“Term is over again. Dear me, I am getting old,” sighed Mary-Lou, sounding, had she known it, a lot like her Aunt Jo at the same age. “It’s been a good one though, hasn’t it, not too many alarms and excursions.”

“I don’t know how you can even think of saying that!” exclaimed Lala Winterton, the magazine prefect. “You and Hilary and Ferry nearly fell off a cliff not so long ago if I remember rightly. And that ass Yseult Pertwee almost broke her neck trying to do you 
out of the Christmas play.”

The bell rang as she spoke, signalling the girls to make their way to the Entrance Hall.

“And I’ve heard it said you have no imagination, Lala!” retorted Mary-Lou in her usual redoubtable fashion, as they picked up their coats and night cases, and began to leave the room, the Head Girl Elinor Pennell bringing up the rear. “Now, be sure and have a peaceful Christmas, give my love to Auntie Mollie, if you see her….”

“Of course we’ll see her. That I can guarantee.” The Bettany and Winterton families were great friends. “What I cannot guarantee is a peaceful Christmas. In fact it promises to be anything but that. I’d go so far as too say it will be extremely stressful, but for the fact I have no imagination,” wound up Lala.

“What on earth do you mean?” demanded Mary-Lou.

“Well, my older brother Giles, you know, from Dad’s first marriage, is coming to stay. I’ve not seen him for years, since before I came to school actually, although my parents have, but his next posting – he’s in the navy - is to be long and dangerous and far away, seems to be all a bit hush hush actually, so Dad put his foot down and said he must spend his leave with us. Mother, as she tends to do, is worrying herself frantic about the whole thing.”

“But aren’t you looking forward to seeing him?”

“I don’t know him at all.”

They were in the Entrance Hall by this time and Mary-Lou had no chance to ask Lala to explain her mysterious misgivings about her older brother. Having spent most of her life as an only child in a small family consisting of herself, her mother and her grandmother, with no cousins, she had very little idea of the politics often found within families. She had spent a lot of time with other large families, the aforementioned Auntie Jo herself possessed an exceedingly large family but there were so many of them that there was no room for any kind of politics. It is doubtful Mary-Lou, renowned though she was for her gift of insight, would have fully understood even if Lala had explained it to her. To Mary-Lou an extra family member coming home was something desirable, to Lala it had the potential to be a huge nightmare.

Mrs Winterton was very keen for the visit to go well. She had already devoted a good deal of time and thought to planning Giles’s visit – not for excitement, merely so that everything would run smoothly. She had not known Giles well as a child and had only seen him a few times as an adult. Truth be told she was slightly intimidated by her tall step-son.

Lala was relieved that the prefects had no responsibilities on the homeward journey once the girls were on the coaches. Naturally, they were available to help if needed but they were generally expected to look after themselves and no-one else. There was rarely any trouble on the journey, all the members of the school knew they were an advertisement for their school, whether it was a good or bad one was up to them. Aside from this, they were generally too tired from end of term excitements to think of any trouble, although Elinor had once mentioned to Lala that she was afraid one or two of the wilder Middles would contrive to throw themselves overboard during the channel crossing.

Lala and Maeve Bettany, the youngest Bettany to attend the Chalet School, were delighted to be met at their local station by Maeve’s eldest sister Peggy. It was a damp, grey, overcast day, rather a shock to the system after the bracing cold of the Alps

“Peggy!” shouted Maeve, launching herself at her sister, giving little thought to the fact that Peggy was built on a scale which could only be described as elfin, and she herself was a hefty young specimen. “How absolutely splendiferous to see you!” 

“Slang, Maeve?” asked Peggy, once she had regained her footing, but there was a twinkle in her eye. “How are you? And you Lala? No trouble this term I hope”

“Apart from Mary-Lou’s latest, have you heard about that? You look very well Peggy.”

“Mary-Lou’s latest?” Peggy looked puzzled. “But surely she’s a prefect now? Oh well, I don’t expect that’s stopped her rushing headlong into everything. She’s very like Auntie Jo in that respect. Now, I’ve only got the runabout, and I’ve arranged that your trunks will come tomorrow.”

They made their way to the car.  “How’s Bride? Is she home yet?” asked Maeve once they had negotiated themselves into it. 

“Yes she came home last night, says she has a ton of work to do and we’re not to expect to see any of her!” Bride, the second Bettany sister was studying at university.

“Not as much as me, I’ll bet,” sighed Maeve. “I’ve got to read the whole of ghastly Thomas Hardy’s Mayor of Casterbridge. Horrible man, it’s so utterly miserable.”

“Thomas Hardy is not ghastly,” retorted Lala, as Peggy started the car “the man was a genius.”

“He may be a genius but it’s still miserable to have to spend the Christmas holidays wallowing in the awful thing. Enough of that. How are the boys?” Maeve inquired after the rest of the family. 

Peggy narrowly avoided collision with a milk cart as she drove out of the station carpark. “Rix will be home end of next week, he’s up to his eyes in blood and guts or so he charmingly claims,” Rix Bettany, Peggy’s twin brother was following both his uncles into the medical profession. “John was home last week, also staggering under the workload, but to be fair he has got exams this year. Maurice claims to have no work to do, he came home with John, obviously.”

“Well thank goodness there’ll be someone to talk to,” Maeve sighed with relief. “I was beginning to think it would just be me and that beastly Hardy.”

Peggy was quick to jump in before Lala could protest again. “I’ll be around. Alas my school days are over. As for Daph, she’s grown so much I expect you’ll hardly recognise her. Lala, I saw Polly last week, she’s obviously enjoying herself. Now, tell me all the hanes. What is it that Mary-Lou has done now?”
 

“Mother!” she called back into the house. “Mother, they’re here!” She walked down the garden path, looking very dignified. She was a tall girl, and her dark red hair was wound about her head in a long plait. The Winterton sisters were not given to outward demonstrations of affection, but Lala knew that her sister must have been waiting for her return to be here offering to carry her things before she had even got out of the car. Mrs Winterton was hot on her heels. 

“Lala, darling, lovely to see you.” She embraced Lala who endured it for a second and then wriggled away towards Polly who would certainly not try anything like that.

“Peggy, dear thank you so much for fetching her, will you stay and have a cup of tea. And you Maeve, have you had a thrilling term?”

“That’s very kind of you Mrs Winterton, but we must be getting on. Mother says will you all come to tea the day after tomorrow? She says we’ll no doubt all have run out of things to say to each other by then and be glad of different company.” Peggy’s silvery laugh matched her appearance.

“We’d all like that, I think,” smiled Mrs Winterton. “I can’t guarantee my husband will be able to come though. He’s currently in London and may not be back until the beginning of next week.”

“Well, we look forward to seeing the rest of you on Friday, then.”

When Lala woke up on Thursday morning it took her a moment to work out where she was. Where were the pretty cubicle curtains? Where was her bureau? Of course! She was at home in Channing St. Mary. Lala rolled over in bed and reached for her bedside clock. Early. She was still on Chalet time. She rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.

When the Wintertons had first moved to Devon, they had rented their house from an acquaintance of Captain Winterton, one Dr Swann, who was going on an expedition to the Antarctic. Dr Swann  had become fascinated by that region, and had emigrated to Australia immediately after completing that first trip, in order to be nearer his favourite place. He had sold his house to Mr Winterton who was quite happy to settle permanently in that part of the country. It was quiet, so he could work on his books in peace, but near enough to Bideford that a trip to a town did not require weeks of planning.

Lala contemplated all this as she lay in bed. How much their lives had changed since they came here. At first they had deeply resented the upheaval, but if they hadn’t come here they would never have had met the Bettanys and so would never have gone to the Chalet School. And school was definitely the best thing that had ever happened to her. Lala’s reverie was interrupted by a knock at the door. Polly’s nose and one of her eyes could be seen in the narrow space.

“I thought you’d be awake. Can I come in?”
Lala sat up, then dived back under the covers.
“Goodness it’s cold. What’s the weather doing?”
“Absolutely chucking it down. Move over.” Polly climbed onto Lala’s bed and curled up.
“Do you want some covers?”
“I’ve got about three jumpers on under my dressing gown, I’m nice and toasty.” “How come you’re up this early anyway?”
“The rain woke me, I’ve been trying to draw it. Our tutor told us to draw at every opportunity we get, and I’m especially bad at weather, but there seems to be a lot of it at the moment so I should get plenty of practice.”
“What are you good at then if your bad at weather?” 
“French apparently. He was very impressed with my accent.”
“I mean art you idiot.” Lala hit her sister with a cushion which happened to be to hand.
“Idiot yourself. Stop it, Lal. You’ll wake the whole house.” Lala complied with the request.
“Anyway,” continued Polly, “I’m not too bad apparently. But I didn’t come to talk to you about that. I came to talk about Giles.”
“Ahhh. The spectre of doom that stalks us.” Lala put on a deep voice.

Polly Winterton had, late in life, developed a conscience. In order to compensate for its lateness in arriving, the conscience was gigantic and all-enveloping. 

Lala suppressed a smile at her sister’s seriousness. “What exactly do you mean? I don’t think he’s going to upset her, I mean, I know she’s very worked up about his coming but I think it’s just the idea of it. Once he gets here everything will be fine.”

“Everything will be fine? Everything will be fine?! How can you be so naïve Lala? He hates us, he doesn’t want to come and he’s going to be determined not to enjoy himself. Don’t you remember what it was like last time he visited us?”

“Last time he saw us I was a child. All I remember about him is that he was very tall. If it wasn’t for the fact that his picture is in Dad’s study I wouldn’t even remember that,” said Lala. 

“He sulked the whole time he was here,” interrupted Polly. “He was rude to us and to Mother.”

This is weird, thought Lala. I pretty much had this conversation with Mary-Lou and now I’m trying to reassure Polly’s fears and they’re the same as mine. She tried to speak soothingly. “We’re very different people now than we were then. We’re older and wiser and more educated and more civilised. We have to give him the credit for being different too. And Polly, you must remember that what you remember is from that time when you were a different person. I know we resented him, but Mother is very fond of him, and I don’t think she would be if he was as bad as you make out.”

Polly looked at her sisters pointed face. “When did you learn to be so sensible?”

Lala smiled, “It’s the natural result of having no imagination! You’re all artistic temperament and I’m all dull matter of factness. And my great sense tells me that Mother is worried about Giles coming here because of us, not just because of his coming. So as long as we’re our usual charming selves there shouldn’t be a problem.”

“But what if he really is rude and horrible and I lose my temper? If we’re charming and he’s rude and horrible, then we’ll know that he really is horrible. If you lose your temper then he’ll be justified in thinking badly of us. If he turns out to be terrible then we’ll take it in turns to entertain him. But let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. And if you really must hold forth, then for goodness sake remember that you speak three languages and that you don’t need to rant in one anyone else understands!”

That evening, it was the turn of another pair of sisters to have a heart to heart. Bride and Peggy Bettany were curled up in the Peggy’s sitting room. Their parents had decreed when Peggy finally left education, that she needed more room, and the big room was dainty and tasteful, in keeping with Peggy’s character. Bride was telling her older sister all about her course, the work was hard but enjoyable, she had met a lot of interesting people, she… 

Peggy was listening, but found it a little hard to relate to. She loved her parents deeply, she and her mother were close enough in age to be real friends and there was something very satisfying about working on their land. But at the same time, she missed the companionship of people her own age. Peggy had spent her whole life surrounded by other people. At an early age, she had gone to live with her aunt and uncle, and the nursery had been a crowded place. As soon as she was old enough she had gone to boarding school, and the holidays had been spent with her aunt and uncle and their sizeable family. Even after her parents had come to England, there had still been a large number of them. But now, the only children at home were herself and Daphne. The whole family adored Daphne, but Peggy found it difficult to think of the small girl as her sister. Bride was her sister, Maeve had eventually become her sister – the older Bettanys had not met the second twins until they were quite old - but Daphne, Daphne was more like her niece, or even her daughter. She would like a child of her own one day. 

Bride, realising Peggy was not listening, stopped talking and looked at her sister. 
“Peggy? Peg? Are you all right?” she asked.

Peggy came to with a start. “Sorry, I was miles away. I was just thinking how nice it was to have you all back, and Rix will be back soon. I’m used to him not being around, but I do miss you when you’re away.”

Bride smiled. “I missed you too, we’ve always been together, haven’t we. You should come to university with me, and then we could be together again.”

“I’ve never had any ambitions in that direction as well you know. You, my dear, are the brains of the family.” Peggy’s eyes were dancing. “I’m quite content here, looking after my hens.”

“Are you really happy though?” Bride looked worried. Peggy hastened to reassure her.

“Of course I am.” There was a pause. “Of course I am,” she said more firmly, “but sometimes the house can be a little….a little quiet. The days can be a bit samey. I feel as though there is something missing. But when you all come back I feel better. I think I just miss there being a lot of people around. I’m looking forward to the Wintertons coming tomorrow.”

“So am I,” said Bride, still with a look of concern.
 

*wonders if chanting is permissible*

*suggests keeping the chanting down to a dull roar, so as not to disturb the TEM!!!*

Glad I didn't miss it and it's been reposted. More please!  ;D

Revives and echoes pleas for more! ;D

*wonders what kind of a cheap and shoddy VC is on this board, as mine at home is quite all right when vaccuuming up glass*

And Vikki, that is a bit rich!

*thinks in that case it must be one like ours at home which faints at the sight of anything other than dust (about 60% of which it blows out the other side anyway)*

But then, all our appliances are a little temperamental....there's the car that stops if you drive through a puddle, the toaster that either makes warm bread or solid carbon and never warns you which it's going to do, and the Christmas Tree lights that take at least two hours to fix every year.

Ah, so you're providing second-class appliances to the board! That might explain its collapse...

*thinks this is a good time to mention that it has been a llllloooooonnnnnnnggggg time since we had any more story .....*

Alex?

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nooooooooooooooo! It wasn't meeeeeeee!

*runs away and hides in abject terror from the vengeance of the entire CBB*

*hunts out Abi and assures her that it was just an idea and most likely Abi had nothing to do with the board collapsing*

And Alex where are you?!  ???

And I'd like to add that my Christmas tree lights worked first time yesterday for the 15th year running! Not bad for £1.99 from the cheapo shop when I was a student!! ;D

Oh, the suffering I've been through today, ( note the high drama, everyone) and then to come home and find that Alex hasn't posted any more of this. The agony, oh, oh, oh.

*noting the high drama and assuming I should enquire!!*

Actually, I had a great time, super lunch, and it was really good to see Ian relax and enjoy himself. I was just trying to make Alex feel sorry for me so she would post some more.

...absolutely scrumptious!!!  ;D

Alex, please post more to cheer up those of us who haven't had such a yummy lunch!!

I don't usually go on about household appliances as they're so boring and not a usual topic of conversation, but I can recommend Henry even if it's only for his cheeky little face.

8oo 8oo 8oo

Top advice if a little too late for us, regreattably, thanks!

If I could spend a few quiet, or even noisy, minutes with Mr Dyson, I wouold shove a Dyson up his every damn orifice - crap machines!!

I inherited an old but trustworthy vacuum cleaner from my Mum which died last year and which was ALWAYS better and more reliable than a Dyson - we have replaced, though not with a Henry but I will remember that for next time ...

I am, though, convinced that they're better than uprights ...
 

Pat!!!! 
Honestly, these older CBBers, lowering the tone!! ;)

*giggle* There's currently an ad on Aussie TV for anti-hay-fever tablets where a woman is pushing a man vaccuum-style accross the carpet as he sucks up the dust!!!

On Friday morning the Wintertons occupied themselves with Christmas cleaning. Mrs Winterton was keen for everything to be in readiness for her stepsons arrival on Monday. She had some last minute shopping to do on Saturday morning and Mr Winterton would be home in the afternoon. Sunday would be taken up with church and putting up their decorations. Monday, Giles was arriving; Tuesday, no doubt they could manage to occupy themselves; Wednesday, Christmas Eve, she had not told the family yet, but they were going to the Bettanys for the day; Thursday morning, she would have to get up early to put the bird in, they would go to church first thing, then they would unwrap presents, then they would have lunch, listen to the Queen, occupy themselves generally with Christmas Day activities and games; Boxing Day, perhaps they could go for a walk in the afternoon or something, if the weather was fine. She must ice the Christmas cake, pick up her vegetable order from the greengrocers, sort out the bed for Lala in Polly’s room, wash the curtains in Lala’s room, what should one put in a male guests room, obviously flowers for a female, but how could she make Lala’s room more welcoming for Giles…. 

Mrs Winterton felt as though her head would explode from all the lists running through it.

“Mother, Mother,” it was Freddie. “Mother, Polly and Lala say they won’t help me with my French prep. Please say they must.”

Polly followed her young brother into the kitchen with a pile of ironed linen. 

“Freddy, we didn’t say we wouldn’t help you, we said we couldn’t help you right this minute. I’ve finished this lot Mother, what can I do next, Lala is dusting the study, she thought we better get in there before Dad gets back.”

Mrs Winterton took a deep breath. “I think, if you could dust the study that would be good. Once your father is back we won’t have an opportunity.”

Polly eyed her mother. “And I think you better go and have a lie down. I’ll come and get you in time to go to the Quadrant.”

“But Polly dear, there’s so much to do if we’re going to be ready for Giles, and I don’t want to trouble your father. We must collect the vegetables and sort the beds out and…”

Polly interrupted. “We will take care of all that. Freddie, could you go to the greengrocers and pick up the vegetables, they’ll be nothing to pay, they can go on our account.” She fixed her mother with a stern eye. “Bed!”

“You can’t send Freddie to the shop, it isn’t appropriate.”

“Just watch me,” said Polly as she marched her mother upstairs, privately thinking, I’m going to kill Giles, whatever Lala says.
 
 

FYI we have a Dyson which works fine, but our tree lights, which worked before and after we put them on the tree have now mysteriously given out and we can't find the spare bulbs anywhere.

Thanks for this latest bit...

[on the subject of vacuums (sorry Alex!) the Henry on my floor at college does not work at all... this is not vair helpful when I am meant to vacuum my room at least once a week... and as for Dyson's *makes intranscribable sound* our one at home works fine but the ones we had at Waddow... *rants*]

BTW I wouldn't part with my dyson for anything you could pay me.  It's the best vac I've ever had.  I *hate* non-upright cleaners.  i don't think thye work at all and are much harder to push over the floor.

*Tests Pat's resolve by offering £1000 for said Dyson

Dig out the Monopoly money, obviously!

Sorry Alex!!  This really is a great story, and I hope you'll continue with it (soon!!) :-* :-* (being yibbled on is actually quite a compliment!! ;))

Re the yibbling - the trick is not to leave the thread unattended for too long - otherwise all sorts of squatters move in! ;D

I really want to see what happens...

And if anyone really wants to know, we have an upright purple and grey Dyson that works brilliantly!!!

More!  ;D

If it was real money, I'd take it and go out and buy the newest model with it.  I'd have plenty left over for more CS hbs!   ;D ;D ;)

May we have more story soon please!

*Chants very loudly for more in the hope Alex will hear and get the message  ;)*

Alex - where are you?

FWIW, I like Henries. They're FUN.

*volunteers for search party and provides torches for hunting in dark corners*

*had forgotten the vaccuum cleaners and is quickly disguising myself as someone innocent*

*hopes that won't be necessary*

(knew they'd come in useful  ;D )

Leaves to throw clothes angrily into travel bag.

didn't find her and got lost and then something was coming after me and I think it was the TEM and...

Captain Giles Winterton sat gazing out of the train window at the Devonshire countryside. A woman and a small child sat on the other side of the compartment, the child swinging its legs and chattering to itself. Distracted, Giles reached into his coat pocket for his step-mother’s letter and looked at it for the umpteenth time.

Dear Giles, he read

Thank you for the postcard with your arrival times, your father will meet you at the station. Do not worry if you are late, we are quite use to the vagaries of the branch line! Let me just say how glad we all are that you are coming to spend Christmas with us.

Fondest love, etc etc.

We are all glad, he repeated to himself. A frown creased his features. I find that hard to believe. What on earth am I going to do in this godforsaken part of the country for a fortnight, with only small children for company?! I forget, they are not so small any more. The train began to slow, and Giles gathered his possessions together, this must be his stop.

He stepped out onto the platform and looked around for his father. The afternoon sun was already disappearing behind the station buildings. There was no sign of Mr Winterton, but a dignified young woman was approaching him.

“Giles,” she stretched out her hands in welcome. “I know Dad was to meet you but he was delayed in London, his publisher started an appendix and all chaos broke loose and mother wasn’t feeling too well so we’re here. Is that all of your luggage or shall I get you a porter?”

Giles stared, there was a certain familiarity about the pointed face, so this must be one of his step sisters, but he most certainly had not expected this self assured person who was offering to summon a porter.

“Giles?” repeated the girl. “Shall I get you a porter?”

He recollected himself hurriedly. “Um, no thank you, I can manage this…” he paused somewhat desperatey, “Mary.”

She shook her head and laughed. “Alice, but you had better go on as you mean and call me Lala or I won’t know who you’re talking too. Polly is waiting in the car, she has just got her license.”

Thanks for that - I like the astonishment on his face...

More, please.

*mutters stroppily about yibblers as will be in no-computer land for next 7 days!*

More please...! *smiles hopefully* :D

Love his thoughts about his sisters, and not recognising them.

*enjoys hot chocolate made by Lesley*

Alex, that was excellent! I'm so glad to see things from Giles' point of view - and it was lovely that he got such a surprise by his sisters!

*goes off to re-read this thread more carefully*

Ooooh - thank you, Lesley  :)

*glances between hot chocolate and bowl of cream - decides they would actually go quite well together - combines them happily and downs the resulting mixture in one*

Hope there will be more soon, Alex, this is getting better and better!

*sends Abi off for a hot bath with linament to annoint her joints so that she won't have aches and pains in the morning*

This is C&D? Not the echo auberge.

More please.

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