Month: April 2018

A Surprise for Chief O’Flynn

A message from Liverpool, taken by Wrench the Butler, contained surprising news for the Hill Enterprises (Dominions and Colonial) Loyal Volunteers Section’s leader, Chief Kansan O’Flynn. Entirely unexpectedly, one of his wives, The Lady Qelhatat O’Flynn, Official Wife Number Seven, had arrived in England. Leaving Official Wives One to Six to care for Chief O’Flynn’s thirty five children, she had followed her man to the wars.

DSC01668b
Official Wife Number Seven, The Lady Qelhatat O’Flynn (left) arriving at Liverpool docks. She is accompanied by her mother, Sole Official Mother-in-Law Tapiwa Onwuatuegwu

As Chief O’Flynn was digesting the implications of this news, particularly regarding his plans to make friends amongst the Ladies of Hereford (already many of the WI section were considering transferring their affections from the POUM mortar crew) The WI and POUM  he received more disturbing details from Wrench. The Lady Qelhatat had not travelled alone. She had brought her mother. Sole Official Mother-in-Law Tapiwa Onwuatuegwu was a Wise Woman. Possibly as a result of that wisdom, she was the only surviving Official Mother-in-Law. When her daughter became the Chief’s seventh wife, there were six other Official Mothers-in-Law, all hale, hearty and optimistic. Within a few short months, all had died, apparently from natural causes.

1623A8E1-517F-4D9E-B0E3-3EB595020105
An unsuspecting Chief O’Flynn mingles with the WI ladies.
IMG_5875
A brief misunderstanding brought on by confusion about the nature of Miss Virginia Ironside’s camera was soon resolved

Chief O’Flynn had doubts about how his mother-in-law would react to his plans for the Ladies of Hereford. Chief O’Flynn, known to friends and enemies alike as The Lion Hearted, The Buffalo Chested, The Crazy Hippopotamus, was strangely nervous in the company of Sole Official Mother-in-Law Tapiwa Onwuatuegwu.

Unaware of these undercurrents, Sir Gilbert sent his man Stirrup to collect the distinguished, if unexpected guests.  “ Take the yellow Packard, Stirrup, the ladies will like that.”

IMG_5878
Stirrup delivers the ebullient Lady Qelhatat O’Flynn and her mother to The Green Man pub where rooms had been booked for them courtesy of Sir Gilbert. There is little doubt that the arrival of Mrs O’Flynn will prove a great tonic for the embattled defenders of The Golden Valley

 

 

 

Sir Gilbert’s Latest

Sir Gilbert Welcomes New Recruits

At a recent ceremony, Sir Gilbert Hill, selfless defender of Herefordshire’s Golden Valley, welcomed the latest addition to his hard fighting platoon. From the heart of Africa willing volunteers have flocked to the aid of the Mother Country in her hour of strife, none less than Sir Gilbert’s cheerful estate workers.  Hill Enterprises (Dominions and Colonial) Loyal Volunteers Section is the first drop in the first trickle of the impending flood of robust warriors who will swell the ranks of the Golden Valley defenders.

IMG_0202
Sir Gilbert, with Lady Hill at his side, elegant in her chartreuse dress, the latest Cristóbal Balenciaga fashion. To his left is his secretary, Fragrance Sweetmeat, in a simple red dress from Chanel. Also in attendance is Stirrup, Sir Gilbert’s man and Wrench, the Butler. Marlborough, Sir Gilbert’s faithful labrador, was much in evidence. They were all waiting outside Sir Gilbert’s summer cottage to welcome the colonial volunteers

 

IMG_0203 (1)
After the new section had paraded past Sir Gilbert and his entourage, its leader, Chief Kansan O’Flynn performed the ritual Ceremony of Pointing to indicate his devotion to Sir Gilbert. All present were visibly moved by this solemn obeisance.

 

IMG_0201 (1)
And then it was time for a final march past as once again, the devoted retainers of Hill Enterprises (Dominions and Colonial) demonstrated their fealty to their benevolent leader, Sir Gilbert Hill.