UNITY
Being together
Without words,
Thoughts trancend
The empty silence
To find balance
In perfect union,
A comfortable congress
MY LOVE IS FOREVER
My love is forever
For even if we part
You will never
Completely leave my heart
BECAUSE MY LOVE FOR YOU IS TRUE
Because my love for you is true
There is nothing I won’t do for you
Except for this one small thing
Which is that I won’t do nothing
I SHOULD HAVE TRIED MUCH HARDER
I should have tried much harder
Looking back upon that day
I should have fought for you
I should have tried every way
You were the very best of me
Around you my heart lightened
In your presence I walked on air
Around you my spirits brightened
I lost myself in my own conceit
I was consumed by self-obsession
I stopped seeing you as precious
And treated you like my possession
I should have tried much harder
On that day so very long ago
I should have fought for you
Instead I ran away and let you go
A BOOK ON THE SHELF
A book on the shelf
Passed by, passed over
Rejected by browsers
Ignored by casual trade
Over looked by readers of discernment
Often handled but never understood
A book on the shelf
Unwanted and unappreciated
Unloved and forlorn waits patiently
For that one special wordsmith
Who will see the small tome
Among the vast bibliotheca
And admire the cover,
The quality of the fabric
Its exquisite binding
He will handle the book
Feel its weight and worth in one carress
And will appreciate its quality.
When he turns the pages
He will engage with the contents
Understanding its language
Each perfect word on each pristine page
This will be a story of such worth
When the wordsmith finds
This book on the shelf
I WALK ON EGGS
I walk on eggs
To protect the fragile peace
I try to be invisible
As I dread your displeasure so
But even in the midst
Of such an uneasy peace
I fear your rejection
For being invisible is still better
Than not being there at all
THE FIRST TIME I TOUCHED YOU
The first time I touched you,
Beckoned by temptation
Was a magical experience
Even in my clumsy seduction
My tender advances met
With spine tingling response
And in a bloodless loving coup
I broke down your sconce
ELAINE
I remember the first time
That I saw Elaine
Just one look
And I was smitten
But I couldn’t speak to her
I just watched
And admired
She caught me looking
Once or twice
And she smiled
Her smile was nice
But I looked away embarrassed
The last time she suddenly got up
And to my utter dismay
She was coming my way
I thought she would have a go
About me staring
But no she said “hello”
And told me her name
Then for the longest time
She just looked at me
As I stuttered and stammered
Then she kissed me
IN MY FANTASY
In my fantasy
You bring me ecstasy
In my actuality
I crave your sensuality
So it would seem
I must live in my dream
APPLE OF MY EYE
You are the apple of my eye
Sitting seductively silent
I seem to feel lust and love
Almost in equal measure
Your mere existence
Has brightened my being
And stirred my soul
And awakened feelings
Long buried
But after the lust evapourates
The love will remain
A more tangible emotion
So let us make memories
That we can treasure
LOVE CONQUERS ALL?
Who ever said
“Love conquers all”
Obviously hadn’t met you
Normal rules seem not to apply
I surrendered my heart
I bared my soul
All to no avail
You just used me
Then cast me aside
So I am once again alone
DECENT PROPOSAL
The traditional way
Is now rather passé
And may have had its day
But I will ask thee
While on bended knee
If thou wilt marry me
GRACE
When I saw her
I fell in love with Grace
Though her reputation
Was as a straight lace
But I didn’t see that
At all in her face
I went and asked “Would
You dance with me Grace”
She said she would
“But nothing fast paced”
So I placed my hand
On the curve of her waist
And pulled her towards me
And though she was chaste
She didn’t pull away
Or repel my haste
So I danced the next dance
With the beautiful Grace
And the one after that
With a smile on my face
We left the dance floor
With fingers interlaced
On the day I placed my hand
On the curve of her waist
Was the day I fell in love
And my life was Graced
SMOULDERING
Smouldering looks
Flaming desire,
Lustful tingling’s
And passionate fire
Eager anticipation
Tantalisingly relishing
Adds to the fantasy
For later embellishing
EXTRAORDINARY GIRL
For a young girl,
Well compared to me,
You have done something
Extraordinary to me
You have warmed my cold heart
You have cleansed my unclean soul
You have instilled purpose
Where there was none
Out of despair I now have hope
You have laid the ghosts of my past
So I now have a future
RHYTHMIC LIFE
I have a life with rhythm
And clarity of purpose
That defines me perfectly
And that clear rhythmic life
Is your great gift to me
A gift given before God
When we joined in matrimony
The depth of our union
And the depth of our love
Will not easily be bested
A PERFECT DAY
A perfect day
Spent with you
The two of us
That’s my view
No one else
Just us two
A perfect day
Spent with you
Tuesday, 7 February 2017
Fille De Papillon
Remember when we were young
Those long halcyon days
Down on your dad’s farm
Joyful hours spent
Idling our time away.
Swinging on that old rustic gate
Roaming the countryside
Happy lazy days,
Nothing particular to do
And a world of time to do it in
They were wonderful days
They were innocent days
Before the end of childhood
Before those weeks
That special summer
So long ago
When you seemed to transform
Into something new
Like a butterfly
Emerging from its cocoon
Spreading its wings in the sun
Displaying fresh beauty
Your transformation
From the cutely naive country girl
Awkward and ungainly
Into a beautiful young woman
An altogether more graceful being
Though I was fond of the grubby faced girl
With untidy hair, wispy and uncombed
I would very soon fall in love
With the butterfly that had replace her
With the emergence of the butterfly girl
With all the beauty
Of the first flower of spring
We trod an unfamiliar path
Leaving our childish games behind
Taking our first tentative steps
Towards love
A love that was a stranger to us
Yet we stepped eagerly in to its turbulent sea
And immersed ourselves in its waters
We soon knew at once
The excitement of first love
When joy was all we could see
And all of our thoughts
Were only for each other
Sweet moments spent
In blissful adoration
Until love was burnt deeply on our souls
Now as we walk the familiar places
As we have so often done
With scenes much visited
We can stand in that spot
Where first I beheld the butterfly
Resplendent in the sunlight
And say to you
With heartfelt sincerity
That I love you still
Those long halcyon days
Down on your dad’s farm
Joyful hours spent
Idling our time away.
Swinging on that old rustic gate
Roaming the countryside
Happy lazy days,
Nothing particular to do
And a world of time to do it in
They were wonderful days
They were innocent days
Before the end of childhood
Before those weeks
That special summer
So long ago
When you seemed to transform
Into something new
Like a butterfly
Emerging from its cocoon
Spreading its wings in the sun
Displaying fresh beauty
Your transformation
From the cutely naive country girl
Awkward and ungainly
Into a beautiful young woman
An altogether more graceful being
Though I was fond of the grubby faced girl
With untidy hair, wispy and uncombed
I would very soon fall in love
With the butterfly that had replace her
With the emergence of the butterfly girl
With all the beauty
Of the first flower of spring
We trod an unfamiliar path
Leaving our childish games behind
Taking our first tentative steps
Towards love
A love that was a stranger to us
Yet we stepped eagerly in to its turbulent sea
And immersed ourselves in its waters
We soon knew at once
The excitement of first love
When joy was all we could see
And all of our thoughts
Were only for each other
Sweet moments spent
In blissful adoration
Until love was burnt deeply on our souls
Now as we walk the familiar places
As we have so often done
With scenes much visited
We can stand in that spot
Where first I beheld the butterfly
Resplendent in the sunlight
And say to you
With heartfelt sincerity
That I love you still
Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (34) The Actresses and the Bishops
(Part 01)
Amanda Flanders and Tamsin Pearce got to know each other when they both worked on a very popular TV soap and during their time on the show they became firm friends.
In addition to the soap they had also worked in the theatre and even in pantomime.
Amanda had lived on Teardrop Lake all her life and she still lived in Forest Lodge with her brother Peter and his wife Claire when she wasn’t away working.
Tamsin also lived on the lake, though she had only been there for the last six years, and she had a flat in Dancingdean Hall.
They both worked away for a lot of the time, sometimes working on things together and sometimes not.
But they always made a bee line for Teardrop when there was a break in their busy schedules.
Which wasn’t as often as they would have liked but on the reverse it did mean they were working.
The last time they were home was in February, over the Valentines weekend and the weather was very kind to them and they even managed to do a bit of sailing and a riding out which were two of their favourite pastimes.
And as there was no romance on offer at the time they took advantage of the Lake and the woods.
Successful actresses they may well have been but neither of them had been able to repeat that success in the man department despite their obvious attributes.
At 30 years old, Amanda was stunningly attractive, slim with shoulder length brunette hair and hazel eyes but even Tamsin, who was three years older, put her friend in the shade with her looks.
Tamsin was slightly taller and a little curvier than Amanda with a shock of flame red hair.
Their problem was that in their profession it was difficult to meet men, well the right kind of men anyway.
They were fed up of being hit on by all the usual suspects.
Men who wanted to either been seen with a famous actress on their arm or wanted the glamour lifestyle they imagined went with being a successful actor or just wanted to have sex with a celebrity.
There was another alternative to those types of men, which was to date someone from their own world, someone on a par with them but in their experience actors tended to have huge egos and small personalities.
So they were no different to any other human being, looking for love or companionship or a family.
What they needed was someone who would like them or love them for who they were rather than thinking of them as a backstage pass to a celebrity life.
It was May before they both had chance to take a break and it was the first of June when they arrived on the Lake.
They had decided to take off a couple of months and do some writing, they had been bouncing ideas off each other for a few years and they had committed some of it to paper but they thought as there was a break in their schedules they would give it a proper go.
Her brother, Peter Lutchford was a renowned film director and producer and had his own production company, Teardrop Productions and he had said that if they presented him with a half decent screenplay he would consider taking it on.
So it was a no brainer really, they had nothing to lose, they would still get out on the Lake and sail and ride out in the forest as well as doing some writing.
(Part 02)
Amanda Flanders always called Peter “brother” but he was actually her half-brother, they had the same mother but different fathers.
But she never drew any distinction, she just loved him as her big brother.
Tamsin on the other hand was from a large family she was the middle child of 5, two elder brothers and two younger sisters and she was the only one who lived in England, her siblings were scattered to the four corners of the globe and her parents had retired to Spain.
So she was kind of adopted into the Flanders family and was as close to Amanda as any sister ever could be.
The girls had been home for a couple of days and bright and early on Monday morning they were up and out for an early ride.
Tamsin drove down from Dancingdean House and picked up Amanda on the way and then they drove a mile or so to the stables in Shallowfield.
Tamsin parked the car and then they walked towards the stable block.
“Does my bum look big in these jodhpurs?” Tamsin asked not really happy with the fit
“No” Amanda replied after having a look
Tamsin seemed happy with her reply
“Your arse looks big in whatever you wear, it’s not the jodhpurs” Amanda added and ran off laughing
“You cheeky cow” Tam said chasing after her “we can’t all be little miss bony butt”
It had been such a beautiful morning that they rode considerably further and longer than they originally intended.
On the way back to the stables they decided to walk the horse’s part of the way to rest them a little.
So they were walking down the northern perimeter road and both girls were spattered in mud.
They were just passing the gate of Chapel House as Ellen Huston was just getting out of her car.
She gave them a wave and they waved back and then there was a bit of a commotion ahead of them and two men suddenly appeared from the woods causing Amanda’s horse to rear up.
“Whoa! Steady old thing” she said as she tried to calm him down
Tamsin took hold of her horse and lead him aside by the bridle.
“Alright” Amanda said patting the horse’s neck
Once she had complete control and order had been restored one of the men said
“We’re terribly sorry”
“We didn’t mean to startle you” said the other one
“No harm done” Amanda responded and as she turned around she added
“Good heavens”
It was at that point that Tamsin also looked at their bushwhackers
“Damn I think I’m seeing double” she said
What they were actually seeing were twins, identical twins,
Around thirty five years old, over six feet tall, pleasant looking with short sandy hair.
“Identical twins” Amanda said
“Ian Bishop” the first one said
“Dave” added the other
“Amanda Flanders” she said
“And Tamsin Pearce” Tammy chimed in
“We’re not quite identical” Ian said and lifted the hair away from his forehead to reveal a horizontal 4 inch scar
“I got him with a Cricket bat when we were seven” Dave confessed proudly and Amanda thought the scar was rather fetching.
“I don’t think they recognize us” Tamsin said
“Really?” she said and the two men looked puzzled
“I’m sorry should we know you?” Ian asked
“Well we’ve never met” Tamsin replied enigmatically
“Are you famous then?” Dave asked
“A bit famous yes” Amanda admitted
“We’re actresses”
That revelation left them unmoved and after five minutes of listing their extensive credits it appeared that they didn’t watch TV or read the tabloids.
“What about films?” Tamsin asked “Do you watch films?”
“Yes we do watch films” Ian said
“Excellent” Amanda said
“But” Dave qualified “We tend to watch 30s and 40s films Barbara Stanwyck, James Stewart, Clark Gable, and Carole Lombard”
“No we weren’t in any of those” Tamsin said
(Part 03)
They had been walking and talking and they were soon approaching the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel.
“So what do you two do for a living?” Amanda asked
“We are academics” Ian said
“Oh?”
“Yes from Abbottsford University” he added
“So you’re geeks” Tamsin said
“Science geeks” Dave accepted
“Even worse than that we are Christian Science geeks” Ian added
“Though not Christian Scientists in the rather more disturbing and sinister sense of the term”
“I’m glad to hear it” Amanda said and they were all laughing when she asked
“So why are you at Teardrop?”
“We’re surveying the Chapel site” Ian said
“Are you staying at the Lodge?” Tamsin asked nodding in its direction
“Yes” Dave said “We’re sorry again for startling you both”
“Perhaps we could take you for coffee by way of an apology?” Ian suggested
“Well we need to get these old fellas back stable to the and rub them down” Amanda explained as she mounted her horse “But why not come to us for lunch”
“That’s very kind of you” he said “So yes”
“Good its Forest Lodge the third house along from the Hotel” Amanda said “About 1.30 ok for you?”
“Yes perfect” They both said
Amanda and Tamsin rode back to the stables and rubbed down and groomed the horses before driving back to Forest Lodge via Tamsin’s flat so she could pick up a change of clothes.
“Hi Peter” Amanda said as they walked into the house
“We have a couple of archaeologists coming for lunch”
“Oh ok” he said
“I’m going up to get changed” Amanda said and whispered something to Peter and he nodded, then a few moments later he said
“Are you sure you should be wearing Jodhpurs with your figure Tam?”
“Did she tell you to say that?” Tamsin yelled “you’re a pig Peter Lutchford”
Then she shouted up the stairs
“And so is your sister”
“You look gorgeous as usual” he said and hugged her
“Amanda’s just jealous because she’s all skin and bone”
“Yes she is isn’t she?” Tamsin agreed
“Yes, she looks like she’s been through a famine” he said “And you look like you caused it”
As soon as the last word passed his lips Peter ran and Tamsin chased him through the kitchen and out onto the patio and then across the lawn and out through the side gate just as the Bishops were walking down the drive.
“You can’t hit me, I think our guests have arrived” Peter said
“I’ll get you later” Tamsin said
“Ian and David Bishop this is...”
“Peter Lutchford” David said shaking his hand warmly “very pleased to meet you sir”
“It’s an honour sir” David said and took over the hand shaking
“Call me Peter” he said “only the tax man calls me sir”
“Oh I see” Tamsin said “you recognise a crusty old film director but you didn’t know who the gorgeous multi-talented actresses were”
“That’s because Peter directed a series of historical documentaries which were extraordinary and ground breaking”
“Is that an in joke in your profession?” Amanda asked suddenly appearing in a lemon coloured dress.
“Would you believe it Mand they recognised Peter”
“Typical archaeologists” Amanda said
“They probably recognised him because he’s an old fossil”
The girls just fell about laughing
“Come on in you two I need some moral support” Peter said
(Part 04)
Tamsin had also been upstairs to change and had returned wearing a summer dress and joined the others sitting on the patio as Peter said
“So Amanda tells me you’re academic’s doing something up at the Chapel”
“I think we may have slightly mislead them we are actually Professors from Abbottsford University”
“You’re Professors?” Tamsin said
“Yes Archaeology Professors” Dave explained
“Aren’t you a bit young for that?” Peter asked
“Leave them alone Methuselah” Amanda said
“I was only saying”
“We are older than we look” Ian said
“I thought you were geeks” Amanda said “But you’re actually super geeks”
“Well Professors, so what is it you’re doing at the Chapel?” Peter asked
“Initially we’re going to survey the site using GPR” Ian said
“In non-geek please Prof” Amanda said
“Sorry Ground Penetrating Radar”
“We’ve been wanting to do a survey of the site for a number of years, but we could never get approval from the preservation society”
“That would have been Daniel Travers” Peter said
“Indeed Mr Travers wasn’t at all keen” Ian added
“He could be a difficult man” Peter said
“We applaud his passion for the Chapel and his fervent desire to protect it, he was a good man” Dave
“Did you ever meet him?” Amanda asked
“Yes several times and his wife Winnie” Ian replied
“She was a marvellous woman”
“She always fed us cake” Dave said
“Yes she was a diamond” Peter agreed
“We were very sad to hear they had both passed”
Dave added
There was a brief break for lunch during which the enthusiastic Bishop Brothers told them the unabridged legend of Olwen’s Chapel and the Christian Lady who persuaded her husband the pagan King to grant her permission to build a secret Chapel in the forest.
This was followed by a brief period of non geeky conversation and then Ian continued
“We won’t be digging anywhere on the site until we thoroughly analyse the results of the GPR”
“The ground penetrating doodah” Tamsin said helpfully
“So what are you hoping to find?” Peter asked
“Well with us being archaeologists and Christians, the Chapel is particularly close to our hearts and we believe through our research that there was a lot more to the Chapel than the Victorians discovered” Dave said
“We believe there is a lot more to the sight than an old wooden Church and a few stones, so we will bring in the ground penetrating doodah to find her secrets over the next week or so”
Ian explained
“And if the radar doesn’t confirm your theory?” Peter said
“Then we will leave it as we found it” Dave said
Over the next few days the weather turned more than a little inclement so Amanda and Tamsin set themselves up in the latter’s flat to do some writing.
But ideas that had come to them so readily on studio sets or in theatre dressing rooms failed to materialise when they had plenty of time to expand upon them.
They pored over the copious notes in their numerous note books but they could do nothing with any of them.
After three days inside Tammy’s flat banging their heads against a brick wall the weather brightened up considerably so they set up on the patio at Forest Lodge.
But even the change of scene and some lovely June sunshine failed to energise their brain cells.
“Do you think we’ve bitten off more than we can chew?” Tamsin said
“No I don’t” Amanda replied “We can do this”
“Are you sure?”
“I know we are just as capable as most of those spotty graduates, with no life experience who churn out that mindless rubbish for the soaps” said Amanda
“But we’ve been at it for four days and we don’t even have a synopsis” Tamsin said
“We just need the hook, the idea, and once we have that we’ll be away” she said confidently
(Part 05)
They broke for lunch and then two hours later they still hadn’t made a beginning.
“Come on let’s go for a walk and get inspired” Amanda said positively.
“Thank God you’re so sensible”
“It’s a blessing and a curse” She said
They walked along the southern perimeter road and went anticlockwise around the lake.
“We should choose something we know about” Amanda suggested “Something familiar to us”
“Acting” said Tam
“Possibly”
“Teardrop then” she said “We know about that and you grew up here”
“Well that’s a good starting place” Amanda agreed
“What about characters?”
“Well we both know plenty of those” Tamsin said and laughed
As they passed each house in turn they proposed increasingly larger than life and flamboyant back stories for the occupants.
When they reached the eastern end of the Lake they began the uphill section leading up to the cliff top and as they were on the downhill stretch of the northern road Tamsin suddenly suggested
“Let’s go and see what the yummy professors are up to”
“Yummy Professors?” Amanda questioned mockingly
“Don’t you give me that” Tam said “I saw the way you were looking at the one with the scar, and the way you hung on his every word”
“I don’t know what you mean” she said innocently “I was merely being polite”
“Poppycock” Tamsin exclaimed
“And I’m not the one who called them yummy” Amanda pointed out
“They are nice though” she added
“Yes they are aren’t they” Tamsin agreed
“But apart from being yummy” Amanda said
“I think it’s really cool that they have no idea who we are”
“I know” Tam agreed “isn’t it brilliant”
“It’s so refreshing” Amanda added
“I really hate it when I go on a date and they know more about me than I do” Tam said
“Me too” Amanda agreed “I particularly dislike it when they correct you”
“I know that’s so annoying” Tam concurred
“So it will be nice to go out with the Profs and tell them about ourselves”
“They might google us” Amanda said
“Oh I do hope so” Tam replied
“You dirty mare” she said and then emitted a very dirty chuckle
“Shall we then?” Tamsin asked
“Absolutely”
As they got close to the path to the Chapel a thought suddenly dawned on Amanda
“Hang on we don’t even know if they’re interested in us, they might prefer geeky girls, brainiacs”
“Nonsense” Tamsin said “We’re gorgeous”
“But is that enough for them?” Amanda asked doubtfully
“Don’t start back peddling now” Tamsin said forcefully “we are enough for any man”
“You’re absolutely right” she agreed “what was I thinking? Let’s go”
They walked along the path and emerged to find the two yummy Professors engaged in good humoured conversation with a local man Colin McCredie.
Colin was a small thin man in his 60s and was the St Mary’s Church Warden and more importantly as far as Olwen’s Chapel was concerned was the Chairman of the Preservation Society.
“Well I’ll convene an emergency meeting of the full committee for tomorrow evening” he said “so you can present your findings”
“Excellent” Ian Bishop said shaking his hand and then Dave did the same before he turned and headed towards the path where the girls were stood.
“Good afternoon ladies” he said and touched the brim of his hat
“Hello Mr McCredie” Amanda said and Tamsin smiled, then they walked towards the Bishops
“Its good news then?” Amanda said as they approached
“Oh hello, yes it’s very good news” Ian said
“So you found what you were looking for?” Tamsin said clearly directing her inquiry to Dave Bishop.
“Yes indeed” he replied “and more”
“How intriguing” Tamsin said “do tell?”
“Well that path that you came in on, which has been used as the path to the Chapel since the Victorians rediscovered the site, was not the one used by Olwen and her fellow worshipers more than a thousand years ago” Dave said “And…”
“And why don’t we tell you the rest over dinner tonight?” Ian interrupted
“What a great idea” he agreed
“That would be lovely” Tamsin replied but Ian’s eyes were firmly on Amanda.
“Yes thank you” she said directly to him
“Great we’ll pick you up at 7.30am” Dave suggested
“It’s probably better if we pick you up” Tamsin suggested
“I live at the other end of the lake”
“Oh ok” he said
(Part 06)
Tamsin drove to Amanda’s and then picked up the Bishops from the Shallowfield Lodge.
The Professors had booked a table at the Phoenix Restaurant in Shallowfield.
As they sat drinking their aperitif’s the yummy Professors took turns telling them the story of the Chapel and how they secretly cleared a large area of forest and built a small timber Chapel to Olwen’s specific design with only a small number of trusted woodsman knowing what was being built in the woods.
Stones brought from Thanet Island were placed around the outline of the building, and the Lindisfarne Altar stone was given pride of place.
While they ate their starters they elaborated on what they had since discovered, local flag stones formed the floor and there was also a large baptismal bowl set into the floor on one side of the transept where Olwen’s husband King Ryce and their children were baptized.
“The baptismal water was drawn from a natural spring besides the clearing, which the faithful believed only sprang forth when the church was completed” Ian said
“That’s amazing” Tamsin said “and you found all that out with the ground thingy doodah?”
“And about 10 years of research” Dave said
“So how old was Olwen when she married the King?” Amanda asked
“She was 17” Ian replied “that was in 645”
“Wow she sounds like she was a remarkable woman” she said
“We should right her story Tam”
“I think you’re right” she agreed
“Writing?” Dave asked confused “We thought you were actors”
“We are” Amanda replied “But we’ve got the summer off and thought we would do some writing”
“Oh I see” Ian said
“It will give us something to fall back on when our looks start to fade”
“You won’t have to worry about that for a very long time” Ian said
“Oh thank you” she responded, with a girlie giggle and blushed
When the main course arrived and Amanda had stopped blushing she asked
“So what happens after you see the committee tomorrow?”
“We pack up and return to Abbottsford” Dave said
“What? You’re leaving?” Amanda said barely able to hide her disappointment
“What if they say yes, you can excavate?” Tamsin asked
“We fully expect that they will say yes” Ian explained “Which is why we need to go back”
“I don’t understand” Amanda asked
“Well we need different equipment and we need help on the ground” he said “so we need to recruit those students who aren’t already going away for summer”
“Some of whom may already have signed up for other digs, so we need to persuade them that our dig is more significant”
“So how long will you be gone?” Amanda asked
“Well I would say at the very least” Ian mused “two weeks”
“Well that’s alright then” she said and laughed
After that the conversation turned to more 21st century topics and Tamsin was easily persuaded to relinquish her designated driver status so after the meal was over and the bill was settled they all tottered off in the direction of the lake.
They walked arm in arm more out of necessity than familiarity as none of them were steady enough on their feet to go solo.
But when they reached the Hotel there was a collective clearing of the heads to facilitate very satisfactory good night kisses.
The two actresses proceeded on to Forest Lodge alone and after about 20 yards they looked at each other and said in unison “Yummy”
The Bishop boys stood by the Hotel entrance and looked on as the girls walked up the Lane and although they heard their laughter they didn’t hear what they had said.
(Part 07)
Being the worse for drink Tamsin stayed the night with Amanda but despite their condition the next morning they appeared downstairs bright and early to start work.
Peter went into Shallowfield and got Tamsin’s car from the restaurant just in case she was still over the limit, which she probably was.
So with a mug of black coffee each they sat out on the patio in their pyjamas and started writing and now that they had their subject matter the words just flowed.
“Well that’s a respectable start” Amanda said
“Yes it is” Tamsin agreed “of course you do realise we will need regular input from the Profs”
“How is it you manage to make everything sound dirty” Amanda asked
“It’s just a knack” she replied
The writing went so well that they were still in their night clothes when Peter made them omelettes for lunch and they still hadn’t dressed in time for afternoon tea.
“Right you pair of mingers” Peter said “as soon as you’ve finished your tea go and get dressed”
“Ok bossy” Amanda said “What’s the rush”
“I’m burning dead meat for dinner” he replied “and we have company”
She didn’t bother asking who the guests were as there were always people at the house, from the studio or the production company.
Peter would tell her if it was someone she wanted to avoid but as he didn’t mention anything she didn’t bother asking.
“Ok I’m on my way” she said obediently “read this while I’m getting changed” she said and handed him her laptop.
“I’d better go home and change, I’ve exhausted my clean clothes stash” Tamsin said “I presume I am invited”
“Of course you are, just wear something nice, wear a dress, something flattering on the hips” he said and chuckled
“I really hate you Peter Lutchford” she said and kissed his forehead and headed into the house “Thanks for picking up the car”
Peter’s wife Claire came home from the Health Centre at about six o’clock and her husband greeted her with a large gin and tonic
“Bless you darling” she said and took the drink and kissed him
“Do I have time for a soak?” she asked with eyes that said “please say yes”
“Of course” he replied “everything is prepared, you have two hours before our guests arrive”
“I love you” she said and kissed him
“I love you too now off you go" he urged and patted her bum I’ll bring you another drink in half an hour and if you’re lucky I’ll rub your back”
“Ok darling” she said as she walked away
Peter took the drink up and was gone for an hour so he started burning the meat at about seven thirty
“Dinner will be a little late” he said to Amanda “as the doctor insisted on giving me a thorough examination”
“Eew Oooh” she responded I hope you’ve washed your hands
Neither Tamsin nor Amanda particularly glammed up for the evening but they were both perfumed and powdered and wearing summer dresses.
There was a little flair in Tammy’s but she didn’t need to flatter her hips because she had a nice figure and Peter knew that and she knew he knew it, it was just a game they played.
“You look lovely” he said to Amanda
“Thank you brother dear” she replied and looked across at her friend
Who looked up and was waiting for his next sentence
“It’s a shame Tam didn’t make an effort”
(Part 08)
Amanda’s laptop was on the table and as she opened it Peter said
“Well done you two, that’s really good”
“Did you read it?” She asked
“Yes I did”
“So what did you think? Be honest” Amanda asked
“Suffice is to say you have my attention” Peter replied
“That’s good right?” Tamsin asked
“Yes I liked it very much” he assured her
“The character studies are good as is the general synopsis”
The girls looked at each other and smiled
“But I would just caution you in regard to historical accuracy” he said “and I would strongly recommend you speak to some experts in the field”
“Ok” they both said
“Like them” he added and got up
“Good to see you” Peter said let me get you both a drink.
If they had realised the yummy professors were coming they would have glammed up, but it was too late at that point.
“We didn’t know you were coming” Amanda said and kissed Ian while Tamsin followed suit with Dave.
“Haven’t you got a meeting with Mr McCredie’s society?” she asked
“We’ve had it” Dave said
“What do you mean?” Tam asked
“We’ve had the meeting” he said “it only took ten minutes and they gave us the green light”
“That’s fantastic news” they said in unison and took the opportunity to kiss them again which was when Claire arrived.
“Ah darling” Peter said “Come and meet the Professors Bishop”
“Ian and Dave” he said “this is my wife Claire”
With the introductions done, Peter had to adjourn to the coalface as he called it, the BBQ to the uninitiated, while Claire dispensed drinks and spoke with Dave and Tamsin.
Ian and Amanda ambled away and sat at the table on the lawn.
“So what is it you need expert help with?” Ian asked
“Peter was just saying you needed help with something”
“Well Tamsin and I have decided to write a screen play about Olwen” she said
“In fact we have already started it”
Ian was unresponsive.
“You look doubtful” Amanda
“Well history isn’t often portrayed well by the arts” Ian explained
“Yes but we have the extraordinary and ground breaking Peter Lutchford directing” she said
“Well that’s a plus” he agreed
“I thought we, the writers, would probably require some pretty close collaboration with you, the history geeks”
“Well we in the realms of academe are always happy to collaborate in the interest of better understanding between Art and History”
“Good answer Professor” Amanda said
When it got to ten o’clock Claire excused herself.
“I’m sorry to be such a wet blanket” she said “but I have an early start in the morning”
The Bishops looked at their watches and apologised profusely for imposing on their hospitality and stood up.
“No please don’t go on my account” she insisted “Stay and keep the girls company”
She then kissed them all and went up to bed.
Ten minutes later Peter got up and said
“I’ll just go and tuck her in”
He never returned, but Amanda didn’t really expected him to, it was their way of being tactful.
Although she had notice that Peter was particularly fond of tucking Claire in.
At the end of the evening, which was sometime after midnight, Amanda and Tamsin escorted their respective twin to the side gate.
Tamsin came to a halt just the other side of it and she smiled sheepishly at Amanda as she walked past and on up the drive a little way.
When she stopped and glanced back Dave and Tam were already kissing.
Amanda wasn’t as bold as that.
“So how long will you be away?” she asked already knowing the answer
“At least two weeks” he replied
“But you can ring me any time”
“I may have to phone you a lot” she said
“I’m counting on it” he replied and then he could resist no more and kissed her.
Ian and Dave were on the Chapel site on and off for the two years following their first meeting that summer, while the girls split their time between acting and writing.
Once the screen play for Olwen’s Story was completed the flood gates opened and a tsunami of ideas flooded out of them.
Peter Lutchford directed and his company produced it and it was to be the first of many collaborations, the next one was about a Fugitive Cavalier.
As the years went by they spent more and more of their time writing and less and less acting although there was always a cameo for them in a Teardrop production whenever they wanted it.
And the Bishop Brothers continued to visit Teardrop Lake long after the work was completed on the Chapel because that was where their wives lived.
Amanda Flanders and Tamsin Pearce got to know each other when they both worked on a very popular TV soap and during their time on the show they became firm friends.
In addition to the soap they had also worked in the theatre and even in pantomime.
Amanda had lived on Teardrop Lake all her life and she still lived in Forest Lodge with her brother Peter and his wife Claire when she wasn’t away working.
Tamsin also lived on the lake, though she had only been there for the last six years, and she had a flat in Dancingdean Hall.
They both worked away for a lot of the time, sometimes working on things together and sometimes not.
But they always made a bee line for Teardrop when there was a break in their busy schedules.
Which wasn’t as often as they would have liked but on the reverse it did mean they were working.
The last time they were home was in February, over the Valentines weekend and the weather was very kind to them and they even managed to do a bit of sailing and a riding out which were two of their favourite pastimes.
And as there was no romance on offer at the time they took advantage of the Lake and the woods.
Successful actresses they may well have been but neither of them had been able to repeat that success in the man department despite their obvious attributes.
At 30 years old, Amanda was stunningly attractive, slim with shoulder length brunette hair and hazel eyes but even Tamsin, who was three years older, put her friend in the shade with her looks.
Tamsin was slightly taller and a little curvier than Amanda with a shock of flame red hair.
Their problem was that in their profession it was difficult to meet men, well the right kind of men anyway.
They were fed up of being hit on by all the usual suspects.
Men who wanted to either been seen with a famous actress on their arm or wanted the glamour lifestyle they imagined went with being a successful actor or just wanted to have sex with a celebrity.
There was another alternative to those types of men, which was to date someone from their own world, someone on a par with them but in their experience actors tended to have huge egos and small personalities.
So they were no different to any other human being, looking for love or companionship or a family.
What they needed was someone who would like them or love them for who they were rather than thinking of them as a backstage pass to a celebrity life.
It was May before they both had chance to take a break and it was the first of June when they arrived on the Lake.
They had decided to take off a couple of months and do some writing, they had been bouncing ideas off each other for a few years and they had committed some of it to paper but they thought as there was a break in their schedules they would give it a proper go.
Her brother, Peter Lutchford was a renowned film director and producer and had his own production company, Teardrop Productions and he had said that if they presented him with a half decent screenplay he would consider taking it on.
So it was a no brainer really, they had nothing to lose, they would still get out on the Lake and sail and ride out in the forest as well as doing some writing.
(Part 02)
Amanda Flanders always called Peter “brother” but he was actually her half-brother, they had the same mother but different fathers.
But she never drew any distinction, she just loved him as her big brother.
Tamsin on the other hand was from a large family she was the middle child of 5, two elder brothers and two younger sisters and she was the only one who lived in England, her siblings were scattered to the four corners of the globe and her parents had retired to Spain.
So she was kind of adopted into the Flanders family and was as close to Amanda as any sister ever could be.
The girls had been home for a couple of days and bright and early on Monday morning they were up and out for an early ride.
Tamsin drove down from Dancingdean House and picked up Amanda on the way and then they drove a mile or so to the stables in Shallowfield.
Tamsin parked the car and then they walked towards the stable block.
“Does my bum look big in these jodhpurs?” Tamsin asked not really happy with the fit
“No” Amanda replied after having a look
Tamsin seemed happy with her reply
“Your arse looks big in whatever you wear, it’s not the jodhpurs” Amanda added and ran off laughing
“You cheeky cow” Tam said chasing after her “we can’t all be little miss bony butt”
It had been such a beautiful morning that they rode considerably further and longer than they originally intended.
On the way back to the stables they decided to walk the horse’s part of the way to rest them a little.
So they were walking down the northern perimeter road and both girls were spattered in mud.
They were just passing the gate of Chapel House as Ellen Huston was just getting out of her car.
She gave them a wave and they waved back and then there was a bit of a commotion ahead of them and two men suddenly appeared from the woods causing Amanda’s horse to rear up.
“Whoa! Steady old thing” she said as she tried to calm him down
Tamsin took hold of her horse and lead him aside by the bridle.
“Alright” Amanda said patting the horse’s neck
Once she had complete control and order had been restored one of the men said
“We’re terribly sorry”
“We didn’t mean to startle you” said the other one
“No harm done” Amanda responded and as she turned around she added
“Good heavens”
It was at that point that Tamsin also looked at their bushwhackers
“Damn I think I’m seeing double” she said
What they were actually seeing were twins, identical twins,
Around thirty five years old, over six feet tall, pleasant looking with short sandy hair.
“Identical twins” Amanda said
“Ian Bishop” the first one said
“Dave” added the other
“Amanda Flanders” she said
“And Tamsin Pearce” Tammy chimed in
“We’re not quite identical” Ian said and lifted the hair away from his forehead to reveal a horizontal 4 inch scar
“I got him with a Cricket bat when we were seven” Dave confessed proudly and Amanda thought the scar was rather fetching.
“I don’t think they recognize us” Tamsin said
“Really?” she said and the two men looked puzzled
“I’m sorry should we know you?” Ian asked
“Well we’ve never met” Tamsin replied enigmatically
“Are you famous then?” Dave asked
“A bit famous yes” Amanda admitted
“We’re actresses”
That revelation left them unmoved and after five minutes of listing their extensive credits it appeared that they didn’t watch TV or read the tabloids.
“What about films?” Tamsin asked “Do you watch films?”
“Yes we do watch films” Ian said
“Excellent” Amanda said
“But” Dave qualified “We tend to watch 30s and 40s films Barbara Stanwyck, James Stewart, Clark Gable, and Carole Lombard”
“No we weren’t in any of those” Tamsin said
(Part 03)
They had been walking and talking and they were soon approaching the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel.
“So what do you two do for a living?” Amanda asked
“We are academics” Ian said
“Oh?”
“Yes from Abbottsford University” he added
“So you’re geeks” Tamsin said
“Science geeks” Dave accepted
“Even worse than that we are Christian Science geeks” Ian added
“Though not Christian Scientists in the rather more disturbing and sinister sense of the term”
“I’m glad to hear it” Amanda said and they were all laughing when she asked
“So why are you at Teardrop?”
“We’re surveying the Chapel site” Ian said
“Are you staying at the Lodge?” Tamsin asked nodding in its direction
“Yes” Dave said “We’re sorry again for startling you both”
“Perhaps we could take you for coffee by way of an apology?” Ian suggested
“Well we need to get these old fellas back stable to the and rub them down” Amanda explained as she mounted her horse “But why not come to us for lunch”
“That’s very kind of you” he said “So yes”
“Good its Forest Lodge the third house along from the Hotel” Amanda said “About 1.30 ok for you?”
“Yes perfect” They both said
Amanda and Tamsin rode back to the stables and rubbed down and groomed the horses before driving back to Forest Lodge via Tamsin’s flat so she could pick up a change of clothes.
“Hi Peter” Amanda said as they walked into the house
“We have a couple of archaeologists coming for lunch”
“Oh ok” he said
“I’m going up to get changed” Amanda said and whispered something to Peter and he nodded, then a few moments later he said
“Are you sure you should be wearing Jodhpurs with your figure Tam?”
“Did she tell you to say that?” Tamsin yelled “you’re a pig Peter Lutchford”
Then she shouted up the stairs
“And so is your sister”
“You look gorgeous as usual” he said and hugged her
“Amanda’s just jealous because she’s all skin and bone”
“Yes she is isn’t she?” Tamsin agreed
“Yes, she looks like she’s been through a famine” he said “And you look like you caused it”
As soon as the last word passed his lips Peter ran and Tamsin chased him through the kitchen and out onto the patio and then across the lawn and out through the side gate just as the Bishops were walking down the drive.
“You can’t hit me, I think our guests have arrived” Peter said
“I’ll get you later” Tamsin said
“Ian and David Bishop this is...”
“Peter Lutchford” David said shaking his hand warmly “very pleased to meet you sir”
“It’s an honour sir” David said and took over the hand shaking
“Call me Peter” he said “only the tax man calls me sir”
“Oh I see” Tamsin said “you recognise a crusty old film director but you didn’t know who the gorgeous multi-talented actresses were”
“That’s because Peter directed a series of historical documentaries which were extraordinary and ground breaking”
“Is that an in joke in your profession?” Amanda asked suddenly appearing in a lemon coloured dress.
“Would you believe it Mand they recognised Peter”
“Typical archaeologists” Amanda said
“They probably recognised him because he’s an old fossil”
The girls just fell about laughing
“Come on in you two I need some moral support” Peter said
(Part 04)
Tamsin had also been upstairs to change and had returned wearing a summer dress and joined the others sitting on the patio as Peter said
“So Amanda tells me you’re academic’s doing something up at the Chapel”
“I think we may have slightly mislead them we are actually Professors from Abbottsford University”
“You’re Professors?” Tamsin said
“Yes Archaeology Professors” Dave explained
“Aren’t you a bit young for that?” Peter asked
“Leave them alone Methuselah” Amanda said
“I was only saying”
“We are older than we look” Ian said
“I thought you were geeks” Amanda said “But you’re actually super geeks”
“Well Professors, so what is it you’re doing at the Chapel?” Peter asked
“Initially we’re going to survey the site using GPR” Ian said
“In non-geek please Prof” Amanda said
“Sorry Ground Penetrating Radar”
“We’ve been wanting to do a survey of the site for a number of years, but we could never get approval from the preservation society”
“That would have been Daniel Travers” Peter said
“Indeed Mr Travers wasn’t at all keen” Ian added
“He could be a difficult man” Peter said
“We applaud his passion for the Chapel and his fervent desire to protect it, he was a good man” Dave
“Did you ever meet him?” Amanda asked
“Yes several times and his wife Winnie” Ian replied
“She was a marvellous woman”
“She always fed us cake” Dave said
“Yes she was a diamond” Peter agreed
“We were very sad to hear they had both passed”
Dave added
There was a brief break for lunch during which the enthusiastic Bishop Brothers told them the unabridged legend of Olwen’s Chapel and the Christian Lady who persuaded her husband the pagan King to grant her permission to build a secret Chapel in the forest.
This was followed by a brief period of non geeky conversation and then Ian continued
“We won’t be digging anywhere on the site until we thoroughly analyse the results of the GPR”
“The ground penetrating doodah” Tamsin said helpfully
“So what are you hoping to find?” Peter asked
“Well with us being archaeologists and Christians, the Chapel is particularly close to our hearts and we believe through our research that there was a lot more to the Chapel than the Victorians discovered” Dave said
“We believe there is a lot more to the sight than an old wooden Church and a few stones, so we will bring in the ground penetrating doodah to find her secrets over the next week or so”
Ian explained
“And if the radar doesn’t confirm your theory?” Peter said
“Then we will leave it as we found it” Dave said
Over the next few days the weather turned more than a little inclement so Amanda and Tamsin set themselves up in the latter’s flat to do some writing.
But ideas that had come to them so readily on studio sets or in theatre dressing rooms failed to materialise when they had plenty of time to expand upon them.
They pored over the copious notes in their numerous note books but they could do nothing with any of them.
After three days inside Tammy’s flat banging their heads against a brick wall the weather brightened up considerably so they set up on the patio at Forest Lodge.
But even the change of scene and some lovely June sunshine failed to energise their brain cells.
“Do you think we’ve bitten off more than we can chew?” Tamsin said
“No I don’t” Amanda replied “We can do this”
“Are you sure?”
“I know we are just as capable as most of those spotty graduates, with no life experience who churn out that mindless rubbish for the soaps” said Amanda
“But we’ve been at it for four days and we don’t even have a synopsis” Tamsin said
“We just need the hook, the idea, and once we have that we’ll be away” she said confidently
(Part 05)
They broke for lunch and then two hours later they still hadn’t made a beginning.
“Come on let’s go for a walk and get inspired” Amanda said positively.
“Thank God you’re so sensible”
“It’s a blessing and a curse” She said
They walked along the southern perimeter road and went anticlockwise around the lake.
“We should choose something we know about” Amanda suggested “Something familiar to us”
“Acting” said Tam
“Possibly”
“Teardrop then” she said “We know about that and you grew up here”
“Well that’s a good starting place” Amanda agreed
“What about characters?”
“Well we both know plenty of those” Tamsin said and laughed
As they passed each house in turn they proposed increasingly larger than life and flamboyant back stories for the occupants.
When they reached the eastern end of the Lake they began the uphill section leading up to the cliff top and as they were on the downhill stretch of the northern road Tamsin suddenly suggested
“Let’s go and see what the yummy professors are up to”
“Yummy Professors?” Amanda questioned mockingly
“Don’t you give me that” Tam said “I saw the way you were looking at the one with the scar, and the way you hung on his every word”
“I don’t know what you mean” she said innocently “I was merely being polite”
“Poppycock” Tamsin exclaimed
“And I’m not the one who called them yummy” Amanda pointed out
“They are nice though” she added
“Yes they are aren’t they” Tamsin agreed
“But apart from being yummy” Amanda said
“I think it’s really cool that they have no idea who we are”
“I know” Tam agreed “isn’t it brilliant”
“It’s so refreshing” Amanda added
“I really hate it when I go on a date and they know more about me than I do” Tam said
“Me too” Amanda agreed “I particularly dislike it when they correct you”
“I know that’s so annoying” Tam concurred
“So it will be nice to go out with the Profs and tell them about ourselves”
“They might google us” Amanda said
“Oh I do hope so” Tam replied
“You dirty mare” she said and then emitted a very dirty chuckle
“Shall we then?” Tamsin asked
“Absolutely”
As they got close to the path to the Chapel a thought suddenly dawned on Amanda
“Hang on we don’t even know if they’re interested in us, they might prefer geeky girls, brainiacs”
“Nonsense” Tamsin said “We’re gorgeous”
“But is that enough for them?” Amanda asked doubtfully
“Don’t start back peddling now” Tamsin said forcefully “we are enough for any man”
“You’re absolutely right” she agreed “what was I thinking? Let’s go”
They walked along the path and emerged to find the two yummy Professors engaged in good humoured conversation with a local man Colin McCredie.
Colin was a small thin man in his 60s and was the St Mary’s Church Warden and more importantly as far as Olwen’s Chapel was concerned was the Chairman of the Preservation Society.
“Well I’ll convene an emergency meeting of the full committee for tomorrow evening” he said “so you can present your findings”
“Excellent” Ian Bishop said shaking his hand and then Dave did the same before he turned and headed towards the path where the girls were stood.
“Good afternoon ladies” he said and touched the brim of his hat
“Hello Mr McCredie” Amanda said and Tamsin smiled, then they walked towards the Bishops
“Its good news then?” Amanda said as they approached
“Oh hello, yes it’s very good news” Ian said
“So you found what you were looking for?” Tamsin said clearly directing her inquiry to Dave Bishop.
“Yes indeed” he replied “and more”
“How intriguing” Tamsin said “do tell?”
“Well that path that you came in on, which has been used as the path to the Chapel since the Victorians rediscovered the site, was not the one used by Olwen and her fellow worshipers more than a thousand years ago” Dave said “And…”
“And why don’t we tell you the rest over dinner tonight?” Ian interrupted
“What a great idea” he agreed
“That would be lovely” Tamsin replied but Ian’s eyes were firmly on Amanda.
“Yes thank you” she said directly to him
“Great we’ll pick you up at 7.30am” Dave suggested
“It’s probably better if we pick you up” Tamsin suggested
“I live at the other end of the lake”
“Oh ok” he said
(Part 06)
Tamsin drove to Amanda’s and then picked up the Bishops from the Shallowfield Lodge.
The Professors had booked a table at the Phoenix Restaurant in Shallowfield.
As they sat drinking their aperitif’s the yummy Professors took turns telling them the story of the Chapel and how they secretly cleared a large area of forest and built a small timber Chapel to Olwen’s specific design with only a small number of trusted woodsman knowing what was being built in the woods.
Stones brought from Thanet Island were placed around the outline of the building, and the Lindisfarne Altar stone was given pride of place.
While they ate their starters they elaborated on what they had since discovered, local flag stones formed the floor and there was also a large baptismal bowl set into the floor on one side of the transept where Olwen’s husband King Ryce and their children were baptized.
“The baptismal water was drawn from a natural spring besides the clearing, which the faithful believed only sprang forth when the church was completed” Ian said
“That’s amazing” Tamsin said “and you found all that out with the ground thingy doodah?”
“And about 10 years of research” Dave said
“So how old was Olwen when she married the King?” Amanda asked
“She was 17” Ian replied “that was in 645”
“Wow she sounds like she was a remarkable woman” she said
“We should right her story Tam”
“I think you’re right” she agreed
“Writing?” Dave asked confused “We thought you were actors”
“We are” Amanda replied “But we’ve got the summer off and thought we would do some writing”
“Oh I see” Ian said
“It will give us something to fall back on when our looks start to fade”
“You won’t have to worry about that for a very long time” Ian said
“Oh thank you” she responded, with a girlie giggle and blushed
When the main course arrived and Amanda had stopped blushing she asked
“So what happens after you see the committee tomorrow?”
“We pack up and return to Abbottsford” Dave said
“What? You’re leaving?” Amanda said barely able to hide her disappointment
“What if they say yes, you can excavate?” Tamsin asked
“We fully expect that they will say yes” Ian explained “Which is why we need to go back”
“I don’t understand” Amanda asked
“Well we need different equipment and we need help on the ground” he said “so we need to recruit those students who aren’t already going away for summer”
“Some of whom may already have signed up for other digs, so we need to persuade them that our dig is more significant”
“So how long will you be gone?” Amanda asked
“Well I would say at the very least” Ian mused “two weeks”
“Well that’s alright then” she said and laughed
After that the conversation turned to more 21st century topics and Tamsin was easily persuaded to relinquish her designated driver status so after the meal was over and the bill was settled they all tottered off in the direction of the lake.
They walked arm in arm more out of necessity than familiarity as none of them were steady enough on their feet to go solo.
But when they reached the Hotel there was a collective clearing of the heads to facilitate very satisfactory good night kisses.
The two actresses proceeded on to Forest Lodge alone and after about 20 yards they looked at each other and said in unison “Yummy”
The Bishop boys stood by the Hotel entrance and looked on as the girls walked up the Lane and although they heard their laughter they didn’t hear what they had said.
(Part 07)
Being the worse for drink Tamsin stayed the night with Amanda but despite their condition the next morning they appeared downstairs bright and early to start work.
Peter went into Shallowfield and got Tamsin’s car from the restaurant just in case she was still over the limit, which she probably was.
So with a mug of black coffee each they sat out on the patio in their pyjamas and started writing and now that they had their subject matter the words just flowed.
“Well that’s a respectable start” Amanda said
“Yes it is” Tamsin agreed “of course you do realise we will need regular input from the Profs”
“How is it you manage to make everything sound dirty” Amanda asked
“It’s just a knack” she replied
The writing went so well that they were still in their night clothes when Peter made them omelettes for lunch and they still hadn’t dressed in time for afternoon tea.
“Right you pair of mingers” Peter said “as soon as you’ve finished your tea go and get dressed”
“Ok bossy” Amanda said “What’s the rush”
“I’m burning dead meat for dinner” he replied “and we have company”
She didn’t bother asking who the guests were as there were always people at the house, from the studio or the production company.
Peter would tell her if it was someone she wanted to avoid but as he didn’t mention anything she didn’t bother asking.
“Ok I’m on my way” she said obediently “read this while I’m getting changed” she said and handed him her laptop.
“I’d better go home and change, I’ve exhausted my clean clothes stash” Tamsin said “I presume I am invited”
“Of course you are, just wear something nice, wear a dress, something flattering on the hips” he said and chuckled
“I really hate you Peter Lutchford” she said and kissed his forehead and headed into the house “Thanks for picking up the car”
Peter’s wife Claire came home from the Health Centre at about six o’clock and her husband greeted her with a large gin and tonic
“Bless you darling” she said and took the drink and kissed him
“Do I have time for a soak?” she asked with eyes that said “please say yes”
“Of course” he replied “everything is prepared, you have two hours before our guests arrive”
“I love you” she said and kissed him
“I love you too now off you go" he urged and patted her bum I’ll bring you another drink in half an hour and if you’re lucky I’ll rub your back”
“Ok darling” she said as she walked away
Peter took the drink up and was gone for an hour so he started burning the meat at about seven thirty
“Dinner will be a little late” he said to Amanda “as the doctor insisted on giving me a thorough examination”
“Eew Oooh” she responded I hope you’ve washed your hands
Neither Tamsin nor Amanda particularly glammed up for the evening but they were both perfumed and powdered and wearing summer dresses.
There was a little flair in Tammy’s but she didn’t need to flatter her hips because she had a nice figure and Peter knew that and she knew he knew it, it was just a game they played.
“You look lovely” he said to Amanda
“Thank you brother dear” she replied and looked across at her friend
Who looked up and was waiting for his next sentence
“It’s a shame Tam didn’t make an effort”
(Part 08)
Amanda’s laptop was on the table and as she opened it Peter said
“Well done you two, that’s really good”
“Did you read it?” She asked
“Yes I did”
“So what did you think? Be honest” Amanda asked
“Suffice is to say you have my attention” Peter replied
“That’s good right?” Tamsin asked
“Yes I liked it very much” he assured her
“The character studies are good as is the general synopsis”
The girls looked at each other and smiled
“But I would just caution you in regard to historical accuracy” he said “and I would strongly recommend you speak to some experts in the field”
“Ok” they both said
“Like them” he added and got up
“Good to see you” Peter said let me get you both a drink.
If they had realised the yummy professors were coming they would have glammed up, but it was too late at that point.
“We didn’t know you were coming” Amanda said and kissed Ian while Tamsin followed suit with Dave.
“Haven’t you got a meeting with Mr McCredie’s society?” she asked
“We’ve had it” Dave said
“What do you mean?” Tam asked
“We’ve had the meeting” he said “it only took ten minutes and they gave us the green light”
“That’s fantastic news” they said in unison and took the opportunity to kiss them again which was when Claire arrived.
“Ah darling” Peter said “Come and meet the Professors Bishop”
“Ian and Dave” he said “this is my wife Claire”
With the introductions done, Peter had to adjourn to the coalface as he called it, the BBQ to the uninitiated, while Claire dispensed drinks and spoke with Dave and Tamsin.
Ian and Amanda ambled away and sat at the table on the lawn.
“So what is it you need expert help with?” Ian asked
“Peter was just saying you needed help with something”
“Well Tamsin and I have decided to write a screen play about Olwen” she said
“In fact we have already started it”
Ian was unresponsive.
“You look doubtful” Amanda
“Well history isn’t often portrayed well by the arts” Ian explained
“Yes but we have the extraordinary and ground breaking Peter Lutchford directing” she said
“Well that’s a plus” he agreed
“I thought we, the writers, would probably require some pretty close collaboration with you, the history geeks”
“Well we in the realms of academe are always happy to collaborate in the interest of better understanding between Art and History”
“Good answer Professor” Amanda said
When it got to ten o’clock Claire excused herself.
“I’m sorry to be such a wet blanket” she said “but I have an early start in the morning”
The Bishops looked at their watches and apologised profusely for imposing on their hospitality and stood up.
“No please don’t go on my account” she insisted “Stay and keep the girls company”
She then kissed them all and went up to bed.
Ten minutes later Peter got up and said
“I’ll just go and tuck her in”
He never returned, but Amanda didn’t really expected him to, it was their way of being tactful.
Although she had notice that Peter was particularly fond of tucking Claire in.
At the end of the evening, which was sometime after midnight, Amanda and Tamsin escorted their respective twin to the side gate.
Tamsin came to a halt just the other side of it and she smiled sheepishly at Amanda as she walked past and on up the drive a little way.
When she stopped and glanced back Dave and Tam were already kissing.
Amanda wasn’t as bold as that.
“So how long will you be away?” she asked already knowing the answer
“At least two weeks” he replied
“But you can ring me any time”
“I may have to phone you a lot” she said
“I’m counting on it” he replied and then he could resist no more and kissed her.
Ian and Dave were on the Chapel site on and off for the two years following their first meeting that summer, while the girls split their time between acting and writing.
Once the screen play for Olwen’s Story was completed the flood gates opened and a tsunami of ideas flooded out of them.
Peter Lutchford directed and his company produced it and it was to be the first of many collaborations, the next one was about a Fugitive Cavalier.
As the years went by they spent more and more of their time writing and less and less acting although there was always a cameo for them in a Teardrop production whenever they wanted it.
And the Bishop Brothers continued to visit Teardrop Lake long after the work was completed on the Chapel because that was where their wives lived.
Monday, 6 February 2017
Love Letters in the Library
I entered the musty library,
Of the once great house
With its leather upholstered chairs
And oak panelled walls,
Instantly feeling at home,
So I took a seat in a chesterfield beside the fire
And in comfort I began to read
But my chosen reading was not
One of the myriad of leather bound tomes
That filled the oak shelves from floor to ceiling
Nor a rare first edition, of which there were many,
I had my choice of all the classics
With their gold embossed titles
But my selection was a collection of letters
Neatly tied in faded red ribbons
And as I began to read them
They took my breath away
For each beautifully hand written page
Was part of a remarkable love story
About a most extraordinary couple
Whose depth of love was evident
In every eloquent syllable.
As I read on, their love affair
Was revealed to me as a most exceptional love story
For this lovingly devoted couple
Who billed and cooed in copperplate
On every scented page and shared their hearts love
In unguarded detail, had never met
For they had begun to write
In the innocence of childhood
As pen pals, for a project set by School
It was a chore that had to be done
But it didn’t remain burdensome
Yet even though they had never met
Their love was evident, in fact it was palpable
In their intimate personnel correspondence,
No that’s not what it was
Correspondence did not in any form
Convey the true meaning of their substance.
The tangibility was in their Love letters
That’s the only way to say it
The flowery words of an affaire d’amour
Echoed in the calligraphy on every page
Each revealing billet doux
More affectionate, romantic and intimate
Than its passionate predecessor
They billed and cooed on every page
Each lovingly constructed sentence
Heavily laced with innuendo
And dripped with sensual longing,
Subtle yet explicit at the same time
Flavoured with delicious nuances
Flirtatious and lustful
Romantic and affectionate
A love of such perfect purity,
Not for its pureness of thought
But for the absence of any hope of physicality
For their love was star-crossed
She was an invalid, bed ridden
Stricken with polio as a child
While he was a subject of an enemy state
And because their two nations were at war
She couldn’t go to him even if her health permitted
And he was unable to go to her
For fear of capture and imprisonment
So they could never meet, would never meet
And they were content in that fact
For their love transcended the physical
So they made love via their sweet missives
A love that never faded or faltered
In an affair lasting more than forty years
Which only ended with his death
The one and only public acknowledgement
Of the lifelong love affair, was in his will
When he expressed as his dying wish
That her letters, which were so precious
To him and cherished during his life
Should be returned to his love
So that they at least should lie together
She was so broken hearted at the news
That her cherished lover had left the world
She died a week after receiving them
And they could be united at last
Of the once great house
With its leather upholstered chairs
And oak panelled walls,
Instantly feeling at home,
So I took a seat in a chesterfield beside the fire
And in comfort I began to read
But my chosen reading was not
One of the myriad of leather bound tomes
That filled the oak shelves from floor to ceiling
Nor a rare first edition, of which there were many,
I had my choice of all the classics
With their gold embossed titles
But my selection was a collection of letters
Neatly tied in faded red ribbons
And as I began to read them
They took my breath away
For each beautifully hand written page
Was part of a remarkable love story
About a most extraordinary couple
Whose depth of love was evident
In every eloquent syllable.
As I read on, their love affair
Was revealed to me as a most exceptional love story
For this lovingly devoted couple
Who billed and cooed in copperplate
On every scented page and shared their hearts love
In unguarded detail, had never met
For they had begun to write
In the innocence of childhood
As pen pals, for a project set by School
It was a chore that had to be done
But it didn’t remain burdensome
Yet even though they had never met
Their love was evident, in fact it was palpable
In their intimate personnel correspondence,
No that’s not what it was
Correspondence did not in any form
Convey the true meaning of their substance.
The tangibility was in their Love letters
That’s the only way to say it
The flowery words of an affaire d’amour
Echoed in the calligraphy on every page
Each revealing billet doux
More affectionate, romantic and intimate
Than its passionate predecessor
They billed and cooed on every page
Each lovingly constructed sentence
Heavily laced with innuendo
And dripped with sensual longing,
Subtle yet explicit at the same time
Flavoured with delicious nuances
Flirtatious and lustful
Romantic and affectionate
A love of such perfect purity,
Not for its pureness of thought
But for the absence of any hope of physicality
For their love was star-crossed
She was an invalid, bed ridden
Stricken with polio as a child
While he was a subject of an enemy state
And because their two nations were at war
She couldn’t go to him even if her health permitted
And he was unable to go to her
For fear of capture and imprisonment
So they could never meet, would never meet
And they were content in that fact
For their love transcended the physical
So they made love via their sweet missives
A love that never faded or faltered
In an affair lasting more than forty years
Which only ended with his death
The one and only public acknowledgement
Of the lifelong love affair, was in his will
When he expressed as his dying wish
That her letters, which were so precious
To him and cherished during his life
Should be returned to his love
So that they at least should lie together
She was so broken hearted at the news
That her cherished lover had left the world
She died a week after receiving them
And they could be united at last
Love Collection # 8
EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD (4)
From the Bell Rock Light House
And the North Sea swells
To the Newfoundland grand banks
Were the hardy seamen dwell
I will follow you to the ends of the earth
Because you’re my special mademoiselle
EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD (5)
I have stood in view of the Mongolian steppes
I have stood upon the Pacific Ocean shore
I have stood on Virginias Blue Ridge Mountains
I have looked from Cape St Vincent in awe
I have seen many things in my long life
It is my plan to live to see many more
But I know I will never see more beauty
Now I stand beside you of that I’m sure
PLUVIAL SEATTLE
I am a sun worshipper by nature
An inclement climate doesn’t suit
But I love you with all my heart
You’re pretty and witty and cute
But now you’re off to Washington
You have decided to totally uproot
And relocate to Seattle of all places
A place of frequent rain by repute
So should I trade the Californian Sun?
For the long wet winter commutes
I worship you more than the sun
You’re pretty and witty and cute
So even Seattle’s pluvial reputation
Will not deter me from pursuit
EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD (6)
I have stood by the Anatolian salt springs
I have stood upon Lake Victoria’s shore
I have stood in the Himalayan Mountains
I have looked upon St Helens eruption in awe
I have seen many things in my long life
It is my plan to live to see many more
But I know I will never see more beauty
Now I stand beside you of that I’m sure
CAUGHT IN THAT FIRST INSTANT
Caught in that first instant,
That first take, from a distance
There appeared from the Woodlands edge
A kind of low misty apparition
Almost like a cloud of drifting smoke
Emerging from the tree line
Of course when I got closer I realised
It was just the flowering Hawthorn
STAR-CROSSED WALKERS
A star-crossed couple in the park,
Walking hand in hand in the dark
They don’t care about wind and snow
They have a love to keep them aglow
I TRIED
I tried to win your heart
With every step and stride
With my every waking breath
My troth I fervently plied
Wearing my heart on my sleeve
I let my heart be my guide
But “never in this world”
You disdainfully replied
You killed my love
With your callous amouricide
And you left me broken
When you cast me aside
I gambled and failed
And there was no place to hide
But I didn’t just try and fail
Sadly I tried and died
IT TOOK A MINUTE
It took a minute, or less,
To pick you from the crowd
Within an hour, I truly knew
What a special person you were
By the end of that first day
I had fallen in love with you
Now at the end of your last day I know
It will take a lifetime to forget you
From the Bell Rock Light House
And the North Sea swells
To the Newfoundland grand banks
Were the hardy seamen dwell
I will follow you to the ends of the earth
Because you’re my special mademoiselle
EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD (5)
I have stood in view of the Mongolian steppes
I have stood upon the Pacific Ocean shore
I have stood on Virginias Blue Ridge Mountains
I have looked from Cape St Vincent in awe
I have seen many things in my long life
It is my plan to live to see many more
But I know I will never see more beauty
Now I stand beside you of that I’m sure
PLUVIAL SEATTLE
I am a sun worshipper by nature
An inclement climate doesn’t suit
But I love you with all my heart
You’re pretty and witty and cute
But now you’re off to Washington
You have decided to totally uproot
And relocate to Seattle of all places
A place of frequent rain by repute
So should I trade the Californian Sun?
For the long wet winter commutes
I worship you more than the sun
You’re pretty and witty and cute
So even Seattle’s pluvial reputation
Will not deter me from pursuit
EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD (6)
I have stood by the Anatolian salt springs
I have stood upon Lake Victoria’s shore
I have stood in the Himalayan Mountains
I have looked upon St Helens eruption in awe
I have seen many things in my long life
It is my plan to live to see many more
But I know I will never see more beauty
Now I stand beside you of that I’m sure
CAUGHT IN THAT FIRST INSTANT
Caught in that first instant,
That first take, from a distance
There appeared from the Woodlands edge
A kind of low misty apparition
Almost like a cloud of drifting smoke
Emerging from the tree line
Of course when I got closer I realised
It was just the flowering Hawthorn
STAR-CROSSED WALKERS
A star-crossed couple in the park,
Walking hand in hand in the dark
They don’t care about wind and snow
They have a love to keep them aglow
I TRIED
I tried to win your heart
With every step and stride
With my every waking breath
My troth I fervently plied
Wearing my heart on my sleeve
I let my heart be my guide
But “never in this world”
You disdainfully replied
You killed my love
With your callous amouricide
And you left me broken
When you cast me aside
I gambled and failed
And there was no place to hide
But I didn’t just try and fail
Sadly I tried and died
IT TOOK A MINUTE
It took a minute, or less,
To pick you from the crowd
Within an hour, I truly knew
What a special person you were
By the end of that first day
I had fallen in love with you
Now at the end of your last day I know
It will take a lifetime to forget you
Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (33) A New Woman
(Part 01)
It was a successful organization that district nurse Elena Fedeli joined on a bitter cold January morning along with another new nurse named Harriet Robinson.
It was two years to the day after Dr Claire Andrews took over The Shallowfield Surgery and in that short time she and her business partner Olivia Adamson had transformed it into the Dancingdean Heath Centre, which necessitated the expansion of staff numbers.
However while things had been going well for Claire and Olivia in the two years they had been in Shallowfield.
It had been quite a different story in those two years for Elena, despite the fact that they began with her meeting the man that within a few weeks she would be in love with.
She was working at St Bernadette’s Covent Hospital in Abbeyvale, although in truth it was more of a hospice, there were a number of wards for convalescents but mainly it was palliative care.
Which she didn’t mind because she was good at her job and she was a caring soul.
It was at the end of her shift on a winter’s night and she was on her way home.
She was taking a shortcut through the hospital garden when she found Dave McAteer sitting alone in the dark.
It was snowing and she was walking along lost in her thoughts when she suddenly saw something moving in her peripheral vision which made her jump then he spotted her and let out an involuntary yelp.
Which resulted in Elena subsequently letting out a scream.
“Oh Shit” she said in very un-convent like language.
The reason he was sitting in the dark on a cold winter’s night was that he had just received the worse possible news about his mother.
Elena was a kind and caring nurse so despite the bitter cold night and the falling snow she sat with him.
And they smoked a cigarette and drank from a hip flask as they chatted in the snow.
After about forty minutes the snow began falling harder and it was getting colder when he asked.
“Are you off duty?”
“Yes” she replied “I’m done for the day”
“Well I’m chilled to the bone” He said “do you fancy getting something to eat?”
“Yes, that would be nice” she replied and a broad smile crossed her face
It was a kind face with a delicate smile and her coloring clearly betrayed her Mediterranean ancestry and he smiled back at her.
But when he offered and she accepted neither of them expected it to be anything other than a mutually companionable meal.
They certainly weren’t looking for anything else.
Elena Fedeli had been disappointed by love too many times in her 32 years to walk into another potential disaster with a man who had a very difficult and fraught time ahead.
Dave had also been through the mill relationship wise and wanted no more than to be there for his mother every step of the way until she passed.
With all that said they promptly went and fell in love.
More than two years on with the benefit of hind sight it was disaster waiting to happen.
Apart from the fact his mother was dying by inches before his eyes there were other aspect of their lives which were not compatible.
Dave was a lapsed Catholic in fact he was a lapsed Christian while she was a practicing Anglican and had a very deep faith.
He worked 9 to 5 for an insurance company while she was a nurse who worked shifts and there was the age difference he was three years her junior.
But despite their differences they really did love each other and there was a time that she thought it might even lead to marriage.
(Part 02)
They had met under difficult circumstances with her being one of the palliative care nurses caring for his terminally ill mother.
Then when the day came that his mother died he leant on her.
In fact he leant on her a lot and perhaps foolishly she let him do so more than she should have.
But it did hit him hard, and his mum was the last relative he had left.
The biggest problem was that his faith which had been crumbling over a number of years before they met had disintegrated altogether and that became a problem between them.
She tried to help and support him but she had a deep and sustaining faith.
Her faith was as strong as ever, if not stronger, but he had none and it drove a wedge between them and the resulting chasm between them could not be reconciled.
Dave losing his faith was not in itself a problem, she could have lived with that, she could have dealt with that.
But what she couldn’t live with in any way shape or form was that he resented her relationship with God and that she could not live with.
After his mum died he blamed everyone and everything except the cancer.
In the end, for the sake of her sanity she had to make a hard decision, to stop being his crutch and to leave him to wallow in self-pity.
They were together for two years before they split up which in the end they did quite amicably and then she lived alone for six months before she had an epiphany.
She decided to change everything in her life, firstly she quit smoking and when she had licked that she went teetotal.
With a clear head and clearing lungs she took up running although in truth the running only lasted a week when she reverted to walking.
She figured if that went well enough she would then start walking faster.
And finally she applied for a new job.
Teardrop Lake and the surrounding woodland was privately owned and divided into twelve parcels each with one significant dwelling although there were a number of cottages dotted around the woodland.
Elena moved into number 3 Folly Cottages just before Christmas, the previous occupant was one of her new bosses Olivia Shenton who now lived at the Vicarage in Shallowfield with her husband and she fell in love with the cottage and its location instantly.
Originally there were six dwellings but after conversion there were now three terraced cottages and they were situated high above the northern perimeter road in a rocky glade.
The two end ones had two bedroom and the one in the middle had one.
Once upon a time they were home to peasants who worked the woods but now the peasantry couldn’t afford to live anywhere near the lake.
The view of the lake was spectacular although they couldn’t see it all or discern the teardrop shape that gave the lake its name. But the view of the surrounding ancient woodland of the Dancingdean Forest was majestic.
Although much of the modest body of water was obscured from view it was still quite beautiful and relatively unspoilt which was why the she instantly fell in love with the place, and as there was snow on the ground the scene was very picturesque.
It was both idyllic and peaceful, there was little or no noise pollution and she had been reliably informed that although the lake was used there were no speed boats or jet skis, only rowing boats, canoes, dinghies and skiffs.
(Part 03)
Fortunately Elena was not the only new starter at the health centre or the only newbie to the area.
Harriet Robinson who was the new phlebotomist moved into number 1 a couple of days before her.
However whereas Elena’s move had been out of choice because she was looking for a change Harriet’s had been forced upon her due to cost cutting measures.
As they both moved in before Christmas and weren’t due to start work until the New Year and as they were neighbours the two new girls gravitated towards each other especially as Harriet’s University Professor husband, Nathan, was only around at the weekend for the first week until the end of the semester.
Eva Christodoulou and Siti Shahara, who lived in number 2, also worked at the health centre, volunteered to show the new girls around and help them get their bearings and settle in.
She was dreading that first Christmas in a new place without Dave, she thought that all that time on her own would drive her crazy.
But she needn’t have worried for a second the mad girls in number 2 made sure she wasn’t sad or lonely and didn’t give her a minute to think.
She did find herself missing him in her quieter moments though.
After a very enjoyable first Christmas in her new home Elena was really pleased that she wasn’t starting the new job on her own and she knew Harriet felt the same way.
They both slotted right in at the Heath Centre and they soon found that the rest of the staff were just as friendly as their new neighbours were.
Elena loved her job from the first moment she walked through the doors and she loved living on the Lake even more.
She had continued on her healthy approach to life and walked a circuit of the lake every morning except the weekends, on Saturdays she split her time between housework and exploring the forest and Sundays after she’d attended church in the morning she watched old films on TV in the afternoon, after all she was 35 by then.
Apart from enjoying the Lake and its environs she was fast becoming a regular part of Church life in Shallowfield and along with Harriet where in full voice when on Easter Sunday when her neighbour Nathan Robinson debuted as Choir master.
After Easter, life continued in much the same way until the summer festivities filled the calendar.
It began as it did every year on Teardrop Lake with Lynn Cooper’s birthday BBQ at Coopers Villa on the first of May and ended at the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel in September for Rob and Sheryl Browns Wedding Anniversary party.
It had been such a busy summer with the seemingly endless round of Hog Roasts and BBQ’s, parties and picnics that it wasn’t until summer drifted relentlessly into autumn that loneliness struck her.
Although if truth be told since she had split up with Dave she had not been short of admirers so her loneliness was not for want of an offer.
Her loneliness was so heartfelt because she missed Dave because at the end of the day she still in love with him.
There were other distractions in September such as
Olivia Shenton’s Wedding Anniversary and Chantelle Dooney’s birthday and Siti Shahara’s was in October, but overall not enough.
Throughout October at the health centre the main topic of conversation was the upcoming Lutchford’s Annual Fancy Dress Halloween party at Forest Lodge, to which all the staff were invited.
The talk was primarily of what costumes would be worn but more interestingly the gossip was mainly about past misdemeanours.
(Part 04)
Although Elena was not a Catholic her years spent at the convent hospital exposed her to what she considered a more dignified way to spend Halloween than dressing up in a ridiculous costume and drinking so much you couldn’t remember if you enjoyed yourself or not.
So she choose to decline the invitation to the Halloween party and chose instead to attend the Halloween celebrations at St Mary’s.
Everyone at the health centre apart from Elena and the Vicar’s wife Olivia were going to the Halloween Party at the Lutchford’s so the two of them left work early for the Church.
The evening began with a short children’s service followed by a Children’s party in the church hall which included music and games and of course sweets.
After the parents and children had gone Elena stayed on to help Olivia and Ben and the other helpers to clear away.
“Come and have supper with us” Olivia said when they were done “its only bread and soup”
“No I wouldn’t want to intrude” Elena said
“Nonsense” the Vicar said “We insist”
“In that case then, thank you” she conceded
As they sat eating homemade soup and bread in the Vicarage Olivia asked
“So will you be lighting a candle tonight?”
“Yes” she replied
“Might I ask for whom?” she asked
“My parents” Elena replied “And someone who isn’t dead yet”
“Ok” Olivia said “that’s intriguing, but I won’t press you”
At St Marys the All Hallows Eve vigil was a quiet solemn time where you could light a candle for dead loved ones.
After quiet contemplation she then lit one for a living person, Dave McAteer, she thought if she lit a candle for him on Halloween she could let him go and get on with her life.
Elena took a seat on the front pew and lost herself in prayer, she had no idea how long she had been praying or even when another worshiper had joined her.
“Hello El” he said when she eventually raised her head up from her devotions.
She turned around and it slowly dawned on her who it was
“Hello Dave” she said “how on earth did you find me?”
“Sister Agatha told me” he replied
“Why are you here?”
“I missed you” he said
“I’ve missed you too” Elena confided “but I’m not in your life anymore”
“I’ve realized since you left that you were my life” Dave said
“And I foolishly let you go”
Elena said nothing and looked away
“And you were right to leave me” he said “I had to learn to stand on my own two feet”
Still she said nothing
“I’ve grown up and come to my senses and as soon as I did I knew I had to win you back, but I didn’t know how”
Elena still said nothing
“So I asked someone for help”
“Who?” she asked turning and looking at him for the first time
“God” he replied and she gasped
“I opened my heart to God and suddenly everything made sense”
“Truly?” she asked with moistened eyes
“Truly” he replied and took her hand
“But I lit a candle for you tonight” she confessed
“No, you lit a candle for a different Dave” he replied “and he is dead and gone”
Elena looked at him and she placed her other hand on his and smiled.
It was a successful organization that district nurse Elena Fedeli joined on a bitter cold January morning along with another new nurse named Harriet Robinson.
It was two years to the day after Dr Claire Andrews took over The Shallowfield Surgery and in that short time she and her business partner Olivia Adamson had transformed it into the Dancingdean Heath Centre, which necessitated the expansion of staff numbers.
However while things had been going well for Claire and Olivia in the two years they had been in Shallowfield.
It had been quite a different story in those two years for Elena, despite the fact that they began with her meeting the man that within a few weeks she would be in love with.
She was working at St Bernadette’s Covent Hospital in Abbeyvale, although in truth it was more of a hospice, there were a number of wards for convalescents but mainly it was palliative care.
Which she didn’t mind because she was good at her job and she was a caring soul.
It was at the end of her shift on a winter’s night and she was on her way home.
She was taking a shortcut through the hospital garden when she found Dave McAteer sitting alone in the dark.
It was snowing and she was walking along lost in her thoughts when she suddenly saw something moving in her peripheral vision which made her jump then he spotted her and let out an involuntary yelp.
Which resulted in Elena subsequently letting out a scream.
“Oh Shit” she said in very un-convent like language.
The reason he was sitting in the dark on a cold winter’s night was that he had just received the worse possible news about his mother.
Elena was a kind and caring nurse so despite the bitter cold night and the falling snow she sat with him.
And they smoked a cigarette and drank from a hip flask as they chatted in the snow.
After about forty minutes the snow began falling harder and it was getting colder when he asked.
“Are you off duty?”
“Yes” she replied “I’m done for the day”
“Well I’m chilled to the bone” He said “do you fancy getting something to eat?”
“Yes, that would be nice” she replied and a broad smile crossed her face
It was a kind face with a delicate smile and her coloring clearly betrayed her Mediterranean ancestry and he smiled back at her.
But when he offered and she accepted neither of them expected it to be anything other than a mutually companionable meal.
They certainly weren’t looking for anything else.
Elena Fedeli had been disappointed by love too many times in her 32 years to walk into another potential disaster with a man who had a very difficult and fraught time ahead.
Dave had also been through the mill relationship wise and wanted no more than to be there for his mother every step of the way until she passed.
With all that said they promptly went and fell in love.
More than two years on with the benefit of hind sight it was disaster waiting to happen.
Apart from the fact his mother was dying by inches before his eyes there were other aspect of their lives which were not compatible.
Dave was a lapsed Catholic in fact he was a lapsed Christian while she was a practicing Anglican and had a very deep faith.
He worked 9 to 5 for an insurance company while she was a nurse who worked shifts and there was the age difference he was three years her junior.
But despite their differences they really did love each other and there was a time that she thought it might even lead to marriage.
(Part 02)
They had met under difficult circumstances with her being one of the palliative care nurses caring for his terminally ill mother.
Then when the day came that his mother died he leant on her.
In fact he leant on her a lot and perhaps foolishly she let him do so more than she should have.
But it did hit him hard, and his mum was the last relative he had left.
The biggest problem was that his faith which had been crumbling over a number of years before they met had disintegrated altogether and that became a problem between them.
She tried to help and support him but she had a deep and sustaining faith.
Her faith was as strong as ever, if not stronger, but he had none and it drove a wedge between them and the resulting chasm between them could not be reconciled.
Dave losing his faith was not in itself a problem, she could have lived with that, she could have dealt with that.
But what she couldn’t live with in any way shape or form was that he resented her relationship with God and that she could not live with.
After his mum died he blamed everyone and everything except the cancer.
In the end, for the sake of her sanity she had to make a hard decision, to stop being his crutch and to leave him to wallow in self-pity.
They were together for two years before they split up which in the end they did quite amicably and then she lived alone for six months before she had an epiphany.
She decided to change everything in her life, firstly she quit smoking and when she had licked that she went teetotal.
With a clear head and clearing lungs she took up running although in truth the running only lasted a week when she reverted to walking.
She figured if that went well enough she would then start walking faster.
And finally she applied for a new job.
Teardrop Lake and the surrounding woodland was privately owned and divided into twelve parcels each with one significant dwelling although there were a number of cottages dotted around the woodland.
Elena moved into number 3 Folly Cottages just before Christmas, the previous occupant was one of her new bosses Olivia Shenton who now lived at the Vicarage in Shallowfield with her husband and she fell in love with the cottage and its location instantly.
Originally there were six dwellings but after conversion there were now three terraced cottages and they were situated high above the northern perimeter road in a rocky glade.
The two end ones had two bedroom and the one in the middle had one.
Once upon a time they were home to peasants who worked the woods but now the peasantry couldn’t afford to live anywhere near the lake.
The view of the lake was spectacular although they couldn’t see it all or discern the teardrop shape that gave the lake its name. But the view of the surrounding ancient woodland of the Dancingdean Forest was majestic.
Although much of the modest body of water was obscured from view it was still quite beautiful and relatively unspoilt which was why the she instantly fell in love with the place, and as there was snow on the ground the scene was very picturesque.
It was both idyllic and peaceful, there was little or no noise pollution and she had been reliably informed that although the lake was used there were no speed boats or jet skis, only rowing boats, canoes, dinghies and skiffs.
(Part 03)
Fortunately Elena was not the only new starter at the health centre or the only newbie to the area.
Harriet Robinson who was the new phlebotomist moved into number 1 a couple of days before her.
However whereas Elena’s move had been out of choice because she was looking for a change Harriet’s had been forced upon her due to cost cutting measures.
As they both moved in before Christmas and weren’t due to start work until the New Year and as they were neighbours the two new girls gravitated towards each other especially as Harriet’s University Professor husband, Nathan, was only around at the weekend for the first week until the end of the semester.
Eva Christodoulou and Siti Shahara, who lived in number 2, also worked at the health centre, volunteered to show the new girls around and help them get their bearings and settle in.
She was dreading that first Christmas in a new place without Dave, she thought that all that time on her own would drive her crazy.
But she needn’t have worried for a second the mad girls in number 2 made sure she wasn’t sad or lonely and didn’t give her a minute to think.
She did find herself missing him in her quieter moments though.
After a very enjoyable first Christmas in her new home Elena was really pleased that she wasn’t starting the new job on her own and she knew Harriet felt the same way.
They both slotted right in at the Heath Centre and they soon found that the rest of the staff were just as friendly as their new neighbours were.
Elena loved her job from the first moment she walked through the doors and she loved living on the Lake even more.
She had continued on her healthy approach to life and walked a circuit of the lake every morning except the weekends, on Saturdays she split her time between housework and exploring the forest and Sundays after she’d attended church in the morning she watched old films on TV in the afternoon, after all she was 35 by then.
Apart from enjoying the Lake and its environs she was fast becoming a regular part of Church life in Shallowfield and along with Harriet where in full voice when on Easter Sunday when her neighbour Nathan Robinson debuted as Choir master.
After Easter, life continued in much the same way until the summer festivities filled the calendar.
It began as it did every year on Teardrop Lake with Lynn Cooper’s birthday BBQ at Coopers Villa on the first of May and ended at the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel in September for Rob and Sheryl Browns Wedding Anniversary party.
It had been such a busy summer with the seemingly endless round of Hog Roasts and BBQ’s, parties and picnics that it wasn’t until summer drifted relentlessly into autumn that loneliness struck her.
Although if truth be told since she had split up with Dave she had not been short of admirers so her loneliness was not for want of an offer.
Her loneliness was so heartfelt because she missed Dave because at the end of the day she still in love with him.
There were other distractions in September such as
Olivia Shenton’s Wedding Anniversary and Chantelle Dooney’s birthday and Siti Shahara’s was in October, but overall not enough.
Throughout October at the health centre the main topic of conversation was the upcoming Lutchford’s Annual Fancy Dress Halloween party at Forest Lodge, to which all the staff were invited.
The talk was primarily of what costumes would be worn but more interestingly the gossip was mainly about past misdemeanours.
(Part 04)
Although Elena was not a Catholic her years spent at the convent hospital exposed her to what she considered a more dignified way to spend Halloween than dressing up in a ridiculous costume and drinking so much you couldn’t remember if you enjoyed yourself or not.
So she choose to decline the invitation to the Halloween party and chose instead to attend the Halloween celebrations at St Mary’s.
Everyone at the health centre apart from Elena and the Vicar’s wife Olivia were going to the Halloween Party at the Lutchford’s so the two of them left work early for the Church.
The evening began with a short children’s service followed by a Children’s party in the church hall which included music and games and of course sweets.
After the parents and children had gone Elena stayed on to help Olivia and Ben and the other helpers to clear away.
“Come and have supper with us” Olivia said when they were done “its only bread and soup”
“No I wouldn’t want to intrude” Elena said
“Nonsense” the Vicar said “We insist”
“In that case then, thank you” she conceded
As they sat eating homemade soup and bread in the Vicarage Olivia asked
“So will you be lighting a candle tonight?”
“Yes” she replied
“Might I ask for whom?” she asked
“My parents” Elena replied “And someone who isn’t dead yet”
“Ok” Olivia said “that’s intriguing, but I won’t press you”
At St Marys the All Hallows Eve vigil was a quiet solemn time where you could light a candle for dead loved ones.
After quiet contemplation she then lit one for a living person, Dave McAteer, she thought if she lit a candle for him on Halloween she could let him go and get on with her life.
Elena took a seat on the front pew and lost herself in prayer, she had no idea how long she had been praying or even when another worshiper had joined her.
“Hello El” he said when she eventually raised her head up from her devotions.
She turned around and it slowly dawned on her who it was
“Hello Dave” she said “how on earth did you find me?”
“Sister Agatha told me” he replied
“Why are you here?”
“I missed you” he said
“I’ve missed you too” Elena confided “but I’m not in your life anymore”
“I’ve realized since you left that you were my life” Dave said
“And I foolishly let you go”
Elena said nothing and looked away
“And you were right to leave me” he said “I had to learn to stand on my own two feet”
Still she said nothing
“I’ve grown up and come to my senses and as soon as I did I knew I had to win you back, but I didn’t know how”
Elena still said nothing
“So I asked someone for help”
“Who?” she asked turning and looking at him for the first time
“God” he replied and she gasped
“I opened my heart to God and suddenly everything made sense”
“Truly?” she asked with moistened eyes
“Truly” he replied and took her hand
“But I lit a candle for you tonight” she confessed
“No, you lit a candle for a different Dave” he replied “and he is dead and gone”
Elena looked at him and she placed her other hand on his and smiled.
Sunday, 5 February 2017
Love Collection # 7
I’LL KEEP A CANDLE BURNING
I’ll keep a candle burning
In the porch window
I’ll keep it burning there
Through wind and rain and snow
I’ll keep it burning brightly
Just to let you know
That I still love you baby
And I don’t want to let you go
JUST ONE SIGHT
Just one sight is all
It takes and I can't sleep,
For dreaming of you
STUDY BUDDY
She was just my study buddy
She wasn’t anything to me
She just agreed to help me out
With physics and chemistry
She was just my study buddy
She wasn’t interesting to me
But I’m not sure how it happened
But now were doing biology
YOU ARE THE BEAUTY
You are the beauty,
The reason for my infatuation,
And my existence
I WILL ONLY GIVE MY LOVE
I will only give my love
To someone deserving, who
Will know its true value
IT ONLY TOOK
It only took a kiss and a smile
A slow walk down the aisle
And you changed my life
When you became my wife
CAUGHT IN THE SHADOWS
Caught in the shadows, tears,
My only true companion, trapped
In abject despair
UPON THE CHESSBOARD
Upon the chessboard
The pieces move
And change their futures
Their course and direction
And I want that
I want to make a move
In a different direction
Toward a different future
I will set a new course
And face what presents itself
There is nothing I can’t do
FALLING TOO EASILY
Falling too easily
Brings you only heartbreak
And bitter tears in the end
EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD (3)
From Scotland’s stormy western isles
To the land of the rising sun
I will follow you to the ends of the earth
Because for me you’re the only one
I’ll keep a candle burning
In the porch window
I’ll keep it burning there
Through wind and rain and snow
I’ll keep it burning brightly
Just to let you know
That I still love you baby
And I don’t want to let you go
JUST ONE SIGHT
Just one sight is all
It takes and I can't sleep,
For dreaming of you
STUDY BUDDY
She was just my study buddy
She wasn’t anything to me
She just agreed to help me out
With physics and chemistry
She was just my study buddy
She wasn’t interesting to me
But I’m not sure how it happened
But now were doing biology
YOU ARE THE BEAUTY
You are the beauty,
The reason for my infatuation,
And my existence
I WILL ONLY GIVE MY LOVE
I will only give my love
To someone deserving, who
Will know its true value
IT ONLY TOOK
It only took a kiss and a smile
A slow walk down the aisle
And you changed my life
When you became my wife
CAUGHT IN THE SHADOWS
Caught in the shadows, tears,
My only true companion, trapped
In abject despair
UPON THE CHESSBOARD
Upon the chessboard
The pieces move
And change their futures
Their course and direction
And I want that
I want to make a move
In a different direction
Toward a different future
I will set a new course
And face what presents itself
There is nothing I can’t do
FALLING TOO EASILY
Falling too easily
Brings you only heartbreak
And bitter tears in the end
EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD (3)
From Scotland’s stormy western isles
To the land of the rising sun
I will follow you to the ends of the earth
Because for me you’re the only one
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)