Not The Harrods Palace!

[Sandra]

#11617

“Ah – there they are”, said Jack as he ticked them off his member list . . . . “we've been wondering and waiting for you two to turn up for a few days now . . . . what happened? Wrong turn at the haystack?”

“You wouldn't believe me if I tried telling yer Jack”, said Don.

Jack scanned his list – “Well now, that only leaves 4 more – Jacky, Michele, Martha and Denise. Any guesses where they might be? I think Sandra went off to see about them a while back . . . . have you seen her about the place? I'm really quite eager to get this whole convention started here, but need 100% of the members present so I can cut the ribbon”

“We'll I'll go see if I can see 'em” started Don, but was stopped in his tracks by Margaret who grabbed him from behind “Oh no you don't!! – I ain't letting you move from this group again!! There's trouble out there”, she warned.

[Don and Margaret]

#11618

a.

[Sandra]

#11619

<img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ /> <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ /> Hahaha!! Ooops!! I think I turned Don into Steve Irwin for a moment there!! <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ /> <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ />

You have to admit though, it's a pretty good image! <img src='style_emoticons//tongue.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’tongue.gif’ />

[Petals]

#11620

'OK' Jack said, tapping into his laptop and at the same time keeping a wary eye over the group, 'I think it's now time for action! I personally have had enough of all the comings and goings in this here Castle, and Lisa now wants to get the Show on the Road. We got a Convention coming up shortly, so no time to mess around! Downloading and Uploading isnt on my agenda folks, so the next project is to find The Coat of Arms! Forget the Spooky stuff' he continued, 'I don't want to hear of John Travolta or anyone else for that matter. Just plain old Coat of Arms. I know Don and Margaret have great ideals for their Grandson, but we also have great ideals for the Convention! So howa bout it all of you. Just do what you gotta do, and make it quick!'

Don and Margaret looked at one another, not saying a word. Heck, they wanted this Castle for themselves and here was Jack laying down the law. 'Think we'd better get movin darlin' Don whispered. 'Finders, keepers an all of that!' Margaret nodded. <img src='style_emoticons//cool.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’cool.gif’ />

[Petals]

#11621

Don and Margaret quietly slipped away from the group trying to hide where they were heading. 'Think we should keep walkin down these long corridors' Margaret suggested, 'then we might find the room or cupoard or…..with the Coat of Arms!' 'Yeh!' Don exclaimed as they continued, out of the sight of the group still hanging on to Jack's every word.

'Look here!' Margaret pointed to a tall Cupboard covered in cobwebs and dust. 'Why don't we open this up!' Don pulled vigorously on the rusty bolt. 'Phew! It aint easy! Gradually the bolt began to ease and the door creaked open. 'Aint nothin here Margaret' Don sighed. 'Nothin at all!' 'Never mind, lets keep walkin!' Margaret encouraged. More long corridors, dusty cobwebs and lurking shadows. 'Look, theres someone in front of us Margaret. Ugh, dont like the look of this!'

'Well I'll be a Monkey's Aunt. That's Denise, Michele, Martha, Sandra and Jacky! Hiya gals. Jack's been on the hunt for you lot. Whereya bin?' The girls looked round in astonishment.' 'So pleased you have joined us!' Martha gushed. 'Thought you had defected to the ones who aren't really here!' 'Yes' Michele added, 'we all decided to carry on looking for the Coat of Arms and seems as though the White One has disappeared for now!' 'Good on ya gals. Seems like we're all back together again. Really happy about that!'

'Let's keep looking!' Denise smiled. 'The quicker we get hold of the Coat of Arms the quicker we can close this story!' 'Too right!' Sandra added. 'Come on you Pommie and Yanks, I think we might be turning the corner any minute now!'

[Sandra]

#11622

The seven were headed towards the farthest and highest part of the castle, although they weren't aware of it. . . .

That's where the Coat of Arms was hidden (although they didn't know that either!).

[Petals]

#11623

'Well lladies, here we are………and now were gonna finally get to where we're goin!' 'Good on yer Mate' Sandra's voice chirped from the shadows. 'So what do you suggest we do now?' Denise asked, hoping that soon, very soon, all would be over and done with and the Castle theirs. 'We haven't got much time left' Martha pointed out. 'The Convention is due to take place and we won't have a chance to move it from Reston to here if we leave it much longer!' 'Yeh, you're right there' Michele piped up from somewhere. 'Thought you had gone home' Jacky smiled……..'knew you wouldn't be able to resist from sticking around…….' 'Don't be so sure of yourself' Michele replied, 'but yes I'm here and I wanna be in on everything when you find, or rather, we find, the Coat of Arms.' 'What about the White One?' Martha asked looking round nervously. 'Oh don't worry about him now' Michele grinned, 'he couldn't keep up with us and now I'm sure he has wiped himself out!'
Margaret's face was one of relief.

[Sandra]

#11624

Up, up and up they went. Phew, it was hard work. Spritely Martha lead, closely followed by Jacky and Sandra. Denise was a little further behind, as was Don and Margaret. Michele brought up the rear only because she was intent on counting all the stairs.

“607, 608, 609, 610” she counted as she puffed up the stairs.

“Aw, please Margaret, can't we stop a while”, panted Don to Margaret who was dragging him forward. “No dear, we can't. We have to be there with the others to get the Coat of Arms – now come on you don't do the treadmill at home for nothing”.

[Denise]

#11625

Huffing, puffing, and up the stairs they continued to reach their Goal of finding that Coat of Arms.

Denise, being the clumsy girl she is, twisted her legs and whooooopsssss, fell down all those stairs she climbed up, “I give up, let the others find the Arms” she mumbled to herself. <img src='style_emoticons//tongue.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’tongue.gif’ />

So Denise hobbled out of the Castle into one of the Guest Houses where she had her knitting stashed away, forgot about the others, and knitted to the sounds of the stream nearby when she heard loud noises coming from the Castle.. <img src='style_emoticons//ph34r.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’ph34r.gif’ /> <img src='style_emoticons//ph34r.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’ph34r.gif’ />

[Sandra]

#11626

“Well gets rid of one!” Don said with a wink to Margaret as they politely moved aside for Denise to continue to fall down.

“Yep – 4 to go and then the Coat of Arms is ours and so is the Castle,” replied Margaret.

“Well let's keep moving then – I've suddenly gained my second wind!” exclaimed Don.

“Yeah – you're telling me!” Margaret said, waving the air in front of her nose.

They continued up. Meanwhile, Michele was falling behind as she got her numbers confused and was deciding whether she should start again or give up . . .

[Petals]

#11627

'This is real tough going!' Sandra exclaimed, counting as she climbed. '802, 803, 804……….' 'Come on Sandra! Wheres your Ozzie spunk' Michele laughed. 'Try counting backwards, you know, like the 999 Green Bottles, and that'll help. Remember, there were 999 Green Bottles Hanging on the Wall, 999 Green Bottles Hanging on the Wall, and if One Green Bottle should accidentally fall, there'd be 998 Bottles Hanging on the…………!!!!!!!!' 'Ugh' Sandra grunted, 'I dont want to start from the top.' 'That's OK' Martha joined in panting . 'Quite honestly Sandra, I would rather be counting backwards than forwards . Phew my legs are beginning to wobble!' Martha let out a yelp! 'There were 7 green bottles hanging on the wall, Seven green bottles………………..there were 5 green bottles, mmmmm, without Denise and Martha, 5 green bottles hanging on the wall……' Michele's voice could be heard singing merrily from behind.

Martha winced. She wasn't the type to give up easily. 'Onward Christian Soldiers………..' she sang out, her arms waving an imaginary baton wildly in the air……….' 'Good on yer Martha', Sandra held out her hand, ' One thing I've learned about you since we met is that you won't give up without a fight. Come on, hold on to me until you get your wind back………!'

<img src='style_emoticons//blink.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’blink.gif’ />

[Petals]

#11628

Michele smiled to herself. She had a plan. Whether the plan worked would be another story, but she did have a plan! Denise was out of the way counting her knit one, pearl one, drop one, and Martha was panting just a little too much; her legs were beginning to feel like lead ; but she was a trooper. Not that Denise wasn't, but Denise had other things on her mind than Castles. She had been brought up with Knits. They were part of her life, and without becoming too personal, she knew what (k)nits were all about. Michele slowed down a little more. 'There was one Green Bottle Hanging on the Wall, One Green Bottle……….And if One Green Bottle should Accidentally fall, there'd be…………………….!' She chuckled to herself as she sang!!!!!!!

<img src='style_emoticons//rolleyes.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’rolleyes.gif’ /> <img src='style_emoticons//ohmy.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’ohmy.gif’ />

[Denise]

#11629

Ah ha! What Jacky didn't know was that Denise was knitting (knit 2, purl 2, knit 2) but what was she knitting?

Hmmmmm, perhaps she was knitting a Kilt! But for who? <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ /> <img src='style_emoticons//laugh.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’laugh.gif’ />

[Petals]

#11630

Margaret glanced over her shoulder. 'Looks like Martha's having a few problems now,' she told Don. 'Well, I sure as hell wouldn't want anythin to happen to Martha ,' he exclaimed, winking at his wife. 'Camon Don, that aint nice talk. I know yer dont really mean that. This Castle's big enough for Martha , you and I. Sandra too, come to that! ' 'Yeh honey you're right. So if we get to the Coat of Arms, yer can bet yer life we'll do what is right and just. You betta believe it!'
'Ten Green bottles Hanging on the Wall………' 'Awe shucks' Don grunted, 'aint that girl got anythin better to sing than that stupid song!'

Meanwhile, they were climbing higher and higher and higher. 'Oh look!' Margaret called out, grabbing Don by the arm. 'What in heavan's name is that?'

[Petals]

#11631

Don and Margaret stared over the parapet. A puff of WHITE CLOUD could be seen tumbling out of the sky. Down, down, down it tumbled, rolling over and over as it gathered speed falling towards the ground. 'Jeez' Sandra gulped, 'what IS that?' Don turned momentarily. 'Beats the hell out of us!' he replied, shrugging his broad shoulders. 'What's going on?' Martha panted, leaning over to see. 'Heh, be careful' Jacky warned. 'Wouldn't want you to be joining that' she pointed to the tumbling mass. ' Just be careful ,and that applies to all of you!' 'Where's Michele?' Sandra asked, wondering where she had now disappeared to. <img src='style_emoticons//unsure.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’unsure.gif’ />

The WHITE CLOUD appeared to be gathering speed now as it twisted, turned and rolled towards the earth. Puffs of smoke now spurted this way and that and candy floss trails followed in its wake. 'OOOOOOOOOOOh!' everyone called out in unison, 'ooooooooooooooooooooh, just look at that!' Everyone watched, their mouths open in dismay as they held on tightly to the low wall.

Finally there was a huge PUFF which seemed to send out billowing clouds of smoke upwards and outwards. 'Jeeeeeeeeeeeeez' Sandra exclaimed out loud …………..!

<img src='style_emoticons//blink.gif’ border=’0′ style=’vertical-align:middle’ alt=’blink.gif’ />

[Author]

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