The CBB
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/

Turning the stars around, part 1
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2797
Author:  Alison H [ Wed May 23, 2007 8:32 am ]
Post subject:  Turning the stars around, part 1
David Russell hadn’t spent this part of the year in Armishire for longer than he cared to remember; and he was enjoying it. It wasn’t that he had any deep-seated sentimental attachment to the area – he’d lived there for a while as a boy but then he’d lived in a lot of other places as well, as all the Russells had, and it wasn’t as if either the Russell or the Bettany side of his family had any roots in the area – but it was just such a pleasure to be away from the noise and bustle of London. He didn’t miss the capital city or the hospital that he’d worked in there at all, he thought, as he stood by his living room window looking out at the blooming garden at the back of his comfortable house.

It was early July now, almost ten months since he and his cousin Daisy Rosomon had first taken over the nearby medical practice in which the two of them were the only partners - a far cry from how his life would have been had he gone to work in his father’s Sanatorium as most people had expected him to do. He worked full time in the practice; and Daisy worked two full days and three half days a week, with his own former nanny Rosa Pfeifen collecting the Rosomons’ children from school and helping out in their house on the days on which Daisy worked full time, and looking after the children whilst their mother was at work during school holidays.

The arrangement between the Rosomons and Rosa was one that suited everyone, and one which David himself had suggested. At twelve going on thirteen, his two younger brothers were – supposedly, he thought with a smile – too old to need watching all the time; and by this time next year they’d be preparing to go away to Winchester, where David himself and his three male Bettany cousins had all been educated.

He’d known that Rosa had been fretting about what there would be for her to do once the Russells no longer had any children at home, but evidently his parents hadn’t; and he’d also known that his parents would no more have dreamt of turning Rosa out after all her years of loyal service to them than they would of flying to the moon, but evidently Rosa hadn’t. In addition to that, he’d known that Daisy and her husband Laurie had been unhappy about the prospect of leaving their children with a stranger, but would have no qualms about leaving them with Rosa who’d been working for the Russells since she was a young girl. Everyone else had exclaimed about what a wonderful idea it was and how none of them could believe that they hadn’t thought of it themselves … but then none of them were in a position to hear about the feelings of everyone involved in the way that he was.

Sometimes he could hardly believe that the boys would be off to public school next year. Time seemed to pass so quickly these days: had it really been fourteen months since he’d returned from that momentous visit to Austria? He found it equally hard to believe that his youngest sister had left the Chalet School – the finishing branch of it, to be precise – for the last time the previous day, to come home for the long summer holidays before heading off to Bedford to begin her training as a P.T. mistress.

He smiled at the thought: he was so very proud of Ailie. When she’d been the age that Kevin and Kester were now, she’d had much the casual attitude to her schoolwork as both of them still had, not helped by their parents’ habit of repeatedly contrasting her abilities with those of Josette who’d always been the brightest of their daughters academically; but she’d made an enormous effort during her last few years at school and had been rewarded by winning the college place that she’d wanted, and he couldn’t be more pleased for her.

Yes, his youngest sister was all grown up now; and his other two sisters were both not only grown up but also now had children of their own: he turned to look at the photographs of his nephew and niece which were proudly displayed on the mantelpiece. Sybil’s little boy was eighteen months old now, toddling about all over the place and chattering away to himself according to Sybil’s last letter; and Josette’s baby girl was twelve weeks old today. It saddened him that he hadn’t been able to meet either of the two newest members of the family in person yet; but he was looking forward to Christmas, when they’d all be together to celebrate the marriage of his cousin Len Maynard, who’d recently finished her three year degree course at Oxford, to her long-time fiancé Reg Entwistle.

Len and Reg would be living in Daisy and Laurie’s old house, just a short walk from Freudesheim, the Maynard family home; and he wondered wryly how the newly-weds would enjoy being so close to his aunt and uncle. His own house was several miles from his parents’ home, which lay over the Welsh border; and when he’d moved back to Armishire both his mother and his father had assured him that even though his father had now retired they’d have plenty to occupy themselves with and wouldn’t be calling round to see him all the time and trying to involve themselves too closely in his life. Unfortunately, it hadn’t quite worked out like that.
Author:  Lexi [ Wed May 23, 2007 8:39 am ]
Post subject: 
Hoorah, another Alison drabble :D

Will Gretchen be making an appearance? *fingers crossed*
Author:  Ruth B [ Wed May 23, 2007 8:56 am ]
Post subject: 
Hooray! Glad everyone is so happy but a bit worried that Madge and Jem's good intentions haven't lasted.
Author:  brie [ Wed May 23, 2007 9:06 am ]
Post subject: 
Glad to see this Alison!!! :wink:

It's nice to see more of David, but it would be nice to see more of Gretchen too... hint hint....

I'm so subtle aren't I? :D
Author:  Karoline [ Wed May 23, 2007 10:25 am ]
Post subject: 
Good to see this universe back Alison :lol:
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Wed May 23, 2007 10:56 am ]
Post subject: 
Oh good, this universe is back! Just before I go away for a fortnight, alas, so everybody, please make sure it stays on the front page!!!
Author:  Jennie [ Wed May 23, 2007 10:58 am ]
Post subject: 
At last!!!! Thanks, Alison. Should we all get together to do the Happy Drabble Dance?
Author:  ibarhis [ Wed May 23, 2007 11:23 am ]
Post subject: 
How lovely, I've been hoping to see a sequel ever since the previous episode finished.
Author:  Lizzie [ Wed May 23, 2007 11:27 am ]
Post subject: 
Waaaay!! Hurrah! Thanks Alison!
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Wed May 23, 2007 11:43 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison-am turning cartwheels with glee. :rofl: I wondered when you would start writing again. Can I put in a request to see more of the Russell girls please!! :lol: :lol: (We really need a pleading/begging face in the emoticons!)

By the way I noticed you were the one asking about using qualifications abroad in Joey's Trunk-does that mean you were asking in regards to David being a doctor in Austria???? :wink:
Author:  RroseSelavy [ Wed May 23, 2007 12:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yay! Nice surprise to see this back, Alison :popper:
Author:  janem [ Wed May 23, 2007 2:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
Great to see more of this. I did enjoy the last chapter! :)
Author:  Elbee [ Wed May 23, 2007 3:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
How lovely to see more of this, Alison.

Like Lexi and Brie, I'm hoping Gretchen features in this at some point!
Author:  Fatima [ Wed May 23, 2007 4:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
It's great to see this back again! I'm wondering about Len and Reg - how will they feel about living so close to Jo?
Author:  JustJen [ Wed May 23, 2007 5:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
Alright Alison! Another fab story from you!
Author:  Lesley [ Wed May 23, 2007 5:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
Now why can't Madge and Jem enjoy their retirement rather than bother David?

Lovely to see more of this universe, Alison - thanks.
Author:  Sarah_K [ Wed May 23, 2007 6:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
:D

What a lovely present to come back to the board and find more Alison drabble! Sounds like Daisy and David are working well together even if those last few lines looked a little ominous!
Author:  Pat [ Wed May 23, 2007 7:01 pm ]
Post subject: 
Good to see this back Alison. Thanks.
Author:  keren [ Wed May 23, 2007 7:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
great to see this back
Author:  Cath V-P [ Thu May 24, 2007 12:16 am ]
Post subject: 
Thank you Alison.... hmm, an interesting last sentence!
Author:  Alison H [ Thu May 24, 2007 8:25 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the comments :D. Just as a note, the age gap between David and Ailie was originally greater than it is here, but the Russells' ages (and birthdays) get EBDd so often during the series that it was impossible to get everything to be consistent :lol:, so hope no-one minds!

It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy seeing his mother and father; but they did tend to come round just that little bit too often and to stay just that little bit too long. In addition to that, he was expected to present himself at their house not only every Sunday lunchtime – which admittedly was usually very pleasant, with the Rosomons often joining them too – but for at least one evening meal during the week too. Sometimes he would explain politely but firmly that he had other arrangements on the day in question; but on such occasions he’d always be able to hear clearly the disappointment in their voices and so he’d always feel bad about it afterwards.

Then there were the endless committees that his father was always encouraging him to join, so that they could sit on them together and David could get to know some of the important people in the area. Not to mention his mother’s embarrassing habit of finding ways to introduce him to a seemingly endless procession of single daughters, nieces and other young female connections of her friends from the church ladies’ committee and the Women’s Institute.

He knew that they were only trying to be helpful, and he knew that they missed Sybil and Josette and enjoyed having at least one of their grown-up children living nearby, and so he did try not to let his annoyance show … but it did get rather too much sometimes. Most of the time, in point of fact. Still, nothing was ever perfect and he hoped that he was adult enough to be able to accept that. This was the real world and the real world wasn’t meant to be perfect; and in general he was fairly contented with his new life and the way that it was going.

Apart from one aspect of it, and he didn’t know what he was going to do about that even though it was rarely out of his mind for more than a few minutes at a time. He looked at the letter, the latest letter – they came so quickly and were always replied to equally quickly -, which lay on the table along with the rest of the day’s post; and was about to pick it up and read it yet again, in the hope that maybe he might have missed something which might have answered one of the questions which he kept asking himself over and over, when his thoughts were suddenly and loudly interrupted by the sound of the doorbell ringing.

His initial thought was that it might be someone, whether one of his own patients or not, saying that they needed the doctor to come out immediately to attend to a relative or neighbour. That happened quite often in the evenings, but he accepted such call-outs as being part of the duties of a local G.P. and would never have dreamt of complaining about it. After all, he’d wanted to be part of a local community and wanted to be somewhere where he was needed by the people around him; and even if it wasn’t something urgent he never told people to wait until the surgery opened in the morning.

However, it turned out that the person ringing on the doorbell was actually someone far more welcome, someone whom he hadn’t seen since just after Easter. Ailie.
Author:  Lizzie [ Thu May 24, 2007 9:02 am ]
Post subject: 
Ooh, mysterious letters...from a certain young lady, perchance?

Thanks Alison, it's lovely to see this back!
Author:  Lottie [ Thu May 24, 2007 9:38 am ]
Post subject: 
I wondered if the letter was from Gretchen, too. I wonder why Ailie has come back to Armishire, in what is presumably the middle of term, and to David's house and not home! Is she another Russell child who is finding her parents a bit too much to take at the moment?

Thanks, Alison.
Author:  brie [ Thu May 24, 2007 11:54 am ]
Post subject: 
Nice to see Ailie.

I was hoping it was Gretchen though... :wink:

Thanks Alison
Author:  Sal [ Thu May 24, 2007 3:13 pm ]
Post subject: 
Mysterious letters and Allie turning up unexpectedly in the middle of term... all very intriguing.

Thanks Alison
Author:  JustJen [ Thu May 24, 2007 3:15 pm ]
Post subject: 
Poor David having a hard time with is folks...
Author:  Karoline [ Thu May 24, 2007 3:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
Nice to see Allie Alison, I'm assuming that Davids understanding of how Rosa was feeling had come via Gretchen :wink:
Author:  Fatima [ Thu May 24, 2007 4:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'm not surprised he's finding his parents a bit much. They aren't giving him any space at all. Poor David. I really hope the letters are from Grechen. And what's up with Ailie?
Author:  Lesley [ Thu May 24, 2007 4:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Madge's match-making will make him run a mile too!

Thanks Alison.
Author:  Smile :) [ Thu May 24, 2007 4:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
Is Shaking off the Chains in the archives?
Author:  Alison H [ Thu May 24, 2007 5:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
Woofter wrote:
Is Shaking off the Chains in the archives?


Part 1 is. I don't think part 2's been archived yet - *goes off to ask someone to archive it*.

Thanks for asking :D .

BTW, it's July, so Ailie has just broken up and is home legitimately :lol: .
Author:  Tan [ Thu May 24, 2007 7:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
Glad to see the second part of this!
Author:  Chair [ Thu May 24, 2007 7:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. It's great to see this back! I'm sorry Madge and Jem are being a bit of a pain. I'm also wondering if the letter is from Gretchen.
Author:  Cath V-P [ Thu May 24, 2007 11:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
David is handling the situation with his parents very well. At least he does understand why it has come about.
Author:  Alison H [ Fri May 25, 2007 8:19 am ]
Post subject: 
“Hey, welcome home!” he exclaimed in delight. “Come here and give your big brother a hug! I was going to come round and see you tomorrow evening: I thought you might still be tired today after all that travelling, or busy doing your unpacking. Everything all right? Decent journey? And how does it feel to’ve left school at last – or has it not sunk in yet?”

“It hasn’t sunk in at all,” she laughed, hugging him warmly. “I keep feeling as if come September I’ll be labelling my trunk ready to go back to the Oberland yet again: I can’t get used to the idea that I won’t be! And everything’s fine: the ferry crossing was a bit rough but nothing too bad; and I wasn’t too tired this morning so I got up early and got everything unpacked. My clothes all got pretty creased up in the trunk – Mum said that it served me right for not packing the way Matey always taught me! – but Marie’s ironed them all so they’re all okay now; and there weren’t any other problems.”

“Jolly good!” A pang of some sort of emotion, maybe something akin to unease, shot through him at the thought of Marie Monier doing his sister’s ironing, and he reminded himself – as he so often had to these days – that it was silly to feel like that. Doing the Russells’ housework was Marie’s job, just as being a doctor was his. There was nothing about that that should make him or anyone else feel uneasy. It was just that … he shook his head, aware that his sister was still standing on the doorstep. “Come on in then. Have you come on your own?”

Ailie shook her head. “Kevin and Kester insisted on coming along when I said that I was coming to see you.” She grinned at him. “You know they both think you’re wonderful: I have no idea why, but they do! They’re just inspecting the car for damage, because Kevin insisted that I’d scraped the side of the wall backing out of the drive - but I didn’t do anything of the sort: I don’t know why no-one trusts my driving! Dad actually wanted Andreas to bring us and then come back to collect us later – I’m not sure if it was me and the boys he was worried about or his precious car - but I did manage to convince him that it wasn’t necessary.”

“I should think not. It’s hardly very fair expecting Andreas to run round after everyone like that, is it?” Or maybe it was. Andreas was employed by his parents, after all. And the Moniers and the Russells had always had a very good relationship: it was just the type of relationship, in the eyes of both families … he made himself push the thought to the back of his mind before he could get distracted, and walked back into the living room with Ailie following him, leaving the door open for the twins. A minute later they heard a loud clattering as Kester tripped over one of David’s shoes - which was lying about in the porch - and fell on to Kevin who was just in front of him, and both of ended up on the floor.

“Evening, you two!” David called. “What on earth are you doing out there?”

“Hi David. Kester barged into me and we both fell over, but it was your fault for leaving your stupid shoes in the middle of the porch like that,” Kevin said as the two of them picked themselves up and made their way into the living room, where they both took their own shoes off and plonked themselves down unceremoniously on the settee. Things at David's were always so much more relaxed than they were at home: that was one of the reasons that they enjoyed coming here so much. “There isn’t anything wrong with the car after all, Ailie: you must’ve been lucky and just missed the wall. David, have you got any biscuits or cake or anything? I’m starving.”

“Kevin Russell, you are the world’s biggest pig!” Ailie said exasperatedly. “You’ve only just had your dinner. How can you possibly be hungry again already?”

“We’re growing lads: that’s what Marie and Rosa say,” Kester told her. “Hi David. I’ll have some cake as well if you’ve got any, please.”

“I’ve got some chocolate cake that Mrs Rilk made: you can have some of that,” David said. “Don’t tell Mum or Dad that I gave you cake when you’d only just eaten, though!” He went into the kitchen, cut four slices of cake and put each of them on to a plate. He knew very well that despite what Ailie had just said to Kevin she’d want a piece too, and he thought that he might as well have a piece himself - it was very nice cake, after all!

Mrs Rilk was his cleaner, and she also did some cooking for him. She was a lovely lady with a heart of gold even if she did talk a bit too much; a widow in her fifties with two sons, one about his own age and one a little younger. Both her sons still lived with her and she was devoted to them, even if she did keep saying that it was high time that both they and he found themselves a nice young lady each. As if he didn’t hear enough of that from his own mother!
Author:  Lexi [ Fri May 25, 2007 8:58 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison :D

It's lovely to see how well David gets on with Ailie and the boys, really realistic family scenes there. I wonder whether there are going to be any ructions caused by those feelings he's having about the Russell/Monier relationship?
Author:  brie [ Fri May 25, 2007 9:44 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison.

I guess we can assume from that, that he definetely has feeling for Gretchen then :D
Author:  Rosalin [ Fri May 25, 2007 9:55 am ]
Post subject: 
Ooh, wonder what Madge will think. (Assuming that we're all reading this right re David and Gretchen).

Thanks Alison, looking foward to seeing where this one goes.
Author:  ibarhis [ Fri May 25, 2007 9:57 am ]
Post subject: 
I'm wondering if the title is astrological or astronomical!

Luck or geography anyone?
Author:  Jennie [ Fri May 25, 2007 10:34 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I hope Madge and Jem will soon start to realise that David is grown up now.
Author:  Sal [ Fri May 25, 2007 12:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison :)
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Fri May 25, 2007 1:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thank you, Alison. I do find myself sympathising with Madge here - now that I have an adult daughter "within reach", albeit at the far end of the Victoria Line, I am so afraid of interfering too much in her life. I probably go to the other extreme and leave her too much alone.... but still feel guilty that we are away the weekend she and her husband move into their new maisonette, and so on.... It's very hard; my mother always (and still does) leaves it up to us to get in touch, largely because her mother depended on her until she died about ten years ago, and I try to do the same, but oh, the temptation to invite them to lunch, or whatever....

And, of course, whichever you do you never get it right....! So I feel sorry for Madge here, almost more than for David.
Author:  Chair [ Fri May 25, 2007 4:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. It was nice to see them together.
Author:  Lesley [ Fri May 25, 2007 5:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
Very telling that David feels so awkward about his parents relationship with Gretchen's parents.


Thanks Alison
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Sat May 26, 2007 1:03 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison-glad to have two updates to catch up with
Author:  Cath V-P [ Sat May 26, 2007 1:19 am ]
Post subject: 
Intriguing..... thank you Alison
Author:  Alison H [ Sat May 26, 2007 7:35 am ]
Post subject: 
“When Mrs Rilk comes in tomorrow and sees that half the cake’s gone, she’ll think I’ve scoffed it all myself, and then the next time I see her she’ll tell me off for not sticking to proper nutritious meals,” he said to Ailie, who’d followed him into the kitchen. “She’s absolutely convinced that a man on his own isn’t capable of looking after himself properly!”

“She’s probably right!” Ailie said. She laughed. “You’ve done very well to remain single this long: I bet it’s not for the want of trying that Mum hasn’t found you a wife yet! Or that someone living round here hasn’t found you a wife yet, for that matter. They were probably all really excited when you moved in – like Mrs Bennet and the others at the beginning of Pride and Prejudice, when Mr Bingley moved into Netherfield. In fact, I can just hear them all. My dear, have you heard? Not only is he a doctor, with his own practice – well, a half share in a practice, anyway – but he’s the heir to a baronetcy as well. What a fine thing for one of our girls! ”

“You don’t half talk the biggest load of nonsense sometimes, Ailie Russell!” David told his sister, who was giggling away at her own joke. “Make yourself useful and go and take two of these plates into the living room, will you?” He started to laugh as well, more at Ailie’s giggles than at anything she’d just said, but then he stopped and shook his head.
Marriage! If only it were ever likely to happen to him – but he had no idea even how the only person to whom he could envisage himself ever wanting to be married really felt about him, let alone how she’d feel about the idea of marrying him.

“I’ll just shift the post off the table and shove it on the side, otherwise something important’s bound to end up covered in crumbs,” Ailie said, as she put the first two plates down in front of her younger brothers - who were waiting at the table and fell on the cake with more enthusiasm than good manners - and David came into the living room carrying the two remaining plates. The foreign stamp on the envelope on the top of the pile caught her eye and she looked at it with interest. “Oh – who’s writing to you from Austria?”

“Don’t be so nosy!” David put the plates down, grabbed the letter, put it in his pocket and hastily moved to change the subject. “Any news from Mum and Dad?”

Ailie looked at him curiously, but decided that it might be better not to enquire any further as to the provenance of the Austrian letter: it was obviously something that he didn’t want to talk about, for whatever reason. “Actually, that reminds me: I’ve got two messages for you from Mum and Dad,” she said instead. “Well, one from each of them, actually. First of all, Dad said to remind you that the Rotary Club quiz starts at half past seven sharp tomorrow evening and to ask you please not to be late.”

“I told him that I didn’t want to go to that,” David said exasperatedly. “If he’s put my name down for his team then I suppose I’ll have to go now, and it is for a good cause after all; but I did tell him.” He sighed. This sort of thing happened all the time, and he was getting thoroughly fed up of it. “What else?”

“Are they driving you mad?” Ailie smiled sympathetically. “The other thing was that Mum said to make sure that you’d not forgotten about dinner on Friday, and to tell you to make sure that you get changed after work and put one of your best suits on, seeing as we’ll be having guests.”
Author:  Lesley [ Sat May 26, 2007 7:41 am ]
Post subject: 
Poor David - his parents are obviously not listening to him. He needs to assert himself more - but it can be so hard to do when you don't want to hurt the people concerned.


Thanks Alison.
Author:  brie [ Sat May 26, 2007 8:05 am ]
Post subject: 
David seems so nice here, and I like Ailie too

Thanks Alison
Author:  Lottie [ Sat May 26, 2007 9:22 am ]
Post subject: 
Poor David! I like Ailie's Pride and Prejudice comment.

Thanks, Alison.
Author:  Miranda [ Sat May 26, 2007 9:37 am ]
Post subject: 
Guests? Hmmm will this be anyone we know I wonder?

I loved the Pride & Prej comment too :lol: Your family scenes are so lovely (except, of course, when they're not meant to be...)

Thanks Alison - I'm so pleased to have David and his world back (and three updates!!!) :D
Author:  Jennie [ Sat May 26, 2007 11:46 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. Fussy parents who won't realise that their children have grown up!
Author:  Fatima [ Sat May 26, 2007 12:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
Poor David, he's really being hastled by them!
Author:  Alex [ Sat May 26, 2007 12:22 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison, for posting with such delightful regularity. It is helping to stop me stressing about revision (no pressure).
Author:  Chair [ Sat May 26, 2007 5:06 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I'm sorry that Jem put David's name down anyway.
Author:  Alison H [ Sun May 27, 2007 8:00 am ]
Post subject: 
“I’m surprised that she didn’t tell you to remind me to wash behind my ears as well,” he remarked. “Honestly! And she can rest assured that there’s not the slightest chance of me forgetting about dinner on Friday: Daisy’s been going on about it non-stop for the last fortnight and no doubt she’ll be doing so for the rest of the week as well.” He smiled. “She and Gwensi are so excited at the thought of their old trio all being together again, even if it is only going to be briefly. Neither of them can wait until Beth arrives!”

Daisy had settled down very easily to life back in Armishire; and one of the main reasons for that was that it meant her being able to see a lot of her old schoolfriend Gwensi Howell, who was now a successful novelist, married with a young son and daughter, and living not far from the Rosomons’ home in Howells Village. However, the third member of their trio from schooldays, Beth Atherton, née Chester, lived in Guernsey with her husband Noel and their three children; and neither Daisy nor Gwensi got to see her nearly as often as any of them would have liked.

One of Beth’s sisters, Nancy, lived in Birmingham where her husband, like David, was a doctor who’d spent several years working in a hospital but had recently set up in general practice. Noel Atherton had to attend a meeting in Birmingham, and Beth and the children were accompanying him so that they could take the opportunity to visit Nancy and her family, and the Chester girls’ mother Anne was coming with them too. The third of the four Chester sisters, Barbara, who now had a good job in London as a trilingual secretary, was also joining them, having taken a couple of days off work to spend some time with her family whilst they were in England.

Birmingham was only about sixty miles from Howells Village, and Beth had wanted to take a diversion on the way home to see Daisy and Gwensi. When Madge had heard about the proposed visit, she’d suggested that the Chester/Atherton party all come to her house for dinner and then stay overnight as neither Daisy nor Gwensi had room for all of them. The two families were quite close, having lived not far from each other during the War years and with all their daughters knowing each other from school. Anne Chester’s sister Elizabeth was Ailie’s godmother, Ailie’s two closest friends were Beth’s youngest sister Janice and Noel’s niece Judy Willoughby, and Josette had been very friendly with Barbara at one time. Why his mother wanted him to go along for dinner as well David didn’t know; but Beth and the others were all pleasant enough and it would be interesting to catch up on all the news from the Chesters and their relatives, so he was quite looking forward to it.

“I’m not surprised that Beth and Gwensi are so excited: they can’t’ve seen Beth for ages,” Ailie said. “It doesn’t half feel weird knowing that I’m not going to be seeing Jan and Judy all the time any more. I really wish Jan was coming as well, but I suppose she’s only just got home and she’s got things to do. Anyway, someone has to keep an eye on Uncle Peter and the boys! And I’ll have plenty of time with Jan and Judy when I go down to Guernsey in August. I’m so glad we’ve got that fortnight fixed up, because I’m not going to have much chance to see them for long during the Christmas hols, with going to Switzerland for Len’s wedding.”

She pulled a face. “I cannot even begin to tell you how vile the bridesmaids’ dresses that Len’s chosen are! We’re going to look like a bunch of walking meringues – and don’t any of you dare laugh. I won’t repeat what Con said when she saw them! Out of all of us the only ones who actually like them are Felicity and Lucy, and what that says about their taste I’m not entirely sure!”

“Who’s Lucy again?” Kevin asked. “I get confused when you keep going on about all these people in Switzerland. I know you know who they all are, but we don’t!”

“She’s Lucy Peters, Felicity’s best friend,” Ailie explained. “Her mum’s known Reg since he was a little boy: he thinks of Mrs Peters almost as an older sister. It was sweet of Len to think of asking Lucy to be a bridesmaid, really, because there’d’ve been no-one from Reg’s side otherwise.”
Author:  brie [ Sun May 27, 2007 9:05 am ]
Post subject: 
Nice to see an update on the Chesters et al.

I see its not just me who thinks Len wouldn't have the best dress sense! :wink:

Thanks Alison
Author:  Chair [ Sun May 27, 2007 9:07 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. It's lovely that Daisy, Beth and Gwensi will be reunited.
Author:  Lesley [ Sun May 27, 2007 9:33 am ]
Post subject: 
Is Madge considering pairing David with Barbara?

Loved that Alison -nice to know what's happening with everyone. Glad Daisy's settling down - and love the opinions on Len's dress sense! :lol:

Thank you.
Author:  Lottie [ Sun May 27, 2007 9:58 am ]
Post subject: 
Lesley wrote:
Is Madge considering pairing David with Barbara?

My thoughts, exactly!

Thanks, Alison. :D
Author:  ness [ Sun May 27, 2007 11:54 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison I'm really enjoying this.

Its great to have daily updates too :D
Author:  Jennie [ Sun May 27, 2007 12:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
Another great daily update, thanks, Alison.

Madge should butt out.
Author:  Fatima [ Sun May 27, 2007 2:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
I really enjoyed catching up on all the hanes there, thanks Alison.
Author:  Bride [ Sun May 27, 2007 2:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thank you so much for writing this! I loved "Shaking off the Chains" and I was very excited to find a new story set in the David/Gretchen universe. There is going to be a happy ending, right???
Author:  Sarah_K [ Sun May 27, 2007 10:01 pm ]
Post subject: 
Len may have horrendous taste in bridesmaid dresses but at least she thought to ask Lucy too, it must be hard for Reg having so few "people of his own".

I can see squalls ahead if Madge tries to set David up with anyone!
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Sun May 27, 2007 10:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sarah_K wrote:
Len may have horrendous taste in bridesmaid dresses but at least she thought to ask Lucy too, it must be hard for Reg having so few "people of his own".


I think most bridemaids dresses are fairly ordinary as it's hard to please every one and at least Len is being extremely caring with chosing her bridesmaid. By the way I always thought Meringue style dresses were an eighties thing?
Author:  Alison H [ Sun May 27, 2007 10:57 pm ]
Post subject: 
Fiona Mc wrote:

I think most bridemaids dresses are fairly ordinary as it's hard to please every one and at least Len is being extremely caring with chosing her bridesmaid. By the way I always thought Meringue style dresses were an eighties thing?


Charles and Diana's wedding popularised them, so the '80s were when they were fashionable.

I was speaking to a relation tonight who has been asked to be a bridesmaid at a friend's wedding and wear a green dress ... I reckon Len would really have gone for that ...
Author:  Cath V-P [ Sun May 27, 2007 11:29 pm ]
Post subject: 
Loved the comment about dresses!

Hmm, wonder who Madge has in mind for David....
Author:  Miranda [ Mon May 28, 2007 5:51 am ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
“Who’s Lucy again?” Kevin asked. “I get confused when you keep going on about all these people in Switzerland. I know you know who they all are, but we don’t!”


That must just about sum up what most male characters in CS land thought about their sisters/mothers! They must have been so confused sometimes....
Author:  Alison H [ Mon May 28, 2007 7:35 am ]
Post subject: 
Kevin and Kester's remarks in this post are based on remarks made by Phoebe and Joey in "Jo to the Rescue". Thanks for all your comments so far :D .

“He hasn’t got much family, has he?” David mused, trying to remember what he could about his cousin’s fiancé’s background. He’d met Reg a few times, in the days when the Maynards had lived in Britain and Reg had sometimes visited them during school holidays. Hearing about how Reg had been determined to become a doctor even in the days when he’d expected to have to leave school at fourteen had made him think long and hard about just how much he and his elder cousin Rix, both also with their minds set on careers in medicine even back then, took for granted: there’d never at any stage of their lives been the slightest question of either of them having to leave school before the age of eighteen, or not being able to go to medical school if they worked hard and won a place there.

“If I remember rightly, he’s got an aunt and uncle and some cousins in Canada, on his father’s side; but he’s not in touch with them,” he said, with a vague recollection of hearing Reg mention them once or twice. “And of course there was the great-aunt on his mother’s side, the one who brought him up; but she passed away quite a while ago.”

“Can you imagine what she must’ve been like?” Kester said. “The great-aunt, I mean. I heard Mum and Auntie Joey talking about her last time the Maynards were over here. She made Reg go to the village school when he lived with her. He hated it, Auntie Joey told Mum.”

“I’m not surprised!” Kevin put in. “I bet he never learnt a thing. And I heard Auntie Joey telling Mum that that great-aunt wanted Reg to leave school when he was fourteen – and get a job working for a farmer! It was jolly lucky for him that he met Auntie Joey and Uncle Jack, wasn’t it? Ugh - can you imagine having to clean out pigsties and stuff like that all day? Reg said that there was no way he was doing that, Auntie Joey said. This great-aunt was related to him on his mum’s side, though. His dad’s side wasn’t so bad. His dad was a teacher. And his dad’s dad was a doctor: Auntie Joey and Uncle Jack think that Reg must take after him. But Reg’s mum married above her station.”

At that point David banged his fist on the table, and the other three nearly jumped out of their skins. It was utterly unlike David to do something like that even in the middle of an argument, never mind a casual exchange of family gossip, and if he lost his temper with anyone then it was never with any of his younger siblings. They all looked at him in alarm.

“That is enough!” he said furiously. “I will not have that sort of snobbery in my house, do you two hear me? In fact, I don’t want to hear either of you speaking like that anywhere, ever. You should be ashamed of yourselves, coming out with that sort of nonsense. What exactly do you think’s wrong with the village schools and the people who go to them and the people who teach in them? Or with farm work, or any sort of honest work that people do to earn a living for that matter? And as for that claptrap about “marrying above her station” … well, I don’t know where you’ve heard that sort of ridiculous expression but don’t ever let me hear you using it again. I don’t know where you pick this sort of thing up but you both ought to have a lot more sense - not to mention common decency. I’m ashamed of the pair of you: I really am.”

“David, there’s no need to shout at the boys like that,” Ailie said quietly. She could see from the expressions on the twins’ faces how shocked and upset they were at being reprimanded so harshly by their adored elder brother; and she was quite shocked herself by his outburst. She couldn’t recall ever having heard him speak to Kevin and Kester like that before. “They’re only repeating what they’ve heard other people saying. Everything they’ve just said came from things Mrs Peters said to Auntie Joey about Reg during that first holiday in Garnham just before I was born: I’ve heard Auntie Joey telling Mum about it myself. I’m not saying that it’s the right way to look at things because personally I don’t think it is; but you can’t really blame them for repeating comments they’ve heard in their own home.” She looked at him curiously. “Why are you getting so worked up about it, anyway? Since when have you been so interested in Reg’s relations?”

“It’s got nothing to do with Reg’s relations,” David muttered. “I just don’t like people making out that other people aren’t as good as they are just because of their background, as if what school somebody went to or what their parents do or how much money their family’s got somehow makes them better than or different from anyone else. It’s wrong to think like that: it’s wrong.”

He looked at his brothers apologetically, then he stood up and put one arm round Kevin’s shoulders and the other arm round Kester’s. “I’m really sorry, though, you two: I didn’t mean to shout. But, although I don’t really mean to be critical of Mrs Peters or anyone else, in future try to think a little bit more carefully before you repeat things you’ve heard other people say, will you? And remember that it’s what somebody’s like and what they do – and you’ll often find that people who didn’t start out with a lot of advantages in life work an awful lot harder than those who did - that’s what matters, not where they’ve come from or who their parents are. We’re all just human beings when all’s said and done, after all. It’s the person themself who matters, nothing else.”
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Mon May 28, 2007 9:00 am ]
Post subject: 
:lol: :lol: :lol: Sorry loved David's soapbox and he's absolutely right by the way. If he's not careful Ailie will put two and two together and make about six. Thanks for the update
Author:  brie [ Mon May 28, 2007 9:15 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison.

Ailie is so going to guess now.

I love what David was saying there, I'm kind of in the same situation as David (not really) because my SLOC and I are from different areas, and he's had a few people telling him, that we shouldn't be together, and that he's just a boy from the scheme etc :evil:

So anyway, Thanks Alison
Author:  Lesley [ Mon May 28, 2007 9:18 am ]
Post subject: 
I expect there is a lot of guilt mixed in with David's anger too - because until he met Gretchen he thought like that as well.

As for Reg and his Auntie - I'm afraid Patmac's series of drabbles have completely changed how I look at both Reg and Auntie. :lol:


Thanks Alison.
Author:  Elbee [ Mon May 28, 2007 9:37 am ]
Post subject: 
Well done David, although as Lesley said, he used to think like that too!

Thanks Alison.
Author:  Fatima [ Mon May 28, 2007 2:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
Oohh, that was a very telling outburst of David's! Thanks Alison.
Author:  Sal [ Mon May 28, 2007 2:06 pm ]
Post subject: 
:D I've just had three updates to read in one go. I agree with the others that have said that Ailie will guess if David's not careful. Thanks Alison
Author:  Chair [ Mon May 28, 2007 4:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I'm sorry that Reg's Auntie has died. I also enjoyed David's soapbox.
Author:  JustJen [ Mon May 28, 2007 4:22 pm ]
Post subject: 
Go David!
Author:  Kathy_S [ Mon May 28, 2007 4:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Nicely said, David. :D
Now, if only Daisy's arranged to have Gretchen show up at the reunion dinner. :twisted:
Author:  Jennie [ Mon May 28, 2007 7:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
Madge would expect her to be oneof the staff and wait on the family at the table.
Author:  Cath V-P [ Mon May 28, 2007 11:36 pm ]
Post subject: 
David is so very right, but of course, people did (and do) think in just those ways - and fourteen-year-old schoolboys generally haven't yet reached the point of thinking about what they're saying, especially if it reflects what they've heard around them. But good for David, to say what he now believes in.
Author:  Alison H [ Tue May 29, 2007 7:00 am ]
Post subject: 
Hope this is OK - I'm always slightly wary about mentioning religious issues because I work with someone who tends to fly off the handle whenever anyone discusses them! BTW, Gretchen hasn't actually been mentioned so far ... :lol:

The twins both nodded; but the atmosphere in the room had become slightly strained and Ailie decided that it would be a good idea to change the topic of conversation to something other than Reg’s family tree and other people’s interpretations of it as soon as possible.

“Anyway, to get back to the wedding,” she said hastily. “I can’t believe that it’s less than six months off now. Now that Len’s home, she’s going to be rushed off her feet trying to get everything organised. I just hope Auntie Joey doesn’t drive her too mad: she’s really excited about being the mother of the bride. And she thinks it’s so wonderful that they’re going to be the first people to get married in one of the school chapels. Personally I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather get married less!” The expression on her face grew thoughtful. “I suppose it’s going to be a bit strange for Reg, really - getting married in a Catholic chapel when he’s an Anglican, and having to get the priest to grant them a dispensation so that they can have the service there at all. I know that different religions are only different paths to God, as Mum and Auntie Joey both always say; but I still think I might feel a bit strange about it if I were him.”

“What’ve they got to get a dis-pen-sa-tion thing from the priest for?” Kester wanted to know.

“So that they can get married in the chapel even though Reg isn’t a Catholic,” Ailie explained. “They’ll have to have a civil ceremony to be married legally, because that’s the way it works in Switzerland, but they want to have a religious ceremony as well. I don’t think that Len’d feel properly married if they didn’t have the Catholic service as well as the civil service. ”

“But might Reg not feel that they’re not properly married, because they’re not having an Anglican service?” Kevin asked rather confusedly. “Doesn’t he mind about it all having to be done Len’s way? Or is he just not bothered so long as they actually get married?”

“Look, presumably he’s all right about it or he’d have said so, wouldn’t he?” David said tersely.

Ailie looked at him in surprise. He really did seem to be acting very strangely this evening. First that business with the letter; then losing his rag about Reg’s relations, whom he didn’t even know; and now this. What on earth was up with him? “Are you all right, David?” she asked tentatively.

“Me? Oh – yes, I’m fine. Of course I’m fine. Why shouldn’t I be?” He really would have to stop letting everything get to him like this all the time, he thought. He was going to drive himself mad, otherwise. And he couldn’t let himself get upset like this when other people were around: it wasn't fair to anyone to do that. “Er, all I meant was that two people having different religions shouldn’t stop them from getting married, and Reg obviously thinks that as well so he’s happy to go along with it all,” he added quickly.

Ailie wasn’t entirely convinced that he was fine, but she didn’t think she was going to get any more out of him so she decided not to ask again. Maybe he was just tired and ready for a holiday, she thought. He did work very hard, after all. Well, he didn’t have long to wait if that was the case. She, Kevin, Kester and their parents would shortly be heading off for a family holiday, at Die Blumen, the Maynards’ house at the Tiernsee – and she’d been surprised but very pleased to hear that David was going to be joining them.
Author:  ibarhis [ Tue May 29, 2007 8:07 am ]
Post subject: 
Poor David... trying to work through such a huge change in mindset against a background which is comfortable and (relatively) unthinking...
Author:  Elbee [ Tue May 29, 2007 9:49 am ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
She, Kevin, Kester and their parents would shortly be heading off for a family holiday, at Die Blumen, the Maynards’ house at the Tiernsee – and she’d been surprised but very pleased to hear that David was going to be joining them.


Aha!! Does he by any chance bump into Gretchen whilst there?! :D

Thanks Alison.
Author:  ibarhis [ Tue May 29, 2007 9:56 am ]
Post subject: 
Bump into? I don't suppose there would be anything accidental about it...
Author:  brie [ Tue May 29, 2007 12:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
thanks Alison
Author:  macyrose [ Tue May 29, 2007 12:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
If the family's going to the Tiernsee and David is keen on Gretchen (which from hints it looks like he is) I can see it not taking long for Ailie to figure it out.
Author:  Miranda [ Tue May 29, 2007 1:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think you've done a good job of the religion discussion - you've not made any judgements, but just presented the character's thoughts.

I would love to be a fly on the wall when Ailie realises about David and Gretchen!!

Thanks Alison :D
Author:  Jennie [ Tue May 29, 2007 3:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
It's Madge's reaction that I'm dreading.
Author:  ibarhis [ Tue May 29, 2007 3:22 pm ]
Post subject: 
I don't know about Madge, I don't think Gretchen's parents will be any happier!
Author:  Tan [ Tue May 29, 2007 3:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hmm. Does David know he is going on holidays with his family? It seems that a lot of other decisions are made for him ...
Author:  Fatima [ Tue May 29, 2007 3:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
You may not have mentioned Grechen yet, Alison, but we're all convinced she's just waiting in the wings and we're going to be so disappointed if she's not!
Author:  ibarhis [ Tue May 29, 2007 3:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
Of course, if it isn't Gretchen then, when this drabble is complete we still have Gretchen's story to come... 2 rather than one can't be all bad!
Author:  Pat [ Tue May 29, 2007 7:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
ibarhis wrote:
Of course, if it isn't Gretchen then, when this drabble is complete we still have Gretchen's story to come... 2 rather than one can't be all bad!


That's a good point! :lol: :lol:
Author:  Jennie [ Tue May 29, 2007 7:15 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yes, but most of us want it to be Gretchen.
Author:  Lesley [ Tue May 29, 2007 8:57 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison - of course this is set in the 1960's - and early 60's at that - it was probably far less frequent that you'd have 'mixed' marriages between Protestant and Catholic then.
Author:  Alison H [ Wed May 30, 2007 7:58 am ]
Post subject: 
Ailie hadn’t been too keen on the idea of this holiday initially, feeling that, at nearly twenty, she was getting past the stage of going away with her mother and father and younger brothers. However, having a family holiday so that they could all spend some time together before she went to college had been the condition on which her parents had agreed to her spending part of the summer vacation in Guernsey with her friends, and because of that she hadn’t argued about it.

Really, she supposed that she’d got off very lightly, considering that Sybil had been forced to give up her art needlework course and Josette to forsake her year at St Mildred’s so that their parents could “spend some time” with them! And, actually, she was pretty lucky to be getting to spend a couple of weeks in a pleasant Continental lakeside resort where there was plenty to see and do and hopefully the weather would be warm and sunny! Besides, over the years, she and David – especially David - had both had long periods away from their parents and the twins, and so it would be good for them all to spend some time together now that they had the chance. And she liked the Tiernsee, even if she could never see why her mother and father and Auntie Joey and Uncle Jack, and David for that matter, thought that it was quite so wonderful. Then again, she’d never lived there as they all had. For the first six years of his life, David had never lived anywhere else.

For David it would be the first proper holiday that he’d had since taking over the practice, so perhaps it was no wonder that he seemed to be tired, she thought. A locum doctor would be taking over part of his workload whilst he was away; and also for that fortnight Daisy would be working full time - Rosa would be staying with the Rosomons to look after the children and the house. Marie and Andreas, however, were going to Die Blumen with the Russells, and they were probably more excited about it the trip than anyone.

She’d heard them talking this morning about how much they were looking forward to seeing all their relatives and friends in Tyrol. For the first time in a long time they’d be getting the chance to see Marie’s parents and all the many other Tyrol-based members of the large Pfeifen family, and Marie’s lifelong friend Karen, the former head of the Chalet School domestic staff, who now lived in Mayrhofen with her husband and two young children. But the person that they were most of all looking forward to seeing was, of course, their eldest daughter, who’d moved back to Briesau four and a half years earlier and, much as she missed her parents and brothers and sister, was so very happily settled there.

“Oh, never mind Len’s wedding: that’s months off yet!” she said. “We’ve got a fortnight in Tyrol coming up: we should be talking about that instead! Everyone looking forward to it?”

Kevin and Kester both nodded their heads enthusiastically. “I’m really glad you’re coming with us, David,” Kevin said. “You can take us out rowing on the lake and climbing up mountains and trekking through the woods and everything, instead of making us go and look at places where Auntie Joey and her friends fell over things a million years ago like Mum and Dad would if we were with them all the time.”

“And you won’t keep going on at us because we can’t speak German, like it’s our fault that we only started learning it at school this year,” Kester added. “We’re going to have a brilliant time!”

“Ahem. I think David wants to have a bit of a rest whilst he’s there as well, not to spend the entire fortnight looking after you pair,” Ailie laughed. “But I agree: it’s going to be great.”

“Well, I daresay that we’ll find time for an expedition or three whilst we’re there,” David said, smiling. “You’ll have to think about where you’d like to go – I’m sure that Mum and Dad’ll be only too pleased to remind you about all the things there are to see and do in the Tiernsee area. But Ailie’s right: we won’t be spending all our time together. There are … well, there are other things that I need to do. Whilst I’m there.”

Later, when his younger siblings had departed, and at his insistence had rung him when they’d got home to let him know that they’d arrived safely, David took the letter out of his pocket and read it for a fourth time and then a fifth time, hoping desperately as he always did that something she’d written might somehow make things clearer to him. But nothing did. He was as confused and unsure as he’d been every day for the past fourteen months.

She must care about him at least a little bit, mustn’t she? Otherwise she wouldn’t write so much and so often, not when she had a full time job and a house to run and so much else going on in her life. But did she only care about him as a friend? And, even if she did think of him as more than that, would she, given their circumstances, ever tell him so?

He read the end of the letter yet again, but it told him nothing. She’d simply signed off, as she always did, with “Best wishes, Gretchen”.
Author:  Tan [ Wed May 30, 2007 8:02 am ]
Post subject: 
Yay! We finally get confirmation that Gretchen is part of the story!!
Author:  Miranda [ Wed May 30, 2007 8:05 am ]
Post subject: 
I laughed at Ailie's wariness of family holidays :lol: There is a certain age where it seems *harder* to be as a family when you're away somewhere rather than just at home.

Poor David, being so uncertain about Gretchen (aha! she's been mentioned!) - I wonder how he signs off his letters then? :D

Thanks Alison
Author:  brie [ Wed May 30, 2007 1:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison!
Author:  Fatima [ Wed May 30, 2007 2:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'm glad they're taking Marie and Andreas with them. They will love to have the chance to see their family again after being away so long.
Author:  Lizzie [ Wed May 30, 2007 5:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
Jennie wrote:
It's Madge's reaction that I'm dreading.


Really? I can't WAIT! :lol:

Thanks Alison, this is ace!
Author:  Lesley [ Wed May 30, 2007 6:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
This will be the first time Gretchen's parents have been back home, won't it? So both sets of parents will be there...hmmmm, interesting.

Thanks Alison
Author:  Chair [ Wed May 30, 2007 6:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I'm glad that the letters are from Gretchen.
Author:  Jennie [ Wed May 30, 2007 6:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. Why doesn't David realise that he's being a 'laggard in love'?

Tell the girl that you love her, David, and get on with it!
Author:  Sarah_K [ Wed May 30, 2007 10:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
You knew you couldn't fool us David ;)

I think Ailie's likely to catch on pretty fast too, kevin and Kester not so much!
Author:  Cath V-P [ Wed May 30, 2007 11:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
Ah, the joys of family holidays!

Hopefully David will get some time to himself - and I loved Kevin's horror at the idea of
Quote:
making us go and look at places where Auntie Joey and her friends fell over things a million years ago
. :D
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Thu May 31, 2007 12:26 am ]
Post subject: 
This will be interesting having both sets of parents there not just David's. Though as an aside and I know it was only a couple of posts ago, I thought Phoebe's issue about Reg and his Aunt wasn't so much he was sent to a village school but that she refused to send him to High School/Grammer school so he could go on and become a doctor and not have to leave school at fourteen and work instead simply because his aunt thought it was rising above his station in life.
And in regards to Marie and Anderas working for the Russell's and doing things like driving and ironing, it is there job. No offense but I'm sure they would rather be able to work than be paid for doing nothing-that would seem like charity to them. Having worked as a Nanny I know I would hate to be paid for not doing much and feeling like I was there out of the goodness of my employers heart not because they actually needed me.
Anyway I'll climb down off my soapbox now and say thanks Alison, am enjoying this as always! :lol:
Author:  jennifer [ Thu May 31, 2007 2:56 am ]
Post subject: 
I can see problems, though. David has finally got a position he likes, and Daisy and her family depend on him as well - I don't think he'd easily ditch it to move to Europe. Gretchen seems blissfully happy in Austria, and if she were to marry David she would have to give up her job and current life, which is what she was afraid of earlier.

Add to the fact that Marie and Andreas have been the Russell's servants for close to years at this point. The Russells care for them, but in an employer caring for a family retainer sense rather than a relationship of friends, colleagues or equals.

I'm not sure who would have the more disturbed reaction - Madge and Jem because their son is marrying the servants daughter and turning their not malicious but very ingrained class prejudices upside down, or Marie and Andreas because their daughter is marrying the bosses son, and moving away from her roots and station in life.
Author:  Alison H [ Thu May 31, 2007 7:54 am ]
Post subject: 
Hope this bit isn't too long and waffly :oops:. Madge's comments about David are from "Peggy".

Yet again he went over in his mind every detail he could recall about that visit to Tyrol the previous year. He’d gone there to fill in for his father - who’d been recovering from a car accident - at a medical conference held at the home of their long-time family friends, the von und zu Wertheims, and to have a bit of a holiday whilst he was there as well.

The events at the conference itself were slightly hazy in his mind now, fourteen months on; but he remembered everything else well enough. Going to the San to call in on Gretchen, whom he’d known since he was a toddler and she was a newborn baby. Asking her to join him for dinner, partly so that they could have a catch-up and partly just because the idea of spending the evening with an old friend had seemed so much more pleasant than the idea of spending the evening on his own. Then the two of them going to the post-conference dinner dance at the Schloss Wertheim together, and for a day out in Mayrhofen together, and then going to the Gauder Festival and back to Gretchen’s house for coffee and biscuits afterwards together. Both of them saying how much they’d enjoyed it all.

Him finally telling his parents what he’d decided about his future - after talking it all through with Gretchen. And then, after he’d discussed everything with his mother and father and also with Daisy and Laurie, him going back to the Sonnalpe San to see her, because he’d wanted so much to tell her everything that had happened … and because he hadn’t wanted to go back to England without seeing her one last time.

Somewhere along the line something had changed between him and the girl he’d known since his earliest childhood. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly when or where or how it had happened, but he knew that it had. And he knew exactly how he felt, but what he wasn’t sure about was exactly how she felt … and he didn’t know how to ask her.

It wasn’t that they weren’t in touch. Since his return from Tyrol they wrote to each other all the time. Not just a few “Hope you are well” lines either, but long, heartfelt letters telling each other anything and everything – well, almost everything - about what was going on in their lives and their minds. Even though he hadn’t seen or spoken to her for over a year, he felt closer to her than he did to anyone.

When he’d been at school, he’d often been teased about the amount of time he’d spent writing letters, by boys who’d insisted that letter-writing was for girls and had contented themselves with a bare few lines once a week just letting their parents know that they were still alive and well. But in his case there’d always been so much that he’d needed to say, so much to answer, and to so many people.

Uncle Dick came to see me yesterday, and told me that you’d be staying on in Canada until well into next year. He explained that you’d written to Auntie Joey, but that because you had so much to do you hadn’t had time to write to Sybs or me; so I’ll understand if you don’t get chance to answer this letter either. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be all right. I’m trying to work really hard in all my subjects, and the head of rugby says that I’ve got a good chance of getting in the first team next year. I’ll be fine, honestly.

Please, please try not to get so upset. The main reason they’re staying on is so that Dad can go to this place where they’re trying out this new drug, that’s all. There’s nothing wrong with Josette, and even if there were it wouldn’t be your fault - what happened was just an accident, Sybs, an accident. I wish I could come and see you, but I’ll write to you as often as I can, and I’ll see you in the holidays. It’ll be all right, Sybs, honestly it will.

Of course no-one’s forgotten about you, Prim: you mustn’t ever think that. You’ll come to Auntie Joey’s at Christmas with Sybs and me, and Daisy’ll come and visit when she can, and it’ll all be okay.

Thank you so much for saying that you and Peggy’d keep an eye on Sybs, Bride. And I’m all right, honestly, but thanks for asking. Apparently Mum said that she wasn’t worried about how I’d react because I was “sensible” and “placid”. Makes me sound like someone’s pet dog, doesn’t it?

I can’t believe I’ve got two little brothers! I just wish I could see them, and Mum too. Tell them that their big brother over here in England says hello, and give my love to everyone. Rix and Jackie send best wishes too.

I can’t wait till the summer holidays. This is going to be a difficult term with the exams coming up, but at least I know I’ll be seeing you all – and seeing some of Canada, and getting to go on a plane as well! – at the end of it.

Congratulations, Daisy! I’m really, really pleased for you and Dr Rosomon – or may I call him Laurie now that we’re going to be related?! It’s brilliant news!

I’m going to ask one of the fellows here if I can go home with him for half-term: I feel a bit awkward about asking, but it wouldn’t be fair of me to turn up at the Quadrant with things the way they are. Jackie asked me the other day if I thought that Auntie Mollie was going to die. I only hope I found the right things to say to him. I miss you all, Sybs, but I’m glad that you’re all over there in Canada and being spared the worst of this.

It’s conditional on my exam results, but I’ve been offered a place at medical school! It hasn’t really sunk in yet: I can‘ t quite believe it. It’s what I’ve always wanted, and I was so worried that everywhere’d turn me down - but they haven’t!

Of course, it was different now. He wrote to his sisters in Australia sometimes, but other than that he kept in touch with most people by telephone these days. It was quicker and simpler that way, and he’d always thought that it was bound to be easier to communicate with people when you could actually hear each other’s voices than to put down your thoughts and feelings on a piece of paper. But he found it amazingly easy to write to Gretchen, who didn’t have a telephone; and the letters that she sent to him were just as long and just as personal as the ones he sent her, almost as if she were in the room with him. He just couldn’t work out from them the one thing that he really needed to know.
Author:  ibarhis [ Thu May 31, 2007 7:59 am ]
Post subject: 
Long... but not too long... but waffly, definitely not... I really enjoyed David's point of view.
Author:  Tan [ Thu May 31, 2007 8:04 am ]
Post subject: 
A perfect length, and a fantastic insight into what it must have been like for David. I can really believe that he wrote those letters to Sybil and his other family members.
Author:  keren [ Thu May 31, 2007 8:30 am ]
Post subject: 
he wrote them wonderful lettters
it seems that even though he was away from all of his cousins (with whom he had been brought up) and siblings, he is still in the roll of oldest brother (cousin, except for Rix).
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Thu May 31, 2007 9:58 am ]
Post subject: 
Really love the letters David wrote especially the one between him and Bride and Prim. He just seems like such a lovely bloke.
Author:  Lexi [ Thu May 31, 2007 10:07 am ]
Post subject: 
It always really annoyed me that Madge found the time to write to Joey about the extended stay in Canada but couldn't spare time to write and tell her own children about it :roll:

I really liked the insight into David's mind through the letters :D
Author:  Mona [ Thu May 31, 2007 10:41 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the updates. I'm really enjoying this!
Author:  Lizzie [ Thu May 31, 2007 11:09 am ]
Post subject: 
Am adding David to my list of literary characters I would like to date.
Author:  Jennie [ Thu May 31, 2007 1:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I do wonder how much heartbreak some of those letters covered up. I still haven't forgiven Madge for not writing to her children herself. So she had a lot to do? Too much, and too important to put off whilst she wrote to her own children?
Author:  JustJen [ Thu May 31, 2007 2:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
Good for David for taking the time to write to his sibs and cousins where as Madge can't find the time to drop hom a line.
Author:  Chair [ Thu May 31, 2007 2:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. The letters sound lovely.
Author:  Sal [ Thu May 31, 2007 5:08 pm ]
Post subject: 
The letters were a really fascinating insight into David as he was growing up. Thanks Alison.
Author:  Lesley [ Thu May 31, 2007 5:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
It does seem very strange that Madge didn't write to David and Sybil herself - I think that EBD was trying to make it look better in that they would get a live body (Joey) to talk to, rather than just a letter - but couldn't she have written a note and asked Joey to speak to them?


Thanks Alison - David seems to have done a fair amount of parenting himself.
Author:  Cath V-P [ Thu May 31, 2007 11:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
The letters were such an insight into how David felt he had to take care of his siblings and cousins. He understands them very well.... :(
Author:  Alison H [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:50 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the comments. Unfortunately David seems to be having a bad attack of nerves ...

She was so much looking forward to them all coming to the Tiernsee, she’d written. Because she was looking forward to seeing her parents, he asked himself? Well, of course she was looking forward to seeing her parents. She was bound to be. But was she looking forward to seeing him as well? Well, hopefully she was. They were friends, after all. Close friends now. But was it more than that: did she think of him in any other way? And would this fortnight in Tyrol be when he finally found out, one way or the other?

She’d written, as she always did, about all sorts of things. Some of them were emotional and deeply personal – her concern about the health of her grandparents, and her great sadness at the death of a patient who’d been at the Sonnalpe San for a long time. Some of them were little anecdotes about her life at the Tiernsee and people they both knew – she’d been to Mayrhofen to visit Karen and her family; her Great Uncle August was still operating the summer steamers even though she was sure that he should be thinking about retiring at his age; and she’d seen his Auntie Joey’s friend Frau von Ahlen who’d been visiting her brother and his family at the Sonnalpe.

Some of them were just general comments - the weather was glorious and all the flowers were in bloom along the side of the Sonnalpe, and she hoped that it would still be like that in another few weeks when he was there. She’d even, as she – and he – often did, made reference to events in the national and international news which were of particular concern, in this case the worsening relations between Austria and Italy over the South Tyrol question and what she thought about it all.

Finally, she’d said that she hoped that he was all right and that he was taking care of himself: she’d got the impression from his last letter that he was tired. “Best wishes, Gretchen.”

No, he couldn’t tell anything very much from any of that. He sighed, put the letter back in its envelope, and put it carefully into a drawer along with all the others she’d sent him over the last fourteen months. Was fourteen months too long to have waited, without saying anything? He didn’t know how it had got to be fourteen months: it just had. Gretchen did sometimes come back to Britain to visit her parents, but last year she’d done so at New Year when he’d still been in London, and she’d had neither the time nor the money to come again later in the year. And he’d been setting up the practice and moving house and he’d had no real chance to get away until now.

Anyway, if he’d managed to go back to the Tiernsee any earlier it would’ve been on his own which, whilst in many ways it would’ve been easier, might well have been too obvious. And he so very much didn’t want to alarm her, or to embarrass her; and most of all he didn’t want to risk losing her friendship.

In fact, maybe he shouldn’t say anything at all. If he did, he’d only be setting himself up for a fall, upsetting Gretchen, and spoiling the relationship that they did have, wouldn’t he? She might be happy to be friends with him, but she was never going to allow it to go beyond that even if she did have any deeper feelings for him. Was she?
Author:  Lottie [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:58 am ]
Post subject: 
Well you'll never know if you don't ask her, David!!!

Thanks, Alison!
Author:  Tan [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:06 am ]
Post subject: 
Poor David. You can feel that he is so worried about this going wrong. I hope he takes a chance!
Author:  Lizzie [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:25 am ]
Post subject: 
Oh David.

Thanks Alison, this is beautifully written, and feels extremely realistic. When you started 'Shaking Off The Chains', was it always your idea to get David and Gretchen together? I'd love to think that you have written this sequel based almost entirely on nudges from the Great CBB Public! :lol:
Author:  Miranda [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:43 am ]
Post subject: 
*echoes Lizzie* Oh David....

Thanks Alison, this is so well written - I loved the letters, David is just such a nice guy, I find myself REALLY hoping that he is going to end up happy!!
Author:  brie [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:59 am ]
Post subject: 
I love David in this, he just seems so nice!
Author:  ibarhis [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:08 am ]
Post subject: 
Let's hope that when he actually sees her he will overcome his diffidence...
Author:  Alison H [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:22 am ]
Post subject: 
Lizzie wrote:
When you started 'Shaking Off The Chains', was it always your idea to get David and Gretchen together? I'd love to think that you have written this sequel based almost entirely on nudges from the Great CBB Public! :lol:


The original ending to Shaking Off The Chains had the two of them being Just Good Friends and David wondering if Gretchen'd found a nice Austrian boyfriend yet and assuming that she'd tell him if/when she had. I thought the idea of the two of them getting together was too corny and too OTT, but they just insisted on getting on so well and getting closer than I'd intended them to :? :lol: !
Author:  Mia [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:15 am ]
Post subject: 
*loves all over this*

I've been avoiding drabbles as I'm swamped with work, Alison you are norty!

:lol:

I missed the previous - I can see my weekend disappearing, lol
Author:  Fatima [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
He's going to have to bite the bullet and tell her how he feels. Good luck David!

Thanks Alison.
Author:  ibarhis [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
It also occurs to me that it would be VERY interesting to see Gretchen's point of view!
Author:  Tara [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
Just caught up on loads of this. Loved all the news. especially glad to hear that Gwensi's an author and Barbara a high-powered trilingual secretary! David's letters were lovely, trying so hard to comfort and support his siblings, and being so brave when he was being so neglected himself.
Will be fascinated to see how this pans out. David's thoughtprocesses have changed so much, but the fact that he's so sensitive about the various issues shows his own unease at some of the hurdles they'll have to get over if he and Gretchen get together. Very realistic that he's afraid to spoil what they've got by asking her for more than she wants to give - and that awful 'unknowing'!

Thanks, Alison, this is great, as ever.
Author:  Lesley [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
Poor David - needs a firecracker up him, doesn't he? :wink:


Thanks Alison
Author:  Chair [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I hope that David takes a chance and tells Gretchen how he feels. I also hope that Gretchen feels the same way.
Author:  Kathy_S [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
*rooting for all of them*
Author:  Cath V-P [ Sat Jun 02, 2007 1:15 am ]
Post subject: 
Poor David, wanting to go forward, and scared to test the situation....
Author:  Alison H [ Sat Jun 02, 2007 6:31 am ]
Post subject: 
More angst today and tomorrow :oops: :lol: , but thre's a complete change of scene after that!

Oh, not because she’d think that he was “above her station”, as Phoebe Peters and a lot of others would doubtless put it. Gretchen had never believed in bowing and scraping to anyone –much to Sybil’s annoyance when they’d both been little girls! Nor had he ever been aware of her feeling uncomfortable about mixing with people from different backgrounds. She’d spent her earliest years in the nursery with him and his sister and cousins, after all.

But the difference in their backgrounds might well be an issue to her in another way. He came from the type of people, the social class as many would insist on calling it, which produced people who made the sort of remarks about those from different backgrounds to theirs which he’d earlier been so disturbed to hear his brothers repeating – condescending at best, sometimes even hostile at worst - ; and to whom her own parents even in this day and age showed considerable deference, which he knew absolutely infuriated her. And might she not be bound to blame that sort of attitude too for her parents having felt that they couldn’t allow her to take the scholarship exam for Armiford Grammar when she’d been in her final year at Howells Village primary school, because people “like them” didn’t go to schools like that even if there was financial help available?

It would have been bad enough if they’d been from any two families from different backgrounds, but the longstanding and continuing connection between the Moniers and the Russells, amid which they’d both grown up, made all the issues involved so much more personal and so much more intense. And in Gretchen’s case might there not also be an additional problem, in that she might hold his family responsible for her own parents’ decision to leave their home country in 1938 and not to return there even once the War was long over?

No: that wasn’t true. Whatever the difficult circumstances of her upbringing and the resentment that she’d quite understandably felt about them as an unhappy teenager struggling to come to terms with the way that society and world events had shaped her life, he knew that the adult she’d become no longer bore any bitterness towards anyone about it. She and he had always got on so well together, after all, and she and Sybil were close friends now despite the unkindness that Sybil had sometimes shown her when they’d been children. She didn’t even blame his parents for any of it any more, nor her own parents for the decisions that they’d made. It had just been … life, the way that life was. She’d told him several times that she knew that her parents were happy working for his and that she was glad of it – but, at the same time, she hadn’t let it stop her making a different sort of life for herself.

As for his own feelings, he didn’t care that Gretchen’s parents were his own parents’ domestic staff. He really didn’t. He’d met all sorts of people at medical school and in his work and had learned not to worry about where they came from or what their parents did – and he admired and respected Gretchen, who’d worked so hard to get where she was now, in a way that he’d certainly never admire some of the girls his mother introduced him, whose main aim in life seemed to be finding a wealthy husband! And he’d got on perfectly well with her friends in Mayrhofen last year, and she’d got on perfectly well with his friends that evening at the Schloss Wertheim.

All the same, he felt a little strange about the situation, because there was no denying the fact that other people would view the difference in their backgrounds as making the two of them wholly unsuited to each other and to mixing with each other’s families and friends, feel uncomfortable being around the two of them together as a result and make it uncomfortable for them too. In particular his parents would certainly care about who she was and where she came from; and that would make things difficult, even unpleasant, if it came to it. And he was quite sure that Gretchen’s parents would be equally uncomfortable with the idea. Even if they agreed that the differences in their backgrounds and the views of people in general didn’t matter to them, the prospect of causing a rift in both their families would be quite another matter, and one that would take an awful lot of overcoming.

And all that was the least of it. An even more real and serious problem was the fact that they lived nearly a thousand miles apart, in different countries and in many ways in different cultures.
Author:  Lesley [ Sat Jun 02, 2007 6:35 am ]
Post subject: 
Poor David - it is a very big step to make.

Thanks Alison.
Author:  ibarhis [ Sat Jun 02, 2007 7:03 am ]
Post subject: 
I get the impression he is moving towards the thought that he and Gretchen wouldn't work in England....
Author:  Lizzie [ Sat Jun 02, 2007 7:24 am ]
Post subject: 
I feel I may be saying this quite a bit during this story, Alison, but...

Oh David.
Author:  Chair [ Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:24 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I am echoing 'Poor David'.
Author:  brie [ Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison
Author:  Rosalin [ Sat Jun 02, 2007 1:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison.

ibarhis wrote:
I get the impression he is moving towards the thought that he and Gretchen wouldn't work in England....


Let us hope that his holiday will give him the idea that they may work in Austria.
Author:  ibarhis [ Sat Jun 02, 2007 2:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
ibarhis wrote:
I get the impression he is moving towards the thought that he and Gretchen wouldn't work in England....


Let us hope that his holiday will give him the idea that they may work in Austria.


Well I'm looking at the title of the drabble!
Author:  Sal [ Sat Jun 02, 2007 2:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison
Author:  Alison H [ Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:16 am ]
Post subject: 
Gretchen had never really settled away from Tyrol, and having to live outside her homeland for so many years had been very difficult for her: he knew that. She’d struggled so hard to get back there; and she was so happy being back there - he’d realised that from the first moment he’d seen her there last year; so settled and at home back where she’d always felt that she belonged.

Whereas his life was here. He might not have the emotional attachment to Armishire than Gretchen had to the Tiernsee, and unlike her he’d never felt that living in his home country was essential to his well-being – after all, his mother had been born and spent the first twelve years of her life in British India, he and Sybil had both spent their early years in Tyrol, his aunt and uncle and their family lived in Switzerland and two of his sisters now lived in Australia - but he had a life here which included family, friends and a medical practice in which not only he but also Daisy had invested a lot of hard work, emotion and money.

It even went beyond geography and physical distance: being Tyrolean meant so much to Gretchen that he wasn’t sure that, even if all the other problems could be overcome, she’d ever be able to feel comfortable about sharing her life with an Englishman. And, for that matter, an Anglican: he didn’t feel particularly strongly about religion, but it was still yet another thing to be considered.

Maybe he was worrying about all these things unnecessarily. Maybe Gretchen didn’t have the slightest interest in him as anything other than a friend. Maybe he was being unspeakably arrogant by even thinking about all these things.

Maybe it’d be better if he didn’t say anything to her at all about how he really felt – if he just went there to be her friend. But then he’d never know.

Or maybe he just needed to stop worrying so much. It was hardly as if he were usually nervous or hesitant in his day-to-day life, after all: he wouldn’t be much of a doctor if he were. And faint heart never won fair maiden, or so it was said. And, whatever the potential problems might be, he hadn’t imagined that spark between the two of them during those last few days in Tyrol last year. Had he?

Or had he?
Author:  brie [ Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:31 am ]
Post subject: 
*hugs david*
Author:  Miranda [ Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:38 am ]
Post subject: 
He most certainly HAD NOT!!!!!

Thanks Alison :)
Author:  Lexi [ Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:40 am ]
Post subject: 
Of course you didn't imagine it David, you fool! Go and tell her how you feel!
Author:  Lottie [ Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:01 am ]
Post subject: 
Poor David! If he says nothing, he might be missing out on his best chance of happiness. However if he does say something, it might all go horribly wrong, and he'd lose a very good friend, and somehow I think he really needs his friends at the moment!

Thanks, Alison.
Author:  Sal [ Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:12 am ]
Post subject: 
No you didn't imagine it David! :(

Thanks Alison :)
Author:  Jennie [ Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:09 am ]
Post subject: 
Look David, stop agonising and talk to Gretchen. In her own way, she's just as much a professional person as you are, so get on with it. There are such things as phones, you know.
Author:  Fatima [ Mon Jun 04, 2007 1:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
It might be good to think about things, but I reckon he's doing too much thinking now.
Author:  Lizzie [ Mon Jun 04, 2007 1:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
GAH! David!
Author:  Tara [ Mon Jun 04, 2007 2:24 pm ]
Post subject: 
Well, he's certainly over-intellectualising and over-rationalising for Britain, but the issues he's agonising over are real enough, particularly the family ones and the fact that they are both happily settled in different countries! Will be fascinated to see how things work out - or not ...
Author:  Chair [ Mon Jun 04, 2007 3:35 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I hope they will be able to find a way to sort things out.
Author:  leahbelle [ Mon Jun 04, 2007 3:57 pm ]
Post subject: 
I hope he talks to her!
Author:  Lesley [ Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Poor David, the more he thinks about it the more reasons he'll find for them not being together. :roll:



Thanks Alison.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
For goodness sake David stop thinking and talk to the girl. Thanks Alison for the update
Author:  Alison H [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:41 am ]
Post subject: 
Karen Braun said goodbye to the Pfeifens and left Wald Villa, the guesthouse which they’d been running for almost as long as she could remember, with a worried expression on her face. The Pfeifens were like family to her even though they weren’t actually related by blood, and she was very concerned about how tired Marie’s parents, whom she regarded as an aunt and uncle, were looking; Frau Pfeifen in particular. She’d tried telling them that it was time that they slowed down, and she knew that most of their own children and grandchildren had done the same in recent months – both Luise and Gitterl had even suggested that they close the guesthouse and move in with one of them – but so far it had all been to no avail.

She glanced at her watch as she walked away from Wald Villa along the lakeside path. Good: she had plenty of time in which to call in and see Gretchen, who was usually at home at this time on a Sunday afternoon, before going back to join her husband Rudi and their children at the Kron Prinz Karl.

Rudi’s parents, still living at the hotel which they’d owned for so many years although it was now run by their eldest granddaughter and her husband, were in their eighties now and not able to get about as much as they’d used to. Their greatest pleasure was being able to spend time with the younger members of their family, and she and Rudi tried to come over from Mayrhofen with the twins as much as possible.

It wasn’t always easy. She and Rudi had a very busy hotel of their own to run – although their staff were wonderful and, as Rudi kept reminding her, even the owners were entitled to time off. And the children were at school now – schooling in Austria was compulsory from the age of six, and the twins had been at kindergarten, enjoying the company of other boys and girls their own age, for a year before that – which limited them as to when they could get away. But they always tried to come to Briesau at least once a week, and sometimes more during school holidays. As well as seeing those members of Rudi’s family living at the Kron Prinz Karl, it also gave them a chance to visit their various relatives and friends who lived around the Tiernsee - of whom Gretchen, her goddaughter was the one to whom she was closest.

Arriving at Gretchen’s little house, she rang on the doorbell and smiled when Gretchen answered the door. “Just thought I’d pop round whilst we were in Briesau,” she said. It’s just me this afternoon: Rudi and Anneliese and Alexander are at the Kron Prinz Karl. Not interrupting you in the middle of anything crucial, am I, I hope?”

Gretchen shook her head. “I’ve just been catching up on writing some letters, but I’ve finished now. Whoever gets stuck behind me in the queue when I go to get stamps for all this lot tomorrow’s going to be cursing me well and truly, though! I’ve got things to be sent all over the place.” She thought of the pile of letters in their envelopes, sitting neatly on the table. One for her parents in Wales. One for Sybil in Australia. One for her old schoolfriend Susan in Armiford. One for her cousin Anna in Switzerland. And, as always, one for David.
Author:  Miranda [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:50 am ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
And, as always, one for David.


That was a lovely way to phrase it :D He's become a regular part of her life - and I hope that continues!

I liked the glimpse into Karen's thoughts too.

Thanks Alison
Author:  Tan [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:05 am ]
Post subject: 
Nice to see Karen and Gretchen again. And interesting that she appears to think of David as much as he thinks of her!
Author:  leahbelle [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 8:05 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. It's lovely that Gretchen and David spend time thinking about each other.
Author:  Chair [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 8:44 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. It was good to hear about the family. It was a lovely comment about the letter to David.
Author:  Sal [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:48 am ]
Post subject: 
That is a pile of letters!!

Thanks Alison
Author:  Lizzie [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:51 am ]
Post subject: 
Promising...very promising...

Thanks Alison!
Author:  ness [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 2:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison I love having these daily updates.

I am very impressed with all those letters too!
Author:  brie [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 2:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison
Author:  Fatima [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
Grechen seems happy. I can understand a little of David's worry now, seeing her like that.

Thanks Alison.
Author:  Lesley [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 5:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
That's Gretchen's grandparents that Karen is so worried about, isn't it?


Thanks Alison.
Author:  Rob [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison
Author:  Alison H [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:44 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the comments :D .

They wrote to each other frequently - more frequently than she wrote to anyone else, even members of her own immediate family. David was a wonderful correspondent. Much better than most men were, in her experience: her father’s idea of writing a letter was to scrawl a couple of lines and “Love, Dad,” at the end of her mother’s long epistles, and her brothers rarely managed even that much. David wrote often and his letters were always long, usually entertaining and often full of feeling: he might be the typical reserved Englishman with some people, but he certainly wasn’t like that with her. He wrote about everything, in fact, except …

Suddenly realising that her godmother was still standing on the doorstep, she shook her head and apologised. “Sorry, Auntie Karen. I was miles away for a minute then. Come on in! Would you like a coffee?”

“No - I’m all right, thanks all the same,” Karen said as she closed the door behind her. “I’ve just had one. With your grandparents: I wanted to see them whilst I was here.”

“What did you think about … them?” Gretchen asked, a shadow crossing her face. She knew very well what her godmother was going to say – the same as everyone else who cared about them was saying.

Karen looked worried. “Pretty much what all of you think, from what I gather. They’re both looking so tired, Gretchen. I’ve tried telling them that it’s time for them to take things a bit easier – I spoke to your Uncle Eigen at the Kron Prinz Karl earlier and he said that he thought that they might take it better coming from me because I’m not actually one of their own children or grandchildren as such – but it didn’t seem to do any good. I’m just hoping that they’ll listen to your parents when they get here. Your grandma was always more inclined to listen to Marie - maybe because she’s the eldest of her daughters - than to any of her other children. Maybe she still will be.”

Gretchen sighed. “I’m not convinced; but I hope so. They certainly won’t listen to me! I’d get the doctor to speak to them – if I could ever get hold of him – but I’m not sure that that’d work either: you know what they’re both like about doctors, Grandma especially. We all keep telling them that they should at least get someone in to help at Wald Villa at busy times of year, but they say that they’re not paying someone to do what they can do themselves. I feel awful that I don’t do more to help, but I’m out at work all day five days a week.”

Karen shook her head. “You’ve got nothing to feel guilty about, liebchen: you do plenty. No-one’s got anything to feel guilty about: everyone’s tried. Let’s just hope that they’ll listen to Marie and Andreas: you never know; they might do.” She smiled. “I had a letter from your mum last week: she and your dad are so excited about seeing you, you know. They can’t wait to get here.”

Gretchen smiled as well. “I’m excited about seeing them too. I don’t have any regrets about moving back to Briesau, and I wouldn’t want to go back to living in Britain; but it’s very hard being so far away from them sometimes. And I’m going to have plenty of time to spend with them, because I’m taking some of my holiday entitlement whilst they’re here. I just wish that Jakob and Josefa and Andy and Auntie Rosa were all coming as well, but I suppose you can’t have everything.”

“Mmm – I was hoping that Rosa’d be coming too, but I gather that she’s going to be staying with the Rosomons whilst the Russells are away: I can understand the reasons for it, but it’s still a shame. And with her not coming I hope that Sir James and Lady Russell aren’t going to be expecting Marie and Andreas to keep an eye on their two young lads all the time they’re at the Tiernsee. I appreciate that your mum and dad are coming here as part of their jobs and that the Russells are paying for their tickets, but I know that they’ve been promised time off to see everyone whilst they’re here and I’ll be very upset if that doesn’t happen because they’re too busy minding the young Russells on top of doing their normal work. ”

Gretchen shook her head. “It’ll be all right. The Russells are supposed to be coming here for some family time together, after all. And David’s going to help look after Kevin and Kester. He’s promised that he’ll take them out on the lake, and maybe up one of the mountains, and generally help to keep them amused.”

She could feel her face burning bright red as she said David’s name; and she wished heartily that she’d just kept quiet, because Karen had very obviously noticed.
Author:  Lesley [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:40 am ]
Post subject: 
Bet Karen picks up on that straight away - and actually she would be a good one in whom to confide - her relationship with Rudi was fraught with problems after all.


Thanks Alison.
Author:  leahbelle [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:11 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. Gretchen is obviously looking forward to seeing David again, but she won't be able to keep her feelings hidden for long.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:13 am ]
Post subject: 
Karen would be good if Gretchen felt like talking about it which she doesn't seem to at the moment but Karen is pretty tactful
Author:  Sal [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:30 am ]
Post subject: 
I hope Gretchen feels able to talk to Karen.

Thanks Alison
Author:  Jennie [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 11:17 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. Now we know how they both feel, it's time for them to start talking.
Author:  ibarhis [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 11:22 am ]
Post subject: 
How about Gretchen's parents decide to stop working for the Russells to semi-retire back to Austria to help with the guest house?
Author:  brie [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 1:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison :) :D :)
Author:  Lizzie [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 2:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
David and Gretchen, sitting in a tree...
Author:  Alison H [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 3:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
Lizzie wrote:
David and Gretchen, sitting in a tree...


For some reason that made me laugh hysterically, and the guy who sits next to me is now sulking because I wouldn't tell him what the joke was :lol: .
Author:  Chair [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 3:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Gretchen. I wonder if Karen will say anything.
Author:  Rosalin [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 4:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison

Alison H wrote:
She could feel her face burning bright red as she said David’s name; and she wished heartily that she’d just kept quiet, because Karen had very obviously noticed.


Glad to see this, it would have been awful if she was just thinking of him as a good friend.

Now we can all encourage David with clear consciences. I hope.
Author:  Rob [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison

Alison H wrote:
I hope that Sir James and Lady Russell aren’t going to be expecting Marie and Andreas to keep an eye on their two young lads all the time they’re at the Tiernsee.


I appreciate that Marie and Andreas deserve a bit of a holiday too, but I hope David isn't going to be expected to keep an eye on the boys too much of the time!!
Author:  Lesley [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
Shock! Horror! Why don't Madge and Jem look after their own sons? :wink:
Author:  Sarah_K [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
I can't quite decide if Karen is going to be helpful or if she's going to try to be helpful and accidentally set off a train of not-so-good things... *crosses fingers*

Thanks Alison :)
Author:  Tara [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'm with ibarhis on this one. Gretchen's parents returning to take over the guest house would be perfect - except that I can't remember how old they are??
Karen would certainly understand how Gretchen feels, though I can imagine her (Gretchen) being much more assertive about things than David, and caring far less about what other people thought.
Author:  Cath V-P [ Wed Jun 06, 2007 11:37 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hmm - it's difficult isn't it; they do care for one another, but they also have priorities and needs that won't be easily reconciled.

And hopefully, someone will be able to make the Pfeiffen grandparents listen.
Author:  Miranda [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:24 am ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
I appreciate that Marie and Andreas deserve a bit of a holiday too, but I hope David isn't going to be expected to keep an eye on the boys too much of the time!!


I think what we need is for David AND Gretchen to be out looking after the boys, and for some convenient landslide to trap them somewhere together (unhurt obviously - and with the boys on the other side of the rockfall) so that they can reveal their inner feelings and have a good long chat :lol:

Please?
Author:  Alison H [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:41 am ]
Post subject: 
I love all those suggestions! Hope this bit's OK - I'm not very good at writing soppy bits :lol: .

“He writes to me sometimes; but so does Sybil - it’s only the same thing,” she added defensively.

“Is it?” Karen looked at Gretchen thoughtfully. The idea of there being some sort of involvement between her goddaughter and David Russell certainly worried her – it was a potential minefield in almost every way – but it didn’t surprise her. Not after she’d seen the two of them together the previous year. They’d seemed so very much like a pair.

Gretchen hadn’t said anything to her about David after he’d gone back to England last May; and because Gretchen hadn’t spoken about him she hadn’t spoken about him either. In fact, it was funny, but not only had she not mentioned him to Gretchen but she’d also never mentioned his coming to Mayrhofen and to the Gauder Festival in any of her letters to Marie. Something, for some reason, had stopped her from doing so; and she was pretty sure that Gretchen had never mentioned it to her parents either. But she often wondered about David and Gretchen, even after all this time.

Maybe she should change the subject, to spare Gretchen’s obvious embarrassment – but, on the other hand, maybe she should at least try to give her the chance to talk about it if it would help. Gretchen knew her well enough to tell her straight out if she wanted her to mind her own business, after all! And so she decided just to say what she was thinking. “I know you kept insisting last year that he was just a friend, but that wasn’t entirely the impression that I got. And you certainly don’t usually go bright red like that if you mention the name of someone who’s just a friend.”

She tapped her fingers against the side of the chair she was sitting on. “I must admit that I was quite surprised when your mum mentioned that David Russell was going to be coming on this holiday: I wouldn’t have thought that a young man of his age would particularly be wanting to go away with his parents. Feel quite free to tell me that it’s got nothing to do with me, but the two of you seemed so close last year … is the reason - or at least one of the reasons - that he’s coming to Tyrol so that he can see you? And I don’t just mean as an old friend.”

“I don’t know.” Gretchen looked at her godmother unhappily. “Honestly, Auntie Karen: I really don’t. We write to each other a lot. All the time, really. And about all sorts of things. But not … that. He never actually says anything like that, not in so many words … oh, I don’t know. I don’t know what I expect him to write, really.” She smiled wryly. “I’d soon get a shock if he started writing “Sealed with a kiss” on the back of the envelope or something like that, wouldn’t I? Not that he would, even if he did feel … I know David: he thinks about things a lot and he’s very careful about things, and he’d think that doing something like that all of a sudden was too flippant. But, although I could well have it all completely wrong, sometimes I do think, especially with the way he was when we said goodbye last year, that maybe he does he think of me as … well, as more than a friend.”

“And would you like him to?” Karen asked carefully.

“No. Well, yes. Oh, I don’t know. Last year … it all happened so fast, and then almost before I’d had chance to take in what had happened he had to go back to England. And at first I thought that maybe it was just because we’d enjoyed ourselves so much when he’d been here and that I’d finally realised that maybe I didn’t just want to be concentrating on work all the time and that with the right man I could have a relationship and a job and a life of my own. And also … I mean, he’s David, I’ve known him all my life and I’d never thought of him like that before and I didn’t think that things could just change like that.”

She paused. “But obviously they can, because they have. Well, they have for me. And not just as a brief infatuation, either: I’ve long since realised – accepted - that this is the real thing. It’s ironic, really, isn’t it? All that time that I spent saying that I didn’t want a man in my life … and then I have to go and fall for someone whom I can probably never be with anyway.”
Author:  Miranda [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:51 am ]
Post subject: 
Awwww that was lovely - the stark honesty in the last line is very sad. She knows the situation, knows how hard it's going to be, and yet she's admitting that she does feel something for him. It's clear that she's had a think about everything, and it almost seems like she's ready to do something about it now. I'm glad she's had the chance to talk to someone who cares and understands (and us too!!). And I'll be interested to hear what Karen says in reply.

Quote:
She smiled wryly. “I’d soon get a shock if he started writing “Sealed with a kiss” on the back of the envelope or something like that, wouldn’t I?
:lol: :lol: Well it would certainly get his point across!!


Thanks Alison, I thought the style of Gretchen's thoughts was very realistically written :D
Author:  Elbee [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:44 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison - superb writing, not soppy at all.

Poor Gretchen and David, :( I hope they are brave enough to speak their true feelings when they meet.
Author:  Rosalin [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:31 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison.

I can see why Karen would be worried but I hope she'll be supportive as well.

I like Miranda's rockfall idea - very EBD :lol:
Author:  JayB [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:36 am ]
Post subject: 
I think Kevin and Kester are old enough to look after themselves, given sensible limits.

Maybe David ought to have a chat with Daisy? She could remind him how easily her and Laurie's problems were sorted out once they talked to each other!

Looking forward to seeing what happens once they all get to the Tiernsee.
Author:  Lizzie [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:02 am ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
It’s ironic, really, isn’t it? All that time that I spent saying that I didn’t want a man in my life … and then I have to go and fall for someone whom I can probably never be with anyway.”


Oh but you CAN Gretchen!

Miranda wrote:
I think what we need is for David AND Gretchen to be out looking after the boys, and for some convenient landslide to trap them somewhere together (unhurt obviously - and with the boys on the other side of the rockfall) so that they can reveal their inner feelings and have a good long chat


Yes, that's a great idea...but I don't think that there's anything wrong with minor injuries in the cause of true love...David could injure himself and Gretchen could have to minister to him with his instructions...

Just me? OK then, going now... :lol:
Author:  Jennie [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:43 am ]
Post subject: 
That was great, Alison, and Gretchen is certainly clear-sighted about the whole situation. Probably articulating it to Karen has helped her to sort it out in her own mind.
Author:  brie [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 11:34 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison.

This is so well written.
Author:  RroseSelavy [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
Gretchen sighed. “I’m not convinced; but I hope so. They certainly won’t listen to me! I’d get the doctor to speak to them – if I could ever get hold of him


Does this suggest that the local doctor is overworked or not up to much? *plots*

Thanks Alison :D
Author:  leahbelle [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
That was lovely, Alison. It must be so hard for Gretchen to come to terms with the way she feels and to be honest about her feelings.
Author:  Sal [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison Gretchen was so realistic there. I'm now routing for the rockfall as a very convinent way to get them to talk frankly to each other!!
Author:  Lesley [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison - they are made for each other - but with so many obstacles in the way...
Author:  Chair [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I really hope they can find a way through the obstacles.
Author:  Tara [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
Clever of Rose to remember the doctor remark ... now, I wonder????? I hope there's a way forward for them.
Author:  Fatima [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 3:35 am ]
Post subject: 
At least we now know how they feel. I'm sure they'll manage to overcome all obstacles put in their paths and emerge stronger and surer the other end.

Thanks Alison.
Author:  Alison H [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:48 am ]
Post subject: 
“I see.” Karen reached out and touched her hand. “You should have told me before: I might not have been able to do anything to help but I could have listened, at least. I do understand.”

“I know you do.” Gretchen smiled at her. “And I’m glad that it worked out for you in the end. You and Rudi deserve to be together and happy.”

“Thank you. And no-one will ever know just how grateful I am that we are together and happy.” She smiled, thinking about her beloved husband and their two adored children; but then she turned her attention back to the matter in hand. She’d known David Russell since he’d been a little curly-haired baby in Rosa’s care, and although she hadn’t had that much to do with him over the years she’d heard a lot about all Sir James and Lady Russell’s children from both Rosa and Marie; and, of course, there’d been those two days last year when she’d seen him and Gretchen together. In many ways, she thought, he would suit Gretchen so well.

Gretchen, although she’d long since outgrown her teenage wildness, was still inclined to be impulsive and not always to think things through as carefully as she might; and someone steady, dependable and careful like David – always the one whom the rest of his family looked to as “the sensible one” – could well be just what she needed. At the same time she obviously didn’t find him boring: the two of them had been laughing and joking away together last summer; and David had done a lot to convince Gretchen, who’d had to struggle to get so hard to get where she was, that she didn’t have to focus on work quite so much as she had been doing. He was intelligent and hard-working too, just as Gretchen was. And she could imagine that he would always be loyal and protective, but that, lacking his father’s domineering streak, he wouldn’t expect any woman he became involved with to fit in with everything he wanted as some men would; and she knew how important Gretchen’s independence was to her.

Yes, she certainly see that he could be very right for Gretchen. If only practically every circumstance of their lives wasn’t against them – which, unfortunately, it was. What was worrying Gretchen the most, she wondered, trying desperately to think of there was anything she could do that might help. She touched her goddaughter’s hand again. “Gretchen, when you say that he’s someone that you can probably never be with … is that because you think that he doesn’t feel the same way about you, or is it because he’s the Russells’ son and everything that goes with that, or because he’s an Anglican and you’re a Catholic – or is because you’re here and he’s in England and everything that goes with that? Or is it all of it?”
Author:  Ruth B [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:51 am ]
Post subject: 
I suspect probably "all of it"

Hmm, it does sound like they need a GP in Briesau...
Author:  Tan [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:41 am ]
Post subject: 
Oh dear - there are so many different things there. Mind you, the Russells do have experience of family members converting to Catholicism ...
Author:  Lizzie [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:09 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison, excellent as always...
Author:  Jennie [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:18 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I expect it's all of it that's worrying Gretchen, especially the attitude that she's learned from her parents.
Author:  Lexi [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:24 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison. I do love your drabbles :D

I wonder what Gretchen has to say in reply to that.
Author:  Sal [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:41 am ]
Post subject: 
All of it I think which makes it so hard it seems as if there is not just one obstacle for them to overcome but a whole course. Thanks Alison
Author:  Alex [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 11:20 am ]
Post subject: 
I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that as the title of this drabble is "Turning the Stars Around" that all of these barriers are surmountable.
Author:  LizB [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 11:52 am ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
Yes, she certainly see that he could be very right for Gretchen. If only practically every circumstance of their lives wasn’t against them – which, unfortunately, it was.


Circumstances can change/be changed :D


Thanks Alison - I've just had a lovely catch-up session :D
Author:  Fatima [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
They will be perfect together. And I'm sure they can win everyone round to their way of thinking.

Thanks Alison.
Author:  Liz K [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 2:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Lesley wrote:
This will be the first time Gretchen's parents have been back home, won't it? So both sets of parents will be there...hmmmm, interesting.

Thanks Alison


VERY VERY interesting - both sets of parents being there!
Author:  brie [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 2:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison, Karen was lovely there.

I take it there is a Karen and Rudi drabble floating about somewhere?
Author:  Alison H [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 3:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
brie wrote:
Thanks Alison, Karen was lovely there.

I take it there is a Karen and Rudi drabble floating about somewhere?


It's here if you'd like to see it :D - it's archived here

Sadly the comments are missing and it's posted in big "lumps" rather than daily updates because it was "live" at the time of the h*ck attack :cry: :cry: .

Edited to fix length - KathrynW with mod hat on
Author:  Chair [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 4:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I am also wondering if it is all those those points.
Author:  Lesley [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
Knowing the ecumenical approach Madge instaled in all her family I can't believe that religion will be a problem from the Russell side at least. Don't know about Gretchen's parents.


Thanks Alison.
Author:  brie [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
I might be hi-jacking this thread a bit!

But Alison I just read the whole of "A light that never goes out" and it was lovely. Thanks so much!
Author:  Tara [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:35 pm ]
Post subject: 
And the way the Russells (and Gretchen's parents) have lived and thought is already old-fashioned. Their children can't have their lives ruined because of their hang-ups.
Author:  Rob [ Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
brie wrote:
I might be hi-jacking this thread a bit!

But Alison I just read the whole of "A light that never goes out" and it was lovely. Thanks so much!


*echos brie*

This is great too! Thanks Alison!! :D
Author:  Alison H [ Sat Jun 09, 2007 5:52 am ]
Post subject: 
I'm the only person on the board at the moment - I don't think that's ever happened before :lol: ! This is a long bit because I'm going to be away for the most of the weekend and thought I'd finish this part off before I went.

Gretchen smiled sadly. “All of it. It couldn’t really be any more problematic, could it?” She shook her head. “About him being – well, a doctor, a public schoolboy, the heir to a baronetcy, all of that: it doesn’t bother me. Oh, maybe I’m a stroppy madam, but I’ve never been one to go all of a doo-dah and feel like I should be tugging my forelock every time I’m in the same room as someone who’s got more money and a bigger house than me, have I? And I don’t go around calling for all the upper and middle classes to be hauled off to the guillotine either! We’re all just people, after all. And I’m pretty sure that David feels that way too.

“And I might have thought all sorts about his family once, but that was years ago. After all, if we hadn’t left Austria before the War then who knows that might have happened to us; and it’s hardly as if they forced Mum and Dad to stay with them afterwards, is it? Anyway, I was the only one who wanted to come back to Austria: Mum and Dad were happy to stay in Britain, and Josefa and Andy had never lived over here and Jakob could barely remember it. Oh, I don’t like the way that sometimes it feels as if the Russells say “jump” and Mum and Dad ask how high, but that’s the way it is – Mum and Dad go along with it all. They do work for them, after all: I’m like that with my own bosses sometimes if they’re in a bad mood and I don’t want to risk upsetting them! And the Russells have employed Mum and Dad and Auntie Rosa all these years, and given them and the four of us a home; and I could never say that they’ve treated any of us badly.

“But – well, it might not be an issue for me or maybe even for David, but it would be to other people: we both know that all too well.” She laughed ironically. “I hear it all in Mum’s letters, all about the vicar coming to tea, and Sir James and Lady Russell opening the church fete, and having posh dinner parties with all sorts of snooty doctors with titles, some of whom who’d no doubt look right down their noses at me. Oh, I couldn’t care less what people like that think, and I really don’t think that David’s very interested in all that sort of thing – maybe if he’d taken over as head of the San then he’d’ve had to be, but not as it is. But even other people might feel uncomfortable about the two of us being together – and the people who’d find it the most difficult to accept would be our own families.”

She looked at her godmother unhappily. “Auntie Karen, can you imagine what either Mum and Dad or Sir James and Lady Russell would have to say if they knew that I was even talking like this? I don’t know who’d be more horrified. The Russells probably: they might even accuse me of being a gold-digger or after the title or both, as well as being "beneath" them. It’s even occurred to me that they might take it out on Mum and Dad and Auntie Rosa: if nothing else, it would make things very awkward between them. But Mum and Dad would be horrified as well: they just wouldn’t be able to get their heads round it. Even Jakob and Josefa and Andy …”

She stopped for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. “You couldn’t get two families who’re more closely involved in each others’ lives than us and the Russells, and yet I’m probably the only one of our family who … I suppose it was really only when we lived at the Sonnalpe, and we were all in the nursery together. Once we moved to Guernsey and the Russells and the Bettanys and the Venables girls all palled up with the Chesters and the others, and the older ones were at school full time, everything changed. Josefa and Andy weren’t born then, and Jakob was too young to remember. It’s different for them, the way they see the Russells; and it’s certainly different for Mum and Dad. And it’s very definitely different for David’s parents. And the prospect of the fallings-out that it’d cause if David and I …”

She stopped, took a deep breath, and started speaking again. “And even if, somehow, we could sort everything else out – there’re fifteen hundred kilometres between my life and his. I belong here, and David belongs in England. Oh, I know that he was born here, and that he lived here for a while – and that I lived in England for years, for that matter - but he’s English through and through; and I’m Austrian. And, as you said, he’s not a Catholic: I’m not overly religious but it is something that affects your home and your day-to-day life, and then there’d be the issue of … well, what could happen in the future. It’s all of it - my life’s here and his is there, and even if one of us decided to move we’d always be in the wrong place and maybe then both of us’d end up being unhappy. I know how difficult it can be to be a stranger in a strange land, to be with people who don’t understand … and that was when I had other Austrian people living in the same household as me.” She shook her head again. “Oh, what a … muddle, for lack of a better word.”

“You seem to have thought an awful lot about all this, considering that you say that you’re not even sure how he feels about you,” Karen said gently. “Gretchen, shouldn’t you speak to him about that, before you carry on worrying so much about everything else?”

“I’m don’t know how to ask him,” Gretchen confessed. “What if I’m making too much of what happened last year? Even if I’m not, he might still just want to be friends: even if he did ever want more, everything that’s occurred to me’ll’ve occurred to him too. Probably a hundredfold, if I know David. Bringing it out into the open …it might just make everything impossible, and the last thing I want to do is lose his friendship.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe I’m just being silly. I should know better at my age. Maybe the best thing for me to do would be to try to avoid being alone with him: maybe that’d make it easier. And then we can just carry on being friends.”

“That’s what I used to tell myself about Rudi,” Karen said. She smiled. “It didn’t work.” She looked at her goddaughter compassionately. “You must do what you think’s best, Gretchen, but if you take my advice you’ll at least give yourselves a chance. You never know what might happen: things do have a way of working themselves out somehow. Don’t dismiss it all until you’ve seen him and you’ve had a proper talk. You might very well find that he feels the same, and then you might find that you feel differently about all the other things you’ve just said. Promise me that you’ll think about it, at least.”

Gretchen smiled wanly. “All right. I’ll think about it.” She shook her head. “Why does life always have to be so complicated? Of all the men I’ve ever met, why did he have to be … who he is? But - well, maybe you're right. Maybe I should at least talk to him.”
Author:  Lesley [ Sat Jun 09, 2007 7:37 am ]
Post subject: 
Well done Karen - she needed to be told that - rather than just continue to worry.

Thanks Alison - lovely long bit! :lol:
Author:  LizB [ Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:02 am ]
Post subject: 
Well said, Karen :D

Thanks Alison - have a good weekend away
Author:  brie [ Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:28 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison!!

Enjoy your weekend!!
Author:  Fatima [ Sat Jun 09, 2007 10:27 am ]
Post subject: 
Now I really can't wait for David and Grechen to meet again.

Have a good weekend Alison!
Author:  Joan the Dwarf [ Sat Jun 09, 2007 10:29 am ]
Post subject: 
Brilliant!

BTW, at least one part of her worrying is probably needless: as far as I know, "honours" titles aren't hereditary, so David won't be Sir when Jem dies.
Author:  Bride [ Sat Jun 09, 2007 11:11 am ]
Post subject: 
Joan the Dwarf wrote:
Brilliant!

BTW, at least one part of her worrying is probably needless: as far as I know, "honours" titles aren't hereditary, so David won't be Sir when Jem dies.


No, Jem is made a baronet, that's a hereditary title so David will be Sir. If someone is just made a knight, that is not hereditary, but a baronetcy is.
Author:  JustJen [ Sat Jun 09, 2007 12:13 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the update Alison.
Author:  leahbelle [ Sat Jun 09, 2007 3:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the lovely long update, Alison.

Hope you have a great weekend.
Author:  Rosalin [ Sat Jun 09, 2007 6:22 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison, have a good weekend.

Good advice from Karen.

Gretchen: TALK TO HIM!!!!!
Author:  Chair [ Sat Jun 09, 2007 6:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I hope you have a good weekend away. I'm glad that Alison has agreed to think about it.
Author:  Rob [ Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison!

Have a great weekend!
Author:  Mia [ Sat Jun 09, 2007 10:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison, just caught up lots with this and it's luffly :D
Author:  Tara [ Sat Jun 09, 2007 11:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
I do like Gretchen, she's so feisty and so honest. She and David don't deserve to have their happiness spoiled by the idiocy of some of the rest of their society. Go for it, girl!
Author:  Jennie [ Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. It was great to get such a long episode, and even better to see Gretchen admitting ito being in love with David.

Before Madge starts getting on her high horse, she needs to remember that she couldn't afford to live in England, that's why she went to the Tyrol and opened a school.
Author:  Sal [ Sun Jun 10, 2007 2:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison

Hope you have had a good weekend.
Author:  keren [ Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
I am enjoying this drabble and all of your series of drabbles very much.
Author:  Lizzie [ Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
Gretchen smiled wanly. “All right. I’ll think about it.” She shook her head. “Why does life always have to be so complicated? Of all the men I’ve ever met, why did he have to be … who he is?


Ahhh...

Thanks Alison!
Author:  Kathy_S [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:32 am ]
Post subject: 
Hmmm. I think Gretchen's parents are more likely to feel uncomfortable, but --

It's all going to work out.
It's all going to work out.
It's all going to work out.
It's all going to work out.
It's all going to work out.
It's all going to work out.
It's all going to work out.

please?
Author:  Alison H [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:23 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the comments :D .

In the meantime ...

David rang on the doorbell, looked at his watch and swore under his breath. He was twenty minutes late and his mother was an absolute stickler for punctuality. Oh well, there’d been nothing he could have done about it: a mother had brought a child who was running a high temperature in just as the surgery had been about to close, and he could hardly have left them just to go rushing off to Llan-y-Penllan so that he could get to his parents’ dinner party on time. Everyone would understand that. The Chesters were as used to the Russells as what life with a doctor in the family was like, after all.

Gretchen’s mother answered the door and he smiled at her. “Good evening, Marie. I’m sorry I’m late: I got held up at the surgery. I hope I haven’t caused any problems with the dinner.”

Marie smiled back at him: she was fond of her master and mistress’s eldest son, whom she’d watched grow from a tiny baby to the fine young man and respected doctor that he was now. He’d been born on her wedding day, and when he’d been a newborn baby and she’d been a new bride she’d held him in her arms and prayed that it wouldn’t be long before she and Andreas would be expecting a baby of their own. In the end it had been over a year before the joyous day when she’d realised that their first child was on the way; and then, amid her happiness, she’d been worried about how she was to take care of her baby properly and do her job at the same time, and was to happen to her and Andreas if the Russells either decided that she was unable to cope or else simply felt, as many couples in their position might do, that they didn’t want servants’ children living in their home.

But they hadn’t reacted like that at all. They’d been as keen to find a workable solution to the matter as she and Andreas had, and they’d agreed that the Moniers’ baby could join David and his cousins Peggy and Rix in the nursery, where they were looked after by Marie’s own sister Rosa. She smiled: she could still remember her mistress carefully explaining to David, by then twenty-one months old, and the Bettany twins that they had to remember that baby Gretchen was a real little person, not a toy, and that on account were any of them to try to pick her up in case they accidentally hurt her.

Before long the four children in the nursery had been joined by four more – first Sybil Russell, two months younger than Gretchen, then Bride and Jackie Bettany, and then Primula Venables. Marie had secretly feared that the other seven children might make life difficult for Gretchen; but the only unpleasantness had come from Sybil, and the other children and Rosa had always stepped in whenever she’d made any nasty remarks. Besides, it had soon become apparent that Gretchen was well capable of taking care of herself, and of her younger brother Jakob who’d arrived two years before they’d had to leave Tyrol for Guernsey - where the Russells had allowed Gretchen to join Sybil and Jackie’s lessons.

Yes, it had been strange, all the children together like that in those long-ago days, but it didn’t really seem to have caused any difficulties. Later on, when Gretchen and Sybil had put their differences aside and become friends, she and Andreas had worried that the friendship might lead to trouble, and Sir James and Lady Russell hadn’t been keen on it either, but as it had turned out no problems had resulted from it - and the two remained in touch.

Both Sybil and Gretchen were a long way away now, of course; but it was so nice for the master and mistress to have their eldest son living nearby again. She smiled back at him. “Good evening, Dr David. The dinner is quite all right, thank you! Everyone is already here, though: they’re in the drawing room.”

David really did wish that Marie wouldn’t insist on prefixing his name with “Dr” like that - when he’d been a boy she’d simply called him "David" and he wished that she still would - but the last time he’d mentioned it she’d looked embarrassed and said that it wouldn’t be appropriate and so, not wishing to make her feel awkward, he’d let the subject drop.

Smiling at her again, he went through to the drawing room, where he made his apologies for his late arrival, explained the reason for it, and greeted everybody present - his parents, Ailie, Kevin and Kester who were very excited at being allowed to stay up for a grown-up dinner party and had been threatened with several fates worse than death if they misbehaved, Daisy and Laurie, Gwensi and her husband Tom Pritchard, Beth and Noel Atherton, and Anne and Barbara Chester.
Author:  Lesley [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:33 am ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
Smiling at her again, he went through to the drawing room, where he made his apologies for his late arrival, explained the reason for it, and greeted everybody present - his parents, Ailie, Kevin and Kester who were very excited at being allowed to stay up for a grown-up dinner party and had been threatened with several fates worse than death if they misbehaved, Daisy and Laurie, Gwensi and her husband Tom Pritchard, Beth and Noel Atherton, and Anne and Barbara Chester.


I knew it - Madge is match-making. :roll: Wonder what Barbara feels about it?


Thanks Alison - interesting little peek into Marie's thoughts.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:27 am ]
Post subject: 
Am glad for that part about Madge and Marie's relationship. I think Madge must have been extraordinary in her time to allow and agree so easily to Gretchen being added to the nursery. I always think she gets a bit of a raw deal sometime simply because EBD decided Sybil and Josette had to go to Australia.

Would love to see Barbara in love with someone wildly unsuitable and David and her becoming allies with both being in love with people where it can get awkward!
Author:  brie [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:04 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison.
Author:  keren [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:23 am ]
Post subject: 
Fiona Mc wrote:
Am glad for that part about Madge and Marie's relationship. I think Madge must have been extraordinary in her time to allow and agree so easily to Gretchen being added to the nursery. I always think she gets a bit of a raw deal sometime simply because EBD decided Sybil and Josette had to go to Australia.

Would love to see Barbara in love with someone wildly unsuitable and David and her becoming allies with both being in love with people where it can get awkward!


Keep repeating this and maybe it will happen.
The comments here seem to affect the pet bunnies very much
Author:  Lizzie [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
keren wrote:
Fiona Mc wrote:
Would love to see Barbara in love with someone wildly unsuitable and David and her becoming allies with both being in love with people where it can get awkward!


Keep repeating this and maybe it will happen.
The comments here seem to affect the pet bunnies very much


I know, Keren, it's great isn't it?! And I love that idea, Fiona!

Thanks Alison, this is great. I feel quite bad for forgetting the servants in my story... :lol:
Author:  Fatima [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
They certainly should understand David's late arrival; Jem must have been late so often, or called out in the middle of a meal. Thanks Alison.
Author:  leahbelle [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I particularly enjoyed the glimpse into Marie's thoughts.
Author:  Chair [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:57 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. It was interesting to see Marie's memories.
Author:  Lexi [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
Fiona Mc wrote:
Am glad for that part about Madge and Marie's relationship. I think Madge must have been extraordinary in her time to allow and agree so easily to Gretchen being added to the nursery.


Yes, it's really nice to have that aspect picked up on. I never notice things like that when I'm reading the books :oops:

Thanks Alison!
Author:  Rob [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison!

*hopes Barbara won't fancy David*
Author:  Sal [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison a lovely insight into Maire's thoughts.
Author:  Kathy_S [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
Nice that Marie has such fond memories -- but the constraint won't exactly make things easier....

(Thanks, Alison!)
Author:  Tara [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yes, a very warm picture of Madge and Jem there in their relations with Marie and her family. Marie herself seems somewhat in awe of David- or maybe that's not right, she has a strong sense of what is appropriate and fitting in her own eyes. And I suspect her daughter marrying Dr David might not fit!
Thanks, Alison.
Author:  Alison H [ Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:53 am ]
Post subject: 
EBD rarely mentions Marie and Andreas's children and never shows them in any of the nursery scenes, but she does say at one point that they were playmates of the Russell children when they were all little. And I think that Rosa - who, as Marie's sister, wouldn't have objected to it as some nannies might have done - would probably have looked after them with the other kids for at least part of the time, as it would've been hard for Marie to do her work whilst looking after young children at the same time.

They all chatted for a few minutes, exchanging news; and then Madge said that she thought that it was time to go in for dinner and excused herself to go to check with Marie that everything was ready. She returned a few moments later. “Yes, Marie says that the first course is quite ready! Shall we go through?”

They all made their way into the dining room, where Jem took his place at the head of the table whilst Madge walked to the other end of it and set about suggesting where some of the others present should sit. “Now, let me see – Kevin and Kester, perhaps you’d better sit on either side of me; and, Anne, why don’t you sit by Jem? Beth, why don’t you sit there, where you can chat to Daisy and Gwensi – I’m sure that the three of you have plenty to talk about! Ailie dear, don’t sit by Barbara. We shouldn’t have two ladies next to each other; and, besides, I’m sure that David would like to sit with Barbara, so that they can have a good long catch-up.”

Oh no, not again, David thought, just about managing not to groan out loud. Why did she have to keep doing this? He should have guessed that she wouldn’t have been able to resist the opportunity of trying to set him up with the single daughter of long-time family friends, he supposed; but amid all Daisy’s excitement about seeing Beth again he’d almost forgotten that Barbara was going to be there too. He cast a glare in his mother’s direction, but she was too busy exchanging conspiratorial smiles with Anne Chester to notice – and he could also see that Kevin and Kester were both having to try very hard not to snigger, and that Laurie was belatedly attempting to turn a guffaw into a cough after being given a black look by Daisy.

He flushed with annoyance and embarrassment, but he couldn’t very well refuse to take the place that his mother had just indicated without appearing appallingly ill-mannered. He didn’t want either to spoil the evening for Daisy and her friends by making a scene or to be rude to Barbara – who, given that she was looking at her mother in much the same way that he’d just been looking at his, had evidently played no more part in the plan than he had – and so he smiled awkwardly and sat down with as much grace as he could muster.

“Er, hello Barbara,” he said, hoping that he didn’t sound as silly as he felt and trying very hard to ignore the fact that not only his mother and hers but most of the other people round the table as well were watching them with either interest, amusement or both. This evening was going to be a nightmare. He could see it coming.

Daisy, seeing how discomfited he looked, wished heartily that she’d realised what her aunt and Beth’s mother had in mind beforehand and tried to put a stop to it. She sometimes thought herself that David must get lonely, rattling around in that family-sized house by himself, and she was sure that her Auntie Madge thought that she was being helpful by trying to find him a wife, but she did wish that she’d learn not to interfere in David’s private business.

Barbara didn’t look any too pleased about it either, she noticed. Still, maybe that would make David feel better: from some of things he’d said to her, she’d gathered that a few of the girls that his mother had introduced him too had obviously been all too interested in a young man from a well-to-do family with a title to boot, and with a share in his own medical practice, before they’d even met him. David, being the sort of person he was, and having always carried the weight of his parents’ expectations and been the one on whom all the Russells had always relied, needed above all a girl who’d care about him for himself.

She tried to remember what she could about Barbara, whom she hadn’t seen for years. Someone like Barbara as she’d been when she was young, spoilt by her mother and brought up to expect that everything would be done for her, would be a disastrous match for David: he really needed someone spirited and strong-minded, otherwise he’d end up spending half his time looking after her and never relax and enjoy himself. However, maybe Barbara as she was now, much more mature and independent – and she was an attractive young woman even if she didn’t have Beth’s beauty, and the most stylishly-dressed person in the room by far – might just get on with him very well.

She laughed at herself. There she’d been wishing that Auntie Madge would stop trying to matchmake for David, and now here she was thinking about what sort of girl would best suit him! Oh well, whatever sort of person Barbara might be now, it looked as if tonight’s matchmaking efforts were all going to be in vain, because neither she nor David were showing the slightest sign of being attracted to each other.
Author:  Chair [ Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:17 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. Poor David and Barbara!
Author:  Lexi [ Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:44 am ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
It looked as if tonight’s matchmaking efforts were all going to be in vain, because neither she nor David were showing the slightest sign of being attracted to each other.


Hooray! :D
Author:  Lizzie [ Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:08 am ]
Post subject: 
Phew!

Thanks Alison!
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:27 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison.
Author:  Karoline [ Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:16 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison :)
Author:  leahbelle [ Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
I hope they don't suddenly find themselves getting on swimmingly at dinner. That would really confuse the issue.
Author:  Fatima [ Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'm glad Barbara isn't interested in David, either. Hopefully they can both have a laugh at their mothers' plans.
Author:  JustJen [ Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
:roll: at Madge's match making attempts.
Thanks for the update Alison
Author:  Jennie [ Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
Will Madge never learn?
Author:  Pat [ Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:26 pm ]
Post subject: 
Jennie wrote:
Will Madge never learn?


I shouldn't think so. She'll have to have it rammed down her throat before she sees it!
Author:  Rob [ Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison!

:roll: at Madge and Anne Chester
Author:  Lesley [ Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
She tried to remember what she could about Barbara, whom she hadn’t seen for years. Someone like Barbara as she’d been when she was young, spoilt by her mother and brought up to expect that everything would be done for her


Surely Daisy would have known Barbara after she had joined the CS? She wasn't like that there - indeed everyone that had known her before commented on it as she was such a pleasant girl.


Thanks Alison - glad Barbara is as annoyed as David.
Author:  Tara [ Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:13 pm ]
Post subject: 
Oh, poor lad, that is so embarrassing - and for Barbara as well, of course. It would be cringe-making even if they did like each other. Daisy's description of the ideal person for David reminded me so strongly of ... :wink:
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:38 am ]
Post subject: 
Lesley wrote:
Quote:
She tried to remember what she could about Barbara, whom she hadn’t seen for years. Someone like Barbara as she’d been when she was young, spoilt by her mother and brought up to expect that everything would be done for her


Surely Daisy would have known Barbara after she had joined the CS? She wasn't like that there - indeed everyone that had known her before commented on it as she was such a pleasant girl.


She may have done but Beth her best friend wasn't overly keen on her when the two first met (It was just after Beth felt Barbara was taking her place in her Mother's heart) so may be Daisy picked up on that and it stayed with her all these years despite Beth and Barbara becoming closer and Barbara being a nice person despite it all
Author:  Kathy_S [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 3:11 am ]
Post subject: 
I agree with Lesley on this one. I know Daisy & Beth are significantly older than Barbara, but surely they wouldn't retain only negative early childhood memories, given Barbara's remarkably positive image throughout her CS career. Of course that's no reason for David to fall for her, but I wouldn't think a dinner could be that dire. Who knows, maybe Babs'll turn out to be helpful....

More, please?
Author:  Tan [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:23 am ]
Post subject: 
Also Daisy would have well and truly left school by the time Barbara joined in. In fact, she would have just been married.

Poor David and Barbara. It looks like their parents planning will come to nothing anyway.
Author:  Alison H [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:48 am ]
Post subject: 
Barbara isn't going to feature significantly in this, but I always thought she was a wasted character - she started off being quite interesting, and then faded into the background as just another one of The Gang.

“Er, how are you?” David asked Barbara, trying desperately to think of something to say.

“Fine, thank you. And you?”

“Oh, I’m fine as well, thanks for asking.”

“Good.” They sat in complete silence for a minute, and then Barbara asked, “How’s Josette?”

“Josette? Oh, she’s – er, fine.” This was awful. He didn’t usually get tongue-tied like this, but it was very difficult when you couldn’t help feeling that everyone was watching you. “Sorry,” he muttered. “My mother does things like this all the time. I hope she hasn’t made you feel too awkward.”

Barbara laughed. “Oh, it was probably my mother’s idea. I’m afraid she does things like this all the time too. It’s all right, David: you don’t have to talk to me if you don’t want to.”

“Sorry,” he apologised again. “You must think I’m really rude, sitting here like an idiot and hardly saying anything!” He racked his brains for something to talk about. He didn’t really know Barbara very well: the Russells and the Chesters had seen a lot of each other when the Russells had lived in Guernsey, but Barbara had been a baby back then. He remembered Nancy better: she’d been much closer to him in age. Ah, now there was something he could ask about – Barbara’s visit to Birmingham. “I gather you’ve been to see Nancy,” he said. “How are she and her husband finding life in the West Midlands?”

Barbara frowned. “Not wonderful, as it so happens. Luke – Nancy’s husband – was really enthusiastic about leaving the hospital he was at and becoming a G.P., but he’s found that he doesn’t really like the area that he’s working in. Nancy’s not particularly happy in Birmingham either: she says that basically they’ve both realised that living in a big city’s not for them and that they’d rather be somewhere quieter. I suppose that’s the trouble when you move: it doesn’t always turn out as you were hoping. Are you finding it all right being back in Armishire?”

David told her about how he was much preferred his life in Armishire to his old life in London, and they found plenty to talk about after that. So did everyone else, and really the meal went very well: the conversation flowed fairly readily, the food was delicious as Marie’s food always was, and generally everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves even if Kevin and Kester did look a little bored sometimes. Then, after they’d finished eating, they all went back to sit in the drawing room - where, much to David’s embarrassment, his mother made sure that he was sitting next to Barbara again, and on a two-seater settee at that!

“My mother probably thinks that she’s being really subtle!” he said apologetically. “Oh dear - I’m afraid that she’s dying to get me married off!”

Barbara laughed. “Mine’s just as bad. Beth married an old family friend, and Nancy’s husband is a doctor like Dad, so as far as she’s concerned they couldn’t really have done any better; and she’s longing for me to find someone equally suitable and walk down the aisle with him, but I’m not going to! Not that I’m knocking any of it – my brothers-in-law are both great and Beth and Nancy are very happy with them – but when I was younger I always said that I had no intention of getting married and so far I haven’t found any reason to change my mind. There is a man in London, as it so happens, but both of us are quite happy the way we are - for the time being, at any rate.”

David smiled wryly. “You remind me of … of a girl I know. Saying that about having no intention of getting married, I mean.”

“Oh?” Barbara looked at him sympathetically. “Oh dear, have I just put my foot in it? Sorry, David. I didn’t realise.”

“Oh – no, don’t apologise. You weren’t to know. Anyway, she doesn’t say that sort of thing any more. At least, I don’t think she does.”

“Don’t you know?” Barbara looked at him curiously. “Sorry, David: feel free to tell me to mind my own business. You just sound as if you’re rather keen on her, that’s all - and if that’s the case then shouldn’t you at least talk to her about how she might see her future panning out? Sorry, sorry - nothing to do with me!”
Author:  keren [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:52 am ]
Post subject: 
very good
they are getting on as friends

And the part where Nancy's husband would really like somewhere quieter, means that we have someone to take over the practice making it possible for David to move to Austria without leaving Daisy in the lurch (apart from facts such as getting a license to work as a Dr in Austria something that never ever seemed to bother EBD in any of the books)
Author:  ibarhis [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:06 am ]
Post subject: 
Nice... and good advice for David as well!
Author:  Lottie [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 9:14 am ]
Post subject: 
It sounds as though Barbara and David have quite a lot in common! They could become good friends - just not in the way that both their mothers are hoping for. :lol: I like the fact that Nancy and Luke are lined up in the wings to take over the Armiford practice from David, should he decide that his future lies in the Tirol. That was the major stumbling block I could see to him and Gretchen getting together, since I couldn't see her leaving Austria again. I think they should find it easier to overcome the potential problems with how their parents see the suitablility of a relationship if they are living in a different country from their parents.

Sorry :oops: - I can't always think of anything sensible to say, but I do look forward to reading this every day.
Thanks, Alison!
Author:  leahbelle [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:38 pm ]
Post subject: 
That's great that Barbara and David have found things to talk about. Perhaps he could even talk to her about his feelings?
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
I've just found time - well, made time, really - to catch up on this instead of writing Sunday's sermon! It's great; thanks, Alison.
Author:  Jennie [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. Why do mothers thnk that they're being subtle when they do things like that?

Barbara might just be giving David some wise advice, there.
Author:  Chair [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 3:37 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I had also thought that maybe Luke could take over from David in working at the practice.
Author:  Fatima [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 3:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yes, it all has the potential to turn out perfectly now, doesn't it?! Thanks Alison.
Author:  Lizzie [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
“Not wonderful, as it so happens. Luke – Nancy’s husband – was really enthusiastic about leaving the hospital he was at and becoming a G.P., but he’s found that he doesn’t really like the area that he’s working in. Nancy’s not particularly happy in Birmingham either: she says that basically they’ve both realised that living in a big city’s not for them and that they’d rather be somewhere quieter....”


Aha! Very cunning, Alison!

Alison H wrote:
“Sorry, David: feel free to tell me to mind my own business. You just sound as if you’re rather keen on her, that’s all - and if that’s the case then shouldn’t you at least talk to her about how she might see her future panning out? Sorry, sorry - nothing to do with me!”


Yes, David, yes you SHOULD...

Thanks Alison!
Author:  Lesley [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
Poor Madge and Anne - they both probably think they've cracked it and their errant offspring are abouit to waltz down the aisle. :lol:

Really hope David can gently but firmly tell Madge to stop interfering.

Thanks Alison.
Author:  ness [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison I'm really enjoying this.
Author:  Elbee [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hopefully David and Barbara can provide friendly support for each other.

Thanks Alison.
Author:  Jennie [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think that the point with Madge and Anne Chester is that David and Barbara will have to hit them both over the head with a lump-hammer before they realise that their little schemes are going to come to nothing. I can understand the two women; clearly each thinks that the other woman's child is so 'suitable' and 'just our sort' but you can't marry to please your parents, and you've very little chance of happiness if you do.
Author:  Rob [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 9:38 pm ]
Post subject: 
Glad to see things falling into place for David. Its a shame for Madge and Anne, but you can't please everyone!! :lol:

David is being suprisingly indiscreet here, I just hope no one is eavesdropping :shock: :D
Author:  Kathy_S [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
Good job, Babs!
Author:  Tara [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
Well done, that girl! Just a little push ...
Author:  Cath V-P [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:48 am ]
Post subject: 
Just caught up on the last three pages of this, and it's fascinating. Poor David and Barbara - and their parents obviously feel that they're doing the best they can for them as well!
Author:  Alison H [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 6:45 am ]
Post subject: 
“It’s all right,” David said. Quite honestly he was glad of the chance to talk to someone who seemed like they’d listen but wouldn’t feel that it was their place to interfere. Often he found that his patients told him all sorts of personal things that they’d never told their families or friends, and he’d long ago concluded that it could be easier to discuss things with a person who was completely removed from a situation than with a close friend or relative. Anyway, he was beginning to feel that if he didn’t say something to someone soon then he’d go mad. And really his mother had been extremely helpful by making sure that he and Barbara were seated together in a quiet corner of the room so that they could talk privately, he thought with wry amusement!

“No-one else knows that there is anyone,” he said awkwardly. “That’s why my mum keeps trying to fix me up with people, I suppose … although she’d probably do it even more if she … . it’s complicated. And the girl, woman I should say - I don’t see her much: she doesn’t live … nearby. And I’ve got no real idea how she feels about me. I don’t even know if she knows how I feel about her.” He shook his head. “Sorry, Barbara: I’ll shut up now. You don’t want to be hearing all this.”

“It’s not me who should be hearing it: it’s her.” She smiled at him. “David – this girl, this woman … how on earth is she supposed to know how you feel about her if you don’t tell her? You might very well find out that she feels the same, but whether she does or not you’re never going to find out if you don’t say anything, are you? You’re not a mind-reader and neither is she.”

“No … but if I do tell her then I might well ruin everything.” He bit his lip. “She’s a … friend, you see. A good friend: a very good friend. And … well, as I said before, it’s complicated. The last thing I want to do is tell anyone, and if I tell her, then a lot of things might end up getting very difficult indeed.”

“Or they might not – and both of you could end up being very happy. I’m sorry, David: it’s nothing to do with me and I don’t really know the ins and outs of it all and so I shouldn’t be trying to give you advice, but … well, you only get one chance at life and if you do really like this girl then I think that you should tell her so. Because if you don’t, then you’re always going to be wondering. And that isn’t going to do either of you any good, is it?”

“I suppose not,” David said. He smiled. “Maybe you’re right. Thanks, Barbara. Maybe I should tell her.”

“Have a good think about it, anyway,” she advised.

David nodded. “I will. I definitely will.”

He was awake for most of that night, thinking everything through yet again. And, by the time he finally fell asleep, he’d reached some conclusions. He couldn’t carry on like this, with Gretchen never knowing how he really felt and him never knowing how she really felt: it wasn’t fair to either of them. He’d have to be very careful about how he went about it; but it wouldn’t be long before the two of them would finally be face to face again, and then, then, he’d talk to her – and, given that he had no way of being sure how she was going to react, there was no point tearing himself apart in the meantime worrying about how they might deal with the various problems that might arise however she responded.

What was more, after the embarrassment of the happenings at the dinner party – although really it had turned out quite well in the end! - it really was high time that he started being more assertive where his parents were concerned. He seemed to have spent his entire life worrying about sparing other people’s feelings, right back to when he’d been a little boy trying to break up squabbles between Rix and Sybil without either making the Bettanys feel that he didn’t want them there or making his sister feel that he was taking sides against her. Well, enough was enough. He wasn’t going to say anything that might be hurtful or offensive to anyone, not if he could possibly avoid it, but it was his life and he was fed up of other people interfering in it and of always feeling that he couldn’t say anything in case they took umbrage at it.

All in all, it was time to stop worrying so much and to take some positive action.
Author:  Elbee [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:34 am ]
Post subject: 
Good thinking David!
Author:  Lottie [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:40 am ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
it was his life and he was fed up of other people interfering in it

Quite so, David! I think that might be the first step in the right direction.

Thanks, Alison.
Author:  LizB [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:41 am ]
Post subject: 
Go for it David!

Thanks, Alison :D
Author:  ibarhis [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:48 am ]
Post subject: 
A very sane set of conclusions!
Author:  alicat [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:15 am ]
Post subject: 
what's the male equivalent of a spineless jellyfish???

a quivering octopus??? a shaking squid???


either way David needs to stop being one! Go David, Go David......
Author:  Karoline [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:48 am ]
Post subject: 
Go for it David
Author:  Kathy_S [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
Such a nice boy, David. :)
Author:  Jennie [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
yes, he is a nice boy, but so far one without a great deal of backbone. he's really got to start sticking up for himself or he'll end up by losing out all round.
Author:  Chair [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I'm glad he has decided to take positive action.
Author:  brie [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison! I had quite a few updates to catch up on which is always good! Barbara did seem nice :)
Author:  Lesley [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:22 pm ]
Post subject: 
About time, David - Gretchen want a man not a limp fish. :lol:


Thanks Alison
Author:  Rob [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
Finally David, thats just the decision we hoped you'd make!!

Thanks Alison!
Author:  Tara [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
I don't think David is lacking in backbone, he's just very emotionally intelligent and very aware of other people's feelings and the complexities of relationships:
Quote:
He seemed to have spent his entire life worrying about sparing other people’s feelings, right back to when he’d been a little boy trying to break up squabbles between Rix and Sybil without either making the Bettanys feel that he didn’t want them there or making his sister feel that he was taking sides against her.
And that's when he's a young boy!

But he's certainly right that it's time to be more assertive about what he wants - how true that you only get one chance at life.
Author:  Cath V-P [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
you only get one chance at life
How true that is! And it can be so hard to stick to what you know is right fot you, especially if you can see and understand other people's points of view, and don't want to alienate them as well.
Author:  Alison H [ Fri Jun 15, 2007 6:45 am ]
Post subject: 
Later that month ...

“Well, I am exhausted!” Madge said, flopping down into a chair in a very inelegant way. “I was beginning to think that we’d never get here at all: I haven’t been so pleased to see anywhere in years as I was to see Die Blumen just now. Let’s just hope that we’ve got any bad luck we were due over with and that everything’ll run smoothly for the rest of the holiday! Dear me, I feel as if I never want to see the inside of an airport again!”

“At least you haven’t been sitting in wet clothes for the past two hours,” Kester put in crossly. “That is the last time I ever sit next to you on a train, Kevin Russell, you clumsy oaf.”

“It was only lemonade, and it dried ages ago anyway, and I’ve said I’m sorry,” Kevin muttered defensively. “Mum, will you tell him to stop going on about it? It was an accident. It wasn’t my fault the train jerked just then, was it?”

“Stop bickering, you two,” David told them firmly. “Okay, everyone – Andreas and I have taken all the bags to the bedrooms, and hopefully they’re all the right place. Ailie, what on earth you’ve got in yours I don’t know: we’re here for two weeks, not two months!”

“Well, if everyone’s in and all the bags are in then I suggest the next thing to do is put the kettle on and have a nice hot drink each!” Madge said, getting up and heading into the kitchen with Marie following her. “That’s assuming that there’s something in the kitchen to make a drink with and … oh, bless your mother, Marie! Not only has she left tea and coffee and milk and sugar, she’s left cold meat and salad for all as well! Oh, that’s wonderful. I don’t know about anyone else but I’m definitely hungry. Oh, and she’s put the hot water on as well – even better! Please thank her for us when you see her – which’ll be tomorrow now, I assume?”

“Of course I’ll thank her for you.” Marie smiled at her mistress. “She knew that we were going to be late: when I sent Gretchen the telegram from the station telling her what had happened, I asked her to pass the message on to her grandparents so that they’d know not to expect to see us this evening. Andreas and I will go to see them all straight after breakfast in the morning – if that’s all right?”

“Of course it is,” Madge assured her. “I know that you’re disappointed not to be seeing them tonight, but with the flight being delayed, and then not getting to Spartz until the last train for Seespitz had left and having to wait around for taxis, it just couldn’t be helped. These things are sent to try us, I suppose! Right, everybody, are we all ready for something to eat?”

Everyone was; and when they’d all finished eating and Marie had cleared the dishes and cutlery away Jem stood up and stifled a yawn. “Well, I take it that no-one’s going out anywhere tonight, so I may as well lock up.”

“I for one am going nowhere except for a bath and then to bed!” Ailie announced. “I hate to admit it, but I’m shattered. We seem to’ve been on the go for ever!”

“I’m not that tired, actually: I think I’ll go for a walk,” David said, trying to sound casual. “I’m going to have a shower and get changed first, though – I feel a bit hot and sticky after all that travelling. I’ll try to be quick so that I’m not holding up any queues for the bath; and then I’ll head off out.”
Author:  ibarhis [ Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:03 am ]
Post subject: 
I hope that everyone doesn't decide to join him!
Author:  Fatima [ Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:57 am ]
Post subject: 
Hooray! They're in Austria at last!
Author:  brie [ Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:45 am ]
Post subject: 
*Echoes ibarhis*

Thanks Alison.
Author:  Rosalin [ Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:44 am ]
Post subject: 
Hmm I wonder in which direction David's walk will take him?

Thanks Alison, looking foward to seeing what happens next.
Author:  Jennie [ Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
Please, Alison, let him serenade Gretchen from underneath her bedroom window.

'But soft, what light from yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Gretchen is the sun.'
Author:  Lizzie [ Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
A moonlit walk? Ooh, maybe they could meet in a summer house, and sing Something Good together...

Thanks Alison! Looking forward to more...
Author:  Lesley [ Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
Oh so casual, David - hope Ailie doesn't catch on! :lol:

Thanks Alison.
Author:  Rob [ Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yay! They've finally made it to Austria!

Thanks Alison!
Author:  Chair [ Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I hope that David bumps into Gretchen.
Author:  Tara [ Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
Well, he's certainly not hanging around now! I liked the fact that Madge wasn't expecting to be waited on.

I'm just off on holiday for a fortnight, so I'll have to wait for that moonlight meeting! :(

Thanks so much for this, Alison, I'll look forward to catching up when I come back.
Author:  Alison H [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:03 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the comments. I wish I'd had some of those ideas :D !

“What, at this time!” Ailie exclaimed. “What on earth do you want to go for a walk for? It’s not even light outside.”

“Can I come with you?” Kevin asked hopefully.

“And me,” Kester chimed in.

“Actually, I think that it’s getting a bit late for you two,” David said hastily. He felt guilty when he saw the disappointed looks on his little brothers’ faces, but he reminded himself of everything he’d been telling himself over the past couple of weeks: it was his life and he couldn’t always be changing his plans to suit other people. Especially not something as important as this. Anyway, it wasn’t as if he wasn’t going to be spending plenty of time with the boys during the course of the next fortnight. “I’ll see you both in the morning, and we’ll all go out somewhere together then,” he promised. “Just not tonight.”

“That means that you’re going out for a drink,” Kester said. “Dad, tell him not to be so mean and to let us go with him: he can go in the pub at home, any time.”

“David, are you sure you want to go out?” Madge asked. “It’s late. And will there even be anywhere open for a drink at this time? Where’s Andreas - oh, I think he’s in the kitchen with Marie? He might know.” Following on from Kester’s comment, she was about to add that she wasn’t sure that it was nice for doctors to be seen in public houses, but thought better of it. The previous week, David had had a few choice words to say to her on the subject of interfering in his business when she’d asked him if he’d been in touch with Barbara Chester since the dinner party; and she didn’t want to start the holiday off with an argument.

“And if there are places open at this time, you’d be best avoiding that one next to the Seehaus,” Jem added. “It always had a reputation for being very rough, if I remember rightly.”

“For crying out loud, I didn’t even say that I was going for a drink: I just said that I wanted to go for a walk!” David said exasperatedly. “What’re you all me driving me mad for? Dad, give me the spare key, please, will you? I’ll lock up when I get back, if the rest of you are all going to bed soon.”

“Here.” Jem took it off his keyring and put it on the table. “Don’t lose it!”

“David, if you insist on having a shower before you go wandering off then will you get a move on, please?” Ailie asked. “I’m dying to get in the bath! I’ll definitely be in bed by the time you get back, so I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow!” David said. Then he grabbed the key and headed rapidly out of the room before anyone could hold him up any further.

*******************

Gretchen looked at the clock for the fifth time in three minutes. This was ridiculous. She rarely retired early – she liked to sit and read in the peace and quiet of her living room in the evenings – but she was tired tonight. She’d had a long day at work, and she’d hardly got any sleep the previous night because she’d lain awake for hours worrying about her grandparents. So why didn’t she just go to bed? She’d got her parents’ telegram saying that the flight had been delayed, and by her calculations by the time they and the Russells got to Spartz they’d have missed the last train to the Tiernsee and so been held up even further. They might not even have got to Buchau yet. Even if they had, he was hardly likely to come and see her at this hour, was he? Especially after a long journey. Even her parents had said that they wouldn’t be coming round until tomorrow; and they were her parents, whereas David was only … well, that was the whole problem, wasn’t it? Was he only her friend, in his mind, or …?

Whatever he was, here she was, sitting around like an idiot, in the dress she’d changed into because she hadn’t wanted him to see her for the first time in fourteen months in the clothes that she’d been sitting in all day at work. Actually, it was the third outfit she’d put on. Maybe the one she’d been wearing an hour ago had been better. Or maybe she should have stayed in her work clothes after all: if by any chance he did turn up, he might realise that she’d got changed - and then it might all be too obvious? Actually, he probably wouldn’t notice at all. Men could be pretty unobservant about that sort of thing. Oh, why was she even worrying about all this? Why was she so nervous? This was David she was thinking about: she’d known him her entire life. How could she possibly be feeling nervous about the prospect of seeing him?

She sat back on the settee and read the same page of her book four times without taking any of it in, before throwing it down in disgust with herself and going into the kitchen to make herself a drink. This was stupid. He was hardly likely to come round and see her tonight, when he’d only just arrived and after a bad journey, was he? And it was late; and she was tired. Why didn’t she just do the rational thing and call it a night?

Because she had this funny feeling that he would come round tonight. And she wanted to see him very badly. And the main reason that she was so nervous was that she knew that the right thing to do was what her Auntie Karen had said – to talk to him, to give themselves a chance, at least to find out how he really felt … but she had no idea what might happen if she did. When she did.
Author:  Lottie [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:08 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I've got to be out all day, and your update has been just in time for me. I just hope David and Gretchen manage to actually sort a few things out when they talk. I'll look forward to seeing it.
Author:  bethany [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:18 am ]
Post subject: 
I like the early morning updates too - I usually read this while I eat breakfast :)
Gretchen and David are soooooo close to meeting up with each other again, yay! Thanks Alison.
Author:  Lesley [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:20 am ]
Post subject: 
Well done David for having those choice words with Madge (though a pity we couldn't see them)! :lol:

Now come along children - hurry up and get together.

Nice cliff, Alison :lol:
Author:  Fatima [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:19 am ]
Post subject: 
I'm glad David finally told Madge that he didn't appreciate her matchmaking! Poor Grechen, I can just imagine how nervous she's feeling. It's going to be all right, though, isn't it?

Thanks Alison.
Author:  brie [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:36 am ]
Post subject: 
thnaks Alison.

Gretchen was great there.
Author:  Rosalin [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:56 am ]
Post subject: 
Go for it Gretchen! Poor David having to escape from all his family like that - even though they were all just being caring. Did Ailie suspect something though, or was she just eager to have her bath?

Thanks for the update Alison.
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 9:39 am ]
Post subject: 
Thank you, Alison; this is my favourite drabble at the moment, the one I save until last every day - and it was worth saving!
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 9:55 am ]
Post subject: 
I love it when I haven't had a chance to catch up with the board for a couple of days and not only have you updated once but you've done it twice! Thanks :rofl:
Author:  PaulineS [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 10:43 am ]
Post subject: 
Glad they both are in a hurry to see each other. :) :)
Hope all goes well for them :D :D
Author:  Rob [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 11:47 am ]
Post subject: 
Glad that David and Gretchen are both so eager to see each other.

Looking forward to the next bit Alison (hint hint!)
Author:  Becky [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 12:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
Just had a mammoth catch-up and it's fab, thanks so much! Can't wait to see what they say when they finally meet up.

Although I am wibbling a bit that David might get lost in the dark and fall into the lake, but you wouldn't be mean, would you, Alison?! :D
Author:  Chair [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. It's good that David managed to stop the others from going with him.
Author:  Kathy_S [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 3:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
*hopes things are as promising as they look*

Thank you, Alison.:)
Author:  leahbelle [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 3:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
Fingers crossed their meeting goes well and that it's all they want it to be.

Thanks, Alison!
Author:  Tan [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 5:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
Poor David, :lol: at the twins wanting to accompany him!
Author:  Lizzie [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 5:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
This is so exciting!!
Author:  Jennie [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:24 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison, at last. But did you have to leave it there?
Author:  Sandra [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Thanks, Alison, at last. But did you have to leave it there?


Quite!
Author:  Alison H [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 8:20 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the comments :D .

Gretchen wasn’t to know it; but David, as he made his way around the moonlit Tiernsee from Buchau to Briesau, was feeling every bit as nervous as she was. He’d got about two-thirds of the way from Die Blumen to Gretchen’s house when he stopped and wondered if he’d gone stark raving mad going round to see her so late. There was hardly another soul about anywhere, and the lights were out in some of the houses he’d passed: she might be asleep. Even if she wasn’t, she might get a terrible fright if someone knocked on her door at this hour. And might it not be considered highly improper for a young single man to call at this time of night on a young single woman who lived alone - even if they had known each other all their lives?

Stop worrying so much, David, he told himself sternly. It was extremely unlikely that she’d be asleep. He knew very well that she usually stayed up late, reading a good book in her living room. She’d told him that, as she told him most other things about her life. Anyway, he’d know whether or not she were still up, because he’d be able to see if the lights were on or not. And, as far as knocking on the door went, she was hardly of a nervous disposition, and she’d ask who was there before opening the door anyway. As for the propriety or otherwise of visiting her so late - well, Gretchen being Gretchen she wouldn’t worry too much about things like that; there probably wouldn’t be anyone about to see him anyway; and, besides, it was hardly as if his intentions weren’t honourable.

In any case, if he didn’t see her now then he’d have a long wait before he could see her and speak to her privately, because she’d be spending tomorrow morning and probably much of the rest of the day as well with Marie and Andreas. And he couldn’t wait that long. He’d waited fourteen months to see her as it was, and right now he didn’t know how he’d done it. He didn’t think he could wait more than another few minutes. Redoubling his pace, he carried on walking in the direction of Briesau as fast as he could, at time almost breaking into a run.

As he approached her house, nerves overtook him again and he stopped in the street. He wished that he’d had chance to get something for her. In the past, if he’d been trying to impress a girl then he’d usually taken her flowers, or chocolates; but they’d reached the Tiernsee so late that all the shops had been shut. Oh, never mind. It would have been nice if he’d had chance to get her a bunch of flowers, but, in the scheme of what he might be about to say, did flowers really matter that much? Only Gretchen mattered. He took a deep breath, walked up to her house, saw that there was a light on in the living room, and smiled. She was still up. And, if she didn’t want visitors at this time of night, knowing Gretchen she’d probably tell him so! But he did hope that she’d be pleased to see him. He really, really hoped that she’d be pleased to see him.

He didn’t mean to knock on the door quite as loudly as he did. It must be nerves, he thought. Honestly, he was behaving like a lovesick schoolboy, not a grown man. A lovesick grown man then, he said to himself wryly. He waited, and he heard footsteps; and then, finally he heard her voice. “Who is it?” she called, her voice trembling slightly.

She’d spoken in German and so he automatically answered her in German. “It’s me, David,” he called back. He felt as if he should have said something more, because he was suddenly feeling a great sense of occasion even though all he was doing was standing on a doorstep. But then the door was opening, and there she was, in a pretty blue dress that matched the colour of her eyes, standing before him again at last, and all thoughts of whatever he should or shouldn’t be saying went out of his mind for a moment.

Then he took another deep breath. “Hello Gretchen,” he said. “I hope you don’t mind my coming round here so late, but I really wanted to see you.”
Author:  Lesley [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 8:43 am ]
Post subject: 
Awwwww, so cute. :lol:


Thanks Alison.
Author:  brie [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 8:54 am ]
Post subject: 
Awwwwwwwww so nice Alison. Thanks
Author:  keren [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 9:10 am ]
Post subject: 
imagining lots of CBBers eagerly logging on to read the net installment.
As I read this and other drabbles, I always remember what I read about Dickens' novels being written in installments and people waiting at the docks in America shouting "Is little Nell dead" and wondering how Dickens would have been if he could have sent the stuff out as you all do.

This is so exciting, please make this come out right at this point (no misunderstanding between the 2 of them, just solving how to cope with the practical side of things, their parents etc.)
Author:  Tan [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 10:30 am ]
Post subject: 
Ahhh.
Author:  Chair [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 11:22 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. That was a lovely reunion between the 2 of them. I look forward to seeing the rest of the reunion.
Author:  Jennie [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 12:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. Now for the first kiss!
Author:  Miranda [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 2:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
I've been catching up on about a week's worth of this and I was desperately hoping that they would be talking by the time I caught up.... But they're RIGHT on the verge of it :D

Quote:
“Hello Gretchen,” he said. “I hope you don’t mind my coming round here so late, but I really wanted to see you.”


Not quite the passionate-kiss-sweep-her-off-her-feet-in-the-doorway greeting I was hoping for, but it's a promising start nonetheless :lol:

Thanks Alison, I've really enjoyed being able to read so much in one go!
Author:  leahbelle [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 3:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
A great start :lol: .

Eagerly looking forward to more!
Author:  Ruth B [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 4:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Awww. Luffly.
Author:  ness [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 5:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hooray! They've met :D , I hope it goes well from here
Author:  Becky [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 6:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
Can't wait to hear what they're going to say to each other!

Thanks, Alison. :D
Author:  Rosalin [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 7:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
Awww.

Thanks Alison
Author:  Lizzie [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 8:24 pm ]
Post subject: 
Eeeeeeeeeeeee!

Alison, I am truely loving this story. If you break your (frankly amazing) posting streak of one per day and DON'T post tomorrow, I may be forced to travel to Manchester and camp outside your door with placards and such...

Brilliant.
Author:  ibarhis [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 8:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
Alison, I had to laugh at your tag... 'blushing when a friend mentions a doctor'...
Author:  Rob [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 10:01 pm ]
Post subject: 
David is so sweet in this!!

Thanks Alison!
Author:  Alison H [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:47 am ]
Post subject: 
“No – it’s all right. I mean, of course I don’t mind. It’s lovely to see you.” Gretchen smiled shyly. “Er – come in. I was just in the living room. I was reading my book. Er – would you like a coffee? Or I think I’ve got some tea somewhere if you’d prefer that. I gather you had a bad journey: Mum and Dad sent me a telegram. It’s annoying when things don’t run on time, isn’t it? I hope it hasn’t spoilt the start of your holiday.” Why on earth was she babbling on like this, she wondered, annoyed with herself. She wasn’t usually nervous of anyone, let alone someone she’d known as long as she’d known David. Honestly, she’d talking about the weather next! She blushed, stopped speaking and headed for the kitchen.

“No: no, of course it hasn’t.” David walked into the house and carefully closed the door behind him. “These things happen: we’ll all be fine in the morning. And coffee would be lovely, thank you.” That was the sort of answer he’d have given his mother or one of his aunts: he wished that he’d been able to think of something better to say but didn’t know what. He had so much to tell her, and he didn’t know where or even how to start.

He followed her into the kitchen, where she opened a cupboard and took two mugs out; and he noticed with concern that she looked tired. Had she had a bad day at work? Or was it because she was worried about her grandparents? Or both? He wanted to ask; but telling her that he thought she looked tired wouldn’t exactly sound very flattering, and he thought that maybe he should start off by paying her some sort of compliment. Oh, why couldn’t he be one of those blokes who always seemed to be able to come out with a ready stream of flattery whenever they were talking to a girl? He loved everything about her, but just coming out with that might be rushing things to put it mildly.

Aware of his eyes on her, Gretchen blushed again and turned round. She could feel that her cheeks were bright red and she just hoped that he wouldn’t notice. Or did she? “Is everything all right, David?” she asked.

“What? Oh, yes: of course everything’s all right. Everything’s fine. I was just thinking – er, that that’s a nice dress you’re wearing.” His face was as red as hers.

“This? Oh. Er, thanks.” They looked at each other for a moment; then she turned away, embarrassed. “Er, you have milk and one sugar – that’s right, isn’t it? You don’t mind if I just put them in the mug and don’t bother with the milk jug and the sugar bowl, do you? I know that it’s not what your mother’d do but … anyway, right, I just need to fill the kettle up first.” She took the kettle to the sink, but somehow she didn’t notice when it was full, and water spurted out of it and on to the worktop.

“Oh damn! Oh – sorry.” She grabbed a tea towel and mopped up the water. “Sorry. I can’t seem to concentrate.” She could feel her face gong even redder than it had been already. There wasn’t a lot of room in this part of the kitchen, and for some reason there seemed to be even less than usual this evening. And it had been a warm evening – it was July, after all - but in the space of the last few minutes it somehow seemed to have got an awful lot warmer. And how had she managed to make such a mess of something as simple as filling up a kettle?

“On the coffee?” It was a ridiculously stupid question; and David didn’t know why he’d asked it. He just couldn’t seem to think of anything sensible to say at the moment. It had all been so easy and comfortable between them last year, but tonight there seemed to be something in the air that you could have cut with a knife.

“Coffee’s very important in Austria,” Gretchen found herself saying. “That’s supposed to go back to the Siege of Wien, you know. The one in 1683, not the one in 1529. Apparently when the Ottomans retreated they left a load of sacks of coffee behind, and the Austrians took it and that’s when coffee became popular in Austria, and in the rest of Central and Western Europe too. Croissants are supposed to date from then as well. They were made in the shape of Turkish crescents to commemorate the European victory.” Why was she waffling on about croissants? He must be wondering what on earth was wrong with her, drivelling away like that. She tried to focus on the task in hand, making the coffee, and moved towards the drawer where she kept the cutlery - but David was standing right in front of it.

“Sorry, could I, er …” She stood in front of him awkwardly. “I just need to get a couple of spoons,” she muttered. “For the coffee. They’re in that drawer behind you.”

He moved away from the drawer, but she moved towards it at exactly the same time and they came within a couple of inches of colliding. David automatically put his hand out to steady her; and then she looked up at him, and all his carefully made plans, about talking carefully to her and trying to work out how she might react before he made any declaration of his feelings, went straight out of his head; and he took her in his arms and kissed her.
Author:  keren [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:49 am ]
Post subject: 
Yes,
you are making it go right...

It is so nice to read this story
Author:  LizB [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:23 am ]
Post subject: 
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!

Thanks, Alison :D
Author:  bethany [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:27 am ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
David automatically put his hand out to steady her; and then she looked up at him, and all his carefully made plans, about talking carefully to her and trying to work out how she might react before he made any declaration of his feelings, went straight out of his head; and he took her in his arms and kissed her.


Awwww that was lovely!

I could really feel for both of them, not knowing the right thing to say, and being clumsy and so on. I think it might be easier for them to talk after this :)

The bit about how coffee was introduced to Austria was very interesting too.

Thanks Alison!
Author:  Rob [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:57 am ]
Post subject: 
Awwwww; so sweet!

Thanks Alison
Author:  ibarhis [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:58 am ]
Post subject: 
How very nice!
Author:  Elbee [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:00 am ]
Post subject: 
Hooray!!! So looking forward to the next instalment... :D

Thanks Alison.
Author:  Alex [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:07 am ]
Post subject: 
Well part of me thinks "thank goodness for that" and the other half thinks that now they aren't going to talk and he's just going to mutter and run out of the house in useless male fashion. Or she's going to think he's not serious about her. Still so much to go wrong.
Author:  Ruth B [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:22 am ]
Post subject: 
Yay! All through that post I was (silently) shouting"Just kiss her dammit!" and then he did!!
Author:  Lexi [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:51 am ]
Post subject: 
:popper: I think that kiss is worthy of a little celebration! Hurrah!

Lovely to see David stopping thinking about things and just acting on impulse as well.
Author:  brie [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:45 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison that was so sweet, and the awkwardness was so realistic as well.
Author:  Karoline [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:46 am ]
Post subject: 
:D Good for David. Thanks Alison
Author:  Lizzie [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:58 am ]
Post subject: 
*sigh*
Author:  Rosalin [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:01 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison

Well done David :D Now lets hope they aren't still embaressed but let things develop.
Author:  Miranda [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:05 am ]
Post subject: 
YAY!! I hope that things improve after the kiss :lol:

That was so wonderfully perfectly awkward Alison - thanks.
Author:  leahbelle [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:09 am ]
Post subject: 
Yay! Thanks, Alison :lol: .
Author:  Jennie [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:59 am ]
Post subject: 
Thank goodness, I thought he'd never get round to it. Now, at least the first kiss is over, so we can all start making wedding plans.

Shall we wear hats?
Author:  janem [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 12:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hurrah! :D
Author:  Lottie [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 1:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
he took her in his arms and kissed her.

At last! A much better idea than coffee, which I suspect neither of them actually want!

Thanks, Alison. :D
Author:  Fatima [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
Well done David! Thanks Alison. :D
Author:  Lesley [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:01 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yippee! Now talk to each other! :lol:


Thanks Alison.
Author:  Chair [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I am looking forward to finding out what happens next. That was such a lovely moment between them at the end.
Author:  JustJen [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
Go David!
Author:  Ariel [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
Alison, I just wanted to say that I've spent the last few days avidly reading all your archived drabbles on Gretchen/David/Karen/Rudi (now halfway through the one after Karen has left and there is a new cook) and they are wonderful wonderful wonderful! Thank you so much!

I love Gretchen - I really hope she and David can be together.
Author:  Becky [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:06 pm ]
Post subject: 
Jennie wrote:
Thank goodness, I thought he'd never get round to it. Now, at least the first kiss is over, so we can all start making wedding plans.

Shall we wear hats?


*bags the lime-green-and-cream ensemble*

Thanks Alison, this just keeps getting better! :D
Author:  ness [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 11:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hooray :lol:

Though I am also worried because people have pointed out how it could still all go wrong
Author:  Kathy_S [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:04 am ]
Post subject: 
Sweet, but daring. :shock:
Hope Gretchen responds appropriately.

Thank you, Alison. :)
Author:  Alison H [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 6:47 am ]
Post subject: 
Thank you so much for all the lovely comments :D - and apologies in advance for any excess soppiness/melodrama in this next bit :oops: .

“I’ve been wanting to do that for a very long time,” he said tenderly. “Gretchen … oh I’m sorry!” She’d responded eagerly to his kiss, but now that they’d drawn apart she was looking stunned and on the verge of tears; and that wasn’t like her at all. If she hadn’t wanted him to kiss her it would have been much more typical of her to have slapped him across the face and thrown him out of the house, or at least to have asked him what the hell he thought he was doing. Not this. Oh, how had he made such a mess of things? Well, he was just going to have to try to sort it out, wasn’t he? “Gretchen, I’m so sorry. I honestly didn’t mean just to turn up like here and … have I offended you? Oh Gretchen, please don’t look like that. I promise that I won’t lay another finger on you if you don’t want me to, but – Gretchen, please, please talk to me.”

“Did you mean it?” she whispered. “David, please tell me whether you meant it or not. Tell me: let me know what’s going on, whether you’ve just come here looking for some sort of holiday flirtation, or … David, did you mean it?”

“Of course I meant it,” he said gently. He reached out towards her then stopped, uncertain, but she didn’t move away and so he touched her face lovingly. “Of course I meant it,” he repeated. “Gretchen, do you really think that I’d try to mess you around?” He smiled for a moment. “I wouldn’t dare to even if I wanted to: I know you! Oh, Gretchen, I would never, ever treat you like that. You know I wouldn’t – come on, how long have you known me?”

“Always.” She smiled tearfully. “Always – but not like this. I didn’t know. I wasn’t sure. I couldn’t tell. You never said: you never explained: you never made it clear. I didn’t know. You didn’t tell me.”

“That I love you? I’m saying it now. Gretchen, I love you. I love everything about you: I’ve been in love with you ever since I was here last year. And I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know how to. It’s not easy, in a letter. And I was nervous. I didn’t want to risk spoiling our friendship: I didn’t know how you felt. You’ve never said. You still haven’t said.”

“I love you too.” She looked up at him, and he took her in his arms again and she put her head on his shoulder. “I didn’t know what to do. I kept thinking – what if I’d got it wrong? You came here last year, and until then everything had just been going along, on an even keel, as it does; and then everything turned upside down. You turned everything upside down, and then all this time I haven’t known what to think or how you felt or anything. I kept thinking that I might have imagined it all.”

“So did I.” He smiled at her. “I haven’t, then? I really haven’t?”

She shook her head; and then he gently lifted her face up to his and kissed her again, but this time she pulled away. “I’ll just finish making the coffee,” she muttered.

“All right.” He was slightly puzzled, but he stayed where he was whilst she made the coffee, and then he sat down at the kitchen table. She put the two mugs of coffee down, and then she sat down in a chair at the opposite end of the table from him.

“Gretchen – are you all right?” he asked anxiously. “Are you sure that I haven’t offended you? I didn’t mean … I didn’t plan to … oh Gretchen, what’s the matter? Have I upset you? Tell me if I have: let me try to put it right. Or is it something else?”

“It’s not you.” She looked up at him. “Well, it is you … and it’s me … that’s the problem, it’s you and it’s me. I care about you so much, but …”

“But what?” He pushed the two mugs out of the way and took her hands in his.

“You know what.” She let him hold her hands but she looked across the table at him unhappily. “I’m just … nervous, David. I’m not usually nervous about things but I am nervous about this. I’ve never felt like this about anyone before, and I’m worried that we might be about to start something that’s going to end up with both of us getting hurt and maybe a lot of other people getting hurt as well. I just think that we need to stop for a little while and think very carefully about what we’re doing.” She bit her lip. “I know you: you’ll have driven yourself mad thinking about all the … issues involved, probably even more than I have. And so you’ll have to admit that – well, things aren’t exactly straightforward, are they?”
Author:  Mona [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:18 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison! I'm really enjoying your early morning updates.
Author:  ibarhis [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:35 am ]
Post subject: 
Well done Gretchen...
Author:  Ruth B [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:36 am ]
Post subject: 
Thank you Alison! I do love a bit of soppiness with my morning coffee!
Author:  Chair [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:07 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. That was a lovely scene and I didn't mind the soppiness at all!
Author:  alicat [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:59 am ]
Post subject: 
oh come on Gretchen!!!

where's the girl who knew what she wanted and was determined to get it?


go girl!
Author:  brie [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison that was lovely! so don't worry about the soppiness :lol:
Author:  Dawn [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
I've just read all 20 pages of this in 1 go and it has been utterly fabulous - and not a bad place for stopping at either

Thankyou so much Alison - I promise I will try and keep up with it now
Author:  leahbelle [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:15 pm ]
Post subject: 
Nothing wrong with some soppiness to get me through the working day!

Thanks, Alison.
Author:  Fatima [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
They're both nervous about this, but they can take strength from one another. It feels so right that they should be together!
Thanks Alison.
Author:  Lizzie [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
This is lovely. Thanks Alison!
Author:  ness [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 3:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison

I am working a particularly horrrendous set of nights at the moment and this is cheering me up no end!
Author:  Lesley [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 3:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
At least they both know the other is serious now.

Thanks Alison
Author:  Rachelj [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 3:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
Ahhhh...tears in my eyes now! This is my favourite drabble, just the thing for a quick break when the children won't stop squabbling!
Author:  Rosalin [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 4:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
Awww. That was lovely Alison, thank you. I particularly liked Gretchen getting a bit incoherent as she tried to get across to David everything that she was feeling.

I don't think they'll be able to make themselves feel any better about their situation by talking about it, they just need to tell people and see what happens. Start with Ailie maybe?
Author:  Tan [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 5:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
I hope that the problems are not as big as Gretchen fears .... and pleased that they were honest with each other.
Author:  Rob [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 5:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
Awww, thanks Alison!

Absolutely lovely!! :)
Author:  Sarah_K [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 6:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
Well that's a good start, at least they both know how they feel now (*melts just a little bit*) but I hope this conversation goes well!

Thank you Alison
Author:  Cath V-P [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:01 am ]
Post subject: 
That was lovely -but, oh, the uncertainty....
Author:  Kathy_S [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:15 am ]
Post subject: 
*echoes Cath*

*sends encouragement to Gretchen & Steve, and hopes the obstacles are less obdurate than they fear*
Author:  Alison H [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:52 am ]
Post subject: 
Long bit coming up! Based partly on Joey's remark in "Future" about collecting the keys from Frau Pfeifen.

“All right,” David said quietly. He’d been utterly euphoric a few minutes ago and now he felt as if he’d just been brought crashing back down to earth with a very big bump; but he was determined to try very hard to be both strong and calm. “You’re Austrian and I’m English: more to the point, you live in Austria and I live in England. Your parents work for my parents. Not that I’ve ever been unduly bothered about religious differences, but you’re a Catholic and I’m an Anglican. How am I doing?”

“I think you’ve covered most things,” she said, smiling reluctantly. “It’s not really … likely to be very easy, is it?”

“No – but surely we can at least try.” She nodded, and he paused for a moment, trying to think how to express what he wanted to say and not really succeeding. This really wasn’t an ideal time to be having this conversation, he realised: it was very late, she was obviously tired, and after the long journey he was tired as well. He was also feeling a little annoyed – could she not have given it more than two minutes after they’d finally admitted their feelings for each other before reminding him how many problems that they were going to have to face? As if he needed reminding, he thought wryly.

He let go of her hands and took a sip of his coffee, and she took a sip of hers as well. Then he started speaking again. “Gretchen, of course I know that there are going to be problems; but everyone has those and they find ways round them. I mean, look at my parents; and at Sybil and Josette and my brothers-in-law. Mum was headmistress of the Chalet School when she and Dad got engaged, and there was no way she was going to be able to carry on doing that once she was living up at the Sonnalpe, so she arranged for Therese Lepattre to take over as head but to ring up and consult her whenever there were any important decisions to be made. And neither Sybs nor Josette ever had any idea of settling in Australia until they met their future husbands, but they have done and they’re very happy there.”

He had a horrible feeling that that hadn’t come across very well. He was right. Gretchen knew that he understood how important both her homeland and her work were to her and normally she’d have realised that he’d just been clumsy in how he’d expressed himself; but tonight she was tired and emotional, and she slammed her mug down and looked across the table at him with her eyes blazing. “Oh, what – so I'm just supposed to give up my job like your mother did, and leave my country to live in yours like your sisters did, and that'll be that?” she demanded furiously. “Is that what you’re saying, David?”

“No! That was not what I meant.” He’d meant that, if they decided that they wanted to be together, one of them would have to make the decision to move to another country; but he hadn’t necessarily meant that it should be her. And he’d meant that alternative arrangements could be made regarding work matters, that they could look for different jobs - not that she should give up work altogether. But he’d been trying to think of real life examples, and unfortunately the only ones he’d been able to think of had involved women adapting their lives to suit those of their menfolk. Which was, of course, was what tended to happen in real life, even these days – maybe it was no wonder that she’d taken he’d said the wrong way. He had to make her understand that he hadn’t meant it like that.

He tried again. “What I mean is, people can arrange their lives differently, when their circumstances change. We both know that a lot better than most people: we both moved from here to Guernsey and from Guernsey to Armishire when we were just little kids. I really didn’t mean that I was going to expect you just to fit in with my life, honestly.”

“Good,” she muttered. She looked up at him. “And I wouldn’t expect you just to fit in with mine either, David: I understand how important your life and your family and your work in Armishire are. But this is what I’m saying: the circumstances aren’t exactly going to make things easy and we need to be aware of that. I’m sorry that I bit your head off, though. I’ve had a long day: I had to go into work early this morning, and then when I got home I rushed round tidying up because I was expecting Mum and Dad to come round this evening, and then I got the telegram saying that you’d been delayed, and then I had to go round and tell Grandma and Grandpa about it as well. I’m probably not at my best: sorry. And you’ve had a long day as well.”

“True. I thought we’d never get here!” He smiled at her affectionately. “I do understand how important Austria and your family here are to you, Gretchen: honestly. I know how much you missed your family here over the years, especially your grandparents. Your parents miss them too. They’re going round to see them in the morning. Your grandma’s wonderful, isn’t she? She’d left a load of cold meat and salad for us - I don’t know what we’d have done for a meal otherwise, at that time, and …”

“She’d done what?” Gretchen exclaimed. “You mean she’s been round to Buchau with food for you all? Oh I don’t believe this!” She shook her head. “Every time I see her, every flaming time, I tell her that she needs to take things easier, that she’s going to wear herself out if she doesn’t, and then she goes around doing a load of extra work. Oh, Grandma – what are you doing to yourself?”

“Oh look, don’t get upset.” David wished he hadn’t said anything about the food now. “It’s only once a year that any of us are here. And it’s not really extra work: she always cleans the place out and brings some stuff round before any of us come to stay. Uncle Jack and Auntie Joey wouldn’t trust anyone else to have a key whilst none of the family are here, but they trust your grandma. After all, your family have been … er …” He stopped. For the second time in the space of a few minutes he had that horrible feeling of having just inadvertently said completely the wrong thing. Oh, why did it all have to be so complicated?
Author:  keren [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:06 am ]
Post subject: 
great
I read the previous bit twice
especially liked
"how long have you known me?”

“Always.” "

Anyway
If it wasn't Gretchen, how would Madge have reacted?
I do not really think she would have a problem with background.
Maybe she will surprise us with her reaction?
It is probably Gretchen's parents that there will be more problems with.
Author:  ibarhis [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:24 am ]
Post subject: 
I'm going to stick my neck out again and say that I still think they are going to end up in a third place - where the stars are different...
Author:  leahbelle [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:22 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison.
Author:  Lexi [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:38 am ]
Post subject: 
David has a wonderful talent for meaning the right thing but saying it completely wrong!

I think I am becoming a little CBB obsessed - I dreamed about this drabble last night and I'd stolen it from Alison so that I could read the end of it :lol:
Author:  Jennie [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:16 am ]
Post subject: 
Thank you, Alison. The problem is, they really need to have this talk. It's just a pity that they're both so tired and stressed.
Author:  Rosalin [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:22 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison.

David is displaying his talent for saying the wrong thing to great effect here :roll:
Author:  Ariel [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 12:01 pm ]
Post subject: 
Oh dear. They both sound too tired and cranky to be having such a deep and meaningful!

Thanks, Alison. Wonderful as ever. :)
Author:  brie [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 12:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks. Suddenly things aren't looking so good...

But they will... wont they Alison?

*lookes pleadingly at Alison*
Author:  Chair [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
Kathy_S wrote:
*echoes Cath*

*sends encouragement to Gretchen & Steve, and hopes the obstacles are less obdurate than they fear*


Whom is Steve? :D

Thanks, Alison. I have a habit of saying the wrong thing as well!
Author:  Lesley [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison - poor David - he's just opening his mouth to change feet, isn't he? :lol:
Author:  Tan [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
Eek! Not a good way to start David.
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
Not a good idea to have that sort of discussion when you're as tired as both David and Gretchen are this evening.

I dare say that whatever Madge and Jem think, privately, they will be far too courteous to give Gretchen - and possibly not David - any indication that she isn't exactly the daughter-in-law they'd have chosen for him. Marie and Andreas may well be tougher nuts to crack.

Although I can see Madge and Marie having a long, long talk about things and presenting a united front - I have to admit, can you conceive of anything more ghastly than having your mother and mother-in-law living in the same house and being good friends (and after all these years, they will be good friends, even if they seldom sit down to eat at the same table).

Thanks, Alison, this is fantastic as usual.
Author:  Lizzie [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
Ooh dear, and I thought it was all going so well!

David, Gretchen, less talking, more smooching...this is my advice...

Thanks Alison! :lol:
Author:  Kathy_S [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
Difficult, but still hopeful that a little bumbling won't do too much harm. I'm not sure brushing the parental relationships under the rug would help a whole lot, anyhow.

Thank you, Alison.

Chair wrote:
Kathy_S wrote:
*sends encouragement to Gretchen & Steve, and hopes the obstacles are less obdurate than they fear*
Whom is Steve? :D

David! David! Blame the fever?
Author:  Rob [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:13 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison!

This is great as usual ... can't wait till tomorrows installment!
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 12:27 am ]
Post subject: 
Rob wrote:
Thanks Alison!

This is great as usual ... can't wait till tomorrows installment!


Neither can I. Poor David. He seems fated to say the wrong thing whenever he opens his mouth. Can understand him wanting to just enjoy the moment without worrying about anyone else
Author:  Cath V-P [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 12:53 am ]
Post subject: 
David - stop talking!! Go home and resume the discussion tomorrow!
Author:  Alison H [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:52 am ]
Post subject: 
“Been what? Doing your family’s cooking and cleaning for over thirty years?” She laughed ironically. “It’s all right, David: you can say it. It’s perfectly true, after all? Why did you stop mid-sentence - have you got a problem with it? Because I haven’t. There’s nothing wrong with honest work, David.”

“I know there isn’t. I didn’t say there was. Why are you being so aggressive?”

“I am not being aggressive. I’m just telling the truth. Why are you being so insensitive? First all that stuff about your mum and your sisters, and then stopping in the middle of a sentence about my family as if you didn’t want to speak about them doing domestic work.”

“I was trying not to be insensitive,” he snapped. “I didn’t want to go on about it, that’s the reason I stopped: we’ve already said that it makes it a bit awkward that your parents are my parents’ … ”

“Servants?”

“I was going to say “employees”, actually.”

“Servants would probably be more accurate,” she said wryly. “From both points of view. My mum and dad still tend to refer to yours as their master and mistress? Can you believe it? In the 1960s! But they do.” She shook her head. “We haven’t exactly made life very easy for ourselves, have we, David? I mean, look at us – every remark either of us makes seems to be leading to an argument.”

“I’m sorry,” he said sadly. “I can’t seem to stop saying the wrong thing tonight, can I?”

“Oh David, it’s not your fault!” She ran round the table and flung her arms round him. “It’s just difficult, that’s all. And I’m sorry too. Especially for calling you insensitive: that’s the last thing you are. I’m really sorry: I don’t normally keep flying off the handle like this, and I don’t normally keep looking for the problems in everything either.”

“I know you don’t,” he told her gently. “We’re both just nervous, that’s all. And we’re both tired as well. It probably wasn’t a very good idea of mine to come round here so late.”

“But I wanted you to. I was waiting up for you,” she confessed. “I even got changed because I didn’t want you to see me in the clothes I’d had on all day at work.” She blushed. “I can’t believe I’ve just said that!”

“There was a queue for the bathroom at Die Blumen when I left, because I spent so long in the shower before setting off – and I got changed as well,” he laughed. She started laughing as well and he pulled her on to his knee. “Come here!”

“I don’t think these chairs are really meant for two,” she giggled, clinging on to him. She rested her head on his shoulder. “Let’s not argue any more, David.”

“Maybe we’ve done enough talking for tonight,” he said quietly. “It was always going to be difficult, and it is very late. Maybe we’d better leave it for now.”

She nodded. “I think you’re right. It is late and we’re both tired. Anyway, I think we could both do with some time to calm down and - well, to try to think things through properly, now that we both know … how each other feels.” She blushed again and snuggled up to him.

“Tomorrow, then?” he asked. “Oh – hang on, that’s not going to work, is it?”

Gretchen shook her head. “Mum and Dad’ll be coming round first thing tomorrow, and I can’t let them down: they’ve been looking forward to us having some time together so much. And so have I - I haven’t seen them since last January. And we’re all invited to Uncle Karl’s tomorrow night.”

“And I’ve promised to do something with Kevin and Kester.” He shook his head and laughed. “Oh well, maybe someone’s trying to tell us that we do indeed need some time to think about things. How about the day after?”

“That’d be better. Would after Abendessen be all right?” she asked. “Could you come round here then?”

“Try to keep me away!” He smiled. “All right. The evening after tomorrow.” He stroked her hair, and then they both stood up and she walked to the door with him.

“Good night, Gretchen,” he said softly. He put his arms round her, intending to give her a goodnight peck on the cheek; but inevitably it turned into more than that and it was a long time before they finally drew apart and he finally left. When he got to the end of the street he turned round and saw that she was still standing on the doorstep, watching him. He waved, and he saw her wave back at him, and then he headed off back towards Briesau and she went back inside the house, both of them with their thoughts in a whirl.
Author:  bethany [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:00 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison.

I am glad things got better between them, and didn't escalate into a big argument. I can't wait till they next meet - hopefully they wont both be so tired that time...
Author:  Jennie [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:12 am ]
Post subject: 
It's high time they decided what they want, and stopped all the what -ifs.

So Madge and Jem, Andreas and Marie might have reservations. Well, no-one is asking them. Dvid and Gretchen are both adults and entitled to make up their own minds.

So, parents, deal with it!
Author:  keren [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:22 am ]
Post subject: 
How are they going to tell their family?
Will anyone still be awake as David lets himself in to ask him where he has been???
Author:  Lizzie [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:37 am ]
Post subject: 
*la la la la*

This is so lovely, Alison, I hope there aren't too many horribly awkward parental moments ahead...
Author:  Tan [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:13 am ]
Post subject: 
Luffly.
Author:  Fatima [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 1:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'm glad they avoided an argument there. I hope they are surprised by everyone's reaction when they start to tell people that they are together.
Thanks Alison.
Author:  leahbelle [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 1:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
I hope everyone's happy for them.

Thank you!
Author:  Rosalin [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 2:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
Aww again. Thank you Alison.

I'm glad they avoided arguing there, hopefully a good sign.
Author:  ness [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 4:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
This is great. I am almost disappointed I am going to China on a trip for three weeks tomorrow, cos It will be more difficult to get updates!
Author:  Katherine [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 4:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
Ooh, I am looking forward to the parental conversations!
Author:  Lesley [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison - think the next few bits will be interesting....
Author:  Rob [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison!

Hope David doesn't have lipstick marks on his collar!
Author:  Alison H [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:50 am ]
Post subject: 
I think the fact that they live in different countries is worrying them just as much as how people might react ...

David was the last one down for breakfast the next morning, and he got the distinct impression that he was in everyone else’s bad books. Marie didn’t smile at him when she brought him his bread rolls – which she must have gone out first thing to buy, or maybe even been up early enough to bake, he realised – and tea; and Ailie gave him a filthy look when he sat down at the table. Even Kevin and Kester didn’t seem very pleased to see him.

“David, I realise that you’re a grown man, and I don’t mean to nag,” Madge said hesitantly, “but if you’re going to be coming in at all hours then would you at least try to be a little bit quieter when you do? You woke everyone up slamming the door behind you at whatever time it was, and really we could all have done with a good night’s sleep after that dreadful journey.”

“Sorry,” he muttered. He had no idea exactly what time he’d eventually got in: he’d spent ages sitting by the lakeside after leaving Gretchen’s, thinking about everything that had just taken place between the two of them. She hadn’t been angry, or horrified. She hadn’t tried to let him down gently and say that she just wanted them to be friends.

Instead, she’d said that she felt the same way as he did; she’d said exactly what he’d hardly even dared hope she’d say – but then within the space of a few minutes they’d been arguing, and even though they’d both been tired and edgy there was no denying the fact that the issues that they’d been arguing about were going to take an awful lot of resolving. The more he’d thought about it, the more upset and frustrated he’d felt that things had to be so complicated for them; and he had slammed the door when he’d eventually got back to Die Blumen, he realised guiltily.

He realised that his parents thought that he’d rolled in drunk – which he hadn’t done since his student days – but didn’t want to say so in front of everyone else present, and for a moment he was rather amused by the thought. But he could see his mother raising her eyebrows at his father across the table and his father shrugging his shoulders in reply, and Ailie and the boys carefully concentrating on their breakfast; and he felt thoroughly ashamed of himself. The holiday hadn’t got off to a very good start as it was, and now he was making it worse: first he’d disturbed everyone’s sleep and now he was creating a bad atmosphere at the breakfast table.

“Sorry – I didn’t think,” he said apologetically. “I suppose I’m too used to living in a house where there’s no-one around but myself. It won’t happen again. Er – what are everyone’s plans for the rest of the day?” He couldn’t help feeling envious of Marie and Andreas, who would be spending the day with Gretchen; and he mentally sharply reprimanded himself for that. They hadn’t seen her or she them for so long. Suddenly he realised that the longer he and his family took over their breakfast, the longer it would be before the Moniers felt able to go out; and he started eating more quickly and wished that the others would so the same. He’d offer to do the washing up himself, but he knew full well that if he did Marie would only refuse.

“Can we – I mean, may we go and climb a mountain?” Kevin asked. “I can’t wait to climb a mountain! What about that one that Auntie Joey and Auntie Grizel got stuck on once – the Tiern-thingy? Could we climb that?”

“The Tiernjoch? No, you may not!” Madge said. “It isn’t safe, not unless you know what you’re doing. I still get palpitations thinking about what nearly happened to Joey and Grizel all those years ago.”

“Oh Mum,” Kester objected. “It’s not fair. The girls get to go to school in Switzerland and skive off lessons so that they can go ski-ing and everything, and we hardly get to do anything. Why can’t we go up a mountain?”

“I’ll take you up one of the mountains,” David promised, cursing himself for not having saved his question until everyone had finished eating. “Not the Tiernjoch - Mum’s right: it can be dangerous – but there are plenty of smaller climbs round here which should be all right. Maybe we’ll go up the Mondscheinspitze. Not today, though: we really need to make an early start if we’re going to be doing something like that. We could go tomorrow or the day after, though.”

“The day after might be better: the weather forecast’s all right for then but it’s not quite so good for tomorrow,” Madge said. “If you’re going then you’d better let Marie know beforehand, so that she can get you a picnic ready. And, whilst we’re on the subject of meals, I’ve agreed with Marie and Andreas that they can have tomorrow evening off to go to see Karen and her family in Mayrhofen, so I suggest that we all go to the Kron Prinz Karl for dinner then. They’ll be out for most of the day today as well - they’re going out as soon as Marie’s cleared up from breakfast, to see Gretchen and the Pfeifens - but do remember that they haven’t seen their family and friends here for a long time. So try not to make too much mess in the house, please, any of you!”

A few minutes later everyone had finally finished their meal, and Marie cleared the table quicker than David had ever seen her do before. He smiled at her, apologised for making so much noise when he’d come in and told her that he hoped that she and Andreas would have a lovely day, and she beamed back at him and said that they were going round to Gretchen’s and couldn’t wait to see her, and that she hoped that the Russells would have a lovely day too.

David was determined that he’d play his part in trying to ensure that they did indeed have a lovely day. It most certainly wasn’t fair, however unintentionally, to make anyone else suffer for his and Gretchen’s problems. And, rather than dwelling on those problems, he had to focus on trying to find solutions to them – and, who knew, maybe some fresh air and fun might just clear his head enough to help him do so.
Author:  Jennie [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:56 am ]
Post subject: 
Yes, he really needs to start thinking straight, so it might be best to go out and not think of the situation at all. That might clear up his woolly-mindedness.
Author:  bethany [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:30 am ]
Post subject: 
David tries so hard and is so nice, I really hope that he and Gretchen find some kind of compromise so that they can be happy together.

Thanks!
Author:  leahbelle [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:16 am ]
Post subject: 
Poor David. Things are quite hard for him at the moment. I hope it all works out ok. It's nice to see that he's starting to see the Moniers as real people and not just as his family's employees, too.
Author:  Rob [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:26 am ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
“Oh Mum,” Kester objected. “It’s not fair. The girls get to go to school in Switzerland and skive off lessons so that they can go ski-ing and everything, and we hardly get to do anything. Why can’t we go up a mountain?”


:lol: :lol: :lol:

Hope the Moniers don't want to take Gretchen with them to see Karen and Rudi - that would sort of ruin David's plans!

Thanks Alison
Author:  Rosalin [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:32 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison.

Alison H wrote:
“Can we – I mean, may we go and climb a mountain?” Kevin asked.


Good to see that Miss Annersley's influence has spread as far as the Russell boys :lol:

It was nice to see David thinking of Marie and Andreas, although typical that he managed to prolong breakfast at the same time.

*g* at Madge and Jem thinking he'd come in drunk. Maybe they'll be so relieved to discover he isn't an alcoholic that they won't mind who he's in love with.

Edited to get all the words in the right order.
Author:  Chair [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:44 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. The scene was lovely between David and Alison. I liked Kester's comment about the girls being allowed to skive off lessons!
Author:  Cath V-P [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 11:22 am ]
Post subject: 
Thank you Alison. I hope he manages to think things through a little more calmly.
Author:  Lesley [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
Considering that he is a grown man, Madge treating him as though he were a child is not really helping, is it?


Thanks Alison
Author:  Sarah_K [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
My Friday evening brain can't quite cope with working this out but I'm fairly sure Madge's plans are likely to put a spoke in the wheel of David and Gretchen's planned supper...

Still I'm glad to see David being sensible and very kind to his brothers :D
Author:  Kathy_S [ Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:46 am ]
Post subject: 
Well, so long as the two of them weren't planning on the Kron Prinz Karl, it could still work out. Or we could wait for something exciting when the weather turns bad.

Thanks for updating so regularly. :)
Author:  Alison H [ Sat Jun 23, 2007 7:09 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the comments :D .

“You and Andreas get off as soon as you’re ready, Marie,” Madge said. “And please thank your mother for leaving us our meal last night – and give our best wishes to her and your father and Gretchen and everyone else.” She and Jem - and David too, for that matter - had known Gretchen all her life; and she’d known Marie’s parents for over thirty-five years. If Frau Pfeifen hadn’t made that first visit that she and Dick and Joey had paid to Briesau so pleasant for them, and been so helpful when she’d written to her five years later, the Chalet School might never have been set up in Briesau at all, she mused. And then she’d never have met Jem. And, come to that, Marie would never have met Andreas, who’d been Jem’s manservant long before Jem had ever come to the Tiernsee.

So many memories, she thought! Being back at the Tiernsee always seemed to make her feel nostalgic. She smiled at her housekeeper. “Have a lovely day, Marie. Oh – one thing before you go. It’s possible that David and the boys – and Ailie too? – might want a picnic for the day after tomorrow. We’ll let you know for definite this evening, though.”

Marie nodded, smiled, bobbed a curtsey and left the room, and David felt rather emotional at the thought that very soon Gretchen’s long-awaited reunion with her parents would be becoming reality. In the meantime, he’d better start thinking about this climbing trip that he’d promised the boys! The idea of a climb and a picnic was very appealing, actually: he hadn’t done anything like that for far too long. He turned to his mother. “Are you not planning on coming up the Mondscheinspitze with us, Mum? I’d assumed we’d all go.”

Madge shook her head. “Not me! I think I’m getting a bit long in the tooth to be climbing up mountains.”

“Spoilsport!” Ailie said. “Well, I’m certainly up for it! Dad?”

Jem shook his head as well. “You’d better count me out: I still get a bit of trouble with my leg sometimes, after the car accident, and I don’t particularly want it flaring up whilst we’re away. You lot go, though, and enjoy yourselves. Your mother and I’ll be fine by ourselves – in fact, we might ask the Mensches to join us for lunch, if Gottfried can get away from the San for an hour. I’ll give him a ring later. Actually, I might ask him if it’d be all right for me to go up to the San some time: I wouldn’t mind going for a look round the old place whilst I’m here. Fancy joining me, David?”

“No thanks: I’m on holiday,” David laughed. He was feeling more relaxed already. And he had a lot to feel happy about, after all, he thought, thinking about Gretchen and smiling to himself. “Just the four of us for the Mondscheinspitze, then. I’ll ask someone for some pointers at the Kron Prinz Karl tomorrow night for some pointers – don’t let me forget! - but it’s supposed to be a fairly easy climb so we shouldn’t have any trouble. What about the rest of today? How about going for a walk round the lake and seeing if there are any rowing boats we could hire for a bit?” He knew that Kevin and Kester were longing to go out on the lake, and from the enthusiastic response his suggestion got it was obvious that everyone else was as well.

No-one said any more about their disturbed night or asked David where he’d been, for which he was profoundly grateful; and he did his best to make up for it during the rest of the day and found that he was genuinely enjoying himself. In the “old days”, as his parents called them, it hadn’t been possible to hire boats to row on the Tiernsee; but these days there were plenty of boats readily available for tourists to hire and the six of them all went out in one. None of them were exactly expert rowers, and more than once Madge declared that she was sure that they were going to end up being stranded in the middle of the lake and having to be rescued; but they didn’t. Kevin and Kester in particular thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and by the time they returned the boat to its owner they were all breathless with laughter.
Author:  ibarhis [ Sat Jun 23, 2007 7:53 am ]
Post subject: 
I don't know if that was the calm before the storm, but that was a really nice snapshot of them together and happy!
Author:  Chair [ Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:31 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I'm glad they had a good time on the lake.
Author:  Liz K [ Sat Jun 23, 2007 11:29 am ]
Post subject: 
ibarhis wrote:
I don't know if that was the calm before the storm....................


Wouldn't surprise me if it was! :cry: :cry:
Author:  Rosalin [ Sat Jun 23, 2007 11:50 am ]
Post subject: 
Liz K wrote:
ibarhis wrote:
I don't know if that was the calm before the storm....................


Wouldn't surprise me if it was! :cry: :cry:


Well even if it was it was a lovely interlude. Thanks Alison.
Author:  Lesley [ Sat Jun 23, 2007 12:37 pm ]
Post subject: 
That was lovely, thanks Alison.
Author:  Kathy_S [ Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sounds like a lovely day. :)
Author:  Rob [ Sat Jun 23, 2007 2:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
Glad to see the Russells getting on so well together!

Thanks Alison!
Author:  Jennie [ Sat Jun 23, 2007 6:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison, I enjoyed that.
Author:  keren [ Sat Jun 23, 2007 6:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
looks to me like he forgot that he is going to supper with Gretchen the next evening
Author:  linda [ Sat Jun 23, 2007 11:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison, that was a good interlude with the family.
Author:  Alison H [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:55 am ]
Post subject: 
David, enjoying himself with his parents and sister and brother, and knowing that not very far away Gretchen and her grandparents and probably some of her aunts and uncles too would be in the throes of a joyful reunion with Marie and Andreas, felt a sharp stab of anguish at the knowledge that both families might be blown apart when he and she made their relationship public. Then he admonished himself for thinking so negatively. They’d work it out, somehow, he told himself firmly. Anyway, he was getting ahead of himself: there was no saying that things would ever even get that far. They would, though, a little voice in his head kept telling him. He had a very strong sense that he and Gretchen were meant to be together, that they belonged together.

That was unusual for him, because he’d never really had much of a sense of belonging before. Well, his life to date hadn’t exactly been what anyone could call settled. The same went for all his family, when you thought about it. His mother had been born in India and spent twelve years there, before returning to Britain for another twelve years but then taking herself off here to the Tiernsee, and then moving back to Britain, via Guernsey. His father had had the conventional British upbringing of his class, but he’d also spent several years of his life in Austria. And of course both he himself and Sybil had been born in Austria and spent their early childhood here, and Josette had been born in Guernsey.

Ailie had been born in England, the only one of the six of them to be so; but all three of his sisters had spent time in both Canada and Switzerland, and now Sybil and Josette had both ended up in Australia. Then there were Kevin and Kester, who’d been born in Toronto and had part of their schooling in Sydney. And that was before you even got started on the extended family. No-one could ever say that his family had strong roots anywhere in the world, never mind in one particular village or town or city as most people did. He’d never met anyone his own age whose life hadn’t been disrupted by the War, and many of his schoolfellows had had parents living abroad, but they’d nearly all had somewhere that they’d thought of as home. But he never had; not really.

How many different places had he lived in? First there’d been Die Rosen, up on the Sonnalpe. Then Bonne Maison, in Guernsey. Then the Round House, in Howells Village. Then he’d been at Winchester, and for part of the time as a pupil there he’d had to spend his holidays with the Maynards because his parents had been in Canada. Then he’d gone off to medical school. And his parents had moved to Llan-y-Penllan. Then he’d lived in various different places in London, and now he was back in Armishire. When people asked him where he was from, he was never a hundred per cent sure what to say in reply.

And he often got funny looks when he had to fill in his details on official forms of various sorts and he gave his place of birth as Austria. That didn’t bother him - he was British and he’d always be British, and having been born in Austria didn’t alter that – but what he did often wish was that he could find somewhere that really felt like home. It wasn’t easy when you’d never been in the same place for more than a few years. It was completely the opposite for Gretchen, of course. She’d always known where she belonged, even when she’d been away from it for nearly eighteen years.

He looked around at the lovely place that was Gretchen’s home, the blue lake lying shimmering in the sunlight and the glorious backdrop of the mountains on every side of it, and smiled wryly as he heard Kevin and Kester remarking on some of the things here that there were most noticeably different to what they were used to. The religious images that seemed to be everywhere, some of the food that they’d seen being sold in the shops or on menus at the cafés that they’d passed; the way that some of the older people still wore traditional Tyrolean dress; the local dialect, which they couldn’t understand at all.

His brothers’ comments sounded strange to him, because he never really thought of the Tiernsee as being foreign; but of course it was different for his brothers, who’d only ever been here for the odd holiday. Even Ailie, used to living in Switzerland which was also very different to Britain albeit not in the same ways, was joining in with some of their remarks. His parents weren’t, of course, but then they’d lived here. Met here, married here, had a home here, ran the School and the San here. Been very happy here, as they all had. His Auntie Joey was always insisting that she’d left a little bit of herself behind here when they’d had to leave the area in 1938, and he’d sometimes heard both his parents make similar comments. He’d felt that way himself, long before he’d come back here last year, even though he’d only been a little boy when he’d left.

His parents were settled in Wales now, though. And the Maynards were settled in Switzerland and seemed intent on staying there for good: they’d said as much when the possibility of his Uncle Jack taking over as Head of the San in Wales, as had once been the plan, had been raised last year. But what about him? Where did he belong? He didn’t know, yet, but he did know that he belonged with Gretchen, and if she felt the same then he was determined that, together, they’d find a way round every single one of the obstacles that might lie in their path. And tomorrow night he was going to tell her that.
Author:  Lesley [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 8:08 am ]
Post subject: 
Much introspection here - interesting that David doesn't feel he has anywhere he can call home...


Thanks Alison.
Author:  Chair [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 8:58 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I hope that David can find a place he can find home with Gretchen.
Author:  keren [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 9:53 am ]
Post subject: 
This is what I like about your drabbles; taking some facts the EBD presents us with and asking what they really mean.
The Russels constant moving around, meant that their older children never had a place that was their home, that they have childhood memories from.
Author:  brie [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 9:55 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison!

All I can say is that this had better work out!!! :lol:
Author:  Fatima [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 11:05 am ]
Post subject: 
He's showing enough determination to work all this out, anyhow. Thanks Alison.
Author:  leahbelle [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 12:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. David's doing a lot of soul searching.
Author:  Jennie [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 12:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. At least David has realised one thing, home is where Gretchen is.
Author:  Kathy_S [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 1:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
Good resolution from a realistic train of thought. :)
Author:  Elbee [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 2:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'm sure David will find "home" eventually, with Gretchen's help!

Thanks for all the updates Alison, I'm really enjoying this!
Author:  Rob [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 3:29 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison!

Hope David manages to find somewhere that feels like "home" soon ... he seems quite contented at the Tiernsee (hint hint!!)
Author:  Rosalin [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 10:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison.

I'd never thought just how unsettled a life the Russell children had. It was interesting to see the difference in perceptions of the Tiernsee between those who had lived there and the younger ones. Sounds like David might be able to settle down there again, especially with Gretchen thrown in.
Author:  Sal [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:51 am ]
Post subject: 
Alison I've just caught up on a huge chunk of this it's absolutely fantastic. :D

Thank you
Author:  Alison H [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:44 am ]
Post subject: 
By the time the Russells returned to Die Blumen, Marie and Andreas were also back. Andreas was tidying up the garden, and Marie was preparing cold meat and salads for lunch. Madge asked how their morning had gone, and both their faces lit up as they said how much they’d enjoyed being able to spend some time with Gretchen. Both they and she were going to Wald Villa after lunch, they said; and, if it wasn’t going to cause any problems, they’d also be going out after Abendessen as Marie’s brother Karl and his wife had asked all those of their family living nearby to a get-together at their home in Spartz. As David already knew, of course.

They seemed hesitant to ask if it would be all right to go out this evening when they’d already have been out for a good part of the day and were hoping to be out for much of tomorrow as well, visiting Marie’s sister Gitterl in Kitzbuhel before going on to Mayrhofen to see Karen and her family, but Madge and Jem agreed readily enough. After all, as Madge said, it wasn’t as if there was that much to do at Die Blumen when they’d only been there for one day, and she knew herself what it was like to be living in a different country from close relatives and friends. It was hardly the same thing, David thought, seeing as his parents were in a position to go to Switzerland regularly and to Australia at least once a year; but that was just the way things were. He smiled at Gretchen’s parents and said that he was glad that everyone’s holiday seemed to be going well, and they smiled back at him and said the same.

Jem asked how Gretchen was getting on at the San – he’d never stopped thinking of the Sonnalpe San as being partly “his”, even after all this time, David knew, and still took a keen interest in what went on there – and Marie and Andreas told him eagerly that she was very happy working there and seemed to be doing very well, and that, although she’d never say so herself, they were sure that she practically ran the place. Even David had to admit to himself that that last comment was something of an exaggeration, but Marie and Andreas were her parents after all, and they were obviously very proud of her.

His own parents seemed pleased to hear that she was getting on well, too. They’d known her since she’d been born, after all; and his mother remarked that it was good to hear that she was doing well for herself. Jem added that he could have done with someone like her at the San in Wales – he’d sometimes found that good staff could be hard to come by, he remarked. Then Madge started teasing him about how she’d poached Rosalie Dene from him to work at the School all those years ago, and the discussion about Gretchen ceased - somewhat to the relief of David who’d been finding hearing everyone talking about her rather strange.

Once they'd eaten, Madge and Jem decided to stay at Die Blumen and relax with their books for a while, whilst David and Ailie took Kevin and Kester for a walk round to Seespitz and then got the ferry over to Briesau, where David treated the others to ice-creams before they enjoyed a leisurely walk back to Buchau.

After Abendessen, which they ate fairly early, Marie and Andreas set off for Spartz. Madge asked Marie to give the Russells’ best wishes to her brothers Eigen and Hansi and her sister Luise, and in the morning to her sister Gitterl. Kevin and Kester had both looked slightly bemused and, once the Moniers had left, asked how on earth their parents knew all these people.

They both wished that they’d kept quiet when, instead of just explaining briefly, Madge reminisced at great length about her first visit to the Tiernsee, when she and her brother and sister had first met the Pfeifens, and how Frau Pfeifen and Marie had scrubbed out the Chalet building for her before the school had opened; and how Marie and Rosa and their cousin, “your Auntie Joey’s Anna”, had been the ones to scrub out the building at Sarres when the school had moved to Guernsey; and how Marie and Rosa’s brothers Hansi and Eigen and their sisters Gitterl and Luise had also worked for the School at various points during its years in Tyrol. By the time she’d finished, both the boys had long since given up listening.

David took in every word, though; not that his mother said anything that he didn’t know. After she’d finished speaking, he excused himself, muttering something about fresh air, and went to stand outside for a little while. He eyed the wall of the house and felt like banging his head against it. There was just something so completely bizarre about this situation … there his parents had been, chatting away about Gretchen, and he knew from things Gretchen said that her parents often mentioned him in their letters to her and her grandparents.

This whole damn peculiar relationship between their two families … If he’d told his family that his main reason for coming to Austria had been to see Natalie Mensch or Josefa von und zu Wertheim or Emmie von Gluck or pretty much any of the various other young women they knew who lived here, then despite the differences in nationality and religion they’d have practically fallen over themselves in their haste to invite the girl in question and her parents to come round and visit. And if Gretchen had asked the Moniers and the Pfeifens if she could bring a boyfriend along to her aunt and uncle’s party this evening, and tell them that he was someone whose family they’d all known, and known well, for years, they’d have been absolutely delighted – had the person in question been almost anyone but him.

Why did things have to be so complicated for them? But they were, and standing around worrying about it all wasn’t going to make things any easier – and nor was waiting for the right time to say something, because there was never going to be a right time: the situation wasn’t suddenly going to change. And really it would be better if he and Gretchen, assuming that they could make some progress in overcoming their other problems, could speak to their families some time during the next twelve days - i.e. whilst the two of them and all four of their parents were in the same place.

He didn’t want to risk spoiling things by making either of them feel pressurised, but it wasn’t going to be easy to make joint decisions once he’d gone back to England and they were miles apart again. What they really, really needed was some time on their own together - when they weren’t both feeling tired or stressed. Roll on tomorrow evening, he thought!
Author:  keren [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:51 am ]
Post subject: 
I am a couple of hours in time ahead of you, so I wait eagerly every morning for the next post.

I hope they do get everything sorted out and do not encounter too many problems.
Author:  Tan [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:59 am ]
Post subject: 
Oh dear - the more he thinks about the difficulties, the more they multiply!
Author:  ibarhis [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:00 am ]
Post subject: 
Tan wrote:
Oh dear - the more he thinks about the difficulties, the more they multiply!


I think he is being very realistic... and I'm sure there are difficulties ahead, whether they are the ones he expects or not!

(Partly because there would be and partly because Alison is writing it!)
Author:  Rob [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:15 am ]
Post subject: 
David still doesn't seem to have noticed that he has agreed to go out for a meal with his parents and have dinner with Gretchen tomorrow evening.

Hmmmm .... *predicts fireworks*

Thanks Alison!
Author:  keren [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:28 am ]
Post subject: 
Rob wrote:
David still doesn't seem to have noticed that he has agreed to go out for a meal with his parents and have dinner with Gretchen tomorrow evening.

Hmmmm .... *predicts fireworks*

Thanks Alison!


I don't think they would mind him not coming, the question is where will he say he is going.

"Oh, I don't think I'll come with you tonight, I promised to have dinner with Gretchen????????"
Author:  Alison H [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:41 am ]
Post subject: 
Gretchen asked him to come round after Abendessen :D .
Author:  brie [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:42 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison :D
Author:  Jennie [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 1:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I think that part of the problem is that David has wound himself up into the 'Oh, but....' frame of mind.

What they need to do is get engaged now, and sort things out later.
Author:  Lesley [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
Jennie wrote:
What they need to do is get engaged now, and sort things out later.



Actually that is a really good idea! Present both sets of parents with a fait a compli (sp? :roll: ) and let everything descend after they are husband and wife. :lol:


Thanks Alison.
Author:  Sal [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison
Author:  Rosalin [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison

*lends David a good book so that the time passes more quickly and he isn't dwelling on things he can't do anything about*
Author:  Chair [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:37 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I hope he will still be able to meet up with Gretchen.
Author:  Kathy_S [ Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:35 am ]
Post subject: 
Thank you, Alison.

*attempts to wait patiently*
Author:  Alison H [ Tue Jun 26, 2007 6:48 am ]
Post subject: 
I've got a feeling that this is getting a bit long and waffly, sorry :oops: - but things will start moving more quickly after tomorrow's post, honestly!

The weather forecast proved to be right for once: they all awoke the following morning to find that it was dull and overcast outside. Luckily no-one had any plans for the day that particularly required good weather: the Moniers left early for Kitzbuhel, which was quite a distance away, whilst at Jem’s suggestion the Russells took the train into Innsbruck and spent several hours looking round the city. Ailie and the twins hadn’t seen the Goldenes Dachl before, and they also visited the Habsburg tombs in the old town before wandering up and down the Mariatheresienstrasse. Kevin and Kester groaned at the sight of the shops; but the only one that anyone insisted on actually looking round was the Hamel department store, which was owned by the father of two of Madge’s former pupils, and they didn’t stay in there for long before heading off for drinks and cakes at one of Innsbruck’s many coffee houses.

David had been expecting the time before he could go to see Gretchen to drag, but in the end it wasn’t that bad. He was quite happy to look round the historic sights of Innsbruck, and he noted too that the damage which he knew the Tyrolean capital had suffered during the War had been largely repaired, and that the city seemed to be enjoying something of a boom. Well, Gretchen was always saying that Austria was prospering, now that it had its independence back. And she’d been so excited when Innsbruck had been chosen to host the next Winter Olympics, he remembered with a smile. He loved the way she got so enthusiastic about things sometimes. He loved everything about her. And he was going to try so hard when they saw each other tonight and talked through all their problems.

It was late afternoon when they got back to the Tiernsee, where they all got changed before heading over to Briesau for dinner. Marie and Andreas were going straight from Kitzbuhel to Mayrhofen, and wouldn’t be back until much later on. It was brightening up by then, and David was hopeful that they’d get a nice day tomorrow for going up the Mondscheinspitze. He was looking forward to the picnic. With one thing and another he hadn’t had much chance over the years to spend time with his brothers and Ailie. One of the great advantages of moving back to Armishire had been being able to see more of his family … but then his brothers would be off to Winchester next year, Ailie would be going away again in September, Sybil and Josette both seemed settled in Australia for good, and his parents had plans to do more travelling in the future now that his father had retired.

Oh well, a lot of families didn’t see as much of each other as they’d like to. He knew that Gretchen sometimes found it very hard being away from her parents and her sister and brothers. But then she’d made her decision when she’d come back to Tyrol, and learnt to live with it; and these days it was much easier to keep in touch and to visit than it had been at one time.

He mused on all this as they walked round the lake to the Kron Prinz Karl. Herr and Frau Braun senior, although they still lived at the hotel, had retired a couple of years earlier; and the place was now run by their eldest granddaughter Gretchen and her husband Hans Weber, who also lived there along with their daughter and two sons. Gretchen Weber was delighted to see Madge, and insisted on taking all the Russells through to see her grandparents. Much to David’s embarrassment and everyone else’s amusement, the elder Brauns exclaimed at length about how they remembered him as a baby and couldn’t believe that he was now a grown man and a qualified doctor. Still, it made a change to meet someone who wasn’t either a relative, a member of his parents’ household or a Chalet School Old Girl who did remember him as a baby! Then they admired the photos of Sybil and Josette’s children which Madge produced from her handbag; before calling their three great-grandchildren in to be introduced to the Russells, and then passing round photographs of their two younger grandchildren, Karen and Rudi’s twin son and daughter.

By this time, Kevin and Kester were starting to fidget, and they and Ailie and David were all hungry. They were very glad when Jem said that they really were going to have to go in for dinner now: he didn’t want to be late because he’d arranged to go to the Sonnalpe San with Gottfried Mensch later on, to look at some new equipment that Laurie Rosomon had found very interesting when he’d seen it the previous year. Madge hadn’t been very impressed when he’d said that he’d be going in the evening, but apparently that was the most convenient time to go because it was almost always in use during the day.

They had a lovely meal - although they all agreed that the cooking wasn’t quite as nice as Marie’s - and then Jem walked to the foot of the Sonnalpe where Gottfried had arranged to pick him up in the car and Madge, David, Ailie and the two boys set off on foot back towards Buchau. It wasn’t really ideal that he was going to have to walk over to Buchau and then back before he could go round to Gretchen’s, David thought; but he didn’t want to leave his mother and sister and two young brothers to walk back to Die Blumen alone, and seeing as it was still reasonably early Gretchen wouldn’t be expecting him just yet. Still, there wasn’t that long to go before they’d be together … with the rest of the evening to themselves, to sit and talk as much as they wanted. Assuming that nothing untoward happened in the meantime.
Author:  LizB [ Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:23 am ]
Post subject: 
Not too long at all, Alison - thanks :D

*wibbling slightly over that last sentence*
Author:  Ruth B [ Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:33 am ]
Post subject: 
Silly boy David! You have now thoroughly jinxed yourself.
Author:  brie [ Tue Jun 26, 2007 8:49 am ]
Post subject: 
That last sentence was EVIL Alison!!!!!!
Author:  Becky [ Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:07 am ]
Post subject: 
Please don't let anything bad happen before he goes to see Gretchen! *wibble*
Author:  Chair [ Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I'm worrying over the fact that something could go wrong.
Author:  Alex [ Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:29 pm ]
Post subject: 
Alison wrote:
but things will start moving more quickly after tomorrow's post, honestly!


And I thought David was such a perfect gentleman :wink:

As for nothing happening - no-one's fallen in the lake yet.
Author:  Jennie [ Tue Jun 26, 2007 4:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
Alison, you did that deliberately, didn't you?
Author:  Rob [ Tue Jun 26, 2007 6:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison!

David just has to come up with a way to escape the family again without them thinking he's an alcoholic!!
Author:  Lesley [ Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Good little cliffette there, Alison! :lol:

Thank you.
Author:  Vick [ Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
Excellent, thank you Alison. Just caught up on about the majority of this tonight.

I hop nothing drastic happens on the way home.... falling into the lake etc :shock: :lol:
Author:  Kathy_S [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 1:18 am ]
Post subject: 
Something is going to happen. The only question is, what? For good or ill?

*roots for good*
Author:  Alison H [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:48 am ]
Post subject: 
An hour or so earlier ...

Gretchen had been asked to go to Mayrhofen along with her parents, but she’d declined the invitation: it had been kind of the Brauns to ask her, but she saw plenty of them and she’d wanted to give them and her parents a chance to have a good catch-up. Her mother and her Auntie Karen were very old friends, after all, and it was so rarely that they got the chance to see each other. So, after leaving her Auntie Gitterl’s, she’d come straight home. She’d made those biscuits that David had liked when he’d been here last year, and now she didn’t really have much to do until he arrived.

She’d thought about putting some candles out and some soft music on; but in the end she’d decided not to, because unfortunately it wasn’t likely to be that sort of evening. Lovely as it would be just to be able to relax and enjoy each other’s company for a few hours, they had so much to talk about and so little time before David had to go back to England that this was likely to be more like a summit meeting than a romantic date.

She just hoped that they didn’t end up arguing. She was determined that they’d resolve matters somehow – she loved him and he loved her and there was no way that she was giving up on that – but there was no denying the fact that it wasn’t going to be easy. Every single time she tried to think about it all rationally, something threw her. She’d tried telling herself that she’d be able to adapt to life back in Armishire, if that was the only way that she and David could be together. It wasn’t as if she didn’t know the area, after all, and she still had friends there and her parents and brothers and sisters lived nearby; and hopefully she’d be able to get a reasonable job there with her experience at the San and her qualifications from night school.

Then she’d envisioned the two of them going for Sunday lunch at his parents’ home at Llan-y-Penllan. What would they do – eat with his family in the dining room one week and her family in the kitchen the next? Eventually she’d just started to laugh, because if she hadn’t laughed she’d have cried. And then she’d started asking herself all over again how she’d ever cope with leaving the Tiernsee again, and going back to living in a foreign country, and being away from all her friends and family here, here where she belonged, and what her family would say, and what his family would say, and …

Thinking over it all again, she could feel herself starting to get worked up and getting in a state. Stop it, Gretchen, she told herself firmly. That was just what she didn’t need to do. She needed some way of distracting herself. She picked up a book, but she couldn’t concentrate on it and ended up closing it in frustration. Glancing at the kitchen clock, she realised that it was earlier than she’d thought it was. David wouldn’t be here for quite a while yet. She’d go out and get a bit of fresh air. In fact, she’d go round and see her grandparents, and tell them all about the visit to Auntie Gitterl’s. Then she’d come back, and she’d be cool, calm and collected when David arrived, and then they'd sit down together and talk it all through and start to sort themselves out.
Author:  keren [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 7:39 am ]
Post subject: 
......Will she return in time?????
Author:  LizB [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 8:43 am ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
this was likely to be more like a summit meeting than a romantic date.


I hope they have some time to be romantic.

Thanks, Alison :D
Author:  Rosalin [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:03 am ]
Post subject: 
Loved the potential Sunday lunch arrangements :lol:

So maybe they are both going to fall in the lake. Or one of them could rescue the other?

Thanks Alison.
Author:  brie [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:08 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison

*expecting the worst*
Author:  Kathy_S [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:54 am ]
Post subject: 
Cool, calm and collected. Uh, huh.

*keeps hoping*
Author:  Jennie [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 1:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
Gretchen, please don't sprain your ankle. The doctor you love might not be the one to rescue you.
Author:  Lizzie [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 3:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
...they had so much to talk about and so little time before David had to go back to England that this was likely to be more like a summit meeting than a romantic date.


Love this...

Thanks Alison!
Author:  Chair [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 3:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Alison. I hope Alison will get back in time.
Author:  Lesley [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
So many things that could go wrong....


Thanks Alison.
Author:  Rob [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Alison!

Looking forward to the next installment ...
Author:  Alison H [ Thu Jun 28, 2007 6:49 am ]
Post subject: 
Am starting a second thread as this one's gone over 25 pages :D .
All times are UTC
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/