I offered a seat to Charles on our comfortable red velvet chinoiserie settee, and he relaxed completely, and looked intently round the room , with much interest and curiosity.
With good reason, as the room was a tastefully-decorated treasure trove of fine antiques collected by my husband over the years.
It isn’t every day that members of the royal family visit an ordinary commoner’s home. If ever!
I sat on a pink velvet upholstered Victorian chair opposite him, and asked him how he took his Earl Grey tea, which was what I offered to him.
‘With milk and two sugars, please’ he replied.
I was surprised at the request for sugar, and I told one of his entourage what he wanted. This was relayed to my husband in the kitchen.
Nick, my husband, duly arrived with a cup of tea, gave it to Charles, and then plonked himself down next to Charles. I was a little alarmed at this complete lack of solicitude on his part.
‘Hello Charles’, he said.
I winced,as I had been adding ‘sir’ to every utterance.
amandavictoriasewell 
Dearest Mandy
This is such fun! Is there any more? What happened after the Early Grey?!
I remember your telling me about this years ago, and it’s good to see it written up so beautifully – and amusingly.
How are you? I got through Covid with no problems – and four injections. We older ones have no problem getting plenty of those. I often think of you and wonder how you’re getting along in life. I expect you have a happy relationship, but if not, I’d love to meet up again. I expect I could get down there without too much difficulty (and despite rail strikes). Do let me know.
In the past few years I’ve been doing a lot of work on other people’s writing, mostly academic, some poetry. There’s a guy in Austin, Texas, who is a very good critic – John Rodden – but who does need some help getting his scholarship right. I did an entire book for him, which Cambridge Scholars are publishing sometime soon. I’ve also turned into a George Orwell scholar, and am writing a book chapter for OUP on him and Wyndham Lewis – rather unexpectedly, they were very interested in each other.
I went visiting to family recently (for my birthday in May), and saw all five of my wonderful grandchildren. Elsie and Joe (13, 10) at Chris’s place near Abergavenny, and Etienne, Søren and Cayo (9, 6, 3) at Louise’s near Hereford. I’m so lucky: they are all clever and interested in everything. Yes, my daughter Louise and her husband Scott went for some interesting names! I’ll send separately a drawing that Søren did about Ukraine, after learning about it all at school.
Look forward to hearing from you – and maybe even seeing you again!
Alanxx
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How are you doing, Munty? Love, Mandy xx
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Lovely to hear from you again,dear Alan, and all your news. I’d love to meet up sometime. Please mail me, and I’ll let you know my newsXXX
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My email address Is: tweetiesewell@gmail.com and my mobile no is:
07763098181
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