgeon, if anyone can save her, then it’s him. We’re lucky to have him here really, but he’s loyal to his roots. It wouldn’t surprise me if there’s a knighthood for him in the New Year. Anyway, I’ll let you carry on getting ready. I just wanted to let you know. ”

“Thank you Papa. I’ll see you shortly.” Having another quick mouthful of the rich, sweet wine on her way to the bathroom, Margot went to reassure her sister that Reg wouldn’t now be coming and hopefully, please, please, please God, get her back to her own room so that the evening could carry on as planned.

Author:  Lesley [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 chapters added 21/2

Good grief Len - grow up! Still blushing over the incident 17 years later? So he wanted to 'go all the way' and you didn't - as Margot says, he obviously wasn't the right one for you. But you've never since...?

I wonder if margot feel like the older sister here! And glad she slapped Len for her comment that Con was 'lax'.


Thanks Fezziwig

Author:  cal562301 [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 chapters added 21/2

This is really good, thank you. Love Margot in this.

Think Len needs a good shake, though.

Author:  JB [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 chapters added 21/2

I love Margot too. But poor Len. It's very sad that 17 years later, she's shocked by Margot's underwear and can't mention the word "sex". Yet, I find it believable that she's stuck so firmly to what Joey told her and hasn't formed her own opinions.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 1:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 chapters added 21/2

Am I being rather optimistic in hoping that Len and Reg make it up in the end?

It was nice to see Margot being the responsible one for once! Thankyou.

Author:  Abi [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 2:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 chapters added 21/2

Poor Len, letting an incident that happened 17 years before control her life like that. Also loved Margot there!

Author:  PaulineS [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 3:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 chapters added 21/2

Thank you, Len is so typical of her generation of single teachers.

Author:  shazwales [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 4:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 chapters added 21/2

Thank you, really enjoying this :)

Author:  Lesley [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 4:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 chapters added 21/2

Just thought - if Len and the others left school circa 1958 then 17 years later means we're in 1975 now - Len were you asleep during the Swinging Sixties or what? :roll:

Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 5:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 chapters added 21/2

Len would probably say, rather po-facedly, that she was a Christian during the 1960s.... oh Len...... not sure whether to hug her or slap her!

Though mind you, I think I want to slap the Reg of 17 years earlier for not having taken "No" for an answer.

Author:  Pat [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 5:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 chapters added 21/2

Lesley wrote:
Just thought - if Len and the others left school circa 1958 then 17 years later means we're in 1975 now - Len were you asleep during the Swinging Sixties or what? :roll:


Depends where you were living just how swinging they were! Nice girls still didn't, and the Pill was prescription only, which meant pretty much married women only in many places.

Author:  Fezziwig [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 chapters added 21/2

It is 1975. I have been imagining Len sort of getting old before her time in an all female school environment... There's a quote by someone about gently drying out in an atmosphere of education...something like that and I think she's just got a bit too dessicated.

In my head she was a bit horrified by the whole "you know" episode with Reg and reacted by bottling it up and shunning that side of her nature and not allowing herself to think about it at all.

I've got a bit more done but I'm at work the next couple of days so there will be a brief gap befor I can post any more.

Nick

Author:  cal562301 [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 chapters added 21/2

Pat wrote:
Lesley wrote:
Just thought - if Len and the others left school circa 1958 then 17 years later means we're in 1975 now - Len were you asleep during the Swinging Sixties or what? :roll:


Depends where you were living just how swinging they were! Nice girls still didn't, and the Pill was prescription only, which meant pretty much married women only in many places.


OT, but this brought back a memory of being asked by my mum (married of course!), asking me when I was about 8 or 9 to take a note to the chemist to see if he would give her more pills without a prescription as she'd run out. As I remember, I think he did - possibly illegally!

That would have been in the mid 60s. I didn't think much about it, at the time, but I guess you don't want to think about your parents erm doing that, do you? :oops: In any case, I was a very innocent child in some ways, so at the time, the implications probably escaped me! :lol:

Author:  PaulineS [ Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 chapters added 21/2

The Pill and abortions were a later sixties occurrence, by which stage Len would be late twenties/early thirties and after a negative experience (to her mind at least) and little opportunity to meet single men her views would not be unexpected by a mid-thirties practicing RC single teacher.
As a senior teacher she would be expected to set an example which would reinforce her views as well.

Author:  Fezziwig [ Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 chapters added 21/2

Chapter 8: The Party
Margot resorted to running Len a cool bath, making her finish the glass of wine despite her protests, and getting her to lie down on the bed with a cold flannel on her face until she felt a bit better. She then pulled her own pretty dress on, adjusted it quickly, fastened on the sapphire necklace Alistair bought her when Tiger Lily was born and dashed upstairs to check on the girls.

With the two oldest in charge everything was under control. Everyone was perfectly clean and looking very pretty in their long party dresses with ribbons in their hair. She sent all the little ones including Freddie and Jane downstairs with Catriona and pulled Tiger Lily close to her. “I hope you enjoy your party my pet,” she said. “I love you so very much, I couldn’t ask for a better family and you are such a big help to me. Thank you darling. I am such a lucky Mum to have you.”

“I love you too Mum.” said Tiger Lily giving Margot a kiss and an extra tight squeeze.

“I found Auntie Len, by the way. She’s a bit headachey, from the journey still. She’s in my room with a cold compress on and just having a few extra minutes peace and quiet. You go on down darling, the guests will be arriving and it’s you they’ll want to see. I’ll be down in 5 minutes.” At least I hope I will, she thought to herself.

Len was restored enough to make it back to her own room and get dressed. She took her gift downstairs and sought out Tiger Lily immediately with words of apology. Tiger Lily loved the pretty charm bracelet and put it on straight away. It was a delicate design with its double linked chain and heart shaped clasp. Len had added a bible charm which opened and a pretty 18th key.

The guests had already started to arrive and there was quite a pile of presents for Tiger Lily already. Margot passed Len another glass of wine.

“Come on honey. You’re going to be just fine! I know you don’t normally drink,” as Len protested again “I’m not advocating you getting even slightly drunk, but it’s been a pretty hard day for you and it will help you relax if you sip it slowly. Remember when Mama had a shock and Papa prescribed a ‘little dose’. It’s just like one of her little doses but much nicer. Now, look round, there are loads of familiar faces everyone is dying to catch up with you and that’s Caro Henderson over there chatting to Con.”

Con had immediately recognised Caro and although they didn’t know each other very well, they had soon been chatting away about their time in Oxford and had caught up with the gossip about the few mutual friends they had in common. Con was asking Caro about working at the san.
“Oh Con, most of it’s wonderful. It’s so nice to have such good equipment and all the latest technology, but.”

“But?”

“Well, one or two of the staff are positively archaic about working with a woman surgeon. I swear some days I can feel Elizabeth Garrett Anderson turning in her grave. Reg Entwistle is the worst, he’s so critical and rude. The worst of it is he’s so knowledgeable, but won’t share it with me. Now your father is an absolute sweetheart, he’ll spend hours talking me through stuff and he’s supportive and helpful, but Entwistle! I could throttle him.”

Margot had agreed that Tiger Lily could have a proper disco party and although there had been a little resistance from Joey she had been talked round. Partly because she couldn’t countenance missing her granddaughter’s 18th birthday party and partly because Margot had pointed out that they could go back to their own sitting room if they had had enough of the flashing lights and loud music. It had been agreed that there also would be some suitable music for the older people to dance to, which there was. However Tiger Lily persuaded everyone dance to her favourite pop song “Tiger Feet”. Even Joey and Jack, professed haters of modern music joined in to please her and soon the party was in full swing.

Len caught up all her old friends and acquaintances and soon started to feel more in control of herself. The wine did help her relax and when Rudy came to plead with her to dance with him because the girls wouldn’t she laughingly agreed. The little girls were at the front pretending to be princesses and having a wonderful time spinning round and around to the music, their skirts and petticoats twirling around them. Before long Margot, Con and Felicity came over and joined in the dancing. It had been a long time since they had had so much fun all together.

After a while Len found that she was getting very warm and with her cheeks glowing, begged Rudy to be excused. She got another glass of wine and wandered into the cool of the Freudesheim garden.

“Ahh, Miss Maynard. Looking for a little peace and quiet?” It was Alexander sitting in one of the chairs on the terrace. She had not noticed him when she stepped out.

“I don’t dance much these days, I’m afraid,” Len said a little ruefully. “Young Rudy has rather worn me out.”


Len sat down next to him and took a deep breath. The night air was full of the pleasant scents of jasmine and nicotiana. Margot had planted lots of night scented plants as well as ones which gave the garden colour during the day.

“How are you feeling now?” asked Alexander. “I tried to make myself scarce earlier so you could talk properly to you mother and Margot. I do hope you didn’t think I was being rude.”

“Not at all” said Len. “I understood, thank you.”

“I’m so glad.”

“So what is it that you do exactly Mr McAllister? I believe Margot said you are associated with the San in some way?”

“Please, call me Alex. I’m actually a researcher affiliated with one of the drug companies that is looking into medicines that will be useful following organ transplantation. As you know it’s an area which the senior doctors here are very keen on moving into and so I’ve been liaising with them about our products. The potential for saving lives is immense if we can just harness the right medications to prevent the body rejecting the organ. I’ve been based primarily in England near Papworth for the past few years but I’ve just been moved to Basle for a few months. They’ve been working on a new drug there that is looking like it will be marvellously useful. It’s synthesised from a very rare fungus that actually is…” he stopped suddenly and laughed. “I’m so sorry. It’s such an exciting area when you’re involved in it that we tend to get a little carried away and assume that everyone wants to know every little detail about immunosuppression and people rarely do!”

“It’s not actually that boring. I grew up hearing a great deal about lung complaints of course and understand a fair bit of medical stuff. Especially about tuberculosis which was the big thing in those days. Of course Margot was the one that wanted to be a doctor so she soaked up most of the knowledge, but you couldn’t live in our house and not know something about it.”

“And you always wanted to be a teacher?”

“It was actually my back up plan. It’s been a most rewarding career though. There’s been a lot more highs than lows. And very few terms like this last one thank goodness”

“Mmm, thank goodness, indeed. So what was your primary plan? I can’t imagine that you wouldn’t succeed at something you’d set your mind to.”

“Well.” Len considered telling him to mind his own business but she hated to be rude. “I was actually planning on getting married. I was engaged before I left school. It seemed a wonderful thing when I was 18 and very much in love, but I was simply far too young to realise the enormity of such a commitment. He was much older. I broke it off and did the only thing I really knew about which was teaching. Sometimes, looking back, I think I did the right thing and sometimes I think I did the wrong thing.”

“Ah! Wondering about the path not taken as Robert Frost has it?”

“Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. Yes, that seems to sum up how it happened. Way led on to way and here I am an unmarried teacher!”

“Do you think you would have found it restrictive though, settling down so young? I know that some people say that a womans place is in the home, and I’m sure caring for babies is hard work, although very rewarding, but everyone I’ve met up here seems to have a nanny and a cook and a ‘girl what does’ which must ease things considerably, but what else would you do? You seem like a get- up-and go kind of girl, not a sit-at-home-embroidering kind of girl.”

“I was once,” sighed Len, “I’m not so sure about now.”

“Oh, now Miss Maynard,” protested Alexander.

“If you want me to call you Alex, then you must call me Len.”

“Len, Now what’s that short for? Let me guess, your name is Lennox? A good Scottish name, that. Or, Leonora possibly? ”

“Helena actually, but it’s my second name. We’re the three Marys. Very biblical if you say it like that! Our full names are Mary Helena, Mary Constance and Mary Margaret. Len, Con and Margot is what we’ve been called from the beginning though. I’ve never cared for Helena!”

“Oh? Personally I’m very fond of the name. It was my mother’s so naturally I’m biased. My father called her Lena as his especial pet name which I always thought was sweet although she was mostly called ‘Mam’ by everyone in our street. She was the sort that everyone adopted as their own.”

“That’s lovely. Always a bit of love spare for one more! Our family is a bit like that. We have an extended family of siblings that have been adopted at various times and there were 11 of us to start with!”

“Goodness. There was only Alistair and I. My Mam developed kidney disease when she was pregnant with me and the Doctor said she was at serious risk of it killing her if she had any more children. Otherwise there may well have been 11 of us too! It killed her in the end but she did get to see us grow up.”

“I’m sorry. I would have liked to have met her. She sounds like she would have fitted in well here with our crowd.”

“That’s true. And she would have loved to see Tigs and the rest of the kids. She was a bonny woman, born to be a Grandma. Always laughing, bless her. Now then, I could use another drink. Can I get you anything?”

“I’d love a glass of lemonade. I better not have any more wine. I never normally drink you know. I’ll come back inside now I’ve cooled down. The girls will wonder where I’ve got to.”

Len was immediately pounced on by Tiger Lily and Catriona who got her dancing again. She did have a glass of champagne at midnight to toast Tiger Lily who had had a thoroughly good time and then went to bed. She was asleep very quickly and like most of the party goers slept solidly through to the next morning.

Author:  Mona [ Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: New chapter added 25/2

Really enjoying this Fezziwig, thank you!

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: New chapter added 25/2

I'm sensing something between those two! Thanks for the update.

Author:  ammonite [ Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: New chapter added 25/2

Thanks Fezziwig. Alexander still sounds really nice but what is up with Reg?

Author:  shesings [ Thu Feb 25, 2010 6:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: New chapter added 25/2

I knew Reg would be a male chauvinist! I like Alexander!

Author:  abbeybufo [ Thu Feb 25, 2010 7:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: New chapter added 25/2

This is lovely! - looking forward to more :D

Author:  2nd Gen Fan [ Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: New chapter added 25/2

Brilliant story! I'm sorry for Len, but looks like help may have arrived in the shape of Alexander.

Author:  Lesley [ Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: New chapter added 25/2

That doesn't surprise me about Reg - came across a number of hospital consultants in the 1980's who were the same - of same generation as Reg.


Thanks fezziwig

Author:  PaulineS [ Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: New chapter added 25/2

Please Len enjoyed the party.
It sounds fun.

Author:  Abi [ Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: New chapter added 25/2

Alex sounds nice, but :hammer: Reg!

Author:  Fezziwig [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: New chapter added 25/2

I've managed a little bit more but work is really getting in the way!

Part 9: Interlaken


Breakfast was served late on Sunday to allow everyone to sleep in. Len was the first downstairs, waking early from habit and descending just after 9 and the rest following in dribs and drabs. Nothing had been planned so the adults had a relaxed morning drinking lots of coffee and the children took advantage and played a most riotous game of hide and seek in the gardens.

Margot had arranged for them all to have a late lunch at the Auberge so the children were called in and scrubbed at midday ready for the stroll. Freddie and Jane were wild with excitement at the prospect of the echoes and all manner of musical instruments were packed into the children’s bags and pockets.

It was a perfect day for the walk, warm but with a light breeze so that no one over heated. Everyone was wearing a hat. As Joey said, she wanted no one with a case of sunstroke on this holiday. As soon as they were through the rock walled path and onto the little plateau, the children made straight for the fence and were overjoyed when the cacophony they made with their whistles and bells was transmuted into fairy music.

A long table had been arranged outside the frescoed inn, especially for the family. When the old owner had died his son and wife had taken it on and from the simple drinks and bread twists that were once available had gone on to serve lunches and dinners featuring the food of the region. They made a good living from the visitors to the Platz and relatives of the patients of the expanding hospital. It was a lovely meal, a family favourite. Herb soup was followed by pan-fried lake fish with buttery potatoes and spinach. There was a delicious peach and raspberry sorbet for desert. Len sipping a glass of the wine she had tried the night before, and laughing at a tale of Artie and his mischievous friends was starting to feel better and Joey commented to Margot that she was beginning to lose the pinched look she had arrived with.

It was a nice long, leisurely lunch as it was so pleasant to be sat in the sun catching up with the family hanes. The children asked to leave the table and amused themselves with playing nearby and trying different effects on the echoes. Eventually the adults made a move and strolled back down the hill to Freudesheim for more coffee and gossip on the terrace.

Monday was spent doing very little. They had fun playing tennis and otherwise relaxing around the house. The children had decided that they were going to perform a play and most of their day was taken up with arranging parts and working out the script.

Jack and Alistair had to go into Interlaken on the Tuesday on business and Len begged a lift so that she might get a few things and send some postcards to various people back in England. Alexander came too, as he had to go to his bank. They all went their separate ways agreeing to meet up at a patisserie for elevenses.

Len was first to finish her shopping and had just been seated when Alex arrived. He looked at his watch.

“What, the other two aren’t here yet? They are running late. Still, we can start can’t we? My tummy is rumbling despite the breakfast I had.”

They both had coffee with a mountain of whipped cream. Alex chose éclairs and Len a pain au chocolat.

“So how come you aren’t married, Alex?” Len enquired, “Never found the right woman?”

Something akin that!” Alex replied smiling “It’s just one of those things. When Alistair rang me to say that he was getting married to a girl he’d met two weeks before and I said ‘What! Are you crazy?’ He said that….You know how they say that when you die your past, everything you’ve done, flashes before your eyes?”

“Yes” Len said rather bemused at this odd aside.

“Well, he said that when he walked into Margot’s room with her paperwork and looked up at her, in that instant, as their eyes met, he saw his future flash before him in a second. He knew that this was the woman he would marry. He saw the marriage, kids; the whole lot. He knew that they would be together forever and that however hard life was, it would always be alright because they were there for each other.”

“Ohhh! That’s really rather sweet isn’t it?”

“I think so, and I want it to be like that for me. Also I’m very much aware that the job I do isn’t very interesting to other people and I often have to stop myself rambling on about it! I’d be afraid that about 3 months of marriage would be all any self respecting woman would be able to stand and that one evening she’d ask how my day had been, I’d tell her all about it and then she’d hit me over the head with a frying pan to finish me off for her own sanity. She’d get away with murder of course, because who would convict her? You know, ‘What was the deceased doing before you decided to assault him Mrs McAllister? He was telling me about the extraction of phospholipids from plant cells, Your Honour. Ahhh! I understand. Aquitted.”

“Oh, Alex, you do make me laugh” gasped Len. At that moment Jack and Alistair came through the door and were most bemused to find the pair giggling like school children.

Author:  Fezziwig [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: New chapter added 25/2

Part 10: A Queer Proposal

Rambles had been decided upon as the order of the day for Wednesday. The weather forecast was just right and everyone was going to go somewhere. Alistair was taking the day off and he was going along with Alex, Jack, Joey and the 3 older ones to the Trummelbach Falls. Margot had decided to stay local and take the little ones for a good walk up to St Cécilie with Len, Con and Felicity.

“It’s a nice walk and shouldn’t be too strenuous for any of them and we can have plenty of stops and take it at a nice steady pace.” The Gasthaus there had recently installed a very grand swing and climbing frame made from some pine trees that had fallen in the winter and it was a popular destination with Margot’s children and the other youngsters on the Platz.

Len was looking forward to it. She had kept herself fit but it was much more strenuous walking in the mountains here than anywhere she usually went back in England and this would be a fairly gentle walk her to break her back in.

Con begged to be excused that morning as the others were getting ready.

“It’s this novel. It’s properly in my head now and I really must get the bones of it on to paper. If I come today, I’ll be dreaming about the scenes and although I probably won’t walk off the edge, I won’t be the best company. As Daniel is staying in with Anneli, you three girls will be able manage Jane and Freddie as well won’t you?”

Margot agreed that it would be fine and after promising that they would be good the twins set off out with their cousins and aunts. The twins had come out of their shells quite considerably and were getting on very nicely with Clover and Froniga.

The walk was delightful. It was about 6 miles from the Platz and the path wasn’t too steep or rough going, although there were a couple of areas where the children had to scramble and needed a boost to get up. On the whole they did very well, especially Jane and Freddie who were not used to the mountains. They stopped every half an hour or so, for a drink and a short rest. There were very few people about so they sang old guide and school songs as they went on and the older ones were delighted to learn some new ones from the little girls.

They reached the Gasthaus in good time for lunch and had the usual bread twists and fruit, followed up by delicious coffee with creamy milk for the children. By the time they reached the end of the meal Margot looked up, a little concerned.

“I think we should get going back now. It’s just looking a little grey and cloudy over there and it did forecast rain for tonight. I don’t think it will come early but let’s get moving sooner rather than later. I don’t want to rush with the children and I don’t want to get drenched if we can help it.

The others agreed and they settled the bill, collected their belongings and turned homeward. The dark clouds did not get any worse and Margot relaxed a little. They chatted happily as they went. Felicity’s husband Peter was coming out on Saturday and they were going on Monday to Die Rosen to spend a week with Lucy Peters and her family.

They went back as easily as they had come until they got to the part where they had had to scramble up. The descent was quite steep so Felicity went first to catch the children as Len and Margot helped them down. Rudy went first, then Jane and Freddie, Clover and finally Froniga. They held both of her hands and handed her down almost bodily to Felicity. The short grass was very slippery but they got her down without incident. Margo went down next, and held out her hand to steady Len if necessary. Just then there was a squeal and Margot turned back to see Froniga lose her footing. Her legs flew out from under her, she was unable to stop herself falling and her head hit the ground violently as she fell backwards. Her limp body slid down the hill a little way on the short turf. She bumped her head a couple more times before the path levelled slightly and she stopped. She did not get up.

“Froniga” screamed Margot and leaving Len to get down herself ran across the grass to her child. Len leapt down and followed her triplet to where Froniga lay. She was unconscious and looked very pale and grey. Len could feel a pulse though but Froniga couldn’t be roused even though Len squeezed her fingers as hard as she could. Clovy and the twins were sobbing and Rudy was biting his lip very hard to stop tears from falling

“Right,” said Len becoming very much the teacher. “Margot, you’ll have to run for help, you know everyone round about and you’ll know where to go. Felicity you take the children back home. We’re past the worst part I think and if you go steadily you’ll be fine. Daniel will need you so you’d best go. I’ll stay here with Froniga until help comes. Is that okay, everyone? Children! Go with Auntie Felicity and do as you are told please.

Margot dashed off at a run immediately. Clover took some persuading to leave her sister, but she went eventually. Soon they were out of sight and Len was left alone with the unconscious child. She had covered Froniga with her jacket but could do nothing more. She sat with her listening carefully to her breathing. Suddenly she heard a fluting whistle. Thinking it was Margot returning she got to her feet and then realised that it was coming from behind her, she turned and saw that it was Reg! Overwhelmed Len burst into tears.

“Len, my darling. What is it?” Reg asked. He spotted Froniga lying limp and pale on the ground

“An accident? Oh, poor little Frog. Okay let me look at her.” He examined Froniga deftly, checking her pulse and looking in her eyes. “What happened?”

Len managed to sob out the story and explained that Margot had gone for help. Reg fished in his pocket and passed her a large, rather crumpled hanky to dry her tears.

“She’ll probably have gone straight for the san. Someone will be up soon. Let’s wrap her up a bit more and I’ll stop with you both. Don’t worry.”

He put his own jacket over Froniga and tucked her up a little Then he sat down and put his arm round Len who was still crying.

“Oh, Len, don’t cry darling. It’s alright. I’m here.” Reg said. There was a pause before he then added. “Len I know I promised in my last letter that I would never mention it again until you approached me but seeing you again made me realise how much I still love you and I should never forgive myself if I didn’t speak up.” He looked at her for encouragement but she said nothing, just sat with her arms around her knees and her face down.

“Len, don’t you care for me at all?” he asked tentatively. “I know that I upset you when I wanted to, suggested that we…you know and I’m so sorry about that. I was a pig; and I’m truly sorry, it’s just that I wanted so much to be closer to you. I wouldn’t have hurt you, not for the world. I love you so much. I’ve always wanted to make you my wife Len. It’s always been my dream for you to be mine. You’d be such an asset to me. Why, I had to spend all this last conference wearing odd socks and I know you’d never let that happen. I know you’d sort out clean shirts and the visas and hotel rooms and all that sort of thing. I wouldn’t have to worry about it. I’ve got lots of money too Len. You could give up teaching and keep house for me. You could spend whatever you liked on the furniture and stuff and get whatever things you wanted, you know cushions and things. I know you women like all that kind of stuff. And I think I’m pretty safe for a knighthood in the New Year. You’d like that wouldn’t you, Len, being Lady Entwistle? Please don’t throw away your last chance to be happy Len. Please at least think about it? I would have loved to have had you with me at this conference. It was very interesting. You see Barnard thinks that…” and Reg started on about his work. Len tuned him out, reducing his voice to a mere drone; overwhelmed with emotion and worry about Froniga who still had not moved. She was relieved beyond relief when she heard a faint yodel from down below and jumped to her feet yodelling back. As soon as the team of people came into view she called again and started waving wildly until there was an answering wave and she collapsed down again knowing help was at hand.

The team was led by a young doctor that she did not know, but Reg did. The men had a brief discussion then they examined Froniga carefully and finally put a collar on her and rolled her carefully onto a hard board in case she’d broken her spine, wrapped her in blankets and carried her away. Reg was going to walk down with her, but Len insisted that he go with Froniga in case the younger doctor needed anything. Reg agreed and Len gave him a weak smile.

“Please think about what I said. I really do love you.” he said quietly and with a final squeeze of her hand he left, hurrying after the team.

Author:  PaulineS [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

Love the relationship developing between Alex and Len. The family life sounds typical EBD.
Reg is very insensitive, I am not surprised Len tuned him out.
Pity about the bad end to what had been a good day out, even if again is very true to EBD.
Thanks for the updates, I posted as you were posting the second so edited the post to refer to them both.

Author:  abbeybufo [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

Two updates at once! - a real treat :D - still don't like Reg here, though :poke: - tell him where to get off, Len, and cultivate Alex.

Thanks Fezziwig :D

Author:  cal562301 [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

Thanks for the updates. Don't like Reg here. Too insensitive by far.

Author:  Lesley [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

Anyone else want to throw up listening to Reg? He doesn't want a wife he wants a Mummy! Hope Len tells him where to get off! Oh and Len? A man who can make you laugh is always a bonus! :wink:


Thanks Fezziwig

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

Oh, what an EBDish but horrible end to the day! I hope that she's ok *wibbles*

Author:  Abi [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

:hammer: Reg. What a moose. I mean, he seriously loves her because then he wouldn't have to wear odd socks? Run away, Len - very fast.

Author:  Artemis [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

Someone should tie Reg's odd socks into a long rope and hang him with them - very, very slowly . . .

ETA . . . or smother him under hundreds and hundreds of ^&**£" feathery cushions!

Probably lime green ones.

Author:  JB [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

Quote:
I had to spend all this last conference wearing odd socks and I know you’d never let that happen. I know you’d sort out clean shirts and the visas and hotel rooms and all that sort of thing. I wouldn’t have to worry about it. I’ve got lots of money too Len.


Perhaps he could spend some of that money on a housekeeper. Reg :hammer: What a wonderfully dislikeable Reg you've created here.

Author:  2nd Gen Fan [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 11:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

Reg :hammer: :banghead: :poke:

Author:  shazwales [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 11:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

Love your Reg here,he's so egotistical to be funny!On the other hand Alex sounds great!
Thank you :)

Author:  shesings [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 11:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

Reg :hammer: What a prallie - male chauvinist porker or what? Noooohhhhh, Len, you deserve a real man and there seems to be one quite handy......................

Author:  Mona [ Tue Mar 02, 2010 2:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

Reg is wonderfully awful here! Thank you & more soon please?

Author:  Elbee [ Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

Really enjoying this. Hope Len doesn't listen to Reg, he needs a housekeeper not a wife! Alex sounds nice though....

Thanks, Fezziwig

Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Wed Mar 03, 2010 5:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

What a splendidly ghastly Reg you have made!

Author:  Emma A [ Fri Mar 05, 2010 1:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

Len should hit Reg over the head with a frying pan! Like the sound of Alex, though.

Author:  Jools [ Sun May 23, 2010 9:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

Really enjoying this. Reg is truly awful, but I love your Len and Margot.

Author:  ivohenry [ Sun Jun 06, 2010 8:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of a Chapter: 2 new chapters added 01/03

It's a while since we had any of this one - would like to see more soon please! Margot's children are great!

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