YOU ARE

 You are the oasis in my desert

You are the sun in my sky

You are the cherry on my cake

You are the cream on my pie

You make us into we

Instead of you and I

IF YOU WERE A STAR

 

If you were a star you’d be the brightest

If you were a mood you’d be the lightest

If you were a pop song you’d be number one

If you were the weather you’d be the sun

If you were a drink you’d be bucks fizz

You are the best you are the bizz

Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (87) Office at the Claremont Hotel

 

Shallowfield sat on the southern edge of the Finchbottom Vale and was bordered on the other side by the Dancingdean forest and the town’s fortunes 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 from the area and it only just 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 were in a poor state of repair, some too such an extent they were little more than ruins.

But by the 70s however things were beginning to change, thanks mainly to tourism as a result of an increase in leisure time.

This trend was reflected by the fact that the previously derelict Shallowfield Lodge, which had been inherited by a young couple from Lincolnshire, Rob and Sheryl Brown, was being turned into a Hotel.

From then on Shallowfield went from strength to strength which was echoed by the fortunes of the Claremont Hotel.

It was once the home of a wealthy Downshire family but like so many similar great houses in the county it fell into disuse as the fortunes of the owners suffered after the Great War.

It had had many reincarnations since then, particularly in the years between the wars and had been used for many things over the post war years but it wasn’t until the 60s that it became The Claremont Hotel.

However things had got tough in the Hotel trade with the success of Travelodge, Premier Inn and Holiday Inn Express and so places like the Claremont needed to offer something extra to attract the guests.

 

In the early summer a new manager was appointed, Matthew Millward, and he was an instant hit with the locals because he was young, tall, dark and handsome, physically fit, well-toned and had a reputation as a fair minded guy, which had very much preceded him.

He was 28 years old and his father owned the Millward Manor chain of hotels and he was grooming him to one day take over the reins of his worldwide hotel empire, the problem was that Matt had no head for business and he felt that he was more of an artistic soul.

Which could possibly have been ignored but for the fact that he had broken off his engagement with the granddaughter of his father’s oldest friend.

However that in itself wasn’t what had him exiled, it was Elaine’s attempted suicide, not that his action had caused her mental meltdown, it was rather more her mental instability being the deciding factor that forced him to end the engagement.

So it was decided to send Matt to the Claremont Hotel where he could do no real harm until the dust settled.

When he first found out he was being sent to Shallowfield Matt was very unhappy, he was a city boy, born and bred, and he viewed being sent to the country as purgatory, but no one was more surprised than he was when he found that he actually loved it, it was a beautiful place, it was quiet and the air was clean and he felt immediately at home.

After the broken engagement and the resulting fall out Matthew Millward decided that he would not under any circumstances get himself romantically entangled while he was on punishment duty.

But there is a very apt saying which goes “never on your own doorstep” which he had clearly never heard because on his first day he fell head over heels for the Hospitality Manager, Sarah Poole, although in his defence the feeling was mutual.

Although apart from two very passionate kisses, the first initiated by her and the second by him, and the fact they were hopelessly in love with each other nothing else happened.

 

She was five foot eight with short red hair, in a pixie cut, mesmerizing green eyes and a cute figure with curves in all the right places and long slender legs.

Sarah was 26 years old and wasn’t looking for a relationship either because she was married, albeit to an alcoholic who hadn’t had shown her any marital attention for two years but she was still married to him nonetheless.

Sarah had worked at the hotel for since she left school, five years in  housekeeping, five more in hospitality, and for two of those as Manager and she loved her job.

 

Despite the fact that Matthew was sent to the Claremont as a punishment and possessed no head for business he surprised his father as well as himself by doing a very acceptable job of managing the hotel and had grown the corporate side of the business and it was becoming a very popular venue for functions. 

This was as a result in no small measure to his decision to promote the former Hospitality Manager Sarah Poole.

This was after Martin Tyrer tendered his resignation, he had been a loyal employee of the Millward Manor group for ten years and had been the Assistant Manager at the Claremont for 5 of those and when the Manager’s vacancy came up he believed he was a shoe in for the job.

So when Matthew Millward was parachuted in over his head it was just too much for him to take.

It left Matthew in a very difficult position as he needed someone who knew the place inside out and Sarah Poole was the only person that really fitted the bill so he offered her the job.

 

Matthews father was particularly pleased with him, there had been no reported mishaps and he had turned around the fortunes of the hotel, and so he invited him up to Abbottsford for the weekend for a celebratory meal but as he was conscious that his success was due more to Sarah Poole’s efforts than his own he dragged her along as well.

 

Matthew Millward’s arrival at the hotel had a massive impact on Sarah Poole, and not just the fact that she fell in love with him at first sight and the relationship that had developed between them after she had stolen a kiss on his first day.

She had been promoted from Hospitality Manager into the assistant manager’s position and she had been able to leave her alcoholic husband because she was living in the Gate Lodge.

 

Matthew had decided that because she had done such a wonderful job to such an extent that she was making him look good, coupled with the fact that he was in love with her, he decided she deserved a reward, and he knew just the thing.

 

In November Sarah had a week off to move the remainder of her possessions from her former marital home in the village to her new home at the Gate Lodge.

Her alcoholic, soon to be ex-husband Ken was still living there but had been arrested for being drunk and disorderly a few days earlier so she took her opportunity to strike while the iron was hot and remove every trace of herself from that unhappy place and then she was done with him for good and all.

 

While she was away Matthew took the opportunity to reward her for her hard work and so when she returned after her week off he intercepted her before she had a chance to go in his office.

“Good morning Miss Poole, how are you?” he asked pompously

“I’m very well Mr Millward” she replied in kind

“Did you have a good week off?” he said less formerly

“Brilliant” she respond and tried to go into the office

“No not in there, let’s go in here” he suggested indicating an adjacent door.

“I’m not going in the stationary cupboard with you just because you missed me” she whispered in case she was overheard by the unusually large number of people milling around.

“I’m not suggesting we go in there for my personal gratification” he whispered back

“So this is business?” she asked

“Very much so” he replied

So reluctantly, and still harbouring suspicions, she opened the door and the room was in total darkness and she was even more suspicious.

“It’s dark” she said stating the obvious

“Then switch the light on” Matthew said

“I don’t trust you” she said and reached her hand in and found the switch and when the lights came on her jaw dropped.

It was no longer a stationary cupboard, full of clutter, it was an office, a smaller one than Matthew’s but it was an office nonetheless.

“Welcome to the Assistant Managers Office” he said

“This is for me?” she asked in total disbelief

“Only until such time as I can find a better Assistant Manager” he replied and she punched his arm.

“Go in and make yourself at home” he said “I have a meeting in Abbottsford so I’ll see you later”

“Thank you” she said and touched his hand, she wanted to kiss him but there were too many people around, she would have to do it later in the day.

 

It was after nine when Matthew’s car returned to the Hotel and Sarah got up from her desk, she liked the way that sounded, her desk, in her office, and went out to intercept him.

“Ah Mr Millward, may I see you in my office?” she said

“Of course you may” he replied

“Is it entirely to your liking?”

“Oh yes I love it” she replied as she closed the door.

“What can I do for you?” he asked

“I need something” she replied

“What?” he asked

“This” she replied and kissed him and after she had taken the kiss

He asked

“Was that what you had in mind?”

But Sarah didn’t answer however the smile on her face spoke a thousand words.

HOTEL PARADISO

 

From their hotel restaurant

The couple sat at a table

Admiring the view

It was an unfamiliar view

With just a hint of familiarity

Like recognizing the features

Of a very distant relative

This was where the couple

Spent there honeymoon

When they were young and fearless

They were old now

Liver spotted and weary

Married when god was a boy

And the world was young

They sat in silence

Everything said before

Gazing though the window

He wondering what lay ahead

She where the years had gone

They held hands

And their eyes met

No words were spoken

But they understood

And they were content

MY LOVE # 1

 

If comeliness was a race

You’d win a medal

If sweetness was an event

You’d be on the podium

If loveliness was a sport

You’d win the gold

You are really terrific

My love for you is Olympic

I’M SORRY

 

I’m sorry

But I’m leaving you

Its not you

Oh how trite is that

And I do love you

It’s just that you’re not the one

There’s something missing

There’s no electricity

I do love you

But you’re not the one

 

I’m sorry

But I’m leaving you

It really is me

And other assorted clichés

I wish you were the one

I hope you can forgive me

For the years you’ve wasted

For the love you invested in me

I wish you were the one

Thank you for loving me

 

I’m sorry

But I’m leaving you

I'll miss you and I do mean that

But I’m looking for my soul mate

And I have to look

I wish you were my great love

But we are just comfortable

Like a favorite pair of shoes

I have to look

Though I may never find her

 

I’m sorry

But I’m leaving you

I must be cruel to be kind

And other empty Platitudes

You deserve better than me

Your perfect one is out there

We all have a soul mate

I’m sorry it’s not me

You deserve better than me

That’s why I’m leaving

 

I’m sorry

But I’m leaving you

Please don’t cry

Just wish me luck

Because she’s out there

There should be great love

There should be sparks

Tingling and breathlessness

She is out there

I will find the other half of me

Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (86) After Graduation – Gail and Dale

 

Downshire is a relatively small English county but like a pocket battleship it packs a lot in, a short but beautiful coastline, a channel port, the Ancient forests of Dancingdean and Pepperstock, the craggy ridges and manmade lakes of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, the rolling hills of the Downshire Downs, the beautiful Finchbottom Vale and farm land as far as the eye can see, from the Trotwood’s and the Grace’s in the south to the home of the Downshire Light infantry, Nettlefield, and their affluent neighbour’s, Roespring and Tipton in the North but it’s in the Village of Shallowfield where our story takes place.

 

Shallowfield lay on the southern edge of the Finchbottom Vale and Shallowfield’s fortunes 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 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 turned into a hotel.

Its completion formerly marked the rebirth of Teardrop Lake and by extension Shallowfield.

 

Triplets, Dale, Manny and Paul Smith had just graduated from Abbottsford University and were spending the summer with their uncle Julius, who was the Vicar of St Jude’s church in Shallowfield, which was where they met the Nichols sisters.

They had been at their Uncles for less than a week when they walked up to the village green to attend the Village summer Fête, but even though they had only been there a few days they were not newcomers as they had spent every holiday there for as long as they could remember and had made a lot of friends among the younger members of the village population over the years.

The Fête was very well attended but despite not being strangers they didn’t really know many of the people in attendance but they thought they would take a look, show willing at least, so they went on a few of the side shows and drank a couple of pints in the beer tent and by late afternoon, a combination of too much beer on an empty stomach and the heat of the sun had left them all a little light headed so they decided to call it a day and headed back across the field in the direction of the Vicarage.

But they only got about half way across the field when they were two of the Nichols girls, Crissie and Sharlene and they turned in unison to see them tottering towards them across the grass, shoes in hand and ever so slightly tipsy.

The twin girls were not only sisters, but were also best friends, quite inseparable and Manny and Paul thought them very gorgeous, and had been in love with them foe three years, but alas when they fell for them the girls were only 15, even though they kept reminding them that they were actually 15 and three quarters.

Sadly that three quarters was not going to keep them off the sex offenders register if they did what red bloodied young men of 18 might think of doing.

But they were both lovely girls and he liked them a lot but they decided to keep them at arm’s length until they turned 16, unfortunately another opportunity never presented itself in the following three years so that seemed to be that, until that summer.

Crissie was the younger of the two by a few minutes, five foot two red hair and pale complexion and cutely freckled while Sharlene was an inch shorter with a strawberry blonde hair and alabaster skin.

They were both stunningly beautiful and wearing low cut summer dresses they looked even more so.

They tottered up alongside them, each taking an arm, Sharlene as always was flirting outrageously.

“Can we come back to the Vicarage Paul?” Sharlene said

“Then we could have another drink”

“It’s not like we’re drunk or anything” Crissie chipped in

“Can we?” Sharlene said again

“Please Manny?” Crissie added

“Ok” he said, “as long as you behave”

“What will you do if we don’t?” asked Sharlene

“Will you spank us?” Crissie said and giggled

“You’ll get us shot” Paul said

Being over six feet tall and being arm in arm with the two girls gave them a height advantage of more than a foot, affording them a wonderful view down the front of their low cut dresses, they knew they shouldn’t have looked but even for good Christian boys it was difficult to resist the temptation.

Dale who was the only one of the boys not to have a gorgeous girl on his arm looked on and smiled as his brothers struggled with the moral repercussions of ogling young girl’s breasts.

 

Being over six feet tall and being arm in arm with the two girls gave them a height advantage of more than a foot, affording them a wonderful view down the front of their low cut dresses, they knew they shouldn’t have looked but even for good Christian boys it was difficult to resist the temptation.

Dale who was the only one of the boys not to have a gorgeous girl on his arm looked on and smiled as his brothers struggled with the moral repercussions of ogling young girl’s breasts.

Sharlene saw Paul looking down her top and giggled so he didn’t look away.

Then she compared she whispered to her sister about what Manny was doing and she blushed scarlet but made no attempt to prevent him from looking either.

 

When they reached the Vicarage Dale left his brothers and the giggling flirts outside while he went inside to get the drinks, which given the girls inebriation and his own light-headedness he decided not to fuel the flames with more alcohol, so when he joined the others on the patio, which was now in the shade and put a tray full of soft drinks on the table which on reflection was the wisest thing to do despite protests from the girls.

And then about ten minutes, Gail Nichols emerged through the garden gate and she was also wearing a summer dress, she was the older sister, and was the one that Dale had set his cap at, and thought she was equally gorgeous to her siblings, a few inches taller with a rounder curvier figure than her siblings, but for Dale she was perfection.

 “Well no surprise to find Smith boys surrounded by pretty girls” She said

“Is that why you’ve joined us?” Dale said

“I’m not one of the pretty girls” she said coyly “I’ve just come to collect my sisters”

“But we’re having fun” Crissie protested

“I’m sure you sure but it’s time to go” Gail said

“Do you want a drink?” Dale asked

“Yes please” Sharlene replied eagerly

“Me too” giggled Crissie

“I wasn’t asking you two, you’ve had enough” Dale said “I was asking Gail”

“No thanks but another time when you’re not surrounded by pretty girls” she replied “mum and dad are waiting”

“As I said before you’re one of them” he said

“I’m not pretty,” she snorted

“No, you’re beautiful” he corrected her and she turned her head away coyly.

He imagined her coy denial about being one of the pretty girls was either false modesty or she was fishing for compliments.

Just at that moment the back gate swung open and Uncle Julius walked up the garden.

“Hello girls” he said jovially and there followed five minutes of light hearted chattering and then the girls went on their way.

The Smith boys watched them as the three girls tottered down the lawn and when they reached the gate all three turned and waved and Sharlene blew a kiss.

“They are sweet young things aren’t they?” the Vicar said

“Yes Uncle” Dale agreed but to himself he added “and I have a very sweet tooth”

For years he had fantasied about him and Gail and he looked forward to when he could turn the fantasy into reality as it turned out he didn’t have to wait too long, to his surprise it was the next day, that his fantasy was made manifest.

 

The day after the Smith boys entertained the Nichols sisters in the vicarage garden Manny and Paul went sailing up at Teardrop Lake while Dale remained at the vicarage catching up on his reading, but his mind kept wandering to his crush which would lead to him chastising himself for not getting off his backside and going to find her and tell her how he felt.

Fortunately for him Gail fancied him with equal intensity but she had decided to grasp the nettle so late that afternoon, a few minutes after Uncle Silas had left the Vicarage to go over to the Church for the evening service the doorbell rang.

 

When Dale opened the door he saw Gail Nichols standing on the step wearing a summer dress, not the same dress as the day before, but she looked every bit as good. 

She was five foot five, and like her sisters, red hair, a pale complexion and a lovely cutely freckled face.

“I’ve come for that drink” she said and smiled

“I was hoping you would” he said and stepped aside to let her enter the hall.

“Do you have any pretty girls hidden away” She asked and looked around

“No I’m all alone there were no pretty girls here until you arrived”

He said

“I’m not pretty,” she snorted

The first time she said it, the day before, he thought her coy denial about being pretty was either false modesty or she was fishing for compliments but now she had said it again he was convinced that she actually believed that.

“No, you’re beautiful” he corrected her

She turned her head away coyly and he put his hand on her chin and turned her face towards him.

“You’re beautiful Gail”

He was so close to her that her intoxicating perfume enveloped him as he moved his hand from her chin and caressed her cheek, while he stared into her beautifully hypnotic green eyes, and then he leant in and kissed her and she immediately responded by wrapping her arms  around him holding him tightly.

After all she had been waiting for three years for that kiss and from that moment on their fate was sealed and they were engaged by September.