Chichester
“Indeed Repentance oft I swore”! groaned the Elephant, as he struggled to raise a very pink bald head from the pillow.
Geoffrey had no one to talk to. – so on the whole was lucky!
We bade each other a somewhat bleak au revoir and wished each other a Happy and Sober New Year!
We had promised lunch with “Uncle” Harry Macintyre on our return journey to London.
It was a faintly misty day, but the South Downs looked very beautiful when the sun came through.
We travelled fairly straight home for once, – Rowlands Castle, Petersfield, Liphook and Hindhead.
Uncle Harry’s new house – a charming one, which he built himself is just off the main road, overlooking a wide stretch of heathland.
He gave us, as always a supremely good lunch. – I guess he had – a large hand in the cooking of it himself!
In the early afternoon we were homeward bound – through Guildford and Esher and Putney.
Christmas was over!
Not the Christmas we had dreamed of. – “Does it I ask myself, really exist today”? Perhaps in some remote corner of this island. Old customs – are still preserved. – Perhaps tucked away, there is that ancient Inn, all shining coppers and glowing hearth, – beams laden with holly and mistletoe, and bustling happiness when the Turkey and the Plum pudding are cooking away in the big old fashioned oven. Outside there is white snow and a robin on the window sill. And there are candles to light us to bed. And lavender scented sheets —-!
Ach! I was born too late – but I will still go “In search of” – after all it’s what makes life worth while, –
Curse Charles Dickens all the same!
London 1936
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This concludes our mini-series of blogs, serialising a journey across Dorset around Christmas! We hope you have enjoyed reading about the excursions of our unknown author, and look out for more great content in 2021!
Charming report! Really enjoyed reading the blog – sounds as if things haven’t changed much over the decades!!
What an uplifting anonymous treat!
How often my late father was in search of much the same lost if it ever existed merry olde England.
Thank you.