in to consideration. With Archie not being here and ye mooning around like a sick calf Archie’s sister-in-law Jess and her man Andrew have fair worked their way into the spookie weekend. Last one they did a grand job. A few more like that and they’ll be taking over and we’ll be back on the street.”
However, gradually life settled back into its former pattern as Granny relented and if Elenor missed her ‘Uncle Archie’ she no longer spoke of him to her mother.
Granny’s eightieth birthday was approaching and there was an air of excitement as preparations began to get under way for the big event. Given that the celebrations coincided with the shortest day of the year they would bring some much needed light into Ivylea.
Elenora Patten knowing of Granny’s ongoing problems with her dentures raised the issue with Mary.
“Yes, she will want to be looking her best that evening, so she will for sure be wearing her teeth,” Mary said. “That is a problem.”
“How about instead of a sit-down meal in the dining room why don’t we have a buffet-style meal in the dimly candle-lit morning room?”
“A great idea, Elenora. That way Granny could slip out her teeth and pocket them without anyone noticing. She can then dig into the food and the clootie-dumpling to her heart’s content. Then before we all go into the formal drawing room she can pop her teeth back in and be in state for the giving of her presents.”
“Since you are going to be extra busy in the kitchen, I’ve decided to bring in some more help. She’s called Kirsty. You’ll meet her tomorrow.”
“I don’t know anyone called Kirsty here-abouts–”
“No, she’s not local, Mary. She’s staying with Jess and Andrew for a day or so. When I mentioned about extra help to Jess she said Kirsty would be pleased to come in for a couple of days – apparently she’s a great baker. After all we wouldn’t want Granny up to the ears in baking for her own party now would we?”
“What do we tell Granny about the extra baking and so on?”
“Oh, I’ve already told her I’m having a special sitting on the twenty-second and that’s why the extra help. I don’t think she suspects.”
Kirsty duly appeared on the day before the party and Mary left her in the kitchen while she saw to her own other duties in the house. In the kitchen for her mid-morning tea she could see that Granny and Kirsty were thick as thieves, but when Mary appeared conversation seemed to dry up and Granny finally said: “Ye're going to be busy with yer baking, Kirsty, so Ah’ll just go back to the cottage for a wee lie down.”
Mary followed Granny and when she had her alone said: “Ye were having a good chin-wag with Kirsty, what were ye talking about?”
“Och, just this and that. Did ye know that Archie didn’t come from Dunoon. The folk at Kinnaird brought him over from across the river to be coachman there.”
“So, Kirsty knows Archie? And she’s staying with his in-laws?”
“Aye, seems she’s known Archie for a long time – like all her life she says – but she didn’t know Jess and Andrew until Archie introduced them years ago.”
Ah should have tried to pump Granny for more information, Mary thought, as she pummelled the cushions in the drawing room as if they were sworn enemies. Kirsty must be an ‘old flame’ of Archie’s and Ah’ve thrown them together again. How could Ah be so damned stupid? Archie’s brought her over here to meet Jess and Andrew before he marries her! That must be it ... but that must mean Archie is back in Dunoon.
“If I were that cushion, I think I would have surrendered by now.” Elenora’s voice broke into Mary’s reverie.
“Oh, sorry.” Mary patted the cushion into place on the sofa. “My mind was elsewhere.”
“I must say you have the house looking really lovely with everything polished within an inch of its life. Granny and Kirsty seem to have hit it off, don’t you think? Blethering like old
However, gradually life settled back into its former pattern as Granny relented and if Elenor missed her ‘Uncle Archie’ she no longer spoke of him to her mother.
Granny’s eightieth birthday was approaching and there was an air of excitement as preparations began to get under way for the big event. Given that the celebrations coincided with the shortest day of the year they would bring some much needed light into Ivylea.
Elenora Patten knowing of Granny’s ongoing problems with her dentures raised the issue with Mary.
“Yes, she will want to be looking her best that evening, so she will for sure be wearing her teeth,” Mary said. “That is a problem.”
“How about instead of a sit-down meal in the dining room why don’t we have a buffet-style meal in the dimly candle-lit morning room?”
“A great idea, Elenora. That way Granny could slip out her teeth and pocket them without anyone noticing. She can then dig into the food and the clootie-dumpling to her heart’s content. Then before we all go into the formal drawing room she can pop her teeth back in and be in state for the giving of her presents.”
“Since you are going to be extra busy in the kitchen, I’ve decided to bring in some more help. She’s called Kirsty. You’ll meet her tomorrow.”
“I don’t know anyone called Kirsty here-abouts–”
“No, she’s not local, Mary. She’s staying with Jess and Andrew for a day or so. When I mentioned about extra help to Jess she said Kirsty would be pleased to come in for a couple of days – apparently she’s a great baker. After all we wouldn’t want Granny up to the ears in baking for her own party now would we?”
“What do we tell Granny about the extra baking and so on?”
“Oh, I’ve already told her I’m having a special sitting on the twenty-second and that’s why the extra help. I don’t think she suspects.”
Kirsty duly appeared on the day before the party and Mary left her in the kitchen while she saw to her own other duties in the house. In the kitchen for her mid-morning tea she could see that Granny and Kirsty were thick as thieves, but when Mary appeared conversation seemed to dry up and Granny finally said: “Ye're going to be busy with yer baking, Kirsty, so Ah’ll just go back to the cottage for a wee lie down.”
Mary followed Granny and when she had her alone said: “Ye were having a good chin-wag with Kirsty, what were ye talking about?”
“Och, just this and that. Did ye know that Archie didn’t come from Dunoon. The folk at Kinnaird brought him over from across the river to be coachman there.”
“So, Kirsty knows Archie? And she’s staying with his in-laws?”
“Aye, seems she’s known Archie for a long time – like all her life she says – but she didn’t know Jess and Andrew until Archie introduced them years ago.”
Ah should have tried to pump Granny for more information, Mary thought, as she pummelled the cushions in the drawing room as if they were sworn enemies. Kirsty must be an ‘old flame’ of Archie’s and Ah’ve thrown them together again. How could Ah be so damned stupid? Archie’s brought her over here to meet Jess and Andrew before he marries her! That must be it ... but that must mean Archie is back in Dunoon.
“If I were that cushion, I think I would have surrendered by now.” Elenora’s voice broke into Mary’s reverie.
“Oh, sorry.” Mary patted the cushion into place on the sofa. “My mind was elsewhere.”
“I must say you have the house looking really lovely with everything polished within an inch of its life. Granny and Kirsty seem to have hit it off, don’t you think? Blethering like old
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