A Quiet LIFE

Someone's knickers were in a twist over Gillian's addition to her garden

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It’s absolutely ridiculous!’ Gillian was standing at the kitchen window of her newly acquired cottage in the little Cotswolds village of Buttonhook. Her face was creased into an indignant frown, her arms folded tightly across an ample bosom. ‘What on earth could anyone have against a few bits of washing?’

Faye came and stood beside her mother and looked out across the narrow front lawn at the little rotary washing line, where two floral nighties and some tea towels were basking in the late summer sunshine. Faye had to admit that the washing line, purchased by her mother the previous week, was a bit of an eyesore, taking ‘pride of place’, as it was in the centre of the neat lawn between an ornamental cherry tree and a decorative dovecote. She decided that now, however, wasn’t the time to vent her opinion.

Gillian continued her tirade. ‘I mean, it’s not as though I'm hanging out racy underwear or anything! Are my nighties really that offensive?’

Gillian turned from the window with a huff and proceeded to prepare a pot of tea with much clattering of cups and saucers.

Faye sat at the kitchen table and picked up the offending newsletter, which had been dropped through her mother’s letter box. The letter began by saying how lucky the residents of Buttonhook and the surrounding villages were to be living in an area of historical interest and outstanding natural beauty. Buttonhook, with its honey-coloured stone houses and grass verges scattered with pretty wild flowers, had been voted best-kept village in Gloucestershire for two consecutive years, and had recently been given a two-page spread in the June edition of Cotswold Gardens magazine.

Addisons Deli had the best selection of local cheeses and chutneys in the area, and Potters, a restaurant that had been in the Potter family for three generations, attracted a regular influx of food and wine enthusiasts.