(Part 01)
Alison Holmes went to the University of Downshire where she studied English at Abbottsford and it was for her, like many girls of her age, a life defining time.
She was in halls for the first year and she shared with three other girls Amy Coates, a tall big busted girl, Carole Bean a tall, beautiful and kindly girl and Claire Jarvis a quiet busty brunette.
All four of the girls were studying English in one form or another and apart from their studies they also had in common the fact they were all natives of the Finchbottom Vale.
Claire was from Purplemere, Carole from Childean, Alison from Finchbottom and Amy from Shallowfield.
The friendship that resulted from, on the face of it, 4 very different characters coming together, lasted for their lifetimes and as they got on so well the four of them decided very early on to rent a house between them for the second and third years.
Alison was a little bit on the OCD side of normal but she was a nice girl.
She was, by her own admission, a rather stick thin and plain looking girl with in her opinion three redeeming features, the most stunning eyes, good legs, she liked her legs, and straight shoulder length blonde hair.
Alison didn’t have a boyfriend when she went to university partly because of her OCD but mainly because she hadn’t met the right person until one night she met someone quite by chance.
She bumped into Eric Jespersen, in the park one night and they ended up having a rather prolonged kiss up against an old oak tree.
Eric was on his way back to his block after having been swimming and Alison had been to the library.
Afterwards Eric walked her to her block and they kissed in the shadows
“I hope we can do that again sometime,” she said
“I hope we can too” he replied
“You’re all muddy” Amy said as Alison entered the house
“I know I slipped over in the park” she replied
“You went through the park after dark?” Carole asked horrified
“You could have been attacked” Amy added
Alison said nothing, she just smiled, and went to have a bath.
She wasn’t sure if that kiss in the park would indeed lead to anything but she had hopes.but if nothing came of it she had at least snogged the gorgeous Dane in the woods.
And as the weeks went by it veryy much looked like that would be the full extent of it until fate took a hand again.
Eric was a regular swimmer and he was at the University pool almost every day but for Alison it was a rarity as she wasn’t really sure how hygienic a public pool could be.
But she allowed herself to be persuaded by her flat mate Carole who didn’t want to go alone.
It was a very modern facility with unisex changing rooms which had two long rows of cubicles’ flanked by lockers.
(Part 02)
Eric was a regular swimmer and he was at the University pool almost every day but for Alison it was a rarity as she wasn’t really sure how hygienic a public pool could be.
But she allowed herself to be persuaded by her flat mate Carole who didn’t want to go alone.
It was a very modern facility with unisex changing rooms which had two long rows of cubicles’ flanked by lockers.
Eric had finished his swim and was in a cubicle at the far end of the row, furthest from the pool, where he got himself dry and was about to redress but realised he’d left some of his stuff in his locker.
So he wrapped his towel around his naked lower half and went to retrieve his pants and socks.
It was at the point when he spotted Alison, who recognised him instantly and smiled warmly.
He then nodded in the direction of his cubicle door and she blushed
“Come on Ali” Carole called “come in and close the door”
Alison nodded and smiled and mouthed the words “Five minutes”
“Ok I’m coming” She replied to Carole.
Eric got dressed in his cubicle while he waited and was surprised by the presence of butterflies in his stomach, after all they had only had that one lingering snoggy encounter in the woods.
He wasn’t the only one dealing with the anticipation because Alison was silently getting changed hoping that she hadn’t misread the situation and was on a promise for another kiss.
“You go ahead and I’ll catch up with you” Alison said
“Ok but don’t be long” Carole said as she moved away.
After a moment or two, she tapped lightly on the cubicle door and when it opened Eric was there wearing his street clothes which made her feel a little self-conscious as she only had on a black one piece swimsuit and clutching a towel to hide her modesty.
“Hello Ali” He said
“Hi Eric” she said and her eyes looked anywhere than at him directly.
He on the other hand cast an appreciative eye over her swim-suited figure, such as it was, but sensing her embarrassment he pulled her into the cubicle and closed the door and then he kissed her.
When the kiss was over she looked at him and pleaded
“Again please”
“Are you sure?” he asked her
“Oh yes Eric” she replied
“Carole will wonder where you are,” he said feebly but she ignored him and kissed him so he couldn’t speak again.
“Do you come here every day?” she asked
“Yes, the same time every day” he replied
“That’s good to know” she said coyly
Alison was anxious to go and find Carole so they shared a soft, gentle, and affectionate farewell kiss before he opened the door and she went in search of her friend.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then?” he called after
Monday, 19 June 2017
Mornington-By-Mere – (85) Cup Final Day
Eric Price moved to the quaint chocolate box English Village of Mornington-By-Mere when he got a job with Topliss Engineering, who had set up business on the Mornington Field development, and along with the job he was also able get accommodation.
So he moved into apartment 6 of Lancaster House, which was converted from the old Officers Mess when Mornington Field was an operational RAF Station.
Although he lived in Mornington, Eric was born and bred in Abbottsford and the third Saturday in May was a red letter day for him as his beloved Abbottsford Town “the Knights” were playing Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
Unfortunately he was unable to get a ticket and as he thought he might be reduced to tears by the occasion he elected not to watch it in the Old Mill Inn with his mates, choosing instead to watch it at home on his own, he had even ditched his girlfriend Anita for the afternoon and depending on the result they would either celebrate or commiserate at the pub afterwards, and as he sat in the Black and White quartered shirt of Abbottsford Town watching the preamble he did indeed shed a tear.
It was as the echoes of “abide with me” began to fade that the knock at the door came.
He opened the door and was greeted by his girlfriend Anita Stemmer who also worked for Topliss and lived in the neighbouring block, Dowding House.
She was obviously very eager and affectionate because the instant the front door was closed she launched herself at him but he managed to fend her off long enough to ask her
“What are you doing here? We’re not supposed to be meeting up until later, “after” the cup final”
“I missed you” she replied and her arms around him “and I fancied a snog”
“But I saw you two hours ago” he pointed out “and as I remember it, we had a snog”
“I didn’t know I was rationed” she said and kissed his neck
“But its Cup Final Day” he said prising her arms from around his neck
“But I miss you” she reiterated
“Cup Final” he shouted
“Snog” she shouted back
He managed to keep Anita at arm’s length until the half time whistle blew when he relaxed and let her have her kiss and he was thankful for her unrestrained affection as it took his mind off events on the pitch, where Chelsea had Town on the back foot for the whole of the first half but were shockingly unable to score.
But when the second period kicked off he needed to concentrate and tried to ignore his persistent girlfriend
“What happens if Chelsea win?” she asked as she sat beside him.
“Let’s not even think about that” he said
“It doesn’t really matter though does it?” she said “It’s only a game”
“It’s only a game?” he asked with contempt “It’s only a game?”
“Yes” she said
“Well let me give you a reason to care who wins” he said
“If Chelsea win then my little affectionate Anita doesn’t get another snog today”
A look of horror spread over her face and then she shouted
“Come on the Knights”
Time was running out and although Chelsea completely out played the Knights it was still goalless and as the match entered stoppage time it looked for all the world that the match would go to extra time.
Then midfielder Del Blackmore started to put in a run on goal straight down the middle and twenty five yards out he let fly with his left foot.
Everyone in Black and White in the Wembley crowd were on their feet, Eric was on his feet and Anita held her breath as Tim Dalton, the Chelsea keeper, leapt to his right at full stretch and was left clutching thin air as the ball hit the back of the net.
Eric went absolutely crazy and was jumping up and down and there was an explosion of noise from the Wembley stands which all but drowned out the referee’s whistle, Abbottsford Town had won the FA cup but Anita was staring at the TV with a confused look on her face
“Does that mean I get a snog now?” she asked but Eric was already ahead of her and pulled her to her feet before scooping her up in his arms.
“Time to celebrate” he said with a leer
“Oh goody” she cheered “Up the Knights”
So he moved into apartment 6 of Lancaster House, which was converted from the old Officers Mess when Mornington Field was an operational RAF Station.
Although he lived in Mornington, Eric was born and bred in Abbottsford and the third Saturday in May was a red letter day for him as his beloved Abbottsford Town “the Knights” were playing Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
Unfortunately he was unable to get a ticket and as he thought he might be reduced to tears by the occasion he elected not to watch it in the Old Mill Inn with his mates, choosing instead to watch it at home on his own, he had even ditched his girlfriend Anita for the afternoon and depending on the result they would either celebrate or commiserate at the pub afterwards, and as he sat in the Black and White quartered shirt of Abbottsford Town watching the preamble he did indeed shed a tear.
It was as the echoes of “abide with me” began to fade that the knock at the door came.
He opened the door and was greeted by his girlfriend Anita Stemmer who also worked for Topliss and lived in the neighbouring block, Dowding House.
She was obviously very eager and affectionate because the instant the front door was closed she launched herself at him but he managed to fend her off long enough to ask her
“What are you doing here? We’re not supposed to be meeting up until later, “after” the cup final”
“I missed you” she replied and her arms around him “and I fancied a snog”
“But I saw you two hours ago” he pointed out “and as I remember it, we had a snog”
“I didn’t know I was rationed” she said and kissed his neck
“But its Cup Final Day” he said prising her arms from around his neck
“But I miss you” she reiterated
“Cup Final” he shouted
“Snog” she shouted back
He managed to keep Anita at arm’s length until the half time whistle blew when he relaxed and let her have her kiss and he was thankful for her unrestrained affection as it took his mind off events on the pitch, where Chelsea had Town on the back foot for the whole of the first half but were shockingly unable to score.
But when the second period kicked off he needed to concentrate and tried to ignore his persistent girlfriend
“What happens if Chelsea win?” she asked as she sat beside him.
“Let’s not even think about that” he said
“It doesn’t really matter though does it?” she said “It’s only a game”
“It’s only a game?” he asked with contempt “It’s only a game?”
“Yes” she said
“Well let me give you a reason to care who wins” he said
“If Chelsea win then my little affectionate Anita doesn’t get another snog today”
A look of horror spread over her face and then she shouted
“Come on the Knights”
Time was running out and although Chelsea completely out played the Knights it was still goalless and as the match entered stoppage time it looked for all the world that the match would go to extra time.
Then midfielder Del Blackmore started to put in a run on goal straight down the middle and twenty five yards out he let fly with his left foot.
Everyone in Black and White in the Wembley crowd were on their feet, Eric was on his feet and Anita held her breath as Tim Dalton, the Chelsea keeper, leapt to his right at full stretch and was left clutching thin air as the ball hit the back of the net.
Eric went absolutely crazy and was jumping up and down and there was an explosion of noise from the Wembley stands which all but drowned out the referee’s whistle, Abbottsford Town had won the FA cup but Anita was staring at the TV with a confused look on her face
“Does that mean I get a snog now?” she asked but Eric was already ahead of her and pulled her to her feet before scooping her up in his arms.
“Time to celebrate” he said with a leer
“Oh goody” she cheered “Up the Knights”
Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (85) The Rebellious Miss Illingworth
(Part 01)
At the western end of the Finchbottom Vale lay the small market town of Childean and on the outskirts was the Dancingdean Spa Hotel.
The manager was Ian Ferguson and he was 28 years old and his father was owned a substantial share in the Hotel which influenced the decision to appoint him.
However it may have been nepotism that got him the job but it was his hard work and diligence that kept him in place and his choice of old school friend Declan Hughes as his assistant certainly didn’t hurt.
Declan was also a single man when he joined the staff and it wasn’t until Ian was in a relationship with a regular guest that he followed suit.
The Illingworth’s were from Northumberland and stayed at the Dancingdean Spa Hotel for three weeks every July and had done since they were married.
Jack Illingworth was in fish and had a string of fish processing plants, his wife Mary was a big wheel in the Women’s Institute and their 25 year old daughter Elmarie was desperately unhappy.
Some of her unhappiness stemmed from low self-esteem because of her body shape, she wasn’t fat but she was what parents often refer to as big boned.
But mainly she was unhappy because of her domineering parents, they told her what to do, what to say, what to think, where to go, her mother bought her clothes, he father vetted which books she read and what music she listened to, she was to all intents and purposes their prisoner.
But she had begun to rebel although very subtly, in fact so subtly that they didn’t even notice she was doing it.
And one day Elmarie pretended to sprain her ankle so she didn’t have to go out with them on their boring outings and it worked.
So understandably she was feeling rather pleased with herself, it was a small victory in the scheme of things, but it was a victory nonetheless.
In fact she was so pleased with her subterfuge that she set about doing all the things her parents wouldn’t let her do starting with the hotel bar.
It had been a very quiet afternoon, and although the manager, Ian Fergusson, was on a day off, he had everything set up and running like clockwork.
All Declan had to do was man reception for a couple of hours, but as there were no new arrivals expected until the evening he just sat in the small office at the back of reception and put his feet up and waited for the bell to ring.
Which it inevitably did, and it woke Declan from a long afternoon snooze where he was dreaming about the curvy Miss Illingworth and he surfaced from that lovely dreamland when he heard the “ding”.
The bell rang several more times as he made his way to the desk and when he reached it he found a rather tipsy Elmarie Illingworth leaning against the front desk with her rather generous chest sitting on the counter top.
(Part 02)
“Can I help?” Declan asked her, although the direction of his gaze one could have supposed he was addressing her breasts.
“I’m locked out” she slurred “I lost my key somewhere in the bar”
“Did I mention I was in the bar?” she added
“No”
“It’s a very nice bar” she continued “have you been?”
“Yes I have”
“It’s very big you know, and they have lots of drinks” she said as if she was imparting some radical new information.
Declan tapped into the computer and looked at her bar tab and was heartily impressed at the amount she had put away in one short session.
“Well I’ll tell you what we’ll do, we will sit over there and have some coffee, while I get someone to look for your key” He suggested
“I’m not allowed coffee” she said “so yes, that would be lovely”
And she tottered to the nearest sofa and sat down.
Declan then rang through to the bar and ordered coffee and asked them to look for Miss Illingworth’s room key.
The coffee and the room key arrived in short order and he sat and chatted with her while she drank.
He had noticed many times before then that she was a pretty girl, with blue eyes and a lovely smile, not that he had seen her smile before, she normally looked a bit sulky.
She also had a curvy figure and great legs, which he had noted before, and she was his ideal which is why he had been dreaming about her all afternoon.
He had always found larger women attractive and he made no apology for that, you like what you like, and she had a pretty face and was the perfect age.
And as they sat together he found she was really funny as well.
A couple of cups of coffee later and Elmarie had sobered considerably
“Ok let’s get you up to your room?” he suggested
“Oh yes please” she said and giggled
“Behave, they’ll be none of that” he scolded
“Shame” she said brazenly
Although it was a slow process he got her upstairs and safely into her room.
“Well thank you” she said and leant in to kiss his cheek but at the last second she kissed him on the mouth and the Nano second their lips touched Elmarie thrust her tongue into his mouth in a wet sloppy fashion, which took him completely by surprise.
As enjoyable as it was, and as much as he had looked forward to kissing her, he didn’t want it to be just a drunken fumble that would be regretted the next morning so he broke away.
“No don’t stop” she said and tried to reengage her lips
“I don’t want to stop” he said
“Good”
“But we must” he said
“But why?”
“Because I don’t want it to be something you’ll regret later” he explained
“I won’t though” Elmarie said
“I don’t want to take that chance” Declan said
“So that’s that then” she said grumpily and sat down heavily on the bed
“As you say “That’s that”” he confirmed “which is why you are going to have a sprained ankle again tomorrow, and as it’s my day off tomorrow we can spend the day together”
“Really?” she asked and stood up
“Only if you want to”
“Will there be kissing?” Elmarie asked as she walked towards him
“I hope so” Declan said
“Me too” She said and hugged him
At the western end of the Finchbottom Vale lay the small market town of Childean and on the outskirts was the Dancingdean Spa Hotel.
The manager was Ian Ferguson and he was 28 years old and his father was owned a substantial share in the Hotel which influenced the decision to appoint him.
However it may have been nepotism that got him the job but it was his hard work and diligence that kept him in place and his choice of old school friend Declan Hughes as his assistant certainly didn’t hurt.
Declan was also a single man when he joined the staff and it wasn’t until Ian was in a relationship with a regular guest that he followed suit.
The Illingworth’s were from Northumberland and stayed at the Dancingdean Spa Hotel for three weeks every July and had done since they were married.
Jack Illingworth was in fish and had a string of fish processing plants, his wife Mary was a big wheel in the Women’s Institute and their 25 year old daughter Elmarie was desperately unhappy.
Some of her unhappiness stemmed from low self-esteem because of her body shape, she wasn’t fat but she was what parents often refer to as big boned.
But mainly she was unhappy because of her domineering parents, they told her what to do, what to say, what to think, where to go, her mother bought her clothes, he father vetted which books she read and what music she listened to, she was to all intents and purposes their prisoner.
But she had begun to rebel although very subtly, in fact so subtly that they didn’t even notice she was doing it.
And one day Elmarie pretended to sprain her ankle so she didn’t have to go out with them on their boring outings and it worked.
So understandably she was feeling rather pleased with herself, it was a small victory in the scheme of things, but it was a victory nonetheless.
In fact she was so pleased with her subterfuge that she set about doing all the things her parents wouldn’t let her do starting with the hotel bar.
It had been a very quiet afternoon, and although the manager, Ian Fergusson, was on a day off, he had everything set up and running like clockwork.
All Declan had to do was man reception for a couple of hours, but as there were no new arrivals expected until the evening he just sat in the small office at the back of reception and put his feet up and waited for the bell to ring.
Which it inevitably did, and it woke Declan from a long afternoon snooze where he was dreaming about the curvy Miss Illingworth and he surfaced from that lovely dreamland when he heard the “ding”.
The bell rang several more times as he made his way to the desk and when he reached it he found a rather tipsy Elmarie Illingworth leaning against the front desk with her rather generous chest sitting on the counter top.
(Part 02)
“Can I help?” Declan asked her, although the direction of his gaze one could have supposed he was addressing her breasts.
“I’m locked out” she slurred “I lost my key somewhere in the bar”
“Did I mention I was in the bar?” she added
“No”
“It’s a very nice bar” she continued “have you been?”
“Yes I have”
“It’s very big you know, and they have lots of drinks” she said as if she was imparting some radical new information.
Declan tapped into the computer and looked at her bar tab and was heartily impressed at the amount she had put away in one short session.
“Well I’ll tell you what we’ll do, we will sit over there and have some coffee, while I get someone to look for your key” He suggested
“I’m not allowed coffee” she said “so yes, that would be lovely”
And she tottered to the nearest sofa and sat down.
Declan then rang through to the bar and ordered coffee and asked them to look for Miss Illingworth’s room key.
The coffee and the room key arrived in short order and he sat and chatted with her while she drank.
He had noticed many times before then that she was a pretty girl, with blue eyes and a lovely smile, not that he had seen her smile before, she normally looked a bit sulky.
She also had a curvy figure and great legs, which he had noted before, and she was his ideal which is why he had been dreaming about her all afternoon.
He had always found larger women attractive and he made no apology for that, you like what you like, and she had a pretty face and was the perfect age.
And as they sat together he found she was really funny as well.
A couple of cups of coffee later and Elmarie had sobered considerably
“Ok let’s get you up to your room?” he suggested
“Oh yes please” she said and giggled
“Behave, they’ll be none of that” he scolded
“Shame” she said brazenly
Although it was a slow process he got her upstairs and safely into her room.
“Well thank you” she said and leant in to kiss his cheek but at the last second she kissed him on the mouth and the Nano second their lips touched Elmarie thrust her tongue into his mouth in a wet sloppy fashion, which took him completely by surprise.
As enjoyable as it was, and as much as he had looked forward to kissing her, he didn’t want it to be just a drunken fumble that would be regretted the next morning so he broke away.
“No don’t stop” she said and tried to reengage her lips
“I don’t want to stop” he said
“Good”
“But we must” he said
“But why?”
“Because I don’t want it to be something you’ll regret later” he explained
“I won’t though” Elmarie said
“I don’t want to take that chance” Declan said
“So that’s that then” she said grumpily and sat down heavily on the bed
“As you say “That’s that”” he confirmed “which is why you are going to have a sprained ankle again tomorrow, and as it’s my day off tomorrow we can spend the day together”
“Really?” she asked and stood up
“Only if you want to”
“Will there be kissing?” Elmarie asked as she walked towards him
“I hope so” Declan said
“Me too” She said and hugged him
Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (85) A Rainy Saturday
On Saturday morning the rain had come with a vengeance and added to the gloom he already felt.
The day had begun in a quite different way however, when early in the morning, just after dawn, he awoke in the arms of his girlfriend, Geraldine, he was hoping they would begin the day in a mutually satisfactory way, but much to his frustration his advances were rejected by his early rising girlfriend.
Not that she didn’t want to, on the contrary she did, but she was going to be late for work if she weakened and took what she wanted from him.
Gerri was as horny as hell, she always was when she just finished her period but being late for the early turn at Finchbottom nick was not an option, as it was her relief and she was the newly promoted sergeant.
So Mike Waller lay in bed and watched her get dressed into her uniform and then after Gerri left for work, rather frustrated, and he watched her disappear into the rain he got up and started his day. He spent the rest of the day trying not to think about Gerri but inevitably the more he tried not to think of her the more he did.
However by Saturday afternoon he was getting a bit stir crazy and when there was a break in the weather, and the sun actually put in an appearance he decided to take a stroll around the village.
Mike stepped out of his front door and felt the sun on his face and he thought it would be nice to see another human being as he walked briskly down the path and into the lane.
The first people he saw were his next Gwen and Leonard and their children as the parents pottered around in the front garden and children ran around chuckling with glee.
“Hello guys” he called as he gave them a wave.
“Hello” they chorused in unison as they all waved back.
“Are you coming in for tea?” Gwen called
“Maybe on the way back” Mike suggested
“Ok” she replied cheerily
After three hours of walking in the countryside around the village he felt refreshed of spirit and cleansed of mind but decided to take up the offer of a cup of tea with his neighbours but when he turned the final corner there was no sign of Gwen, Leonard or the children.
The gardening tools, the wheelbarrow and toys were scattered around the front garden.
The front door was open so he knew that they were still about somewhere, and he was about to knock on the door when his attention was drawn to some movement on his own doorstep where Gerri was standing wearing her uniform shirt and brandishing a pair of handcuffs.
The day had begun in a quite different way however, when early in the morning, just after dawn, he awoke in the arms of his girlfriend, Geraldine, he was hoping they would begin the day in a mutually satisfactory way, but much to his frustration his advances were rejected by his early rising girlfriend.
Not that she didn’t want to, on the contrary she did, but she was going to be late for work if she weakened and took what she wanted from him.
Gerri was as horny as hell, she always was when she just finished her period but being late for the early turn at Finchbottom nick was not an option, as it was her relief and she was the newly promoted sergeant.
So Mike Waller lay in bed and watched her get dressed into her uniform and then after Gerri left for work, rather frustrated, and he watched her disappear into the rain he got up and started his day. He spent the rest of the day trying not to think about Gerri but inevitably the more he tried not to think of her the more he did.
However by Saturday afternoon he was getting a bit stir crazy and when there was a break in the weather, and the sun actually put in an appearance he decided to take a stroll around the village.
Mike stepped out of his front door and felt the sun on his face and he thought it would be nice to see another human being as he walked briskly down the path and into the lane.
The first people he saw were his next Gwen and Leonard and their children as the parents pottered around in the front garden and children ran around chuckling with glee.
“Hello guys” he called as he gave them a wave.
“Hello” they chorused in unison as they all waved back.
“Are you coming in for tea?” Gwen called
“Maybe on the way back” Mike suggested
“Ok” she replied cheerily
After three hours of walking in the countryside around the village he felt refreshed of spirit and cleansed of mind but decided to take up the offer of a cup of tea with his neighbours but when he turned the final corner there was no sign of Gwen, Leonard or the children.
The gardening tools, the wheelbarrow and toys were scattered around the front garden.
The front door was open so he knew that they were still about somewhere, and he was about to knock on the door when his attention was drawn to some movement on his own doorstep where Gerri was standing wearing her uniform shirt and brandishing a pair of handcuffs.
Sunday, 18 June 2017
Downshire Diary – (84) A Rude Awakening
(Part 01)
At the western end of the Finchbottom Vale lay the small market town of Childean and on the outskirts was the Dancingdean Spa Hotel.
The manager was Ian Ferguson and he was 28 years old and his father was owned a substantial share in the Hotel which influenced the decision to appoint him.
However it may have been nepotism that got him the job but it was his hard work and diligence that kept him in place and his choice of old school friend Declan Hughes as his assistant certainly didn’t hurt.
Declan also made one or two inspired appointments Mark Humphreys and Rachel Hunt as Hospitality manager and assistant respectively and they worked as a very effective team although at times it wasn’t entirely clear who managed who.
The Sarah Busby birthday surprise fiasco was a good case in point.
Sarah was a big Afro Caribbean woman who worked in the hotel kitchen and had worked there for more than 20 years.
She was also celebrating her 50th birthday which was why a large bouquet of flowers was to be delivered to the hotel and presented to her for her birthday.
However to all involved the hospitality manager, Mark Humphreys had given her the day off.
“Well you’ll have to take them round to her house” Rachel said crossly
“Can’t we just give them to her tomorrow” he said
“Oh give me strength” she retorted
“Is that a no then?” he asked
“Men” she snapped and slammed his office door
“I’d better take them round then” he said to himself
As it was a nice summer afternoon he decided to walk into Childean and deliver the flowers.
He walked up the path to Sarah’s house and knocked on the door but when it opened, instead of the round and jovial Sarah he was greeted by someone altogether different, younger, skinnier and prettier.
“Hello” he said with surprise
“Can I help?” she asked
“I was looking for Sarah” he asked, and indicating the flowers.
“I’m afraid aunty has gone out for the day” she said
“Your Aunty?” he asked
“Yes” she replied “I’m staying with her for a while”
“I’m Mark Humphreys from the Hotel” he said
“I’m Michele” she said and smiled because her aunty had told her all about him and how nice he was.
“Why don’t you come in?”
“Ok” he said recognizing the look on her face
She led him into the sitting room while she went into the kitchen to put the flowers in water.
Michele Singer was a few years younger than he, tall and slim with thick back hair, she was a skinny girl but not in a boney way she just had a skinny frame.
Her eyes were big and almost black and she had a huge toothy smile, which lit up the whole of Childean.
“Would you like tea or coffee?” She called from the kitchen
The next two hours passed by really quickly as they sat in the lounge chatting and he would have stayed longer had he not received a phone call from his assistant Rachel asking where the hell he was.
“I have to get back to the Hotel I’m afraid”
“Oh that’s a shame” she said “I was rather enjoying our chat”
“Yes me too”
“Are you free this evening?” Michelle asked hopefully “I could feed you”
“That would be lovely” he said as he stepped outside “7.30?”
(Part 02)
Michele cooked him a lovely meal which they ate leisurely accompanied by a liberal amount of wine and after he had helped her clear away they returned to the lounge where she steered him to one of the armchairs and pushed him down and as he sat down he pulled her down with him so she was sitting on his lap.
Because she was so tall, her head was above his, and smiled at his upturned face and then she kissed him.
Mark awoke early in the darkness to the sound of the James Blunt emanating from the clock radio, he could just make out, in the half light, a delicately elegant finger reaching out and silencing it.
Then he thought “I don’t have a clock radio” so he tried to figure out whose bed he was in and more importantly who the owner of the elegant finger was.
He tried desperately to identify some point of reference in the room, the problem is that the brain processes what you can see and then fills in the blanks with things from your memory bank, for example, a carelessly discarded dressing gown can appear to be a sleeping dog or a sweater dropped haphazardly becomes a sleeping child.
Mark was rescued from his confusion when a head emerged from beneath the duvet and Michelle kissed him on the chest and it all came flooding back to him.
Michelle Singer was the niece of Sarah Busby, one of his employees.
She had been sent by her mother to stay with her aunt to keep her out of mischief and instead she had fallen in love and seduced the object of her affections.
She was draped across him breathing peacefully when Michelle looked up at him and smiled and suddenly the penny finally dropped and she gave him a shocked wide eyed look as she realised that they were still in her bed together and her Aunt was in the next room.
“What do we do now?” Mark whispered “Will she come in?”
“No” she replied “she never does”
“Then you keep watch and I’ll sneak down stairs when it’s clear” he suggested
“No, wait until she goes in the shower” Michelle said
“Ok” he acquiesced
Just then they heard Sarah’s bedroom door open and they both held their breath and then another door opened.
“She’s in the bathroom” Michelle said “you need to go”
“Ok” he said “I’ll go first and you follow me down”
She nodded and he kissed her then Mark turned and opened the door.
He tiptoed across the landing with her right behind him, but he had just stepped down onto the first step when the bathroom door opened, Mark pressed himself flat against the wall, and when he looked back towards Michelle and she looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
“I’m finished Michelle darling” Aunt Sarah shouted
“Ok Aunty I’m just going to put the kettle on” she replied and then Sarah’s bedroom door closed and they let out long synchronised sighs before exchanging a relieved smile and proceeded cautiously down the stairs.
At the front door she hugged him and asked
“When am I going to see you again?”
Hoping it wasn’t just a one night stand
“How about tonight?” he suggested
“Really?” Michelle exclaimed
“I’ll take you for dinner” he said “The Phoenix in Shallowfield”
“That’s a bit special” she said
“So are you” Mark replied
At the western end of the Finchbottom Vale lay the small market town of Childean and on the outskirts was the Dancingdean Spa Hotel.
The manager was Ian Ferguson and he was 28 years old and his father was owned a substantial share in the Hotel which influenced the decision to appoint him.
However it may have been nepotism that got him the job but it was his hard work and diligence that kept him in place and his choice of old school friend Declan Hughes as his assistant certainly didn’t hurt.
Declan also made one or two inspired appointments Mark Humphreys and Rachel Hunt as Hospitality manager and assistant respectively and they worked as a very effective team although at times it wasn’t entirely clear who managed who.
The Sarah Busby birthday surprise fiasco was a good case in point.
Sarah was a big Afro Caribbean woman who worked in the hotel kitchen and had worked there for more than 20 years.
She was also celebrating her 50th birthday which was why a large bouquet of flowers was to be delivered to the hotel and presented to her for her birthday.
However to all involved the hospitality manager, Mark Humphreys had given her the day off.
“Well you’ll have to take them round to her house” Rachel said crossly
“Can’t we just give them to her tomorrow” he said
“Oh give me strength” she retorted
“Is that a no then?” he asked
“Men” she snapped and slammed his office door
“I’d better take them round then” he said to himself
As it was a nice summer afternoon he decided to walk into Childean and deliver the flowers.
He walked up the path to Sarah’s house and knocked on the door but when it opened, instead of the round and jovial Sarah he was greeted by someone altogether different, younger, skinnier and prettier.
“Hello” he said with surprise
“Can I help?” she asked
“I was looking for Sarah” he asked, and indicating the flowers.
“I’m afraid aunty has gone out for the day” she said
“Your Aunty?” he asked
“Yes” she replied “I’m staying with her for a while”
“I’m Mark Humphreys from the Hotel” he said
“I’m Michele” she said and smiled because her aunty had told her all about him and how nice he was.
“Why don’t you come in?”
“Ok” he said recognizing the look on her face
She led him into the sitting room while she went into the kitchen to put the flowers in water.
Michele Singer was a few years younger than he, tall and slim with thick back hair, she was a skinny girl but not in a boney way she just had a skinny frame.
Her eyes were big and almost black and she had a huge toothy smile, which lit up the whole of Childean.
“Would you like tea or coffee?” She called from the kitchen
The next two hours passed by really quickly as they sat in the lounge chatting and he would have stayed longer had he not received a phone call from his assistant Rachel asking where the hell he was.
“I have to get back to the Hotel I’m afraid”
“Oh that’s a shame” she said “I was rather enjoying our chat”
“Yes me too”
“Are you free this evening?” Michelle asked hopefully “I could feed you”
“That would be lovely” he said as he stepped outside “7.30?”
(Part 02)
Michele cooked him a lovely meal which they ate leisurely accompanied by a liberal amount of wine and after he had helped her clear away they returned to the lounge where she steered him to one of the armchairs and pushed him down and as he sat down he pulled her down with him so she was sitting on his lap.
Because she was so tall, her head was above his, and smiled at his upturned face and then she kissed him.
Mark awoke early in the darkness to the sound of the James Blunt emanating from the clock radio, he could just make out, in the half light, a delicately elegant finger reaching out and silencing it.
Then he thought “I don’t have a clock radio” so he tried to figure out whose bed he was in and more importantly who the owner of the elegant finger was.
He tried desperately to identify some point of reference in the room, the problem is that the brain processes what you can see and then fills in the blanks with things from your memory bank, for example, a carelessly discarded dressing gown can appear to be a sleeping dog or a sweater dropped haphazardly becomes a sleeping child.
Mark was rescued from his confusion when a head emerged from beneath the duvet and Michelle kissed him on the chest and it all came flooding back to him.
Michelle Singer was the niece of Sarah Busby, one of his employees.
She had been sent by her mother to stay with her aunt to keep her out of mischief and instead she had fallen in love and seduced the object of her affections.
She was draped across him breathing peacefully when Michelle looked up at him and smiled and suddenly the penny finally dropped and she gave him a shocked wide eyed look as she realised that they were still in her bed together and her Aunt was in the next room.
“What do we do now?” Mark whispered “Will she come in?”
“No” she replied “she never does”
“Then you keep watch and I’ll sneak down stairs when it’s clear” he suggested
“No, wait until she goes in the shower” Michelle said
“Ok” he acquiesced
Just then they heard Sarah’s bedroom door open and they both held their breath and then another door opened.
“She’s in the bathroom” Michelle said “you need to go”
“Ok” he said “I’ll go first and you follow me down”
She nodded and he kissed her then Mark turned and opened the door.
He tiptoed across the landing with her right behind him, but he had just stepped down onto the first step when the bathroom door opened, Mark pressed himself flat against the wall, and when he looked back towards Michelle and she looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
“I’m finished Michelle darling” Aunt Sarah shouted
“Ok Aunty I’m just going to put the kettle on” she replied and then Sarah’s bedroom door closed and they let out long synchronised sighs before exchanging a relieved smile and proceeded cautiously down the stairs.
At the front door she hugged him and asked
“When am I going to see you again?”
Hoping it wasn’t just a one night stand
“How about tonight?” he suggested
“Really?” Michelle exclaimed
“I’ll take you for dinner” he said “The Phoenix in Shallowfield”
“That’s a bit special” she said
“So are you” Mark replied
Mornington-By-Mere – (84) The Tender Touch
Mornington-By-Mere is a small country village lying in the Finchbottom Vale nestled between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest and the rolling Pepperstock Hills.
It is a quaint picturesque village, a proper chocolate box picturesque idyll, with a Manor House, 12th Century Church, a Coaching Inn, Windmills, an Old Forge, a Schoolhouse, a River and a Mere.
But Mornington-By-Mere is not just a quaint chocolate box English Village it is the beating heart of the Finchbottom Vale and there were a number of cottages and small houses on the Purplemere road and Dulcets Lane which formed the part of Mornington Village known as Manorside and it was to number 1 Brewery Cottages where our story takes place.
Apart from her normal duties as district nurse Olwyn Brown took it upon herself to provide additional services, partly to make sure they regained their self-worth, but on occasions it was more than that but only once did it go beyond the professional.
Her patient was Mandy Lamb, a pretty 29 year old girl, who had cancer and was quite naturally depressed.
Olwyn was almost 35 and very experienced in her field as district nurse and she had watched many young people suffering from the insidious disease in her time.
But there was something special about the patient she was going to see in Manorside.
Olwyn knocked on the door and a moment or so later Mrs Lamb, the patient’s mother answered the door.
“Hello dear” she said
“Hello Mrs Lamb” Olwyn said brightly “How’s the patient today?”
“The same” she said blankly “I don’t know how to help her”
“Just be supportive” she said
“It’s hard though dear” she said putting on her coat and going to the foot of the stairs.
“Mandy! The nurse is here” she shouted up the stairs “the pretty one with the blonde hair”
Olwyn smiled and Mrs Lamb said
“You can go up when you’re ready, I need to do some shopping”
“Hello Mandy” she said as she walked into her room, but there was no response.
“How are you felling today?”
Still no response.
“Come on I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me” she said and in response her silence she added
“Very well if that’s what you want”
Olwyn closed her bag and got up before heading for the door.
“Don’t go” Mandy said quietly
“So there is something?” Olwyn asked
“Yes” Mandy replied timidly
“So what can I do to make you more comfortable?” she asked
There was a short period of silence and then Mandy said
“Hold my hand”
“What?” she asked
“Please hold my hand” she begged
“Why?” Olwyn asked and held her breath in anticipation of the answer
“Because I like you” Mandy whispered
“Well that’s very nice” Olwyn said “I like you too”
“Yes but I really like you” she said
“What about Kathy?” she asked, Kathy Clark was her long-time girlfriend.
“We broke up” she explained “I broke us up”
“So why me?” Olwyn asked
“Don’t you know why?”
“You need to tell me why” Olwyn insisted
“Because you’re special to me” Mandy replied “And I think about you all the time”
“Are you sure?” She asked as she caressed Mandy’s cheek
“Oh God Yes” she replied and Olwyn kissed her.
It is a quaint picturesque village, a proper chocolate box picturesque idyll, with a Manor House, 12th Century Church, a Coaching Inn, Windmills, an Old Forge, a Schoolhouse, a River and a Mere.
But Mornington-By-Mere is not just a quaint chocolate box English Village it is the beating heart of the Finchbottom Vale and there were a number of cottages and small houses on the Purplemere road and Dulcets Lane which formed the part of Mornington Village known as Manorside and it was to number 1 Brewery Cottages where our story takes place.
Apart from her normal duties as district nurse Olwyn Brown took it upon herself to provide additional services, partly to make sure they regained their self-worth, but on occasions it was more than that but only once did it go beyond the professional.
Her patient was Mandy Lamb, a pretty 29 year old girl, who had cancer and was quite naturally depressed.
Olwyn was almost 35 and very experienced in her field as district nurse and she had watched many young people suffering from the insidious disease in her time.
But there was something special about the patient she was going to see in Manorside.
Olwyn knocked on the door and a moment or so later Mrs Lamb, the patient’s mother answered the door.
“Hello dear” she said
“Hello Mrs Lamb” Olwyn said brightly “How’s the patient today?”
“The same” she said blankly “I don’t know how to help her”
“Just be supportive” she said
“It’s hard though dear” she said putting on her coat and going to the foot of the stairs.
“Mandy! The nurse is here” she shouted up the stairs “the pretty one with the blonde hair”
Olwyn smiled and Mrs Lamb said
“You can go up when you’re ready, I need to do some shopping”
“Hello Mandy” she said as she walked into her room, but there was no response.
“How are you felling today?”
Still no response.
“Come on I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me” she said and in response her silence she added
“Very well if that’s what you want”
Olwyn closed her bag and got up before heading for the door.
“Don’t go” Mandy said quietly
“So there is something?” Olwyn asked
“Yes” Mandy replied timidly
“So what can I do to make you more comfortable?” she asked
There was a short period of silence and then Mandy said
“Hold my hand”
“What?” she asked
“Please hold my hand” she begged
“Why?” Olwyn asked and held her breath in anticipation of the answer
“Because I like you” Mandy whispered
“Well that’s very nice” Olwyn said “I like you too”
“Yes but I really like you” she said
“What about Kathy?” she asked, Kathy Clark was her long-time girlfriend.
“We broke up” she explained “I broke us up”
“So why me?” Olwyn asked
“Don’t you know why?”
“You need to tell me why” Olwyn insisted
“Because you’re special to me” Mandy replied “And I think about you all the time”
“Are you sure?” She asked as she caressed Mandy’s cheek
“Oh God Yes” she replied and Olwyn kissed her.
Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (84) You’re a Philistine
Downshire Constabulary Detective Constable’s Simon Guiver and Nicola Ellenden worked for the Northchapel CID and had worked together on many occasions in the past and they got on well.
They were on the face of it chalk and cheese, he was from an upper middle class background, who was a fast tracked graduate copper, while she was a council estate comprehensive girl who started as a Community Support Officer before joining the constabulary and had worked her way up to Detective.
Despite their differences however they complimented each other, he with his classical education and analytical mind and her with her razor sharp instincts and hard graft.
The only bone of contention between them was the driving, they both hated to drive with a vengeance, this was a very unusual in their profession, as it was the norm for partners to fight over who gets the keys and not to fight to make sure the other one did.
They had tried a number of ways in the past to determine who got lumbered with the driving such as, Rock Paper Scissors, Arm wrestling or tossing a coin but none of the options really worked as they both had a propensity to cheat.
So they decided the fairest way was one of them should drive there and the other would drive on the return journey.
On the day the life changing day in question Simon Guiver was driving and there was only one thing he hated more than driving and that was driving in the rain.
And that morning in April and it was raining, but not April showers, no it was raining hard and had been for hours.
At least their destination, Pomery’s Perfume’s was in Northchapel only about three miles from the station.
Pomery’s, was an old family business established in 1879 by Jules Sebastian Pomery and was currently run by his Great-Great Grandson Claude.
They had moved to their present location in Northchapel in 1928.
The two DC’s presented their warrant cards to the Olympic security guard and were waved through the main gate and directed to the reception.
The broad white building was a prime example of the art deco style with its angles, curves and symmetry.
DC Guiver got out of the car and paused for a moment, despite the rain, in appreciation of the stylish building.
“What a fabulous building” Said Simon.
“Yes it’s very…. white.” Said DC Ellenden running towards the building.
“Is that all you can find to say about this magnificent structure?”
Said a stunned Simon
“This wonderful example of Art Deco architecture?”
She stopped running, then took a moment to study the façade then said.
“Yes, I stand by my original statement, it’s definitely white, oh and it’s got some green bits”
“You’re a philistine Nicki” Guiver said running after her.
He caught up with her by the entrance and they were laughing as they walked into reception together.
They were directed to the first floor by the reception and were greeted by a middle aged balding man in a smart suit.
“Good morning” He said offering his hand. “Paul Cork, assistant manager.”
“Good morning sir, I’m DC Guiver” Simon said shaking the offered hand.
“And this is DC Ellenden” He said gesturing toward Nicki.
“Sir.” She said also shaking hands.
“Would you like to see the scene of the crime now?” He said relishing the change of routine.
“Afterwards I will take you through to the conference room Mr. Brownlow would like to meet you before you leave”
After they had been shown the suspected point of entry and Mr. Cork had given them a tour of the offices, which were in good order save for the power leads and data cables trailing to and from non-existent PC’s, Printers, and Scanners etc, they were shown into the conference to meet the managing director.
Half an hour later they were shown out of the board room and stepped into the private lift.
“I suppose this is wasted on you” Simon said “you being a philistine”
“What do you mean, the original 1920’s Art Deco Otis Elevator, lovingly restored for posterity” she retorted as they rode it from the top floor to the lobby. “Not bad for a philistine hey”
“You fraud” he said and backed her into a corner “you like it”
“It’s functional” she said
“And you liked the “white” building” he suggested
“It just happens to be my favourite building in Downshire” she said cockily
“You are amazing” he said and then kissed her
Nicola and Simon didn’t say a word on the short walk back to the car.
But when she walked to the passenger side he broke the silence.
“Oy dolly daydream” He shouted. “You’re driving remember.”
Nicola jumped. “Sorry Simon I was miles away.”
“I know where you were and who you were with.”
He retorted and she flushed red.
“I was with you” she replied and smiled
They were on the face of it chalk and cheese, he was from an upper middle class background, who was a fast tracked graduate copper, while she was a council estate comprehensive girl who started as a Community Support Officer before joining the constabulary and had worked her way up to Detective.
Despite their differences however they complimented each other, he with his classical education and analytical mind and her with her razor sharp instincts and hard graft.
The only bone of contention between them was the driving, they both hated to drive with a vengeance, this was a very unusual in their profession, as it was the norm for partners to fight over who gets the keys and not to fight to make sure the other one did.
They had tried a number of ways in the past to determine who got lumbered with the driving such as, Rock Paper Scissors, Arm wrestling or tossing a coin but none of the options really worked as they both had a propensity to cheat.
So they decided the fairest way was one of them should drive there and the other would drive on the return journey.
On the day the life changing day in question Simon Guiver was driving and there was only one thing he hated more than driving and that was driving in the rain.
And that morning in April and it was raining, but not April showers, no it was raining hard and had been for hours.
At least their destination, Pomery’s Perfume’s was in Northchapel only about three miles from the station.
Pomery’s, was an old family business established in 1879 by Jules Sebastian Pomery and was currently run by his Great-Great Grandson Claude.
They had moved to their present location in Northchapel in 1928.
The two DC’s presented their warrant cards to the Olympic security guard and were waved through the main gate and directed to the reception.
The broad white building was a prime example of the art deco style with its angles, curves and symmetry.
DC Guiver got out of the car and paused for a moment, despite the rain, in appreciation of the stylish building.
“What a fabulous building” Said Simon.
“Yes it’s very…. white.” Said DC Ellenden running towards the building.
“Is that all you can find to say about this magnificent structure?”
Said a stunned Simon
“This wonderful example of Art Deco architecture?”
She stopped running, then took a moment to study the façade then said.
“Yes, I stand by my original statement, it’s definitely white, oh and it’s got some green bits”
“You’re a philistine Nicki” Guiver said running after her.
He caught up with her by the entrance and they were laughing as they walked into reception together.
They were directed to the first floor by the reception and were greeted by a middle aged balding man in a smart suit.
“Good morning” He said offering his hand. “Paul Cork, assistant manager.”
“Good morning sir, I’m DC Guiver” Simon said shaking the offered hand.
“And this is DC Ellenden” He said gesturing toward Nicki.
“Sir.” She said also shaking hands.
“Would you like to see the scene of the crime now?” He said relishing the change of routine.
“Afterwards I will take you through to the conference room Mr. Brownlow would like to meet you before you leave”
After they had been shown the suspected point of entry and Mr. Cork had given them a tour of the offices, which were in good order save for the power leads and data cables trailing to and from non-existent PC’s, Printers, and Scanners etc, they were shown into the conference to meet the managing director.
Half an hour later they were shown out of the board room and stepped into the private lift.
“I suppose this is wasted on you” Simon said “you being a philistine”
“What do you mean, the original 1920’s Art Deco Otis Elevator, lovingly restored for posterity” she retorted as they rode it from the top floor to the lobby. “Not bad for a philistine hey”
“You fraud” he said and backed her into a corner “you like it”
“It’s functional” she said
“And you liked the “white” building” he suggested
“It just happens to be my favourite building in Downshire” she said cockily
“You are amazing” he said and then kissed her
Nicola and Simon didn’t say a word on the short walk back to the car.
But when she walked to the passenger side he broke the silence.
“Oy dolly daydream” He shouted. “You’re driving remember.”
Nicola jumped. “Sorry Simon I was miles away.”
“I know where you were and who you were with.”
He retorted and she flushed red.
“I was with you” she replied and smiled
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)