Easy As Falling Off A Bike pt 879.

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Wuthering Dormice
(aka Bike)
Part 879
by Angharad

Copyright © 2010 Angharad
All Rights Reserved.
  
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Stella and Tom were wonderful–with Julie’s help, they put the kids to bed–so when I got home at nearly ten o’clock, all I had to do was have a snack and go to bed. Tom had bought a demonstrator Freelander and used it to go and get fish and chips for everyone except me. It was just as well, I couldn’t have faced anything bigger than a sandwich if I’d tried.

I was pleased with Julie’s seeming transformation from useless to helpful in such a short time, and I told her so. I also told her that if she kept it up, I’d buy her something nice at the end of the month–such as an iPod. Her face lit up and she asked if she could have an iPhone. I agreed we could look at them and depending upon price we could get one–but she’d have to pay the cost of running it out of her wages from Simon. She seemed pleased with that idea. I smiled because I knew she would want to spend most of that on clothes and shoes and so on.

The only good news was another cheque from Erin saying she’d sold our dormouse film to the US, so I was several thousand pounds better off. I decided that once the shops were accessible, we’d all have a new outfit, including the boys.

I needed to speak to Nora Cunningham about the boys. She’d been supposed to collect them on the fourth and we’d now gone well past that. Okay the snow was a factor but she could have phoned. I was beginning to think I’d been set up–nothing new there then.
Once the future of the boys was decided, we’d have to let them in on Julie’s and Trish’s secret–before things got out of hand. Otherwise the kids seemed to be gelling quite well–at least so far, there were no major fights and they had been indoors quite a long time during the past few days.

I told Tom and Stella what had happened at the hospital; they were both concerned as this sort of thing could be difficult to contain. However, I went to bed and zonked. I was asleep by eleven and didn’t wake until the girls came into me about eight. They knew I was tired so waited a whole extra hour–I think I know why I love them.

At a lazy breakfast, Tom looked quite serious. “What’s the matter, Daddy, regret buying the Land Rover?”

“Nae, it wis BBC Radio Solent, news.”

“Oh,” I understood at once.

At nine I went to listen to the radio, I wasn’t exactly surprised but the pit of my stomach felt a cold sensation.

”The search is on to discover the identity of the Angel of Mercy who has apparently visited the Queen Alexandra hospital again, healing two seriously sick children.
The hospital are playing down the incidents, saying that normal clinical protocols were followed and that means total confidentiality regarding any patient in their care.
However, we believe that one of the patients was a baby girl who was brought back to life after some time. Dr Samuel Rose, a senior consultant in paediatrics, said, “Such reports are exaggerated, young babies frequently appear to recover some time after they appear to cease breathing or heartbeat. They appear to go into hibernation mode, especially when body temperature drops as low as in this case.”

The situation is complicated by unnamed staff who suggest the baby and the other child, who’d been hurt in a sledging accident and was airlifted into the hospital; had made unexpected recoveries bordering on the miraculous.

So the question on everyone’s lips is–does this apparent miracle worker exist or not? Continue to listen in as we try to discover the facts in this very strange incident.

Is she an angel or even a visitor from another planet, as has been suggested by medium and psychic investigator, Norman Saxon.”

The news on telly was worse, somehow they’d managed to do an interview with Norman Saxon–a name to conjure with–and he is obviously as mad as a hatter.

”These beings from another dimension visit us quite frequently to help individuals who are experiencing problems. They appear as normal men and women but can disappear in an instant, which explains why no one seems to see where this Angel of Mercy goes–Well I can tell you, she returns to her own dimension through a portal–a gateway caused by a rift in time and space. She’s also told me that she will return when the opportunity arises–the portal has apparently closed. Her name is a bit strange but sounded like Herrinder Heilung. If she contacts me again, I’ll let you know.”

“That’s soonds vaguely German,” said Tom watching the broadcast over my shoulder.

“What does?” I asked trying not to laugh at all this loony’s whacky ideas.

Herrinder heilung.” He hummed, “My German is pretty rusty but heilung is something to do with health or healing. Herrinder doesn’t ring any bells–hang on, if he’d said, herrin der as twa words instead o’ ane, that would be somethin’ like mistress o’ healing. Is he clever enough tae think o’that?”

“I have no idea, Daddy, he’s as nutty as a dormouse dinner.”

“That’s a new ane on me,” he said smiling, repeating it to himself as he went back to his study. He’d decided to stay home in case I needed him to fend off the press. It didn’t look likely this time.

The helicopter crew knew who I was, I’d had to give them my name but I’d just said, ‘Cathy Watts’ forgetting until after I’d said it that I was married. It wasn’t a Freudian slip, but maybe a bit of playing things down. If I’d said Lady Cameron, they’d have remembered for certain.

It was very cold outdoors but I allowed the kids to go and play in the garden provided they kept away from anyone who might call. If anyone did visit they weren’t to tell them anything about any of us, but to come and tell Tom, Stella or me, immediately.
They were going to build a snowman, so I left them to it–I had bigger fish to fry. I found Nora Cunningham’s mobile number and called it. It rang for quite a while before anyone answered it.

“Hello?”

“Hello, is that Nora?”

“Yes, who is that?”

“Cathy Cameron–remember you left two children here for Christmas?–Well we’ve eaten both of them, got any more?”

She roared with laughter, “I had completely forgotten.”

“What? How can you forget two kids?”

“Very easily–it’s been crazy here since we moved, calming all the kids down and the staff has been a nightmare. Then I was ill with swine flu–I don’t feel right yet. The last straw was my car got totalled in a multiple pile up–I wouldn’t have minded but I was stationary at the time, so between the whip lash and the air bag, which broke my nose, I haven’t felt that special.”

I chuckled at this, “I’m not surprised, Norah.”

“How did you get on with the kids?”

“It was okay, they were quite well behaved and get on with the girls quite well.”

“Could you keep ‘em for a few more days?”

“I’ll have to, you wouldn’t get through the snow at present. It needs a four by four to go anywhere, except on foot, ski or dog-sled.”

“It’s not too bad here, just a dusting really, about an inch. So is that alright–I mean them staying longer with you? I’ll increase the grant you get.”

“What grant?” I asked.

“We usually pay a set fee per child per week–you get it for Trish, anyway, don’t you?”

“No–I had a small amount from social services, but nothing much.”

“Oh, I’ll sort that out for you and get it back dated. I’ll let you know when I can come to collect them, is there a better day or time?”

“I think rather than you collecting them, we need to discuss with you and the boys, what they’d like to do.”

“I think I know what that will be.”

“Do you? I don’t–so aren’t you prejudging the issue?”

“Oh come off it, Cathy–where would you rather go, a children’s home in Wantage, or stay with a family whose holiday home is a castle in Scotland?”

“I thought every Englishman’s home was his castle?”

“Very funny–as you’re now at best a sympathiser–at worst a defector–to those ‘orrible ‘aggis-bashers–that’s rich coming from you.”

“I come from Bristol, remember?”

“Were you born there?”

“Um–no, I was born in Dumfries–my parents were visiting my paternal grandmother.”

“So you’re an ‘orrible ‘aggis basher yourself?”

“Nah–a Bristolian, whatever gave you that ideal?”

“Don’t you mean Idea?”

“That’s what I said, ideal.”

“No, you said ideal but you meant idea.”

“I’m from Bristol, we add an ‘L’ to any vowel at the end of a word. Bristol–a bridge over the Stow, or Bristow, equals Bristol.”

“I thought you lot were Welshmen who couldn’t swim, but it’s worse, you’re beyond the pale–well Hadrian’s Wall at any rate.”

“It’s like I had a choice?”

“Yes, you should have waited until you got home.”

“She was there for two weeks.”

“So, first babies are often two weeks late.”

“I already was.”

“Oh.”

“Mummy,” Trish handed me a business card. I glanced at it and shuddered. John Jackson, Human Interest Correspondent, The Evening Echo.

“I have to go, Nora.”

“Troubles?”

“A bit of pest control.”

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Comments

Pest Control?

How appropriate! :)

Saless 


Kittyhawk"But it is also tradition that times *must* and always do change, my friend." - Eddie Murphy, Coming To America


"But it is also tradition that times *must* and always do change, my friend." - Eddie Murphy, Coming To America

Pest control

Indeed I couldn't have put it better myself. News hounds are just nothing else but pests. I know we all like to know what is going on in this world of ours, but there is such a thing as discretion, somthing news reports seem to lack in their anything for a story. It doesn't seem to matter who gets hurt in the process.

Poppkin

Pest Control

Oh Goody!

Look out John Jackson!

Some fireworks to look forward to. Show no mercy Cathy!

Come to think of it, how did he know to visit Chez Cameron?

Pest Suppression

do you mean Chez Agnew?

Angharad's picture

He's been there before.

Angharad

Angharad

Whatever

Chez Agnew or Chez Cameron: it's kind of the same the way Simon, Cathy, assorted fostered dependents, plus Stella and Pud have taken over. Besides, the latter is somewhat more alliterative. And we don't let the truth get in the way of a good story, do we?

While he may have been there before, why is he here this time? No doubt hot on the trail of the mysterious Angel of Mercy, but who's tipped him off that this is where he should be looking?

Probable Suspicion

Somewhat More Alliterative?

I thought alliteration had to do with repeated first SOUNDS, not repeated first letters. The Anglo-Saxons who dearly loved alliteration, and from whom we get our love for it, were hardly renowned for their literacy (not to be confused with alliteracy which apparently they had!).

But feel free to tell me I've got it all wrong.

Oh, BTW, Ang, I'm caught up again so I'm off to visit some other author and make inane remarks to her instead of you, eh?

Yours from the Great White North,

Jenny Grier (Mrs.)

x

Yours from the Great White North,

Jenny Grier (Mrs.)

Wuthering Dormice-879

Well, will Nora try to send more kids Cathy's way?

    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine
    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine

Make a donation

I think she needs to send a hundred pounds to Norman Saxon anonymously and tell him to keep up the good work. He sounds like the perfect distraction. After that find out if this hospital is getting any money from the bank and if so, suggest that the bank might have to call the notes due if they don't quash the leak and quit bothering her.

KJT

"Being a girl is wonderful and to torture someone into that would be like the exact opposite of what it's like. I don’t know how anyone could act that way." College Girl - poetheather


"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin

Pest control

Looks like it's time for a phone call to Henry... and possibly yet another exodus down to the hotel (only this time with seven youngsters in tow!)

Or see if Sam Rose and the surgeon can rope another hospital into "leaking" snippets of news about "miraculous" recoveries to throw the press off the scent. After all, if they're blocking Cathy's house, she can hardly be responsible for "miraculous healings" in, say, Bristol.

 
 
--Ben


This space intentionally left blank.

As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!

A bit of...

Pest control! LOL...

I wonder if Cathy plays it. You want to talk about this commoner who married a lordship? or "Me, angel of mercey? I'm fostering six kids right now from four to 16. When do you think I'd have time for such a thing?"

In any event, interesting thigns all around.

Thanks,
Annette

Even Newshounds Have to Earn a Living

and, as far as I know, they don't live on dog biscuits. They're only as good as the last story. We usually feel the same way about the Press as we do about lawyers, who are only as good as last month's takings.

I like the pest control. In Cathy's case it's temper control that's the tricky bit.

And how much of Nora's story is true?

At least the present storylines should take us well beyond episode 1000, unless I miss my guess. Let's hope that Angharad has the right level of stamina!

Susie

Do They Make Supersized Cans Of Raid? LOL!

jengrl's picture

Do they make super sized cans of Raid for just such and occasion? I imagine Cathy will be infested with plenty of pests coming in her door now. She accurately described the Press very well. They are a bunch of pests most of the time. Hopefully, they won't have to retreat to the Castle in Scotland to keep from being overrun by them.

PICT0013_1_0.jpg

Time to call in Rentokil ?

Although with a bit of luck Cathy can put them off long enough to create a diversion or Something which will give Cathy and her children long enough to do the best thing under the circumstances....Run away!!!

Kirri

episode 1000

Looking at the comment by Susan Heywood made me think that Angharad or Bonzi must be a re-incarnation of Schaharazde sp?

After all she has already hooked us into 879 of a 1001 nights tale.

Our only hope is that she will lose count and have to start the count all over again.

Bike 1,000

At the average rate of one episode a day, The Big Oneâ„¢ will appear within a few days either side of 21st May, with the kilopart (1,024) arriving about three weeks later. There's 121 episodes left until then - perhaps in the meantime we can speculate on what might happen story-wise before then. The wedding blessing is fairly certain, receiving adoption papers for the original trio is quite likely, and formalised long-term fostering of the 'new batch' should be in place. With Julie starting to help out, there's the possibility Cathy might be able to make the harvest mouse film, and Spike might be able to meet Cathy's brood (I think Spike's only met Mima so far - Trish and Livvie were once taken to the uni, but events conspired to ensure they didn't meet Spike). And in the short term we've got the battle of the unis: Portsmouth vs. Southampton.

 
 
--Ben


This space intentionally left blank.

As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!

layman vs pro

you know how to distinguish between computer layman and pro?

the layman think 1000 bytes make a kilobyte

the pro think 1024 metres make a kilometre (and kilogramm and all other SI units too)

Oh Man there goes the neighborhood!

Poor Cathy, it is most unfortunate those scum deserve their bad 'rap' ;) :

When due to fate, the 'fourth estate', arrives on your estate, with curiosity - no sate, be sure that I do not misstate, don't be late, NEVER hesitate; drive a stake through its heart, mate!

Kim

Holly Alert

In the previous installment of Bike, Holly commented about life imitating art. Is truth stranger than fiction? Consider this:

1. Person is in serious danger.
2. Angel of Mercy appears on the scene.
3. Angel of Mercy rescues the endangered person.
4. Angel of Mercy disappears, without giving their full name or details.
5. Newspapers try to track down Angel of Mercy.

Does this scenario refer to Cathy's actions in Bike, or this: Looking for a hero called Eddie?

Positively Stranger

Read this earlier and forgot to comment

Nora has her act together. Indeed, where would the boys prefer to be?

Like the pest control at the end. See what Cathy does. Wish she liked the family castle.

Archery Practice

Cathy needs to come to the door with her bow and hand the reporter a target as she asks him to run out about fifty yards.

Michelle B

Didn't they just hang out in Southwind?

I thought that they'd just done a stint in South something, or was that because of those 'orid Russians, but weren't they also on the run from the nosy plunkers, the press? Cor, now she's going to be forced to flee to that bullet ridden Castle.

I do hope she finds a way to avoid those little bugs... what are they ... oh, yes Midges. Get out the DDT.

I heard that the US is the only country in the world to ban the stuff.

:)

Khadijah

DDT

Angharad's picture

Has been banned for many years throughout most of the world. It not only killed pests but everything else as well.

See Wiki -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT

Angharad

Angharad

Erm, I wus jus windin' ye up luv. :)

In my far distant past, not quite to the Jurrasic Era, when I was attending College, I was a Pesticide Sprayer, and can say that we sprayed things rather indescrimately. Now days, I hang with a bunch of Neo Teckno Hippies, and see that the um Tree Hugger crowd have developed all sorts of things like this from flower juice.

Khadijah

DDT

DDT is one of the safer pesticides, for humans.

Even birds (who took a hard hit) don't have major problems. It is their eggs, which have thin or nonexistent shells as a consequence, that are the casualties. Given how short the life span of a bird it, it doesn't take much. I read Racheal Carlson's Silent Spring when it was published.

My Mom used to tell me stories of kids dancing and playing in clouds of the stuff, and there has never been a raised cancer rate to prove it harmful, unlike the terror that was Agent Orange. Now there was some really nasty stuff!