It's Sunday Selfie time.... 

We are joining The Kitties Blue, from The Cat on My Head blog, for the weekly celebration of blogs and bloggers from across the world and across the species.

Download the link link from their site and join the fun!

This weeks selfie is of yours truly just settling in to take the selfies when....... 

I heard the church bells sound.......

Which as we all around this parish know,  means it's Niptini™ o'clock!

To see what all our pals have been up to, click the links below.

............... and now it's Sunday Story Time!

This weeks story is.............. Bubble, Toil and Trouble!

Erin is on the telephone in the study, discussing the housekeepers references.

"Hmm, I see. Prone to flying off you say, and flights of fancy but otherwise as fit as a fiddle, albeit a seventy year old fiddle.

What about cooking, I mean she isn't into home brewing is she? What sort? Well of the spirit kind or any other kind really. Tea total, you say, well that is good to know. One more question if I may, and this is a bit more delicate. To your knowledge has Mrs Hudson done porridge, or stir. You you mentioned she'd done time at 'Her Majesty's pleasure'.

Oh I see, she worked at The Victoria pub, and NOT prison. And you're not sure about porridge or stir fry but she makes one mean bubble and squeak!" Erin's jaw dropped the last comment, and then snapped shut. "Right. Well. Seems like there isn't too much to worry about then, and much as I thought. I see you gave her a glowing report, but didn't say why she left? Personal reasons, huh. Well along as it wasn't anything sinister or tax related. Thank you very much Mr Rathbone, I appreciate your candour."

Erin replaced the receiver. She paced back and forth and then jumped up and pulled on the sash that rang the bell in the kitchens for afternoon tea. Moments later, and brushing cobwebs from her hair, Mrs Hudson entered the room. A curl of grey hair dropped over one eye and she gave a squeal and then, realising what it was, blushed and tucked it behind one ear.

"Erin dearie, you rang? Was it a nice cup of tea or or maybe something a bit more substantial? I can rustle up some bubble and squeak if you want, but it may actually be more bubble than squeak on account of there not being much if any squeak in the pantry."

"Mrs Hudson, thank you for coming so quickly. I must say you are far more responsive than the previous incumbent even though you are twice the age. Now what I wanted to say was, I have just had a chat with Mr Rathbone, your previous employer, and am pleased to say that I can offer you the position of Housekeeper. I do like to make sure that every new member of staff has a full vetting, though rest assured the thermometer up the...... " Erin blushed and looked coyly at Mrs Hudson. "Well we are both women of the world, so lets just say that is reserved for me and for dire emergencies and my consultants tender and warm hands!"

"Erin dearie, I am sure I don't know what you mean. But if you need a thermometer up your nose then I will give it a go. I have dealt with many a baby and can safely say none came to any harm in later life once they extracted the thermometer. It just takes a little practice that's all. Now if you want to lay down with you head up I an get started right away."

"Eeek! Er, no worries Mrs Hudson, I think the less practice on this one the better. I mean I think best leave it until it's needed, after all you can over egg a pudding! Oh my is that the time, right what we need is to show you around the palace. A guided tour as it were. Now if you'll follow me we'll get started."

Erin scurried out the room, and made a mental note to have all the thermometers removed from the first-aid cabinets, and also those in the kitchens too!

Some time later..........

"So there you have it, the Palace in all its magnificence. You get a lovely view of the estate and villages from up here on the parapets. If you look down you can see the tiny delivery people, just like mice. Eighty-one rooms spread across nine floors. I think there may be more that we haven't found as I keep losing mice and never can find them.

Great place to clean the windows from too. Just tie a rope around your waist and abseil down the sides. I had great fun with the old cleaner by using elastic rope. Only problem was keeping the water in the bucket..... and actually stopping. But I think with your skills and a careful flight plan you could fly around this in no time.

Anyways, I think thats enough info to be going on with, don't you, Mrs Hudson?

Mrs Hudson?"

Erin turned to find she was alone. "Mrs Hudson, are you there?"

A muffled groan came from the stairwell behind her. Looking through the stone balustrade, she saw a red faced Mrs Hudson sat fanning her self on the landing three floors below. "Are you OK Mrs Hudson?"

"Don't worry dearie, you lost me after the second floor bathrooms. I'll be up in a moment. Have you thought about a stair-lift? Would make things loads easier. Or maybe you could just downsize? I saw a lovely thatched cottage in the village, advertised in the local newspaper. The particulars said it had a small cellar, nice big open fire, and only two upper floors and 6 rooms. Plus it had a stair-lift. Now they are very good for tired feet, like mine, and save you wearing down those delicate toes of yours, too."

Erin trotted on down and sat beside her. "You know, Mrs Hudson, you may just have hit on something there. Not down sizing though. Heck, a Princess needs a palace. And a cottage whilst nice and rustic doesn't have the gravitas. And besides a cottage doesn't have a moat for the Kraken. She just loves ours and all the post she gets from around the world. Granted most of it isn't actually for her, but she appreciates all the birthday cards and does reseal them and send them on with a personal gift and thank you note. No I think a stair lift will be just the thing. There are loads on MeowBay and if we, meaning you, can link them all up we could get them to run up here. That way you could dust even quicker whilst you travelled. And saves you doing any precarious balancing with that broom."

"Now that does sound fun, Erin, and so thoughtful of you too. Hows about I see if I can find some extra squeak for your supper, my dear? Bound to be some fresh in the garden?"

Erin's eyes widened as an image of Mrs Hudson mouse hunting around the palace kitchen gardens, flashed before her eyes. There were some things, she thought, that even an a septuagenarian shouldn't be doing. And what, she wondered would comprise the bubble part of the meal!?

"You know, Mrs Hudson, I think I will just settle for something nice and plain and boring for supper. Save you running around and getting all het up chasing down ingredients. A boiled nip leaf and potato fry up sounds just the thing....."


The End