Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Progress.


The hallway now looking decidedly bare. A greatly reduced mixture of Swedish and Scottish furniture now waiting for shipment to pastures new. The borderline great news is that the offer on the Scottish cottage has been accepted. Absent carpets and furniture The Rickety Old Farmhouse sounds different. It echoes more. There would have been a time when Sophie would have enjoyed high speed rug-surfing across the floor tiles. Now, with the advent of titanium knees, she's moved onto less arduous pursuits.

In the in-box an e-mail from the water company. A prohibition on car washing, garden irrigation or topping up the pool from now until the end of October. Failure to comply will occasion a E1500 fine. Thank heavens the well has sprung back into life.


At this time of the morning the village doesn't look too parched. However, the latest water restrictions will put paid to the old mayors valiant attempts to keep the grass on the village green and around the war memorial alive.


By the time we've toured the village, opened the church and checked on the moorhens in the village pond it's turned six thirty. No opening the shutters today. The air outside is already hotter than the air inside.


Should it go or should it stay? A gift from an old friend in Berlin. On the day of German reunification he had to attend the formal handing over of the East German Navy to their West German counterparts. My old friends escort from the East German security services handed over the formal documents in a Stasi issue brief case. To stop documents being stolen the case came with a length of string . The two ends of the string would  have hot wax poured over them before being sealed in place with an official stamp.  A flap on the front of the case then covered the still warm wax. If the string was broken or the seal tampered with the recipient would know that something was amiss. Lo tech but effective.  What do you do with something like this ?


 

10 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

Fascinating story about the briefcase. Is there a museum that would be interested in taking good care of it? Otherwise, it would be hard to let it go.
Nobby wants to know if Sophie would like a friendly and enthusiastic welcome to Scotland. He simply cannot believe that any dog, not even Sophie, would not love to be jumped all over by a persitant six month old pup. Nobby has yet to develop the ability to pick up clues that his attentions are sometimes unwanted. He can however, as of this week, both swim and cock his leg!)

The Life of Riley said...

Usually if you need to ask should it stay or go the answer is go, but in this case you have the chance to renew an old friendship to say "we are seriously downsizing, would you like this much appreciated gift back for yourself or someone else?" and if no reply, when you have time in Scotland, sell it on Ebay (or UK equivalent) to someone who appreciates the history. Then donate the all or part of the proceeds to a charity you and your old friend would support, unless it is something you and the Font want 24/7 on display in your new home which is the only possible reason to pick "stay" .

Coppa's girl said...

Although I can appreciate the interesting history of the briefcase, it's not really something I'd keep. I agree that perhaps your old friend might have some thoughts on its future, or maybe he'll take it back? Donating it to a museum seems a sensible alternative, or would one of your Cost Centres be interested in continuing to guard it as future family memorabilia?
I can just imagine Sophie's face when jumped all over by Nobby!

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Yes, I favour the museum option for the case, for it is most interesting and not something I have seen before.... perhaps off it to Bletchley? Then again, it is also quite likely to do well in a specialised auction for there is a strong contingent of collectors for such material. YAM xx

Fay said...

I concur with Gail; donating to a museum would be my first choice. Accordingly, I would take it to Scotland and do research from your new home (unless you find time now). I recently donated some drawing and photos to various museums, and it took me a few tries to find the right collections.

10NISNE1 said...

If you have an overabundance of interesting historical pieces, donate it to a museum. Otherwise, I would keep it.

suej said...

I am still trying to come to terms with the fact that you, Sophie and The Font will soon be gone. I have loved following your lives in France Profonde. Thank you for sharing with us all this these years. I hope you can be persuaded to take up your story again from your wee cottage. I am also astonished by the speed with which all of this has happened and how quickly you are clearing your property - this is July / August. And as we all know nothing happens in France through these two months! I'm glad Sophie is taking this with equanimity and that she (and you and The Font) have wonderful new adventures in your new life.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I'm so excited about all of this!
xx

EAS said...

Such an interesting life and unique inside perspective — thank you for sharing!

Teena and Lala said...

Many congratulations on the offer being accepted.

We have now sadly sold our wee house in the Borders and are in a holding pattern in Essex, but will soon return to France to sell the Convent. Thereafter it's back up to Scotland for us as soon as we are able, 2 sets of ailing parents permitting.

I do hope it all goes well and very much hope you will continue to write of yours, Mme Font and Sophies adventures from your new home.

I also hope the new owners of TROF will tread lightly, or not at all, on the sacred spot up on the ridge.