A Knight on the Wall

Gracious Readers;

In my last posting, I told you of my outing (just last week). Whilst I was out, The Lady Kim noticed that I cast a shadow upon the wall of the nearby carriage house.

She took a picture of my shadow, and you may see it here on this posting. Can you make it out? I do agree that it might take a little imagination on your part, but regardless, several of the ladies on the Chipman Hill Suites staff found it to be somewhat amusing.

I do admit that I have cast a long shadow on history, from the middle ages to the twenty first century. I can hardly imagine it.

Many of the knights who were with me at the beginning have long since passed away to the scrap heap. I presume that some have even been made into pots and pans. What a horrible thought.

For my part, I was crated for decades (possibly even a century or more) on more than one occasion, it is something like hibernation, I think……..so my armour has remained intact and I am happy to be back in the working world once again, guarding the guests and properties at Chipman Hill Suites, in appreciation of those who rescued me!

I have mentioned to you previously that I have heard whispered rumours that I may be moving soon. Since being released from my crate and woken up from decades of hibernation, I have resided at (and watched over) four other Chipman Hill Suites buildings, and I understand that there are another six or seven “to go”……..

I presume that I will “make the rounds” of them all, over time. I hope that the management of Chipman Hill Suites are happy with my service, and that I will NOT be returned to my crate anytime soon…

For my part, I am happiest when I have a job to do, and people and property to look after. These properties are beautiful, warm and spotlessly clean. The people who work here and the people who stay here are all so nice, and I hear great comments about my handsomeness on an almost daily basis from the guests, many of whom have their pictures taken with me. I was previously a little “camera shy”, but

now, I am well used to it, and feel that I am somewhat of a celebrity.

I am only sorry that the beautiful young girl I met when I was guarding 5 Chipman Hill did not leave her picture for me…..I miss her so…..If she and her parents return, I wonder if they will think to ask what building I am currently guarding, so that I may see her again…..

*sigh*

A fond farewell for this evening.

Yours in knighthood,

Sir Syd.   

A Knight in the Cold

Gracious Readers:

It is a beautiful day, although it is winter, and The Lady Kim and The Lady Alice carried me outside for an airing…..and took the opportunity to wipe down my armour from top to bottom. (Speaking of bottom, it was just a little embarrassing, to be standing in full view of anyone who was walking by on the street, whilst having my private areas polished by two ladies with polishing cloths, however, I do enjoy a bit of fresh air, and it feels good to be polished and ready again to greet guests with no dust or rust on my armour.

If you are familiar with my current address, at the Chipman Hill Suites building at 71 Sydney Street, you will know that there are two rooms accessed off a side staircase. These are often occupied by families travelling together, as they can be locked off to allow children to run back and forth between parents and grandparents, for instance, without being able to get out of the adult’s view in the main part of the building. These rooms are also somewhat less “dear” (‘expensive’, to you, I believe.)

I can look across the street and see St. Malachy’s high school to my left, and further to my left is the beautiful King’s Square Park with the Victorian bandstand as it’s centerpiece. The Imperial theatre is also just a stone’s throw, and I know that patrons from out of town and performers alike favour this particular location as it is truly just two minute’s walk to the Imperial Theatre.

I have very much enjoyed my outing earlier today, and hope that you will visit me soon to see how clean and shiny I am.

Yours in knighthood,

Sir Syd

A Knight by the Window

Gracious Readers;

It is early morning, fairly early in the month and early in the year, and I have ventured upstairs here at 71 Sydney Street,  the Chipman Hill Suites property I am currently guarding, to see the beautiful stained glass window, before the guests are up. I listen intently to the early morning sounds of the City, and also, for guests beginning to stir.

As soon as I hear the first of the guests arising, (there is a full house here tonight, I heard one of the housekeepers say yesterday as she departed to her home...), I must quickly return to my post by the front door. It is imperative that no one know that, in fact, I wander the halls at night to keep watch over my charges.

The stained glass window is huge. I understand that it is one of the largest stained glass windows in any home in Saint John, which, I have learned, is the oldest City in Her Majesty’s Dominion of Canada.

Stained glass windows were very popular in England, my birthplace. Of course, they were very much in evidence in even the smallest of village churches, but also, they were an item of status and showed wealth in private homes. They were much more expensive (and beautiful) than plain window glass, and the aristocrats were very conscious of having these trappings of wealth to impress their peers.

I understand that the Chipman Hill Suites building at 2 Mecklenburg has substantially larger and many more stained glass windows than this building at 71 Sydney Street. Whilst I will miss my beautiful surroundings here at 71 Sydney, I am, indeed, a curious knight and realize that my protective capabilities must be shared with all the Chipman Hill Suites buildings I have been charged with looking after.

It has not been mentioned, but I suspect a move in the month of February is being contemplated. I greet this thought with very mixed emotions. My stay here at 71 Sydney Street has been so very pleasant.

The sun is rising higher, and traffic on the street has increased. I hear stirrings from the guests, water running, and other signs that it is now time for me to return to my post at the front door, and stand, un-moving, until late this night.

Please excuse my hasty departure.

Yours in knighthood,

Sir Syd.

A Knight at the Tree

Gracious Readers;

I am amiss in not posting this before Christmas, but there seemed to be so much going on.

Can  a Knight procrastinate? Yes!!

As the days went on, I decided that I would post my Christmas musings on Epiphany (or “Little Christmas”) on January 6^th. I almost made that self-imposed deadline, but then faltered at the last minute…

As you may recall, this is the first Christmas that I have seen in many, many years. Truth be told, things around me are much the same, but different, to the last few Christmases I remember vividly, those which were celebrated in my presence during my years in the court of HRH Victoria, the (by then) widowed queen.

The Chipman Hill Suites building in which I currently reside was constructed in the 1880’s, so, although I realize that I am now living in The Year of Our Lord, 2012 (can you imagine??), my surroundings, with few exceptions, are very much as I remember from the houses of the minor Lords I have protected over the years.

I digress, though……back to my Christmas 2011 musings…….

Apparently, around 1846 - 48, Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, was the person responsible for bringing the first Christmas tree to Windsor Castle for the Royal Family. Some historians state that in actuality Queen Charlotte, Victoria's grandmother, recalled that a Christmas tree was in the Queen's lodge at Windsor on Christmas Day in 1800.  It is certain that in the Illustrated London News in 1846, an illustration of Queen Victoria, Prince, Albert and their children around a Christmas tree appeared. Unlike the previous Royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at Court immediately became fashionable - not only in Britain, but, I was told, with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society, and I presume, also Canadian Society.

After the death of dear Prince Albert, things were never the same in the Royal Court of Victoria. Christmas was sad, as Albert was gone, but in his memory, a beautiful evergreen tree continued to be brought in from the forest and decorated every year with those same ornaments that Albert had favoured when he was with us.

My memories of  Christmas after the “Victoria years” were few. I was relegated to “storage” for many decades, only seeing the light of day briefly, mostly on ceremonial occasions when I, and

some of my old chums who were also suffering the same fate, had occasion to be brought out, polished up, shown off and then put away into the dark again.

Subsequent to those, I did see Christmas again occasionally, however, not in the splendid style of Victoria or, may I say it (?) Chipman Hill Suites.

Sadly, though, I have learned that “artificial” (but very real in appearance) Christmas trees have apparently become the norm, and the tiny candles which were lit by hand each night, and replaced for the next night, have been replaced by electric lights. Even I must admit that these are highly efficient, although the ambiance is not quite the same…..

I have exhausted myself with writing so I will close for this day, faithful readers.

Good Day to you all and farewell until next Monday when I shall post again.

Yours in knighthood

Sir Syd