To ask all Chaletians to get ready for Madame's birthday?

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Pop to the splasheries my lambs and after you've brushed your hair till it shines we'll have a quick practice of 'I sing of Margaret so fair'.

Once we've finished casting the movie, that is....

Nah, the nature of fanfic means there's no quality control Daisy. Look at that 50 Shades of Grey which was apparently quite popular last year...

Pity. I'm probably missing gems while wading through the other stuff. And there is some great stuff on there, particularly the humorous pieces.

Ahem, would still love the amnesiac Jo link. I can't find it amongst the 599974 versions of Jo's bipolar misery.

And I would love the Miss Slater narrates a staff driven to drink to cope with paper games one, please, Cheddar.

DeWee my lamb, if only the poor boy had a brown-and-flame uniform he would never get changed, or always get changed, whichever it was you were particularly aiming for.

thebody I am greatly looking forward to sending DS off as soon as he turns seven, so he can be around boys and grow into a proper man. I'm hoping he can go into medicine and spend his days wandering into the neighbouring school dispensing his manly and unmedical (thus inexpert) advice. In the meantime I am hoping an Anna or a Rosli turns up.

Also Stokey I think you can just meet your doctor at a regatta or sale or something, didn't Maria or Frieda manage it this way? Probably it was Frieda, what with her name meaning 'peace' and all.

Right my lambs, enough of the chit chat. It is an important day tomorrow. Have we arranged for the day girls to bring in flowers? Who is going to make sure we wake up early enough and has someone organised hot water for Amy???

Nell I shall tell the school that they need to change the uniform to brown and flame. I'm sure the head will oblige me on that. Particularly as I told him that ds is planning on wearing a summer dress (as beloved by mn!) to avoid the horrors of a shirt and tie in the juniors.

Actually he would happily choose to wear nothing always, or his pjs or perhaps shorts and tshirt for a really formal situation.

Maybe I shoudl start suggesting a white coat in preperation to be a doctor.

Hels71 I will bring in flowers from my garden. Wild flowers are the best. So you can have a bunch of dandilions, sowthistle, daisies, rosebay willowherb, scarlet pimpernel and buttercups. I'm sure Madame will love them when tied with a bow with finger with a touch of the French about them.

Hels

I have an alarm clock which I smuggled in so I can be sure to awaken us before the bell, so we can congregate under Madame's window at dawn to serenade the joyous morn.

She will not be wanting to lie in on her birthday, no, not at all.

Excellent, so the plans are going swimmingly.....

Ahem. "I sing of Margaret, come away, come away!"

"Did you not hear my lady come down the garden singing?"

Oooh, tophole! I shall put myself in charge of the picnic baskets except for the v important one containing drinks/fruit etc.

I read the Miss Slater fanfic years ago - will look for it but I don't know if I'll find it now.

I met an actual small child called Elizaveta today! And she confused me! Because her name isn't Elizaveta (as I have always read/pronounced it, similar at the start to Elizabeth followed by vetta), but Eliza-veeta. :o

Nell I think Frieda met Dr Von Ahlen in an internment camp, didn't she? Marie met the Baron von und zu und hier und dort Schwingelingenschaft at the regatta. She must have been REALLY stunning to manage to attract him after just winning a rowing race - I was always a sweaty beast afterwards. Perhaps this is another reason why I am not a true Chalet girl.

Right, we must make sure we all know the words...

I sing the charms of Margaret, sweet and kind,
No fairer maiden ever graced this day;
The richest pearl she is that man could find.
It is thy birth-morn! Sweeting, come away.

The air is simple too....but I don't know it

Re the cooking mishaps, I believed them after our Home Ec lessons at 12/13. Someone trying to decorate their baked cheesecake with grated Cheddar...

Oh dear, I forgot to learn the words of the 'Margaret' song. Do you think anyone would mind if I sang a verse of 'Roll out the barrel' instead? It is very festive, after all.

Frieda met Dr von Ahlen when (and I know you'll all find this hard to believe) he was a doctor at the San. As far as I can remember he gets sent to a concentration camp in Exile but escapes or gets let out.

I too have not learnt the words of the Margaret song. However I do know all the words of 'Maggie May' by Rod Stewart, which is surely close enough?

DeeWee spat out my wine at your reference to the boy/frock thread. What's with all that today on mumsnet?

Sock my lamb Marie was always beautiful and only eclipsed by Wanda who was superlatively beautiful.

I have learned the words and can sing in my girlish voice that Madam loves.

I can also walk with my usual free grace just like Joey but always bend my knees slightly while climbing mountains. As you do around Brum.

Vintage ,my honey lamb,chalet school old girls drink a light country wine or brandy when fainting. Milk is good too as long as it's given to you by a man or matron.

Never beer dear are you Betty Wynne Davies?

D'you remember last year when we all gathered under Madame's window at dawn and sang Fair Margaret and Sweet William and she suddenly flung open the window with her hair full of curlers and screamed at us to bugger off and Dr Jem was standing behind her in boxer shorts shouting 'who the fuck is Sweet William?'

Such fun.

Ooh no Happy I thought it was drugged milk in those barrels.

God I would have loved to meet EDB. How great an eccentric was she aye but a good writer as we wouldn't all, as adults, be still reading and commenting on her books.

Good on her.