Against all expectations, I am finding my grandfather's diaries quite fascinating. Part of the fascination lies in trying to puzzle out my grandfather's handwriting, and I think I am making some progress though many of the proper names defeat me. And we get off to a cracking start as my grandparents travel done from the Austrian Alps to the Côte d'Azur via Lausanne (where they shed their four daughters), Geneva, Lyons, Avignon, Arles and Toulon. I assume all four of the girls were attending the Brillantmont international School outside Lausanne. In this year Pippa was 21 years old, Betty 19, Anne 16 and Wilma 14. Incidentally, the Brillantmont School still exists and is going strong - if the fees it charges are any indication! I have written to them to ask if by any chance they might have photos, reports of the period.
I think I might have some photos.
ReplyDeleteI don't think all 4 girls were at the same school, tho. By that time weren't Pippa and Betty in Munich being 'finished', so to speak, while Anne and Wilma were still in 'proper' school.
For your information, The Tods were Anne and Wilma.
ReplyDeleteJust as (see Gran's diaries) The Sneaks were Hester and Awly - known for their sneaky ways in asking Gran for something which had just been forbidden by Mose!
You, Johnny and I were The Plebs.
Oh the cruelty of families .....
I don't know! But I daresay you're right. Perhaps I'll find out more as we go along. Incidentally, I've just this moment discovered a diary for 1925!
ReplyDeleteAnd here's some information for you which should by rights go into the Hessey diary comments section but due to my great numptyhood I haven't yet fathomed how:
ReplyDeleteThe Tods : Anne and Wilma
The Sneaks : Hester and Awly (in Castle Hedingham days they had a sneaky habit of asking our grandmother for something that had just been forbidden by our mother.
The Plebs: Barnaby, Alice and Johnny.
Oh the cruelty of families.
Many thanks for the information, Anonymous, though why anyone should wish to refer to me as a pleb defies belief. Alice and Johnny, perhaps, but me? Absurd!
ReplyDelete