Townies
After my ghostly experience in the Manor, I never played that piano again. In fact I wouldn’t stay in the big house alone. We had one particular weekend, before her ladyship departed for Spain, when they invited some friends to stay; one in which neither Hub nor I had a moments respite. From early morning till about 9 in the evening we were on the go. To our relief the guests departed on the Sunday night but Sir stayed on till Monday lunchtime. The whole weekend had been one of cooking, cleaning, making beds, with just Jane coming in to help me. I was exhausted! |
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He went on to tell me, it was a security job for a large company in the City of London and the interview was on the following Tuesday. Not much walking involved, mostly in an office checking CCTV cameras. I was dumbstruck, and asked why he hadn’t said anything. “I wanted to be sure of getting it first. But they seem happy with my CV, so fingers crossed for the interview, then bingo, we can be out of here” This was a lovely surprise but I wouldn’t get my hopes up and we still had to find somewhere to live. Monday morning had us out early and getting some fresh provisions in town but as we drove back to the Manor, I had a terrible foreboding feeling come over me. It was a mixture of unhappiness, fear and almost panic. |
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After a walk in Southend high street, we opted to go to Burger King for some lunch. This was a little treat, not only to have something cooked for us but to have a bit of freedom and to relax. A simple and enjoyable meal and I sat back sipping my coffee. “You ready to go yet? I’ve got something to show you” I nodded then said, “Where are we going?” He grinned and replied “Wait and see” We walked to the end of the high street, up a side street then across the busy main road, then along a side road and turned into a small cul de sac. Hub led the way to the end of terrace house, opening the gate he walked along the path and knocked at the front door. An elderly man answered it and invited us inside. He told us to look round the place. I followed Hub upstairs, where there were two nice size bedrooms and family size bathroom. Whilst there, Hub said he’d arranged a viewing for us as the house was available to rent. My grin was like the Cheshire cat’s! A home of our own at last! Hub told me that the letting agent said we could have rented the house without Hub having a job, as his Fire pension would have been good enough assurance. The house was part furnished but the landlord said we could move our own things in if we wished and he would store what was there already. It was a nicely decorated house, very clean with a large modern kitchen. Then the man said, “Have a look at this” He opened the back door and as I stepped outside, on the other side of the garden path were beautiful flower beds, a small lawn and against the fence a large fruiting pear tree and to the side there was a potting shed. I felt wonderful; my earlier miserable, foreboding mood had entirely evaporated. |
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On the way back to the Manor we chattered away non stop. We couldn’t wait to tell Jamie. He often moaned about being cut off out there in the countryside; I wondered what Lesley and Jeff would say too. The landlord had told Hub we could move in any time we wished and to my complete surprise yet again, Hub had said we would move in two weeks. I can’t express in words how happy I felt at that time. I began to feel that at last we were making a life for ourselves once more; and I knew of another person who would be happy for me too.. Maria! Jamie was really happy about the house; his words were something like ‘Ah we’ll be near civilisation at last!’ Which was true, not only did Southend have plenty of shops of every description but cinemas, theatres, pubs and a super size library, civic centre and college and a main line railway into London. There was another reason Jamie was happy, he would have a decent size bedroom in a family house again; he never slept well in the cottage annexe at the Manor, experiencing the same creepy, ‘being watched’ feeling as I had. There was also a study in the new house, where he could do his homework in peace and quiet and also invite his friends into if he wished. As a family we ‘bubbled’ again! |
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On Tuesday Hub came back from his interview in the City with a grin on his face, to tell us he had got the job!
We had to figure out a way to tell Sir of our plans. But as Hub and I talked it over, we worked out that our wages weren’t due till after Sir returned from his holidays. If we told him we were leaving, he could withhold those wages, in lieu of a months notice. We decided not to tell him. We would forego our wages; just leave everything clean and tidy, the place locked up, and the keys with a letter of our intentions. I have to say, that we felt no guilt in doing this; the Manor, Sir, her ladyship and the rest of the family had had their ‘pound of flesh’ from us. We were a long line of couples who had worked there and according to Jane we were the longest serving! Once more we were loading up her ladyship’s car as she got ready for her long drive back to southern Spain. The Manor was emptying fast! Hub had delivered the youngest girl at the station the weekend previous and she was now back at boarding school. As her ladyship sped off I felt a relaxing calm sweep over me; another week and Sir would be off too. Friday came round and Sir was climbing into the back of the Rolls, ready for Hub to whisk him off to the airport. Sunday morning and we were all ready to go, our old car packed with belongings and bags. We went into the Manor and checked that all was tidy, windows and back doors locked. There was one thing I was a sad about, I hadn’t said goodbye to Jane. We had become quite good friends. So I left her some chocolates and a card explaining what we were doing. I knew she wouldn’t be very surprised as most previous housekeepers/chauffeurs had left without any notice; she told me that one woman had actually thrown the dinner at the kitchen wall, when Sir had criticised her and had walked out never to come back! So I supposed we were being quite civilised. It was wonderful being in our own house again; a bit like being let out of prison after the confines of work and living at the Manor. Hub was looking forward to starting his new job on the Monday and Jamie very happy to be in town with all the facilities on our doorstep. Jamie had returned to school and Hub was on day duties at work, so I was alone for most of the day. I recall one day particularly towards the end of January, I was watching morning TV and it was a programme about either properties abroad or holidays I can’t remember which but there were long golden beaches, sunshine, people enjoying themselves and I found myself crying. I was so lonely, missing my friends in Algarve and the outdoor life. I didn’t fit in here at all. I remember going to the kitchen for some water then stepping outside into the garden I leaned back against the door, feeling so miserable. I was still having my weekly chats with Maria. She told me that spring was very much in evidence in Algarve, with all Almond trees coming into blossom. I didn’t need much imagination to remember how beautiful that was and I longed to see it, as winter was still with us in England. |
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