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Is this rare or even unusual

103 replies

markmichelle · 18/06/2021 17:12

Do you know of anyone who had a separate life away from their family?
Background: DW and a friend reminiscing about a friend who recently died.
Let me call her Diana was from a County family, genuine public Service obligations. Lovely family. Diana was widowed in her late 20s with children. Did not remarry, concentrated on her children and working in family business, from part time 'odd jobs' to becoming active accountant and director. My knowledge of this part of her life is limited. DW knew her from school. Malvern.

Some years ago after a successful business meeting 150 miles away I was taken to a restaurant, the host suggested we join another group. They were a mixed group, a bit boisterous. Among them was a flashy type of bloke and his gf, she was dressed a bit showy. She was introduced as 'Trixie'.
Flashman and she were the life and soul of the party.

We did not say that we knew each other and I told no one. I have still not told my wife, I have to admit she is a bit of a gossip.
Diana's usual style was twinset and pearls, Liberty Scarves, everything tailored.
I started writing this to ask if you or any of your friends had a separate life like the above. I was going on to ask about second set of clothes and venues away from the usual humdrum. It has got a bit serious perhaps cathartic, me talking about a friend we have lost. I will leave it stand and see if you comment.

OP posts:
GreenCrayon · 18/06/2021 18:14

it’s just so oddly written..😂

It really is! It's like someone is trying to write a story rather than start a thread on MN.

MiddleClassProblem · 18/06/2021 18:17

What does County family, genuine public service obligations allude to? Waste collection family business in Derbyshire which is also their surname?

MiddleClassProblem · 18/06/2021 18:18

@HonestlyFuckThis

Is Diana Trixie? Are you saying she faked her death…?
And flashman is the real dad to her kids
AnoymousCoward · 18/06/2021 18:20

@markmichelle people go through life-changing events and reinvent themselves. Get over it.

BackforGood · 18/06/2021 18:21

@medebourne

Perhaps a Jilly Cooper plot translated into Polish and then back again into English by a non native speaker?
Grin Grin Grin
Bluntness100 · 18/06/2021 18:22

I think what the op is saying is they knew Diana as a very staid, polite, old fashioned woman, when in reality he or she had seen her with her boyfriend, having fun and being flamboyant, in a different setting, with a nickname, so clearly they didn’t know her very well at all.

Whether this is someone having some form of fantasy or not who knows. 😂

Toomanypickles · 18/06/2021 18:23

This is both rare and unusual.

OrchestraOfWankery · 18/06/2021 18:24

@medebourne

Perhaps a Jilly Cooper plot translated into Polish and then back again into English by a non native speaker?
Grin
BigRedBoat · 18/06/2021 18:27

What is a 'county family'? Why did you pretend not to know Diana/Trixie? Were they actually the same person?

Godmothered · 18/06/2021 18:30

Are you writing a book? Because it's not very good.

ILoveShula · 18/06/2021 18:30

If you need to ask @BigRedBoat, then you don't need to know.

Hen2018 · 18/06/2021 18:33

What is a County Family? Surely everyone lives in a County?

yourestandingonmyneck · 18/06/2021 18:33

How do you know you "did not say that you knew each other?" Did she acknowledge that she knew you? Or could it have actually been an entirely different person?

I can't imagine not saying "oh wow, long time no see, how are you!" Presumably the mystery would then have been cleared up when she said she was not Diana, or acknowledged you and chatted in which case it would be apparent that she had another side to her.

TooBigForMyBoots · 18/06/2021 18:33

I know Elsie from Chelsea, but not Trixie from the counties.

Hen2018 · 18/06/2021 18:34

Public services sounds like a toilet.

yourestandingonmyneck · 18/06/2021 18:34

Also, what is a County family? And yeah, I've never gone to a restaurant where the staff have suggested we join another party.

That's weird.

Hen2018 · 18/06/2021 18:36

Which school in Malvern? Dyson Perrins? The Chase?

Godmothered · 18/06/2021 18:39

@Hen2018

Which school in Malvern? Dyson Perrins? The Chase?
😂! Malvern College would be much more suited to a 'county family'.
Velvian · 18/06/2021 18:47

@MiddleClassProblem, I actually LOL'd, exactly what I was wondering.
Thinking about it, I could be described as a public servant from a county family. I have an AAT qualification.

I have shocked a few colleagues at the Xmas partyGrinWineGinGlitterball

AnoymousCoward · 18/06/2021 18:47

On re-reading I am inspired:

Well we were born within a mile of each other
Our parents said we could be sister and brother
Her name was Diana (Diana)
I had my eye on her (eye on her)

And they said that when we grew up
We'd get married and never split up
We never did that, although I often thought of it

Diana, do you recall?
Your house was very small
With giclees on the wall
When we met at the ball
You didn't acknowledge me at all...

Let's all meet up in the year 2000,
Won't it be strange when we've grown (and put lard on)
Meet you there, 2 o'clock, by the fountain in the Italianate garden
I never knew that you'd get married
And widowed while I was making a life of my own
On that damp and lonely Thursday years ago.

Miniestelle · 18/06/2021 18:52

County family, genuine public Service obligations

I'm really intrigued by this bit. Do you mean as in a feudal type set up. Landowner and tenants/peasants type thing? Like noblisse oblige?

MiddleClassProblem · 18/06/2021 18:54

@Miniestelle

County family, genuine public Service obligations

I'm really intrigued by this bit. Do you mean as in a feudal type set up. Landowner and tenants/peasants type thing? Like noblisse oblige?

Or that they are contracted to mow the grass on the roundabouts in Milton Keynes?
StillWeRise · 18/06/2021 18:58

since you ask me for a tale of a woman acting out of character...

Miniestelle · 18/06/2021 18:59

Or that they are contracted to mow the grass on the roundabouts in Milton Keynes? Grin

It's really painted a vivid picture for me of Diana and her family. Julian Fellowes could do do something with this set up.

MrsXx4 · 18/06/2021 18:59

You’ve given me a headache on my headache trying to read that! 2/10 don’t recommend.

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