The CBB :: View topic - Grizel in NZ Reborn

Grizel in NZ Reborn

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#1: Grizel in NZ Reborn Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 5:35 pm

The last part is archived at http://members.lycos.co.uk/thecbb/grizelnzagain.html

#2: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 10:14 pm

So we could have new parts to fill this empty thread!

#3: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 2:16 am

KB wrote:

So we could have new parts to fill this empty thread!

I couldn't agree more.

#4: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 7:38 am

Ravenseye - you were planning on continuing this weren't you? I know Grizel was on the boat but it would be so good to read more of the story written from her perspective - especially with all the detail thats gone before!

#5: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 7:45 am

*agrees with Lesley*

#6: Author: ravenseyes, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 12:41 am

I have just found this. OK I will do a bit more but it is intermittent at the moment as I am in Sydney and have limited access.

#7: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 12:43 am

ravenseyes - do you think the Borg got to your posts? Smile

Looking forward to more.

#8: Grizel in NZ - after the honeymoon Author: ravenseyes, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 9:23 am

Grizel stood in her Saal and looked around her new abode. Neil had arranged for a small chalet in St Cecile that he had heard about and it was waiting for them when they returned. However while he had arranged for the Chalet he had made no arrangements for furnishings. In face as he admitted he never even thought of them. He had lived in furnished rooms connected to his various hospitals or boarded. Grizel had no furniture either. She had disposed of all the furniture from the English house years ago and her flat in NZ had been fully furnished. They had arrived back on the Gornetz Platz on the eighteen oclock train, gone to the chalet where Neil had romantically swept her off her feet and over the threshold then they had stood and stared at the empty house. Grizel had assumed when he said he had rented the Chalet it was furnished. Fortunately Jo Maynard always had a guest room ready for unexpected arrivals so they had gone to Jo and Jack. Both had roared with laughter and offered them accommodation until they had furnishings. Grizel and Joey had talked about different furnishings and styles and Grizel had had a closer inspection of the very ecclectic range of furniture. A lot reflected where Joey and Jack had lived. Jacks parents home Merry Maids had provided many solid pieces of English Georgian and Victorian furniture particularly bedroom furniture and sideboards for the Saal as well as the beautiful walnut four poster bed and matching suite which furnished the guest room. From living in Guernsey Jo had some wonderful French made china cabinets and from the Welsh days two huge welsh dressers in the kitchen as well as some Welsh dower chests. Grizel liked the solidness of the older wood furniture.

Well I’ll tell you what said Joey, how about we go down to Berne tomorrow and we will look around the shops. You will need a fridge and a washing machine so you will want to buy those new. Also if you want a television and things like that. And you got something for wedding presents but lets go and ask Anna what you need for a start in the kitchen.

The following morning Grizel and Joey set off at six thirty to catch the seven am train to Interlaken so they could get the express for Berne. When they arrived in Berne Freida von Ahlen was waiting for them.

Joey, Grizel she greeted them with huge smiles or should I say Frau Shepperd with a grin at Grizel who promptly blushed a pink shade. I have brought the car and come to join you shopping trip. Joey told me about it and I thought first we would go to the big department stores so you can look at the appliances and new furniture, Then I thought we will go to some of the antique and estate shops so you can see the old furniture.

Grizel was quite pleased with this idea and they set off. By the time they sat down for Mittagessen at a pleasant café she had purchased a combination fridge/freezer a washer and a dryer as well as assorted kitchen and household appliances and linens.

After lunch they set off for and area known for its antique and estate shops. Wandering among these Grizel stopped dead. Before her was a massive sleigh bed made of a rich dark wood shot with reddish highlights, It had matching small tables to either side and a substantial wardrobe and a large chest of drawers. It was old but Grizel loved it. The owner of the shop said it had come from Germany Barvaria he thought and was made in the late 1800s. He had got it from the sale of a wealthy widows estate near Lucerne but it was not popular these days as most people preferred the lighter modern styles, It had a new mattress fitted in it and Grizel sat down on it. The store owner got a towel and invited her to remove her shoes and lay back. Grizel looked around and seeing no one else except Joey and Frieda did so. It was deliciously comfortable. Grizel and the store owner haggled on a price. Grizel wrote out a cheque and arranged for delivery. The chalet did not have a separate dining room instead it was a combine kitchen/dining. Grizel knew that she did not want a formal dining suite but she wanted something that if the had guests over to dinner still felt appropriate. In another shop Freida called her over, Look at this Grizel. The table was built in three sections and the sign said English drop leaf dining table. Folded down the two end sections hung down so the middle section made a table for two. You could then extend either end so as to provide seating for up to six people. Grizel could picture it against the wall in the dining area. She doubted it would be often of they had more than two dinner guests at a time so one side could be put up by swing the leg over on a diagonal. It came with six chairs The woodwork they thought was walnut but they were not sure but it was a lovely darker gold color but with the same warmth in it that reminded Grizel of the rimu that had featured in New Zealand. The chairs had velvet padded seats but these would definitely need replacing as it looked as thought a cat had used them for a scratching post. Still that could be quite good said Joey as you could match them to a color scheme like your cushions in the Saal or something like that, There was also a matching low table like a coffee table that would go in the Saal so Grizel made the arrangements for this lot to be delivered as well. The prices seemed very reasonable and Grizel was very happy.

Grizel decided to leave the main furnishings for the Saal to another day. She wanted to talk over with Neil about chairs and sofas etc and Jo had said that she had a spare sofa they could use until they got that sorted. Having bought the big bed she had its measurements and the last stop was back to the major department store and she added linens and a plumeau etc that would fit the bed to her purchases. All the larger items would be delivered. At the suggestion of the store she provided them the details of the two estate shops as it made more sense for one truck to deliver the lot that having multiple deliveries and the store said they would make the arrangements.

Tired but happy she and Joey sat back on their seats in the train as it sped towards Interlaken.

#9: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 12:33 pm

This is good Raven, so please let us have some more of it.
Very Happy

#10: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 3:05 pm

Yes, more soon please Raven!!!
Love the scene about the lack of furniture!! I can just see it happening!!!

#11: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 5:29 pm

Did he think that houses just magically filled themselves with furniture, you know, the way meals just arrive on the table, shirts wash and iron themselves, the house dusts and vaccums itself?

#12: Author: ravenseyes, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 6:42 pm

It could be fun though - to start with a totally empty house and plenty of money Laughing

#13: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 7:10 pm

Idiot man!!! Laughing

Still perhaps Grizel should have checked too!

Love this Ravenseyes

#14: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 1:31 am

Oops - I've only just caught up with this on the archives, I've just been through the sadness of Moira's death, indnignation at the wat Deira just thought of herself and arranged to sell the shop regardless of Grizel's feelings (Good for Lisa, though) and the comedy of he empty house,
This is a wonderful story, I do hope it isn't finished yet.

#15: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 5:46 pm

That was lovely, and I can just imagine them both having that problem! *giggles* Will there be more?

#16: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 1:32 am

Lovely story Ravenseyes. Can just imagine the empty hoy=use scene. Hope the furniture arrives safely.

#17: Author: ravenseyes, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 4:04 am

Grizel sat curled up on the sofa in her Saal sipping at a cup of coffee. Across from her Jo Maynard sat in a huge leather armchair. They had been chatting away about the start of a new term and all the things happening.

Joey ? can I ask you a question ?

Griselda ! what would Hilda say ! certainly you MAY. Joey got serious what is it Grizel you look a bit troubled.

Grizel flushed slightly but looked at Joey. Jo I?m sort of nervous. My fourtieth birthday is in the past and well I?m worried if I get pregnant. Most women my age have had all their children and I know Neil would like a child but you read about all the risks - that the child is more likely to be a Mongol or something and that older women have much more difficulty giving birth especially if it is their first time and I?m really not sure if I want a child or whether it would even be a good idea to have one. Jo and Biddy and Hilary all have children but you have started yours in your twenties. If I got pregnant now I will be forty one when I have it. And I do not feel comfortable talking to Jack or Neil about it.

Joey looked at Grizel her face serious. You are right Grizel but I?m not sure I can help you. Like you said I started young and so did Marie, Simone and Freida. We were all younger when we had our first babies so even though Phil and Geoff are my latest they are numbers 10 and 11 so my body is used to it. I have also been fortunate in that most of my pregnancies have been fairly routine. Felicity and Felix were early but until I had them things had been normal. Madge had Kester and Kevin when she was forty one but they were somewhat of a surprise but from what she has said things went well and they were still numbers 5 and 6. I heard Jack talk about the specialist branch of medicine for this hang on it will come to me OBYGYN that?s what Jack calls it. But what I am thinking is this is a specialist area so there should be specialist doctors probably even women doctors in Berne or maybe Interlaken. Do you want me to ask Jack if he knows of one and maybe it would be best if you spoke to them about the physical side of having a baby. Whether you want one or not is basically a decision you will have to make. I love babies but I know not everyone does and I know we have a couple of girls in the school who have been packed of to boarding school as soon as they could and if you think back ? think about Juliet Carrick and her parents or Betty Wynne Davies and what happened with her guardian who did not want her. You are not Catholic so have the option of using birth control and I would think that the specialist could advise you on that one as well. I?m sorry there is not someone around here who is perhaps married later in life that you could talk to but I really can not think of anyone.

True to her word Joey made a couple of discrete enquiries with Jack and got Grizel the name of a woman gynecologist in Berne. Grizel contacted her and made an appointment to see her. Grizel had not told Joey but she and Neil were using birth control as Neil did not want to put any pressure on Grizel and he knew she was unsure about having children. It was November now and she knew that Deira and Tony were expecting their new arrival in January but equally this was Deiras second child and she knew that Moiras illness was a direct result of the car accident while Deira was pregnant. Grizel wished she could meet someone who was about her age and just having or had a first child to talk to.

#18: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 4:18 am

Thank you Ravenseyes, It had crossed my mind that Grizel was a littlee old to be having her first baby, but I'd never thought about her worrying about it - Glad that Neil is being sensitive to her feelings.

#19: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 6:46 am

Thank you for that Ravenseyes - it's also nice that Joey was so sensitive about it.

#20: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 6:36 pm

I'm so glad to see more of this! And good on Joey for being so lovely and gentle to Grizel about it!

#21: Author: ravenseyes, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 12:46 am

It was Christmas time and Grizel had just finished putting the final touches to the Christmas tree in the Saal. She gazed around happily and looked out the window at the snowy landscape that looked as though it was trying to imitate a traditional Christmas picture. Neil had to wok on Christmas day although they tried to reduce the schedules so that each doctor and nurse only worked for 4 hours blocks to enable them to be home. The staff with children were mostly off in the morning so Neil was working from 7am ? 11am then going back from 6pm ? 10pm. Grizel was looking forward to Christmas and had purchased presents for Lisa and Alex and sent them off to New Zealand. Lisa had written several times since Grizels arrival in Switzerland and had sent her a beautiful carved Rimu fruit bowl as a wedding present.

Grizel had had her appointment with the gynecologist in Berne and also had had a full physical. The doctor had explained in great detail the risks associated with being an older mother and the risks of having a later pregnancy. However Grizel was fit and strong and her physical had come through well so the doctor had advised that physically she doubted there would be a high probability of any problems. Grizel was still not sure whether she could cope with a baby but she was about to get some practice. At the beginning of November Daisy Rosomon had had a baby girl. Daisy and the baby had both been fine but two weeks later Daisy had developed an infection which had made her extremely ill. She actually had been in hospital in Berne under the care of the specialist that Grizel had seen. Daisy had returned home a week ago but was still very tired and weak. Laurie Rosomon wanted to take Daisy away somewhere to recuperate and had made arrangements to go to a villa in Spain that friends owned for six weeks. The other Rosomon children were going to stay with Jo and Jack but Jo had suggested that Grizel try taking care of the baby to give her an idea of having a young baby. Jo would be close by if Grizel needed her but essentially she would have an 8 week old baby to care for for the next 6 weeks. Daisy and Laurie were leaving on the 26th of December and baby Ellen would come that day. Both Jo and Neil felt that it would help Grizel resolve her issues one way or another and Ellen was a happy baby who behaved in a fairly textbook manner. Grizel was quite looking forward to it as well because she to felt it would help her clarify her feelings.

Grizel was going to Interlaken at lunchtime as there were a few last minute things she wanted to get. She had also been told about a cake shop that made delicious Christmas cakes and tarts so she was going down to get some as Grizel knew that cakes and tarts where not her forte. She and Neil were having roast chicken for lunch on Christmas day. Grizel could cook a nice roast chicken and vegetables although roast beef seemed destined to elude her. Still beef stew was a safe option.

#22: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 12:56 am

I bet Grizel's pleased that she had to learn to cook for herself now. It should be interesting seeing her learning how to look after a baby, what did Daisy think of that idea?

#23: Author: ravenseyes, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 4:07 am

After a quick train ride down Grizel was standing in the mouth watering smelling cake shop. She had spied a small Christmas cake that would be perfect for her and Neil plus a selection of tarts and decorated Christmas cookies. She also ordered as small selection of hand made chocolates in as basket as a gift for Daisy.

She was going to see Daisy tomorrow. She had seen Daisy the day before to discuss her looking after Ellen. Daisy had been as little puzzled at first why Grizel would want to so Grizel had gone to see her and had told Daisy everything. Daisy was still a doctor and she to had reassured Grizel and was quite happy to allow Grizel to look after Ellen. I know she will be fine with you she had told Grizel, and you have Hilary, Biddy, Jo and Neil, Jack, Phil and Eugen to call if you need. But I will tell you they have all commented to me more than once that if the baby is going to get sick you can guarantee that dad will be out when needed. In someways you are fortunate Grizel you can make a choice about this. Not that I regret having my children but it would have been nice to be able to keep working as well. Sometimes I think of all the years of training I did and it seems wasteful.
Oh well that is the way of it. Now you make sure to come back on Thursday and spend time with Ellen and get her used to you before we go.

Grizel gathered up her purchases and continued on to the big department store and looked at the curtaining fabrics and chair covers. The dining suite needed its seats recovered and Grizel was trying to decide on what fabrics and colors but she had not seen a lounge suite that she liked yet. Joeys sofa and leather chair were very comfortable and nothing had taken her fancy. She thought in the New Year she would return to the precinct in Berne where she had found the bedroom suite and the dining suite. The sun was shining outside so she wrapped her scarf and coat around her and went to the walkway around the lakefront as she headed back towards the station. The Jungfrau was glistening in the sunlight and Grizel gazed up at her beauty. Then she continued walking briskly along to the Bahnhof and was just on time to get her train back to Gornetz Platz

#24: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 4:15 am

It is so nice to see things going well for Grizel. I love how Jo and Daisy are treating her - they both had kids early, but are respectful and understanding of Grizel's issues.

Please, may we have some more?

#25: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 2:01 pm

It's so nice to see Grizel back again and to follow her new life. More please.

#26: Author: ravenseyes, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 7:12 pm

Thank you for your kind comments. There won't be anymore for a week as my bunny and I are heading off on vacation under the palm trees. Cool

#27: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 1:26 am

Thank you for all those lovely posts. Hope you have a lovely vacation.

#28: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 4:15 am

Raven, this is wonderful!!! More soon please!!!

#29: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 8:16 am

*points Vikki to Raven's post about going away*

Have a wonderful holiday! We'll miss you!

#30: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 12:55 pm

Great, Raven. Looking forward to more when you come back from holiday.

#31: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 8:48 pm

Well, I meant more when she came back.......

#32: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 8:50 pm

You should say what you mean to avoid confusion!

#33: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 10:37 pm

If you say so dear!!!

#34: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 2:33 am

Have a good holiday Ravenseyes, looking forward to more when you get back.

#35: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 6:43 am

Vikki wrote:

If you say so dear!!!

I do say so!

#36: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 2:56 pm

Thank you for the last posts Ravenseyes - looking forward to more when you get back from holiday!

#37: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 3:40 pm

Why does it seem like a week already?

#38: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 5:58 pm

Jennie wrote:

Why does it seem like a week already?

Because you're impatient!!! (as are we all......) Wink

#39: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 6:01 pm

I am NOT impatient. I just want more story NOW!

#40: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 6:41 pm

*decides to leave Jennie in her parallel universe, where she is both subtle and patient*

#41: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 7:34 pm

*waits to see Jennie's response to KB's comment!!*

#42: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 7:39 pm

I think she'll like it!

#43: Author: ravenseyes, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 6:51 am

I'm baack

The open fire burnt brightly in the Saal at Freudesheim. Joey and Grizel were sitting in chairs on either side of it. Ellen lay in a boucinette to one side of the carefully fenced off fire near Grizels chair and Phil and Geoff rolled around on a big fluffy sheepskin mat. It was two days after New Years and Grizel had got into the swing of looking after Ellen quite well. Ellen was a happy placid baby took her bottles well and generally followed the textbook guidelines on how a 3 month old baby should behave so Grizel was finding she could cope quite well. There had been a couple of evenings where she had not settled well but Grizel and Neil had walked the floor and rocked her and eventually she had dropped off. They had received a phone call from Laurie saying that he and Daisy had arrived safely and were now looking forward to several weeks of doing nothing. Laurie would be returning to the Platz in three weeks and Daisys sister Primula was coming to stay with her for the remaining four weeks but Ellen was to stay with Grizel and Neil until Daisy returned. Jo had invited Grizel to come over for lunch and then to stay for the afternoon. Neil and Jack would join them for dinner and then they would go home.

Grizel was feeling contentedly lulled by the fire and her excellent book so she had failed to notice that although to all outward appearances Jo was herself her black eyes were dancing with suppressed excitement. Anna had been absent all afternoon and Jo had prepared Kaffee und Kuchen herself and had kept the twins with her. Cecil was spending the day with her friend Win Everett at their chalet Das Hutte and it was Roslis day off.

Grizel thought that Anna was either out or in other areas of the house and she had not seen her but little did she know. Before Grizel had arrived for Mittagessen there had been great doings in the Maynard home and several large well wrapped packages had been placed in the garage. Once Grizel had arrived and been safely ensconced in the Saal Gaudenz, Jack, Neil and Anna had loaded them carefully into Minnie and driven along the plowed road to Grizel and Neils chalet. There they had been unpacked and Anna had been carefully making up the content of the packages.

#44: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:09 am

Hooray! Ravens is back! This story is back! All is right with the world!

Oh, golly, what surprise has Jo got planned now?

#45: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:36 am

Hooray Raven is back. Did you have good hols?

Looking forward to seeing what was in the packages.

#46: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 4:32 pm

Glad to see you back Raven, waiting to see what is in the pacages

#47: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 4:39 pm

Great to see you back, Raven, lovely post.

KB, have you ever considered that I might just be posting contrary, provocative things on purpose?

#48: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 5:22 pm

It's nice to see this back.

*looking forward to seeing what is in the packages.

#49: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 5:44 pm

Jennie wrote:

Great to see you back, Raven, lovely post.

KB, have you ever considered that I might just be posting contrary, provocative things on purpose?

Of course I have! I do it all the time! Why shouldn't everyone else?

#50: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 8:23 pm

Yay!!!
Welcome back Raven!!!!

#51: Author: ravenseyes, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 4:19 am

Thank y'all. I had a great holiday. Cool

Just catching up on all the work now.

A little more

After Kaffee and Kuchen Grizel had given Ellen another bottle and had put her down for a sleep. She knew as it was almost eighteen oclock that Ellen would sleep to nearly twentytwo and would then want one more bottle and sleep through to about six thirty in the morning.

Joey was attending to the twins and dinner was almost ready. Grizel had heard voices from downstairs and she knew that Jack and Neil had returned. With all the babies bedded down she went to the bathroom and tidied herself for dinner. As Grizel went downstairs and headed towards the dining room she did not notice that Jack Jo and Neil were all behind her literally smothering themselves as she entered the dining room. Grizel stopped dead in her tracks and stood staring. The large dining table had been set for six and carefully seated at the side that faced the door, with huge grins on their faces were Lisa and Alex.

Grizel stood their making incoherent sounds as her mind tried to process the fact that Lisa and Alex were infront of her instead of 12 000 miles away.

Don?t you have anything to say Grizel Lisa smirked at her.

What, how, when Grizel was truly so overwhelmed she could not make a coherent sentence much to the delight of everyone else who had conspired to keep this visit a secret surprise.

#52: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 4:20 am

*Ahh, what a great surprise. But unless they came in boxes, there is yet another surprise in store for Grizel.

#53: Author: ravenseyes, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:14 am

Oh I don't know - judging by some of the other threads
boxes bodies maybe Jack gets a new calling as a forensic pathologist Idea

#54: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:36 am

*giggles* Nice one, Ravens!

And I love that we see Lisa and Alex again! They were great characters!

#55: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:44 am

What a lovely surprise! I was sorry because I thought we wouldn't see them again!

#56: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 11:10 am

Glad you had a good holiday Ravenseyes, and what a lovely way to come back to this story, a wonderful surprise for Grizel.

#57: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 4:47 pm

What a lovely surprise for Grizel, thank you Rven.

BTW, yet another wonderful CS baby that sleeps all the time, I wish mine had.

#58: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:15 pm

Awww! What a lovely suprise for Grizel!!!

#59: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 10:48 pm

How lovely for Grizel to see her friends again.

Glad you had a lovely holiday.

#60: Author: ravenseyes, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:07 am

the mystery of the boxes revealed Laughing

Grizel stood thee stunned amazement on her face. She turned slightly to find Joey sitting on a chair rocking herself with tears of mirth rolling down her face and huge grins on the faces of Jack and Neil. Turning back to Lisa and Alex she finally managed to get out

What are you doing here she demanded

Waiting for dinner replied Alex blandly which reduced Joey again and engendered an agonized squawk from Grizel.

Oh you mean in Swizterland said Lisa equally straight faced. Well perhaps you should sit down and stop making strange noises then maybe I’ll tell you.

Jack poured everyone a glass of sherry and then they all proceeded to sit back to listen to Lisa.

Alex and I have been talking about coming to Europe for a while and the twins are old enough to leave alone so they are spending the summer holidays with our parents week about in Auckland so we headed for Europe. We spent Christmas in Paris and now we have come on here to visit you oh Frau Doktor Shepherd. Short and sweet.

You knew all about this said Grizel turning to Joey. Of course returned Joey smiling sweetly but evilly. Lisa wrote to me and I talked to Neil and Jack and we all plotted this out.

So where are you staying asked Grizel turning back to Lisa and Alex. With you replied Lisa. Grizels face turned to consternation – but we do not have a furnished guest room.

Yes we do dear replied Neil. This afternoon while you were blissfully unaware in front of the fire Jack and I were assembling a bedroom suite for the guest room and Anna set it all up.
Do you remember old Frau Meisner that I have mentioned lives up on the Roseinalpe

Err yes the old lady with arthritis? Exactly well she is going to live with her son and his wife in Lucerne so she was selling most of her house off and she had a very similar style bedroom suite to ours but a bit smaller so I bought it to furnish a guest room for us. Quite providential for us because Lisas letter arrived the next day so it was going to be a surprise for you anyway so now it is a bigger one.

Grizel was almost over come at this point but luckily Anna entered the room bringing a succulent roast dinner for them. Grizel waylaid her on the way out. Anna danke sehr. Anna smiled back and then left. Later Grizel was to find that Anna had also put some of her delicious biscuits in her kitchen and in her freezer was some of her legendary vegetable soup.

Dinner proceeded in fine style with much exchange of information. After dinner Alex, Neil and Jack disappeared to Jacks study for after dinner brandy and then onto the games room for a few games of billiards.

Grizel, Lisa and Joey retired to the Saal where they had a wonderful catch up session. At about twentytwo they heard the babes awakening and went upstairs to the nursery. Grizel carefully wrapped Ellen up and put her in her carrycot to take her out to the car. Lisa had a quick peep at the Maynard twins then the were all down to the car and driving carefully down the road to Grizel and Neils chalet. Grizel was a little apprehensive as she was not sure what Neil had bought for the guest room however when they got home she gave Ellen to Neil so he could give her her bottle. Grizel slipped upstairs and was delighted to find a smaller version of their own suite. A double sleigh bed with two bedside tables and a smaller mandrobe with a wardrobe on one side and drawers on the other absolutely perfect for a guest room. The bed was made up with crisp white linen and had a large fluffy plumeau with a bright scarlet cover. In the matching linen chest was another set of sheets and pillow cases and a bright green plumeau cover. She went downstair and helped Lisa bring in her bag. Upstairs on the right she said to Lisa and followed her up the stairs. The bathroom is along here, this is the room that Ellen is using and that is our room at the end of the hall.

Lisa looked around and smiled at Grizel. Its lovely Grizel I do like the gabled window and the bedroom suite is perfect. Grizel heard Alex coming up the stairs. I’ll leave you to it then she said. Neil will have given Ellen her bottle so I will give her a wash and put her to bed.
Gute nacht..

#61: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:15 am

Oh, how lovely! I'm so glad they will have such a lovely time together!

#62: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 5:07 pm

So glad that they've come to visit her.

#63: Author: ravenseyes, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 1:07 am

Grizel, Lisa and Alex had a great time over the next fortnight. They tripped all around the district and Lisa and Alex practiced their skiing which was not something they had had a great opportunity to do in New Zealand. There was only one day which Grizel left Ellen with Joey which was when they all went to Schlaffhausen. That was going to be a long trip so Joey said she would have Ellen for the day. Lisa gave Grizel a few practical tips on caring for the baby but made sure that Grizel did most of it herself. She and Grizel had had a long talk and being Lisa she was very blunt about having children, raising them on your own with out housekeepers and nannys which was something that Joey had not been able to tell her about. She also was quite explicit about the demands a child would place on her and the reality of having a husband off at work all day and being at home with an infant. The experience with Ellen was as close to having your own baby as Grizel could get and Lisa was making sure it was a warts and all experience. One night about 10pm the phone rang. Neil answered it thinking that it would be the San wanting him. To his surprise a womans voice asked for Grizel. Grizel had just finished getting Ellen settled down and came into the Saal where everyone was just as Neil was saying he would get her. Grizel phone for you. Grizel took the phone wondering who was calling at this time of night.

Grizel mauvoreen. The faintly Irish accented voice came clearly down the line. Deira exclaimed Grizel. I wanted to call and tell you said Deira. I had a baby girl last night. Oh Grizel she is perfect the doctors all say she is wonderful and healthy. She weighed 8 pounds and she has lots of black hair and blue eyes. Tony is over the moon and so proud. I know things went screwy between us at the end Grizel and we are really sorry about that. We never meant to hurt you but I guess we were real selfish and just did not think. But we thought you would like to know that her name is Siobhan Grizelle.

Deira that is really nice of you and Tony. I hope things go well and make sure you write me and send some photos of Siobhan. Lisa and Alex are staying with us at the moment so I will go and tell everyone the news. Now I am going to go because this will cost you a fortune.

At the end of the fortnight it was with great sadness that Grizel saw Lisa and Alex off on the train to Berne where they were joining a coach tour off to Italy. The next few weeks went by routinely. Grizel looked after Ellen and did things around the house. She and Ellen had gone to Berne and gone back to the precint where she had found the dining suite and looked around for a lounge suite. She had not found anything there but the owner of the shop remembered her and had told her that he was going to a huge auction in Montreaux in a fortnight, He said that members of the public could attend so the night before found Grizel and Ellen staying at Winifred Emburys. Winfred had said she would look after Ellen while Grizel went to the sale. It was held at the house concerned and Grizel found her suite in the second lounge. It was of medium size and very plain or classic. It had been recovered a year before in dark green velvet look material. Two armchairs with matching stools and a three seater couch. Grizel found it very comfortable and its plainess appealed to her as the Saal was not that big and many suites were too big or ornate with big rolled arms and large pillows. There was very little interest in the siute and Grizel managed to win the auction for what she felt was a bargin. The receipt for having it recovered was still with the suite and on it was the name of the fabric used to do it. Having paid for the suite and made arrangements for it to be shipped to the Platz Grizel then went of the shop that had done the recovering and asked about getting her dining chair seats recovered in the same fabric. The store owner was very helpful. The fabric was a common one and he phoned another upholsters and fabric shop in Interlaaken. They have the same fabric meine Frau so if you contact them you will be able to make the arrangements to get you chairs covered in the matching fabric. A few days later the upholster came up to the Platz to look at Grizels chairs. While he was there Grizel asked about curtain fabric for the Saal. The upholster looked at her Saal and asked that when he returned the chairs that he could bring her some samples. I have a fabric that I think could be magnificent in this room.
Two weeks later he returned bring Grizels chairs back and bringing a roll of a wonderful fabric. Neil was home at the time so the and the upholsterer hung a swath over the curtain rail and the all stood back. The fabric was a rich crimson/burgandy velvet effect and was thick and warm. Against the polished wooden floors and white painted walls the effect was stunning. The dark green lounge suite looked well and the room looked cosy and warm. Both Grizel and Neil liked the fabric and the windows were all soon measured up and the new curtains would be arriving in about two weeks.
Daisy came back to the Platz looking much fitter than when she went. She came around the day after she got home and was delighted to see not only how well Ellen was but also how well and happy Grizel was with her as well. She had brought Grizel a selection of orange preserves from Spain so they had made some fresh scones to try some on. That night Grizel found herself at a bit of a loss with out Ellen and that actually confirmed a decision she had made. She knew that Neil would like a child and she actually felt now that she would like one as well. Looking after Ellen had been a very good example of what having a baby would be like and she knew that she would have support from her friends should she need it. Medically despite her age no one seemed to think she would be any more likely to have anything go wrong than could happen to anyone. She was about two weeks into her cycle now so that night she told Neil. He gathered her into his arms and they retired to their bedroom.

Eight weeks later found Grizel hunched over the table hoping that her coffee would stay down. She was fortunate in that her morning sickness was obeying the book and was generally gone by mid morning. Hilary Graves had had morning sickness that had lasted all day every day for nearly seven months and upon the production of her second son and fourth baby and vowed that her family was now complete.

Grizel and Neil had not told anyone yet but Grizel was writing today to Deira and Tony and Lisa and Alex. A letter had arrived a week ago with photos of Siobhan and Lisa and Alex had arrived home two weeks ago. They had sent postcards from all the places that had gone and Grizel knew that they had had a memorable trip.

A week later Grizel and Neil told a delighted Jo and Daisy and before long most of the Platz knew. She received letters back from New Zealand wishing them all the best.

Her pregnancy proceeded along the standard book description of pregnancy with no problems until her eighth month. She was under the care of the specialist that she had seen in Berne but things were going well and the specialist was pleased. However in the eighth month she began to experience swelling and high blood pressure. The specialist decided that it would be best to admit her to hospital in Berne so she could be under observation. Grizel was worried but she knew that this happened in some pregnancies. One week after she was admitted Grizel went into labor. Fortunately Neil was able to get down from the Platz and after a routine labor and delivery Nigel Robert Shepherd made his arrival weighing six pounds.
For all that he was three weeks early he was a healthy baby boy and ten days later found Grizel being transferred up to the San for a week and then returning home.

And here we leave Grizel, Neil and Nigel living happily on the Gornetz Platz in Chalet Land.

#64: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 1:15 am

Oh thank you Ravenseyes - that was a beautiful end to a really touching story - you made Grizel come alive as a person and really showed that her attempt to change and put aside her bitterness worked so well.

Thank you again. Smile

#65: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 2:28 am

Thany you Ravenseyes, this was a wonderful insight into Grizel's life, even though we knew there would be a happy ending, eventually, it shows just how much unhappiness Grizel had to endure. She certainly seems more real now than she ever did before, thank you again.

#66: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 4:24 am

What a satisfying ending. I'm so glad there was a reconciliation with Deira, as well as the visit from Lisa & Alex. It was an excellent way to tie the NZ episodes together with all the good parts of Grizel's new life.

#67: Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 3:01 pm

That was superb, Raven. I always felt Grizel got overlooked by EBD, almost as if she couldn't be bothered with her. Packed of to New Zealand and then not returning till the reunion. Now we've got all the gaps filled and her new life as well. I was particularly pleased when Deira got in touch when she had her baby. It brought the whole story to a happy ending.

*Admits to likeing happy endings most of the time*

#68: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 3:16 pm

What a lovely, weepy ending, Raven, it was so good to see Grizel being happy instead of always being an outsider in the happiness stakes.

#69: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 7:20 pm

Raven, that was just beautiful!!! Thank you sweetie!!!
It's so nice to see Grizel having a happy ending!!!

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