A Happy New Year to you all! I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas. We certainly did at the Manor (with one or two notable exceptions). This week, as I am a little short of time on account of the Northern branch of the family coming for New Year, I thought I would just tell you a little about our festivities at the Manor.
22nd December
Violet Elizabeth and I went with my good friend Sheila and her daughter to the Ice Show at Planet Ice. We have been going to this for many years now (at least 12), and if you have never been I can thoroughly recommend it. All the performers are our local Basingstoke children and adults. They range in age from about 4 to even older than me! The costumes are absolutely magnificent, as is the skating, and Sheila and I marvel every year about how much effort must be put into the organisation. Of course we always go for the top price seats - you need to book early, and actually sit on the ice (on a chair of course), but nevertheless it is still very cold, and we all look like the Incredible Hulk with our padded jackets and hats. Alas, again I did not win the raffle.
24th December
Left Spencer in charge of wrapping the final presents, peeling the vegetables, preparing the turkey, selecting the wine from the cellar, and generally getting everything ready for tomorrow, and took Violet Elizabeth to see “A Christmas Carol” at the Haymarket. She was a little anxious that I might be a bit frightened at the appearance of the “Ghost of Christmas to Come”, but I assured her that anyone who has woken up next to Spencer in the morning and seen that sight wouldn’t be afraid of anything. Also trying to wake Marcus and Spencer in the morning was like trying to wake the dead anyway, so ghosts held no fear for me. Violet Elizabeth’s assured me that, because she had seen “A Muppet’s Christmas Carol” at school, she would be prepared for anything. Somehow, I felt that there wouldn’t be many similarities between the two. It was another wonderful performance, and you came away thinking about the true meaning of Christmas.
25th December
The day itself went perfectly. I had given the staff a day off, to return home to their families for the festive season, so Spencer was in charge of lunch. The sprouts were done to perfection, as was the turkey. Exhausted after his exertions Spencer then fell asleep in the drawing room and had to be prodded awake in time for the Queen’s speech. After a few games of Charades in the library, we settled down to watch Wallace and Gromit, and before we knew it the day was over.
26th December
I decided we should all go on the Boxing Day walk organised by the Parish Council, as I felt that, Spencer in particular, was in need of a little exercise. Marcus took a little persuading to get out of bed, but the cold flannel helped, and we were all assembled at the Village Hall (site of many a Village Show triumph), at the appointed time. I was amazed at the number of people that turned up. Half of Old Basing were there, and we set off on a very enjoyable 4-5 mile walk around the footpaths of the village and beyond. I was surprised however, that on returning to the Village Hall car park a couple of hours later just how few of the original starters were left. Apparently, a call had gone up from the rear of the walking column that a drink was in order. Unfortunately, as I was up at the front I failed to hear this message, and it was some time before I realised what had happened. When I eventually found and prised Spencer out of The Millstone he was quite merry, and I had to drive the Bentley home to the Manor.
Finally, before anybody asks, I received a lovely pair of gardening gloves from Spencer and he received a sparkling new crowbar from me for Christmas.