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....

Tis before the rising bell .........are we ready?
Loo........(sung in my very true treble -bass-

I sing the charms of Margaret so fair....

I've decided to have silvery lark like notes. As a contrast to the golden chorister.

Where are the others?

I'm here, I'm here, singing the charms of Margaret so fair...

Oh and I properly snorted at Madge and Jem swearing out of the window, as well as the helpful alternative songs suggested.

And of course I should have remembered that it was Marie, whose beauty is exceeded only by Wanda's, who picked up her baron at a regatta. I suppose the rest of us do need to engineer an accident. Although all my favourite characters are the old maids, really. (I am emphatically NOT including ML in this.)

I'm here. Except I fell through a hole in the flower bed which I tried jumping over and have discovered an unused well with a stream which is now beginning to flow again. There's bound to be some story here!

Sorry I only just made it in time - some git had sewn me into my cubey and Tom Gay made me show my legs before getting out her rather impressive Scout's knife. Shall I take the harmony?

I've brought the tea set. Where shall I put it to keep it safe? Under this tree looks good, in a bush.

I've brought Gaudenz to rescue Joey. He may be in the wrong country but he is my favourite man-hero of the entire series, so of course it was him I turned to first. This is appalling English and I anticipate a stern look from blue-grey eyes which have never yet needed glasses.

Are we still singing, or can I stop now? I fear I am straining my silvery lark-like tones.

Time for the presentation... who's got the flowers? Madame is looking girlishly pretty yet I can tell underneath she's thrilling....

Oh dear, I slept it out. Have I missed anything exciting?

Who fell on top of the tea set?

I have the flowers... I mowed the lawn and we have a lovely selection of wild flowers highlighted with a variety of long grass.

Doesn't Madame look very girlish today?
Beautiful flowers DeWee lovely bow - you must have deft French fingers!

Just arrived. Got up to get a drink and some idiot locked me in the bathroom. Some idiot of a junior middle for a ducket.

Madam looks elusively pretty girls far nicer than the Irish beauty of her sil Molly.

Oh hang on Amy has written a poem and Joey has dedicated a collection of Tyrol fairy takes to her. Jolly well played I think.

Oh the parents have turned up too to thank her for what she is doing for their girls.

Oh Look Oncle Reize is there already he's just ducked down by her window and madam is pushing him out of the room.

He's a huge fellow isn't he but Madam always blushes when you say that. Dr Jem is staying at the San for a few days so he's missed it.

Well I have the gin elderflower cordial in my basket. Myself and Joan Baker are going to sample it in the summerhouse shortly, if anyone would care to join us.

vintage I'll bring the playing cards and the cigarettes.

And I'll bring the smut!

Actually Oncle Reize is skulking around the summerhouse now, with a towel wrapped around his waist (and nothing else on that I can see). He must have been swimming in the lake to help celebrate Madame's birthday.

Ooh no, he's gone. Himself and Uncle Jem seem to be having a game of chasing. Isn't it wonderful how everyone is joining in the fun?

See you all in the Summerhouse.

Oooh chasing lovely, are they dressed as demons with whips and masks?

Another time I woke up feeling sick after an orgy on Theklas uncooked bacon and I saw Bill and Charlie dressed like this chasing each other. What fun.

We all have so much fun on Madame's Birthday!

Have I missed anything? I overdid the brandy last night after a fainting fit. There was a large spider in my cubey! Did any of you put it there?

Oh poor you Tinuviel Have some elderflower cordial. No you haven't missed much.

Uncle Jem's just walked out of the house carrying a suitcase so I expect he's off back to the San for a few days. And Madame burst into tears so she must have been very moved by our singing. And Oncle Reize's wife has arrived and is singing some kind of opera thing - don't recognise it but a lot of screeching and high pitched notes.

But no, you haven't missed anything interesting.

I imagine soon Joey will be so moved she'll start fainting. Shades of Oberammergau.

Well I'm having a terribly jolly time. I can hear the crying of a distressed Oirish gel from over the hedge too, so is anyone free for a little bit of lower-class adoption? Such larks!

Do watch out for Uncle Kester though, he's lurking in the shrubbery near the bathers with his binoculars looking carefully for birds, as usual!

I've just seen Bill and Con come out of that bush over there. Do you think they were looking for missing bits of the tea set? They do look dishevelled. Matey won't be impressed.