Some Fretwork and the Interminable Christmas Play at the Chalet School

Good evening, girls. I'm new. I missed the start of term because I was at a day school in England, but my parents had to go to South America at short notice to research A new treatment for mosquito-borne illnesses, so they sent me here. My godmother used to play tennis with Miss Annersley when she was a girl, so this was the only boarding school they would consider.

I've been brought up to unquestioning obedience, and I have a deep but quiet faith, which never talk about, but which gives me a profound appreciation for amateur dramatics.

I've got special permission for my brother to come and visit me occasionally. He's quite grown-up, and is a doctor at the local clinic. He came here specially to train with Dr Maynard, because of his pioneering work in hot milk as a carrier for sedatives.

Does anyone know what dorm I'll be in? I have a kazoo and some traditional Mongolian instruments in my trunk. Have any of the other middles got a band going?

Luckily.

Can't type with baby on knee.

EmilyAlice you said hard drive instead of shared drive!! This will go down in the annals of the school as a legend!!

I'm very sorry Witchend. I've been spoken to by Miss Annersley (though what she said will never be repeated) and I must now apologise to the whole school as the ants could have belonged to anyone. Lickily she said I can still be in the Christmas play.

I don't really know how the pm thing works, but if anyone can pass on the one drive info I'd be grateful.

WHAT!!! You've brought an anteater. My poor pets
I shall have to deleted for being against the spirit of the school forgive you.

Has anyone spotted any of those pesky middles hanging around pets' corner? My pet anteater is off his food and I want to know why.

On another note - are the La Rochelle books worth getting? Are they ridiculously expensive?

My ant collection for the pets' corner has gone missing. I left them near the sugar bowl in case they were hungry.

Followed? oh no I don't think so thank you Mornington. On a completely unrelated note, isn't it wizard that my new Dormyurt neighbour in Celeriac is Belsornian? Of course she does have a very low voice and a bit of a facial hair issue, but we are too young to care much about looks. And she's topping at cricket.

By the way, watch out for Matey at the moment, she's a tartar at this stage of term. She confiscated all those mags I bagged from Dr. Jem, she doesn't think my Human Anatomy scrapbook is a good idea.

stars, you'll find we have a wonderful tradition called humping the kapok here. We love to show it to visitors, it's so girlishly pretty. Come on over to Mushy Pea and we'll teach you. You can do it dressed as a baby angel if you like, but that's optional.

Glad to see you back, Princess, sounds like you had a topping time on the steppes. Did you notice whether you were followed by that mad uncle of yours? Luckily Pets Corner is filling up nicely with starorwater's dog and my snow leopard, so we're well resourced for your rescue.

I remember hard toilet paper, EmilyAlice. It was a bit like tracing paper and it usually came in little cardboard boxes from which you pulled out one sheet at a time. I can't imagine who thought it was a good idea because it was the least absorbent material you can imagine. I dread to think how much of the stuff is still lying around in landfill taking a million years to decompose. But yes, it was handy for playing the comb.

Do we really have to hump our mattresses every single morning?
Can I bring my dog?

Oh yes, in lessons and free time and everything. But don't worry, you will soon pick it up especially if you learn 10 new words a day and hear everyone else around speaking it. And if you don't pick it up you will get fined so you will learn really quickly..

How do I find out what dormyurt I'm in? Is there a list somewhere? And what's this about speaking French and German? Surely not in lessons?

Do we still get the coffee with positive featherbeds of whipped cream in Outer Mongolia? It's such tophole luck when we get one as a treat!

My mother had a cough when I was four so now I have a message from the great man in Harley St saying he will not be responsible for anything that should happen re. cold tubs.

I was named after a poem about a marsh and some green glass beads I believe Aunty Joey thought of it. Anyway, it's better than Len.

Please could we have a kit list for packing? And are you importing bread twists and black cherry jam or buying them locally?

Can you develop a complexion in Outer Mongolia? I think I'm in Carrot with its bright orange curtains, clashes beautifully with my hair! But I'm sure developing a complexion will help!
I'm starting on scrapbooks, now shall I start with views or animals?

Well since we're in Outer Mongolia, I imagine we'll need to speak...well, English, French and German, of course everyone in the world speaks at least one of those. Apart from the natives, and we don't associate with them until they've been civilised by means of joining the Chalet School and completing at least a term.

Gosh EmilyAlice hasn't anyone told you we're not allowed to go up the steppes until we're prefects? Deney won't be happy if she hears I've been up them!

Ooh I love the sound of Outer Mongolia. Can I be in Calabash - sticking with the lime green theme
I think I might try calligraphy and write out an inspiring poem or maybe whittling animals if they permit knives

Can I join the school please? Been reading staying at Joey's to get me used to big crowds for ages, so feel I am ready. Might need someone to explain the languages rule to me (what languages are we speaking in Outer Mongolia?) and to explain why we need to do hobbies club. Obviously as a new girl I'm not expecting a big part in the play (when will rehearsals start?) but I would love to be a peasant in a crowd scene please.

I'm here, I'm here!! Sorry I'm late, I got on a train with Peggy Bettany, Carola Johnstone and Jack Lambert, all of whom claimed to know exactly which way to go...

Fortunately Dr Jem picked us up in his car, he had no problem fitting the seven of us in . I bagged lots of interesting looking magazines which he'd left in the back seat to make some topping scrapbooks for poor local children. Have I missed Madame reading her ~interminable~ play aloud to a rapt and enthralled school?