Correspondences
Lucy Shelton
Dear John and Noretta,
Needless to say it would be a miracle if your lovely mews home across the way were in fact available, but I am still looking for housing for my 2 months in London, from March 12 to May 5, and can't imagine any place I would rather be. So, I just have to inquire! Thanks for letting me know. (I have been searching on the internet, and just came across a mews rental with the same wonderful blue door and window trim as yours, and got the goose bumps - the good kind -remembering your home!)
The Helsinki premiere of Innocence was last night - and it went very well indeed! I am excited to sing in 10 more performances here, but will miss the daily rehearsals with the cast and production team. The process of developing this opera has been such a treat for me!
Love to you both
Lucy
Sun, Oct 23, 2022 at 5:10 PM
Dearest Lucy,
Please forgive the delay in replying to your tantalising inquiry about the availability of No.3. Your message conjured up so many delicious possibilities that it took me into long sequences of reveries on how we might reconcile the various aspects at play.
To begin with, we had intended the place to be a refuge for Noretta's Mother when, as seemed increasingly likely, she was to be bereaved. Then we discovered that, by confining it to short-term guests, it brought us many lovely people. Now the clientele has reverted back to the family: Caroline and other solicitous relatives have, with an eye on our growing infirmities, come on lightning visits whenever their own circumstances allow. Caroline is coming by for Thanksgiving; we currently have the nephews and nieces from Bologna here, whilst the offspring of our cousins in Frankurt will come after that for half-term; and so forth.
Unashamedly, I confess that their fitting together their youthful travels with familial concerns (and a favourable exchange rate) is proving a highly comforting formula for us! And it explains why we would be reluctant to block out such opportunities for an extended period.
Please forgive us for this selfish judgement! It cuts very much across our own liking; and demands sacrifices which at another age one would have been most reluctant to make!
I hope none of this would deter you from calling in at No.8 whenever you feel like a friendly coffee and cuddle!
With arms wide open, and much love,
Noretta and John
EASTER 2020
With apologies to
LEWIS CARROLL’s
The Walrus and the Carpenter
and Government guidelines
‘It’s Easter, come and walk with us!’
The Virus did beseech
‘A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach.
‘We cannot go with less than four,
To pin the bite on each.’
But more young Campers hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their eyes were bright, their hands were washed,
Their trainers clean and neat —
And this was odd, because, you know,
They‘d only had one tweet.
Four other Campers followed them,
And then still more;
And thick and fast they came at last -
The Minister aghast at what he saw!
Some wading through the frothy waves,
Then scrambling back to shore.
The Virus called the Minister
To give the bitter blow -
And then he rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the brazen Campers stood
And waited in a row.
‘The time has come,' the Virus said,
‘To talk of many things:
Of God and Mammon — and of climate change —
Economists — and Analysts at Kings —
And why the sea is boiling hot —
And whether masks have wings.'
‘But wait a bit,' the Campers cried,
Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of cash,
And all of us are flat!'
‘No worry!' said the Chancellor:
They thanked him much for that.
‘A feasting crowd,' the Virus said,
‘Is what we chiefly need:
A barbecue and victuals besides
Are very good indeed —
Now if you're ready, Campers dear,
We can begin to feed.
‘It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!'
The Campers said nothing but
‘Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf —
I've had to ask you twice!'
‘I weep for you,' the Virus said:
I deeply sympathize.'
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
Then, ‘Campers,' called the Minister,
‘You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none —
And this was scarcely odd, because
The Virus’s work was done.
Adapted for our times by John Leech
The Honorable John Train
