Chips and Honor are in the thick of it in 1936.
He had been elected Member of Parliament for Southend, Honor had a son and their house in Belgrave Square was ready. The stage is set. A highlight of their year is attending the Olympic Games in Berlin. Chips’s admiration for the Nazi leaders is most distasteful; entries he might have been expected to destroy. “Everyone goes to the Olympic Games all day: we pretend to and don’t as they are very boring, except for the arrival of Hitler.” They are invited to parties by Göring, Ribbentrop and Goebbels: “Berlin is a tonic, a stimulus and a revelation”. He is in favour of the restoration of the monarchy in Germany and has time for some intrigue with Prince Fritzi, the Kaiser’s heir.
They continue their holiday touring Austria and Yugoslavia staying in grand castles one of which they rent, although it disappoints: poor plumbing, incompetent staff and generally run-down. Much as I dislike Chips’s personality I am prepared to put up with him for the privilege of sharing his life.
He is often dismissive of his grand friends – so carefully cultivated. Really, he has nothing to be snobby about. Here is a splendid example.
”We dined with the Aberconways in their enormous rather nouveau riche house in South Street, vast rooms, black marble staircase etc. Dinner was bad and a bore, no atmosphere – parlourmaids!! – (it) was very middle class.”
Meanwhile there is the Spanish Civil War. Chips predicts Franco will win; one of his rare good calls. The King’s affair with Wallis Simpson is coming to a head and politicians are split into pro-Germany and pro-France. In spite of the Crash and the Great Depression there does not seem to be any shortage of money in the waters in which the Channons swim.