The Finchbottom Vale was once a great wetland that centuries earlier stretched from Mornington in the East to Childean in the west and from Shallowfield in the south to Purplemere in the north.
But over the many centuries the vast majority of it had been drained for agriculture, a feat achieved largely by the efforts of famous Mornington Mills, of which only three had survived to the present day and even those were no longer functional and were in various states of repair.
There were only three small bodies of water left in the Vale now one in Mornington, one in Childean and third was Purplemere.
The village of Brocklington was on the River Brooke about six miles downstream from Sharping St Mary in the Finchbottom Vale which was nestled comfortably between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest to the south and the rolling Pepperstock Hills in the north, those who are lucky enough to live there think of it as the rose between two thorns.
Sophie Welby was the head teacher at St Cuthbert’s School and was a much respected figure in the village who had dedicated her life to educating the children of Brocklington, but she had done it at some personal cost, namely the love of her life Paul Barrington.
Paul was a journalist and had been offered a job at the Washington Post shortly after she was offered the Headship at St Cuthbert’s, he wanted her to go with him and he assured her that she could get a job in any school she chose, but she was scared, fearful of the unknown and the uncertainty, and was unsure about her love for him.
In the ten years that followed she realized that she loved him more than life itself, but that ship had sailed so she soldiered on as a loveless educator and stalwart of the village.
One of the high points of her year was the Christmas bazaar which was busy and exciting event that took a lot of organizing but brought a lot of joy, with all the usual attractions as well as Santa’s grotto.
But on Saturday afternoon at the height of the event as she strolled amongst the throng she caught sight of an attraction she hadn’t expected to see, Paul Barrington, and he beamed a smile in her direction the moment they made eye contact and her legs instantly turned to jelly.
He hadn’t changed a bit in her eyes, although his hair was a little greyer and his waist a little thicker, but he was still the man she loved, loves.
“Sophie!” he said “You haven’t changed a bit”
“Paul?”
“You look great” he said
“What are you doing here?” she asked, although that wasn’t the question she wanted to ask, she wanted to know everything else, was he married? Was he back? Was he hers?
“I’ve transferred to the London office” he replied
“Are your family moving with you?” she asked
“No only me” he replied “There is only me”
“So when did you get back?” she asked encouraged by his previous answer
“Last night” he replied and she dared to hope, after all he had wasted no time in getting to Brocklington, but before she could build on the glimmer of hope she was called away from him to avert a crisis
“It’s good to see you” she said as she was led away.
The moment the problem had been resolved she set off in search of Paul to continue her interrogation of him, but after a thorough search and three circuits of the School there was no sign of him and very soon the visitors started to drift away and the doors were closed for another year and as the team of helpers began to pack away Sophie sought out a quiet corner in which to reflect on a missed opportunity and she took sanctuary in the grotto.
The grotto was decorated with red and gold velvet drapes, adorned with tinsel and coloured lights, with a huge throne in the furthest corner surrounded by Christmas parcels and leading to the throne was a snow covered path and on one side of it was a festive tableau of snowmen and reindeer and on the other side Santa’s sleigh was parked.
She walked slowly down the snow covered path and sat on Santa’s throne and put her head in her hands and sighed and remained there for an indeterminate amount of time until she was brought back to the moment.
“So this is where you’re hiding”
“You’re still here” she exclaimed
“You sound disappointed” Paul pointed out
“No, no I didn’t mean that” she corrected him a little too forcefully
“It’s just that when I couldn’t find you anywhere I thought you must have gone”
“You were looking for me?” he asked
“Erm well we hadn’t finished catching up” she explained
“That’s good but I didn’t travel three and a half thousand miles just to catch up” he said
“What did you come for then?” she asked
“I came here to pick up” Paul said
“What?” she exclaimed
“From where we left off” he added and kissed her and it was liked they’d never been apart.
Wednesday, 28 June 2017
Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (94) For the Love of Anna
Rod McGregor was cold to his core as he hurried towards Shallowfield, it was three days before Christmas and 24 hours earlier he had been in Brisbane, which had been his home for the previous 24 years, where he worked as a conservationist for the Enoggera Forest Reserves, and it was his first time back in Downshire since he emigrated, and he never expected to see it again, in fact he had promised that he would never return.
But it was the person to whom he had made that promise, Anna Abbiss, who had summoned him back, so he couldn’t refuse.
Anna was the love of his life, and the only woman he had ever truly loved, and he loved her still, and she had loved him in equal measure, the only problem was that she was married, to his brother.
A two year affair between them resulted in her falling pregnant, Rod was sure that he was the father because Bob had mumps when he was in his teens and what Rod knew, and his brother didn’t was that such an affliction at that time at the age he was almost without exception resulted in rendering the recipient sterile.
However Bob was in blissful ignorance and because of his obvious delight at his impending fatherhood, Rod and Anna decided they should draw their affair to a close, but because they had tried previously and failed she said the only way was for him to leave, and he agreed, so he emigrated to Queensland.
Obviously because they were his family he couldn’t sever all contact but he maintained the distance although there had been close calls over the years when Bob would invite his brother to stay or would himself plan a trip to Australia, something always came up, something fabricated, to prevent it.
As he drove across the Vale he listened to the Radio and the weather forecast predicted a White Christmas and the artic winds were already blowing and had brought little flurries of hailstones and sleet throughout the day, but the slushy particles dissolved as they hit the ground.
However as he got closer to the Dancingdean Forest wet sleet turned to powdery snow, and the snowflakes floated and swirled through the air and formed a soft white carpet over the silent countryside and dusted the trees and turned the landscape into a magical wonderland.
He pulled up outside the Larkspur Hospice and took a few deep breaths before he got out of the car to steel himself for what was ahead.
He walked inside and the first person he saw was his brother Bob, who beamed a radiant smile at him as they approached each other and then they hugged
“Thanks for coming bro”
He stood by the door and looked into the room, and there she was, a pale imitation of what she had been, and beside her bed was a younger woman, clearly her daughter, their daughter, and she was the spitting image of Anna.
When she saw him she got up and walked towards him with tears in her eyes, because although they had never met she recognised him and exclaimed
“Uncle Rod!”
“Sweet Amy” he retorted
Because he was unable to cut the family ties he had managed to conduct relationships with his brother and his niece via email and maintained one with Anna vicariously.
What they hadn’t told him in their chatty email exchanges, at Anna’s request, was that Anna was battling breast cancer, but as each successive treatments failed and hope was finally replaced by palliative care, she had to see him one last time before she died.
“How is she doing?” he asked
“It won’t be long now” Amy said and the tears welled up and she broke down, in her father’s arms.
“Go and sit with her” Bob suggested “The morphine has her but talk to her”
He sat beside her bed and held her hand and said
“I love you my Anna”
He felt her hand move in his and then her eyes slowly opened and a glimmer of recognition spread across her face and she licked her lips and retorted
“Hello my only love”
They held each other’s gaze for what seemed an eternity, but in reality it was only seconds before she closed her eyes and she was gone back beneath the morphine veil.
But it was the person to whom he had made that promise, Anna Abbiss, who had summoned him back, so he couldn’t refuse.
Anna was the love of his life, and the only woman he had ever truly loved, and he loved her still, and she had loved him in equal measure, the only problem was that she was married, to his brother.
A two year affair between them resulted in her falling pregnant, Rod was sure that he was the father because Bob had mumps when he was in his teens and what Rod knew, and his brother didn’t was that such an affliction at that time at the age he was almost without exception resulted in rendering the recipient sterile.
However Bob was in blissful ignorance and because of his obvious delight at his impending fatherhood, Rod and Anna decided they should draw their affair to a close, but because they had tried previously and failed she said the only way was for him to leave, and he agreed, so he emigrated to Queensland.
Obviously because they were his family he couldn’t sever all contact but he maintained the distance although there had been close calls over the years when Bob would invite his brother to stay or would himself plan a trip to Australia, something always came up, something fabricated, to prevent it.
As he drove across the Vale he listened to the Radio and the weather forecast predicted a White Christmas and the artic winds were already blowing and had brought little flurries of hailstones and sleet throughout the day, but the slushy particles dissolved as they hit the ground.
However as he got closer to the Dancingdean Forest wet sleet turned to powdery snow, and the snowflakes floated and swirled through the air and formed a soft white carpet over the silent countryside and dusted the trees and turned the landscape into a magical wonderland.
He pulled up outside the Larkspur Hospice and took a few deep breaths before he got out of the car to steel himself for what was ahead.
He walked inside and the first person he saw was his brother Bob, who beamed a radiant smile at him as they approached each other and then they hugged
“Thanks for coming bro”
He stood by the door and looked into the room, and there she was, a pale imitation of what she had been, and beside her bed was a younger woman, clearly her daughter, their daughter, and she was the spitting image of Anna.
When she saw him she got up and walked towards him with tears in her eyes, because although they had never met she recognised him and exclaimed
“Uncle Rod!”
“Sweet Amy” he retorted
Because he was unable to cut the family ties he had managed to conduct relationships with his brother and his niece via email and maintained one with Anna vicariously.
What they hadn’t told him in their chatty email exchanges, at Anna’s request, was that Anna was battling breast cancer, but as each successive treatments failed and hope was finally replaced by palliative care, she had to see him one last time before she died.
“How is she doing?” he asked
“It won’t be long now” Amy said and the tears welled up and she broke down, in her father’s arms.
“Go and sit with her” Bob suggested “The morphine has her but talk to her”
He sat beside her bed and held her hand and said
“I love you my Anna”
He felt her hand move in his and then her eyes slowly opened and a glimmer of recognition spread across her face and she licked her lips and retorted
“Hello my only love”
They held each other’s gaze for what seemed an eternity, but in reality it was only seconds before she closed her eyes and she was gone back beneath the morphine veil.
Tuesday, 27 June 2017
Downshire Diary – (93) On Drake’s Farm
He tried to drive daintily through the potholed unmade road but failed miserably, but despite the hard going he eventually emerged into what looked like a poorly maintained Industrial Estate but was actually a ram shackled farm.
With an equally ram shackled farmyard littered with clutter including the rusty metal bits of tractors and the like.
As he drove into the yard he gave a wave to an old-man driving past in his car to go out the way he came in, the old man was Neville Drake and he was the former owner of Drakes Farm.
Anthony Menezes pulled into a second yard with outbuildings on three sides, all of which had seen better days.
He got out of his car and walked across the yard and turned the corner to the farmhouse and that was the first time that he saw the new owner, Jessica Quail, who he found to be haughty and aloof.
That was twelve months earlier, now as he drove along, the unmade road was pothole free and tarmac’d and the formerly ram shackled farm was now a very neat and tidy one.
Which was in stark contrast to how it had looked when he was there the first time, all the clutter that had littered the yard was gone, the mud that caked the cobbles had been washed away and the flaked and peeling paintwork had been completely replaced with gleaming white gloss, guttering had been repaired or replaced and had he not been a regular visitor to the farm he might have thought it was a different farm.
The reason for this transformation was the tall skinny Jessica Quail who was crossing the yard to greet him as he got out of the car.
She was just 32, with straw coloured hair, which was short and unruly.
As she strode toward him she was wearing a baggy tee shirt and overalls, and she looked like a proper tomboy.
“Hello Mr Menezes” she said with a smile and no hint of the haughty aloofness of their first meeting.
But then that was because during the twelve months that had elapsed they had been working at the farm together they had fallen in love.
“Hi Jess, are you busy?” he asked
“I’m never too busy for you” she said flirtily and embraced him
“Good because I want to ask you something” he said
“Ok you can ask me something on one condition” Jess said
“What condition?”
“That you ask me to marry you” she said and giggled
“What?”
“You have to ask me to marry you” she said
“What makes you think I’m going to ask you to marry me?” he asked
“Because you’ve been carrying the ring around in your jacket pocket for over a week” Jess said
“What makes you think it’s for you?” Anthony asked
“It had better be” she snapped and turned to face him
“Ok I admit it, the ring is for you” he confessed
“And so I should think” she said and after a pause she added
“Well?”
“Well what?” he retorted
“You still have to ask me” she pointed out
“Oh yes” he said and laughed and then asked “Will you marry me?”
“I’ll think about it” Jessica said and turned on her heels and headed towards the house
“What do you mean you’ll think about it?” he asked and trotted after her and then she stopped dead and turned around to face him
“Ok I’ve thought about it,” she said and launched herself at him “Of course I’ll marry you”
With an equally ram shackled farmyard littered with clutter including the rusty metal bits of tractors and the like.
As he drove into the yard he gave a wave to an old-man driving past in his car to go out the way he came in, the old man was Neville Drake and he was the former owner of Drakes Farm.
Anthony Menezes pulled into a second yard with outbuildings on three sides, all of which had seen better days.
He got out of his car and walked across the yard and turned the corner to the farmhouse and that was the first time that he saw the new owner, Jessica Quail, who he found to be haughty and aloof.
That was twelve months earlier, now as he drove along, the unmade road was pothole free and tarmac’d and the formerly ram shackled farm was now a very neat and tidy one.
Which was in stark contrast to how it had looked when he was there the first time, all the clutter that had littered the yard was gone, the mud that caked the cobbles had been washed away and the flaked and peeling paintwork had been completely replaced with gleaming white gloss, guttering had been repaired or replaced and had he not been a regular visitor to the farm he might have thought it was a different farm.
The reason for this transformation was the tall skinny Jessica Quail who was crossing the yard to greet him as he got out of the car.
She was just 32, with straw coloured hair, which was short and unruly.
As she strode toward him she was wearing a baggy tee shirt and overalls, and she looked like a proper tomboy.
“Hello Mr Menezes” she said with a smile and no hint of the haughty aloofness of their first meeting.
But then that was because during the twelve months that had elapsed they had been working at the farm together they had fallen in love.
“Hi Jess, are you busy?” he asked
“I’m never too busy for you” she said flirtily and embraced him
“Good because I want to ask you something” he said
“Ok you can ask me something on one condition” Jess said
“What condition?”
“That you ask me to marry you” she said and giggled
“What?”
“You have to ask me to marry you” she said
“What makes you think I’m going to ask you to marry me?” he asked
“Because you’ve been carrying the ring around in your jacket pocket for over a week” Jess said
“What makes you think it’s for you?” Anthony asked
“It had better be” she snapped and turned to face him
“Ok I admit it, the ring is for you” he confessed
“And so I should think” she said and after a pause she added
“Well?”
“Well what?” he retorted
“You still have to ask me” she pointed out
“Oh yes” he said and laughed and then asked “Will you marry me?”
“I’ll think about it” Jessica said and turned on her heels and headed towards the house
“What do you mean you’ll think about it?” he asked and trotted after her and then she stopped dead and turned around to face him
“Ok I’ve thought about it,” she said and launched herself at him “Of course I’ll marry you”
Mornington-By-Mere - (93) Alma’s Eyes
When the Mornington Estate exercised its option to purchase Mornington Field from the MOD it also acquired all the buildings and infrastructure on the airfield itself as well as 29 houses in the village formally used as quarters for military personnel.
Plans were immediately drawn up to optimize the newly acquired assets the moment the property was formally handed over on the 1st of June.
The guardians of the estate were the St George family the head of which is Baron Gabriel St George.
His architect Scott Collier was tasked with designing appropriate conversions to maximize the potential returns, and Ray Walker
Who dealt with all thing estate maintenance wise was responsible for getting the old Air force housing stock occupied ASAP,
Ray worked tirelessly to that end to have not just the first six houses ready within the month as originally promised, but eight, which were handed over on the 6th of July, two days earlier than forecast. .
Gabriel was then able to instruct Lyndon-Sanders Properties of Shallowfield to find tenants.
Priority was to be given to local people or people with ties to the area or those who worked in some capacity for the estate such as agriculture and the brewery.
Other than that they were to be rented with the only condition being that it had to be the tenant’s primary residence.
Gabriel was always conscious of creating a ghost town of professionals who live and work in Town all week and only return to the village on the weekend.
One such person was Alma Fuentes who was a physiotherapist at the Dancingdean Health Centre in Shallowfield who worked out of the Mornington Surgery one day a week.
Alma lived at number 8 The Close and she was the only single occupancy, everyone else had a family or a partner and children and she wanted that, she had always wanted that but now she lived among so many children she wanted it even more.
She was a tiny Spanish woman who looked like a breath of wind would blow her away but looks could be very deceptive as she was as strong as an ox.
When she worked in Shallowfield she would go across the road to the café for her lunch.
Paul Larkin sat drinking black coffee alone in Addison’s café just killing some time and he noticed her instantly as she entered, and he was powerless to resist the movement of his eyes, as like magnets they were drawn towards the striking young woman's and her stunning beauty, her hair appeared black as a raven's wing as it caressed the dark caramel skin of her shoulders, but with the sun shining through the fine strands they betrayed its true brunette nature.
But out of the sun her hairs dark lustre framed the simple beauty of her face, which he studied as he took another sip.
Firstly her full lips quivered and then broadened into a smile, as he admired the delicate curve of her small nose and the hypnotic depth of her dark brown eyes, which looked back at him and held his gaze, and as if reading his thoughts they burned through him and touched his soul.
Alma was distracted momentarily so his eyes wandered the soft brown nakedness of her neck and shoulders and then he met her eyes again and her smile broadened and her cheeks flushed.
As she sat down at an adjacent table his gaze once more returned to her face and Alma smiled.
That was the last time they sat on separate tables because the next day he joined her and bought her coffee and they talked and laughed, then drank more coffee and talked and laughed some more.
His eyes still took every opportunity to peruse her sweet face when he wasn’t held captive by her Spanish eyes.
Six months passed and love blossomed and grew between them and then came the day when her dark eyes, sultry and steamy flashed him a side ward’s glance from beneath the white lace of her veil and in return he gave her a more appraising look altogether, focusing on the curvaceous figure beneath her conservative wedding dress.
Her eyes flashed up again, a lingering languid glance which spoke volumes of her being very much a woman and not the putative girl her parents would have her be still.
She was the centre of his admiration, and he was hers as they saw recognition in each other’s eyes, no words were spoken, everything was intuit and with amative study and libidinous perusal, the girl was his object of pulchritude and he was her beloved swain.
All at once they had to come back to the moment and the spell was broken momentarily and they had to turn their attention to the Vicar until the moment when after their union, he would look into the eyes of the young woman behind the white lace veil as they stood on the steps of St Winifred’s church.
Plans were immediately drawn up to optimize the newly acquired assets the moment the property was formally handed over on the 1st of June.
The guardians of the estate were the St George family the head of which is Baron Gabriel St George.
His architect Scott Collier was tasked with designing appropriate conversions to maximize the potential returns, and Ray Walker
Who dealt with all thing estate maintenance wise was responsible for getting the old Air force housing stock occupied ASAP,
Ray worked tirelessly to that end to have not just the first six houses ready within the month as originally promised, but eight, which were handed over on the 6th of July, two days earlier than forecast. .
Gabriel was then able to instruct Lyndon-Sanders Properties of Shallowfield to find tenants.
Priority was to be given to local people or people with ties to the area or those who worked in some capacity for the estate such as agriculture and the brewery.
Other than that they were to be rented with the only condition being that it had to be the tenant’s primary residence.
Gabriel was always conscious of creating a ghost town of professionals who live and work in Town all week and only return to the village on the weekend.
One such person was Alma Fuentes who was a physiotherapist at the Dancingdean Health Centre in Shallowfield who worked out of the Mornington Surgery one day a week.
Alma lived at number 8 The Close and she was the only single occupancy, everyone else had a family or a partner and children and she wanted that, she had always wanted that but now she lived among so many children she wanted it even more.
She was a tiny Spanish woman who looked like a breath of wind would blow her away but looks could be very deceptive as she was as strong as an ox.
When she worked in Shallowfield she would go across the road to the café for her lunch.
Paul Larkin sat drinking black coffee alone in Addison’s café just killing some time and he noticed her instantly as she entered, and he was powerless to resist the movement of his eyes, as like magnets they were drawn towards the striking young woman's and her stunning beauty, her hair appeared black as a raven's wing as it caressed the dark caramel skin of her shoulders, but with the sun shining through the fine strands they betrayed its true brunette nature.
But out of the sun her hairs dark lustre framed the simple beauty of her face, which he studied as he took another sip.
Firstly her full lips quivered and then broadened into a smile, as he admired the delicate curve of her small nose and the hypnotic depth of her dark brown eyes, which looked back at him and held his gaze, and as if reading his thoughts they burned through him and touched his soul.
Alma was distracted momentarily so his eyes wandered the soft brown nakedness of her neck and shoulders and then he met her eyes again and her smile broadened and her cheeks flushed.
As she sat down at an adjacent table his gaze once more returned to her face and Alma smiled.
That was the last time they sat on separate tables because the next day he joined her and bought her coffee and they talked and laughed, then drank more coffee and talked and laughed some more.
His eyes still took every opportunity to peruse her sweet face when he wasn’t held captive by her Spanish eyes.
Six months passed and love blossomed and grew between them and then came the day when her dark eyes, sultry and steamy flashed him a side ward’s glance from beneath the white lace of her veil and in return he gave her a more appraising look altogether, focusing on the curvaceous figure beneath her conservative wedding dress.
Her eyes flashed up again, a lingering languid glance which spoke volumes of her being very much a woman and not the putative girl her parents would have her be still.
She was the centre of his admiration, and he was hers as they saw recognition in each other’s eyes, no words were spoken, everything was intuit and with amative study and libidinous perusal, the girl was his object of pulchritude and he was her beloved swain.
All at once they had to come back to the moment and the spell was broken momentarily and they had to turn their attention to the Vicar until the moment when after their union, he would look into the eyes of the young woman behind the white lace veil as they stood on the steps of St Winifred’s church.
Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (93) Doctors in Love
(Part 01)
The Finchbottom Vale nestles comfortably between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest to the south and the rolling Pepperstock Hills in the north and those who were lucky enough to live there think of it as the rose between two thorns and at the eastern end of the Vale were the Dulcets which were a collection of villages and hamlets comprising of Dulcet Meadow, Dulcet-on-Willow, Dulcet St Mary, Dulcet Green and Dulcet-on-Brooke, to name but a few.
Barry and Sarah Blake and Chris and Helen Blenkin were all Doctors of varying degrees, Barry was a GP while his wife Sarah was an ambition driven cardio thoracic surgeon.
Helen Blenkin was also a GP at the same practice as Barry and her husband Chris was an ENT specialist at the Royal Downshire, he was also a drunken womanizer.
So the two couple’s, one with a neglected husband due to an ambitious wife and the other with a lonely wife because of an alcoholic adulterer pushed Barry and Helen towards a forbidden love.
Barry and Helen worked at the Dulcets Health Centre in Dulcet-on-Brooke and the Blake’s lived in the village but the Blenkin’s lived in Brocklington.
Over the years because of their personal circumstances the two had spent increasingly more time together and slowly and inexorably fell in love, but despite that fact they did nothing but enjoy each other’s company for five years, before they succumbed to the inevitable.
However even after the genie was out the bottle they had to be discreet and quite inventive to protect their secret love.
One such subterfuge occurred at the end of a very busy week when the health center’s resources were stretched very thin.
One of Helen’s patients collapsed in the waiting room at the Health Centre and the woman was very scared so she offered to ride with her in the ambulance, which calmed her down but she died an hour after arriving at the hospital, Helen was sad about her death but happy in the knowledge that she passed peacefully.
With Helen stranded in Purplemere Barry volunteered to drive over and pick her up.
As they were driving back to Dulcet-on-Brooke in the bright evening sunshine to pick up her car, Helen suddenly asked
“Do you have any visitors at the moment?”
She was referring to his sister Brenda who was a frequent flyer in his spare room but she really wanted to know if Sarah was home.
“No just me on my lonesome” he replied
“What about Sarah?” she asked
“She’s gone to a conference in Amsterdam for a couple of days” he answered and then there was a long silence.
“Do you want some company?” Helen asked coyly
“Are you offering?” he asked her
“I am” she replied
Then after a few moments she continue
“It’s been such a beastly week and I know I’m very brazen, but once in a while it’s nice to feel like I’m part of a proper couple, and I feel that with you and…”
“And today you need that more than ever” he continued for her
“Yes” she replied
(Part 02)
It was dark when they got back to the village and parked the car on the drive.
Although it was Helen’s desire to spend the night with him she was conscious of the risk to her reputation if she was seen going through his front door after dark by the village busybodies.
So Barry got out of the car and opened the door while Helen put on one of Sarah’s hats that she found in the door pocket, which disguised her sufficiently to the untrained eye while she dashed in through the door.
They would have to employ a similar subterfuge later on that evening but that was only after they had spent the evening together.
When he had safely smuggled her inside the hall she said
“Is this any kind of way for grownups to behave?” and they both burst out laughing.
But then inevitably they started kissing and began a kind of shuffle along the hall until he picked her up and carried her to the lounge when at the height of passion her stomach started gurgling and it got louder and louder until it culminated in foul tasting belch in his mouth.
“Oh God I’m so sorry” Helen said mortified by her unintentional gastric eruption.
“I haven’t really eaten for two days,” she said in her defense but all he could do was laugh, which in turn set her off, and once the giggles set in there was nothing to be done.
So Barry got the takeaway menus and ten minutes later he was ordering an Indian.
They still had the giggles so he opened a bottle of wine and poured two large glasses.
“I can’t have that much” she said when she saw the size of the glass “I’m driving remember”
“I thought you were staying the night,” he said
“Is that ok?” she asked
“Of course it is, so get that down your neck” he replied
While they waited for dinner to arrive Helen made some phone calls, in between the giggles, just to make sure everything was ok at the surgery.
But every time they thought about renewing their amorous intentions, they dissolved into giggles again.
By the time the food arrived they were a little bit pissed and after they’d eaten they were too stuffed for passion so they drank some more instead.
So by the time midnight came around they were quite merry and all of a sudden Helen sat upright and said
“I don’t have a change of clothes”
“That’s ok we’re not going anywhere” he reassured her
“But I’ve got no spare knickers” she emphasized
“You could borrow some of Sarah’s,” he suggested
“No that is wrong on so many levels” she chastised and Barry was just about to make another suggestion when Helen said
“And commando is not an option”
“Nothing could have been further from my mind,” he said innocently
“Nothing is precisely what was on your mind” she corrected him “and me wearing it” and she laughed.
After a few minutes of giggles Helen suddenly announced
“I have an overnight bag in my car for when I’m on call”
“Well lets go and get it then” I said
“But what if someone sees me come in here with my overnight bag” she said anxiously
“They won’t” he said and went out into the hall
“Why not?” she asked
“Because we will be in disguise” he replied and handed her a hoody
Helen stood up and slipped it on and put the hood up.
“What do you think?” Helen asked as she did her catwalk strut and Barry looked her up and down from head to toe.
“You look like a professional woman wearing a hoody” he said frankly “Hold on”
And he went upstairs and went to the airing cupboard and then the spare room and returned downstairs.
“Change into these” he said and handed her a pair of joggers, a sweatshirt and a pair of trainers.
“Sarah’s?” she asked
“Brenda’s” he replied, Brenda was his younger sister who often stayed with him.
“That’s ok then” she said and began undressing but then stopped “Some privacy would be nice”
“I won’t look honest” he lied and Helen gave him a look so he got up and went into the hall, where he could have spied through the crack in the door, which he didn’t, well not much.
(Part 03)
Ten minutes later they slipped out the back door into the darkness of the garden like they had just accepted a “Mission Impossible” and then ran giggling into the woods that separated the end of the garden from the 18th fairway where they skulked their way along the wooded path, like a couple of kids playing soldiers, all the way to the Church Lane where they hugged the shrubbery until they reached the Health Centre car park.
They gave a long furtive look to make sure there was no one around and then they approached Helen’s car.
She fished the keys from her pocket and unlocked it and it responded with a loud bleep made all the louder by the silence and a flash of the lights all the brighter in the darkness.
Startled by the sound of the immobilizer they quickly opened the tailgate and Helen grabbed her backpack, then she reset the alarm and they headed back to the lane.
“Oi you” a voice shouted, “What are you doing there?”
“Come on” he urged her and they ran laughing back into the woods periodically looking over their shoulders to see if they were being pursued.
Once they were in the woods they ran on and on until they crashed in a heap in the undergrowth laughing.
“Shhh” she said, “Someone will hear”
But Barry couldn’t stop giggling so she decided the only way to shut him up was to kiss him, but what began as a means of suppressing his giggles ended with her tongue darting in and out of his mouth like a viper so he returned the kiss to her hot panting mouth.
“This is very nice,” she panted as he began to rummage inside her hoody and was making great progress but then to his surprise she suddenly leapt up and said
“Oh no you don’t” and ran off down the path and he scramble to his feet as quickly as possible and ran after her and although she had a good head start it didn’t take long for him to close the ground on her and he grabbed hold of her back pack and pulled her backwards.
But her progress was only halted momentarily as she wriggled free of the straps and he ended up sitting on his backside holding the bag and to add insult onto injury she lifted her hoody and flashed him and then ran off laughing.
“That’s dirty fighting” he called after her and quickly got back to his feet, but she managed to show him a clean pair of heels all the way back to the house.
“Well that was quite an adventure wasn’t it?” she said as she kicked off her shoes.
“It’s a shame you couldn’t keep up”
“You cheeky cow” he said affronted as she turned on her heels and ran out of the kitchen giggling like a schoolgirl heading for the stairs and he sprinted after her and he caught her halfway across the landing and she screamed as he grabbed her by the waist.
“Got yer,” he said and scooped her up and carried her into the bedroom.
(Part 04)
On Saturday Morning he was lying in bed, while Helen was in the shower, waiting for her to finish so he could get in, he didn’t have to wait too long.
Showered and shaved he went back into the bedroom where he found Helen sitting on the bed loosely wearing a dressing gown while she was talking on her mobile.
“Really?” she said but he couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation.
“Yes of course I will” Helen said and again he couldn’t hear anything in response
“Yes I’ll let you know” she said “Good bye”
“You’ll never guess what that was about” she said
“You’ll have to tell me then” he replied
“When we were seen by my car last night it was reported to the police” Helen said
“It’s a good job we were in disguise then” Barry said as he knelt on the bed behind her and began kissing her neck which was the prelude to a wonderful start to the day.
Barry would have happily spent the whole day making love to Helen but alas she had to go.
However the problem was how to get her out of his house in broad daylight without being seen.
So they decided to have a coffee while they made a plan, and two mugs of coffee later as if in answer to a prayer it started to rain, but not just rain, it was an absolute deluge.
“Oh shitty bloody weather” Helen cursed
“Excellent” he said
“What?” she asked, “but it’s horrible”
“It’s perfect, is what it is” he said and went into the utility and came out with a set of waterproofs and a Golfing umbrella.
“If anyone sees you in the woods in these they’ll just think you’re a Golfer” Barry said “Ditto when you emerge into the lane”
“Perfect” she said “but what if I’m seen getting in the car?”
“Then you say you’re going to the club,” he said
“You’re a very devious man,” Helen said
“I know but the rewards are well worth it” he stated and Helen blushed crimson red.
But having provided Helen with the appropriate clothing they immediately hit upon a snag, the trousers didn’t fit over her skirt, it bunched up under the waterproofs and made it look like she had a bustle.
So she removed the trouser and then had to take her skirt off.
“Don’t get any ideas,” she said when she noticed him looking at her in her knickers and tights.
“Well you could stay a bit longer,” he suggested lustily
“Don’t temp me,” she said quickly pulling on the waterproof trousers which were a little on the large side and the waistband sat just below her bust line.
Then she pulled on the top over her head before slipping on her shoes.
“That’s not going to work,” he said
“Why?” she asked with concern
“No one would wear footwear like that on a golf course,” he told her
“They are a bit of a giveaway, aren’t they?” she admitted
“Indeed” he agreed
“What can I wear then?” she asked
“Brenda’s trainers” he said
“What about all my stuff?” she queried
“I’ll bring it to the surgery on Monday, I’ll tell Karen that you left them in my car yesterday” he said
“God, you’re good at this stuff,” Helen said and she kissed him
After he had kissed her goodbye he let her out into the rain.
“Text me when you reach your car” he said
“Will do” she responded and off she went
“I love you” he called after her
Meanwhile he gathered her stuff together and put it in her backpack and put it and her overcoat by the front door.
Which was when he got a text
“Made it,” it read “I love you too”
The Finchbottom Vale nestles comfortably between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest to the south and the rolling Pepperstock Hills in the north and those who were lucky enough to live there think of it as the rose between two thorns and at the eastern end of the Vale were the Dulcets which were a collection of villages and hamlets comprising of Dulcet Meadow, Dulcet-on-Willow, Dulcet St Mary, Dulcet Green and Dulcet-on-Brooke, to name but a few.
Barry and Sarah Blake and Chris and Helen Blenkin were all Doctors of varying degrees, Barry was a GP while his wife Sarah was an ambition driven cardio thoracic surgeon.
Helen Blenkin was also a GP at the same practice as Barry and her husband Chris was an ENT specialist at the Royal Downshire, he was also a drunken womanizer.
So the two couple’s, one with a neglected husband due to an ambitious wife and the other with a lonely wife because of an alcoholic adulterer pushed Barry and Helen towards a forbidden love.
Barry and Helen worked at the Dulcets Health Centre in Dulcet-on-Brooke and the Blake’s lived in the village but the Blenkin’s lived in Brocklington.
Over the years because of their personal circumstances the two had spent increasingly more time together and slowly and inexorably fell in love, but despite that fact they did nothing but enjoy each other’s company for five years, before they succumbed to the inevitable.
However even after the genie was out the bottle they had to be discreet and quite inventive to protect their secret love.
One such subterfuge occurred at the end of a very busy week when the health center’s resources were stretched very thin.
One of Helen’s patients collapsed in the waiting room at the Health Centre and the woman was very scared so she offered to ride with her in the ambulance, which calmed her down but she died an hour after arriving at the hospital, Helen was sad about her death but happy in the knowledge that she passed peacefully.
With Helen stranded in Purplemere Barry volunteered to drive over and pick her up.
As they were driving back to Dulcet-on-Brooke in the bright evening sunshine to pick up her car, Helen suddenly asked
“Do you have any visitors at the moment?”
She was referring to his sister Brenda who was a frequent flyer in his spare room but she really wanted to know if Sarah was home.
“No just me on my lonesome” he replied
“What about Sarah?” she asked
“She’s gone to a conference in Amsterdam for a couple of days” he answered and then there was a long silence.
“Do you want some company?” Helen asked coyly
“Are you offering?” he asked her
“I am” she replied
Then after a few moments she continue
“It’s been such a beastly week and I know I’m very brazen, but once in a while it’s nice to feel like I’m part of a proper couple, and I feel that with you and…”
“And today you need that more than ever” he continued for her
“Yes” she replied
(Part 02)
It was dark when they got back to the village and parked the car on the drive.
Although it was Helen’s desire to spend the night with him she was conscious of the risk to her reputation if she was seen going through his front door after dark by the village busybodies.
So Barry got out of the car and opened the door while Helen put on one of Sarah’s hats that she found in the door pocket, which disguised her sufficiently to the untrained eye while she dashed in through the door.
They would have to employ a similar subterfuge later on that evening but that was only after they had spent the evening together.
When he had safely smuggled her inside the hall she said
“Is this any kind of way for grownups to behave?” and they both burst out laughing.
But then inevitably they started kissing and began a kind of shuffle along the hall until he picked her up and carried her to the lounge when at the height of passion her stomach started gurgling and it got louder and louder until it culminated in foul tasting belch in his mouth.
“Oh God I’m so sorry” Helen said mortified by her unintentional gastric eruption.
“I haven’t really eaten for two days,” she said in her defense but all he could do was laugh, which in turn set her off, and once the giggles set in there was nothing to be done.
So Barry got the takeaway menus and ten minutes later he was ordering an Indian.
They still had the giggles so he opened a bottle of wine and poured two large glasses.
“I can’t have that much” she said when she saw the size of the glass “I’m driving remember”
“I thought you were staying the night,” he said
“Is that ok?” she asked
“Of course it is, so get that down your neck” he replied
While they waited for dinner to arrive Helen made some phone calls, in between the giggles, just to make sure everything was ok at the surgery.
But every time they thought about renewing their amorous intentions, they dissolved into giggles again.
By the time the food arrived they were a little bit pissed and after they’d eaten they were too stuffed for passion so they drank some more instead.
So by the time midnight came around they were quite merry and all of a sudden Helen sat upright and said
“I don’t have a change of clothes”
“That’s ok we’re not going anywhere” he reassured her
“But I’ve got no spare knickers” she emphasized
“You could borrow some of Sarah’s,” he suggested
“No that is wrong on so many levels” she chastised and Barry was just about to make another suggestion when Helen said
“And commando is not an option”
“Nothing could have been further from my mind,” he said innocently
“Nothing is precisely what was on your mind” she corrected him “and me wearing it” and she laughed.
After a few minutes of giggles Helen suddenly announced
“I have an overnight bag in my car for when I’m on call”
“Well lets go and get it then” I said
“But what if someone sees me come in here with my overnight bag” she said anxiously
“They won’t” he said and went out into the hall
“Why not?” she asked
“Because we will be in disguise” he replied and handed her a hoody
Helen stood up and slipped it on and put the hood up.
“What do you think?” Helen asked as she did her catwalk strut and Barry looked her up and down from head to toe.
“You look like a professional woman wearing a hoody” he said frankly “Hold on”
And he went upstairs and went to the airing cupboard and then the spare room and returned downstairs.
“Change into these” he said and handed her a pair of joggers, a sweatshirt and a pair of trainers.
“Sarah’s?” she asked
“Brenda’s” he replied, Brenda was his younger sister who often stayed with him.
“That’s ok then” she said and began undressing but then stopped “Some privacy would be nice”
“I won’t look honest” he lied and Helen gave him a look so he got up and went into the hall, where he could have spied through the crack in the door, which he didn’t, well not much.
(Part 03)
Ten minutes later they slipped out the back door into the darkness of the garden like they had just accepted a “Mission Impossible” and then ran giggling into the woods that separated the end of the garden from the 18th fairway where they skulked their way along the wooded path, like a couple of kids playing soldiers, all the way to the Church Lane where they hugged the shrubbery until they reached the Health Centre car park.
They gave a long furtive look to make sure there was no one around and then they approached Helen’s car.
She fished the keys from her pocket and unlocked it and it responded with a loud bleep made all the louder by the silence and a flash of the lights all the brighter in the darkness.
Startled by the sound of the immobilizer they quickly opened the tailgate and Helen grabbed her backpack, then she reset the alarm and they headed back to the lane.
“Oi you” a voice shouted, “What are you doing there?”
“Come on” he urged her and they ran laughing back into the woods periodically looking over their shoulders to see if they were being pursued.
Once they were in the woods they ran on and on until they crashed in a heap in the undergrowth laughing.
“Shhh” she said, “Someone will hear”
But Barry couldn’t stop giggling so she decided the only way to shut him up was to kiss him, but what began as a means of suppressing his giggles ended with her tongue darting in and out of his mouth like a viper so he returned the kiss to her hot panting mouth.
“This is very nice,” she panted as he began to rummage inside her hoody and was making great progress but then to his surprise she suddenly leapt up and said
“Oh no you don’t” and ran off down the path and he scramble to his feet as quickly as possible and ran after her and although she had a good head start it didn’t take long for him to close the ground on her and he grabbed hold of her back pack and pulled her backwards.
But her progress was only halted momentarily as she wriggled free of the straps and he ended up sitting on his backside holding the bag and to add insult onto injury she lifted her hoody and flashed him and then ran off laughing.
“That’s dirty fighting” he called after her and quickly got back to his feet, but she managed to show him a clean pair of heels all the way back to the house.
“Well that was quite an adventure wasn’t it?” she said as she kicked off her shoes.
“It’s a shame you couldn’t keep up”
“You cheeky cow” he said affronted as she turned on her heels and ran out of the kitchen giggling like a schoolgirl heading for the stairs and he sprinted after her and he caught her halfway across the landing and she screamed as he grabbed her by the waist.
“Got yer,” he said and scooped her up and carried her into the bedroom.
(Part 04)
On Saturday Morning he was lying in bed, while Helen was in the shower, waiting for her to finish so he could get in, he didn’t have to wait too long.
Showered and shaved he went back into the bedroom where he found Helen sitting on the bed loosely wearing a dressing gown while she was talking on her mobile.
“Really?” she said but he couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation.
“Yes of course I will” Helen said and again he couldn’t hear anything in response
“Yes I’ll let you know” she said “Good bye”
“You’ll never guess what that was about” she said
“You’ll have to tell me then” he replied
“When we were seen by my car last night it was reported to the police” Helen said
“It’s a good job we were in disguise then” Barry said as he knelt on the bed behind her and began kissing her neck which was the prelude to a wonderful start to the day.
Barry would have happily spent the whole day making love to Helen but alas she had to go.
However the problem was how to get her out of his house in broad daylight without being seen.
So they decided to have a coffee while they made a plan, and two mugs of coffee later as if in answer to a prayer it started to rain, but not just rain, it was an absolute deluge.
“Oh shitty bloody weather” Helen cursed
“Excellent” he said
“What?” she asked, “but it’s horrible”
“It’s perfect, is what it is” he said and went into the utility and came out with a set of waterproofs and a Golfing umbrella.
“If anyone sees you in the woods in these they’ll just think you’re a Golfer” Barry said “Ditto when you emerge into the lane”
“Perfect” she said “but what if I’m seen getting in the car?”
“Then you say you’re going to the club,” he said
“You’re a very devious man,” Helen said
“I know but the rewards are well worth it” he stated and Helen blushed crimson red.
But having provided Helen with the appropriate clothing they immediately hit upon a snag, the trousers didn’t fit over her skirt, it bunched up under the waterproofs and made it look like she had a bustle.
So she removed the trouser and then had to take her skirt off.
“Don’t get any ideas,” she said when she noticed him looking at her in her knickers and tights.
“Well you could stay a bit longer,” he suggested lustily
“Don’t temp me,” she said quickly pulling on the waterproof trousers which were a little on the large side and the waistband sat just below her bust line.
Then she pulled on the top over her head before slipping on her shoes.
“That’s not going to work,” he said
“Why?” she asked with concern
“No one would wear footwear like that on a golf course,” he told her
“They are a bit of a giveaway, aren’t they?” she admitted
“Indeed” he agreed
“What can I wear then?” she asked
“Brenda’s trainers” he said
“What about all my stuff?” she queried
“I’ll bring it to the surgery on Monday, I’ll tell Karen that you left them in my car yesterday” he said
“God, you’re good at this stuff,” Helen said and she kissed him
After he had kissed her goodbye he let her out into the rain.
“Text me when you reach your car” he said
“Will do” she responded and off she went
“I love you” he called after her
Meanwhile he gathered her stuff together and put it in her backpack and put it and her overcoat by the front door.
Which was when he got a text
“Made it,” it read “I love you too”
Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (93) Day of Judgement
(Part 01)
The fortunes of Shallowfield had always relied largely upon forestry and agriculture for its survival.
In the post war years with rationing and a shortage of work a lot of people moved away, to Abbottsford, Abbeyvale and beyond and it only barely survived, and the community around Teardrop Lake fared even worse.
Only a few of the houses around the Lake were thriving, a lot of the houses had been rented out and those that hadn’t been were in a poor state of repair, some too such an extent they were little more than ruins.
But by the 70s things were beginning to change, thanks mainly to tourism and an increase in leisure time.
More importantly these people had money in their pockets.
This trend was reflected by the fact that the derelict Shallowfield Lodge, which had been inherited by a young couple from Lincolnshire, Rob and Sheryl Brown, was being turned into a hotel.
Its completion formerly marked the rebirth of Teardrop Lake and the revival of the busy village of Shallowfield went hand in hand.
And the people around of Shallowfield prospered though not quite as well as widowed fifty something sisters Arianne Berbosa and Rose McGee who were both comfortably off and had no need to work.
But they weren’t lazy women so they filled their time doing voluntary work and generally helping out in the community.
But sometimes the help they provided was a little unorthodox such as the time they learned about an unsavoury character who lived in Shallowfield and who preyed on young unsuspecting girls.
This lothario was 30 year old solicitor David Lewis who used his younger half-sister Angela to befriend his target and give himself an icebreaker.
Angela was really uncomfortable doing it but David controlled her completely and she was at his mercy, and unable to get out from beneath his malevolent influence.
But that was all set to change when David aimed her in the direction of Arianne’s daughter Terri.
Theresa Berbosa had just graduated from Abbottsford University and was two years older than Angela, Terri was a tall and curvaceous red head and Angela was small and delicate with long raven black hair, and when they met at a fancy dress party, at the Lutchford’s home beside Teardrop Lake, they hit it off straight away and were inseparable for the three days before David made his move.
They were sitting at the bar in the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel on one Friday night when lounge lizard David sidled up to them
“Hello sis” he said and kissed Angela “Fancy finding you here”
“Yes fancy” she said coldly “This is my friend Terri”
Which was David’s cue to pour on the charm and ply her with drink while at the same time remaining sober himself leaving him in the perfect position to take advantage of her, he had a remarkable conversion rate due to his tactics but was not averse to spiking a girls drink to hurry things along, though Angela had no knowledge of that or she would definitely have stood up to him.
What he didn’t know was that Terri was a hardened drinker and was not going under the table to suit his timetable, but then out of the blue she said
“Why don’t you come back to mine? It’s only along the lane”
“What a great idea” he said and to his sister he added “I’m sure you have other plans”
“Yes I do” she said
“What a shame” Terri gushed and gave her a long hug
Terri’s mum had a flat in Dancingdean House which was situated on the highest point on the cliffs above the Lake and commanded a magnificent view.
They walked along the perimeter road towards the building and as they stepped inside the flat Terri purred
“I like to dominate”
“Really?” he said “I don’t mind a bit of that”
“That’s good to hear” she said and kissed him and added
“Now get undressed”
He quickly complied and strutted arrogantly around the room showing off his physique.
“Oh very nice” Terri said as she walked towards him brandishing a pair of handcuffs in one hand and some silk rope in the other.
“Your turn” he said
“I’ll tell you when its time” she retorted “I told you I like to dominate, now sit on the chair, hands behind the back of the chair” She said and threaded the cuffs around the central strut of the chair back and snapped them on his wrists.
Then she tied his legs securely to the chair legs and when he was tightly trussed to the dining chair she kissed his forehead and walked behind him.
“I’m ready to watch you undress now” he called but there was no reply
(Part 02)
David sat tied and handcuffed to the chair, periodically calling out and each call became increasingly more desperate,
“Come on it’s my turn to watch you undress now”
“That’s not going to happen I’m afraid” Arianne said
“You’re just going to have to make do with me and my sister”
“What?” he said with alarm “Who the hell are you?”
“I’m Arianne and this is my sister Rose”
“What?” he barked “Where’s the young one?”
“She not here” Rose replied
“For God sake I wasn’t expecting to end up with some dried up old crones” he yelled
“I know, you were hoping to get your end away with my daughter” Arianne retorted
“Which was never going to happen” Arianne added “and furthermore she’s currently with your sister Angela”
“Don’t feel too bad” Rose added, “You were never going to get anywhere with Terri, because she butters her bread on the other side, and so does your sister”
“And now they’re buttering each other’s” Arianne said and they both laughed
“My sister is not a dyke” he shouted
“That’s enough of that kind of talk” Arianne chastised “Or I’ll have to take steps”
“Shut your mouth and let me out of here” he snapped “I’ll have you arrested, for false imprisonment, I’m a solicitor so I know the law”
Arianne said nothing but nodded to her sister, who was stood behind David’s chair, and at Arianne’s signal quickly and expertly applied a gag.
“That’s better” Arianne said “Now perhaps you’ll listen”
“We know very well that you’re a solicitor and I should hope you do know the law, but having said that, we have Terri on tape saying she liked to dominate and you agreeing to be tied up”
“As for letting you go, well we will but not yet, we’re going to keep you here while Terri helps Angela to move all her stuff out of your house, and a bit longer after that just to make sure she has a good head start on you to get to their destination”
He then growled and muttered behind his gag.
“Its ok don’t fret” Rose said “You won’t be bored we have some entertainment lined up”
The wrong side of fifty the sisters may have been but they kept their bodies in very good order and they were dressed in very smart outfits by the time the doorbell rang for the first time and when the sisters returned from opening the door they were accompanied by a group of young women and Arianne and Rose were wearing wicked grins.
“Well I can tell by your face that no introductions are required” Arianne said and the doorbell rang again “Ah that will be more of your victims”
By the time the last of his assault victims had arrived and been introduced to him Angela was just loading the last box into Terri’s car.
“Well that’s that” she said and went back up the path and posted the keys through the letter box
“No going back” she added defiantly before walking up to Terri and kissing her.
When Arianne and Rose released his bonds and cuffs he got up and rushed towards the door beneath the full judgemental glare of his victims and to the sound of jeering catcalls as he left the flat and descended the stairwell clutching his clothes to his humiliated naked form and as he walked gingerly across the gravelled drive to his car Terri and Angela had arrived at their destination in Sharpington where they were starting their life together.
The fortunes of Shallowfield had always relied largely upon forestry and agriculture for its survival.
In the post war years with rationing and a shortage of work a lot of people moved away, to Abbottsford, Abbeyvale and beyond and it only barely survived, and the community around Teardrop Lake fared even worse.
Only a few of the houses around the Lake were thriving, a lot of the houses had been rented out and those that hadn’t been were in a poor state of repair, some too such an extent they were little more than ruins.
But by the 70s things were beginning to change, thanks mainly to tourism and an increase in leisure time.
More importantly these people had money in their pockets.
This trend was reflected by the fact that the derelict Shallowfield Lodge, which had been inherited by a young couple from Lincolnshire, Rob and Sheryl Brown, was being turned into a hotel.
Its completion formerly marked the rebirth of Teardrop Lake and the revival of the busy village of Shallowfield went hand in hand.
And the people around of Shallowfield prospered though not quite as well as widowed fifty something sisters Arianne Berbosa and Rose McGee who were both comfortably off and had no need to work.
But they weren’t lazy women so they filled their time doing voluntary work and generally helping out in the community.
But sometimes the help they provided was a little unorthodox such as the time they learned about an unsavoury character who lived in Shallowfield and who preyed on young unsuspecting girls.
This lothario was 30 year old solicitor David Lewis who used his younger half-sister Angela to befriend his target and give himself an icebreaker.
Angela was really uncomfortable doing it but David controlled her completely and she was at his mercy, and unable to get out from beneath his malevolent influence.
But that was all set to change when David aimed her in the direction of Arianne’s daughter Terri.
Theresa Berbosa had just graduated from Abbottsford University and was two years older than Angela, Terri was a tall and curvaceous red head and Angela was small and delicate with long raven black hair, and when they met at a fancy dress party, at the Lutchford’s home beside Teardrop Lake, they hit it off straight away and were inseparable for the three days before David made his move.
They were sitting at the bar in the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel on one Friday night when lounge lizard David sidled up to them
“Hello sis” he said and kissed Angela “Fancy finding you here”
“Yes fancy” she said coldly “This is my friend Terri”
Which was David’s cue to pour on the charm and ply her with drink while at the same time remaining sober himself leaving him in the perfect position to take advantage of her, he had a remarkable conversion rate due to his tactics but was not averse to spiking a girls drink to hurry things along, though Angela had no knowledge of that or she would definitely have stood up to him.
What he didn’t know was that Terri was a hardened drinker and was not going under the table to suit his timetable, but then out of the blue she said
“Why don’t you come back to mine? It’s only along the lane”
“What a great idea” he said and to his sister he added “I’m sure you have other plans”
“Yes I do” she said
“What a shame” Terri gushed and gave her a long hug
Terri’s mum had a flat in Dancingdean House which was situated on the highest point on the cliffs above the Lake and commanded a magnificent view.
They walked along the perimeter road towards the building and as they stepped inside the flat Terri purred
“I like to dominate”
“Really?” he said “I don’t mind a bit of that”
“That’s good to hear” she said and kissed him and added
“Now get undressed”
He quickly complied and strutted arrogantly around the room showing off his physique.
“Oh very nice” Terri said as she walked towards him brandishing a pair of handcuffs in one hand and some silk rope in the other.
“Your turn” he said
“I’ll tell you when its time” she retorted “I told you I like to dominate, now sit on the chair, hands behind the back of the chair” She said and threaded the cuffs around the central strut of the chair back and snapped them on his wrists.
Then she tied his legs securely to the chair legs and when he was tightly trussed to the dining chair she kissed his forehead and walked behind him.
“I’m ready to watch you undress now” he called but there was no reply
(Part 02)
David sat tied and handcuffed to the chair, periodically calling out and each call became increasingly more desperate,
“Come on it’s my turn to watch you undress now”
“That’s not going to happen I’m afraid” Arianne said
“You’re just going to have to make do with me and my sister”
“What?” he said with alarm “Who the hell are you?”
“I’m Arianne and this is my sister Rose”
“What?” he barked “Where’s the young one?”
“She not here” Rose replied
“For God sake I wasn’t expecting to end up with some dried up old crones” he yelled
“I know, you were hoping to get your end away with my daughter” Arianne retorted
“Which was never going to happen” Arianne added “and furthermore she’s currently with your sister Angela”
“Don’t feel too bad” Rose added, “You were never going to get anywhere with Terri, because she butters her bread on the other side, and so does your sister”
“And now they’re buttering each other’s” Arianne said and they both laughed
“My sister is not a dyke” he shouted
“That’s enough of that kind of talk” Arianne chastised “Or I’ll have to take steps”
“Shut your mouth and let me out of here” he snapped “I’ll have you arrested, for false imprisonment, I’m a solicitor so I know the law”
Arianne said nothing but nodded to her sister, who was stood behind David’s chair, and at Arianne’s signal quickly and expertly applied a gag.
“That’s better” Arianne said “Now perhaps you’ll listen”
“We know very well that you’re a solicitor and I should hope you do know the law, but having said that, we have Terri on tape saying she liked to dominate and you agreeing to be tied up”
“As for letting you go, well we will but not yet, we’re going to keep you here while Terri helps Angela to move all her stuff out of your house, and a bit longer after that just to make sure she has a good head start on you to get to their destination”
He then growled and muttered behind his gag.
“Its ok don’t fret” Rose said “You won’t be bored we have some entertainment lined up”
The wrong side of fifty the sisters may have been but they kept their bodies in very good order and they were dressed in very smart outfits by the time the doorbell rang for the first time and when the sisters returned from opening the door they were accompanied by a group of young women and Arianne and Rose were wearing wicked grins.
“Well I can tell by your face that no introductions are required” Arianne said and the doorbell rang again “Ah that will be more of your victims”
By the time the last of his assault victims had arrived and been introduced to him Angela was just loading the last box into Terri’s car.
“Well that’s that” she said and went back up the path and posted the keys through the letter box
“No going back” she added defiantly before walking up to Terri and kissing her.
When Arianne and Rose released his bonds and cuffs he got up and rushed towards the door beneath the full judgemental glare of his victims and to the sound of jeering catcalls as he left the flat and descended the stairwell clutching his clothes to his humiliated naked form and as he walked gingerly across the gravelled drive to his car Terri and Angela had arrived at their destination in Sharpington where they were starting their life together.
Monday, 26 June 2017
Downshire Diary – (92) Alison and the Massage Guy
(Part 01)
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.
Her most regular partner, Eric Jespersen, she met by chance after bumping into him in the park one night and they ended up bumping uglies up against an old oak tree.
Eric was on his way back to his block after having been swimming and so he met Alisons criteria however serendipidously.
It turned out to be the first of many such encounters and one of their favourite venues was the Leisure Centre Swimming pool.
Though the first occasion happened again quite by chance.
Eric was a regular swimmer and he was at the pool almost every day but for Alison it was a rarity as she wasn’t really sure how hygienic a public pool could be.
Nonetheless they met after his swim by chance and had sex in the cubicle and after that they became regulars.
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 when they bumped into each other in the changing rooms at the University swimming pool and kissed again in one of the cubicles.
After that first time they met there regularly for two weeks until they finally progressed to an actual date which was only the first of many.
(Part 02)
After the first time they met at the swimming pool and met there regularly for two weeks until they finally progressed to an actual date which was only the first of many.
For Alison’s 20th birthday Eric took her to the Dancingdean Spa Hotel in Childean and she was in paradise, there were so many ways for someone with OCD to get clean.
Equally as their relationship had progressed there were also many places for them to get dirty and for three days there was a lot of both.
But that long weekend break to celebrate her birthday was in fact quite momentous because in between the treatments and intimacies their relationship had turned to true love, and because of that they became regular guests at the Spa.
Most of their time was spent in the water in some shape or form or in the steam rooms or their room but one afternoon as he exited the pool Eric said
“Do you want a massage?”
“Oh no” she replied vehemently not wanting someone else’s hands on her
“Are you sure?” Eric said
“Definitely” she said “I’d like a sauna though”
“Ok” he replied
“I could do it” Eric said as they sat in the sauna
“Do what darling?”
“A massage” he replied
“I can do it if you like”
“Ok” she agreed
“Lie down on the bed while I warm the oil” Eric instructed and as he watched Alison she let the towel fall from her shoulders and kicked it aside once it hit the floor and then she slipped her costume off her shoulders.
Alison completed her undress and climbed onto the bed and lay face down on the towel Eric had prepared and as soon as she was settled Eric applied the oil and began to rub it into her soft skin
“That feels nice” she said
“Only nice?” he asked
“I was hoping my wife to be would think it was better than nice” Eric said
“Hmmm, it does feel nice” she responded as he applied more pressure
“Hang on, what did you say?”
“I said that the hot oil and my light touch should be better than nice”
“No you said “my wife to be”” Alison said and raised herself up on one elbow and looked around at him
“Did I?” Eric asked “I don’t remember that”
“You did, you did” she exclaimed and rolled onto her back
“Ok” he confessed “I did, so what do you think?”
“Well you haven’t asked me anything yet” she said coyly
“Oh it’s like that is it” he said “Will you marry me?”
“I’ll think about it” she replied and rolled back onto her stomach
“Really? Well you can think about this while you’re at it” he retorted and began to tickle her mercilessly
“Ok, ok, I’ll marry you” she squealed and he rolled her onto her back and kissed her.
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.
Her most regular partner, Eric Jespersen, she met by chance after bumping into him in the park one night and they ended up bumping uglies up against an old oak tree.
Eric was on his way back to his block after having been swimming and so he met Alisons criteria however serendipidously.
It turned out to be the first of many such encounters and one of their favourite venues was the Leisure Centre Swimming pool.
Though the first occasion happened again quite by chance.
Eric was a regular swimmer and he was at the pool almost every day but for Alison it was a rarity as she wasn’t really sure how hygienic a public pool could be.
Nonetheless they met after his swim by chance and had sex in the cubicle and after that they became regulars.
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 when they bumped into each other in the changing rooms at the University swimming pool and kissed again in one of the cubicles.
After that first time they met there regularly for two weeks until they finally progressed to an actual date which was only the first of many.
(Part 02)
After the first time they met at the swimming pool and met there regularly for two weeks until they finally progressed to an actual date which was only the first of many.
For Alison’s 20th birthday Eric took her to the Dancingdean Spa Hotel in Childean and she was in paradise, there were so many ways for someone with OCD to get clean.
Equally as their relationship had progressed there were also many places for them to get dirty and for three days there was a lot of both.
But that long weekend break to celebrate her birthday was in fact quite momentous because in between the treatments and intimacies their relationship had turned to true love, and because of that they became regular guests at the Spa.
Most of their time was spent in the water in some shape or form or in the steam rooms or their room but one afternoon as he exited the pool Eric said
“Do you want a massage?”
“Oh no” she replied vehemently not wanting someone else’s hands on her
“Are you sure?” Eric said
“Definitely” she said “I’d like a sauna though”
“Ok” he replied
“I could do it” Eric said as they sat in the sauna
“Do what darling?”
“A massage” he replied
“I can do it if you like”
“Ok” she agreed
“Lie down on the bed while I warm the oil” Eric instructed and as he watched Alison she let the towel fall from her shoulders and kicked it aside once it hit the floor and then she slipped her costume off her shoulders.
Alison completed her undress and climbed onto the bed and lay face down on the towel Eric had prepared and as soon as she was settled Eric applied the oil and began to rub it into her soft skin
“That feels nice” she said
“Only nice?” he asked
“I was hoping my wife to be would think it was better than nice” Eric said
“Hmmm, it does feel nice” she responded as he applied more pressure
“Hang on, what did you say?”
“I said that the hot oil and my light touch should be better than nice”
“No you said “my wife to be”” Alison said and raised herself up on one elbow and looked around at him
“Did I?” Eric asked “I don’t remember that”
“You did, you did” she exclaimed and rolled onto her back
“Ok” he confessed “I did, so what do you think?”
“Well you haven’t asked me anything yet” she said coyly
“Oh it’s like that is it” he said “Will you marry me?”
“I’ll think about it” she replied and rolled back onto her stomach
“Really? Well you can think about this while you’re at it” he retorted and began to tickle her mercilessly
“Ok, ok, I’ll marry you” she squealed and he rolled her onto her back and kissed her.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)