I haven't been biten by any bug my dear.

Just doing what has to be done. The presence of Miss Annersley on the board has the effect of keeping one on one's toes does it not?

How are they all faring when they cant get their ideas out to the board?

My own plot bunnies had a day or of sleep, following which they feasted and then started whispering a multitude of ideas into my ear. I haven't got time to stat, so I satiate them by using a notepad and pen and making a brief outline of their ideas. I don't want to have bunny splattered over my walls thank-you.

Last time I mentioned plot bunnies D suggested that I watch Fatal Attraction again.  :o

“Did you have a good journey?” Lala attempted a conversation once the were settled in the car.

“Yes, thank you,” Giles was brief in his reply, still struggling to come to terms with the age and appearance of two girls he still thought of as children.

“It’s a shame the weather is so bad, there are some lovely views from the train when you can see far enough, but it’s been raining for days,” Lala tried again.

“I could see well enough,” Giles was clearly unimpressed by such trivialities as the weather and the scenery.

For the rest of the journey Lala’s attempts at conversation were constantly rebuffed by Giles. Polly, a fixed scowl on her fact appeared to be concentrating hard on the road, but was in fact seething at the perceived treatment of her sister, which, in fact were more due to shyness on Giles’s part than anything else.

The Winterton sisters had yet again banished their mother to lie down while they went to the station, leaving strict instructions with Freddie not to disturb her, but she was ready to greet her step-son when they arrived at the front door.

“Giles, dear, welcome to our home. Come in, come in. Lala, would you take Giles’s bags up to his room and Polly, could you….could you make tea, please.” Mrs Winterton narrowly avoided a disastrous choice of words, which in Polly’s present mood would have been unfortunate in the extreme. “Giles come this way, Freddie take Giles’s coat, I’m sure you’ll want to wash, just through there, then please come through here and we’ll have tea. Then we can show you everything afterwards. I’m so sorry your father couldn’t be here to welcome you. Some disaster with his publisher I understand.”
 

*feeling I have achieved something in life having been archived"

Only of D and the kids. They have made a little nest under the head of the bed on my side and keep well away from D. Having said which he is talking about breeding his own PB's. I think they arfe scared of that, or rather of having no time to type if he is writing as well. I have told them to wait until new year as the assignment bunnies have priority at the moment,  but Peter has come up with a doozy of a story, following on from one of the advent drabbles, and I can see I'll have to at least get the plan down soon, if only to shut him up.

By the way thanks whoever sent me the counting bunny a while back, I've taken 400 words out of an assignment today, only another 1200 to get out!! And then another assignment to go!!!!!
 

Alex, this story is coming on well. Sorry for yibbling on about my plot bunnies. Please let yours continue to work hard as much, much more of this story will be appreciated.

I would like to know what the potentially disastrous word choice was though!!

Me too! Me too! 

Thank you Alex, now post the "word choice" version 
;D

*also interested in knowing word choice*

I'm assuming she nearly said "Polly put the kettle on"?

*chants*

Can't believe I missed that one!!!
*giggles wildly!*

On hoovers - ours is a Dyson (non-upright) it is really good, wouldn't swap it for worlds.

Alex - loved the last post - was it Polly put the kettle on? - more please!

My mum was a premmie, and she's only 4'11". 

Esmeralda, I think Vikki's granny may be a little old for what you just typed ;)
 

Quote:

Also pleased to hear that your Gran is on the men Vikki.

That is way ageist... Grannies can have sex lives too.

not that i have anything against grannies enjoying themselves, you understand - but i think maybe one man at a time would be more suitable 8oo

Make that manageable!!  We're not in our twenties any more!!

Oh, and Keren, in March we're having a Gathering at Rachael's house, details in Off Topic, and the archives!!

Another thread with lots of yibbles and no more story. how can there be five - or however many it was - pages of yibbling?

*flings self on floor in temper tantrum*

would appreciate some more story if the yibblers haven't frightened you away Alex...

The Bettany family were at breakfast on Wednesday morning. They did not go in for full English breakfasts as a rule, and this morning was no exception. They were feasting on toast and marmalade.

“Does anyone want any more tea?” asked Peggy. “There is some more water in the kettle so I can easily fill the pot again.”
“Me, please,” said Maeve, “I do miss tea at school. And even when we have it at Aunty Jo’s, it doesn’t taste the same, I think it must be the milk.”

“What does it taste like then?” asked her twin.

“Just…different I suppose,” Maeve replied, screwing up her face in a puzzled way.

“Maeve Bettany! Your face will stay that way, if you pull such faces,” teased Bride.

“There is no medical evidence for that,” announced Rix, somewhat pompously, as Peggy returned with the teapot.

“There you are, Maeve,” she poured out a cup for her sister. “Anybody else?” She waved the pot a little recklessly.

“Peg, be careful,” remonstrated her father. “You’ll scald us all if you carry on like that.”

“Burns can cause severe scarring,” announced Rix.

Bride rolled her eyes. “You’re starting to get very boring you know, Rix.”

“Perhaps it’s a new way of killing off the patients,” put in Maurice cheekily, at which Maeve giggled.

Rix rose with dignity. “I must do some work.”

“Yes get it all out of your system do,” muttered Bride under her breath, as he said this.

Rix chose to ignore the comment. “What time are the Wintertons expected?”

“About midday,” his mother smiled at him. “Don’t forget your chores before you start work.”

Breakfast seemed to have come to its conclusion and so Maeve and Maurice cleared the table, John and Bride were to wash up. Peggy had been up early attending to the hens, but she would make a start on the household chores, the girls would assist her when they had finished their other tasks. 

The morning proceeded without mishap. All housework was successfully completed and Bride and John managed to get some work done, although Maeve announced she was leaving her holiday task until after Christmas. Shortly before 12, Peggy, who was dusting her own abode, heard a car draw up outside. Checking her appearance in the mirror, she noticed that the hem of her skirt was coming down.

“Bother!” she exclaimed in annoyance. This would not do at all. Taking a needle from her sewing box, she hurriedly thread it and tacked a couple of stitches which would hold it for the time being, not too well as it turned out. Flustered, Peggy proceeded along the landing to the top of the stairs. The Wintertons were being welcomed in by Dick Bettany and were clustered at the bottom of the staircase. Taking a breath to calm herself, she walked sedately down the stairs. Five steps from the bottom, she caught her heel in the loosely tacked hem of her skirt and fell headlong, fortunately to be caught by a pair of strong arms at the bottom. Embarrassed, indeed blushing wildly, Peggy looked up to thank her saviour….into the face of a stranger. This, then, was Captain Giles Winterton.

*starts the chant for more, very tunefully as it happens 8oo*

In the best Mills and Boon tradition! ;)

Thank you Alex!

Lovely, Alex - can hardly wait for more!

Would it help if I mentioned that's how I one of my exes - I slipped on the ice in Warsaw, and he caught me?

Abi *goes all gooey and sentimental*

*but doesn't forget to chant!*

This is wonderful Alex i can't wait for some more  :) 

Who was that saying that I can't do subtle?

*whines* Aleeeeeeeex. pleeeease post more!

Alex where are you we'd like mroe story please  :)

Where are you, hope you're ok and that we can have more story soon  :)

Giles was not having a good day. He had slept very badly the night before, woken up very badly this morning and been forced to endure Freddy’s chattering at breakfast. At least his father was home now, so there was another man in the house, there was really no-one else to pass the time of day with. Mary, or Polly as she insisted on being called, ridiculous really, took herself off to “paint weather” most of the time, and Lala too was very occupied with work, some magazine or something. She had offered to show him but why she thought he would be interested in some school girl (ignoring the fact that Lala was a prefect and bore the distinction of being the oldest girl in the school) rubbish he had no idea why she would expect him to be interested. 

The day before, he had been informed that they were going to visit “their great friends the Bettanys” on the morrow. More school children. The Bettanys apparently had some kind of small farm which as run by Mr and Mrs Bettany and their eldest daughter, who was no doubt a great oaf of a girl with huge muscles, a loud voice and a weather-beaten complexion. All the rest of them were still studying apart from the youngest who was a mere infant. Giles could not understand why his parents would expect him to like these people. And the first thing that happened when they arrived was that the eldest daughter threw himself down stairs at him. Fortunately she was not great but she was certainly an oaf.

Peggy was absolutely mortified at the incident. Her embarrassment was not lessened by the fact that, once it had been ascertained that she was not hurt, her entire family laughed. 

Extracting herself from Giles’s grasp she thanked him very primly and escaped to the kitchen, to give her some time to compose herself. Bride followed her after a short time.

“Peggy are you all right?” asked Bride.

Peggy was sat at the kitchen table with her head in her hands, her usual composure gone.

“No, yes, I will be in a minute,” Peggy stuttered.

“I don’t think you need to worry, no-one will say anything,” said Bride.

“Or they wouldn’t have done if I’d just stood there and laughed with them but I did have to run away and make a complete ninny of myself in front of a complete stranger.”

“Peg, it’s only the Wintertons, they won’t mind, it was an accident, it could happen to anyone. And if it’s him you’re worrying about, it’s not like you’re ever going to see him again and if you listen to Polly, he sounds a complete idiot!”

Peggy smiled a little. “My dear, I would advise you to take everything Polly says about her brother with a large pinch of salt.”

“Come on then,” said Bride, taking Peggy’s hand, “let’s go and show them that the Bettany’s aren’t ashamed of total public humiliation.”

Peggy got to her feet. “I don’t know why but I have a bad feeling about today.”

Wasn't that a polite request! I definitely deserve more drabble now!

To be fair, you didn't.  That was me lowering things to the gutter!!   :-[ :-[ He's a bit of an opininated prat though! 

aww - sweet! Poor Peggy. Poor Giles. 8oo

“Why don’t you girls take Captain Winterton out and show him the chickens and the vegetable garden,” she suggested brightly as she came into the room.

Polly rolled her eyes, but the the only person who noticed was Bride who gulped hurriedly and then asked, “But are you sure he’ll be interested?”

“Bride, in my opinion the man is painfully shy and could do with some fresh air, after all the weather has been terrible this last week, and some good company,” she folded her arms are stared her daughter down.

“Well we can ask him, I suppose,” said Peggy doubtfully.

Mollie threw up her hands in horror. “I never realised I raised my own children so badly they can’t show simple good manners to a stranger.”

“Come on then you lot,” said Peggy getting to her feet, as Mollie left the room leaving them all a little ashamed. “Lets get our coats and then wander in the direction of the sitting room and see if anyone wants to come out with us.”

“To hear is to obey,” said Bride in low tones. “Sorry, Peg” she apologised, feeling cross with herself for taking an irrational instant dislike to someone.

Once they were all warmly wrapped up, they made their way to the sitting room where Peggy announced their intentions to go out. 

“Why don’t you show Captain Winterton the garden?” suggested Mollie brightly.

Faced with such directness, Giles could hardly refuse without being rude so he followed the girls into the garden, where they pointed out various interesting things to him such as the chickens, carrots, herbs and an enormous pig. After listening to their idle chatter, Giles strode away down the garden where the girls were loath to follow him, but Peggy, taking her mothers words to heart followed him, and found him staring out towards the sea which you could see from the end of the garden.

“Do you miss it when you’re on land?” she asked him.

Getting no reply she continued. “I used to think I’d go mad without the mountains, I’d always lived among them, but then after that I lived by the sea, and now I think I could do with one or the other, but I must have one of them.”

Slightly startled by this speech from someone who he had marked down as an imbecile, Giles replied. “Yes I suppose I do miss it. I know I couldn’t live in a city.”

Peggy nodded, not really sure what to say. “I think I would prefer the mountains if I had a choice.”

“Where did you live in the mountains?” he asked, for want of a better topic of conversation.

”Well, at school, in Switzerland and before that I lived in Wales and before we were in Austria, when I was a child, until we had to leave.”

“Why did you have to leave?”

Peggy frowned. “Because of the Anschluss of course.” She saw she had made him feel foolish so she laughed and added, “We left at a quite sedate pace although my aunt and uncle and some of their friends had to run for their lives across Europe.”

He relaxed, and was about to enquire into the well-chronicled adventures of Peggy’s aunt and uncle, but the other three arrived and declared that they were freezing, so they all made their way back to the house.

As the Wintertons left the Quadrant that evening, Giles reflected that Peggy Bettany might or might not be a rather clumsy, complete imbecile, but she was undoubtedly the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on.

Alex that was so wonderful, but may we have some more soon please!

*joins in with applause and, never satisfied, pleas for more!  ;D *

*chants at the top of her voice in tones that cannot possibly be ignored*

see - I can multitask!

I just wish (watch the subtlety here girls!) that there was more to read of this now! It's so well written and I am enjoying it *so* much!

The tip of my nose is brown because I've been sniffing the hot chocolate powder again. I'm not posh enough to have cocoa  ;)

Oh alright - I would be a village school type person and not a CS type at all - Rosamund Lilley had my full sympathy!

This is a lovely story, thank you, and I'm looking forward to Giles becoming increasingly more likeable if he's to be suitable for our Peg!!

I don't usually LOL at serious drabbles but some of the yibblling on this thread is hilarious - I particularly enjoyed Pat's succinct descriptions of Giles!!  ;D

Please may we have some more soon ... before the yibbling takes over?!

Later that evening, Lala was putting the final touches to the Christmas tree, when Polly came in with a bundle. Lala looked up and smiled at her sister as she came in. Polly thrust the bundle at her.

“What’s this?” asked Lala, taking it.

“See for yourself,” came the curt reply.

Lala unfolded the material and found that it was the old winter socks of their fathers that they used for Christmas stockings.

“Mother says we’re all four of us to hang them up together now,” announced Polly.

“I see,” said Lala. “Why the long face?”

“As if you didn’t know. You know he’ll laugh in my face if I suggest it,” said Polly, leaving no doubt as to who was going to laugh.

“Polly,” said Lala, “you are being very childish over this.” She paused. “And if there is one thing he hasn’t done since coming here it is laugh. I’ll go and ask him. You fetch Freddie.” She suited the action to the word and left the room.

Eventually she tracked Giles down to the study, where he was speaking to her father.

“Sorry to interrupt,” she said breezily.

“Lala!” exclaimed her father as if had not seen her for a twelvemonth. “What can we do for you? Editorial advice for that marvellous publication of yours?”

Hiding a smile at the expression on Giles face she shook her head.

“No, no, I’ve just brought Giles his stocking to hang up for Father Christmas. We’re just doing them now.”

Giles is face was stony, and he seemed about to dismiss his step-sister, but then changed his mind and held out his hand for the sock.

“By Jove! I wouldn’t have thought these old things were still in one piece. Excuse me, Dad.” He followed Lala out of the study into the sitting room where Polly was helping Freddie fix his stocking to the mantelpiece.

“I can’t believe these old things are still in one piece,” he repeated. “Why, I remember one time…” He came to a halt.

“What?” demanded Freddie, getting over his fear of this older brother sufficiently to speak to him.

There was a moment of silence. “Nothing,” replied Giles. A faraway look came into his eyes and Polly and Lala both realised he must be thinking of his own childhood, when his mother was still alive. Freddie was about to ask again, but Polly saw him and kicked him before he could. Freddie said “Ow,” Polly had kicked him pretty hard considering she was only wearing slippers, but he said it quietly so as not to upset her. The moment was lost.

The two girls spoke of it after they had gone to bed that evening. Polly summed up her feelings.

“I felt he just might be human. For the first time he seemed to be an actual person. With emotions. And I felt as if we really could manage to be a family this Christmas. Now, read to me.” She picked up the New Testament from beside her bed (it was not normally kept there but she had got it off the shelf earlier in preparation). They had heard of the custom of reading the Gospel story at home on Christmas Eve from the Continental at school and thought it rather beautiful. 

“‘At that time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire,’” began Lala.

(Would like even more please!)

*would also like some more asap*

This is so good - and feels really christmassy!

(Which is probably a good thing bearing in mind the title! doh!)

Oh! I was so embarrassed by being so clumsy today.  I hope Polly and Lala's brother doesn't think I'm a complete idiot.  He didn't seem quite as bad as they make out, though.  Oh well, it doesn't really matter, I don't suppose I'll ever meet him again after this visit.

Auntie Bridgy was reading the tealeaves at breakfast again this morning.  Rix says it's a lot of nonsense but Auntie Bridgy kept looking at me very oddly when she was going on about meeting a tall, dark and handsome stranger...

Alex brilliant story just spoilt by one thing   -  it's too short!!!
More soon please.

Please may we have some more and soon - looks as though Giles is going to become his true self very soon and I'm looking forward to more Christmassy bits ...

Well, certainly equally good...

I wonder how Alex will react to her wonderful story being described as "equally good" to yibbling?!

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