Wednesday 23 December 2020

Snippets of Downshire Life – Christmas Morning

 

The medieval Village of Withery, was located between Purplemere and Finchbottom, which was where at one time the Monks of St Vitus Abbey were the first to grow grapes in the county.

The Abbey was long ago reduced to rubble and provided much of the fabric of the Village cottages surviving from 15th and 16th centuries, and one of them was occupied by a 45-year-old woman, Annette Slocombe, who was Deputy Warden, at Withery Grange Nursing Home, which was the 21st century incarnation of the old Manor House.

 

In the six months since her husband’s death, Annette had changed beyond all recognition, she had moved to the village, partly to fulfil a lifelong dream to live in the country, and partly to escape the marital home that she viewed as a prison.

She also did all the things her husband heartily disapproved of, so she was now the proud owner of a dog called Scamp, and a new car which she named Seve, because it was a Golf, and she also watched trash on television, and she was free to practice her faith without fear of ridicule.

However, at the age of 45, the one thing she had dared not dream of was falling in love, and that was something else Malcolm would have disapproved of, but fall in love she did, with

George Rushworth, and they made their declaration during the Midnight Mass.

“I love you George Rushworth” she said

“I love you too” he replied “and I really want to kiss you”

“There will be time enough for that” she said and squeezed his hand

 

After midnight, Annette and George shared the peace with their fellow worshippers and then when they went outside George got his kiss and then they went back to George’s cottage.

 

Early the next morning, just before dawn, Annette woke up and when her eyes grew accustomed to the dark she kissed George’s shoulder and got up.

She dressed quickly and then loaded Albie, George’s Jack Russell, into her car and drove her car “Seve”, so called because it was a Golf, home to her cottage.

She parked the car and went inside and when she came out again she was carrying a bag containing two changes of clothes and the Christmas presents and her dog Scamp was trotting along behind her.

She let Albie out of her car and then she walked the dogs the mile back to George’s Cottage.

 

“Settle down you two” she said to the dogs who quickly arranged themselves in front of the log burner, then she placed the presents beneath the tree and returned to bed and cuddled up to George.

“Merry Christmas Darling” Annette said as she kissed her love awake.

“Merry Christmas honey” he replied sleepily, and they cuddled up close.

“This is really nice, but we’d better get up and walk the dogs before breakfast” He said

“I did it already”

“Really? So, nothing to get up for then” George said and started nibbling Annette’s ear.

 

George and Annette finally dragged themselves out of bed and Annette walked the dogs again while George put the bird in the oven and made breakfast.

After they’d eaten, they both needed to shower but time was running out.

“We’d better get in together” George said

“Ok but no “funny business”” she said

“But you like the funny business” he pointed out

“I know but we don’t have time” Annette said

Without any “funny business” they made it to the Morning Service on time and when they returned to the cottage they got the lunch prepared and enjoyed the first of many Christmas together, including present opening after lunch followed by Christmas “Funny Business”.

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