AIBU Books Game Part Seven

[CJCregg]

Hi all, here we are again ...

As always, everyone welcome to pile in with AIBU book synopses, as long as you bring ice cream or something equally tempting for when we're stuck.

To continue mine - I'm in charge but it's terribly difficult to keep control. I don't know how long I can keep their respect. I didn't ask to be in charge ...

...I know the local people hate us, and I'm worried about my children, particularly my son; they poisoned my horse, after all...

I shall have to look out for that one, Moomin - have just checked my library but they don't have a copy (as for so many books, is most annoying)

MCP!

My grandmother's I think, Moomin. Surely no harm can come to me from a big green man?

Can you hear the other children yet, Elephants?

Yes, I think they're teasing me!

Ghostly sugar lumps for you Poledra, and a partridge for you Moomin.

I love that book.

Me too, Elephants. I keep meaning to visit Hemingford Grey (the real Green Knowe) every summer. Perhaps I'll get round to it this year.

If you can't find NTAL, Treacle, I will send it on to you when you and it return from travelling.

...And to forget that rice swells when it's absorbed the water...

MCP!

I want to go too, Moomin! It only seems to be open once in a blue moon though, I want to see the rocking horse. Is there really a St Christopher?

There's a REAL Green Knowe?

I want to go there!

Green Knowe

There is, and I think it's supposed to be the second oldest house in continuous habitation in the country.

Look here.

Me too - perhaps we should have an AIBU books outing!

And yep,I am Marguerite St Just - beautiful and intelligent!
I should be packing - I have done the important bit though - deciding which books to take....

I love the idea of an AIBU books outing - just imagine the picnic! And we could all wear matching "well-read lunatic" t-shirts.

...I just don't feel safe here in Jamaica. I think my son could be cured elsewhere, and perhaps my daughter would become a little less strange...

Ooh, Treacle, do you feel it might be safer somewhere over the Wide Sargasso Sea then?

Hmmm, tours of Hemingford Grey Manor are by appointment only, so:

"Dear Mrs Boston,

We are a party of well read lunatics who have not met each other in RL but are very familiar with the contents of each other's bookshelves.

We are very nice and know the Green Knowe books back to front so you must not be alarmed if some of us faint or squeak at the sight of the topiary, chaffinch's cage or witchball because we are all quite, quite harmless, honestly..."

What do you reckon? Will we be admitted or will the poor woman bar the gates?

Oops, nearly forgot:

...The trouble is forgetting that rice swells a lot when it absorbs water is not a good idea when the entire cargo of a ship is rice...

Hi all!

Hi Moooooooooomin!

Hi llaaaaaaaaaaandbbbbbbbb!

I knew which knife it was! I knew! Only I was in bloody Sussex, wasn't I?

didn't get any of the other ones, though

Pesto popcorn? Hmmm.

Please, what are all these refs to the Fur Quits and strange initials? Honestly, I go away for five days ...

Back in the shady mists of time, I was cross with my rather feeble-minded DH who won't put his foot down and stop his father marrying this woman. She's half-German, for goodness' sake ... it just won't do.

Pogle, have a good holiday. BTW, I know which Lady of Shallot quote you're talking about but can't remember either, please let me know if you trace it.

So nice to be back

Perfect, Moomin, you should definitely put "RL" rather than real life as well.

God for all we know she could be an MNer...

I will be twitching and squealing at the rocking horse and the fireplace!

Ceeeee Jaaaay! Hooray!

Sorry about The Ready Made Family but if you will go and frivol in Sussex while I'm sidling in the back door of AIBU Books... Hope it was a good holiday.

Treacle and I are Fur Quits. It's a MN book swap club. We each send a mystery book travelling around the other 11 members and post intelligent and insightful opinions on linked threads. Well, that was the theory...I did read them all but I have at least six books still waiting for some sort of intelligent-ish comment, which is proof that no matter how old I get, I will still never hand my homework in on time.

Hence the initials, since no one but the organiser is supposed to know what all the books are. Only Treacle is abandoning the second round to frivol in Mongolia so I could have sent Autumn Term instead of NTAL round the Fur Quits after all.

Clear as mud? Bit like my thoughts on your AIBU. MCP!

Thank you, Elephants, you don't think Mrs Boston will slam the gates on us then? Or lock us in the haunted music room. That would give us reason to squeak...

Oh yes, AIBU clue, oops, nearly forgot!

...I should have realised that a brig with a shot hole in the hull must be letting in water. Only it seemed bone dry...

Night, all!

That is precisely the colour of mud, Moomin. But I'll forgive you because I'm so glad to see you back.

(Moving in a few weeks' time. Haven't organised broadband yet. Worried? Oh, no.)

Funnily enough, one of the places I quite fancied visiting while we were in Sussex was Box Hill (didn't make it - ended up on Brighton Pier, as you do. I suppose you could interpret that as homage to G. Greene instead of J. Austen). Now wouldn't that be a fab place for a gathering of well-read lunatics? Pity about the M25 ...

Well, the wedding's happening. DH is so feeble. What about our inheritance? Doesn't he care?

Yes, Moomin, I am the future Mrs Rochester's poor mother! Have a crumbling, haunting estate in the West Indies as your prize.

Hello CJ! I'm off to Sussex myself tonight, is it nice? I'm sure I should know what yours is but I just don't.

More clues please, everyone!

And AIBU not to want to take it?

Thanks, Treacle, I think I'll pass on the crumbling house as I've already got one of my own devouring money! I really don't think I could run to funding repairs to two of them.

It depends on what "it" is, doesn't it? Woolly vest, medicine, cursed magical object... MCP!

Box Hill, hmm, well it is pretty and has impeccable AIBU Books credentials, but...

Best of luck with the move, CJ. Bitter experience leads me to think that it might be an idea to start packing the books now, and also to wish you Happy Christmas, just in case we have the same broadband, ahem, 'provider'.

In the meantime, MCP to you too as I haven't the foggiest!

...Only of course the brig was dry because all the water that was pouring in had been soaked up by the rice. Which sounds a good thing but it wasn't when the rice swelled so much it started bursting the planks apart...

An AIBU books meet-up! Squeak, faint, etc (and wonder whether to de-scruff self so as not to let the side down - or perhaps scruffy state promotes suitable air of lunacy?)

...It's a hat; I'm not sure that I should accept it...

The perfect AIBU books meet-up spot?

MCP!

A hat you say? Mmmm...is it an undertaker's hat? Or do you think there might be more to it than meets the eye?

Oh my god, treacle, that is the best place in the world! only £37.50 a night under the group rate

I know! Books, more books, and all the stodge you can eat!

...No, it's just an ordinary hat, but it must have been quite expensive. I can't believe she doesn't want it...

Ooh, that looks heavenly, Treacle. Have you been there?

Hmm, is it the sorting hat that you're not fancying? You can always bully it a bit.

...So that's that. My first command (even if it was only temporary) sunk under me all because I forgot that rice absorbs water...