I had a belated St Patrick’s Day dinner on Thursday. One of the diners furnished us with shamrock (above) expertly bunched by his wife. Another, who came from West Meath, turned out to be a lapsed member of the Irish Peers’ Association, a prospective member of the PG Wodehouse Society and a reader of this website.
One of my first ambitions on leaving university was to join the College of Arms. It’s just as well I didn’t, partly because I would be a great deal poorer financially, though no doubt enriched in other respects, and I would be three years behind Garter, Thomas Woodcock, who I was three years behind at Eton and Durham. Although I have found that I am better suited to being second in command than leading.
There are currently three vacancies for Pursuivants at the College: Rouge Dragon, Bluemantle and Portcullis. The College seeks a trainee to fill one of these vacant posts. If this might be of interest there are details about how to apply here. Applications close on 8th April and interviews will be held on 8, 10, 16 and 17 May 2018. (I will not be applying.)
I have finally taken all the advice given by readers and dealt with the plague of mice. Taking half measures was a disaster. I caught nine mice, did not properly clean the cellar or secure the birdseed container and put a sonic rodent repellant in the cellar. The mice moved upstairs and were audible squeaking and scrabbling under the floorboards. Yesterday I went to an old-fashioned hardware shop on Kensington High Street, Skillman & Sons est. 1900, and bought two Pest-Stop Large House Pest Repellers. They work through the whole house using the wiring system. Then I decanted the birdseed into bin liners and put them in a plastic bin outside. Finally I thoroughly cleaned the cellar with a vacuum cleaner and dustpan and brush. I hope not to have to mention mice again. No doubt the moths and the box munching caterpillars will both rear their ugly heads again soon.
The author need not be surprised that his articles are perused by members of the Irish squirearchy. During a recent salubrious soiree, conversation turned to discussions about the Bellew family. Although the Barons Bellew of Barmeath provide enough interesting behaviour for any apres le diner discussion, it was the life and times of ‘The Boy Bellew of Barons Court’ which served as a common topic for discourse among the, culturally tempered, assembled company.