Stealing scones?

After keeping her under surveillance for several days, Mr Lombard confronted Mrs Spenlow yesterday about the missing scones at the Tea Room.

"I know you put them under your skirt and pretend that nothing has happened", Mr Lombard argued, when Mrs Spenlow insisted she would never do such a thing.

Even Mr Spenlow believe his wife has a problem, and has asked Mrs Bantry to ask Miss Marple to look into the matter. As soon as we have clarified the facts, Mr Spenlow says, necessary measures will be initiated.

Mr Giles is not a fungus

Mr Giles is not a fungus, but the treatment he initiated for his garden have probably made him very ill, with dizziness and breathing problems.

He is not able to work normally and spends most of his time these days at the front porch. According to Dr Haydock the cause of the illness is most likely the chemicals, but it might also be the fungus itself attacking Mr. Giles' lungs.

A third theory is that the useless umbrella Mr Giles have, haven't protected him from the heavy rain we've had lately. Constantly being wet might have given Mr. Giles a form of pneumonia.

Announcement of Engagement

The above mentioned Mr Giles is happy to announce that his son Bernard is engaged to be married to Miss Anthea Perkins from Newton Abbot. The young couple met at the Cheese and Onion Fayre last year, and are planning to settle at the Giles farm after the wedding.

Settling in

Mrs Bantry is settling in at the gatehouse at Gossington Hall and is very happy with the arrangement. "The downsizing has made my life so much easier", she says, "in addition to having solved a number of problems in the family".

Buster, Mrs Gregg's dog, seems to enjoy his new playground, and is getting new friends. Well, maybe not friends, but at least someone (or something) to play with.

Mrs Gregg herself is also pleased with her new living quarters, but she is almost probably definitely sure that she maybe saw a ghost the other day. "It was terrible Jason! He was limping around in the library, with only one eye and hiding half of his face like this!! Can you believe it?!?" "No, I can't", Mr Rudd replied.

Teen in trouble

Frank Baker started a furious argument with Miss Keene at the Tennis Club a couple of weeks ago, after overhearing her telling the tennis coach about some pranks he had done in the past.

"You and your stupid friends at the hotel", the young punk sputtered, "you think you are so special, but you just wait, I will FIX you!!"

Miss Keene was quite upset after the incident, and approached Mrs Baker about her son's threats.

At a small get together at Mr Redding's last week Mrs Baker told her friend Miss Marple about it, and asked her to keep an eye on young Frank. "I can't believe that my son would actually do something like that, but there have been some unresting episodes lately. I don't know what is wrong with that boy!"

As always, Miss Marple has promised to assist, and will help the family to get the lad on better thoughts.

The characters and buildings from this story are from the AnnoSims Group project St. Mary Mead, loosly based on the novels of Agatha Christie. ( Anno Sims is now closed, but you can find my own creations for the project here at KSW.)

The Bantry family's rise and fall 2:2

Shortly after the funeral of Colonel Arthur Bantry, there was a reading of the will at Gossington Hall.

Despite the latest family problems, they were all there.

And in addition to the immediate family, the vicar and his wife had also been invited

By request of the deceased, the vicar read from Luke 12:15: Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

“So true!” said Mr Petherick, the solicitor, and continued reading the Colonel’s testament. “In spite of what you might think”, he said, “None of his children have been delisted from his testament. You will all get an equal part of his substantial savings and stocks. They are, however, to be kept in a foundation until you reach the age of Thirty-five. The estate and surrounding land is left as a whole to Dolly, “my wife, strength and true fortune in life” as he writes.”

“Thirty-five!”, Abigail whined, “why should we have to wait that long?”

“Abigail!!” Philip cried out, “Are you going to give our mother a heart attack as well?”

“Don’t give any notice to her”, he comforted his mother, “She doesn’t know what she’s saying, and you know she is not in balance.”

"I know, I know", Dolly said, "It’s not that. I know you are all… well, the three of you anyway, grateful and sensible. But I just realized I will have to cope with all the family problems myself from now on."

“Oh dear, oh dear”, the vicar said. “These are tough times for you. But even in difficult times God will be with you. And so will all of your friends here in St. Mary Mead.”

After the reading, John asked to have a separate talk with the solicitor and his mother. “There is something I need to tell you about”, he said. “I have done something very stupid. And possibly dangerous. I owe almost 200,000 pounds to some shady loan sharks in London. I’ve been playing on horses, and now they threaten to kill me if I don’t pay them back. Is there any way I could get the inheritance now? It would not be enough, but maybe I can buy myself some time…”

“Unfortunately no”, Mr Petherick said. “It is legally impossible, I’m afraid”. Dolly was num from the shock, and asked her son to leave. “I need some rest, and time to think, she said.

Deeply troubled she stood in front of her husband’s portrait. “Dear Arthur”, she said, “I hope you will forgive me for what I am about to do. But, as you reminded us today, a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

Next morning Dolly invited the rich American, actress Marina Gregg to Gossington Hall. “I have a fantastic opportunity for you Marina”, she said, “If we can settle this without delay.

"I need to sell Gossington Hall, as soon as possible. Would you be interested?"

- The End -

(But it is NOT the end of course. It is only the beginning of another story.)

The characters and buildings from this story are from the AnnoSims Group project St. Mary Mead, loosly based on the novels of Agatha Christie. ( Anno Sims is now closed, but you can find my own creations for the project here at KSW.)

The Bantry family's rise and fall 1:2

The entire edition of the chronicle is dedicated to the story about the latest development in the Bantry family, which has shocked most villagers in St. Mary Mead. The photo above is taken before the war, when the Bantrys still lived happily at Gossington Hall with their four children.

There were visitors and parties, like here at young John fourteenth birthday party, attended by the whole family, including the butler Fred.

His two years older sister Abigail, was a promising concert pianist, and expected to make a successful career in the music business. However...

After a nervous breakdown last April, probably caused by the high number of performances, and a seven months stay at the Redstone clinic for the mentally ill, Abigail is now slowly getting back at her feet again. She has a work placement at the reception in Mrs Jamieson’s hair salon, but her full recovery will take time.

She did want to live by herself, but Mrs. Bantry thought it would be best if Abigail lived at Gossington Hall for the time being. Occasionally she attended the dinner parties held for family and friends, and the Bantries looked almost like one happy family again. However...

Another tragedy of a more social kind was caused by the oldest son Philip, now a young man of twenty-four. He has definitely grown up, and to his parents dislike, he has started a relationship with the much older...

... Prudence Weatherby!!

The Colonel tried to talk them out of it, without much luck. “I can’t really see the problem”, Miss Weatherby defended herself. “He is an adult an actually two years older than you were when you married Dolly!” - That might be so, Dolly thought to herself, but I was definitely not twelve years older than my husband....

As this wasn’t enough, the oldest daughter also caused a scandal in the bourgeois families, when she took on a job as a female police officer. A very unusual situation to say the least, but her parents were said to get to terms with that, and the Colonel supposedly tried to arrange for an internship at Scotland Yard for her. However...

Deborah was, due to her job, getting in touch with the darker side of society, and made acquaintances not suitable for a girl with her background. It became the talk of the town.

Shockingly the young couple did nothing to hide their relationship.

They were even caught dancing and romanticizing at Gossington Hall, when Mrs Bantry came home early from her meeting in the St. Mary Mead Women's Association. It caused quite a stir.

The usually so calm and restrained Colonel literally through Mr Smith out the door, and told him never to put his foot in Gossington Hall again.

Rumour has it that Mrs Bantry herself had to go between the two men, to stop a regular fight.

The latest family problems was probably the last drop for the already week heart of the Colonel, and just a few days later he was hospitalized with a major heart attack. He did not survive.

After the devastating news, Mrs Bantry was met outside the hospital by her youngest son John, the only one who came to support her. “You are the only one who hasn’t abandoned me” she said, “the only one in our family without any ugly secrets in the cupboard.”

After sending his mother home, young John felt sick to his stomach. “Oh how wrong you are, dear mother”, he said to himself. “If you only new...” To be continued...  

The characters and buildings from this story are from the AnnoSims Group project St. Mary Mead, loosly based on the novels of Agatha Christie. ( Anno Sims is now closed, but you can find my own creations for the project here at KSW.)

Increasing alcohol consumption

There is a significantly increase in the consumption of alcohol, after The Blue Boar Pub removed the age limit in the evenings. “It shouldn’t be up to us to decide” says Mr Brewster, the Pub owner. “Parents ought to have some control over where their kids are at night, and what they are doing, and not leave the problem to us.”

Miss Protheroe and her young friend insist that the problem is exaggerated. “It’s just this time of the year” she says, “Things might get a little out of hand sometimes, but even my father says that some youthful hubris must be expected. As soon as the graduation celebrations are over, I’m sure everything will be back to normal.”

Besides, as she points out, there are grownups in St. Mary Mead with a huge drinking problem, but they are still allowed to have their ale at the Pub.

After looking into the matter, we discovered that most of the increase can be traced back to a very unhappy newly arrived resident. From what we understand she lost her fiancée in an electrocution accident, but she is now in therapy to deal with her problems in a less destructive way, according to Dr. Haydock.

The next Houdini?

We rarely listen to gossip, but when we overheard this incredible conversation between Miss Marple and Mrs Babcock at the Post office, we couldn’t help ourselves.

Mrs Babcock heard it from Mrs. Price-Ridley who heard it from Mrs. Bantry, that a man practically disappeared in the workbench in the kitchen at Gossington Hall.

Mrs. Bantry’s youngest daughter was supposed to have been an astonished witness.

“I recon the circus has arrived in Much Benham” Miss Marple said, and Mrs Babcock could confirm that, but didn’t see the connection.

“It is the contortionist, you see” Miss Marple explained. “And I did expect something like this to happen!” As it turns out the contortionist is the brother of the butler of Gossington Hall, and the chest he uses for practicing needed some maintenance. But the workbench was a very fitting size, we presume.

Dieting is difficult

Previously we have reported on Miss Weatherby’s amazing weight loss, but as it turns out, she has not been able to sustain her new weight. “After my work outs I experienced an irresistible desire for The Blue Boar Pub’s onion rings” Miss Weatherby explains. “Those devilish treats ought to be forbidden!” It is a well known fact that sudden weight loss may cause eating disorders, but we hope that Miss Weatherby will be able to resist the temptations, and continue her struggle for a healthier lifestyle.

The characters and buildings from this story are from the AnnoSims Group project St. Mary Mead, loosly based on the novels of Agatha Christie. ( Anno Sims is now closed, but you can find my own creations for the project here at KSW.)