Th think that Miss Climpson should have been in The Nine Tailors

[Jemima232]

Miss Climpson did not appear in this book.

The purpose of this thread is to examine why this oversight occurred.

The Chalet School books may be mentioned if people wish.

To spare Miss C's blushes, I feel compelled to point out that DLS almost certainly envisioned her wearing old-fashioned bloomers, reaching to the knees. So there was no need for the clicker to impinge on her fanjo unless she wanted it to

“The secret is to fill up as you go and never let the pot become completely empty”

I have posted a link to a LP/HV timeline on the CS thread. Harriet was 35/36 at the time of her marriage.

Ah yes, my studies at The Slade.. Just an enthusiastic amateur I am afraid.
I do not make tea. Even a person of my station in life is able to employ a cook-general and a parlourmaid.

My real life granny (b 1883) wore bloomers like that. She kept the enormous battery for her hearing-aid in them. Sitting on her lap was very uncomfortable.

but Miss C, when his lordship is in time for afternoon tea, you are one who pours it out.

And as pointed out up the thread:
"“The secret is to fill up as you go and never let the pot become completely empty ”

Anyyone MNetters who were up at Oxford? Did you go to Gaudys? When did they stop holding them?

They still hold them - they are college reunions. You go every few years to a Gaudy for people who were at the college at the same time as you.

I have been turning up at my own college's gaudies for years, in the hope that someone will buy me a set of ivory chessmen (recycled antique ivory only obviously), but no luck so far

According to my dear mother - I think a slightly more recent generation than Miss C, but of course one never reveals a lady's age - in her school days her undergarments were such that they had pockets large enough to hold one's apple for school and one's private diary.

Topped by one's gym slip, and if one was seen in uniform in public without one's hat then there would be - to switch to the Marlow's for a moment - ^blood for breakfast6

Is there going to be another book by JPW. She needs to deal with the death of the dowager duchess.

@XXcstatic

Ah yes. The ivory chessmen.

But the board wasn't from the original set, was it?

And someone smashed them to bits.

I loved Miss de Vine playing Harriet, though

Miss de Vine: I will give you a pawn.

Yeah. 'Cause Harriet was "but a poor player" and Miss de Vine beat her in ten minutes, despite giving her the pawn.

Was it Annie who smashed up the chessmen? Yes, of course, Jemima. (Always check your data) but they thought Miss Hillyard might have done it.

Poor Miss Hillyard. Secretly in love with LPW.

Oh I had pockets in my school knickers. They were dark brown as our uniform was brown and flame (true). My sister used to put her school lunch in hers if she didn't like it.
I would, of course, pour tea for dear Lord Peter. That is quite different.

Naturally I didn't expect you to boil the water for tea yourself

@Allington

Miss Marple was also an avid sketcher.

Gels of that generation always were.

It's a good thing it isn't considered necessary nowadays. I cannot draw or sketch to save my life.

I can make very good pots of tea, however.

@missclimpson

I, too, had dark-brown knickers as part of my school uniform. They took three days to dry (this was in the Olden Dayes before tumble dryers were invented) and my mother made me wear the same pair for a week as a result.

We did lots of art at my real life brown and flame school. History of art was the only compulsory subject in the sixth form. Maths and science were not considered essential.

@Jemima232
Yes I wore mine for a week too, but had an ordinary white pair underneath.

Miss Climpson should also have been in The Unpleasantness At The Bellona Club - an under-rated LPW novel, I think- it has a lot of interesting stuff about the social & psychological effects of WW1, and a clever 'howdunnit'. The scene where LP is subjected to the socialist musical tea party is particularly good.

Miss C would have been perfect to trail the chief suspect (won't name him/her in case people haven't read it) - and would have made a better job of it than the actual protagonists.

@XXcstatic

I absolutely love The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. I can well imagine Miss Climpson tailing the chief suspect. Also think this is a brilliant book for describing the after-effects of "shell-shock" which we now know as PTSD.

I especially like Mr. Murbles who is a recurring character. And Sir Impey Biggs, also a recurring character, who was probably modelled on Sir Edward Marshall Hall.

@missclimpson

Good grief. Your unfortunate DM had two pairs of knickers to wash?

What was the reason for the white ones? And I have horrid memories of the dark brown ones.

Miss Climpson pardon me if these are indelicate questions, but isn't a required skill a very strong bladder? I seem to remember you had to go to very many teashops while lying in wait for that nurse. Also, my grandma (b1920) used to keep useful things (hanky, banknotes) in her bra rather than her knickers. I wonder when the storage location switched over. Maybe to do with the Gold Standard ponders.

The white ones were clean every dat, the brown ones had to last a week. 😀 It all went in the twin-tub that used to vibrate round the kitchen on a Friday night when my mother got back from work (as a shorthand / typist).

@Phineyj

I myself have kept banknotes in my bra on occasion.

Miss Climpson would not have understood the Gold Standard. Women never did in those days.

Hmm, I don't have sufficient embonpoint to do that

One of my granny's favourite stories was how her bloomers fell off on the bowling green in front of the Mayor and Corporation of Croydon. 😀
Did ladies have stronger bladders then? I do notice that my French friends and neighbours never ask to go to the loo, though the men avail themselves of the courtyard.

Leaving the subject of knickers - I see this is out as a book in September.
Dorothy L Sayers: A Biography: Death, Dante and Lord Peter Wimsey. Colin Duriez.