Finding time to write to all of you, my dear friends , has been difficult in the last few weeks. Partly due to having lots of betrothal tasks to do, to having social engagements in the afternoons on more days than I think is really good for me, to a rapidly expanding used parchment business, and to having a small resurgence of my problem with my favourite writing hand due to repetitive strain injury.
I have tried to leave time everyday to achieve some epistolary work,but there have been too many outstanding tasks and too little time left to complete them. So I do have lots to tell you and I will have to take a few sessions to catch up with you as the Faery Physio is only allowing me a very short time each day to prattle on my electronic box, as she says I need to rest my left writing paw.
Pendragon and I are in the midst of our final preparations for our May Betrothal Ceremony. The Faery Seamstress has almost completed my dress. I see the final version on Tuesday 7th. My headdress is being made by Gribbgea the Embroidress. I should see that too on the 7th. She is designing it from scratch,and I have no idea what form it will take. It will be red, and sumptuous, though.
I have visited the place where our ceremony and feast will take place, and returned overwhelmed by the beauty and aura of the setting. Set in acres of countryside, wildlife come and go as you wander through, and inside each room ,the palatial nature of each strives to outdo the one next door.
We are going to have such a lovely time, and a wonderful day, I know we are. Surrounded by friends and family, we will take our vows in the Garden Orangerie, and feast afterwards in the Rennaissance Atrium.
I have ordered our invitations, special favours, some pretty cupcakes and have only the floral decorations to decide upon. Lots of white and red, I feel, will enhance our dining experience. I have booked my appointments with the Faery Beautician, who will be perfecting my hair ,face, eyebrows and nails on the day. So exciting, and only nine weeks to wait.
All is well within the neighbourhood,although we have not seen lots of our neighbours recently. They are only now beginning to reappear from within their toadstools, after a long cold winter in Dingley Dell. The coldest for many a year.
The Fearless Faery is still giving us cause for concern. I emerged from my four wheeled motor carriage yesterday to find her outside in her garden with her wildebeest, Daisy. I spoke cheerily to her as I teetered up the path,laden with supermercantile bags.
As I got nearer to her though I realised that she was not going to look me in the eye. She spoke to me with her head down,and seemed to be hanging on to Daisy to hold her up. She had been imbibing the fruits of the alcoholic beverage it appeared, and was distinctly the worse for wear at four oclock in the afternoon. She had just emerged from her own four wheeled motor carriage, and had been driving three sheets to the wind.
I could not bring myself to taint our friendship by mentioning my concerns . I don't think my opinion would stop her, and maybe I can help at some point, when she wants help. Pendragon just shakes his tawny head when I tell him. It is very difficult to know what to do or what to offer. I just hope she stops sometime soon.
The Shilpits at number three have been very elusive for the last few weeks. Bu they are back. Wally spoke to me earlier today as he passed our garden. He is always very polite(quite unusual for a Shilpit) and willing to offer help at every available opportunity.
His brother Oggie only offers a scowl. Dad Shilpit has been almost invisible during February and March. No doubt when he sees us breaking sweat in our little toadstool garden ,weeding and planting, he will emerge to give us his untimely and unrequested advice. A goblin with only slabs wall to wall can hardly be expected to offer pearls of wisdom on the subject of rhododendrons and wisteria.
I spent the morning in Brigantia today,tracking down parchments,and sharing coffee time with friends. I came back with my motor carriage loaded just as the rain began to patter on the daffodil heads lining our front pathway.
I love watching the vagaries of the weather,-from inside only , looking out.It is raining again, and the blue has long since left the sky. Grey clouds promise we will be wet throughout the weekend.
Pendragon is hving a roast dinner tonight. Roast salmon, roast vegetables and small roast potatoes. I will welcome him home,feed him, then cuddle up to watch my favourite Faery Soaps with him on our leather settee.
We are a happy pairing, my dearest chums.Remember that now Spring has come, you must remember to push your time pieces forward one whole hour this weekend. On Saturday night, so they say. Wally our house cuckoo is already looking very smug at the thought that he will have to stumble out and mark the passage of time once less than is customary.
March fever is now about to give way to some April tomfoolery and we can only hope that we can carry this out in temperatures of at least double figures.
Tomorrow I'll tell my tale of garden groupies, postal petulance and Daily Scandal "scandal".
Till then,take care, and much love to you and yours.
Fom Amarantha Willow, the Rainbow Faery.
