A letter from the journal of Alexandra Margaret Quinn, Head Gardener here in the Reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India, to her friend who was in Constantinople as of this letter. Alex, as she was known, copied her personal correspondence into her Journal. She noted in her will that her letters were to be part of the Esate Library upon her death. Isabell would live to well over a hundred, even longer than Her Queen would!
Dear Tessa,
It’s now starting to get seriously cold here and we’ve enjoyed the heating in the main Estate building as it’s been below freezing overnight for the past fortnight here. I’ve pulled my long woollen skirts and sweaters out of storage and am glad that there’s not much that needs doing outside this time of year that I can’t delegate to Estate staff.
Fitting the weather, Cook decided a few days that a venison stew and sourdough rolls would be a good supper for the communitarian supper we have on Fridays here. Fortunately we had some venison that was aged just right after hanging outside for several days so I had the lads take a haunch off it and deliver it to him for use in the stew.
Potatoes, carrots, onions, dried mushrooms, juniper berries, and a generous measure of Estate red wine went into the large stew pot yesterday so that the stew would have a chance to get its full flavour. It certainly smelled good when one passed the Kitchen and it tasted even better! Fresh pressed cider and hot gingerbread for dessert were all else served and it was quite sufficient.
Affectionally yours, Alex
