It looks as if they have dug the new cellar just in time for Hannah.
It’s much the same as the others have been: stairs lead down from a door with ‘Never say no to a Medicinal’ written on its lintel, and a warning notice beside it which says
DRINKS ARE
NOT ALLOWED
ON THE
OUTSIDE
The weather is getting warmer, almost warm enough for sitting about outside, but given the weather warnings there is still a fireplace, with toasting-forks and a kist full of warm shawls near it so that any chilly tart can wrap herself snuggly if needs be; the Other Cupboard is near it, above the Chatelaine’s chaise.
This cellar is decorated in blues, lots of blues, from pale sky round to deep indigo – well, that’s the colour of storm-clouds so it’s sky too, I suppose.
The aga, the other stove, the freezers and the food-cupboards are in the room which is behind the velvet curtain, off the corridor leading to the hot-tub and jacuzzi.
There are various pub-games: the shove-ha’penny board, the dominoes and the Nine Man Morris table are all present and correct, and there is a cupboard with cards and dice and board-games in it.
The On Sweet has a re-repaired metal mirror and has been re-feathered.
There is a glitter-ball as usual.
Darrington the butler, Ewbank, Honoré FitzMichael the pantler, The Page Three Pages, The Underfoot Men, and the re-upholstering lady Gwyneth with her team of seamstresses have moved here.
So have the Fancy Italian, Luigi to make us tea, Antonio the coffee-maker, and Fritz the chocolatier.
We can wait out the storm in comfort, I think.
